quiggyt4 / Shutterstock
Restaurants in Portsmouth, NH
Portsmouth has perhaps the best cafe scene in northern New England.
A favorite roastery and cafe, the funky Ceres Bakery (51 Penhallow St.; tel. 603/436-6518), on a side street off the main square, has a handful of tables and a tray of just-made sandwiches for those in a hurry. Nibble on sweet baklava with your coffee or tea at Caffe Kilim, a quarter-century-old Turkish coffee shop on Islington Street (tel. 603/436-7330). For a good pot of organic tea, walk a bit farther on Islington Street to no. 601, the cozy White Heron Tea & Coffee (tel. 603/294-0270).
If you want a bit more of a bite to go with your coffee, Portsmouth’s got that covered, too. Two places leap to mind. The tie-dyed Friendly Toast, 121 Congress Street (tel. 603/430-2154), serves a variety of eggs and other breakfast dishes all day long, plus heartier items such as burgers. The setting’s eclectic, with vinyl booths and all kinds of nutty kitsch on the walls. For breakfast or a pick-me-up, look to Kaffee Vonsolin, 79 Daniel St. (tel. 603/373-0570), a coffee roaster with fantastic German pastries. Several more bakeries and coffee shops are within shouting distance of Market Square.
For casual evening dining in and around Portsmouth, consider one of several microbreweries, including Earth Eagle Tavern (tel. 603/502-5288) and Liar’s Bench Beer Company (tel. 603/294-9156). Both are quirky, a ton of fun, and offer both quality pub grub and innovative beers. Just over the Maine border, the Chauncy Creek Lobster Pier (tel. 207/439-1030) is the place for super fresh seafood in an idyllic outdoor setting.
Along with the dining options with full reviews on this site, the Wentworth by the Sea resort a few miles south is a good place for a sit down dinner at either the Salt Kitchen & Bar or the more casual (and seasonal) Latitudes bar and grill. The fare at Salt is top-rate, served beneath a remarkable (and original) frescoed dome; entrees might include grilled swordfish, lobster with filet mignon, seared yellowfin tuna, a clambake, a lobster pie, or something more Continental. There is a moderate dress code: Men are asked to wear a collared shirt. The Latitudes grill has a simpler menu, but offers something the main inn can’t—an outdoor patio of tables, softly lit at night, with lovely views overlooking the water.
Bookstore
Available as paperback
and as e-book.
10 Results
- Bistro/Wine Bar
Black Trumpet Bistro
Popular local Chef Evan Mallett is known for his house-made charcuterie (he’s a great believer in using nose-to-tail meats). He’s also an expert mycologist, which accounts for the restaurant’s name and the abundance of foraged mushrooms on the menu. His exotically spiced comfort food…$$Around Town - Tapas
Cava
The only danger to eating at Cava on vacation is you may find yourself unwilling to try any other restaurant during the course of your stay in Portsmouth. Yes, it is that good, and the menu is so varied, you'll be tempted to return again and again to try it all. Set in a charming…$$$Around town - Deli
Ceres Bakery
Loved by the locals, the unassuming Ceres has freshly baked bread (try the anadama), plus terrific soups (African peanut!) and sandwiches. A great place for lunch and breakfast; alas, it closes before dinner. We're hoping they change that.$Around town - Seafood
Jumpin' Jay's Fish Café
Attracting a younger, more culinarily attuned clientele than most other spots in town, Jay McSharry’s signature restaurant is the place to be for anyone who wants to eat a fish cooked in something other than a deep fryer. The sleek, spare dining room features an open kitchen and a…$$$Around Town - Café
Me & Ollie's
There is truly pride of ownership at this mini chain. Head here for thoughtfully prepared sandwiches, the oatmeal-chocolate chip cookies, and the best granola (raisinless!) we've ever tried.$Around town - Italian
Ristorante Massimo
A romantic setting of brick walls, warm wood paneling, and paintings of Italian landscapes gives any dinner here the air of a special occasion. Add flawless service and artistic (but not fussy) presentations of silken scallops, succulent short ribs braised in Barolo, grilled veal…$$$ - Seafood
Row 34
Locals sneak out of work early to get to Row 34 before 5pm for the $1 oysters at the raw bar. The bivalves come from the best Atlantic oyster beds still tasting of the sea, and go down well with any of the 20 or so on-tap brews that line one wall of the industrial-chic interior. In…$$ - Global Street Food
Street
For something more eclectic, head to Street in Portsmouth’s West End, where the menu hops effortlessly from Korean bibimbap and Vietnamese noodle bowls to falafel, tacos, empanadas, and spicy Thai ribs. The atmosphere is lively and informal, with graffiti-covered walls, strong…$ - Raw Bar/Gourmet American
The Franklin
Chef-owner Matt Louis has racked up James Beard nominations for the best chef in Northeast, and the Franklin, his stylish but relaxed raw-bar-and-then-some, is one of several restaurants in his Portland dining mini-empire. I’d argue it’s the most fun, with a menu that offers more…$$Around Town - Pub
The Press Room
Locals flock here more for convivial atmosphere and easy-on-the-budget prices than for creative cuisine. An in-town favorite since 1976, the Press Room boasts that it was the first place in the area to serve Guinness beer, so it’s appropriate that the place has a rustic, vaguely…$Around Town
