Slow Burn Lounge

Summary- overall very solid drinks…read more Drinks- 4 stars Solid painkillers, really nice old fashioned. One of the drinks we tried was a little weird, but it was pretty much exactly what it said it was going to be. Service- 5 stars Excellent and friendly bartender. Atmosphere- 5 stars A nice bar to be in.

Loved The Wilder! The vibe is chill and welcoming. Garrett was a great bartender and made the…read moreexperience even better. The iced espresso martini was a different way to have a espresso martini...it was good, but the real standout is their carrot juice-based mocktail--add Tito's and you've got an amazing cocktail. They also have a great happy hour. Definitely a spot I'd return to next time I'm in Portsmouth.

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The Press Room

3.8(142 reviews)

We love coming here every chance we get! This time we skipped the food and just enjoyed a few…read morecocktails. The bartender was incredibly friendly and even gave us some great recommendations for places to check out around town. Great drinks, great service, and always a great experience--we'll definitely be back!

Stopped in while riding up the coast. Food was very tasty and the staff were super courteous and…read morehelpful with making things easier on what we wanted to order. I HR outside seating was plentiful and comfortable. Great location to people watch too

Light show for Magic Beans. Great time. Great venue. Great Band.

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Cure

4.5(738 reviews)

•$$$

Many thanks to Yelp for helping us locate a fabulous place for our last evening in Portsmouth…read morebefore heading back to California. I love the vibe. It's pretty chill and classy at the same time. Our server dazzled us with his smile. We had a cocktail that we enjoyed very much. The mushroom melange on the grilled baguette was to die for. My friend and I shared the fried green tomatoes and they were perfection. My friend was quite pleased with her crab cakes that were cooked at the right amount of crispiness. I certainly will return when I visit Portsmouth again!

This was one of the best meals I've had in a while. The food, the service, and the ambiance were…read moreall excellent! It was our first time here. I loved the menu from the first look. A great selection of seafood apps, and a variety of meat options in the entree section (steak, chicken, lamb, short rib, duck) and a couple of vegetarian items. Something for everyone. It was a Tuesday night and pouring rain. We arrived without a reservation. It was very busy. The bar and restaurant were full. There were two side bar seats available which we happily took while we waited for a table. We had a delicious cosmo and a glass of prosecco while we waited. The server let us know our table was ready, and we did not need to settle our bar tab before going to the table. I love that! I find it inconvenient when restaurants ask people to do that. The server even took our sopping umbrellas and put them in the umbrella stand by the door for us. So nice! We tried 2 appetizers, the Caribbean Curry Mussels and the Seared Ahi Tuna. I can't decide which one I loved more. Both were fantastic. The broth the mussels were in was so flavorful, rich, salty, not spicy, coconut deliciousness. I wanted to eat it all like a soup. There was no bread served with the mussels to soak up the broth...which I would have loved, but not having it did save me some carbs. The seared tuna was absolute perfection. Very slightly seared and served with a well dressed seaweed salad and two sauces (coulis style ) a charred jalapeño aioli and a mango coulis. For dinner we shared the arugula salad with strawberries and goat cheese (although there was very little goat cheese) in a delicious poppy seed vinaigrette, and the miso Marinaded seared salmon with sticky rice and mango salsa. The salmon was fantastic...perfectly cooked, very flavorful, the sticky rice was so delicious and chewy, and the mango salsa added sweetness. I love that they split the salad into two dishes for us. I love when restaurants do this. It's a nice touch to acknowledge the server was listening the we intend to share, and to make it easier for us to do so. And we shared a bottle of Pinot Grigio. I will be back!

The side bar stools

Korean BBQ Pork Belly

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Espresso martini & a sazerac

Cava

4.3(431 reviews)

0.0 mi

•$$$

This little restaurant was a fantastic find on our visit to Portsmouth. It was tucked away along a…read morelittle alley and had seating outside, which was perfect because we had two dogs with us. They were very dog friendly. We had the set menu, which was four courses of small plates, and it was perfect. The food was excellent.Well prepared and delicious.. The staff were very friendly, as was the owner. I also had a whiskey and cider based cocktail, which was delicious. I would wholeheartedly recommend this wonderful restaurant for anyone in the Portsmouth New Hampshire area.

