Review: The Harborside Hotel, Spa & Marina, Bar Harbor, Maine

On a recent trip to Bar Harbor, I had the pleasure of staying at The Harborside Hotel, Spa & Marina, a centrally located luxury property overlooking Frenchman Bay.

Upon arrival and after taking advantage of the free self-parking option in the hotel’s small lot, I checked in to my premium oceanfront king guestroom, one of the property’s nearly 200 rooms. Check-in was fast and seamless and the desk staff kindly walked my spouse and me through a map of the property before sending us on our way.

The guestroom we chose did not quite offer an oceanfront view, so much as a bay view partially obstructed by town on one side, but there was little room for complaint. Watching the boats come in and out of the bay and the sky change above the islands made for a relaxing setting. The spacious room featured a small sitting area with a sleeper sofa, table and large bathroom with both a shower and soaking tub. The room’s balcony provided another sitting area and a two-person hot tub with views of the water.

Whereas the room, with its upscale nautical theme, was an excellent choice to kick off our Maine road trip and entirely comfortable, there was one small issue. The property features multiple balconies with hot tubs and, unfortunately, one of those balconies was directly above our own. As such, a seam in the decking allowed for a steady drip of water to fall from above, whenever the guests on the upper floor climbed into or out of their hot tub.

The dog-friendly hotel’s amenities include free WiFi, an on-site restaurant, spa, tennis courts and heated pool. However, it was, in the end, the location that truly made this property stand apart. Beyond being right on the water, it’s also right in town, allowing for easy walking to and from many of Bar Harbor’s attractions, restaurants, bars and shops. Then, when we were ready to drive to nearby attractions, such as Acadia National Park, getting out of town was equally easy.

The Harborside Hotel, Spa & Marina is located at 55 West St., Bar Harbor, Maine 04609.