Fortunately, there are plenty of excellent dining options in Bar Harbor, including McKay’s Public House, Side Street Cafe, and Rosalie’s Pizza, all of which make a good stop for lunch or at the end of a full day of hiking or touring the national park.

Right on Main Street in Bar Harbor, McKay’s Public House is here to bring a bit of that Victorian elegance from Bar Harbor’s past back to modern times. Serving fine-fresh foods, you’ll get to choose from a variety of dishes like the Jamaican bean & Vegetable Soup, McKay’s Wings, Truffled Seafood Risotto, and Coconut Curry. Enjoy dining in a building with pieces of the original architecture still in place like the fireplaces, tables, and other pieces that add a different kind of feel than you’d get at other restaurants in the area.

Set in a restored 19th-century home, McKay’s Public House brings a touch of sophistication to Bar Harbor’s dining scene while still maintaining a warm, relaxed energy. The pet-friendly outdoor seating area is a fenced-in gravel garden, allowing dogs to lounge comfortably while their humans enjoy dinner under twinkling lights and tree canopies. McKay’s emphasizes seasonal and locally sourced ingredients, with dishes like pan-seared scallops, duck breast with cherry reduction, and creative vegetarian offerings.

McKays Public House: McKays Public House has recaptured the traditional elegance of Bar Harbor’s past in its historic Victorian building on Main Street, Bar Harbor. It showcases original fireplaces, copper tables, and oak wainscoting in its comfortable dining rooms in which the creative local and organic cuisine is served year-round. An inviting copper bar accented by stained glass windows on the first floor is a perfect place to enjoy a pint of our carefully selected ales.

Touted as “creative twists on classic pub fare,” the menu at McKay’s is definitely that; you’ll enjoy an elevated, tavern-style dining experience here, from stem to stern. Cocktails, appetizers, entrees, and desserts—all delicious and beautifully presented. McKay’s closes for a short spell in winter and reopens in March to the folks that surely missed the beautiful copper-topped tables and bar, the professional, friendly staff, and the spectacular food.

231 Main St Bar Harbor, Maine | American, Bar, Seafood Cuisines | $9 – $17 | Monday to Sunday 5:00 pm – 9:30 pm. In the charming downtown area of Bar Harbor, McKays Public House is a classy public house with unique design and interior components, including wood wainscotting, ambient fires, a small wine bar, and a fully equipped copper first-floor bar. It is in a historic Victorian-era structure.

The patio at McKay’s Public House (231 Main St.) is one of the most charming al fresco dinner spots among Bar Harbor, Maine restaurants. Even before outdoor dining was a thing for everyone, you could always find us here. The restaurant, in a stately and well-restored Victorian home, is nothing to scoff at either, but we’ve always liked it outside at McKay’s.

The Bar Harbor dining circuit awaits back in town, with creative surf-n-turf pub entrees and chic Victorian decor at McKay’s Public House and delicious Latin America-meets-Maine innovation at Havana. Just be sure to leave room for a big sugar cone from Mt. Desert Island Ice Cream, where the small-batch ice cream packs a serious butterfat wallop.

McKay’s still holds its place as my personal favorite restaurant in Bar Harbor. They serve a really lovely seasonal menu that is hearty, approachable, and varied. You can get a lobster if that’s what your heart desires, but you can also have a steak, seafood risotto, a wood-fired pork chop, or some really excellent apps.

McKay’s Public House offers a relaxed dining experience in downtown Bar Harbor, featuring a menu rich in seafood and comfort food. The lobster stew is a highlight, showcasing the fresh flavors of the sea. Accompanied by seafood risotto, McKay’s menu caters to those seeking hearty and satisfying dishes.

McKays Public House is a favorite local restaurant set in a classic Victorian building on Main Street. Serving organically grown produce and locally caught seafood, McKays offers a wide range of local dishes mixed with comfort foods to warm the soul. Image via McKays Public House Facebook page

McKay’s Public House — This was our more “upscale” date night spot, compared to the rest of our very casual dining experiences on this trip. It wasn’t fancy, but it was a step above pub food. My husband and I split some local oysters as an app, and let the record show that I actually ate them!

If there were no other reason to like McKay’s, the fact that it’s open year-round would speak well for it. But there are plenty of other reasons, beginning with the fact that it’s true to its name—this is a genuine public gathering place, and one of those spots in Bar Harbor where…

Poor Boy's on lower Main is excellent for lobster, best deal on the island. Blaze on Main is a wood fired joint, about 30 beers on tap, good food as well. McKays Public House is good (on lower Main as well), as is Side St Cafe and Lompoc on Rodick.

For those seeking a touch of elegance, McKay’s Public House serves high-end surf ‘n’ turf and pub fare with global accents. The quaint Victorian house setting, complete with a lush garden, adds a touch of charm to your dining experience.

Then we get into things such as McKay which looks completely fine and more the kind of place we'd normally go, but straying out of the "Splurge on a fancy date night" vibe I was hoping to surprise my wife with.

Our server, Julia, was incredibly attentive, considerate and accommodating. We asked about some gluten free choices and she checked with the kitchen before placing the order. All four of us enjoyed our meals.

McKays Public House: While not a traditional pizzeria, McKays Public House deserves a mention for their gourmet pizzas. Their unique combinations of toppings and flavors are sure to delight your palate.

Mckay’s Public House is an excellent choice if you are staying in the Downtown Bar Harbor area. The restaurant serves high-quality Surf & Turf fare with global influences in a quaint Victorian setting.