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We've compiled the best of the best in Penobscot Bay - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
From the couple that owns Rio’s and located right next door to the restaurant, this bakery has a strong European influence, reflecting the owners' European heritage. It serves as a nice place to enjoy a coffee from the espresso bar, savory options like quiche or sausage rolls, and a wide variety of sweets including the namesake amandina, a Romanian chocolate layered cake.
Located in a 200-year-old farmhouse complete with wide-plank wood floors and a large brick fireplace, this restaurant is worth the 10-minute drive inland from downtown Camden. Chef Michael Nowak uses Maine-grown ingredients on his Italian-inspired menu with highlights including housemade pasta, chicken liver mousse on sourdough toast, and impeccably prepared local seafood like scallops and halibut.
Serving lunch and dinner, the fare at this casual café is inspired by the cooking of chef Evan Richardson’s Costa Rican grandparents. Serving sizes vary—small plates like empanadas and tilefish ceviche are perfect for snacking, while entrées like spice-rubbed chicken (smoked in the restaurant’s offset smoker) and rondon, a seafood-packed Caribbean stew, are more hearty.
Look for the bright yellow doors that mark the entrance to this microbakery on the way into downtown Camden. Located in a workshop next to the owners’ home, laminated dough is the star here, featured in fruit-filled danish, croissant, “cruffins” (croissant muffins), and savory pastry. The treats here are made with local flour, butter, eggs, cheese, and produce and sell out quickly, so arrive near opening or preorder for best results.
The sister establishment to Ports of Italy in Boothbay Harbor, this pleasant restaurant offers a selection of house-made pastas with traditional sauces, many featuring local seafood. Second-course choices include veal scaloppine, pan-seared scallops, and porchetta. Among the most popular starters is the Insalata Caprese, which comes in a deliciously crunchy basket made from Parmesan cheese. Dine indoors, on the porch, or on the patio. There's also a small pizzeria in a little building next door.
While technically open until 11 am, the donuts at this popular bakery frequently sell out well before then, so get there early or preorder online the day before your pickup to guarantee the best selection. Baker Todd Bross makes up to 400 yeast brioche donuts daily in the high season, with specialty glazes and toppings like blueberry lemonade, espresso cream, and The Homer (strawberry with sprinkles).
With espresso drinks, drip coffee, tea, and a variety of baked goods, this minimalist coffee shop is a great place to enjoy breakfast or a light lunch. The back patio offers seating with a spectacular view of the harbor.
