Guide to Waterfront and Oceanfront Dining in New England

Bluenose Inn

90 Eden Street Bar Harbor, ME, 04609 Phone: 207-288-2665

Great breakfasts, stellar service and amazing views of the bay: a recipe for memorable dining

See why Yankee Magazine called the Looking Glass Restaurant, at the Bluenose Inn, the “Best Restaurant with a View.” While you’re looking out over Frenchman Bay from the restaurant’s outdoor deck or indoor dining area, you’ll be served the freshest pastries, hot dishes and special orders for that classic New England breakfast. Ask for the Maine blueberry pancakes or blueberry muffins or build your own egg scramble. Is there lobster for breakfast? Yes, this is Maine, so you’re going to want to try the lobster eggs Benedict. In addition to fresh juices and coffee, the restaurant also makes some mean breakfast cocktails, including mimosas and Irish coffee. In the evening, enjoy a glass of wine while listening to live piano music in the Bluenose Great Room and piano lounge.

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Brenton Hotel

31 America's Cup Avenue Newport, RI, 02840 Phone: 401-849-3100

Admire the water view, enjoy the imaginative menus at boutique hotel’s tantalizing restaurant

At the Brenton Hotel, eating in the living room is not only permitted: It’s highly recommended. With its dramatic oceanside view and fresh, seasonally inspired menus, the Living Room at the Brenton is the go-to place in Newport for delightful small plates like grilled lamb lollipops and beef sliders, enough-for-the-table entrees like lobster salad and truffle fries and fabulous desserts like molten lava cake and key lime tarts. A curated list of craft cocktails, artisanal beers and fine wines has been designed to complement each dish. You might also enjoy a cocktail in The Bar at LR or, better yet, on The Rooftop, where you can sip your signature cocktail and dine on small plates while marveling at jaw-dropping harbor and city views. Named to the Travel & Leisure Top 500 Hotels in the World in both 2022 and 2023.

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Paddy's Beach Club

159 Atlantic Avenue Misquamicut, RI, 02891 Phone: 401-596-2610

A quick drive into Rhode Island brings you to one of the country’s best beach bars

Just pop across the border into coastal Rhode Island for some fun dining and great atmosphere at Paddy’s Beach Club. Named a Top 10 Beach Bar in America by Coastal Living magazine, Paddy’s is known for its energetic and fun staff, welcoming vibe and a menu that says “fabulous day at the beach.” Appetizers include calamari, Paddy’s famous smoked wings and Irish nachos (and don’t forget raw bar offerings). Bigger plates range from street tacos and quesadillas to salads, burgers, fish and chips, fried scallops and lobster rolls. Enjoy them all — plus drinks like Island Rum Punch, the Shark Attack and the Beatbox Punch Bowl — under an umbrella on Misquamicut Beach, RI. There’s a kids menu and a gluten-free menu, too. Check the website for the live entertainment calendar.

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Ocean House Resort

1 Bluff Avenue Watch Hill, RI, 02891 Phone: Toll-Free: 877-346-9442

So many options to choose from for dining with water views – or right on the beach

The options for waterfront dining at the classic Ocean House resort are numerous – and you may want to try all of them. There’s COAST, CNN Traveler’s World Best Waterfront Restaurant in New England, offering seasonal menus. More casual fare, with a coastal twist, is offered at The Bistro. In summer, dine on exquisitely prepared seafood on the outdoor terrace at The Verandah, or on Mexican cuisine at the ocean-view Dalia by Danton Valle. There’s a Mediterranean-inspired beachside menu at Thea at Dune Cottage and crepes and champagne at the charming Secret Garden. And, of course, don’t forget the inn’s lobster boils and barbecues on the beach on select weekend nights. In the winter, reserve a vintage ski gondola for private dining at Gondola Village. Ocean House was recently named to Forbes Magazine's list of "Most Luxurious Hotels & Spas", and is one of the top 100 hotels in the world among Travel + Leisure readers.

Visit our sister property, Weekapaug Inn.

Ocean House Resort has been voted one of the Top 20 Resorts in New England in the 2025 Condé Nast Readers’ Choice Awards.

