From gorgeous hotels to beautiful beaches, there are so many reasons to visit Kennebunkport, Maine. The natural beauty, agriculture, and fishing culture lend themselves to a plethora of fresh, delicious farm-to-table eats worth the trip from Boston. At only 90 minutes from Boston, it’s perfect for a day trip or weekend getaway, filled with adventure and tons of good eats! Keep on reading to find our guide to the best places to eat in Kennebunkport, Maine.
1. Earth at Hidden Pond
There’s a reason Earth is one of Maine’s hardest to get reservations. Foodies travel far and wide just to snag a table at the rustic farm-to-table restaurant part of Hidden Pond resort. It’s a tasting menu only, which is convenient, since it’s a must that you indulge in a bit of everything at this exquisite dining experience.
The menu changes seasonally, based on what’s fresh, but standout dishes from past rotations include charred carrots with a peri peri sauce, a lobster soup with pear and butternut squash, and truffled tartare. Always on the menu for dessert are Earth’s famous Sarsparilla Donuts, served warm on a stone with a side of homemade vanilla bean ice cream. They’re the kind of dessert you’ll dream about until your next visit.
2. Rosella
No one does seafood like New England, now imagine that as an intimate sushi joint tucked inside the cozy enclave of Grand Hotel at the center of town. Rosella, named after the vibrant parrot, boasts its own colorful assortment of sushi and sashimi, often prepared with locally caught Maine seafood. The coast-to-table model means sushi that is abundantly fresh, delicious, and unlike anything you’ve had before. Pro tip—order the Fatty Tuna and White Kimchi roll and thank us later.
On a cold night in Maine, Rosella’s Laksa Ramen is the perfect bowl to cozy up with, made with spicy curry broth, fresh steamed broccolini, mushrooms, pickled cucumbers, and torched Maine eel.
3. The Clam Shack
No tourist traps, only lobster traps at this Maine institution.
Ever since winning the titles of both “the world’s best lobster roll,” and “America’s best lobster roll,” The Clam Shack boasts a line from opening day through the last day of service. Boasting unobstructed views of Kennebunk River, the seasonal New England seafood shack opened in 1968, and quickly earned many accolades for its lobster rolls, becoming a rite of passage in any Kennebunkport visit. While the lobster roll is the go-to for most, The Clam Shack offers many other seafood options, with the Maine steamers being a close second favorite! The Clam Shack operates seasonally, so make sure to confirm that they’re open before visiting!
4. White Barn Inn Restaurant
Situated inside the rustic and upscale White Barn Inn, Auberge just under a mile from Gooch’s Beach, the restaurant specializes in farm-to-table New American eats. During peak season, they’re open for lunch and dinner, but in the off-season dinner only. Dinner’s served inside their elegant barn with exposed wood beams and a famous floor-to-ceiling window which the inn decorates with an outstanding seasonal cornucopia—think hay bales, mums, and massive pumpkins in fall and exquisite florals in the spring. Forbes named the tomato tartare here “one of the 13 best dishes in the world.”
5. Fiafia Smoothie Shop & Café
Mainer “McDreamy” frequents this cafe when visiting Maine, and Patrick Dempsey clearly has good taste. The unassuming smoothie shop secretly dishes out one of New England’s best acai bowls, and the specialty lattes are a must before any beach day—the Sweet Cardamom Latte shouldn’t be missed. The shop itself leans into the local surf culture, making you feel like you’re in Hawaii even more than New England.