Southern Maine is dangerously good at convincing you that a quick weekend away should somehow include three breakfasts, two lobster rolls, beach walks, cocktails, doughnuts, and “just one more” stop on the way home. From Ogunquit and Wells to Kennebunkport, Biddeford, and Saco, this stretch of coast has a little bit of everything I want in a Maine getaway: walkable seaside towns, old-school institutions, newer spots doing exciting things, and plenty of excuses to plan the day around where you’re eating next.
Check out my Maine Map for all my favorites.
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Ogunquit & Wells
Food Stops We’ve Loved
Lobster Shack (Seafood)
110 Perkins Cove Rd, Ogunquit | 207-646-2941
If you’re staying in Ogunquit, I highly recommend walking the Marginal Way along the coastline. It ends at charming Perkins Cove, where you will hopefully have worked up an appetite for a lobster roll at Lobster Shack. Their lightly dressed lobster salad on a bun is simple and exactly right, especially with a side of potato chips. When we went, I ordered the lunch special, which came with a cup of clam chowder, and I’m so glad I did.
Reservations: Walk-in only
Favorite Dishes: Lobster Roll, Clam Chowder
Brix + Brine (Seafood)
49 Shore Rd, Ogunquit | 207-641-2971
On our first trip to Ogunquit, this was our first stop for dinner and it was the perfect way to ease into the weekend. We sat outside beneath a massive tree, with a light breeze, and a martini in hand before enjoying some delicious dishes. My kind of night.
Reservations: Walk-ins only
Good to know: Seasonal; typically open early May through mid-October, weather permitting.
Favorite Dishes: Crab Melt, Bluefin Tuna Poke
Congdon’s Doughnuts (Breakfast)
1090 Post Rd, Wells | 207-646-4219
Just a 10-minute drive from downtown Ogunquit, Congdon’s is a must-visit breakfast stop in Wells. When we went in August, the line snaked out the door, which I’ve heard is pretty standard, but they are absolute pros and it moves quickly. They’re known for their doughnuts, but also offer breakfast sandwiches, bagels, pastries, and coffee.
Reservations: Walk-in Only
Favorite Dishes: Blueberry Fritter
Food Spots Still on My List
- The Front Porch (Ogunquit): Piano bar.
- Flo’s Hot Dogs (Cape Neddick): Cape Neddick hot dog institution.
What to Do Between Meals
- Marginal Way Cliff Walk (Ogunquit): A gorgeous coastal walk that ends at Perkins Cove, which is very convenient if you, like me, believe the best hikes end with a lobster roll.
- Main Beach (Ogunquit): We aren’t really beach people, but we loved doing a morning walk here at low tide. Just know that the beach shrinks to a sliver at high tide and gets absolutely packed during peak season.
- Main Street Bar (Ogunquit): Can’t resist a night of drag
Sites Still on My List
- Hidden Pines Cabins (Berwick) – You had me a luxury cabins
Where We Stayed
I’d highly recommend staying in downtown Ogunquit if you can. It’s very walkable, and parking and traffic can be an absolute nightmare in high season.
- The Colonial Inn (Ogunquit): Loved how close this was to everything. It’s a historic inn, nothing too fancy, but charming, with a small pool and free ice cream treats available at all times, which is exactly the kind of hotel perk I respect.
- Ogunquit Hotel & Suites (Ogunquit): We booked this as a last-minute, pet-friendly option and would not recommend it. The pool was pretty, but the pet-friendly rooms left a lot to be desired. Also worth noting if you’re bringing a dog: pets can’t be left in the room unaccompanied, which makes dinner plans tricky. And, not to bury the lede, there is a slightly odd cemetery tucked behind the hotel.
Kennebunk & Kennebunkport
Food Stops We’ve Loved
Bev’s Cafe & Market (Breakfast/Lunch)
41 Main Street, Kennebunk
Opened by Nate Norris and Annie Callan, San Francisco transplants who both worked at the beloved Zuni Café, Bev’s is a sunny breakfast-and-lunch spot in downtown Kennebunk. My friend Mindy recommended we stop here on our way down to Boston for coffee and a quick bite, and she was right. We opted for the phenomenal carrot cake, but they’re also known for their sandwiches, which we didn’t try this time. Next visit.
