As much as I love spending a day in New Hampshire, there aren’t a huge variety of restaurants to choose from. Most towns in NH offer only a few basic restaurants with bar food, however Portsmouth NH restaurants are a different story!
I find that Portsmouth feels much more like a trendy city than any other part of New Hampshire, so it makes sense that Portsmouth has a variety of upscale restaurants.
However, because it’s New Hampshire, you really don’t have to break the bank to eat in Portsmouth.
Here are all of my favorite restaurants in Portsmouth New Hampshire, including everything from trendy cocktail bars to food trucks and more!
Upscale, Trendy Restaurants In Portsmouth NH:
I split this post up into two sections: upscale, trendy restaurants, and then casual/cozy restaurants in Portsmouth NH further down.
Here are my favorite upscale trendy restaurants, perfect for a date night out or a cocktail!
Rudi’s Wine Bar
I have to start with Rudi’s because it’s one of my absolute favorite restaurants in Portsmouth New Hampshire. This wine bar is tucked away, just off the main road, and is so trendy yet cozy.
The room in the front holds the actual wine bar and feels a bit more like an Italian cocktail lounge, while the room in the back is better for sit down dinner and is where you can catch live piano performances.
We love both rooms! I like to grab a table or spot at the bar when we’re out for cocktails, but we prefer the back room for date night.
Even though Rudi’s feels very Italian, the menu is actually contemporary American (think super upscale steak, burgers, and artisanal salads) with a few Italian options, such as pasta dishes.
The cocktails are super yummy at Rudi’s, but they’re definitely known for the wine for a reason. We always start with a cocktail (I highly recommend the espresso martini) then split a bottle of red.
Overall, Rudi’s is a great choice for a cozy date night and is one of my favorite Portsmouth NH restaurants to hit up during the cold winter months!
Cuisine: Upscale American (some Italian options), Wine Bar
Vibe: Cozy but chic wine bar
Price: $25-$30 per entree
Row 34
If you’re looking for restaurants in Portsmouth New Hampshire with a city vibe then Row 34 is definitely your place.
Row 34 started as a raw bar, but offers a whole variety of cooked seafood, as well as burgers, flatbread pizzas, and vegetarian options.
This is a great restaurant for well-made martinis, oysters, and small gourmet bites. It’s definitely one of the best restaurants in Portsmouth NH to go with a group if you want to share a bunch of appetizers!
The fish is always super fresh at Row 34. Even though it’s a bit pricier than other restaurants in the area, it’s worth it for the vibe alone.
Cuisine: Upscale American & Seafood
Vibe: Industrial, edgy, trendy
Price: $20-$30 per entree
Surf Restaurant
Surf is located right in downtown Portsmouth and is a great choice if you’re looking for a semi-upscale yet comfortable restaurant with a large selection of food and cocktails.
The inside of Surf Restaurant is super fun and interesting. It’s all sea-themed, so the bar is made to look like sea glass, and the whole interior is decorated in turquoise and sand colors.
It’s relatively easy to get a reservation at Surf, even during the busy days, so this is where we often end up.
The prices are relatively affordable, especially for ultra-fresh seafood, and the mojitos are always fresh and yummy!
Shane really loves the oysters here, so this is definitely a place for raw seafood fans.
The views are a huge perk at Surf. I love sitting outside for the sunset! Surf is located right on the main deck area, so this is one of our favorite restaurants in Portsmouth NH, most especially during the summer.
Cuisine: Upscale American & Seafood
Vibe: Ocean-themed, moderately upscale
Price: $15-$30 per entree
Ristorante Massimo
My favorite Italian restaurant in Portsmouth is definitely Ristorante Massimo. The food is excellent and the ambiance is truly Italian!
The menu is filled yummy dishes like meatball appetizers, gnocchi and carbonara, lemon cream sauce with lobster, and chocolate desserts. Every meal is made with ultra-fresh ingredients. I have hadn’t one dish I didn’t love at Ristorante Massimo!
The ambiance is also darling. You feel as though you’re really in Italy.
Ristorante Massimo is a great spot for a fancy date night out!
Cuisine: Italian
Vibe: Cozy yet fancy Italian restaurant
Price: $30-$50 per entree
Martingale Wharf
Martingale is one of the most upscale restaurants in Portsmouth New Hampshire. It’s where we go for a bit date night or celebration and Martingale never disappoints!
Located right next to Surf, Martingale is a level up. It has higher class, elite vibes, and prices to reflect this. However, the service is always outstanding as is the food.
The entrees are typically smaller portions and are quite artisanal. We tend to choose seafood options (I especially recommend the mussels and seared ahi tuna), but the burgers and pasta choices are yummy too.
The martinis are especially good at Martingale. This is one of my favorite Portsmouth NH restaurants for martinis! They’re made to perfection, and the bartenders are willing to add in other ingredients if you have something specific in your head.
