Contact & FAQs

We get it. We had never stayed in a bed and breakfast, until we bought one and moved right in! But we’ve traveled all over, and we think the Butler offers the best of all worlds when it comes to visiting midcoast Maine. You’ll have the privacy and luxury comforts of a boutique inn, the independence of an Airbnb, and the authenticity you can only find when you stay with locals. (Plus, the joy that comes from supporting a small family business!) The housemade, two-course hot breakfast we make daily is included with your stay.

Shared lodging is always an incredible opportunity to meet other travelers from near and far. Although you’ll have your own private room and bathroom, you may run into other guests in shared spaces like our parlor, lawn and outdoor porches. And we’ve seen many friendships start up right at the breakfast table!

According to our guests, it’s pretty fabulous. Our home was built in 1846, and we’ve retained some incredibly special details (original windows! beautiful hardwood floors! curved interior walls and crown molding!) while adding modern comforts like heat pumps, an EV car charger, smart TVs, luxurious Cuddledown™ bedding, a cedar wood-fired sauna with clawfoot tub cold plunge, and more. Check out our rooms page for more information about our amenities.

We’re happy to point you towards some excellent indoor attractions and activities in the area. Or, have a cozy day in! We’ve got a library full of great reads and plenty of board games, plus some art supplies and activities for kids. Borrow what you’d like and return it when you’re done.

We sure do! Our little first-floor shop is full of Maine-made crafts and goods available to our guests. We’ve curated this collection based on the products we love most, local companies we want to support, and things we think our guests will be most excited to take home. Plus, Tipsy Butler merch makes a great gift!

Our breakfast menu changes daily and reflects the best of what midcoast Maine’s lands and waters have to offer. Plus, we use fresh eggs from our backyard flock of chickens! Here’s a sampling of dishes we’ve been loving lately:

• Blueberry crisp with housemade whipped cream

• Griddled pumpkin bread with Cabot vanilla bean yogurt, fresh berries, and Grandy Organic granola

• Spinach and mushroom frittata with homefries and local sausage

• Fried eggs and avocado on rosemary sourdough toast

• Whole wheat pancakes with Maine maple syrup and fresh fruit

Of course! We totally understand. We do plan breakfast around several different factors including how many guests are staying with us, so if you know you won’t be at breakfast, we always appreciate a heads up.

We sure can. We want you to love what’s on your plate, and we enjoy getting creative in the kitchen! Just let us know about your dietary restrictions when you book, and if we have any questions, we’ll reach out to you. Please note that our kitchen is not allergen-free, so we can’t guarantee against cross-contact for guests with severe or anaphylactic food allergies like nuts or shellfish.

We sure do! Guests who stay multiple nights with us enjoy a complimentary hourlong sauna session in our cedar wood-fired sauna, just steps from the Butler’s front door. (We’ll send you a code and scheduling link when you book.) Guests staying a single night (or folks not staying overnight with us) are also welcome to book their own session! Alternate your time in the sauna with dips in our clawfoot tub cold plunge and rest in our Adirondack chairs.

Absolutely! We’re thrilled to offer a solar-powered Level 2 EV charger to our guests. This charger is located in our personal lot in front of the inn, just steps from the guest parking lot. Please let us know you’d like to use it so we can make sure there’s space for you.

Yes, we have a large parking lot for guests. The Cottage has two designated parking spots of its own. And if you’re booking the whole inn for a large event, folks who aren’t staying overnight can park in downtown Damariscotta and walk just a few minutes up to the Tipsy Butler (sidewalks all the way!).

Kids are most welcome at the Tipsy Butler! If you are traveling with little ones, we recommend booking our Chickadee Suite which has an attached second bedroom with a twin daybed and trundle. The Goldfinch room is another option with an available twin rollaway bed. We also have a pack-and-play available for extra small guests.

Our whippet/terrier mix Hobie takes his role as Inn Dog very seriously, which is why we can't accommodate pets in our four B&B rooms. The chickens will always be in the coop but love visits and fruit/veggie scraps. Cottage guests are welcome to bring one (1) dog during their stay for an additional fee! Cottage dogs must be on a leash while outside and you are responsible for cleaning up after your dog.

Our B&B is a historic home built in 1846. Because of its age and original architecture, it does have some stairs and uneven transitions. There are several steps from the parking lot to the front porch, and a few additional steps to come up the front porch and into the building. Our parlor and dining room are all located on the first floor. For guests who have mobility considerations or prefer to minimize stairs, we recommend our beautiful first-floor bedroom, Kingfisher. If you have specific accessibility questions or concerns, we’re happy to talk through them with you directly so you can decide if the space will be comfortable for your stay.

Check-in time begins at 3 PM. Check-out is at 11 AM.

Absolutely we do! You can add early check-in or late check-out for an additional fee when you book your stay with us. (If you want to add either of these after you book, just email, call or text us and we’re happy to help.)

No problem! You can email us updates about your stay at any time. If it’s the day of your arrival, please text or call us to let us know, especially if you have questions or need something from us upon arrival.

Getting here is easy! Newcastle is about a one-hour drive north of Portland International Jetport via scenic coastal Route 1. You can fly into Portland and rent a car. Concord Coach Lines also offers bus service from Portland to Damariscotta; the bus stop is about a five minute walk from our front door. (If you’re taking the bus and need a lift from downtown, we may be able to come pick you up - just ask!)

The Tipsy Butler is located just a few minutes’ walk from downtown Newcastle and Damariscotta at the head of the Damariscotta River estuary. The river is home to some incredible wildlife such as seals, herons, ospreys, bald eagles, and fish. There are tons of local walking/hiking trails for exploring the woods, river, and rocky coast, plus special historical sites like the Whaleback Shell Midden. You can also hop on a tour boat, kayak, or ferry for a half- or full-day adventure on the water! If you’re looking to bring home a special memento of your visit, you’ll find many shops, galleries and bookstores close by. At the end of the peninsula, Pemaquid Point Lighthouse is one of Maine’s most iconic places.

There are over a dozen fantastic restaurants within a few minutes’ walk of the Butler, and even more just a short drive away. Whether you’re looking to enjoy an upscale farm-to-table meal, a casual family pizza night, vegan riverfront cuisine, or a local seafood extravaganza, we can help point you in the right direction.

The Damariscotta River is the original birthplace of Maine’s oyster aquaculture industry and supports more than 15 oyster farms in producing around 80% of Maine’s farmed oysters every year. And down the peninsula, you’ll see fishermen in villages like New Harbor landing lobster, tuna, pollock, haddock, and other groundfish species. We’re proud of our rich working waterfront history and heritage; we think it makes our area truly special.

100%. On the next peninsula over, Boothbay Harbor is renowned for its beautiful coast and botanical gardens. Within half an hour drive, you can also reach the coastal towns of Camden, Rockport, Wiscasset, and Bath. Or, you can take a ferry from nearby New Harbor to Monhegan, an incredibly special island twelve miles off the coast that most visitors miss altogether. Each of these places has their own flavor, and we’re happy to help you plan your perfect day.

Truly, there is no bad time to visit the midcoast. We live here because we love it year-round! In the spring, the midcoast comes alive as the ospreys return, the alewives run, and oyster farmers bring their cages off the bottom of the river. Summer is the busiest season as our guests hunt for the perfect lobster roll, head to Pemaquid Beach, and help Vacationland live up to its name. In the fall, you’ll find stunning foliage and a bit more quiet, unless you’re joining the thousands who come to Damariscotta every October for Pumpkinfest! And wintertime is perfect for a snowy, peaceful getaway with lots of hikes and skiing opportunities nearby. Reach out to us if you’d like help planning your trip.