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Tugboat Inn

80 Commercial Street Boothbay Harbor, ME, 04538 Phone: 207-633-4434

Restaurant built around tugboat superstructure will steer you to great seafood, steaks

How many restaurants invite you to come up and visit their original wheelhouse when you are done dining? That’s one of the many reasons guests of the Tugboat Inn, as well as locals, love coming to the Tugboat Restaurant, built around the superstructure of the historic tugboat “Maine.” Its’ popularity, though, is mainly about the food: fresh-off-the-boat seafood, steaks with real sizzle, perfect pasta dishes. Whether you stop in for a haddock reuben, seafood alfredo or a burger, you’ll leave satisfied (there’s also a Young Mates Menu for the kids). And don’t forget to visit the Tugboat Roof Top Deck, with a pub menu, craft cocktails and bird’s-eye view of the harbor. The Marina Lounge on the marina deck also offers pub food, drinks and live music in season.

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Higgins Beach Inn

34 Ocean Avenue Scarborough, ME, 04074 Phone: 207-883-6684

Inn’s popular restaurant serves up casual cuisine, with the ocean as a backdrop

Eggs Benedict in the morning and lobster scampi in the evening? Yes, you can do that at Shade, the re-envisioned on-site restaurant at the Higgins Beach Inn. You’ll soon see why the restaurant is a favorite not only with inn guests but with locals in the Scarborough, ME area. The atmosphere on the three-season porch is refined yet casual as you relax in the cool breezes off the ocean. Dinner might mean starting off with Atlantic fish chowder or a salad or perhaps Maine crab and corn fritters. Then, try the lobster roll or a grilled flank steak or a great burger. Order wine by the glass or bottle, one of several local brews or a specialty cocktail.

Click here to see more Migis Hotel Group properties.

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Naswa Resort

1086 Weirs Boulevard Laconia, NH, 03246 Phone: 603-366-4341 Toll-Free: 888-556-2792

Brilliantly crafted cuisine, creative cocktails will draw you to this restaurant with lake views

Enjoy exceptional Lake Winnipesaukee dining at The NASWA Resort, where fresh seafood, lake views, and family friendly menus come together. The Blue Bistro is our signature waterfront restaurant, serving breakfast and dinner with options ranging from perfectly cooked Angus steaks and seafood specialties to creative vegetarian dishes and a full kids’ menu. Start your morning with guest favorites like the Big Wake, Egg McMakris, or Caribbean French Toast. For casual lakeside lunch or dinner, visit the NazBar & Grill—our beachfront bar known for tropical cocktails, lobster rolls, burgers, and unbeatable sunset views. Finish your day with classic New England entrées and homemade desserts. Whether you’re looking for romantic waterfront dining or a relaxed beach bar, The NASWA offers one of the best dining experiences on Lake Winnipesaukee.

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Steele Hill Resorts

516 Steele Hill Road Sanbornton, NH, 03269 Phone: 603-524-0500 Toll-Free: 855-475-4372

Discover mouthwatering meals paired with the Lakes Region’s most spectacular panoramas

Perched atop Steele Hill in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, Steele Hill Resorts overlooks Lake Winnipesaukee and Lake Winnisquam with the White Mountains rising beyond. Accommodations range from well-appointed hotel rooms to spacious suites, all with easy access to the resort’s extensive amenities, including indoor and outdoor pools, hot tubs, fitness facilities, and miles of walking trails. Dining is a highlight at the resort’s Hilltop Restaurant, where large windows frame sweeping lake views. Guests enjoy all-American comfort food, from hearty breakfasts to thoughtfully prepared dinners. Pair your meal with a local craft brew or signature cocktail, then unwind next door at Tova’s Tavern—featuring a cozy fireplace and full bar service. Don’t miss their popular weekend breakfast buffet.

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Paddy's Beach Club

159 Atlantic Avenue Misquamicut, RI, 02891 Phone: 401-596-2610

Great staff at popular beach bar and lounge serves up fun drinks, fresh seafood, burgers

What could be better than enjoying a meal in the sun and by the surf at Paddy’s Beach Club on picturesque Misquamicut Beach, RI? Named one of the best beach bars in the country by Coastal Living magazine, Paddy’s energetic and fun-loving staff also serves up a great oceanside menu, starting with beach bites like Irish nachos, calamari, the freshest offerings at the raw bar and Paddy’s famous smoked wings. The menu also includes salads, burgers, street tacos and quesadillas, fish and chips, lobster rolls and fried scallops as well as gluten-free options and kids’ meals. Drinks are creative and refreshing, from Paddy’s Pina Colada and the Shark Attack to the Island Rum Punch and tea shooters. Check the calendar for a live entertainment schedule.

