Food

Funky and off-handedly cool, the high-ceilinged and airy Bandaloop (2 Dock Square, Kennebunkport, 207/967-4994, www.bandaloop.biz [1], 5–11 p.m. Sun.–Thu.; 5–midnight Fri.–Sat., $17–29) is an energetic place to catch dinner made from organic, all-natural, and local foods served by a young, hip waitstaff. Creations include the likes of tomato-and-fresh-corn chowder, garlic mussels, and Chai tea crème brûlée.

Dig into more traditional Maine [2] fare at The Landing (192 Ocean Ave., Kennebunkport, 207/967-4221, www.landingintheport.com [3], 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m., $22–32), where deep-fried seafood and lobster pie fly out of the kitchen next to baked-stuffed scallops. The al fresco patio overlooking the harbor makes for prime seagull-watching.

Seating isn’t quite as lovely (patrons make do by plunking themselves on benches in an abutting parking lot) at The Clam Shack (2 Western Ave., Kennebunkport, 207/967-2560, www.theclamshack.net [4], 11 a.m.–9 p.m. daily May–Sept.; 5 p.m.–9 p.m. Oct.–Dec.; call for winter hours), but the food is well worth the inconvenience. Clams are fresh (whole or strips) and fried on the premise; lobster rolls are full of huge chunks of tail and claw meat—some of the best of its kind anywhere.

On the other end of formality sits The White Barn Inn (37 Beach Ave., Kennebunkport, 207/967-2321, www.whitebarninn.com [5], four-course prix fixe $95, wine-pairing $48–85), a justifiably revered restaurant (housed in an 1860s barn) that has received seemingly every award and honor a restaurant can win in America. You may want to give it one of your own, after tasting lobster with homemade fettuccine, snow peas, ginger, and cognac-coral butter sauce. The wine list is equally exquisite.

If you’re not stuffed to the brim by the end of your stay in town, swing by Aunt Marie’s (10 Ocean Ave., Kennebunkport, 207/967-0711) for an ice-cold taste of Maine [2]: homemade ice cream flavors like wild berry, cashew turtle, and “wicked good” chocolate.