Reservations: Counter service
Favorite Dishes: Carrot Cake
Food Spots Still on My List
- Earth at Hidden Pond (Kennebunkport): A woodsy, candlelit farm-to-table splurge
- Wandby Landing (Kennebunk): Cozy, Italian-inspired coastal Maine cooking
- White Barn Inn (Kennebunk): rustic barn setting that still feels very old-school Kennebunk
- The Clam Shack(Kennebunk): iconic stop for fried seafood and lobster rolls
Where to Stay
The Colony Hotel – Okay, full disclosure: I may be a little biased because my husband oversees weddings at The Colony, but this historic hotel is a Kennebunkport icon for a reason. Perched right above the water with sweeping views of the Atlantic, it has that classic, old-school New England resort feel in the best way: big porches, ocean breezes, hydrangeas, striped umbrellas, and the sense that you should probably be drinking something cold outside. It all feels very Maine summer, without trying too hard.
Biddeford & Saco
Food Stops We’ve Loved
Finestkind (Breakfast)
17 Pepperell Square, Saco | 207-494-7083
Everyone and their mother raved to me about this place, which is no surprise since it’s from the same team as one of my Portland favorites, Central Provisions. My husband and I finally made it there on a snowy Sunday morning this winter, and I think it may be my new favorite breakfast spot.
It’s casual and homey, with house-made pastries, very good coffee, excellent breakfast sandwiches, and brunch food that feels thoughtful without being fussy. Every town needs a spot like this. If we lived in Saco, it would 100 percent be our go-to.
When the weather is nice, our plan is to order ahead, grab everything to go, and head to the beach while the dog runs around living his best life.
Reservations: Walk-in only/counter service
Favorite Dishes: Raspberry Berliner, French Omelet, Breakfast Burrito
Magnus on Water (Dinner/Cocktails)
12 Water St., Biddeford | 207-494-9052
We had easily one of the best meals of our year at Magnus on Water – and we eat out a lot. We came with four friends, which was exactly the right move because it meant we could order our way through nearly the entire menu of Peruvian-inspired comfort food.
It’s cozy, a little moody, and very good at making dinner feel like an event without taking itself too seriously. And don’t sleep on the inventive cocktail list. Even if you can’t order the whole menu, you truly can’t go wrong. No matter what lands on your table, you’ll leave happy.
Reservations: Available on OpenTable
Favorite Dishes: Haramasa Tiradito, Miso Salad, Coconut Shrimp, Couple Oysters, Mussel Toast, Short Ribs, Eggplant Sudado
Pizza by Alex (Pizza)
93 Alfred St., Biddeford | 207-283-0002
A true Biddeford institution, Pizza by Alex has been serving pizza since 1960, and it shows. They know exactly what they’re doing, and they do it very well.
Stepping inside sent me straight back to my Book It! days and 1980s Pizza Hut personal pan pizzas, which I mean as the highest compliment. It’s nostalgic, unfussy, and exactly the kind of place that has no interest in reinventing itself because it never needed to.
Reservations: Walk-in only
Favorite Dishes: Pepperoni Pizza, Alex’s Special
Fish & Whistle (Seafood)
299 Main St., Biddeford | 207-571-4520
This was the best fish and chips we’ve had since sitting on a loch in Scotland with bagpipes playing in the background, which is to say: the bar was extremely high and Fish & Whistle cleared it. The fish is crisp, golden, and light instead of greasy, with the kind of shattering coating that makes you wonder why all fish and chips can’t be this good.
Reservations: Walk-in only
Favorite Dishes: Fish & Chips
Food Spots Still on My List
- Peng’s Pizza Pies (Biddeford): this has landed on a lot of best of lists
- Palace Diner (Biddeford): Maine’s oldest diner
- Fika (Saco): Scandi-style walk-up cafe and microbakery
- Rover Bagels (Biddeford): I heard this is the best bagel in town
What to Do Between Meals
Bayview Beach (Saco): A sandy stretch between Kinney Shores and Ferry Beach State Park that feels a little more local and low-key than Old Orchard, but still has the practical stuff you want in summer: lifeguards from mid-June to late August, bathrooms, and paid parking/permit parking nearby. It’s a great spot for a beach walk, a lazy afternoon, or bringing the dog, though from April 1 through September 30 dogs need to stay leashed to help protect nesting piping plovers. Parking can get competitive on hot days, so go early if you can.
