Black Point Inn

We were excited to explore this corner of Maine. The Inn looked promising, but I regret I must agree with others that found the dinner service poor—we waited 45 minutes to be seated despite having a reservation, and then what should’ve been a simple dish (salad with chicken) was truly awful. We canceled our dinner res for the second night. The room felt dirty with its stained carpet and mildew in bathroom. The overall experience did not match up with the expense which included a surprise exorbitant fee each night. Breakfasts were good and all staff very friendly.

Dinner at the Chart Room was excellent. I had a fish bouillabaisse. The piece of pouched fish in the stew was cooked perfect. One of my dinner acquaintances had the short rib dinner that was also cooked to perfection. Their menu isn't extensive but the nightly specials were well worth it. We started the evening with drinks on the lawn facing Ferry and Pine Point beaches to watch the sunset-perfect night for viewing the late summer setting sun.

Our experience at this charming Inn was so disappointing! My husband and I had stayed here several years ago and it was lovely. To begin with upon check in we were not informed of the amenities available to us ie beach club. Person at front desk was too inexperienced to be left on her own to welcome guests properly. The hotel has a charming elevator but requires a person to run it. Going up to our room wasn’t much of a problem because there was usually someone at the front desk that could accommodate is. Coming down from the 3rd floor, however, was an annoyance. You had to call a number to request the elevator but the phone was never answered in a timely fashion. A recording came on and if you stayed on the phone long enough an operator finally picked up. A frustrating waste of time! We ate at the Chart House the first evening and some of us ordered the “special.” It was uneatable and although we had planned to eat there again we quickly cancelled our reservation. When we wrote to the manager he explained that they are in transition period in their kitchen and was sorry about the dinner service. It wasn’t the service it was the food! I now understand why the hotel isn’t functioning properly. It is being mismanaged! On a positive note the wait staff and breakfasts were wonderful and eating outside overlooking the bay was a treat. In addition the small table in our room was broken. When we told the front desk they tried to fix it but it remained broken and unstable. Our overall impression is that for the prices they are charging for their rooms I should be giving it 4-5 stars not 2!

The inn is located in a beautiful spot. Our room looked out at Saco Bay. We enjoyed good breakfasts outdoors on the front porch. Dinner, however, was terrible. We ordered the special and it tasted awful. The manager’s response was that the kitchen is in transition and thanked me for my input. Frustrating! The elevator is man-operated so we had to find someone to take us up to our room; finding someone to go back down took too long as we waited for someone to answer the phone. At check-in, we were not told about the amenities; it was her first day but no one was helping her. Service is not good at this inn. Derek, the manager of the inn does not understand customer service. For the cost of the rooms, I would not recommend this inn.

We overall enjoyed our stay here but did feel like the price point did not meet expectations. A few pros: The room itself was great - with a comfortable bed, great water pressure, and plenty of room to spread out and a stunning view of Western Beach. Loved the water machine that had both flat and sparkling water. The location was remote enough that we felt like we were getting away, but close enough to things to do. Breakfast was really great, and one of the few times I ate breakfast on our trip because it was so good. One of my favorite parts of our stay was walking the beach in the evening and having it feel like the entire beach was ours. A few cons: They have a pool which is a huge plus, but it is pretty basic without amenities such as food/drink service that I've often had at other inns, was small enough that 2 or 3 families felt overcrowded, and the water was very cold. The elevator is an old manual elevator so guests can't use on their own and would need to get staff to help with luggage or if they need the lift due to a disability. And the biggest con for us was the noise from other guests in the hallway. Every door closing was a slam that startled us in our own room.

Gorgeous location, but is it living on its laurels? We came for Sunday lunch & were seated w/ a lovely view, but the actual meal & service were terrible. Our chairs were covered in crumbs & we waited for 50 minutes for our food. When one of our diners asked for more coffee, the server said they were having "technical difficulties" so there was no more coffee served. Really?! Tea was Bigelow, an OK brand but a restaurant of this quality should serve organic tea. A disappointing dining experience.

