Grey Havens Inn in Georgetown, Maine

Grey Havens Inn sits on the Boothbay Harbor waterfront, a historic property that's been hosting guests for decades. The restaurant, Blue, serves creative seasonal dishes. You'll find regulars mixing with travelers, plus couples celebrating anniversaries and families unwinding after sailing. The current owners have been quietly upgrading the place while keeping its charm intact.

• Duck risotto and seasonal dishes that impress.
• Ocean views from the porch before dinner.
• Staff remembers you after 22 years.
• Espresso martinis worth ordering again.

The duck with risotto is the anchor. Fresh vegetables rotate with the season. Ask about appetizers, which guests consistently praise. The espresso martinis are strong enough to warrant a nightcap. Breakfast is included, though the menu stays fairly consistent.

The dining room has water views and a refined but unhurried pace. The porch is where you'll spend the golden hour, glass in hand, before heading to your table.

Blue is where the kitchen shows off. Duck with risotto, fresh vegetables, appetizers that don't phone it in. Service moves at a pace that lets you actually taste things. Breakfast comes the next morning, though one guest wished for more variety beyond the standard rotation.

Guests return year after year, some for 22 years running. One recent visitor called it "absolutely perfect," and another said the owners are "lovingly improving this historic inn." People celebrate weddings here and stop by on road trips just because they heard good things.