{"id":20172,"date":"2011-03-14T16:14:02","date_gmt":"2011-03-14T20:14:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/?p=20172"},"modified":"2025-09-01T21:14:56","modified_gmt":"2025-09-02T01:14:56","slug":"portsmouth-nh-things-to-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/20172\/portsmouth-nh-things-to-do\/","title":{"rendered":"Things to Do in Portsmouth, NH: A Small Foodie City By the Sea"},"content":{"rendered":"

Portsmouth, New Hampshire is a charming coastal village located less than five hours from NYC. It is garnering a reputation as a culinary destination full of palatable surprises for even the most jaded foodie. Try to plan a getaway around the town\u2019s annual Restaurant Week on April 4-13. This is an opportunity to find out why more than 60 diverse restaurants are attracting so much attention. The event features special three-course prix fixe menus for $16.95 at lunch and $29.95 at dinner. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Everything in Portsmouth\u2019s revitalized downtown is best explored without a car<\/strong>, as you can stroll from one destination to another in minutes. If you\u2019re feeling lethargic, catch a ride on the cute Coast Trolley<\/a> that will chauffeur you around for two quarters.<\/p>\n

Where to Eat<\/strong>
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Don\u2019t get the idea that Portsmouth is all comfort food and tradition. You can experience a range of ethnic meals. Italian food is a treat at Pesce<\/strong>, where the menu trends towards fish and simple pastas, made with the freshest ingredients. Radici<\/a><\/strong> also offers a taste of la dolce vita<\/em> in an intimate candlelight atmosphere. <\/strong><\/p>\n

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Food Festivals<\/strong>
\nPortsmouth has a full schedule of outdoor food festivals in warmer months, held in serene seaside Prescott Park<\/strong>. June starts the season off with the annual Chowder Festival<\/strong>. This is a taste-testing event, and you have the opportunity to sample chowder from a dozen local restaurants, all in contention for the blue ribbon. September brings the Fishtival<\/strong>, a celebration of local delicacies of the sea, with its seafood tastings and a competitive cook-off between local Chefs. In October, the Chili Cook-Off<\/strong> presents attendees with a dozen spicy samples, paired with locally brewed Redhook beer and live music, all for $15.<\/p>\n

What to Do in Between Meals<\/strong>
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Where to Stay<\/strong>
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How to get there<\/strong>: Portsmouth is easy to reach connecting with the C&J Bus Lines<\/a> at Boston\u2019s South Station for the 60-minute ride. To get to Boston, consult oM\u2019s Boston Travel Guide<\/a>. The entire journey from NYC takes five hours.<\/em><\/p>\n

Photos: Matt Currier, mwcphotos.com, Katie Roy, Cava, Blue Mermaid, Wendy Demers<\/a>,\u00a0Philip Case Cohen <\/em><\/p>\n

Map of Featured Locations in Portsmouth<\/strong><\/p>\n