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21 Albert Mdws, Bar Harbor, Mount Desert Island, ME 04609
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Update from hotel: This property has indicated that they are taking safety precautions against COVID-19.Read more
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A note from Balance Rock Inn
Updated 21-03-04
About
#19 of 45 in Bar Harbor
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Travellers' Choice
Balance Rock Inn is one of the premier oceanfront lodging properties in Bar Harbor, ME. Set on a secluded tree-covered property with expansive views of Frenchman's Bay, this luxurious bed and breakfast Inn's name celebrates the "balance rock," a precariously positioned boulder on the nearby ocean shore, a huge remnant from an ice age.
The Inn offers a tremendous sense of privacy and serenity, yet steps away lies downtown Bar Harbor with its village green and many fine shops and restaurants. Built as a family "cottage" in 1903, when wealthy tycoons selected the most desirable locations along the rocky, island-studded Maine coast for their summer season mansions, Balance Rock Inn today presents romantic ambiance and luxury amenities to make your vacation relaxing and unforgettable. Gaze from the veranda past the glistening swimming pool, beautiful flower gardens and sweeping lawns framed with stately trees, to where the property connects with the historic Shore Path walk along the water
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free internet
Pool
Fitness Centre with Gym / Workout Room
Free breakfast
Bicycle rental
Boating
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Wifi
Pool with view
Outdoor pool
Heated pool
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Complimentary welcome drink
Outdoor dining area
Wine / champagne
Golf course
Hiking
Mini golf
Canoeing offsite
Concierge
Newspaper
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor fireplace
Picnic area
Sun deck
Umbrella
24-hour front desk
Ironing service
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Room features
Bathrobes
Air conditioning
Fireplace
Housekeeping
Private balcony
Cable / satellite TV
Flatscreen TV
Complimentary toiletries
Safe
Seating area
Telephone
Wardrobe / wardrobe
Bottled water
Clothes rack
Iron
Private bathrooms
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Radio
Hair dryer
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Room types
Ocean view
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Quiet
Quaint
Languages Spoken
English
Location
Full view
100Great for walkers
Grade: 100 out of 100
67Restaurantswithin 0.5 km
46Attractionswithin 0.5 km
Contact
21 Albert Mdws, Bar Harbor, Mount Desert Island, ME 04609
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Rental CarsSee all Bar Harbor car hire
638Reviews14Q+A100Room tips
Reviews
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We loved this Inn. Unfortunately it wasn't available for our full stay so ended up splitting time with another Inn that didn't even come close to this place. Location is great! It is both on the water and downtown. Breakfast was awesome! We will definitely stay here again.
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Date of stay: July 2021
Location
Cleanliness
Service
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
+1
Hotel's Favourite
We loved the Balance Rock Inn. Such a quaint luxury inn. Richard and Justin were very welcoming and friendly. Richard offered great recommendations and made sure all of our needs were met and he was a pleasure. As well as Sarah at the restaurant. This inn is the perfect mix of new school comforts with old world charm. Felt like home. Everyone calls you by name which is nice. The restaurant was fabulous. Romantic dinner at sunset with great ambiance and food. Breakfast was wonderful also. The mini crustless quiche were my favorite. I loved how they gave the options at breakfast. We had a great room with a balcony and were very pleased with it and the furnishings. Especially the sleep number bed! Our suite had a very nice view. The inn is conveniently located on the shore path and close to town, but you don’t feel like you’re in the middle of all of the touristy things! Would definitely recommend and visit again. …
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Date of stay: October 2020Trip type: Travelled
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Claire Miles, Owner at Balance Rock Inn
Responded Dec. 8, 2020
Dear mccason, Thank you for sharing! We're so happy that you enjoyed your time with us at Balance Rock Inn. Your experience is our number one priority. We want to ensure each guest feels welcomed and attended to. We look forward to your return. Sincerely, Claire Miles
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This was our third stay at Balance Rock. We've chosen this due to the location right on the ocean equipped with a spacious ocean view patio where one can enjoy breakfast or drinks. We chose a different room this time as the previous room was small and needed updating. This room did not disappoint as it was spacious, tastefully decorated and had a large updated bath, which our previous room did not. It appears the inn is slowly updated the rooms to restore the elegance and glamour to this quaint inn. The staff was professional and engaging.
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Date of stay: October 2021
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Of all of the hotels and properties we visited on our trip to Maine, the Balance Rock Inn was the best! Our room--a King Superior--was absolutely lovely, and the updated bathroom was just perfect for us. The multi-course, included breakfast was extremely delicious and had something for everyone. I am an early riser, and having the ability to scoot down to get regular brewed coffee way before him being ready for breakfast was big plus. Management was absolutely lovely and very accommodating. Because it was my birthday, we were given a bottle of sparkling, which we consumed one afternoon out by the pool. The bar graciously gave us ice and an opener. Unlike the previous reviewer, we thought the dinner menu was spectacular. The rolls were to die for!
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Date of stay: September 2021
Value
Rooms
Service
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Fantastic location and stunning views. Close to town and Park. Wonderful pool area, firepit and adirondack chairs. Had positives and some negatives though. that I would not expect for this price point. Had expectations of something great as I had always wanted to stay here . View is amazing. but Room is tired. Room 310 had a sauna that did not heat up properly and it took the space of the shower so that the shower/tub was very tight to get in and out of. Would eliminate the sauna. Room needs an update. Bed slightly sags and the window did not stay open fully. AC Fan blows right on the bed when on. Breakfast was nice addition with coffee out early. Many restaurants around as Inn is actually in town, but tried the Veranda one night to be adventurous -I did not like the selections of the restaurant menu as it was too eclectic for my taste, and somewhat pretentious. Dinner Menu and the appetizers served at the firepit would benefit from a wider selection to appeal to more people eg. a cheese plate offering would have been nice.( Also, the Inn had no snacks or afternoon cookies out that I could see.) Silverware was also very thin and "slippery" and did not seen sharp enough to cut the meat.( I think the restaurant is averse to using side plates as well). Staff were friendly. Layout of dining area awkward as people have to walk by the dining tables to get out to the back lawn. Would probably stay here again but would dine elsewhere .…
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Date of stay: September 2021
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Helpful
Beautiful hotel tucked away from the madness of Main Street. We enjoyed the gorgeous views, delicious breakfast and excellent local recommendations from Justin and Richard. We especially loved the pool after a long day of hiking at Acadia.