I honestly am not sure where to start and end with my wife and l anniversary dinner at Cava this…read moreevening. My wife and I have close to or more than 1000 dining experiences in our time together. If Cava wasn't the best overall, it was an extremely close second. Our server Dan was awesome from start to finish. On point, Attentive, professional, and exceeded expectations on every level. Cava is a very intimate dining experience with a warm comfortable indoor and outdoor seating option. It is also very practical as a stop before going to the Music Hall, an important date or like us an anniversary. Cava is unlike many of the places we have visited over the years in the food category. Every course was exceptionally prepared, thoroughly thought out and professionally executed with excellent plating. I won't go into detail on every dish but suffice it to say there was enjoyment with every mouthful of every course. I ordered: Espresso Martini An Italian Pinot Grigio (with dinner) We shared the charcuterie plate First course - Mussels Second Course - Italian Meatball dish Third Course - Braised Flank Steak Fourth Course - Torte My wife ordered: A wonderful Rum with blackberry cocktail An Italian Pinot Grigio(with dinner) First Course- Warm Potato Soup Second Course- Stuffed and wrapped dates Third Course- Shrimp with Polenta Fourth Course- Blueberry Cheesecake

Lower level bar

Stuffed Dates and Stuffed Peppers.

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August 2025 cocktail

Botanica

4.6(62 reviews)

0.8 mi

Delicious food, great service. Ate on the patio. Very accommodating. Had a wonderful experience!read more

The food was outstanding! We had a reservation for 7:30pm for 4 adults. We started with cocktails…read moreand a few appetizers. Delicious. The meals came out perfectly timed. They had an extensive wine list. Great selections. The service was excellent. The ambiance was romantic and chic. I can't wait to go back!

Cardamom Chouquettes with White Chocolate Ganache and Blueberry Jam

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The Ramen Club

4.6(21 reviews)

The Daruma drink was very tasty. Not sweet but also not sour, somewhere in the middle…read more We started with the avocado salad, has cucumbers in it too. Very refreshing. Not spicy. Then we got the fried chicken. That was excellent! So crispy! We both got the Tori-Paitan Ramen, it was so good. The marinated soft boiled egg might have been the start of the show though. Great food and atmosphere. The server was very kind. We will be back!

Grabbed a quick lunch here, I love a good ramen spot, the broth was phenomenal, I love it. I will…read morego back, it is rich, creamy and flavorful, what more could I ask for, the noods were delish too. Its a fun decorative space, staff were not very attentive but food was quick and hot. I would sit at the bar next time, its lively. Overall solid spot!

Sat at the bar

Pork Katsu

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Avocado Salad

Louie's

4.8(15 reviews)

1.1 mi

I love discovering restaurants that support local farmers and butchers and make everything from…read morescratch. You can truly taste the difference, especially in the fresh homemade pasta. The atmosphere is warm, inviting, and perfect for a relaxing meal. We ordered three appetizer-sized pasta dishes so we could try a variety, and every one of them was outstanding. Our favorite was the clam pasta with its bright, citrusy sauce--it was absolutely delicious. The lamb stew parppadelle was flavorful, although a little saltier than we prefer. We finished with dessert, and they were just as impressive as the rest of the meal. I'm so glad we discovered this gem during our visit to Portsmouth. It's exactly the kind of restaurant we love and one I'd happily return to.

