Vintage Room in Camden
Tucked inside 16 Bay View Hotel, The Vintage Room feels like the kind of place you stumble into and want to keep for yourself. It’s moody, low-lit, and just a bit hidden—equal parts cocktail bar, late-night lounge, and restaurant. Now entering its ninth season, The Vintage Room has evolved under the guidance of Manager Erick Anderson and Chef Kerry McCormick into a destination for thoughtful small plates and expertly crafted drinks.
The menu changes seasonally and draws influence from across the globe: Southeast Asian flavors, Mediterranean accents, and American classics with a twist. “We’re trying to offer something you wouldn’t necessarily make at home,” McCormick says. “It should feel a little special.” Many ingredients are sourced locally, including vegetables harvested from a small garden plot up the road. Upstairs, at the hotel’s rooftop bar, The View, McCormick’s team runs a pared-down version of the same menu, adapted to the seasonal kitchen setup but anchored in the same philosophy of fresh, clean, memorable food.
Drinks follow suit. Cocktails rotate quarterly, and zero-proof options are treated with the same care as their spirit-based counterparts. “There’s nothing mock about what we do,” Anderson says. “Our zero-proofs have the same layers and creativity as our cocktails—they’re not just juice and soda water.” A handful of drinks, like the Nutty Sailor and Maple Walnut Old Fashioned, have earned a permanent place on what Anderson calls the unofficial secret menu.
Open seven days a week and serving until 10pm (11 in the summer), The Vintage Room offers a quiet reprieve from the busier downtown scene. Trivia and bingo nights keep things lively in the off-season, and the space occasionally hosts intimate live music sets. Whether you’re there for a late-night drink or a quiet dinner with friends, the intention is clear: handcrafted hospitality, delivered with care.
FAMOUS FOR:
Cozy, speakeasy-style setting, a menu of globally inspired small plates, and cocktails—both classic and zero-proof—that are made with fresh juices and house-made syrups. Locals and hotel guests alike come for the warm, late-night atmosphere and stay for the kind of hospitality that feels both polished and personal.
ADDRESS:
16 Bay View in Camden, ME
WEBSITE:
16bayview.com
photos by Peter Logue
