Whether it’s a plate of poutine, a pint at a local brewery, or a freshly groomed trail you can ride for miles, these winners are the places people can’t stop talkin’ about. This isn’t just a list—it’s a wicked good guide to what makes Maine's Aroostook County the Crown of Maine.

Here in Aroostook, we do things a little different. We’ve got generationally owned main streets full of mom-and-pop shops, snow that comes early and stays late making it Maine’s best winter, and a kind of legendary hospitality you'll be hard pressed to find anywhere else. This is the quiet side of Maine—no fuss, just the good stuff. Visit just once and you'll see, Aroostook is a place one may simply just be.
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🥇 Best Restaurant
Winner: Salted Butter Farm of Sherman
Honorable Mention: Lakeview Restaurant of St. Agatha
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🍺 Best Brewery
Winner: Northern Maine Brewing Company of Caribou
Honorable Mention: First Mile Brewing Company of Fort Kent
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🍩 Best Molasses Donut
Winner: Sadie's Bakery of Houlton
Honorable Mention: Lil J's kitchen of Mapleton
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🏨 Best Hotel or Lodge
Winner: Hampton Inn Presque Isle
Honorable Mention: Long Lake Motor Inn of St. Agatha
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❄️ Best Snowmobile Destination
Winner: Loring Arch Hanger of Limestone
Honorable Mention: Homestead Lodge of Oxbow
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☕ Best Coffee Spot
Winner: Ruska Coffee Co. of Caribou
Honorable Mention: Hub Coffee of Presque Isle
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🛍️ Best Shop or Boutique
Winner: Monica's Scandinavian Imports of Caribou
Honorable Mention: The County Coop & Farm Store
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📚 Best Bookstore
Winner: Neighborhood Books of Presque Isle
Honorable Mention: Bogan Books of Fort Kent
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🍟 Best Poutine
Winner: Lakeview Restaurant of St. Agatha
Honorable Mention: Dolly's Restaurant of Frenchville
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So go on—try a few of these spots for yourself and see what all the buzz is about. Whether you’re warming up with a cup of coffee on a snowy morning, or rollin' into a roadside diner for something wicked delicious, the best of Aroostook is ready to welcome you. You don’t need a big itinerary or fancy plans—just a little curiosity and an appetite for the real Maine. Visit once, and you’ll get it. The County has a way of welcoming you back time after time.

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So how did we come up with this list? Aroostook County Tourism created a 17 question survey that was completed by 778 participants in the winter of 2025. Votes that had similar spelling or common typos were combined and tabulated and the winner of each category was awarded a winner, first runner up, and all businesses were included as honorable mentions in the complete listings. We hope you take pride in this list and that it helps you find an Aroostook Adventure!