Great atmosphere, great food, great cocktails but the prices were far too steep for what you're…read moregetting. To clarify, the cocktail prices and entree prices were fair. Do NOT order the charcuterie. $9 for a single slice of cheese (some varieties of which you could purchase at market basket) or for a single piece of prosciutto. Absolutely absurd. And charging for bread and butter is kind of....different. Additionally, and not unimportantly, the music they were playing was so loud it made it difficult to hear people at our own table. And the air conditioner made the room extremely cold. Overall, could have been a better experience for the prices we paid (about $500 with tip for 4 people).

Portsmouth restaurant wine craft cocktails pasta boston portland kittery sommelier james beard italian charcuterie cheese west end best chef

Lamb, flank steak and smashed potatoes

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Portsmouth restaurant wine craft cocktails pasta boston portland kittery sommelier james beard italian charcuterie cheese west end best chef

Moxy

4.1(478 reviews)

0.0 mi

We absolutely loved this place and made sure to come back on this trip! We grabbed seats right at…read morethe bar, and the bartender was so nice and welcoming. This time we had dinner along with a few cocktails, and everything was absolutely delicious. The atmosphere is lively, colorful, and has such a fun energy without feeling overwhelming. We had another great experience and can't wait to come back again!

Food was great, we enjoyed everything we tried which was about 10 or so plates. Crispy pork belly…read moreamazing, the sauce was a perfect and savory complement to the crispy pieces of pork. Bruleed plum was excellent highly recommend this dessert! Drinks were okay - mojito was missing lime and sparkling water/ club soda. Paid the check and waited for our plum dessert over 20 minutes and they were already closing. Service was okay, average. Would go back again for the food if I could, but this was just a stop for us from across the states!

Bar area

Pulled pork tapa

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Margarita and rye cocktail

Green Elephant

4.5(426 reviews)

0.2 mi

It's been in Portsmouth 11 years. A delightful vegetarian restaurant with a very different and…read moredelicious menu. We had the Siamese Dream Curry which is a soup...kinda. Yellow curry with coconut milk, plenty of fresh vegetables with added color( red peppers, whole green peas and tofu meat which added a lovely texture to the dish. Favors were soothing on a semi chilly afternoon. The dining area is well layout, meaning each table has it own space so you don't feel crowded. And the service staff are polite, engaging, welcoming and friendly. Your spirit leaves fulfilled. Enjoy!

We enjoyed a perfect dinner tonight at Green Elephant. The ambience, decor & vibe are excellent…read more(see photos). Our server was kind and well versed with the menu. The coconut curry with rice noodles was divine & my friend thoroughly enjoyed her pineapple fried rice. Paired nicely with an Australian Sauv. Blanc

Interior of restaurant.

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Drinks for two.

The Wallingford Dram

4.7(84 reviews)

0.9 mi

Classy but not pretentious spot with fantastic cocktail menu and very talented bar tenders…read more Apps and small bites courtesy of Anju Noodle Bar (next door, same owners).

Probably the most unique and tasty cocktails on the Seacoast, but don't go there because it's a…read moresmall space and I want to make sure I have a seat when I go back. The bartenders and wait staff know what they are doing. Superb!

Inside view

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Ambiance

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Shane M.

5 years ago

I've been a customer of the lounge for a few years now and am particularly happy with the way they managed to pull through COVID and thrive. I'm sure Biden would be pissed to know how well they've done. Makayla is an amazing bartender as well. If you haven't been, then stay away.... You would hate it. But seriously. Great place to relax. Shane read more

Mamadou D.

5 years ago

It's a great experience. The ambiance is very welcoming and charming. Amazing wines, cocktails and service. Staff are extremely knowledgeable and make great cigars recommendations. Makayla is awesome. She's the best bartender in town!! read more

Slow Burn Lounge - speakeasies - Updated October 2026

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Amazing spot! Awesome cigars and drinks. Service was incredible as well. Would absolutely come back…read moreto this speakeasy. Very clean bar and attentive bartender. Cool vibe

This is one of the better cigar lounges in the entire country. Don't be fooled by the silly one…read morestar reviews. They seem like they were done by plastered drunk people. The place has a fantastic vibe, the drinks are great, the service is phenomenal and yeah you buy cigars there to smoke... but that is standard in cigar lounges across the world. People need to be more appreciative of this place... it's very unique, comfortable, and classy.

