The Coziest Things To Do In Ogunquit, Maine

My list of the best things to do in Ogunquit, Maine, includes lots of cozy, affordable microadventures - plus plenty of foodie fun.

​This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, we may be paid a small commission. Note that I first visited the Cliff House resort and Ogunquit Playhouse in 2015 as part of a press trip.

Visiting Cape Neddick Light is one of the essential things to do in Ogunquit, Maine.

There’s nothing like the sound of the waves, the smell of salt spray, and proverbial long walks on the beach to make you realize just how much you love oceanside travel. The tiny town of Ogunquit, home to less than 900 people, stands out as one of my favourite seaside escapes in southern Maine. I promise it will check every box on your cozy wish list, but this is no place to simply be idle. There are plenty of things to do in Ogunquit, Maine to fill a long weekend - or maybe even an entire week.

​These are some of my absolute favourite places to stay, spots to eats, and things to do in the Ogunquit area.

My picks for the best Ogunquit hotels

The Cliff House lives up to its name and offers beautiful views of the cliffs and the ocean from its grounds.

Photo courtesy Cliffhousemaine.com/resort/gallery

Photo courtesy Cliffhousemaine.com/resort/gallery

Photo courtesy Cliffhousemaine.com/resort/gallery

I'm not alone in my love of Ogunquit. The community was named America's Best Coastal Small Town in USA Today's 10 Best Reader's Choice survey in 2016. I can't help but wonder if the area's ample section of cushy accommodations played a factor in these results. For a tiny hamlet, Ogunquit has an excellent assortment of resorts, hotels, and inns.

The Cliff House Resort & Spa (technically just next door in Cape Neddick) is my personal favourite. It is the perfect home base to explore Ogunquit—or just spend some time relaxing with your beloved. Situated on directly on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, the rooms have incredible views. The property recently underwent a huge renovation but absolutely no improvements were needed for those ocean vistas. Keen wildlife watchers will want to keep an eye out for seabirds and even the occasional whale.

I know I said there’s so much more to Ogunquit than being idle but you’ll have to make an exception for the beautiful outdoor fireplaces at the Cliff House. They're the perfect place to sit with a pre-dinner blueberry martini. Come morning, you'll appreciate the resort's coffee. It's roasted at Bard Coffee in nearby Portland and served up in the resorts own in-house cafe. 

Just because your accommodations aren't on the ocean doesn't mean you can't easily walk to the water.

Other terrific accommodation options in Ogunquit include theAnchorage By The Sea. This resort offers hotel rooms and suites spread out across a couple of different buildings, most with fantastic ocean views. They also offer cottage accommodations and, at their "Lighthouse" building, direct ocean views are rare but visitors enjoy larger than average rooms. I like that guests here have a lot of choice. 

If you prefer a more intimate setting, the Bourne Bed and Breakfast might just be the perfect choice. This homey, Victorian-style inn is within walking distance of Ogunquit's most popular attractions, including the beach and the theatre. Note that a two-night minimum applies to most bookings.

My favourite restaurants in Ogunquit (and nearby)

Ogunquit, Maine, is ground zero for lobster consumption! As long as you don’t mind getting a bit messy when you eat, I heartily recommend feasting on lobster and the Cliff House’s principal restaurant, The Tiller, is a great place to start. You can indulge shamelessly in a classic lobster dinner, their creamy lobster mac and cheese, or a lobster roll platter (made with your choice of mayonnaise or brown butter). If you want a break from seafood, dishes like chicken breast with brown butter ricotta gnocchi, butternut squash, spinach, and sage pan sauce are utterly delicious. 

If you want more lobster but in a casual setting, Ogunquit and the surrounding communities have an outstanding selection of seafood shacks, serving up lobster rolls, chowder, fish and chips, and more ocean-based delicacies. The Lobster Shack in Perkin's Cove, Maine, makes an absolutely delicious lobster roll and the bun is perfectly toasted and golden brown. The property dates back to 1900 and there was been a restaurant on the site since 1947 -these guys know their stuff! The views are terrific too.
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Another personal favourite is the Shore Road Market and Restaurant, just outside York Beach, Maine. Here, the lobster rolls come dressed with the smallest amount of mayonnaise possible and are served with a wedge of lemon on the side. Adding just a gentle squeeze - and I mean it, just the lightest touch will do - gives a fantastic burst of flavor. They also include a side of their special drawn butter, a homemade mix of salted and unsalted butter, and adding a drizzle of butter after the lemon was a heavenly combination. And at $10 for a 4oz roll with a side of homemade potato chips, it's the best deal in town. 

