Harbour Cottage Inn — Hotel in Southwest Harbor

My husband and I spent 5 nights at Harbour Inn Cottage for our Honeymoon in June with the plan of spending most of our time at Acadia National Park. We chose to stay in Southwest Harbor ("The Quiet Side" of Mount Desert Island) and looked for a place with a good location (several good restaurants and shops within walking distance) and affordable rates. I'm so glad that we did because it was very peaceful on this side of the island and there were many great things to see and do that we probably would not have gotten to or even heard about if we were staying in Bar Harbor. We could not have chosen a better place! We are both teachers and had to keep our budget in mind when planning our honeymoon and while this was a splurge vacation for us, it was affordable and honestly surpassed all expectations in every way! I have stayed at chain hotels for similar prices and the experience at HCI does not compare at all. To experience at HCI exceeds chain hotels so dramatically that to compare with a chain hotel is an insult.

The breakfasts each day were absolutely incredible. I have several food allergies, eggs being one of them, and figured that I probably wouldn't be able to have what was served for breakfast and so this wasn't really on my mind when we arrived. However, Dora was so attentive to each of my allergies which I was SO appreciative of - it really meant a lot as eating out can be a challenge for me. They have cereal, yogurt, and oatmeal available each day if you don't want what is on the menu. The days there was an egg dish, I got oatmeal or yogurt which were both very good. The days I could have what was served for that morning, I was blown away!! The breakfasts (which are two courses each morning btw) quickly became a highlight for my husband and I and we looked forward to them each day we were there. Our favorites were the blueberry crisp, peach crumble, Belgian waffle with bacon wrapped sausage, and the blueberry crumb cake french toast. Daniel is truly a genius in the kitchen and is so good at what he does! We ate breakfast on the covered porch most days and the environment was so peaceful and relaxing - it was a wonderful way to start each day with my new husband.

They also have a bar open in the evenings and sell small plates. One of the nights we were here we decided to stay in for dinner since it was raining. We got an excellent cheese board and BBQ Brisket flatbread as well as a limoncello crème brûlée for dessert. These were all excellent of course.

It was drizzling and foggy for most of our stay and while we did still greatly enjoy what the park has to offer and continued with our plans to hike, we also really enjoyed staying in at the Inn a few times thanks to the lovely and inviting atmosphere that Dora and Daniel have created. The common area downstairs was really cozy and my husband and I spent some time there or on the porch when it was nice out reading and having tea which was available all day at a self-serve station. I wasn't expecting to spend so much time in the common areas of the inn but it was really hard not to! Each afternoon they also put out homemade snacks to enjoy which was really nice. The peanut butter chocolate chips and the fudge delight cookies were our favorites! There was also a communal fridge for guests and a cold water tap and ice machine we could use which was really convenient as we could fill up our water bottles each morning for the day.

As for the room itself, we stayed in the Sloop. It was a pretty small room but was big enough for the two of us. There was plenty of room in the bathroom and there were also two chairs by the windows so we had a sitting area in addition to the queen bed which was nice. The whole place was very clean and well maintained. We have already told many friends and family. members that they need to come here and we can't wait until we can come back ourselves!

Please do yourself a favor and spend...

Superb in Every Way!

These two wonderful innkeepers have perfected the balance of respect for your privacy with giving you their undivided attention should you request their help. They also have a staff of three delightful young people who attend to guests’ needs in addition to performing various duties such as waitstaff, housekeeping and check in. We stayed two weeks at this inn and never regretted our decision for a moment. Don warmly greeted us at our first breakfast and introduced us to Javier, his business partner. Part of my reason for choosing this inn was the description of their breakfasts. I was looking for something special and was certainly not disappointed. Javier’s domain is the kitchen. I recently heard a chef talk about the importance of presentation because he said, “You eat with your eyes first”. Javier certainly knows this, because each morning he produces a wonderful entrée that is presented on your plate like a miniature work of art and tastes even better than it looks! He alternates a savory entrée with a sweet entrée each day. My favorite savory entrée was a baked egg which comes with your choice of toppings and sides in addition to a homemade biscuit and the most marvelous homemade marmalade your will ever taste. I have a sweet tooth, so choosing a favorite among the sweet entrées is impossible! In addition to the entrée, there are cereals and granola, four juices to choose from, fresh fruit and homemade muffins or scones.

The inn itself is lovely and our room The Captain’s Nook was a delight. The inn is situated within walking distance to Southwest Harbor which is perfect for the nights you want to park your car at the inn and walk into town for dinner.

This inn has all the special touches: cheese, crackers, grapes and small cookies in the afternoon, a small guest refrigerator to store leftovers from your dinner the night before, coffee and a selection of teas, an ice bucket, apples, a candy dish, and a chocolate candy on your water glass in your room each night! You have all this plus a beautifully appointed inn with a relaxing common area and two delightful hosts. You will see the twinkle in Don’s eyes when he gives you his undivided attention should you have any question. If you are lucky enough to catch Javier outside of the kitchen and compliment this wonderfully modest man on his cooking, he will reward you with a smile that lights up his whole face! What more could you possibly ask for? From the bottom of our hearts we thank you and wish you every good thing...

As world travelers with a healthy amount of wanderlust built up during the pandemic, our family (after being fully vaccinated and less reticent about air travel) has shifted course and decided to explore areas within our own country. We decided to make Maine, and Acadia National Park, our first destination. We spent a few nights in Portland upon arriving from Houston. Then we loaded up and made the drive to Bar Harbor/Southwest Harbor. We had done the research and decided to distance ourselves from the touristy and likely to be crowded Bar Harbor scene and elected to stay at the Harbour Cottage Inn at Southwest Harbor.

This is a very charming B&B. Everyone here is virus-conscious and very accommodating. We are a family of 3, and we like to have plenty of space when we travel. We booked the “Southwester”, which is a separate detached building from the main house with 3 very well appointed bedrooms, full bathroom with tub/shower, living room, and extra large full kitchen. The property exudes New England history, and it is abundantly clear that the owners (mother-daughter team Susan and Carroll) and staff (Arlo and his wife) care about, and take pride in, hosting their guests.

The accommodations were sparkling clean and met all of our expectations and desires. The neighborhood was quiet and classic small-town New England. Each morning’s breakfast was homemade, tasty, and creative. We very much enjoyed our morning visits with Arlo on day 1, and with Susan and Carroll on our last 2 days. Within a matter of minutes, Susan and Carroll became new friends. My son left a baseball cap behind, and they were nice enough to mail it to our home without us even asking. Such a nice and personal touch! When we visit Maine again one Spring or Fall, we will definitely re-book at the Harbour...