The Atlantean Cottage’s classic Tudor Revival exterior belies its color-rich contemporary interior. Tucked away on a quiet side street in downtown Bar Harbor, this upscale bed-and-breakfast welcomes guests with bold patterns and vibrant art. It’s obvious that the owner-innkeepers, Nicole and Brad, had fun updating the décor. If architect Fred Savage, who designed this house in 1903, saw it today, I imagine he would be pleased with how the couple has honored the architecture while updating the interior.
“We looked at a lot of places; this was the last one,” Brad said. “We pulled up in front and Nadine said, ‘It’s too nice, it must be somebody’s home’.” Nicole picked up the thought. “We could see it had good structure, and we could envision beyond the decor, which was very Victorian with velvet and lace curtains.”
Meet the Atlantean Cottage innkeepers
Brad and Nicole have the ideal background and experience for operating an inn. After earning a master’s degree in architecture, Nadine went to culinary school, where she met Brad, who was in the pastry program. They worked front- and back-of-house in restaurants and hotels in the Washington, D.C., area.
The duo fell in love with Maine on a vacation way downeast and ended up taking over a restaurant. “We figured if we could make it in Lubec, we could make it anywhere,” Brad said. They went on to work at various properties on the Blue Hill/Deer Isle peninsula before purchasing this property.
(See video of my chat with Brad).
Step inside the Atlantean Cottage
The cottage sits on a double lot. Guest parking is behind the inn, and you walk a large, private lawn, accented with gardens and Adirondack chairs, to the front. Head up a few steps to the covered porch, where two tables make a nice spot to relax with a coffee or afternoon cookies.
Now, step inside: The front door opens to a huge foyer with a gleaming wood floor and two chairs by the fireplace. The dining room, set with tables for two, is on the right, and a spacious living room with seating areas and a fireplace is on the left. Flowers and bright artwork accent the spaces.
Behind the dining room is the butler’s pantry, where guests can pick up snacks — cookies in the afternoon — and make a cup of tea or coffee. And behind the living room in a guest suite. Straight ahead: a grand staircase leading to guestrooms on the second and third floors.
Guest rooms at the Atlantean Cottage
“We try to recognize what makes something comfortable, the little touches, like flowers everywhere around the bed, beautiful art, and fluffy robes,” Brad said. “It’s about attention to detail.”
That’s evident in the stylish guest rooms and suites as well as in the handsome public areas. Six guest rooms are spread over the first two floors, and two expansive suites, each with a separate living room, fill the third floor.
Each room or suite has individual heating and air-conditioning, a TV, a mini fridge, and a Keurig. No two are alike, but all have neutral base tones, with pops of color and pattern from carpets and artwork. Depending upon the room, amenities may include a gas fireplace, whirlpool tub, steam bath, jetted shower, or a private porch.
Breakfast time
Breakfast is a two-course meal comprising an appetizer and an entrée (actually three, if you count a baked good), and almost everything is made from scratch. Honestly, I’d come for the breakfast alone, it was THAT good.
“Brad does all the stuff I can’t do. I don’t measure things. I have the menu. If I don’t have a lemon, I use an orange,” Nadine said. “That’s the way we trained and how we do it. All I want to do is cook. I spend all my time in the kitchen.”
Brad is the greeter and bread, cookie, and muffin maker. “We buy ingredients only. The only thing we buy is tortillas,” Brad added.
And in the afternoon, homebaked treats appear in the pantry.
Bottom line
I loved everything about the Atlantean Inn, starting with a location that puts shops, restaurants, and the Shore Path all within steps. You can park the car and forget it. It’s a short walk to the Village Green and the Island Explorer bus service, which reaches most of the island.
I chatted with Brad about the Atlantean Inn. Here’s the video.
Brad and Nadine hosted me at the Atlantean in late September, 2025.