Cafe This Way in Bar Harbor
When Susanne Hathaway opened Café This Way in 1997, she never imagined her senior project at College of the Atlantic would grow into a Bar Harbor institution. What began as a bold experiment with two business partners is now her family-run restaurant, where her husband and children pitch in and longtime staff return season after season.
Breakfast is the star here, a shift Susanne calls “the most magical decision I ever made.” The menu balances hearty staples like house-made corned beef hash with thoughtful additions such as shakshuka, ricotta toast, and fresh fruit cups that take extra prep but bring joy to the table. As she puts it, “I’ve seen mothers eat Eggs Benedict here every day during their pregnancies, and now their kids are old enough to order on their own. That full-circle connection is one of the best parts of being here this long.”
The space is as distinctive as the menu. Books, whether painted, stacked, or tucked into custom dividers, give the café its playful identity. Outside, brick “books” extend the theme to the patio, where umbrellas and planters frame a space that became essential during COVID and remains a favorite for guests who want to dine outdoors with their dogs. “Books are awesome,” Susanne says with a laugh. “It’s fun to show your love of something personal in a professional space.”
What keeps it all grounded is her commitment to community and sustainability. Café This Way avoids single-use plastics, supports local roasters like Carpe Diem Coffee, and regularly hosts fundraisers, alumni gatherings, and memorial services after hours. Open every day from May through October, it is a place where locals and visitors know they will find fresh food, strong coffee, and a welcome that feels like home.
FAMOUS FOR:
Serving breakfast with character: blueberry pancakes that locals swear by, house-made corned beef hash, and benedicts with scratch hollandaise.
ADDRESS:
14 Mt Desert St, Bar Harbor, ME
WEBSITE:
cafethisway.com
photos by Peter Logue