Set between two beautiful beaches, the Black Point Inn (BPI) is a low-key getaway that is the ultimate in "old school New England". At over 160 years old, BPI is a gorgeous wooden frame building full of quirky, quiet charm. Prout's Neck is a private beach community, and the BPI sits at the very edge of the community. Guests have access to the Prout's Neck Beach Club on the eastern side (on the ocean) and to Western Beach on the western side (on the bay). There is also a lovely pool area if the beach is not your thing. Things to know before you go: This is NOT Ocean House—it's not a resort, but a true "inn". It's an old building and you can definitely hear the creaking of wooden floors, and there are not the kinds of "high end" amenities one might expect at this price point. For example, there is an elevator, but it's a very small, staff-operated, old fashioned type. There are three floors at BPI, so be prepared to climb some stairs. Room layouts are not all uniform, either, so if you have a specific need, let the front desk know. The restaurant, the Chart Room, is FANTASTIC. Breakfast is included with the room rate, and it is well worth it. Also, consider a room with an ocean view—these face on the "front" of the inn, vs. facing the pool side. (However, some pool side rooms do have lovely outdoor porches with comfy chairs.) Service is very laid-back, but attentive. Everyone we met was great and totally happy to help with whatever we might need. If you want quiet, beautiful sunsets, and incredible food, I can't recommend it enough.

For the past two years, I have traveled up to Maine to visit friends in Scarborough. This is how I came across the Black Point Inn and I’m so happy that I did. I stayed here two nights last year and found it to be too short a time, so I stayed here three nights this year, specifically on July 6, 7 and 8. Just as last time, the staff were very warm and welcoming. There were two standouts, Debra from housekeeping and Griffin from the restaurant. She made sure my room was always clean and he brought me breakfast on the deck overlooking the bay every morning. I should mention that breakfast was included with my room rate but liquor is not so the only extra was a mimosa. The food here has always been delicious be it breakfast or dinner. I’ve not had lunch here only because there is so much to do in the area including Portland. This time my friends took me around to explore many of the different lighthouses in the Portland area. But the Inn also has some interesting places to explore as well. Two notable things are the Cliff walk with its beautiful views and also the Widow’s Walk. This is the small octagonal tower atop the Inn. You can go up there at your own risk because the staircase is very steep and narrow. My inner child had a blast and my imagination went wild. The adult in me enjoyed the view from all sides. My room was spacious with a little balcony overlooking the pool. Sadly, there is no in-room coffeemaker. However, there is coffee, tea and pastries set up in the Lobby early every morning. I go down in my PJs by 6:30 AM. I need coffee and when I’m there, I’m home, so PJs it is. I highly recommend the Black Point Inn. I find the staff all extremely friendly and they make me feel at home. The Inn is just beautiful and it feels like Maine! I’m looking forward to my next visit.

The BPI is a secret gem that one can only hope continues it's traditions of beauty and tranquility for generations to come. This place is WONDERFUL. It's like stepping back in time a bit... but with all the comforts we have come to expect. The Inn is quaint, a fireplace in the lobby with comfy little places to sit and view the beach that is just expansive. There is coffee and lite bites that will take you through until the most wonderful dinner, with indoor and outdoor seating. The rooms are well appointed, private and comfortable. We had plenty of space to spread out, and even a little deck to venture out on for morning sunrise. The property itself has maintained a level of privacy that allows guests to enjoy their time away from busy lives and to feel like they can just wander out for a walk and then pop back for breakfast...without worrying about being too fussy. The Cliff Walk is one of the most spectacular hikes we have done. It's a little rough, and certainly not for anyone who is unsteady. You really need good shoes and sure footing to manage the entire loop. But what a treat to see the sunrise on the Eastern Seabord, just as Winslow Homer did from his home around the corner. We walked 2 beaches easily. Wide, quiet in the Fall, and very few other people which is what we were looking for. The food is what you should be absolutely be AMAZED (and actually surprised) and how wonderful and thoughtful the chef and his team are. The dinners we had were some of the best we have ever had, not just at a B&B. We had the mussles for a starter 2 nights in a row because they were THAT good. Rachel, our waitress, was on par with suggestions about dinner pairings. We had scallops and even a vegetarian Massaman Curry that was OUT OF THIS WORLD. Do NOT skip dessert.... you'd be sad to find out that the Stickey Toffee Pudding and Apple Fritters were an absolute delight at the end of the meal (we actually took the Apple Fritters back to the room for a late night snack)... ask Amy at the bar to share some of her secret cocktails.... she is a MIXOLOGIST ! We loved it here. We loved it in October when it wasn't quite so crazy on the East Coast... when all the summer people have left and it's other couples looking for something more relaxing...