A popular Bar Harbor breakfast restaurant with exceptional blueberry pancakes, broad breakfast choices, charming outdoor seating, and occasional waits or uneven execution.
Cafe This Way delivers strong food quality, with pancakes and Benedicts drawing praise across many visits, and friendly, efficient service that adds to the experience. Its tucked-away patio, flowers, and umbrellas make it a standout setting for Acadia-area travelers. Mixed reports on eggs, hash, and occasional pancake batches keep it just short of the very top tier.
Cafe This Way is a highly popular downtown Bar Harbor breakfast stop with a cheerful, lived-in personality: colorful interiors, a flower-filled patio, and a busy but generally well-organized dining room. The strongest recurring impression is a sunny, satisfying start to an Acadia day—especially when guests arrive after sunrise or before the crowd builds. As one synthesized diner sentiment puts it, the coffee keeps flowing while the room hums along. Parking is the unglamorous trade-off, and waits are common at peak times. The cooking is classic American breakfast with a few more distinctive turns rather than experimental cuisine. Blueberry pancakes are the headline act: crisp-edged, buttery, and packed with Maine blueberries in the batter. Lobster Benedict, smoked trout, shakshuka, tofu scramble, burritos, and customizable scrambles give the menu more range than a basic diner, while real maple syrup is a welcome touch. Most diners find the food excellent, but eggs, toast, homefries, and occasional pancake batches can be less consistent, so the reputation is strongest when you choose the proven favorites. Families should find plenty to work with: pancakes, French toast, chocolate-chip pancakes, the breakfast sandwich, eggs, homefries, fruit, and customizable scrambles are familiar choices, while the menu also supports vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free diners. Reviews include family visits and children enjoying breakfast, though the à-la-carte format means sides may cost extra. It is a good family option, especially early, but not the place to assume a quick, inexpensive stop during the busiest summer window.
Area vibe: Tourist-oriented coastal town with seaside charm, galleries, and outdoor recreation.
Safety: Generally safe and walkable with good lighting in central areas during tourist season.
What's nearby: Close to Harbor Loop, shops, ferry services, Acadia National Park access, and downtown Main Street dining.
Start with the crisp-edged Blueberry Pancakes, or go savory with lobster Benedict, smoked trout, or a vegetable-forward scramble.
An early arrival can avoid the usual wait, parking hassle, and extra à-la-carte charges for breakfast sides.
Expect a colorful, upbeat breakfast room with a flower-filled patio and a steady hum of activity.