market square

brittanie2013

This square is really wonderful, and full of restaurants, shops, and other places to look around. You could spend hours just walking around. It's a mix of modern and classic architecture, and is quite charming! We visited while it was still winter and cold, and managed to have a great time. I'm sure summer is even better!

funcouple34

Nothing beats an evening in Market Square, dinner at the Gas Light and a comedy show at the Music Hall. Oh, lets not forget coffee and dessert at Popovers to end a perfect night on the town.

563SteveK

Suggest you park in public parking garage vs on street due to meters and time restrictions. Shops are back after past economic problems. We enjoyed lunch, shops and historic landmarks.

jordanr718

Downtown Portsmouth can be a bit of a pain to get to and park in, but navigating is by far the worst part about it. When you're on the streets themselves (paved with red brick sidewalks!), it's absolutely wonderful! There's a ton of interesting local shops selling everything from stationary to fossils to salt to records, and all the buildings and such are extremely charming. It's great for a sunny day of window-shopping!

LK141

Love the Market Square of Portsmouth! Such a cute and quaint town! Love the Church Steeple being in the heart of the town! This square, offers lots of eating choices and at least three coffee shops, two locally owned and a national (world wide chain --- when I am in Portsmouth that one isn't even an option), lots of speciality shops too! Really feel like I've stepped back in time.

SeniorDean

The Market Square was a hustling, bustling center of activity this afternoon. Festival decorations are being placed throughout the city and the Square has it's own share. Lots of construction going on today.

ChefDemonios

Fantastic New England square with many shoppes and coffee houses. Popovers on the Square Was amazing, a street musician in front of the church and the smell of fresh coffee beans roasting in another shoppe. Marvelous charm spend a whole day just browsing around.

903JulieS903

Love the small town ambience, historical architecture, and eclectic shopping. Lots of restaurants round out an afternoon of walking about town.

tsaltmarsh

Lots of restaurants, pubs and shops in the area. It's a very historic and scenic downtown area. Lots of great photo opportunities.

emacintosh2014

Market Square offers great little shops with unique merchandise, and very few are chain stores. (Those are in the nearby malls, a few miles away.)Restaurants at Market Square are consistently good. We're fans of "Joe's NY Pizza," near the visitors' center at the start of Islington Street, but anywhere you dine in Portsmouth's Market Square... it's likely to be delicious, and a good value for the money.We especially love Market Square at night because people are happy, the energy is good, and we sometimes see (and hear) great street performers. "Market Square Days" are a high point each year. They close the main streets and set up booths, entertainment, and more. It's one of the best street festivals we've seen: Big enough to be fun, and small enough to see everything before our feet are blistered.Market Square is what makes Portsmouth unique, and one of our favorite cities in America.

JandK1958

If you want a real New England experience, Portsmouth, NH downtown is the place to be. There is always something going on. There are dozens of boutique shops that highlight everything from Stonewall Kitchen to a unique Toy Store. Portsmouth has one of the highest concentrations of restaurants per capita in the country and it all is centered here. Some of our favorites are Popovers for starting the day with coffee and ... , the Thirsty Moose for cheese fries, 120 beers on tap and sports watching and Brazo's for romance. History abounds at Strawberry Bank and the North Church. Often there are street performers here or you can take the short walk to the Seacoast Rep for great shows or Prescott Park for free concerts, shows and movies. The Market Square area offers something for kids, seniors and singles! Plenty of parking in the multi-story garage across from the Hilton Garden -- the only time we couldn't find parking there was on a Friday nite when the college crowd descends.

Hobomonty

Stop and smell the coffee in the early morn as you grab a cafe seat on the sidewalk to sip and enjoy the city action. The variety of shops will entice you as you wander the downtown. The harbor is just behind stores, an easy walk to Strawberry Banke and Prescott Park. The second Saturday of June is Market Square Day Festival.

jackjrt

Market Square is a great place to start your day in Portsmouth. Just in Market Square alone there are a great selection of shops and several places for either a drink or a cup of coffee. Very pretty town center.

JeffJenny88

This is a nice place to walk around when you are in portsmouth. Plenty of restaurants, bakeries, bars and pubs. Lots of great atmosphere and picturesque town. Like it alot...

BigoBoca

With cafes abounding and restaurants surrounding this square it's fun both day and night for a cup of coffee and people watching. There's always a fine sense of history as Washington was here before me.