Whether you’re visiting the Camden Maine area or have been living in the city for a while, finding the best restaurants Camden, Maine has to offer can make the city more interesting. There are several eateries to choose from in the city. You can find:
- family friendly restaurants
- restaurants suitable for a date night
- restaurants for a special event
- restaurants for an on-the-go meal
Maine is also known for its huge seafood selection, so you can also find quality seafood restaurants in Camden, Maine that will satisfy your craving for a decadent lobster dinner. Depending on the occasion, you may want to enjoy your meal at a restaurant with a scenic view. Camden restaurants on the water make dinner even more enjoyable and provide a backdrop for stunning pictures to help you remember your special event.
If you want your next dining experience to be memorable for your family, date, or coworkers, here are some of the best restaurants in Camden, Maine to choose from.
Top 13 Camden Restaurants
Fresh & Co.
1 Bayview Landing // +1 207-236-7005
This restaurant offers fine dining, international dishes as well as delicious fresh seafood.
Since the large menu is varied, Fresh & Co. is a great place for a business meeting or large family dinner, so that everyone can find something they will enjoy.
The eatery was voted one of the best local Maine seafood restaurants in Camden, and you can choose from appetizers like calamari or dinner entrees like lobster ravioli and cob with herbed pasta.
There are also vegetarian menu items like falafel or moussaka, an eggplant-based traditional Greek dish.
Fresh & Co. has a variety of sandwich options as well, so whether you’re in the mood for a burger, a lobster roll or prefer a vegetarian or vegan sandwich for a filling meal.
The restaurant is ideal for romantic dates and other special occasions due to its elegant yet welcoming atmosphere. And it’s very good because they serve the freshest ingredients all the time.
The staff is friendly and attentive, which makes it easy to plan your event ahead of time and request that an area of the restaurant is reserved for your special event.
Hartstone Inn
41 Elm Street // +1 207-236-4259
Hartstone Inn is a refined dining establishment that is one of the top local favorites in Camden for getting a seafood meal that you won’t soon forget.
In addition to choosing from a variety of crustacean and fish dishes, Hartstone Inn provides several gluten-free and vegan options for diners with special dietary restrictions.
If you have an important business meeting or want to take someone special in your life out for a fancy dinner, Hartstone Inn is the place. The restaurant provides a comforting and sophisticated atmosphere and the service is exceptional.
Hartstone Inn also offers an impressive wine selection to bring out the flavors of your meal.
In addition to an exquisite dinner, you can also enjoy a decadent dessert, such as the dark chocolate brownie with caramel and vanilla bean ice cream. Or maybe you’d prefer the pumpkin cheesecake with spiced whipped cream and a gingersnap crust.
Hartstone Inn is also a wonderful place to make friends and family for a holiday dinner that features both unconventional and traditional fare.
Franny’s Bistro
55 Chestnut Street // +1 207-230-8199
Franny’s Bistro is one of the best restaurants in Camden, Maine if you’re looking for tasty, classic American fare. The restaurant is comfy and gives you a warm, welcoming feeling as soon as you enter.
Whether you want an appetizer like calamari or you prefer a salad made from fruits and vegetables grown locally, Franny’s Bistro is the restaurant to visit.
The eatery also features several seafood and surf and turf dishes, as well as a variety of cocktails to complement your meal.
You can choose from hearty dishes like roots and grits, which feature delicious roots vegetables on a bed of creamy grits. The bistro also offers a Roast Poussin that is one of the best in the city.
Franny’s Bistro is such a nice restaurant in Camden, Maine and sits on the high on the list.
If you want to visit a restaurant during your visit to Camden that makes you feel at home and offers updated versions of some of the dishes you’d make in your own kitchen, this eatery has what you’re looking for.
Hoxbill
5 Bay View Street // +1 207-230-8713
If you’re in the mood for quality bar fare and want to hang out with friends and family in a casual, friendly restaurant, you’ll want to check out Hoxbill. They have such a cozy dining room.
You can choose from gluten-free and vegetarian options, as well as traditional bar food and a wide variety of seafood options.
If you want a plate of fresh oysters or shrimp prepared several ways, prefer a pasta dish with fresh herbs or want to try Hoxbill’s pizza with chorizo and rib meat, you’ll be satisfied with your meal and you’ll likely want to visit the restaurant again.
