We had the most amazing day exploring these gardens in July. It was a very warm day and I was definitely sticky by the end of all of the hiking. The grounds were much more expansive than I expected they would be and we easily walked a few miles that day. The flowers were gorgeous and plentiful. We loved searching for the trolls and posing for pictures with them, too. The terrain is rough, rocky for sure in places, and I highly recommend sturdy shoes. There is a trolley that comes by periodically if you need a lift back (as we did), but it's probably 15 minutes between pick ups. The quality of the food at the cafeteria was better than I had dared to hope for. Usually zoos and other similar attractions offer frozen food product. This was fresh and delicious. Their menu rotates regularly, but I greatly enjoyed my curry chicken salad and salad. And the brownie was delicious and huge! The admission fee isn't cheap, but I feel it is well worth it for the experience and great care taken of the grounds. The entrance also has a gift shop with a lot of options for souvenirs to visit on your way out. I highly, highly recommend spending a few hours here. We were here about 3/ 3.5 hours including lunch and that was perfect.

I spent a wonderful afternoon at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, and it was easily one of the most beautiful and well-maintained places I’ve visited in Maine. The gardens are vast and thoughtfully designed, with a perfect balance of natural beauty, art installations, and peaceful walking trails surrounded by flowers, trees, and water views. It took me about 2–3 hours to explore comfortably, and I felt like I could have stayed even longer just soaking in the scenery. I booked my tickets online, which came at a discounted rate — definitely worth doing ahead of time since the tours and accessible rides fill up pretty quickly. The entire space is impressively accessible, and I appreciated that wheelchairs are available free of charge for guests who need them. Parking is also free, and the staff were friendly and attentive from the moment I arrived. This place feels magical, especially with the mix of themed gardens, sculptures, and peaceful outlooks over the water. Whether you’re a plant lover, a photographer, or just looking for a serene escape, this destination delivers it all. I left feeling refreshed, inspired, and already planning a return visit.

If ever there was a truly magical place, it's here! Stunning gardens with something for everyone. So many vibrant flower beds, (one of them shaped like a butterfly if you can find it), a children's garden, a fairy village, many walking trails, a plethora of relaxing areas to sit and chill, a learning center, a cafe, and the trolls! The children's garden was full of whimsy. I FELT like a kid again wandering through it, marveling at the growing things, the quaint workshop, the pond, the book themed areas, and so much more! I walked 23,000 steps in these gardens, but if you have mobility issues or tend toward lazy, there is a free shuttle that is always on the go. I had a marvelous time hunting down the trolls, they are quite a sight to see. I had a preconceived notion of what the fairy village would be, which was nothing like what it actually was, but the interactive nature (pun intended) of it was satisfying. The cafe was nice, although I wish they had more variety of hot meals to choose from. The heirloom tomato sandwich I tried was quite good. The gift shop is fantastic! Beautiful items, many from local artists, along with a great selection of shirts and books. You can see it all in a couple hours, although I would dedicate at least 4 to really immerse yourself in it and not have to rush. It was more than worth the price of admission. A wonderfully soul nurturing experience.

Go for a visit- you will be glad you did! Loved seeing the trolls but there was so much more to see and enjoy. Staff were all very friendly, lunch in cafe was simple but good. Loved hiking the full loop to see all the sections. You could stay all day! Loved it!

Beautiful place to visit! Wear walking sneakers or hiking shoes and bring lots of water and walking poles. 3hrs+ walking. Free shuttle every now and than you can either wait at the benches or wait for them to come up to you ask you. Which happened to me. Nice options and free. Downside it's not great for tall and plus size because the seating are cramped up. No leg room & seats are narrow so are the leg space. Better than nothing shuttle doesn't go into the bark trails just the sanded trails. Trails have barks so no tripping on vines etc. uphill to downhills and some trails goes on for mile no trolls on these trails. We are given a map and there are pole signs but I wish they put where we really are. Lot of times I had to ask someone coming up from that trail. I had to ask employee where's the exist entrance near outside cafeteria. Lots of fun stuff for kids etc. I was able to find the trolls. I bought tickets for 10:30am but I ended up getting there early found I didn't have to wait so got in at 9:30am instead. I wasn't interested in the tour.