While I loved every bite of lobster I had in and around Ogunquit, my absolute favourite meal I've had in Ogunquit - hands down - was at Cornerstone Pizza and Beer. 

The pizza at the Cornerstone is a mighty fine pie! Our stone oven cooked pizza was topped with marinated mushrooms, house made sausage, scallions, and a generous amount of cheese. The crust was blistered beautifully, the cheese and toppings melded into bubbly goodness, and we absolutely inhaled every single bite. 

Pizza for two costs about $20 and you'll want to include room in your budget to sample from their long list of craft beers.

If there's one thing more quintessentially "Maine-esque" than lobster, it has to be blueberries. Every self-respecting restaurant in the area has a blueberry dessert on the menu. At Fox's Lobster House in Nubble, Maine (just outside Ogunquit), the homemade wild blueberry pie comes with a side of blueberry ice cream. They also serve a wild blueberry cheesecake - and the views of the nearby lighthouse are fantastic.

Whether you're looking for a take out coffee to go with your pie or need some serious pick-me-up in the morning, the Backyard Coffeehouse and Eatery is well worth checking out. They serve Bard coffee from Portland (just like Cliff House) and some of their specialties include Vietnamese coffee made with condensed milk and the "Smooth Criminal" (which combines milk, a double shot of espresso, and a maple-vanilla-cinnamon syrup.)

Things to do in Ogunquit: Biking, theatre, spas and more

I love Ogunquit in early spring, when the grass is still getting green but the harbour is already getting busy for the season.

If you’re up for a little adventure, or just eager to balance out all those great lobster rolls, you can rent bikes from the Cliff House and head out to explore the twisting country roads. You might even find your own favourite lobster shack! (You can find information on hiking and biking trails here.)

The area has beautiful sandy beaches, sweet little gift shops, and a great local arts scene. But you’ll want to save some energy for the evening, because Ogunquit has a secret up its sleeve.

Photo courtesy Instagram.com/ogunquitplayhouse/

The Ogunquit Playhouse is an absolute treasure. This historic theatre has been showcasing Broadway-quality productions for over 80 years and earning a space on the National Register of Historic Places along the way. Every year it produces a number of classic, crowd pleasing productions and the list of actors that have appeared on their stage is a combination of rising stars and Hollywood royalty. Tickets start at about $45, an incredible value compared to the cost of similar experiences in nearby Boston or New York City, and it’s the perfect place for a date night.

Art lovers will be further delighted by the Ogunquit Museum of Modern Art. One of the most respected art museums on the east coast, it honours Ogunquit's history and the artists' colony which once thrived in the area. If you're able to visit on a Tuesday, please do. Every Tuesday in July and August, free tours are offered at 11:00 AM. There are usually free public lectures on Tuesdays as well.

If you don't mind going for a short drive, Stonewall Kitchen (makers of delightful jams, candies, preserves, baking mixes, sauces, coastal-inspired toiletries and so many more lovely things) have a cooking school just outside Ogunquit in the community of York. I haven't made it yet myself but I adore their products and stopping in for a visit has been on my travel list for a while now.

Speaking of treats and special things... Ogunquit is a charming shopping destination. If you have a hard time resisting cute little shops by the seashore, you might find yourself in trouble. Some super-cozy shops to keep an eye out for include Sea Glass Jewelry Studio, Annie's Book Stop, and Perkins Cove Pottery Shop.

Heading out to spend some time along the shore is a must-do activity in and around Ogunquit. Everyone has their own favourite vista but not matter where you roam, make sure you set aside some time to visit Cape Neddick Light (also know as Nubble Lighthouse - it's right next to Fox's Lobster House, above.) This is one of the state's most famous and photographed lighthouses, and for good reason.

If you've got the time, keep heading south a few more miles and you'll cross into Portsmouth, New Hampshire. I love this cute, friendly, stylish small city and it's filled with breweries, coffee shops, and excellent shopping.

No matter how you spend your time in Ogunquit, you should wrap it up with an indulgent spa treatment or two at the Cliff House. They have a gorgeous spa and I enjoyed a memorable hot stone massage on my first visit. It's just the thing to end a cozy weekend on a high note.

For me, Ogunquit embodies the best of Maine, its beauty and its people. There is so much going on in this tiny town and it's perfect whether you want a laid-back escape or a jam packed trip. I can't wait to return once again!

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