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Interlaken Inn

74 Interlaken Road (Route 112) Lakeville, CT, 06039 Phone: 860-435-9878 Toll-Free: 800-222-2909

Relax with a delicious meal and a stunning view of the property at Morgan’s Restaurant

A relaxing meal at the inn after a day spent kayaking, swimming, hiking or skiing: Doesn’t that sound perfect? At the Interlaken Inn’s Morgan’s Restaurant, they have been serving delicious food since 1999 to guests who admire the seasonal menus as much as they admire the views of the property seen through large windows. Cozy and classic, Morgan’s is open Tuesday thru Saturday featuring Tuesday tacos, a nightly sushi special, small plates and more. Our newest partner, On The Run Coffee Shop, provides self-serve grab ‘n go including daily hot breakfast sandwiches. In the summer season, there’s a weekend food truck featuring goodies such as lobster rolls, seafood boil, hot dogs, and cold beverages.

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Fisherman's Wharf Inn

22 Commercial Street Boothbay Harbor, ME, 04538 Phone: 207-633-5090

Coastal cuisine served in dining rooms with eye-popping views: That’s the Fisherman’s Wharf experience

A succulent lobster dinner on the outside deck looking out over the harbor. A sizzling grilled-to-order steak and a glass of wine in the dining room with panoramic water views. A hearty sandwich and glass of local beer in a cozy pub. That’s the award-winning dining experience at the Fisherman’s Wharf Inn’s restaurant. With its fabulous water views, it’s no surprise that the menus lean toward reinvented coastal cuisine using the freshest local ingredients. You might want to start with crab cakes or steamers, then move to baked haddock, fisherman’s pie or, of course, lobster taken from trap to table. But there’s also a large selection of salad, pasta dishes, burgers, chicken and steaks. The kids’ menu has all their favorites, from chicken fingers to veggies and ranch dressing.

Visit our sister properties - Tugboat Inn - Boothbay Harbor Inn

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Seaport Hotel Boston

One Seaport Lane Boston, MA, 02210 Phone: 617-385-4000

With a nod to the neighborhoods, this bistro serves up contemporary approach to eating local

From Italian North End pizza to New England clam chowder and lobster rolls to freshly prepared sushi, the TAMO Bistro + Bar at the Seaport Hotel celebrates the vibrant culinary scene and history of Boston, MA’s neighborhoods. And the celebration, fit for all foodies, comes with a great water view, as the restaurant overlooks scenic Boston Harbor. With herbs and veggies from the hotel’s rooftop garden, honey from its own bees and locally sourced produce, fish and meats, the bistro serves up a contemporary approach to eating local. Menu possibilities include baked bay scallops, grilled tofu and vegetable skewers, grilled ribeye, burgers and, for dessert, seaport cheesecake and creme brûlée. There’s a kids’ menu with all their favorites. The bar features hand-crafted cocktails, an extensive wine list and local micro-brews on tap.

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Cliff House

591 Shore Road Cape Neddick, ME, 03902 Phone: 207-361-1000 Toll-Free: 855-210-6901

At this restaurant, you’ll feel you are suspended over the Atlantic – because you are

At the Cliff House’s signature restaurant, The Tiller, diners revel in the location, suspended over the ocean, overlooking panoramic views of Cape Neddick and the Atlantic. The restaurant honors Maine’s coastal heritage by partnering with local fishermen, as well as farmers, distillers and purveyors to combine the area’s rich traditions with culinary innovation. The fish is line-caught, the steaks locally raised, the presentation elegant and inviting. There’s a great local beer list, international wine selections and handcrafted cocktails. You’ll want to sip one or two when you watch the fabulous sunset. Summer diners also enjoy majestic water views and a quintessential Maine experience at Nubb’s Lobster Shack, where lobster rolls rule. And, small plates, seasonal cocktails and a raw bar set the perfect seaside scene at The Terrace.

Cliff House has been voted one of the Top 20 Resorts in New England in the 2025 Condé Nast Readers’ Choice Awards.

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Waterfront Dining - New England