Goose Cove Resort
Twenty-one acres on the southwestern shore of Deer Isle, bordering Barred Island, looking out to Penobscot Bay. Nine private cottages, three suites, and a James Beard-nominated restaurant on the property. What used to be a lodge in decline is now something considerably more intentional.
Goose Cove Lodge had a long run as a traditional Maine resort before falling into disrepair in the 2010s. In 2019, chef Devin Finigan and artist Luke Hartmann took over the property and rebranded it around Finigan's restaurant, Aragosta — which had launched in a smaller Stonington space in 2013 and needed room to grow.
What they built is a destination lodge in the full sense: stay in a cottage, walk to dinner, wake up to the cove. The property is wooded and coastal, with private access to shoreline and the nature preserve at Barred Island nearby. The nine cottages and three suites are distributed across the 21 acres, offering genuine seclusion between them.
The lodging is closely tied to the restaurant program. Spring and fall have nights where Aragosta dining is exclusive to inn guests — the tasting menu at one of the most-praised restaurants in New England is part of the experience, not a separate decision. In summer, the dining room opens to the public, but guests staying on-site have priority access and scheduling flexibility that walk-ins don't.
Note: Goose Cove Resort and Aragosta at Goose Cove are the same property. See the Aragosta listing for full restaurant details.
What Visitors Say
"Liked the location, secluded but handy to a number of hiking trails. Our cabin was a little rustic, but nice with a water view and a porch to watch the stars from. Generally very quiet, but a wedding party was at the resort on Saturday night and were whooping it up down on the beach till way late. We could hear them but it wasn't much of a hindrance. We enjoyed the stay, and checked off another box on our quest to explore the Maine coast."
"An unexpected GEM. Excellent service, great food and drink, and the view is fantastic. The nearby nature trails to Barred island surpassed any in Acadia. If you're vacationing in Bar Harbor and disappointed with the dismal food and service there, it's worth the short trip to Cockatoo to refresh your sanity. (They also have real Cockatoos that are quite entertaining)"
"We thoroughly enjoyed our stay this past week. Your staff were helpful and quite cheerful. It was a pleasure to talk to them and learn about their countries. Dinners were very good and the mojhitoes were delicious and slumber inducing. Great views from our cabin."
Local Tips
- Book lodging well in advance of the restaurant — the two are tightly linked, and the summer season fills up.
- Spring and fall stays offer a more intimate version of the experience: fewer guests, exclusive dining, lower ambient pressure.
- The Sunday deck dining is open to the public without a reservation — if you're staying here, that's an easy call.
- The walk to Barred Island from the property is worth doing at low tide.
Connected To
- Aragosta at Goose Cove — the restaurant on-property; see separate listing for dining details
- Deer Isle Oyster Company — local oysters that appear on Finigan's menu
- Yellow Birch Farm — one of the local farms supplying produce to the kitchen