The Claremont Hotel
Hotel · Southwest Harbor ·
Waterfront croquet, live music, spa, pool, farm-to-table
.jpg "The Claremont Hotel by Erin Little")
.jpg "The Claremont Hotel by Erin Little")
Waterfront croquet, live music, spa, pool, farm-to-table
"As one of the very few luxury hotels on Mount Desert Island, I appreciated The Claremont Hotel’s bright, beachy decor (including fabrics by William Morris and Pierre Frey), Matouk towels and ultra-soft Cuddledown pillows, and its roster of amenities—heated pool, sumptuous spa, fitness cottage—plus restored historic guest rooms, woodland cottages, and oceanside bungalows in tranquil Southwest Harbor." - Emily Pennington
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"While in the Acadia National Park area, book a room at The Claremont Hotel for a quintessential Maine experience with panoramic views of Somes Sound; the 1883-era property was commissioned by a retired sea captain." - Nicole Kliest
"Located on Mount Desert Island, this historic hotel has offered a quiet coastal respite since 1884 and is reopening after extensive renovations on its six-acre waterfront property. I like that it will offer a range of high-end accommodations — including 12 cottages, four suites, and a secluded three-bedroom house ideal for family gatherings — and that nostalgic touches such as a restored croquet club, an old-school candy store, and the hotel's signature doughnuts are part of the experience." - Dobrina Zhekova Dobrina Zhekova Dobrina Zhekova is a writer with over a decade of editorial experience in Europe and the U.S. She covers luxury travel, art, architecture, and design. Her writing has appeared on InStyle.com, Vogue.com, Elle.com, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"Because the ferry to Swan's Island leaves from Bass Harbor, I often recommend staying at The Claremont Hotel, which offers amenities like a heated outdoor pool, onsite restaurants, a spa, and a range of accommodations from historic rooms to one- to three-bedroom cottages and luxury waterfront vacation homes." - Erinne Magee Erinne Magee Erinne Magee is former lifestyle writer with 10 years experience. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"Why book? For sophisticated summer-camp vibes wrapped in high design and detail-oriented service; think waterfront croquet, live-music singalongs, and fire pits with a side of spa treatments, lawn-front cabanas, a fabulous heated pool, and farm-to-table food offerings. Set the scene Sitting on the Quiet Side of Mount Desert Island in Maine, Southwest Harbor is one of the best access points to Acadia National Park’s dramatic landscapes, as well as some of the island’s best dining concepts. Locals know the Claremont as one of the latter—Little Fern restaurant’s dining room, the adjacent Harry’s Bar, and the more casual and semi-outdoor Batson Fish Camp brewpub all attract Mainers near and far looking for a cocktail or meal with a picturesque view of the Somes Sound. New England Brahmin staying on-site post up at the dining room or in cozy Harry’s bar, and rowdier locals and visitors in boat shoes and shoulder-slung sweaters pile into the game-room-turned-music-venue (on weekends) called Croquet Club for live music after an afternoon out on the town. Nearby, Northeast Harbor is home to scenic drives and waterfront and elevated dining gems, like Abel’s Lobster and Copita, that pull tourists out of busy Bar Harbor (located on the opposite side of Acadia National Park) for a quieter change of scenery. The backstory The Claremont is a chic rebirth of one of Mount Desert Island’s most historic properties—and one of the oldest remaining hotels on the island, dating back to the late 1800s when it was built by a retired sea captain. Following a renovation after the property was purchased by a new owner in 2020, it’s now a super-stylish iteration of the former multi-house family property, with 24 rooms in the main house and array of suites in adjacent cottages and cabins. There are also two multi-bedroom houses, Harbor Rose and Ocean House, available for week-long group stays (book well in advance). Loyal repeat visitors from the days of the “old Claremont” remain, with many making a tradition of a shoulder-season fall visit for a calmer stay that aids enjoying the fireplace and watching the fall foliage change over the water from porch rocking chairs (cozy blankets provided). In summer, the resort is a playground of activities like croquet, swimming, boating, and