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Annabella was great! Service was top notch, food and…read moreatmosphere was amazing! Very accommodating! Five star service

Unfortunately, our experience was very disappointing. We specifically made reservations for indoor…read moreseating, but when we arrived, we were seated outside instead. The outdoor area was extremely crowded, with people constantly standing right on top of our table taking pictures, which made the experience uncomfortable and far from relaxing. We also had a disappointing interaction with the bartender. We saw him making a drink and politely asked what it was because it looked interesting. Instead of being helpful, he simply dismissed us with, "I don't know," which came across as extremely rude and unwelcoming. To make matters worse, our waitress took over 20 minutes to even come to our table. When she finally did, we placed an order for drinks, but the drinks never arrived. At that point, we decided it wasn't worth staying. We got up and left and asked her to cancel the drink order. Overall, this was a very disappointing experience. When you make reservations and expect a certain level of service, you should at least receive the seating you reserved, attentive service, and basic courtesy from the staff. Unfortunately, we received none of those things. We left without ever getting our drinks and would not return based on this experience.

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I had eaten at the Dockside restaurant several times, but never at the Deck. We ended up here on a…read morewhim one beautiful summer Sunday in August on our anniversary weekend. We found parking along the causeway nearby. They do not take reservations but there was plenty of seating at lunchtime. The staff was mostly young people who provided excellent service. We had iced tea and lemonade to drink. The fried haddock sandwiches were enormous and delicious. Served with chips, though I overheard there were other upgrade options like fries or onion rings. We sat at the rail and had plenty of marina action to watch, including multiple boats being lowered into the water with forklifts.

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Bistro 1828 at Pepperrell Cove

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I wanted to love it here so badly. The reviews looked good, the views are incredible... but when…read moreyou're paying for a nice dinner, you expect the food to be as good as the view. It even says on the bottom of the menu "no substitutes. Our chefs make the menu for a specific purpose." Or something like that. But if that's the case, then I'd like to think the food would be good! Maybe our chef was out or something because it was bland and cooked improperly. First of all, it took forty five minutes just to get appetizers. And then our waitress took another 30 to take our food order. And then it took another hour for our food. We were there for three hours. Which is fine, but we were starving!!! The drinks were delicious but one was a bottle of wine, so that seems like the bare minimum. Beside service being slow (our waitress nice but very busy), let's get into the food which was the most disappointing thing... the flatbread was dry. The Brussel sprouts were good but the lardons were hard as a rock (clearly they cook things too long here). The salmon was good but portions seemed small. The soup was fine. The steak was supposed to come medium rare, but as you can see, it was closer to medium well (for $48 that is upsetting and embarrassing they couldn't cook a steak properly). My aunt got the chicken dish and she said it was the blandest thing she's ever had. But the biggest issue was the burger... It was my dad's birthday. So it was extremely frustrating when the burger, the thing he ordered, came out black. And there is a picture of it if you want to take a look. BLACK. Why bring it out? That is so bad on the restaurant! Our waitress immediately came over and said "we are making a new bun right now." So why bring it out? And the fries were cold. Same with my mom's haddock (everything was cold). He also asked for the burger to be medium rare and it was quite literally gray. I think when you go to a nice restaurant, you expect good food. And it was disrespectful to my father on his birthday. Thank goodness they took it off our bill (for that we are grateful), but clearly the kitchen needs some assistance because it ruins the experience when everyone is waiting to eat because one dish is done wrong. And clearly done wrong. It's expensive to go out nowadays. I'm not spending money on food that is mediocre at best. This was frustrating. Thank goodness for the nice view otherwise I feel like this restaurant wouldn't exist. sadly we won't be coming back and waiting weeks for this dinner was not worth it. Don't waste your money here. Or go for cocktails. That was at least good.

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