Bluenose Inn – A Bar Harbor Hotel

Situated atop a hill that overlooks Frenchman Bay, the Bluenose Inn features well-maintained outward-facing gardens and expansive views of the water. The property is split between three guest buildings: Rooms are housed in the 52-room Mizzentop the 45-room and Stenna Nordica, while a third building contains special facilities such as the indoor heated pool, steam room, spa and gym. Before the Bluenose Inn was built, the original building on the site was a summer estate of Mrs. William Morris Hunt and constructed in 1884. She named the stonework Mizzentop and some of these stones remain beneath the current building of the same name.

The lobby has a very traditional look and feel, much like the rooms and suites; the look may be too dated for some tastes. Large windows, white walls, and maroon carpeting pair with classic wooden furniture and upholstered chairs. Hallways are less colorful, with gray carpeting and traditional chairs and end tables. Mizzentop’s Great Room is a popular meeting spot to work on laptops, enjoy a wine tasting, or just relax and listen to live music on the grand piano. There are many couches and seats with vibrant, printed upholstery.

Views are the major draw here -- though it's worth noting that unlike the Bar Harbour Inn, the property is not right on the water and parts overlook a road as well as the bay. The views of Frenchman Bay are visible from both the indoor breakfast area and the outdoor patio. Simple light wood tables and chairs are set up inside the Looking Glass restaurant, with large windows on either side. There’s a bar area with traditional bar stools there as well. The restaurant has lots of wood -- wood floors, wood tables, wood ceilings, for a cleaner feel, with maroon-colored walls and and high ceilings. The light gray wooden tables and chairs outside have a more casual feel and there’s a fire pit that is lit in the evenings. While families are welcomed at the Bluenose Inn, the majority of guests are adults. 

Bar Harbor Hotel – Bluenose Inn is located on a private road atop a granite, terraced hillside that overlooks Frenchman Bay, with views of the water and surrounding nature. From Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport, it’s about a 20-minute drive to the hotel and The College of the Atlantic is directly across the street. Acadia National Park and downtown Bar Harbor is a three-minute drive away. Downtown is close enough to walk to (it would take about 20 minutes on foot), but there's no sidewalk along the road leading to it so most choose to drive. There are several other hotels and lodges in the area and even more accommodation options downtown.

The Bluenose Inn has 97 hotel rooms and two-person suites split between the Mizzentop and Stenna Nordica guest buildings. Bed sizes vary among rooms but for the most part, the traditional decor is consistent throughout. Bright, floral bedding prints, deep red carpeting, upholstered chairs and couches and dark brown wooden shelving and mirrors are consistent with the classic, albeit dated, design theme. Most Mizzentop rooms have fireplaces and private balconies, while Stenna Nordica rooms have a shared common balcony. Beds are either feathertop or Tempur-Pedic. The bathrooms feature tiled floors, marble countertops, and crystal wall and lighting accents. Views are the main reason people come to Bluenose Inn and almost all rooms have at least a partial view of the water, but many overlook a road as well. 

While a view of Frenchman Bay is one of the hotel’s biggest perks, the amenities are fairly extensive. Guests have the option of an indoor heated pool and a fenced-in outdoor pool, both of which open at 7 in the morning. Access to the hot tub, steam room, and exercise room are also free for guests. Eden Spa is on the small side but tastefully decorated, with warmer decor (like white couches) than the traditional furniture seen in the common areas and rooms. Services range from massages and body treatments to manicures and pedicures. The Great Room hosts live piano music and wine socials with cheese and crackers. There’s also a gift shop that sells locally made products, like Maine-made Blueberry Ware. The Looking Glass Restaurant is only open for breakfast and dinner and is open to both guests and non-guests. Its location is inconvenient for some, as it's located in a separate building next to the hotel. It's a short walk up the hill or a ride on the golf cart shuttle.