sunbathing from a stocked (and pink-and-green pinstriped) lawn-front cabana. The rooms Rooms and suites alike are havens of the same Instagram-worthy design seen throughout the property: Wallpapered nooks, round sea-facing windows, ancient-feeling leather armchairs, and nautical decor like ships in bottles and sailor sketches are all expertly curated throughout the rooms and common areas—the latter of which are always teeming with friendly guests enjoying each other’s company, or reading a title plucked from one of the perfectly stacked book shelves. Suite-style lodging in the cottages (mine was in the garden-adjacent Summer House with a view of the light-strung vegetable and flower beds) are worth the splurge for a living area complete with cozy sitting nook, a wrap-around porch to share with your neighbors, plus a bathroom flanked by a massive walk-in shower stocked with l’Occitane bath products. Any corner of this hotel will have you wanting to snap a photo to remember every curated detail, from the antique-feeling furniture to the sleek artwork perfectly arranged in clusters on the floral-wallpapered walls. It's Alice in Wonderland whimsy meets classic ship-captain's quarters, and it works. One thing you won’t find in your room? A desk—purposely absent to encourage visitors to unplug from their now ever-present remote work culture. Food and drink The three on-property dining concepts are inextricably linked, with Harry’s Bar providing all the imbibing options to Little Fern (both are in the main house) and waterside Batson Fish Camp adding a gastropub with house-brewed beer options to the familiar upstairs drink list, plus a hearty offering of elevated bar food (in a more casual setting). Little Fern is the star venue for both breakfast and dinner with its sea- and farm-to-table (from the aforementioned onsite garden) offerings including a squash-nestled halibut at dinner and classic breakfast options like the local-blueberry and buttermilk pancakes. Reservations are all but required for Little Fern, and are worthwhile for the raw bar offerings (local oysters and fresh shrimp cocktail), impressive specials like dry-aged steaks, and Maine-appropriate menu stars like a puff-pastry topped lobster bisque and spicy seafood fra diavolo pasta. Harry’s Bar is the perfect place for a nightcap after a long day of exploring the island—but can get busy as it’s small and attracts non-guests (and pulls double duty as the restaurant’s source of cocktails). But seats turn over frequently enough that you’re sure to snag an armchair after a short exploration of the lobby seating areas. Off the Harry’s cocktail menu, don’t miss the Garden Martini (an easy-drinking pear and thyme-infused gin concoction) or the Rye Sheaf (for belly-warming whiskey topped with cold cream). If you’re more of a beer drinker, Batson’s dockfront operation offers its own rotating brews that include phenomenal summer-style ales—there were two delicious sours on tap for my stay; a tart gose and an easy-drinking saison. The spa On-site spa Botanica is surprisingly robust, with four massage rooms and offerings that include body scrubs, CBD facials, body wraps, and aesthetic services like waxing. Book ahead (especially during high season) if you want to loosen up or relax after a long day of hiking. The service Service is detail-oriented yet unfussy, in true Maine fashion. Staff are eager to assist you, answer any questions you might have, and pour a complimentary glass of prosecco to celebrate your arrival at check-in. Programming schedules and a quick run-down of the different social spaces and cottages on-site are also welcome inclusions upon check-in (while you enjoy that welcome drink). For families On-site programming is family friendly, and families of more than two will have more than enough space in any of the suite-style room options or cottages onsite. On my visit couples with kids in tow were enjoying everything from the high-end restaurant to the group tours of the garden. That said, if you’d like an adults-only atmosphere, Harry’s Bar definitely has it. Accessibility Accessible King rooms are available in the main hotel, which is ADA compliant. Anything left to mention? Surrounded by swaths of birch and verdant fir trees, the design focus of this summer-camp-feeling hideaway is a winning combination for a truly unique Maine stay that might just make you an annual loyalist of this dreamy resort on Mount Desert Island’s Quiet Side." - Shannon McMahon
