Your heart may want to leave the room. Is it gone? Good. As of November 2011, this is a passion project brought to life. Two who seemed to be a lovely couple obsessed over the minute aesthetics as we descended in to the subterranean shop. Immediately, you're surrounded by the soft, translucent glow of pink Himalayan salt hunks, which (you'll note almost as quickly) are used for absolutely everything. Hollowed coves for simple electric lighting? Check. Facial scrubs and hand toners? Check. Room-warming rocks over a mock fireplace? Check. Bath salts in an actual claw-footed tub? Check. Serving slabs/hot bricks to enhance the flavor of plated cuisine? Check. (There was one more. Can't think of it. Oh wait.) To season your food? Of course. There's a wall of specialty flaked salts from black Hawaiian lava to truffled grey to a burnt sienna ghost pepper variety that WILL kick the spit out of your face. How do I know? Try some, then page me and tell me how it went. That's right. Page me. Why a passion project? Not sure of the lasting power here in jolly ol' New England. Salt's still considered a necessary evil for most self-educated dieticians (thanks conventional wisdom!) and doesn't have the settled affinity for, oh say, designer olive oils. Will the next gen gastro-phenomenon take hold in a harbor town comfortably stuck in rustic appreciation? I certainly hope so. Salt Cellar is a must see when in Portsmouth. read more

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File this one under bizarrely awesome. This store sells nothing but salt. OK, maybe salt shakers. And cutting boards. Oh wait, the cutting boards are actually made of himalayan pink sea salt. OK, so yeah, pretty much just salt. The staff here are awesome and everything is very nicely displayed. Try some of the samples, but definitely make sure you purchase that truffle salt...it's incredible! read more

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$10 shipping charge on anything to anywhere... that is a good deal when you consider the weight of many of these salt products. It is in a lower level, the people working there are super helpful. There are many flavors of salt to try. Great on salads, seasoning for any dish. The cutting boards are my favorite. Bacteria cannot live on salt. Therefore, meat can be cut on a salt cutting board and it is immediately clean enough to cut anything else on it. The store great, the staff helpful, the products amazing. read more

We were walking around Portsmouth on a Sunday evening and stumbled into this place. Walk down the stairs into the Salt Cellar and you will be transported into a world of salt. Both edible salts and salts for skin care. I went straight to the food grade salts as I love cooking. Each salt has a sampler salt shaker so you can know exactly what you are getting. My GF and I tried many salts. I did get my exotic salt fix for the month! We bought three different salts to take home with us. I'm looking forward to preparing a few meals with these and one I bought specifically for making toffees. It's important to note that we didn't realize the time when we walked in. It was about 1 minute before closing time. The woman at the store was still very nice and very helpful and informative and didn't make any mention of the time or that she was trying to close up shop for the day. Truly wonderful customer service. Thank you! read more

SWOON. I have never seen a store like this and fell in love immediately as I walked downstairs. I could have spent all day - and my entire life savings - in this store! It was so hard for me to decide which flavored salt to get (I settled on either the Black or White Truffle - I can't remember now which! I think Black...) and which body salt to get (I ended up with a Mango Kiwi (I think) salt scrub. But I so wanted the hand cream and the salt blocks and all the flavored salt. OH MY! The owner/manager (I think) was super helpful and answered a ton of questions for me. He also said Boston is their next stop. My wallet is in trouble! read more

Walking around downtown Portsmouth, my friend and I found ourselves at the door to this store and were completely intrigued. I have been wanting to purchase another salt lamp for some time, so I figured we'd check it out. The store is downstairs, one level below street. You descend down a fun little staircase into what feels like a comfortable, warm, and welcoming little bungalow. There are several salt lamps on for customers to see and choose from, they also have salt lamp nightlights as well as special structured salt lamps (dolphins, squirrels, etc). I ended up choosing one of the standard full size salt lamps and it was $39, no tax, and the clerk double checked the cord and bulb to be sure they worked, and then packaged the lamp in a box and then placed it inside a canvas bag free of charge! I was very happy with my purchase, as I plugged it in immediately when I got home. I love my product! Aside from the salt lamps, this store has a LOT to offer. They had egg shaped salted deodorant balls that kill bacteria on the surface of your skin therefore eliminating body odor. They had salted cutting boards, spice bowls, and other small containers. They also had multiple types of flavored salt, MANY of which I tasted, because let's be real, what girl doesn't like salt?! My favorites by far were the truffle based salts. Those will be my next purchase. So why 4 stars? This stuff is EXPENSIVE! But sooooo worth it. Very high quality products and excellent customer service. I will be back again soon, I hope! read more

