Guide to Kittery, Maine
Great shopping and fresh seafood are just a few of the things we love about the oceanside town of Kittery, Maine.
By Cathryn McCann|Aug 24 2022|
Coffee By Design | Portland, Maine
Photo Credit : Katherine KeenanAt the eastern end of the iconic Piscataqua River Bridge, which straddles coastal Maine and New Hampshire, lies Kittery, Maine — the state’s oldest town as well as a famous outlet shopping hub and a go-to for seafood dining. Here are some of our favorite things to do, places to stay, and restaurants to try in Kittery, Maine.
Photo Credit : EB Adventure Photography / Shutterstock.com
Guide to Kittery, Maine | Things to Do
When Pigs Fly Company Store
Foodies make a beeline here to load up on freshly made bread and bakery items, plus jams, jellies, oils, vinegars, and toast toppings, all made from old Maine family recipes.
Take Flight Aerial Adventure Park
Up for a challenge? The whole family can get in on the fun at this obstacle course, which is filled with tube nets, swinging platforms, ziplines, and more.
Kittery Premium Outlets
Shoppers will delight in this stretch of 120-plus stores, which include both uniquely New England wares (see: the famous Kittery Trading Post) and global brands such as Polo and Ralph Lauren.
Kittery Historical & Naval Museum
Kittery’s history is grounded in the maritime world — from shipbuilding to lighthouses — and you can dive into all of it at this petite but fascinating museum.
Badgers Island
A small gem connecting downtown Portsmouth to Kittery, Badgers Island is perfect for a bike ride or stroll (or a meal with an ocean view, at the Pointe).
Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
Guide to Kittery, Maine | Restaurants
Lil’s
Beloved by locals and visitors alike, Lil’s is a laid-back neighborhood café offering made-from-scratch pastries, sandwiches, soups, and salad, plus expertly crafted coffee drinks.
Chauncey Creek Lobster Pier
This “lobster in the rough” (and BYOB) dining destination has a prime location on the Chauncey Creek River, meaning diners can arrive by boat as well as by car.
Robert’s Maine Grill
Handy for those who’ve worked up an appetite shopping at the outlets, Robert’s is located right off Route 1 and has classic Maine cuisine such as lobster rolls, clam chowder, and fried seafood.
The Black Birch
This rustic, cozy restaurant features indoor and outdoor dining, a bar with a drink menu that changes daily, and food that showcases local ingredients in hearty dishes such as brick chicken, panko-fried pork chops, and gourmet burgers.
Bob’s Clam Hut
Bob’s has been serving up fresh seafood from the same Kittery shack since 1956, which means tradition runs as deep here as the flavor.
Photo Credit : Courtesy The Hotel Portsmouth
Guide to Kittery, Maine | Hotels
Kittery Inn & Suites
This isn’t your typical motel: Originally opened in the 1950s, it mixes vintage charm with all the updated comforts and amenities of a well-appointed hotel.
Water Street Inn
This modern Victorian retreat has eight comfortable guest rooms and is conveniently located just half a mile from both downtown Portsmouth and Kittery.
The Hotel Portsmouth
Stay just across the river from Kittery at this hip Portsmouth boutique hotel, situated in an 1881 Queen Anne mansion and offering 32 rooms that blend Victorian courtliness with up-to-date flair.
This post was first published in 2019 and has been updated.
SEE MORE:
Kittery Point, Maine | A Quiet Summer Destination
Chauncey Creek Lobster Pier in Kittery Point, Maine
Dining Guide to Kittery, Maine | Where to Eat
This is not the quaint village that I lived in back in the day while working at UNH for a couple of years. When I moved away from Kittery, there was a Dansk outlet and XXX theater along with the Trading Post and now there is an extended strip of the outlet stores. We lived on Rt. 103 across from the Navy Yard and we loved every minute of our time there. The town seems to be more upscale and hectic with all of the restaurants and stores drawing many to spend some time in town rather than just passing through. Kittery does seem to be doing a good job with all of the growth though. Me and my wife will always have fond memories and continue to enjoy the time we can spend in Kittery whenever we get a chance. The proximity to Portsmouth and the beaches and towns lining the coast as you move north to York, Wells and beyond makes Kittery a very special place!
Why isn’t Warren’s included? It’s a destination unto itself. Sits on the River, has a great salad bar, inside and outside dining, and delicious food!!!
Thank you for your excellent information.
I, too, love Warren’s. I was there as a youngster with my parents. Loved everything Lobster there.
How “NE TODAY” ever left out WARREN’s Restaurant is beyond all of us!
Many wonderful times in Kittery!
I was lucky enough to live on Badgers Is. for a couple of years when I first moved to the Portsmouth/ Kittery/ York Harbor area! The very BEST 7 years of my adult life! Loved everything about it. Vacationed there for years after I got married. It still feels like home to me.
We lived across the river from Kittery in Portsmouth at Pease AFB for five years in the early 60’s. My favorite duty station in 30 years of my husband’s active duty career! (I’m from western Massachusetts.) Only some years after being transferred away I got into genealogical research and discovered I had ancestors living there in the 1600s. Wish I’d known it at the time but on the other hand I was very busy having and raising children while my husband was away two out of three months in SAC (Strategic Air Command). My 3rd child was born during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962. My husband, a B-47 crew member, was placed on alert (living underground on the flight line) with all the other flight crew members and was allowed off only to take me to the Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Kittery to deliver my son, and immediately placed back on alert. My newborn son made his debut at the Officers Club (near the flight line) at the age of four days when family members were allowed to meet their husbands and fathers for a brief dinner. Been back for 100th Bomb Wing reunions and the area is still so lovely. Memories!
Great memories. My son was born at the same hospital in 1960 and my husband was based at Pease also.
Pepperell Cove is one of the best restaurants in Kittery (if not the best) and it is on the water.