Cuisine: Upscale American & Seafood
Vibe: Super swanky, bougie vibe
Price: $28-$38 per entree
Black Trumpet Bistro
This waterfront bistro is ultra cozy and is perfect for lunch or dinner any time of year.
Black Trumpet Bistro has a whole array of eclectic food choices, all of which are designed by the renown chef Evan Mallett. The spices are especially incredible, as are the homemade condiments.
I would say that the decor in Black Trumpet Bistro is a bit more casual than some of the other upscale restaurants, so this is one of the best Portsmouth NH restaurants if you want to stay cozy but eat good food.
Cuisine: Upscale Eclectic
Vibe: Cozy vibe but artisanal food
Price: $30-$50 per entree
Latitudes at the Wentworth
If you don’t mind taking a short drive from downtown, then you may enjoy Latitudes. It’s one of the most well-known restaurants in Portsmouth New Hampshire, mainly because it’s in the very upscale Wentworth By The Sea Hotel.
The food is country club-ish with classic drinks (the mojitos are really good) and an impressive wine list. There’s also the Latitudes Sky Bar for a more casual but insanely scenic experience.
While Latitudes is quite pricey compared to other restaurants in Portsmouth NH, you get top-notch service and will feel like you’re a member of a country club when you dine here.
If you’d prefer to keep things casual, the Wentworth has a great cocktail bar/restaurant on the first floor that’s more cozy and woodsy, though it has those same upscale vibes.
Cuisine: Upscale American & Seafood
Vibe: Super swanky, bougie vibe
Price: $30-$45 per entree
Casual/Cozy Restaurants In Portsmouth NH:
Now that we’ve gone through all of the fancy restaurants in Portsmouth New Hampshire (there really aren’t a ton), I’m excited to share some of my favorite casual Portsmouth NH restaurants.
Portsmouth is definitely known for the casual brewery restaurant feel, so you’ll find a lot more down-to-earth options.
The Portsmouth Brewery
If you’re into local brews this is a good place to start. Everyone should try a brewery in Portsmouth at least once, and this is one of the most well-known spots.
There’s an array of options on tap (not just from the actual Portsmouth brewery) and the servers are pretty knowledgable, so you can taste test and learn about beer.
The food is an array of classic dishes (the fried calamari and nachos are my favorite) and the decor is cozy and wood based with brick walls.
This is one of my go-to restaurants in Portsmouth New Hampshire because it’s right downtown, has affordable prices, and the food and drinks are always yummy.
Cuisine: Casual American, Bar Food
Vibe: Cozy, woodsy brewery vibe
Price: $15-$25 per entree
The Flatbread Company
If you haven’t tried Flatbread then you’re missing out! It’s simply an essential New England experience, and the Flatbread in Portsmouth is one of my favorite locations.
Flatbread has tons of different pizza toppings; they create and bake the pizza right in front of you in the huge stone oven. It’s perfect for a winter night because the room is always so toasty!
The vibe is a little bit hipster and the decor is super eclectic. We love Flatbread because it’s one of the most casual Portsmouth NH restaurants, but the pizza is delicious.
Flatbread offers a few basic drinks and wines, amazing Vermont maple syrup sweetened lemonade, and literally the best brownies of all time if you’re a dessert person.
Cuisine: Artisanal Pizza
Vibe: Cozy but casual
Price: $15-$25 per entree
The Friendly Toast
The funky, artsy vibe coupled with simple yet delicious food options causes The Friendly Toast to have up to 2 hour long waits on the weekends. Get here early to put your name in then do some shopping! 
The Friendly Toast is known for weekend brunch (the Bloody Mary cocktails and the Eggs Benedict are amazing) but they serve food all day long, too.
This is a great place to come for super casual eats and still enjoy a cocktail or beer. It’s definitely one of my favorite breakfast restaurants in Portsmouth New Hampshire.
Cuisine: A step up from diner food
Vibe: Casual and Eclectic
Price: $10-$20 per entree
Portsmouth Book and Bar
The Book and Bar is a cool mix of a bookstore, coffee shop, and restaurant. You can choose to relax and read with a coffee or grab a beer and a sandwich.
The food is mostly cafe-like with breakfast options, and drinks are a mix of local beers and wines. They do have a Bloody Mary and Mimosa for brunch.
We love heading to the Book and Bar for a quick lunch or afternoon bite, though it’s a fun breakfast spot on the weekends, too. This is one of my favorite restaurants in Portsmouth NH during the winter because it’s always so cozy!
Cuisine: Casual American
Vibe: Bookstore cafe feel
Price: $15-$25 per entree
British Beer Company
This British-inspired bar is a really cool place to grab a bite in Portsmouth or try out a new brew.
It totally has the New Hampshire vibe (tons of draft beers with woodsy decor) and lots of easy finger foods like truffle fries and chicken tenders. They also have weekly trivia and happy hour during the week days.
Overall, this is one of my favorite Portsmouth NH restaurants for a sit-down dinner that’s affordable but yummy.
Cuisine: Upscale British Pub Food
Vibe: British Pub
Price: $15-$25 per entree
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