Travel Guide: Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Length of Stay: 2 Nights
Previous New England Posts: Kennebunkport, Maine
WHERE WE STAYED
If you caught Monday’s post, I recapped Marissa and my trip up to Kennebunkport, Maine. Following this stay we took a quick 30 minute drive south to spend two more nights in Portsmouth where we stayed at another Lark Hotels property, The Hotel Portsmouth. When we arrived to our room, I am pretty sure it was the most unique hotel room I have ever stayed in. I felt like we were in a treehouse with the bedroom and one of the bathrooms up the staircase in a large loft with skylights. Such an awesome layout!
I am a morning person, while Marissa tends to sleep a little bit later, so this set-up worked out perfectly for us. I was able to get up and head down the stairs to our living-room area where I enjoyed a cup of coffee and got some work done. The hotel itself is full of charm and nestled right in the heart of Portsmouth. My favorite common area was the nautical inspired room which would be perfect to relax in on a cold winter night by the fire.
Coming from NYC I found everything to be a quick and easy walk from where we stayed. The staff was super accommodating and friendly and the mornings breakfasts were fresh and delicious. I am still dreaming about the homemade energy balls and it is on my to-do list to grab the recipe for them!
< our room >
WHAT TO DO
When visiting smaller scale towns my biggest piece of advice is to just get out there, walk around and explore. Half the fun is stumbling upon something unexpected and discovering things off the beaten path. All of Portsmouth is extremely walkable so I would recommend ditching your car. Parking is scarce and you will spend more time looking for a spot then actually walking all around. Also, Uber is extremely cheap there so if you find yourself exhausted it is easy and affordable to get to your next destination.
Gus & Ruby – The cutest stationary and letterpress store I have been in in awhile. Clearly stocked up on special occasion cards and fine tip pens that write amazing (anyone else love a good pen?!).
Grab coffee at Profile Coffee Bar. – Best iced latte with cinnamon I have possibly ever had! The coffee shop itself is warm and inviting, we actually ended up camping out here for some time to get work done and made sure to stop by for one last coffee before we headed home after our trip.
Walk along the harbor and downtown Portsmouth. – We stumbled upon so many great restaurants and the view of the harbor was one not to miss. Boats are constantly passing by creating a perfect backdrop for a photo. Make sure to spend some time walking along Bow street!
Prescott Park – Whether heading out for a morning run or wanting to take a leisurely stroll, Prescott Park is beautiful with flowers in full bloom.
Salt Cellar – Such a unique store you have to pop into. Almost everything is made from salt, so I would recommend checking out their specialty cooking salts (the white truffle one is A-MAZING!) as well as their bath salts (which would be perfect to use in The Hotel Portsmouth’s claw-foot tub).
WHERE TO EAT
Poco’s – It is hard to believe, but we decided that we anted a small little break from seafood to indulge in one of our favorite cuisines, Mexican. Poco’s has an upstairs and downstairs, both with indoor and outdoor seating with a view of the harbor. Both of our meals were extremely fresh and delicious (I had the grilled shrimp tacos) and some of the best Mexican we have had.
Black Trumpet – SO GOOD! We came here for dinner our last night and sat upstairs by the window. We enjoyed some wine and such a yummy spread of food. I started with the chilled cucumber and kale soup followed by the seafood paella which you can not miss out on. The flavors were incredible. We clearly couldn’t leave without desert and split the blueberry and corn trifle (all deserts are made in house). Highly recommend this restaurant, on the slight pricier side, but worth it!
The Pointe – While we didn’t get the chance to eat here, a friend of mine who is a local recommend this restaurant which is located a quick walk across the bridge on Badgers Island (we walked the bridge during the day and it took about 6-8 minutes). Known for their small plates and drinks, The Pointe offers a beautiful view of Portsmouth from the water.
WHAT I WORE
Off the Shoulder Sweater // Distressed Denim // Over the Knee Boots, old (similar here + here) // Bucket Bag c/o // Aviators // Everyday Stud Earrings
Pull-over Fleece // Distressed Shorts // Aviators // Everyday Stud Earrings // Tote
Blanket Poncho c/o // Sweater // Distressed Denim // Ankle Booties c/o // Bucket Bag c/o // Aviators // Everyday Stud Earrings