I love a good cocktail, but sometimes they can be hard to find. But, during my last trip to Boothbay Harbor, I was delighted to discover one of the best cocktails I have ever had in Maine. My favorite part is that the cocktail bar is hidden in the back of a tasty sub shop. Here is everything you need to know about the best cocktail bar in Maine, NEAT!

NEAT

The speakeasy is called NEAT, and it is in downtown Boothbay Harbor, in the back of a delicious sub shop called Marcel’s. (You should definitely visit to try their tasty subs served on fresh bread.) But we’ll get to that in a bit.

We found the speakeasy last fall and were delighted by the one drink we had. We finally returned a few weeks ago, which was even better than our previous visit.

From the moment you walk into the closed subshop, you will hear voices from the back room. Those voices are those enjoying a handcrafted cocktail at NEAT, and you may walk right by the bar if you are not looking for it.

They do have a small sign in the window stating when the bar is open, but at night, it looks dimly lit from the outside, providing a sense of mystery.

NEAT is famous for its endless whiskey list, but it also creates cocktails featuring gins, rum, vodka, and other spirits. As soon as we walked in, we enjoyed the dimly lit room, dressed with endless bottles of alcohol and string lights.

A small television had Bob Ross painting, adding even more to the relaxing environment.

The Creative Cocktails At NEAT

The cocktails at NEAT were out of this world and very innovative. We decided to spend the evening trying a variety of them, as we were staying up the road and didn’t know when we would be back in town. Here are some that we tried.

House Salad

My first drink was the House Salad, which featured olive oil-washed Tito’s vodka, lemon, and sweet tomato water served with basil and tomato bitters.

It was light, refreshing, and packed with summer flavors, and I can officially say it is now my favorite type of salad.

Coco Bongo

Then we sipped the tropical Coco Bongo, which features coconut fat-washed gin from Bimini in Biddeford (another excellent cocktail bar to visit if you are in the area).

The cocktail had a hint of vanilla, orange, lime, and fresh mint. Each sip felt like we were on a tropical vacation.

Last Word

Sticking to our Gin theme, we tried the Last Word, which featured bimini gin, green chartreuse, luxardo maraschino, and lime. It was an elegant and classy drink.

Pink Pony Club

Next, we enjoyed sage-infused Tito’s vodka, wild strawberry liqueur, lemon, strawberry preserves, and seltzer in the Pinky Pony Club.

It was a fun combination of summer ingredients, with sage adding the perfect hint of spice.

From the name to the pretty pink color, it was a fun cocktail to enjoy.

Self Kelp

I had to try one whiskey cocktail since the speakeasy is called NEAT. We opted for the Self Kelp, which had stormwater rye, local sugar kelp, salted honey, and sea smoke bitters.

I loved seeing Maine’s Kelp featured in this cocktail. The state’s kelp industry has been growing rapidly and is recognized as one of the emerging sectors in its aquaculture.

This smoky ocean cocktail was enjoyed by the window, which had beautiful water views.

Blowfish Spirit Cleanse

My favorite cocktail of the night was the Blowfish Spirit Cleanse, a unique and creative creation by Emily, one of NEAT’s cocktail experts. I totally expect her to win awards for her inventiveness in the years to come.

The menu said, “Ask no questions, get no lies…” and she meant it.

The ingredients are secret, and the taste will keep you guessing while you sip it. While I don’t want to ruin the experience, the drink involves an edible plant that provides a numbing effect intensified by the liquor.

It was one of the most imaginative cocktails I ever had and one I will return for soon!

The Whiskey Bar At NEAT

NEAT offers a variety of whiskey flights, whether you want to custom-make one or enjoy one of their options, which include bourbon, scotch, rye, Canadian, Irish, Japanese, and even Maine-made whiskies.

The Food Menu At NEAT

They also offer a variety of delicious food items. While we didn’t get to try them this time as we had dinner reservations planned, we would certainly try some dishes next time we visit.

Their menu changes frequently as they work with seasonal ingredients, but we saw they had Sub Shop Chacutterrie and fresh seafood for some of the options—yum!

NEAT Hours

The bar is open from 4 to 10 p.m. Thursday through Tuesday after the sub shop closes for the day. It is closed on Wednesdays.

Marcel’s Submarine Shop

We returned the next afternoon to try one of the famous Marcel’s Subs we heard so much about. When we entered on a Sunday morning, the smell of freshly baked bread was more than enough to get us to order a few things.

I had to try the Lobster Roll, which was so fresh and delicious. It has a claw, knuckle, and tail, lettuce, and mayo; for only $20, it was super affordable for Maine.

It was so good that it earned a spot on my Local’s Guide To The Best Lobster Rolls In Maine!

We also got Standard Turkey, which had roasted turkey, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, red onion, and pickle. It was fresh, delicious, and packed with flavor!

Where Is NEAT Located?

You can find NEAT and Marcel’s Submarine Shop at the location below. You won’t be disappointed with either!

Want more Maine foodie hotspots? Check out all my favorite Maine Foodie Locations. You should also check out my Local’s Guide To The Best Lobster Rolls In Maine!

If traveling around Maine, block some time to visit one of the many State Parks.

Visiting Acadia National Park? Here are 20 Exciting Things To Do In Acadia National Park this summer. Don’t forget to try the weird yet delicious Lobster Ice Cream in Bar Harbor.

You can also hike the Beech Mountain Trail and the Ship Harbor Trail before cozying up in one of these 13 Great Places To Stay Near Acadia National Park.

Below are some of my other favorite speakeasies that I have visited!

Speakeasy Collection