Do you like salt? Because I LOVE salt!!! While in Portsmouth recently, I stumbled upon Salt Cellar while wandering down a little alley way with some shops and restaurants. It is located downstairs from another clothing shop, but you can't miss the sign out front. At first I didn't think this place really was a shop that sold salt...but they do!!! Himalayan salt lamps, grain salt by the jar, salt chunks, salt lotion...SALT EVERYTHING! A salt lovers paradise!! And samples of so many stinking salt versions for you to enjoy! I LOVED the Ghostbuster XX-Hot Salt with Trinidad Scorpion Pepper. Delicious and so much flavor! They had salts with vanilla, espresso, garlic, habanero. Literally every flavor of salt you may crave. Such a unique concept for a retail store. A must visit while you are in Portsmouth. And yes, I'd recommend that you venture out of your way if you just simply love salt like I do. read more

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A wonderful designed store that is warm in feel and inviting. I admired the craftsmanship of the entrance to the cellar. There are stairs that you must take to enter and exit the cellar. It might be challenging for some folks, just be mindful of that. My husband stayed behind because he is recovering from knee surgery. I did my research before I made my visit. I purchased a lovely salt lamp that I plan to use in our office at home. I can't wait for the clean air/odor promoting agents when the lamp is lite. And, the additional benefits of relations, ions, and better sleep that the lamp prompts. It's also good for folks w asthma. A salt slab for cooking purposes. I can't wait! It's one of the most sanitary cooking items for cutting protein. I also decided to take a chance at three different salt spices, espresso, and two with a kick of spicy heat for my hubby. All prices can be used on proteins and carbohydrates. I was Very tempted to grab 4 shot glasses made of the salt for tequila shots. That will be for our next trip. The shot glasses are salted, so no messy salt when doing shots! So smart...I believe that purchase may make me a daily drinker . My last purchase was the heart shaped salt stone that can be used in place of deodorant. Yes, this is coming from a woman who doesn't like to smell, is a gym rat and always showers 2-3x's a day. You apply the heart shaped stone after your shower/bath, while your skin is damp, just like deodorant and then wipe the heart with a paper towel dry. You want to wipe down all salt items with a damp paper towel. You may give the salt items you use a rinse underwater. However, the salt items are all natural and can be used as a antibacterial agent to keep you clean and healthy. Who would have thought. If your like me, and have hesitated in make a salt purchase, take a gamble and just visit this cellar. The gentleman behind the beautiful wood and lamp counter, offers stellar customer service. read more

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Salt. Portsmouth salt. Infused salts of many flavors and colors. Blocks and cooking stones and butter dishes of salt. Tequila glasses made from salt (gotta drink fast!) Bath salts and salt scrubs. Salted chocolate. Salt swizzle sticks. Salt. Oh, and also free drinking water. (They really think of everything.) read more

This place is expensive but I like the salt! The salts keep drawing me back to this basement establishment year after year! My favorite item in the store is the huge, heart-shaped pink Himalayan salt deodorant. Only $10 so it's one of the more affordable items as well ;) So beautiful you can use it as decoration. You don't have to swipe it under your arms, you could just admire it in a bowl on a table! I've given two to lady friends. They loved it! I also love the ginger flavored salts. Yum! Nice to put in your health smoothie or even to rim your margarita with! Fancy! These Portsmouthians know salt! read more

I honestly cannot even describe this store in words... Died and went to heaven, maybe?! Pure bliss?? OBSESSED. I wish I got the man's name who was working this past Saturday when my fiance and I went in, but I was too busy licking amazing salts off my fiance's hands throughout the store to care about names. In all seriousness, this store was incredible. The packaging, the unique gifts and of course the quality of the salts - I just ate a curry chicken salad that we had made with the spicy curry finishing salt. Sprinkle on some salt, bake the chicken - done. I mean really?! AMAZING. Shot glasses made of salt... you are pure geniuses. Like I want to be you!!! And order our groomman's gifts from you, which is happening. :) Cannot wait to come back over and over and over again! read more

It's billed as the most interesting and unique store in Portsmouth, and probably rightly so... all salt, all the time. As you descend the winding stairs, yielding right of way to many people entering and leaving the store, you eventually come into a storeroom neatly sectioned according to type and use of salt. Some of the items are one-time or long-term use purchases. But then there are the more interesting options such as the containers for various things (drinks, candles, etc.) made of salt. You can also find many of the newer varieties of salt that people are just discovering have nutritional benefits devoid - or artificially added - in table salts. Hmm... I forgot to check if any of these salts would go good in a margarita. read more

The general manager Holly was absolutely amazing! She has expert knowledge of all the unique products and was more than willing to help us find the products we needed. Will definitely come back! read more

Service was great, my wife fell in love with their products

I love this place! Flavoted salts are amazing and just being in there with all that pink Himalaya salt feels great. My favorite is the black Hawaiian lava salt. It is awesome on fresh cut veggies like cucumbers and tomatoes. I go through one jar every summer now. There are other salt products too that range from body scrubs to salt pestal and mortars, salt lamps and salt boards. Of you like salt at all check this place out. read more

