Asticou Inn

I love fancy historic hotels and stay in them whenever I can, so I really wanted to love The Asticou. The restoration is beautiful, the bed and linens were wonderful, and the bath products were great. The room was comfortable and had a nice big mini-fridge. The grounds and pool looked beautiful and should be lovely in summer. Our meal at Dahlia's was decent. It was overpriced with small portions, as is pretty standard for MDI, but the scallops and creme brûlée were good. The staff seemed to be working hard and wanted guests to have a good experience. The room was small and laid out poorly, with room for just one luggage rack. The armchair and side table looked nice, but I'd have preferred a second rack instead. The gravel parking lot was dark, and I hope they plan to add lights. Despite the $50/day resort fee, no one told us which amenities were available. We visited in October and didn't know the pool was still open, or that it was heated, since neither the website nor our reservation confirmation mentioned it. I still don't know whether the spa, which we were genuinely interested in, was open yet. At check-in we only got our room number and some helpful restaurant recommendations, and there was no printed information in the room, so it's unclear what the resort fee covered. The staff on site seemed to be doing their best, but some appeared to be unsupported. Our poor Dahlias server was juggling a hundred things and running everywhere. Others seemed short on experience or leadership. It felt like a management problem, with no one steering the ship, which is unfortunate when we paid nearly $700/night.

We've had lunch at Dahlias several times and love it. The view is gorgeous, and the service is attentive without hovering. Servers take time to answer menu questions and talk through other details. My partner has ordered the fish and chips twice, which is why we keep going back. The portion is a nice size, crisp with a fine coating and not greasy, with a small salad and great fries on the side. I've had the Caesar and thought it was excellent, with a great dressing and a good portion. Adding grilled chicken made it a perfect lunch. The mocktail mojito looked beautiful. A great experience all around.

The folks at Thuya Gardens recommended we visit, and we were impressed by the gardens and pool. They have a Lake Como or Maggiori feel, and once the gardens mature, they could be as lovely as Italian hotel gardens we know. Outside, the olive striped poolside loungers and pink tasseled umbrellas felt very current in Euro style. There was a photographer on hand, and it brought to mind Slim Aarons photos of beautiful hotels and people, updated for today. The staff were friendly and found us an early table. The oysters Rockefeller were among the very best, and the short rib was nearly perfect, though a little cooler than I'd have liked. The potato was extraordinary, as were the vegetables. Layton was tremendously attentive and knew his stuff, helping us choose an entree. Sadly, the dessert menu didn't have the chocolate torte. Everyone was affable, smiling, and friendly. We noticed the respect shown to local regulars, which felt very classy. The snug bar looked inviting, and we'll return to stay. Please arrange sailing charters or even a slipway so we can bring our racing dinghies in summer and leave them on the lawn. What a regatta venue!

The view here is stunning, and the whole inn felt cozy and comfortable. The decor was just right and made it feel like a home for the week rather than a hotel. We could get to Bar Harbor and Northeast Harbor easily, and also spent a day in Southwest Harbor. Trails start right at the inn, and the carriage roads were only a short tide away by bike. We came to hike Acadia, explore the carriage roads, and relax, and this was a perfect location for all of it. I'm so glad my husband chose it. If you're looking for a beautiful place close to everything on Mt Desert Island, don't pass it up.