We have stayed at the Rocktide every time we are in Boothbay. The staff is very friendly, including the owners (an older husband and wife) who are often on premises. This hotel/Inn is mature in both staff and facilities. This is not a trendy / new-age location. It is established, quaint - but still teeming with life - and attractive. The lobby is adorned with old style wood furnishings and trim. The library, furnished with old ship models (hand built wood), is a wonderful place to sit and chat, read or just gaze into the fireplace in the cool morning or evening hours. The lounge and restaurant are furnished nicely and staffed appropriately. The view from both locations is fantastic! Not only do we love just sitting and watching the harbor from the bar while we're there, but love reminiscing about it months later too. There is an outdoor deck which is equally nice. The wait staff doesn't make it out there frequently so it is advisable to bring something with you from the bar.
The restaurant is reviewed separately on tripadvisor so I recommend looking there. I will say that while pricey, we had a great meal there.
Breakfast in the morning was great. The usual routine and various premade, buffet style foods - eggs, sausage, bacon, potatoes, muffins, donuts, assorted juices and coffee - and of course, the view.
Location-wise, it's hard to beat. Sure, you could stay in town at the Tugboat, but then getting in and out is a pain if you want to drive anywhere. The walking bridge is 100yards from the hotel and consequently very close to town. We would walk across multiple times day and night without hesitation. Plus, if you choose to drive somewhere nearby, getting in and out is a snap without having to deal with town traffic and parking.
The rooms, while meeting the needs of the casual guest, could use some updating. I know the suites have been updated and are very nice, but my experience is only with the regular rooms. Our rooms have always been clean, tidy and accommodating. They are pretty "yesterday" though, in terms of style. I can easily look past that. I know some people can't. It has the downeast charm that a chain doesn't have, regardless of the styling.
Overall, our stay has always been excellent. We create new memories every time we are there. We look forward to going again soon.

The Rocktide is perfectly located for views of beautiful sunsets. It is steps away from the pedestrian bridge which crosses the harbor to the village.

The lobby is wonderfully decorated. The staff is friendly and helpful. The morning breakfast is excellent! Don't miss it.

The rooms really need updating. Quiet and comfortable but very dated. My rooom had a musty smell.

The hotel room was filthy. There was black hair in the sink, the main complaint-- there was blood on the comforter that I put up to my face -- and I took a shower standing in 8 inches of water because the drain was not working-it was disgusting.
It is one thing to have a bad experience someplace, becasue I know stuff happens sometimes for whatever the reason. But what was most disturbing to me is that the Manager had no interest in talking to me personally about my experience. If this was my business (I am self employed, so I know), I would want to make the customer happy and to fix the problem the best way I could. This is how you maintain integrity and good customer service.

We just stayed at the hotel for 3 days and I would not stay there again.
When we checked in, the bathroom floor was completely covered in hair and dirt, there were spots on the bathtub that I am telling myself was dirt, but in all honesty looked like blood drops. The room was completely covered in dust and there was a very large spider web inside the lamp with one burnt out bulb. The curtains were hanging off the rod and the air conditioner was broken and from the 70's.

The front desk staff is ancient and VERY rude. I called the front desk to ask if we could have someone come and clean and was told "No- I am on the other line. You'll have to come to the office to speak to one of the valets". I went to the office, spoke to the valet, and explained the situation and he berated me that I didn't call when we checked in, he didn't have a mop, and I would have to wait until tomorrow morning. I decided that I would clean the floor myself (I always bring a can of Lysol), asked for 2 sets of towels, tromped back to my room and cleaned the floor of the bathroom and took a picture of the hairball mess. We asked the girl the next day to give the rooms a good clean, however, she missed the spider web in the lamp and I left it to see if it would disappear. On our last day, I took a pic of it as it was still there.
The Rocktide might have a good happy hour, but that is only because they need to keep you drunk so you can't see all the dirt.
VERY unhappy with the accommodations and service.