The restaurant is family-friendly but also includes a full bar and outdoor seating so you can take in the view while you enjoy your meal.
Harbor Dogs
1 Public Landing // +1 207-230-4397
The lobster roll is one of the foods Maine is known for. The state offers some of the tastiest seafood in the country, and lobster rolls are just as easy to obtain as a hamburger in Camden.
If you want fast good food, need to get takeout for entertaining guests at home or want to get a great meal during your lunch break, Harbor Dogs is the place.
This seafood fast food restaurant is appealing to visitors as well as those who have lived in Camden for years. You can get the lobster roll with buttered lobster seasoned with fresh herbs and Old Bay or dressed with a mayonnaise-based dressing.
If you’re trying to watch your carb consumption, you can get all the deliciousness of a lobster roll on a bed of Romaine lettuce.
The service is quick and the team is friendly and able your questions, especially if you’re ordering a lobster roll for the first time.
The restaurant is located in the parking lot near the Main Street harbor, so you can order their quality food and enjoy it by the water.
Natalie’s at Camden Harbour Inn
83 Bay View Street // +1 207-236-7008
If you have an adventurous palette and want to try new amazing food when you’re visiting Camden, take your loved one or friends to Natalie’s.
The restaurant is in the Camden Harbour Inn, which is one of the nicest places to stay when you’re in the city.
The gourmet restaurant has several innovative seafood dishes, as well as options for vegetarian and vegan diners.
The salads at the restaurant include both vibrant vegetables and edible flowers, as well as dressings flavored with infused oils, fresh herbs, and citrus fruit.
You can also order a different kind of delicious food such as lobster prepared in a variety of ways, and once you’ve finished dinner, you can stay overnight at the Inn.
The Drouthy Bear
50 Elm Street // +1 207-236-2327
Want to plan a fun night out with friends? Check out this great place called The Drouthy Bear next time you’re in the mood for creative pub fare and want to try one of the best restaurants in Camden, Maine for fish and chips or beers on tap.
You can also enjoy some traditional bar food like nachos or order a serving or two of fried oysters.
The restaurant has a rustic feel that makes you feel comfortable as soon as you step inside. The Drouthy Bear has some of the best fish and chips in Camden, and if you enjoy French Canadian food, you can even order a serving of poutine.
The pub is especially popular among family and friends during the holiday season since it’s near the Christmas by the Sea Festival Parade.
Large groups of friends and family members often visit The Drouthy Bear after attending a Christmas event in the city or shopping for holiday gifts.
River Ducks Ice Cream
19 Mechanic Street // +1 207-322-7129
After you’ve enjoyed dinner at one of the best restaurants in Camden, you can stop by for dessert at River Ducks Ice Cream.
You can get a large cone with ice cream in your favorite flavors, a fruit parfait topped with whipped cream and chopped nuts, frothy milkshake or a banana split to share with friends.
The bright colors that adorn the ice cream restaurant make the eatery stand out, and the ice cream shop is near Megunticook Falls, so you can enjoy more tourist attractions after picking up your ice cream.
The ice cream restaurant is family-friendly and the service is top-notch so you’ll want to visit again the next time you’re in Camden.
Long Grain
20 Washington Street // +1 207-236-9001
Long Grain is one of the top restaurants in Camden for quality Asian fare.
There are lots of delicious Thai dishes to choose from that include beef, chicken and seafood, as well as vegan and vegetarian dishes.
You can try pad Thai, as well as several curry-based homemade soups; the restaurant also offers grilled and sautéed meat dishes with fresh vegetables for a meal that is both healthy and filling.
There are also several salads to choose from, along with tasty seafood dishes like spicy mussels that make the meal especially memorable.
Just remember to let your server know the spice level you desire for your dishes since each meal is packed with flavor and spices that are suitable for adventurous palettes.
Which of these restaurants In Camden, Maine do you most want to try? Let me know in the comments section below!
Camden House of Pizza
12 Mechanic St, Camden, ME, United States //+12072302464
Great restaurant with great prices, an Italian-greek pasta gyros menu, and excellent employees who make happy customers.
Whether you order pasta, pizza or even a salad, the taste is yummy, the size is correct, and you won’t get your wallet empty. Plus, you’ll leave happy and full.
