Here’s your personal travel guide to Portsmouth New Hampshire! Are you planning on visiting Portsmouth? Read on to see the best places we found to shop, eat, and where to stay here!
Travel Guide to Portsmouth New Hampshire
When traveling to a new place, you never know what to expect. Sometimes it’s exactly how you imagined, other times it’s underwhelming, and still other times it defies your expectations.
Portsmouth NH took me by surprise! It’s bustling with cute boutiques, brick alleyways, delicious restaurants, live music, and a whole lot of charm. New England has so many cute little towns, but this is one of my favorites now.
Best Places to Shop in Portsmouth New Hampshire
Fun fact – I discovered one of my favorite boutiques in Portsmouth: Em and Elle. Everything in here is trendy, reasonably priced, and the decor is on point. Plus, the staff are super friendly which is always a plus in my book! I got this cute fall hat, a t-rex necklace, and a new black purse which has been on repeat ever since.
I couldn’t believe how many cute boutiques were in one place here, including some favorites like The Black Dog, Bobbles & Lace and LIT Boutique that I recognized from Boston. Here are some of my favorite shops we found on our trip:
- Em and Elle
- Bobble & Lace
- LIT Boutique
- The Black Dog
- Prelude Boutique
- Bliss
- Marco Polo (for tote bags, mugs, etc.)
- Sea Bags
- 20 Below Boutique
- Opal & Oak
- Fatface
- Evie
Best Places to Eat & Drink in Portsmouth New Hampshire
Brunchers beware: the Portsmouth brunch scene is no joke! Be sure to make a reservation ahead of time on the weekend. Almost all of them seem to have outdoor patios and decorations like stringed lights which are so cute. Here are some of the best places we discovered to chow down here:
- The Goat (plenty of big TVs on the wall to catch your favorite weekend games)
- Sineore Cannoli (for fried desserts)
- 5 Thai Bistro (to beat the brunch rush)
- The Wilder (for craft cocktails)
- The Thirsty Moose Taphouse (a local favorite with live music downstairs)
- The District
- Toscana Italian Chophouse & Wine Bar
- Portsmouth Brewery
- The Green Room
- The Goods Cafe
- Fresh House Cafe
- Bennett’s Sandwich Shop
- The Friendly Toast
If you’re looking to beat the crowds or forgot to make a reservation, 5 Thai Bistro on Pleasant Street is a great option. It opens a bit later in the day at 11 AM (12PM on weekends) so you can beat the brunch rush, and they offer really delicious Thai food – with super fresh veggies!
If you haven’t tried Thai iced tea, now is the time!
Head to Sineore Cannoli after a night at the Thirsty Moose or The Wilder (shown below) for some delicious fried desserts like Oreos and Reese’s. Pro Tip: if you ask nicely here, they just might let you mix and match your fried dessert plates!
Where to Stay in Portsmouth New Hampshire
We visited Portsmouth for a wedding, and we were so glad to have an AirBnb right in the middle of town on Pleasant Street to attend all the wedding events. Our AirBnb was super cute and cozy, with a brick kitchen and neutral tones. It was also above a bar, but if you bring ear plugs or tire yourself out during the day then you’ll sleep soundly!
Hope you enjoyed this travel guide to Portsmouth New Hampshire!
Be sure to check out my other New England travel guides: