My Top Restaurant Picks for Takeaway Picnics

One of my family’s favorite ways to enjoy a day in Acadia is to pick up some food from a local restaurant, pack it up and take it on the trail so we can enjoy something other than a PBJ with a view. We’re fortunate to have TONS of yummy restaurant options on MDI (and I plan to highlight other favorites in future posts), but below you’ll find my picks for best trail-picnic, kid-friendly options!

Note: one of my important criteria for picking up food before a hike is that I can order online and just run in quickly to pick up so I don’t need to get kids out of the car or entertain them while we wait for food to be ready. So all of these options have easy online ordering options.

Mother’s Kitchen/Coffee Matter

This sweet little spot is in Town Hill, not too far from the head of the island. They have an extensive menu of super delicious sandwiches (all of which can be done as salads if you prefer) and have lots of different options for different dietary needs - we have a celiac in our family, as well as dairy sensitivities so I very much appreciate a place that has options for all of us! They also do lots of different fresh-baked goods and fantastic coffee (I mean, they’re also a roastery so it’s goooooood good).

See the menu and order here.

Choco-Latte

This place is a downtown Bar Harbor staple, located right on Main St. as you head out towards Park Loop Rd. We love hitting up Choco-Latte before morning hikes in the Park Loop Rd. area especially! They have bagels house-made daily with various cream cheese options and also hummus and other dairy free options. Their maple cream cheese is a toddler favorite in our house! They also offer gluten-free bagels and bread for their breakfast sandwiches. Grab a fancy coffee drink too and you’ve got a perfect little morning picnic to enjoy at Sand Beach or on the rocks along the Ocean Path!

See the menu and order here.

Little Notch Bakery

One of the anchors of Main St. in Southwest Harbor, Little Notch has great pastries and also amazing pizza and sandwiches. And yeah, pizza isn’t the easiest thing to take on a hike, but if you have a hiking backpack one of their small pizzas fits perfectly in the bottom of it hah! They’ve got classic sandwich options as well as options I’ve never seen elsewhere like a Roasted Broccoli sandwich (it’s sooooo good). You’ll also find a selection of specialty grocery and snack items here; I usually can’t resist picking up a treat for later!

See the menu and order here.

Quietside Snacks

If you search takeout on MDI you’ll likely find Quietside Snacks at the top of the list, for good reason! They have the besssst burgers, fried chicken, and fries that they serve out of an adorable Airstream in Bernard on the quietside of the island. They’re also so conscientious about dietary restrictions and even have a separate gluten free fryer and a delicious veggie burger. There are some beautiful spots to enjoy picnics nearby - one of our favorites is Seawall. You can set up at one of the picnic tables and enjoy oceanfront dining while the kids can run wild!

See the menu and order here.

Mount Dessert Bakery

Another bakery on the list that does so much more than just pastries and coffee, Mount Dessert has a big menu for both breakfast and lunch with lots of good to-go options. They have a wide variety of options for different dietary restrictions and even have a section especially for kids. Located in downtown Bar Harbor, they’re a great option for pick up before heading to the Sand Bar and Bar Island (just be mindful of the tide)!

See the menu and order here.

Milagro Coffee Bar

Another Southwest Harbor option, Milagro is a great little coffee shop with yummy breakfast sandwiches and burritos, in addition to reeeeeeally good pastries and coffee (their salted chocolate chip cookie is the best cookie I’ve ever had). It’s also the only place I’ve found that has Just Egg for vegan breakfast sandwiches! You can also grab some fun drinks for the trail, like non-alcoholic mojitos and the like from their drink case.

See the menu and order here.

Carriage Road Carry Out (if you’re hiking around Jordan Pond)

This place is located on the top floor above Jordan Pond House and has some of their classics (like popovers) available for takeout, in addition to sandwiches, salads, and soups. It’s not a convenient location, though, unless you’re hiking and picnicking around Jordan Pond (which is a must-do). You can eat at one of the tables just outside if you can manage to snag one!

See the menu here (this is the only place on the list that doesn’t have an online order option).