The Moorings Inn — Hotel in Southwest Harbor

I was looking for accommodations in the area when I saw the review about this place and spirits. I had to know more!

What I found was all these pictures of somewhere I really, really wanted to stay. I found availability if I room hopped over my week stay, so I wound up getting to see all 3 wings, though no cottages.

There aren't any pools, dry cleaning service, food room service, or fuzzy robes here. If that's where you are in your travel planning, that's something to consider.

Noise does carry, but I have definitely experienced worse even in nice hotels. But they do expect everyone to try to be hush hush after 9, which is actually a huge bonus. I experienced no rambunctious people running through the halls screaming at 2 AM.

On that note, here are some things I noticed The Moorings Inn has:

It feels SAFE here. I was traveling alone as a short woman. I only ever felt comfortable everywhere I went in Maine, and when I came back to the Inn at night, it actually felt "home" levels of safe. The staff are happy to hear where you're going, give you any tips they know of, and they know who you are and where you're staying. It's "I might've left my room unlocked, I'm two hours away, and I just couldn't care less" safe.

ANTIQUES. If you love antiques, seriously consider this place. The main building is OLD, and all the rooms I stayed in had their own unique decor. The oldest wing was well decorated with all sorts of beautiful antiques. It was cozy in the most sincere sense. I hated leaving.

People in Maine are so friendly that it'll have you making conversation with ALL the strangers. I have never used a hotel/inn lobby except for necessity, so when they said to visit the lobby when you need reliable internet, I didn't expect to. But the lobby is comfortable, with beautiful views, and there's almost always fun conversation happening in this place. I wound up relaxing in it every day. And it seemed like pretty much every one who stays here is kind and friendly.

The actual people working the inn are AMAZING. They really care about if you're having a good stay, and it shows in everything. They start making free coffee at 6AM and keep it going until the guests are done, so you're caffeinated wherever and whenever your adventures take you. And while there is great coffee in the area, ready coffee you walked across the house for while you watch the ocean is a legitimately luxury experience.

I, personally, loved that room cleaning erred toward opt-in with the door card, and they respected DND.

There's common fridges and firepits and outdoor seating galore, if you've worn yourself out wandering on the beach and you're ready to watch the ships roll across the ocean.

And I think the main attraction here: THE OCEAN. It felt like a treat hitting a few foggy days and getting to see the ships going through the fog. This is a real harbor area, and there's something soothing about watching ships start at dawn and work all day. And in the ocean facing rooms, you really do wake up to unadulterated views of the ocean, this isn't over promised at all.

And you will be waking up cause you SLEPT. I recently stayed in an outdated inn and couldn't sleep because of how awfully uncomfortable everything was. I was expecting that based on all the outdated comments, but NOPE. I was VERY comfortable. I would crawl into bed and once I was out, I was OUT.

But do keep in mind that there are rooms like the one right over the office that can hear talking pretty clearly as people start moving in the morning. I didn't mind because I couldn't stop falling asleep at 8 PM, so I was already up. But if that type of thing concerns you, reach out and find out what they recommend for your preferences, cause they do want you to have a good stay and every room is different.

Also, the wild seagulls were lovely company while I was outside. Not pushy at all.

So, at the end of it, I'd say that I don't think this inn has spirits. But if it does, they're very welcoming, and they want you to have a memorable and beautiful stay in such a...

This place is straight out of my dreams. I want this place to prosper but also to stay my quiet little Eden forever. I'll be back every year if I don't just up and move to MDI :)

I love a place with unique character, history, and design—and it over-delivered. Everything felt so one-of-a-kind and coordinated, like I was living in a maritime art gallery (which is a huge passion of mine and my friend's!).

I love a place with personable, "real," and kind staff—and they over-delivered (love u Scarlett, Nancy, and Leslie!!). Wish I'd had a longer stay to just hang out with them!

I love a place with privacy and views where just being there is a vacation—and their little pocket in Southwest Harbor over-delivered. Even on rainy days, it's incredible (and it's Maine, so plan on rain).

I love a room that's clean and accommodating—and this place met all my expectations. They were very upfront that a historic inn would not have some of the modern luxuries like A/C or strong wi-fi, and neither of those were an issue anyway! There were fans in the room, windows that opened, and the wi-fi did fine for the most part and the common area had strong internet if needed.

This inn was about 8 minutes from the Southwest Harbor bakeries and shops, 12 minutes from the Bass Harbor Lighthouse, and 30 minutes from Bar Harbor, which was perfect! There were beautiful little vistas nearby too!

I'm also amazed that I could afford to stay here. Their prices were so manageable for my budget and for an AMAZING place no matter what room. My friend and I stayed in the Dauntless Suite.

If I HAD to have a "complaint," I'd perhaps say they could communicate more on their website about what they offer. I bought paper plates, napkins, cups, etc. but they actually have those and wine glasses available in a little kitchenette! I also didn't know if they had laundry on-site. When I made the reservation, it was a little antiquated in terms of confirmation and receipts. They're super responsive to questions in email or call, though!

I don't know that this would be a good stay for little kiddos because there are lots of antiques and fragile aspects of the common areas and in our room, and TV/internet are not up to what they're probably used to, but it'd be hard not to enjoy...

I am not sure how the attic facing the harbor has ever been rented, it looked like someone's crusty grandma's house, smoke ridden, torn up furniture, and dust piles on the floor. This place is filthy! Moorings Inn, we stayed there one evening, and never again. Had we found availability at any other hotel in near proximity we would have left immediately. Let me paint you a picture, we walk in a door with a dwelling to the immediate left, and a doorway was straight ahead. Upon opening the door we go up a steep, dimly lit wooden staircase with a carpet runner down the middle. Arriving to the top in an attic, there is a bathroom straight ahead, to the left is a sitting area with a balcony overlooking the harbor. To the right is the bedroom. We proceed into the sitting room to have dinner at the table provided. The room has a stale, but potent cigarette smoke stench. Upon placing our garbage in the trash can it was obvious someone had just dumped their ashtray in it. Allergic to smoke, my eyes instantly well up, a severe migraine, and my throat starts closing up. I felt sick. We opened the door to the outside balcony and turned on the fan trying to circulate the air. Since we were stuck there I decided to shower off the stink. The bathroom had a slanted ceiling and the shower curtain was blowing with the steam as I am trying to duck and dodge it from hitting me, all the while standing staring at the mold ridden, and an unidentifiable orange sludgy substances from the ceiling. I look down to grab the provided soap, shampoo, and conditioner, but they are entangled in someone else's hair. I proceed to the bedroom door and figure there isn't anything else to do, but sleep the evening off. Walking into the bathroom there is some sort of pill, an elastic braces band, and a stretched out bobby pin on the dust covered floor. I pull down the covers, examine the bed, and it looks okay, however as soon as I lay down I notice it is two twin beds pushed together as one king. There are springs poking through both mattresses and my nightmare begins, less than two miserable hours of sleep. This inn should be renovated at least or condemned. Hands down camping in a tent would have been more comfortable and over $200...