Hideaway Inn in Camden

Some places you visit. Others, you just don’t want to leave. That’s how Rick Johnson and Charles Luna felt when they first came to Camden on a New England road trip in 2021. They had already fallen hard for Martha’s Vineyard, but something about Camden—its slower pace, its walkability, its charm—kept drawing them back. By their third visit, they stopped calling it a vacation and started calling it a plan.

Rick and Charles weren’t strangers to beautiful spaces. Before opening Hideaway Inn, they spent years crafting brand experiences for heavy-hitters like William Sonoma, Rejuvenation, and Nike. But it wasn’t until they left behind their fast-paced lives in Portland, Oregon, that they began building something entirely their own. The house they bought—tucked down a quiet street just minutes from the heart of Camden—had all the bones. Seven rooms (now eight), each with its own bath, wide-plank pine floors, and a sturdy, old Maine soul. What it needed was new energy. They brought it.

They describe the look and feel of the inn as “updated traditional”—historic paint colors, warm brass lighting, curated antiques, and luxurious textures that invite you to stay a while. It’s high design without the fuss. “We didn’t want it to feel like a modern launch inside a historic house,” Rick says. “We wanted to respect the heritage, not copy and paste the past.” The result is equal parts sophisticated and cozy, thanks in no small part to their West Coast sensibility and a keen eye for detail. (It also doesn’t hurt that Rick has access to some killer designer sample sales.)

Hideaway’s newest feature—a bar and bites experience offered Sunday through Tuesday evenings—is a nod to the slow-living European style Rick and Charles admire. It’s not a restaurant. It’s more like being invited to a friend’s (very well-appointed) home for a cocktail and something delicious. The anchor in the front yard lights up when the bar is open, and locals in the know have already taken to calling it their neighborhood spot. (Please call for reservations: 207-706-6298.)

FAMOUS FOR:
Their breakfast is a standout, especially the popovers served with white wine gravy and jam. Guests also love Rick’s 15-hour potatoes and his ricotta blueberry cake.

ADDRESS:
4 Pleasant St in Camden, ME

WEBSITE:
hideawayinnmaine.com

photos provided by Hideaway Inn