Kennebunkport, Maine
White Barn Inn & Spa
Auberge Resorts Collection
What it is
A 150-year-old shingled legend with a lauded locavore seafood restaurant and what’s touted to be the best spa in Maine.
What it isn't
Lonely. Guest experiences here may include whipping up a meal with the chef, cycling with the GM through pine woods, or lobstering and learning about sustainability alongside Captain Steve (so authentic it comes with a 6 a.m. wakeup call).
What we think
Fishing villages always have their charms, but rarely at this level of perfection. Take the guest rooms, which even in the “starter” category look like a vision of New England bliss, with tufted furniture galore and, in many, clawfoot soaking tubs in a bathroom with heated floors. Since Maine all but requires an extra dose of cozy even in August, consider upgrading to a suite for up to 620-square-feet of space and a gas-burning fireplace that seems made for your vacay wine hour: feet up, page-turner in-hand. Or go for the highly Instagrammable 1,000-square-foot Friendship Cottage, perched on the Kennebunk River, with a blue and white tented barrelled ceiling in the bedroom and sky high stone fireplace in the adjacent sitting area. Did we mention the private patio, rain shower and infinity soaking tub?
You're here because
You neeeeeeeed a spa day, and White Barn can arrange one of the best. On their treatment menu: a milk and honey bath and Kennebunk River Stone massage inspired by Cleopatra herself.
The Moment
Your eyes hurt a little from all the blingy stars and diamonds adorning the White Barn Inn Restaurant—which has earned Five Stars from Forbes and Five Diamonds from AAA. Of course, one glance at the lobster menu, and you know why—and quickly order it. Among the many dishes your waiter brings with a smile: a mini lobster roll with summer truffle and Siberian caviar (divine) and lobster tagliatelle with black trumpet mushroom and crispy chicken skin. When in Maine, right?
Restaurants & Bars
The White Barn Inn Restaurant : Elegant New American fare influenced by the flavors of New England and coastal Maine
The Bistro : New England classics in a casual setting
Picnic on the beach or a place of your choosing with a specially prepared meal
Location
Seet right on the water in Kennebunkport, a.k.a. the longtime summer retreat of the Bush family. American history buffs will enjoy walking to the First Families Kennebunkport Museum, set in an 1853 columned manse with Bush memorabilia galore, including behind-the-scenes photos.