The Best Restaurants in Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Added to the map, there’s Shalimar India and Elephantine Bakery. We’ve trimmed Ceres Bakery and The Franklin.

Earth Eagle Brewings

Head down a small alley to find this cheery brewery’s tasting room, which serves unusual beer styles with a focus on gruit, the name for brews that feature a bevy of botanicals in place of hops. The food menu is equally eclectic, with an impressive pub fare array of 17 different hot dogs and a handful of burgers and sandwiches.

Surf Portsmouth

Head down to the waterfront for fresh local seafood with a view at Surf. Styles of cuisine run the gamut, but they all showcase Seacoast-caught seafood where possible. Pop into Surf Sushi Bar next door for even more fresh fish.

Black Trumpet

This cozy, waterfront bistro uses locally sourced produce and meat, and menu items feature house-made condiments and preserves. A James Beard Award semi-finalist, chef Evan Mallett purchases whole animals to butcher in-house, and later opened Stock + Spice next door, selling Black Trumpet spices and blends.

Cava

You’ll be transported to the Mediterranean when you dine at Cava, where the Old-World atmosphere and wine list complement the prix-fixe four course menu of traditional tapas like patatas bravas and char-grilled baby octopus.

Elephantine

This old-world cafe specializes in breads of all kinds from flaky croissants and savory rosemary focaccia to crispy fresh baguettes. Satisfy your sweet tooth with Egyptian bread pudding, cardamom and orange zest palmiers, and cinnamon rolls or order Mediterranean breakfast and lunch. Elephantine is planning to open a second location in Boston’s Seaport neighborhood in late summer 2025.

Massimo's - Ristorante Massimo

The restaurant downstairs is thoroughly classic Italian, comforting in its familiarity. The more casual Upstairs at Massimo’s offers small plates, charcuterie, and a small selection of entrees.

The Wilder

The Wilder kicks comfort cuisine up a notch with staples of truffle and duck fat cheddar popcorn and kimchi aioli potatoes. The rotating craft cocktail list features unexpected ingredients like African bird’s eye chili and plum-infused Japanese whiskey, and the late-night eats menu is available until midnight, a rarity in town.

Cure

This small, intimate restaurant is led by Julie Cutting, one of the few female chefs in town. Try the liver pate to start and don’t miss the fan favorite espresso-stout braised short ribs.

Nichinan

Sample hackleback caviar, wagyu gyoza, and half a dozen sushi rolls at this new Japanese spot in the boutique Hotel Thaxter. The food is worth the visit but the craft cocktails and midcentury interior design lend themselves just as well to a happy hour meetup.

Caffe Kilim

This coffee shop has been in business for over twenty years in Portsmouth and has a loyal following. Enjoy the shop’s Middle Eastern vibe with Turkish coffee, cookies, and music piped from overhead.

Street

Stop into Street for a taste of global fare without having to dust off your passport. This casual eatery offers small plates of street food from around the world, like pozole, sticky rice bowls, and Korean fried chicken.

Five81NE

From the team behind beloved vegetarian bistro Green Elephant, this Thai restaurant focuses on Isaan cuisine from Northeastern Thailand. Sample drunken noodles, crab fried rice, and Isaan beef tartare. You’ll find pops of New England cuisine in there as well, like the lobster coconut curry noodles.

Vida Cantina

This jaunty cantina’s owners take pride in serving locally grown and organic produce where possible, and even make their own tortillas using local heirloom corn. And you can thank chef/owner David Vargas’s wife Erika — a farmer and native Granite Stater — for the inspiration for the thoughtful vegan offerings.