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Date of stay: June 2021Trip type: Travelled
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Woke up: slept remarkably well, was highly suspect of the janky select-comfort bed, but despite the air pump being oddly noisy... I enjoyed a much better night's sleep than I did at the lovely Marriott hotel in Portland. (Yay!) Breakfast: overall nice-ish with one major exception. Server was attentive and helpful. Unlabeled meat in frittata was far less helpful, esp. for a vegetarian. Traded my egg whites to my wife for her frittata. Yoghurt & granola parfait was yummy. Coffee was good. I suppose the water was good as well. (Frowny-face) Reception desk: needed to get something printed, so I stopped by the reception desk during breakfast. There was already another guest standing there... but there wasn't anyone there and other staff didn't seem to know when they were coming back. On our way out several minutes later, there was the addition of a sign saying that reception had stepped away. Apparently, pretty far away. (Frowny-face) Parking lot: holy hell these other guests need to learn how to park within painted lines. (Not the Inn's fault) Swimming pool: returned from long day of great hiking... pool was delightful. (Yay!) After dinner drinks: had a fantastic dinner in Northeast Harbor, then came back and wanted a couple glasses of wine. One of the staff in the restaurant invited us to sit in the lounge where we could have a couple glasses of wine. Then we saw another guest try to get up out of a chair and totally collapse the back legs, destroying the chair (based on what you are about to read, I am uncertain regarding the level of staff attention to the broken chair). Then we hoped one of the staff would come by to take our order. Several staff walked by. Over and over. And over again. But none of them stopped to take our order. We were going to get up, but I kindof wanted to see how much longer we might wait and be ignored. After a few more minutes, it became clear... the answer was... longer than we were really willing to wait. (Frowny-face) Overall: nice hotel, location is good, it's mostly clean, the bed is comfortable, but there are areas that definitely need attention/renovation. Meat in frittata should be labeled and a little staff attention when trying to order some overpriced wine would be nice. Would stay elsewhere if we come back, but don't regret staying here for this trip. …
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Date of stay: September 2021Trip type: Travelled
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Beautiful location in Bar Harbor. The outdoor area is 5 stars however the rooms are not. I have no internet in my room, none of the windows open, the floor and rug are dirty, cobwebs by the noisy air conditioner….It has such potential.
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Date of stay: August 2021Trip type: Travelled
Helpful
we had a lovely stay. room well appointed (view, porch, sauna and jacuzzi) Lovely quintessential view of the maine coast and bar harbor islands. breakfast was included and choices were good. Dinner at the veranda restaurant was a treat with different options than the other restaurants in town.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: July 2021
Helpful
I wanted to start off and say that we did book in winter when the prices were almost half of what is being charged for the same rooms now ($685). That being said, my glowing review perhaps would not be the same if I paid a higher rate. First, wow!! The lane leading up to the inn feels so quaint and secluded it’s hard to believe you’re a block from all the action! The property is an experience in an of itself! Simply divine! The best is parking. Where this is located you don’t need a car to do anything in Bar Harbor. Our room. We choose room 306 for the view and balcony. It is smaller but you’re not even looking at the room when you’ve got that view! The included breakfast was hearty and delicious! The coffee and pastry bar all day is such a nice touch when you’re popping in and out! We were so sad the weather did not allow for us to enjoy the pool. It is the ultimate luxury to have the gorgeous grounds surround you while you look out at the ocean! This hotel was a highlight all by itself for our trip. We felt that the details were all thought out. When it was time to leave Bar Harbor, I was ok with our next destination but I was NOT ready to leave this magical hotel. Well done!…
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: July 2021
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
PRICE RANGE
US$501 - US$910 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
balance rock hotel bar harbor, balance rock inn bar harbor
LOCATION
United StatesMaineDownEast and Acadia MaineMount Desert IslandBar Harbor
NUMBER OF ROOMS
26
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Claim Your Listing Frequently Asked Questions about Balance Rock Inn
Which popular attractions are close to Balance Rock Inn?
Nearby attractions include ImprovAcadia (0.4 km), Shore Path (0.2 km), and Criterion Theater (0.4 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Balance Rock Inn?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free breakfast, a pool, and an on-site restaurant.
Which room amenities are available at Balance Rock Inn?
Top room amenities include air conditioning, a flat screen TV, and a fireplace.
What food & drink options are available at Balance Rock Inn?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Balance Rock Inn?
Conveniently located restaurants include Thrive Juice Bar & Kitchen, The Stadium, and Cafe This Way.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Balance Rock Inn?
Yes, guests have access to a pool and a fitness centre during their stay.
Are pets allowed at Balance Rock Inn?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Are there any historical sites close to Balance Rock Inn?
Many travellers enjoy visiting St. Saviour's Church : (0.5 km), Sieur de Monts Spring (3.0 km), and La Rochelle Mansion And Museum (1.0 km).
Does Balance Rock Inn have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the harbour view available here.
Is Balance Rock Inn accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access and reduced mobility rooms. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.