The attractive and bustling seaside community of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, doesn’t have a lot of nightlife specifically geared toward LGBT patrons, but this generally liberal city of 21,000 has a sizable gay population.
Portsmouth is a popular getaway for New Englanders from Boston (one hour south), Portland (one hour north), or Providence (two hours away). This historic city is on the northern tip of the New Hampshire coast, conveniently located just off I-95, with its center hugging the banks of the picturesque Piscataqua River.
Although there are only a small number of gay-friendly bars and restaurants in the area, Portsmouth is filled with a number of fascinating museums, especially the Strawbery Banke living history complex of colonial buildings, and many establishments that accept all types of clientele.
Have a drink: gay bars and lounges
Some bars and restaurants in the walkable historic center of Portsmouth have some gay following or are at least quite welcoming to the LGBT community.
Popular gay-friendly bars include trendy The Nice, a stylish bar serving sophisticated cocktails next to Dos Amigos Burritos and Portsmouth Brewery, which brews a fine selection of craft beers and also serves great convenience.
Daniel Street Tavern is also quite gay-friendly and offers visitors a laid-back atmosphere complete with a pool table, karaoke, and cheap drinks. It’s kind of an immersion, but the crowd is always colorful and often quite diverse.
If you don’t feel like drinking alcohol, the Breaking New Grounds Cafe draws a diverse crowd of coffee and baked goods throughout the day and night; In hot weather, grab a sidewalk table.
Grab a bite: gay restaurants
Before heading out for a night on the town, you may want to consider visiting one of Portsmouth’s many gay restaurants and eateries for a quick bite to eat, and you’ll find a number of great options downtown where you’ll likely find a warm welcome.
The Wellington Room has lovely views over the Piscataqua River, while the quirky and exquisite Lexie’s Joint serves excellent burgers (both veg and meat) and the intimate and fun Cava offers excellent tapas and a Mediterranean wine bar.
For fresh New England seafood, consider the elegant oceanfront Surf Restaurant, which has floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the river and across Kittery, Maine. The lobster roll here is excellent with its lobster meat warmed in butter and served on a grilled brioche roll; The raw bar also produces impressive tiered towers of freshly caught oysters, smoked trout, and salmon and tuna sashimi.
Other nearby gay bars and restaurants
Although Portsmouth is relatively small, most of its population is welcoming to all types of guests – gay, straight, bisexual, or otherwise inclined – so no matter where you go, you’re sure to have a good time in this quaint town.
However, if you want a bit more excitement, Portsmouth is just a 30-minute drive south of the popular summer seaside town, Ogunquit, which is a popular destination for gay tourists in the Northeast.
Portsmouth is also less than an hour’s drive east of the state’s largest city, Manchester, which has a couple of gay bars, including The Breezeway and Element Lounge.