This botanical garden is routinely listed as one of the ten best in the USA. I understand why, but it could be even better. I loved all of the trails I went on and the excellent variety of plants and trees from the Northeast. There are great options for children including the interactive fairy village. The giant trolls and a huge hit and I particularly enjoyed the woodland garden and the hillside walk. If you get tired, there is a shuttle that will take you to most places in the gardens. What I found lacking was consistent clear signage for the trees and plants. This was notable in the garden of the senses. I needed more guidance above t what to touch, taste, smell, etc. There were at least 20 times we needed to look up a plant or tree on an app because we saw no sign. This was particularly challenging because the cell.coverage was limited and spotty. The cafe seems much nicer online than in person. It was a serve yourself cafeteria style and felt hectic and loud like the sort of cafe I expect in a zoo. I wanted a calmer, fancier dinning experience because I'm a tired old queen and I want my creature comforts served on glass plates. It you are charging $29 for adults admission per person, why not add a swanky restaurant too. In for a penny in for a pound.

We were only visiting the NE for a short road trip and I heard about the Trolls recycled art and that they were the Guardians of the seeds. The story lore and the awesome venture by the artist peaked our curiosity. This is a DO NOT MISS. It may seem weird to go to a botanical garden on vacay, but this is beautiful, amazing for kids, although this trip was just my husband and I and it was outstanding. Nice walks and hikes. Just outstanding place to visit.

Visited on a Monday in July and not busy at all. Our teens were tired of seafood and wanted something like back home and this place helped us put. Pizza, pretzel, and BBQ. Worked out nicely! Cider and beers were a nice addition. Lots of stuff to do inside for kids and adults. Darts, the ring game, and drawers full of fun activities for everyone.

There are many amazing restaurant choices in the area and we were *thrilled* that we chose this spot for dinner! It is located near a scenic footbridge by the water, plus has an adjacent lot for easy parking. We loved the cider flight and pesto flatbread, and had the pleasure of trying out a new special menu item in advance - the jalapeño cheddar pretzel with beer cheese and garlic parmesan aïoli. You know the food's good when all you can do is chew and nod at each other in delightful silence! Our server Maya was friendly and attentive, even considering that we arrived within the last hour and a half of closing time. It was nice to have outdoor tables so that we could dine with our dog. (the cute neighborhood brewery cat is friendly although my dog might feel differently 😂) Would love to come back again when we return to the area!

The Best Resturant in Booth Bay, Period. Y'all this place was like being wrapped in a warm hug from the moment you are greeted. Everyone likes their job and wants to create a lovely experience for you. The host who also happened to be the owner was so kind and treated us like family. She ended up chatting with us for most of our meal. The bar tender was also incredible and made sure we never wanted for food or drinks. Now the drinks! Excellent cider and my husband really enjoyed his pale ale. I don't even like most ciders but this was incredible and not overly sweet. The food...HONEYYY as a Texan I am PICKY about BBQ. Well slap me sideways because that BBQ was some of the best I have had in a long time. We ordered the burnt ends to start and they were melt in your mouth, right amount of sauce without being smothered finger licking delicious. Then we ordered the Steak Pizza and the Brisket Sandwich. I have never been so jealous of a Brisket Sandwich. Large, hunky, juicy, smoky pieces of brisket. Lawwrd! My pizza was also incredible with the right hint of garlic and cheese. Also the portions are super generous! No leaving hungry here. Also what was surprising was the prices. Where everything in Booth Bay is over priced and frankly subpar on portions (think appetizer size for $40). FootBridge Brewery didn't disappoint. They also shared they reworked their entire menu over the summer. So if you haven't been go check out the lovely new menu! Also PET FRIENDLY PATIO. 🩵

For us it’s a short walk to this restaurant. How lucky are we? We went for a beer and light dinner. The starter with our brew was the pretzel with sauces. How to make a pretzel interesting? Well they did it. Crispy and salty with a soft center with a grainy mustard and plenty of cheese for dipping. We both ordered flatbreads for dinner. Delicious and not too bready with lots on top. The weather was perfect for sitting outside and had a great time people watching.

Lovely setting with views of the bay and the beers... Well, they are worth the journey! The brewer is not afraid to get creative and defy the odds with a durable brewing method while serving great tasting craft beers to his guests. Awesome!

