New additions include chic cabanas, a heated outdoor swimming pool, an onsite spa, reimagined restaurants and bars, and multiple spots from which to enjoy breathtaking views of Somes Sound and Cadillac Mountain. Personalized amenities, services, and experiences, which are available for the exclusive use of our guests, will make your vacation as exhilarating or as relaxing as you wish.
Historic Main Hotel Home to Harry's Bar, Little Fern Restaurant, and Buttercup Bakery, our Historic Main Hotel features rooms designed for couples looking for a luxuriously appointed, stylish retreat. Located in the same building as our on-site amenities, these rooms vary in size and do not have desks to encourage you to disconnect from work and focus on fun.
Historic Main Hotel Home to Harry's Bar, Little Fern Restaurant, and Buttercup Bakery, our Historic Main Hotel features rooms designed for couples looking for a luxuriously appointed, stylish retreat. Located in the same building as our on-site amenities, these rooms vary in size and do not have desks to encourage you to disconnect from work and focus on fun.
Services
Whether your idea of relaxation is watching whales, strolling through a museum, climbing a mountain, or paddling a kayak, you can do it all in Southwest Harbor or nearby Acadia National Park. Our convenient location is less than a thirty-minute drive from dozens of activities and we're proud to partner with some of the best tour guides and service providers on Mount Desert Island.
Reviews (28)
Jason McCann
Dec 07, 2021
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Le Retoir
Oct 30, 2021
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Beautiful, beautiful place. Impressive renovation, fusing eclectic traditional decor with some contemporary glamour. Service was either hit or miss, really great at times and not at others. While overall the staff was professional, other people were at times simply rude. *** update the hotel has reached out to look into what happened and that is the appropriate course of action/ appreciated.
Colleen Dinsdale
Oct 24, 2021
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D. F.
Oct 19, 2021
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NOT TO BE MISSED! An outstanding and gorgeous hotel with a restaurant whose food is top-notch, service is kind, courteous, and attentive without being overbearing. The views and decor speak for themselves and it is an experience in itself just to take in the masterful environment in the Claremont since it has been so beautifully remade. The hotel parlors are comfortable and elegant, and the restaurant has been spared no detail. The menu is carefully thought out and creative, featuring local and fresh ingredients. The cocktails are not to be missed. I took my parents here during a vacation; we tried
T. R.
Oct 16, 2021
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We had a family meal at 'Little Fern' on Friday night, 8 October 2021.
Party of 8.
The food was good, the settting nice (a little loud at times - overcrowding), the staff quite gracious, and the service good.
However, a bit overpriced in comparison to other options available on that part of the island.
Would I go again? Yes. Would it be my first choice? No.
Party of 8.
The food was good, the settting nice (a little loud at times - overcrowding), the staff quite gracious, and the service good.
However, a bit overpriced in comparison to other options available on that part of the island.
Would I go again? Yes. Would it be my first choice? No.
Alexandra Brooks
Oct 15, 2021
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We had an excellent stay at the Claremont! The staff members were very kind and accommodating. The grounds are pristine, the aesthetic is dreamy, and the views are spectacular.
We ended up taking the complimentary bikes out for a spin and had a blast!
I would absolutely recommend this place, we had a lovely time!
We ended up taking the complimentary bikes out for a spin and had a blast!
I would absolutely recommend this place, we had a lovely time!
Holly L.
Oct 12, 2021
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Perfectly located in Southwest Harbor - the blissfully quieter and less touristy part of Acadia - Claremont is recently renovated and does justice to its historic roots while feeling very much of today. Our room, an ocean view in the Phillips House, was small but cozy in a good way. Most importantly, the bed was super comfortable, and the shower was amazing.
The hotel is full of comfy nooks, and the interior design is quite notable- I would describe the decor as "Maine elegant," though I'm not sure that's actually a thing. Of particular note are the eminently loungeable lobby
The hotel is full of comfy nooks, and the interior design is quite notable- I would describe the decor as "Maine elegant," though I'm not sure that's actually a thing. Of particular note are the eminently loungeable lobby
Alice D.
Oct 12, 2021
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It's a really beautiful hotel, but a couple of really frustrating things happened. Namely they told me upon checkin that there is free breakfast from 7:30-11:30.
Came down at 7:30 to be told pretty rudely that free breakfast doesn't start until 11:30. When I showed them the paper they handed me that said free breakfast from 7:30-11:30 she snapped that it must be old and the best she could offer me is one apple. (For my whole family)
Kind of unpleasant when you're spending almost $1000 per night.