Salt Cellar's Ginger Root salt is fantastic!!!!! Our roasted carrots or sweet potato fries would not be the same without it. Their Truffle salts also are fantastic on grilled steak or burgers. Delicious!!!!! read more

What a beautiful store. Who knew a basement with no windows could be turned into such an amazing space. Even if you don't yet have an affinity for artisanal salts, you probably will by the time you leave this store. In addition to flavored salt and salts from around the world and around the corner, they also have salt "things". Such as salt swizzle sticks, salt lamps, salt slabs, salt scrubs, salt pigs, salt dishes, and more that I probably don't remember. Oh, don't leave without buying AT LEAST one of those salted caramels. You won't believe how amazing they are. read more

Salt presented in countless forms! Fun, niche offering worth a stop.

Pretty creepy guy working the space (perhaps shocked by a customer), with a lotta typos on the signs.

This establishment offers quality products with quality staff. The presentation is incredible, you feel like you've just stepped into a little slice of heaven, and it completely delivers! From the indulgent bath salts, to the fragrant scented lotions and soft creams, to the absolutely pure perfection of savory and sweet finishing salts... heavenly is the only word I can think of! Thank you for your incredible work, I have made black truffle breakfast omelets, espresso shot salt martinis, mesquite salted pork chops and I just can't get enough!!! Can't wait to share this gem with everyone I know! I loved reading the other reviews filled with words like, bliss, swoon, obsessed, etc... it's honestly intoxicating and addictive, can't wait to visit again and stock up online!!! read more

Great store. Beautifully designed. Incredible items of everything salt. Who knew?

Love the experience of this store. Salt in its purest form is fascinating and this store is a reminder of "salt of the earth" and they bring that experience to each customer. read more

I have never experienced such a fantastic reponse. Two days after my negative comments the owners sent a message with an apology and an offer to send me 3 salts of my choice. I received it today, not only did they send the salt but also refunded the overcharge. I am truly blown away by this level of customer service. Thank you, Don read more

Great little shop with a tremendous selection of infused gourmet salts. Although they have bath and other salts as well as items made from salt, I shop there for the edible flavor infused salts. It's a well merchandised shop with a friendly and helpful staff. If you aren't familiar with infused salts (for finishing food-applying just before eating) then you owe it to yourself to check out this new craze. This store has all of them on display for tasting so you can pick the ones you like best. Xlnt destination when gift giving to foodie friends! read more

Wow. What a place. I have been multiple times and am still amazed when I walk in. I recently bought salt shot glasses and cutting board - so cool. This is a one of a kind place in the best alley in Portsmouth.. read more

This place was an awesome stop. Perfect for any foodie looking for some amazing salts. I suggest going there and tasting a whole bunch of them. I got the hickory smoked, the white truffle and porcini mushroom salt. And a small Himalayan salt block. While there prices are a little steep, you will understand when you walk in there and discover the quality of their product. They also have bath salts and such for anyone looking for a great gift. read more

This is a cool place to go when you are in Portsmouth. Head down a small alley and down a staircase and you will find tons of different salts. One side is cooking related other side bath/body etc. This is pretty awesome and if you are a cook its a must. Fair prices considering it a boutique type of store and great gift ideas. read more

What a fabulous shop! The shop owner was so great, so knowledgeable. Loved her accent, she was so sweet and fun to talk to. I love my salt lamp. Very nice quality and color, good price. It graces my meditation altar. I keep it on all the time. I highly recommend this shop, the decor is so attractive. Lots of cool displays with artifacts from the old house parts shop nearby in Maine. Thank you so much! read more

Most of the reviews speak for themselves here! Gorgeous store space and awesome place to find everything salt related! Every year we are stumped on what to get people who 'have everything' when birthdays or holidays come around and you can really find unique gifts that have always been a huge hit with the receiver! Great store and the owner was very informative and friendly as well. read more

There is something magical about this store. I can't put my finger on it. Maybe it's the clean, tasteful decor. Maybe it's the enticing display of all the different flavored salts that I never knew existed, and wonder how I got this far in life without tasting them all. Maybe it's the warm, friendly, customer service shown by the lovely female shop owner with the great Russian sounding accent that I could listen to all day. Or maybe it's just the magical healing powers emanating from the tons of salt blocks and chunks on display around the store. I don't know. All I know is that I was enchanted and drawn into the magic. I purchased a salt block with recipe book and two flavored salts. The vanilla and the white truffle. I used the block tonight for dinner, and I don't know how I ever enjoyed my own cooking without it. I made the mistake of asking the shop owner if they sold online. She said yes. I think I hear the chili verde , lemon and ginger salts calling to me from their website. I go to Portsmouth several times a year. Now I will never go back again without making a stop in this magical shop. read more