Romantic Restaurants in Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Moxy is a contemporary restaurant that serves traditional tapas and other modern American cuisine alongside creative cocktails, fine wines, and craft beers. Drawing inspiration from the energy, spirit and style of Spanish dining, Moxy serves an array of tapas such as chili salt fried clams, buttermilk ranch spicy green beans, toasted garlic bread, marinated beets, and seasoned ranch beef tartare, along with entrées of corned beef brisket, local pollock fresh corn polenta, crispy Rhode Island calamari, and roasted pepper Pomodoro. The cuisine is accompanied by a curated selection of fine wines from around the world, craft beers on tap and by the bottle, top-shelf spirits, and classic cocktails.

Moxy, 106 Penhallow St, Portsmouth, NH 03801, Phone: 603-319-8178

Anneke Jans is a popular neighborhood bistro in Kittery Foreside that serves European-influenced American cuisine and craft cocktails in a classy, cosmopolitan setting. Owned by longtime restaurateur Jason Canty and wife, Moira, the restaurant exudes a warm and welcoming atmosphere and is the perfect place for a quiet romantic evening. Guests can dine in the main dining room or fireside in the elegant lounge and enjoy a variety of farm-to-fork cuisine such as Wild Maine Mussels, Coriander Crusted Tuna, Roasted Statler Chicken with Scallion Polenta, House Made Scallion Gnocchi, and Grilled Swordfish with Spinach Artichoke Puree. The cuisine is accompanied by a selection of global wines, craft beers on tap or by the bottle, high-end spirits, and classic cocktails.

Anneke Jans, 60 Wallingford Square, Kittery, ME 03904, Phone: 207-439-0001

Located on the Foyes Rotary in Rye, close to Downtown Portsmouth, the Atlantic Grill is a comfortable and contemporary restaurant with a full-service bar and a charming patio with lush greenery that specializes in fresh seafood and locavore fare. The restaurant boasts a well-appointed dining room with high vaulted ceilings, a 75-seat bar with high-top tables, and expansive wrap-around windows that flood the interior with natural light. A spacious outdoor patio is ideal for alfresco dining in the summer, and a casual lounge with a tall, tubular jellyfish tank is an excellent spot for relaxing with a signature cocktail before dinner. Market-driven menus feature fresh farm-to-table cuisine such as creamy Clam Chowder brimming with clams, scallops, lobster, shrimp, and white fish, French-style Prince Edward Island mussels, Seared Yellow Fin Tuna, Bouillabaisse, and the signature Five-Star Reserve “Cowboy” Ribeye Surf and Turf. The cuisine is accompanied by a selection of global wines, craft beers on tap or by the bottle, high-end spirits, and classic cocktails.

Atlantic Grill, 5 Pioneer Rd, Rye, NH 03870, Phone: 603-433-3000

The Black Trumpet Bistro is a family-owned eatery and wine bar in the heart of Portsmouth’s historic old port that is renowned for its cozy and romantic ambiance and outstanding cuisine. The intimate bistro features comfortable dining on the first floor with exposed brick and wooden beams and soft flickering candlelight, and a casual, pleasant wine bar on the second floor with a vibrant atmosphere. Seasonal menus market-driven cuisine prepared with fresh locally sourced ingredients features dishes of mezze platters, crispy pork belly, homemade meatballs, house-made fettuccine, shrimp and poblano etouffee, chicken-fried pork steak, seafood paella, and gourmet burgers. An assortment of wines, craft beers, and classic cocktails are available from the bar.

Black Trumpet Bistro, 29 Ceres St, Portsmouth, NH 03801, Phone: 603-431-0887

Restaurants For a Date

The Bridge Street Bistrot & Wine Bar is a small, chef-owned café and wine bar in the heart of the historic seaport of downtown Portsmouth that serves traditional French-style cuisine and young, drinkable table wines from around the world in cozy, stylish surroundings. Formerly known as Café Mirabelle, the Bridge St. Bistrot & Wine Bar is owned by Chef Stephan Mayeux and his wife Christine who specialize in authentic Parisian and country French cuisine. The charming café transports diners to France with chic décor, hanging lights entwined with branches and an intimate ambiance, and a menu of classic dishes such as Crêpe Aux Champignons, Magret of Duck, crab, and lobster stuffed salmon, and desserts like crème brulée and chocolate cake with crème anglaise. The full-service bar features over 30 casual wines by the glass, bottled and draft beer, top-shelf spirits, and signature cocktails.

Bridge Street Bistrot & Wine Bar, 64 Bridge St, Portsmouth, NH 03801, Phone: 603-430-9301

Established in 2008, Cava Tapas & Wine Bar is a Mediterranean-inspired bistro that serves delicious tapas, small plates and a tasting menu along with casual wines. Located in the heart of historic downtown Portsmouth, the rustic-chic bistro and wine bar is owned by Chef Gregg Sessler and John Akar and features a beautiful vertical garden and native outdoor living wall under which guests can dine in the summertime. The bistro also features two wine bars that serve a diverse selection of over 50 wines from around the world that can be enjoyed by the glass, along with a wide range of Spanish tapas and sharing plates.

Cava Tapas & Wine Bar, 10 Commercial Alley, Portsmouth, NH 03801, Phone: 603-319-1575

Located at the corner of State and Penhallow Streets in historic downtown Portsmouth, Cure is a cozy brick-walled restaurant with a refined but elegant ambiance that is the perfect spot for a romantic dinner. Owned by award-winning chef, Julie Cutting, the bistro serves contemporary American menu of farm-to-table New England cuisine with dishes like crisp-skinned chicken and lobster bisque, maple-glazed salmon, pan-roasted duck breast, beef ribs slow-braised in red wine, and horseradish-sour-cream mashed potatoes. Served with virtuosic flair in a cozy 36-seat dining room, the cuisine is accompanied by a selection of classic cocktails, a curated list of fine wines, imported beers, including non-alcoholic Beck’s, and high-end spirits.

Cure, 189 State Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801, Phone: 603-427-8258

Durbar Square Restaurant is a homey Nepalese restaurant in downtown Portsmouth that serves traditional Nepalese fare in a cozy atmosphere. Named for a landmark in Kathmandu, Durbar Square is owned and operated by Bhola Pandey and features Nepalese art on the walls and a bar serving non-alcoholic drinks like strawberry and mango lassis, however the restaurant is BYOB so guests can bring along their own beers and wine. The bi-level eatery serves a menu of Indian and Southeast Asian cuisine with other Middle and Far Eastern influences like choila, a vegan Gundruk soup, paneer and spinach, Chinese steamed dumplings stuffed with lamb, chicken, vegetables, and a selection of Indian and Nepalese curries known as takari. Durbar Square Restaurant caters for vegans, vegetarians and omnivores alike.

Durbar Square Restaurant, 10 Market St, Portsmouth, NH 03801, Phone: 603-294-0107