We had been in a bakery the afternoon before where I specifically didn't get
Came down at 7:30 to be told pretty rudely that free breakfast doesn't start until 11:30. When I showed them the paper they handed me that said free breakfast from 7:30-11:30 she snapped that it must be old and the best she could offer me is one apple. (For my whole family)
Kind of unpleasant when you're spending almost $1000 per night.
We had been in a bakery the afternoon before where I specifically didn't get
Karen S.
Oct 03, 2021
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Our dinner at Little Fern was excellent, worth every penny. I had the salmon, my mother had the lamb, and my husband and son both had the ribeye. The setting was wonderful also. My only concern was the waiter's overzealous questioning of the quality of our meals. "Are they DELICIOUS?" Approach my table and quietly ask about my satisfaction. As the customer, I am the one to judge their deliciousness. (By the way, they were delicious!) Just let me judge for myself. I found it annoying.
Amanda Gifford
Sep 14, 2021
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Devil In The D.
Sep 05, 2021
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***dining review***This hotel has just gone through a major renovation.
There are two places to dine here. The Little Fern, which is the main restaurant in the main hotel. We were unable to secure reservations at the little fern, though we tried three times, so we were able to walk in to the Fish Camp, which is the more casual bar / bistro down on the water. Located at the entrance to the dock, which has one of the best views on MDI, looking up Somers Sound, it's really tough to beat from a location point of view. It is indoor / outdoor dining and Maine nights can get chilly after dark, so
There are two places to dine here. The Little Fern, which is the main restaurant in the main hotel. We were unable to secure reservations at the little fern, though we tried three times, so we were able to walk in to the Fish Camp, which is the more casual bar / bistro down on the water. Located at the entrance to the dock, which has one of the best views on MDI, looking up Somers Sound, it's really tough to beat from a location point of view. It is indoor / outdoor dining and Maine nights can get chilly after dark, so
Sandra Richardson
Aug 30, 2021
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We have always loved coming to the Claremont, and now it is even better! All the renovations are in keeping with the original, but more luxurious and fun. The food at Little Fern was delicious, and sitting poolside was a treat! The staff at check in were welcoming and extremely helpful. I highly recommend a stay here, and we will definitely be back!
Ian Bukowski
Aug 25, 2021
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We were here in early August for the first time since they renovated. Everything looks and feels fantastic, the upgrades and decor definitely seem brought it up a notch. The Fish Camp Bar, however, was utterly disappointing. It's somewhat forgivable that they have a very limited bar there, but the drinks were disappointing, particularly when priced at $14-$16 where you'd expect a bit more. At that price, I'd hope for higher quality cherries and garnishes than grocery-store maraschinos. The cheap plastic cups were not nearly as nice as the plastic cups that we received water in, but for a dock bar
Vince Curletta
Aug 24, 2021
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Excellent! We loved our stay at the Claremont. This is a very beautiful property close to Acadia National Park (but the much calmer side of the Island). We love that this hotel has been recently renovated and is like new. They've added a beautiful pool (heated) and included some very nice features (like a great spa). My wife and I look forward to our next visit!
Meg Wise
Jul 29, 2021
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**update the hotel saw the review & comped us a night which I truly appreciate. Thank you Claremont!
For the money they charge here you will do better elsewhere. I won’t come back. Staff isn’t that accommodating or nice, though I did meet 3 extremely nice black women who were staff & the lady in the bakery was nice. I had to tell them the door handle fell off bc I cannot even reach the front desk. Nothing seems open here , i don’t recommend it. The door handle to our room has fallen off numerous times & the shower curtain and rod kept falling down. The food is overpriced and low quality
For the money they charge here you will do better elsewhere. I won’t come back. Staff isn’t that accommodating or nice, though I did meet 3 extremely nice black women who were staff & the lady in the bakery was nice. I had to tell them the door handle fell off bc I cannot even reach the front desk. Nothing seems open here , i don’t recommend it. The door handle to our room has fallen off numerous times & the shower curtain and rod kept falling down. The food is overpriced and low quality
Judy B.
Jul 29, 2021
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Absolutely love this hotel! We've watched it get shabby over the years and then it was retired to full glory! Decided to have a drink in the afternoon at the bar Batsons Fish Camp. What a setting! Only problem is, the staffing shortage is a real problem. The server wasn't sure if they had all the ingredients for cosmopolitan, could definitely not make a Mojito, but we finally did get what we wanted. The beer was excellent, their own brew, and I did get my cosmopolitan after overhearing someone tell the kid to Google how to make it. My biggest complaint however is that for a drink that
Jeff T.
