Where to Eat in Ogunquit, Maine: A Seafood Lover's Guide to Perkins Cove and Beyond

Ogunquit is one of southern Maine's most beloved coastal towns — a place of wide sandy beaches, a famous clifftop walking path, and some genuinely wonderful seafood. Whether you want a paper tray of fried clams by the water or a candlelit dinner with an ocean view, Ogunquit delivers. Here is a guide to eating well in town. (As always, restaurants and their hours change with the seasons, so it is worth confirming before you go.)

Perkins Cove: The Heart of Ogunquit Dining

Perkins Cove is where much of Ogunquit's food scene comes to life. Once a working fishing harbor, this picturesque little cove — reached at the far end of the scenic Marginal Way — is now a cluster of seafood restaurants, shops, and galleries around a boat-filled basin. It is the classic Ogunquit setting: lobster boats bobbing at their moorings, a hand-operated footbridge, and the smell of the sea.

Classic Lobster and Seafood by the Cove

For quintessential Maine seafood, the cove is hard to beat. Barnacle Billy's has been serving boiled lobster with drawn butter since 1961, along with chowders and shore dinners and a great view of the water. The Oarweed, right at the start of the Marginal Way, has offered oceanside lobster and seafood in Perkins Cove for more than half a century. And for a casual bite, the family-run Perkins Cove Lobster Shack serves lobster rolls, wraps, and homemade New England chowder, with lobsters kept fresh in tanks of cove water.

Upscale Oceanfront Dining

Ogunquit also does refined dining beautifully. M.C. Perkins Cove pairs polished American cooking and a seafood focus with floor-to-ceiling windows over the Atlantic, while Brix + Brine is known for its seafood, a raw bar, and a cozy, inviting atmosphere. Both are lovely choices for a special evening on the coast.

Beyond the Cove: Downtown and the Beach

The dining does not end at Perkins Cove. Along Shore Road and through Ogunquit's compact downtown you will find more restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and ice-cream shops, and there are casual options near the entrance to Ogunquit Beach as well. It is an easy town to explore on foot, with something to suit every appetite and budget.

Ogunquit Flavors and the Marginal Way

Fresh Maine lobster and seafood are the stars here, often best enjoyed with an ocean view. One of Ogunquit's great pleasures is to walk the Marginal Way — the mile-plus paved path along the rocky shore between the beach and Perkins Cove — and reward yourself with a meal at the end. You can even get out on the water: lobster-boat and sightseeing tours run from Perkins Cove (see our guide to Maine boat tours).

Tips for Dining in Ogunquit

• Reserve and expect waits in summer. Ogunquit is busy in peak season; popular spots fill up, so book ahead or plan for a line.
• Check seasonal hours. Many restaurants run limited schedules in spring and fall and close for winter.
• Mind the parking. Parking near Perkins Cove and the beach fills early; arrive early or use the town trolley in season.
• Pair a meal with a walk. The Marginal Way and Ogunquit Beach are perfect before or after dinner.

Frequently Asked Questions