Tldr: Amazing, must come here for the beer and BBQ! We had the burnt tips and two flights of beer. Just incredible! A must visit for booth! The BBQ was great, the beer varying in splendor, and the atmosphere comfortable.

This place is conveniently located and offers spacious indoor and outdoor seating. They have a diverse selection of interesting beers, but they do not serve food directly. Instead, you need to order from a nearby food truck, which is a separate business. We tried a flight of beers, but none of the flavors suited our tastes. Despite this, it’s a fun spot to pass the time while waiting for your cruise to depart.

The food was excellent. We will definitely return next time we are in town. The seafood risotto was the favorite dish we had. There was also a cheaper pub menu which we ordered off for the kid, the chicken fingers with fries off of that menu were very good as well.

I almost overlooked this place and I'm SO glad I didn't! We had the Brandy Lobster, Calamari, Seared Scallops, and Steak Tips. Every single dish was perfectly cooked and seasoned beautifully. The waiter was kind and attentive, and the cozy atmosphere was perfect for a chilly, rainy day. I would absolutely come back to try some of the other dishes!

My wife and I enjoyed wonderful food here. We shared a crab cake appetizer and followed it with steak tips (pictured below). We finished the meal with a blueberry pie slice a la mode. Everything was extremely well prepared and presented. I can honestly say the steak tips were the best I have ever had. The blend of flavors with the green beans, fried shallots and mashed potatoes and demi glaze was outstanding. Highly recommended.

Our meals for four people were all quite good. The seafood chowder is over priced for it's size. The mushroom tart appetizer was excellent. The seasonal fall salad with greens, pears, pistachios, cranberries/craisins, feta was outstanding. We all loved the ambiance. Our servers were all excellent. Location very convenient to where we were staying. Scallops with potato gnocchi, spinach and bacon was very good, a little too rich on top of all the rest. Chicken and shrimp fettuccine was reported to be "good". Lobster appetizer was reported as very good. The way they serve hot tea is amazing. Good Pinot Noir. We didn't stay at the hotel. A memorable meal.

Great food and service. The scallops and risotto were amazing. The steak tips were also delicious. Lots of flavors. Our server Maria (sorry I misspelled the name, she was from Rumania) was super nice and helpful. Great place definitely we are coming back.

The restaurant was recommended to us by our hotel and they were spot on! The ambience of the historic building was romantic. We both had the sirloin steak which was very well cooked and flavorful. They also have a very nice wine list. But the best thing by far was the blueberry pie, it was seriously the best pie I've ever had!! 10/10 recommend!!

This review is for Thistle Restaurant, not the Inn. My wife started with a Mocktail Citrus Spritz and I had an Orange Dragon. Both were very good, mine was quite boozy and lasted me until I finished my meal. We had the Tuna Tartare for an appetizer and it was very fresh with lots of flavor. My wife had Steak Tips and said it was the best meal of our 10 day trip. I had the daily special which was fresh bay scallop scampi on angel hair pasta. It was a simple dish with seared scallops, tomatoes, butter, wine, and garlic sauce with fresh basil. I think the key ingredient was that everything was fresh, fresh scallops from the bay that is literally right outside. Service was excellent, our waitress suggested the scallops and she was right. I'm giving them 5 stars.

awesome place for breakfast or lunch! Food is constantly good and the people who work there always friendly! Best blueberry pancakes around, thre yogurt parfait is amazing as is the blueberry buckle!!!

Ordered a side caesar salad to go. The cashier was very nice. Side salad was a joke! They should feel ashamed for charging customers 7$ for what they served me.

best breakfast in boothbay. staff is amasing! dont bother going anywhere else

Food was outstanding!!! And the views are very nice of the ocean.

After a wonderful stay in Portland, we decided to travel into Booth Harbor for a day of whale watching and stopped into this quaint cafe for breakfast. The best part was our waiter the tall, young man, he was patient, attentive, and extremely friendly. Secondly our food was delicious, every dish was freshly made. We even ordered sandwiches to go which were delicious. We parked on Oak Street and the cafe was located 3 mins away, and neaby to the pier. I would highly recommend this cafe!