Jul 25, 2021
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A lovely hotel which has had an obvious face lift. Premium prices through out the hotel. Beautiful view of the bay and water from the back facing rooms. Pleasant grounds and a nice pool area. No pool service unfortunately. A very young pleasant staff with many lacking hotel service experience. A loose gravel driveway and parking area making walking and luggage rolling to the front of the hotel a bit difficult for the elderly. Personally I do not think I will come back for a stay as the quality of service did not meet the value for the premium prices paid. Best of luck to this hotel. Hopefully they
Paige Plumlee-Watson
Jul 06, 2021
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One of the best stays I’ve had the pleasure to enjoy. I heard they came under new ownership this season, and they have done a fantastic renovation. I don’t know what it was like before, but it’s gorgeous and elegant now. Someone took the care to pick really excellent classic books in the lobby, which is just beautifully designed. The service was IMPECCABLE. I really can’t say enough about that. The food is excellent as well. Totally recommend you splurge for a cabana for an afternoon like we did and laze away comfortably while the incredibly gracious staff bring you drinks and the best
Rob H.
Jul 04, 2021
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Emma C.
Jun 06, 2021
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On our last night on MDI we finally got to this side of the island. We decided on Little Fern for our last dinner of vacation, and I'm so glad we did. We didn't have a reservation but they were able to seat us, right before it filled up. The new renovations are stunning. We had never been before, but you can clearly see how much effort went into this renovation. Everything is stunning, and they're using some kind of all facility scent that's vented in, and it smells amazing. I want that smell in my house! The food was excellent and so were the drinks. Service was excellent,
Mary R.
Aug 17, 2018
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We had a terrific stay at the Claremont. I had expected it to be as wonderfully charming as it is, but was pleasantly surprised to also find that it is well-maintained and super-clean (our room was freshly painted and our bathroom was spotless). The included breakfast is full of delicious egg dishes, fresh fruits, yogurt, and house-made baked goods. One note about staying in Southwest Harbor- things close very early (9pm), even on weekends. This was perfect for us, but if you are looking for a bustling nightlife you will need to hop in the car. I can't wait to go back.
Meghan W.
Sep 08, 2017
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We stayed at the hotel for a wedding - absolutely gorgeous location. We had infants with us and stayed in the cabins, although were originally slated to stay in the main hotel. Hotel management was great and worked with us to make sure we had a room that suited our needs. Thanks for a wonderful Maine weekend!
Daisy T.
Oct 06, 2016
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Classic and classy historic hotel. Loved it. Was there in early October so lack of air conditioning was not an issue. Room was small but who cares. The grounds were charming and the view was wonderful. 3 croquet courts and 1 tennis court. Breakfast was adequate but dinner was excellent. We are definitely planning to go back next year.
Lori W.
Aug 08, 2016
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Only came for cocktails because my girlfriend loves this place and highly recommends it. This is our second consecutive year coming for the great blueberry Mohito's - she has a home in Surry so if she has picked out her favorite spots.
This place never disappoints! Great cocktails and a great bartender. My only recommendation is that they help staff it a little bit better. Our bartender, a very competent female, knows how to make drinks. She was the only bartender; had to be 24 people enjoying the great view.
Don't shortchange your guests. She had to deliver drinks too. Only one
This place never disappoints! Great cocktails and a great bartender. My only recommendation is that they help staff it a little bit better. Our bartender, a very competent female, knows how to make drinks. She was the only bartender; had to be 24 people enjoying the great view.
Don't shortchange your guests. She had to deliver drinks too. Only one
Christie D.
Jul 06, 2015
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Beth D.
Jul 20, 2014
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Annie E.
Aug 29, 2011
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So I guess if 2.5 is average for a 5-star rating system then The Claremont was a below average experience. There are apparently many different types of rooms to stay in - from rooms inside the hotel to cottages. We stayed in cottages W2 and W3 (came out to $330/night). If I were reviewing only the cottage aspect of the hotel I would give one star.
I was looking for something rustic, something charming. These cottages were extremely in need of updating. And I don't mean cosmetic updating, I mean tear them down to the studs and fix them. Our bathroom was gross, I really didn't want to
I was looking for something rustic, something charming. These cottages were extremely in need of updating. And I don't mean cosmetic updating, I mean tear them down to the studs and fix them. Our bathroom was gross, I really didn't want to
Morriss P.
Oct 19, 2009
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Outstanding and historic hotel with incredible views of the Southwest Harbor of Mount Desert Island. It's small, quaint, and offers an elegant breakfast as part of the experience. There are several well-manicured croquet fields, and you can grab any of the basic bicycles (one-speeds) off the front porch to ride around. There are only a few rooms spread amongst the main inn and a couple of cottages so book early! The gas-fired stove was a nice touch too. Unfortunately, my stay here with my honey was much too short... next time we'll have to explore more! Southwest Harbor in general is