Nice little old restaurant, but it’s going to catch your eye, and if it does, go in there and eat.
The crust is perfect: not too thin, not too thick, but light and airy texture. Good cheese, good sauce flavor, and most importantly fresh ingredients.
Spicy Buffalo Chicken Pizza is the pizza I ordered, and I loved it. It’s a signature pizza for the restaurant, and the seasoning is impressive; you can choose between blue cheese and ranch dressing. I like cheese more than dressing, so I chose blue cheese, which tastes good.
Street parking is provided so you will not struggle to find space outside.
The Waterfront Restaurant
48 Bay View St, Camden, ME 04843, United States //+12072363747
Modern restaurants on the harbor, with a breathtaking view and delicious fresh seafood, make a perfect combination for hot summer days.
We went for lunch and ordered Calamari & Shrimp; as the main dish, we took Atlantic haddock fish, chips, and Lazy lobster. It is all nicely cooked; the tastes are balanced, and you can still feel all the tastes separately and mixed simultaneously.
The prices are reasonable; lobster’s price depends on the market price, but still not expensive. The service is excellent. The relaxing atmosphere and the music are not very loud, so you can still conversate with each other.
Cuzzy’s Restaurant
21 Bay View St, Camden, ME 04843, United States //+12072363272
It is an old town-style tavern with a warm feeling, a fantastic atmosphere and great food.
Their homemade marinara is absolutely delicious, combined with cheese nuggets as a starter and a good Big Mac Attack pizza, oven-baked crust with a few types of cheese and ground beef, and topped with lettuce, pickles and onions.
We tried their famous Swiss burger and when it was served, it was cooked as requested, and there was a generous portion of mushrooms and onions on it.
The servers are welcoming and attentive. There are ping pong, darts, and an amazing view on the upper floor.
Marriner’s Restaurant
35 Main St, Camden, ME, United States //+12072364949
Great homie feels warm behavior from the staff and delicious food. The deck overlooks the harbor, so it has a fabulous view, and the prices are excellent!
The portions are generous, a lot of food when you order something. For example, I ordered Haddock chowder, many large haddock pieces. The clam chowder smells perfect and is mouthwatering too. The serving is fast, and what you order is definitely the best food you’ll ever eat.
This restaurant gives you the best local feeling with good atmosphere. For dessert don’t forget to try the Fresh Maine Blueberries Pancake.
FAQ
1. What are the most popular restaurants in Camden?
The Waterfront Restaurant, Cuzzy’s restaurant, Marriner’s Restaurant, Camden House of Pizza are the most popular restaurants in Camden.
2. What are the best restaurants in Camden that provide takeout?
Marriner’s restaurant, The Waterfront Restaurant, Camden House of Pizza provide takeout.
Traveling To Maine? Check out our other Foodie guides:
Best Bar Harbor Maine Things to Do
The Best Restaurants in Bar Harbor, Maine
The 10 Best Seafood Restaurants In Bar Harbor, Maine
While in Camden, don’t miss out on activities that will help immerse yourself with the city (hurry while they’re hot!):
Travel writer and owner of the blog. My work has been featured on Fodors, Eater.com, International Living, and Great Escape Publishing, among many others. My story? Nearly six years ago, I left my job at an Oklahoma City law firm and embarked on a journey around the world. At the time, I thought I would only be gone for 6 months, but the more I traveled, the longer my bucket list became. Flashpacker describes how I travel. Rather than traveling as the normal world wise backpacker and staying in hostel dorms, I prefer a more comfortable experience, and typically stay in private rooms, take Ubers instead of taxis, and now use a suitcase instead of a backpack. Foodie, on the other hand, describes one of the key reasons why I travel. I love to pick a central “base camp” and then explore the surrounding area, really immersing myself in the culture and interacting with the people, and enjoying and exploring the food of an area is an essential part of this experience.
Jimmy Lobs
Saturday 7th of August 2021
Thinking of eating at few places What do you recommend from Fresh and co Peter otts. Waterfront Frannys Thanks for you time
Chris Jaeger
Saturday 14th of August 2021
@Jimmy Lobs, We grew up here in Camden and you will be very happy with all. Seriously. Stay 4 nights and try them all. But get reservations at those that take them and plan a decent wait at those that do not. My first choices are Fresh and Waterfront but they are all equal in value and in quality.