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The gracious and comfortable Black Friar Inn is a uniquely
restored New England Victorian bed and breakfast surrounded by
a perennial flower garden in Bar Harbor, Maine. 
Mantels, bookcases, windows, and finely crafted woodwork
from turn-of-the-century "cottages" on Mount Desert
Island shape every part of the Inn.
Seven romantic guest rooms are beautifully wallpapered and
tastefully furnished with period antiques. Fine linens dress
your king- or queen-size bed, soft carpets pamper your feet,
and each room has an ensuite private bath. Three lodging
accommodations have gas "woodstoves," including the
two-story turret room, which also features views of Cadillac
and Door Mountains from the fourth-floor sitting room,
accessible by a spiral staircase from the third-floor bedroom.
The Black Friar Inn can accommodate no more that 16 guests at
any one time. You'll get all the attention you desire. Sit
back and let the world go by.
Breakfast is full, fresh, and delicious. All of their
breads, sweet treats, and cinnamon buns are prepared in their
own kitchen. Entrees change daily and feature seasonal fruit,
juices, Belgian waffles, eggs du jour, cereals, hearty
pancakes, French toast, quiche, breakfast meats, fresh
blueberry muffins, homemade toast, cinnamon buns, fresh-brewed
coffee, and teas. In the spring and fall, there may yet be
chill in the air, the perfect excuse to enjoy a warm fire and
complimentary treats in the Inn's intimate "Pub," a
replica of the old English standard. On crisp summer
afternoons, savor delightful tea cakes, rich scones with jam,
madelines, and the company of guests from around the globe in
the cheerful Sun Room.
The Black Friar Inn rests on a quiet side street in
picturesque Bar Harbor, just a short walk from a swirl of
activity. Tour the bustling harbor filled with lobster boats,
schooners, yachts and cruise ships (the QE2 is a regular
visitor). See the lovely Porcupine Islands. Eat fresh lobster
prepared in every imaginable way. Hear music from classical to
jazz, folk to rhythm and blues. Visit art and craft shows on
the Village Green. And if you love antiques, Mt. Desert Island
and surrounding communities are a treasure trove. Acadia
National Park is only moments from the Inn. The second most
popular park in the United States, Acadia is a true gift. It
offers the very best of Nature's treasures. Cold, blue waters
of the North Atlantic Ocean and dramatic, glacial cliffs
braced against the sea is inspiration for poets as the thick
and rolling fog, lush, green, aromatic pine forests, and
wildflowers in profusion heighten your senses.
| Voted
1999 Inn of the Year |
Featured
in Paddler Magazine because of their sea
kayak school & location to outstanding sea kayaking! |
During the months of May, June, and September, the Black
Friar Inn offers professional guided trips on some of the most
beautiful and productive trout and salmon waters in the state
of Maine. All trips are guided by a registered Maine Guide
with years of experience on the Narraguagus and Pleasant
Rivers. A one-day trip can include the opportunity to fish for
both trout and salmon. Black Friar Inn and H2Outfitters of
Orr's Island offer Sea Kayak Development Weekends in spring
and fall. The program includes pool and open water sessions,
paddle stokes, navigation, rescues, safety techniques, and
more. For more information about guided fishing trips or kayak
weekends, contact the Black Friar Inn.
Perry and Sharon invite you to share in their dream. Many of
their guests return year after year. |
Black Friar History
The Black Friars were a
monastic order noted for hospitality and creating inns in
England, when traveling was dangerous and a safe haven to
stay was vital.
The Black Friar Inn itself was originally built as a
single-family house to "support" the "cottages"
that made Bar Harbor the favorite of the rich. Built in
1900, the original house survived the big fire of 1947
that destroyed about one-third of the island, and a good
portion of Maine.
Several families have lived in the home, but through
the years it fell into disuse and disrepair. In 1968,
Freddie Pooler bought it as a condemned building and
started renovations. He added on, found salvage from many
of the old mansions and cottages throughout the island,
and opened it as a B&B in about 1976.
Barbara and Jim Kelly bought the Inn in 1986 and
rearranged the Inn to ensure a private bath for each room.
The Risleys bought the Inn in 1995 and again rearranged,
converting the Kelly's living quarters into a suite with
fireplace and adding air conditioners, while generally
keeping the theme that began with Freddie. |
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1st
Traveler's Choice Travel and Lodging Directory of Bed and
Breakfast, Country Inns, and Small Hotels.