Granted, it's off season and the good help went back to school..but we just experienced the worst service so far on our 4,000 mile trek in the NE. My blueberry pancakes were fluffy as advertised but flavorless. The coffee was yucky but thank goodness our waitress never asked us if we wanted refills. The waitress was VERY particular about where we sat. We are on our honeymoon and wanted a view of the bay. Nope. We wanted to sit adjacent to each other. Nope. We can't take it too personally, though, as she told a neighboring table to scoot their chairs in...we loving refer to her now as The Table Nazi. So. Disappointed.

Went for the blueberry pancakes, left disappointed. There were only 9 or 10 large blueberries per medium-sized, thick pancake. The batter was highly sweetened and had a flavor and texture of a blueberry muffin. I feel these aspects are negatives. The pancakes were cooked on a shared griddle and had flavors of onion and green peppers. Major negative. The cafe does get high marks for serving real maple syrup by default. I am searching for Boothbay Harbor's best blueberry pancakes and these clearly are not where I stop.

Our waitress was absolutely wonderful, the food was very good and reasonably priced. The environment was also very relaxing.

Very very good good. The service was not very good, but the quality of the food made up for that. Dining room was a bit small but made for a cozy experience.

Ordered the Lo Mein. The portion was large, but that didn't matter when it was inedible. Spaghetti noodles with a bit of soy sauce. Chicken tasted off. Was not a place for good authentic or good american style chinese. All I felt was disappointment in my mouth. Waitress was wonderful and kept my water topped off. Perhaps a different dish would be better.

It was my first time being there. Their food is just so yummy and fresh. The staff is nice. The bathroom smells good and clean. Thank you.😊

A nice little variety and homemade flair really enjoyed it here. Hot and sour soup was solid, had a few other things. I liked the ambiance and they accommodated 8 of us at the drop of a hat! Waiter was very nice.

Delicious and very budget friendly

The food is delicious. We even bought some to take home because their food here is way better than any at home. Sue is so nice and very friendly!!! We recommend it and we will definitely be back!!!

Delightful food experience! Me and my family, we tried the peperoni pizza, the burger and the pastrami sandwich, and everything was simply delicious! This place is a clean, comfortable and original surrounding that is worth visiting! Konstantina, it was really great to meet you and we thank you for your smile and kindness ! This restaurant is highly recommended, if you happen to be in the area!

We have been vacationing in the boothbay areas for at least 20 years this is one of our stops every year .. the pizza is amazing you cannot get it anywhere else.. the family is so welcoming and they know us as soon as we walk in. I wish there were more places like this near me... we wil always be back

We went to grab a pizza quickly and had a great experience. If you like greek style, this is the place for you. Very friendly staff. We will definitely be regulars during the summer. Edit - we went back this past Saturday night at 6pm and they were out of pizza. Um, what?! Listened to some other customer chatting and it's happened before. I have never been to a pizza place that has run out of pizza!! It would also be nice during the summer if they were open 7 days a week. Obviously this is their decision, but I think their business could run more smoothly. I do like their food and will definitely be back, but there's room for improvement.

Your perfect local area pizzeria, steak and cheese? perfect! pizza? crispy hot greasy goodness. Tasty fries good chicken fingers. It's not fine dining it's a local pizza place and true to form it tastes just like you'd expect from a local pizza place I don't know if I'll ever be back in the area but if I am I know where I'm going for dinner.

I bought 2 ten each pizzas. One hamburger pizza and one hamburger green pepper and onion pizza. It came to $36!!!! That would have been palpable if the pizza was amazing but it was awful!!! I never hardly ever do reviews but it was so bad I felt compelled. It was the worst pizza I have ever had. I hoe this is not the norm for then. However, I’ll never know because I won’t ever go back.

I'm visiting from Florida and promised an old friend to stop by and try this "amazing pizza". Absolutely no regrets here! The pizza is phenomenal, especially the crust! The Rigas family are absolutely amazing. Very hospitable, friendly, well-known, and professional. The restaurant is very clean and the business is obviously well-loved by the community!! Great job all around. If I could give more than 5 stars I would!!

Easy take out night at our air bb while visiting boothbay. The pizza was excellent! Sandwiches and salad were ehh, stick to the basics and you'll be pleased. Best cheese pizza I've had in a long time!