50 Best Cocktail Bars near Portsmouth

“Best meal we’ve ever had there tonight….absolutely impeccable service, food and drinks!“

“We just came by boat with two little kids not realizing the new fall hours. The employee working saw them peaking into the window and was so kind bringing them each out doughboy donuts. It was such a generous and thoughtful gesture that truly made these two little kids day! We look forward to coming again in the spring (during hours your open)“

“We had a great birthday experience aboard the train & plan on returning many times. We chose The Spruce Car, (as opposed to the murder mystery) which is aptly named, as it's filled with rich, warm woods. The cozy lighting & up-scale, but not pretentious, decor created the perfect ambiance for a romantic birthday. Dinner service was nothing short of wonderful. Our server, Maddie, was friendly, beautiful, and attentive. Both of our dinners were delicious and the cocktails were perfect. More locals should enjoy the Bellevue Grand. It's worth every penny.“

“My go-to order in most places would be a Reuben. The quality of the meat, bread and the balance with the sauerkraut, sauce & cheese say a lot about how the restaurant approaches their food. The 02878 is the best Reuben sandwich I have ever had the pleasure of eating. Now I will have to find another go-to for other restaurants because they will pale in comparison to Localz 02878.“

“Such a delicious little restaurant! I’m vegan, dined at Foglia with my carnivorous husband and we both loved it. The food is fresh and delicious and has multiple layers of flavor. It was such a treat. After our meal, Chef Pete came out to talk with us about our meal. Will definitely return.“

“1st time date night for us. We were met and had Darwin the AMAZING to ourselves. Fall cocktails were delish and menu changes were not disappointing! Bar12 was full when we left.“

“Kelly makes the best Sangria you've ever had 💯⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐“

“We just had dinner celebrating my husband’s 60th birthday. Our server was Daisy. She was AMAZING! Best service ever!! The food was fantastic and the atmosphere was great! Can’t wait to go back!! And thank you for the birthday surprise dessert! My husband loved it!“

“Absolutely awesome! Great food, great people and great events. Check it out, you won't be disappointed!“

“Great place with friendly service. Drinks are terrific. Good place to watch the game. Highly recommend!“

“Celebrated a birthday last evening at Viola Cucina with a party of 12. EXCEPTIONAL! Small venue but comfortably accommodated us all. Fabulous food, drinks, and service. We all left very happy! Bravo!“

“Great staff, and great food!“

“I can’t believe it took us so long to dine here. This is hands down the best food I’ve had in a very long time. Ambiance 10/10, service 10/10 and food 100/10. The street corn ravioli was out of this world. I also tried the peach & prosciutto bruschetta which was savory & sweet and just sooo good. I kept seeing this Bloody Mary type of cocktail going out so I had to order one. This drink was AMAZING. It was called “Caprese my name” which consisted of vodka, basil, tomato and get this…pasta water! Serve in a martini glass with a little mozzarella ball garnish. The most delicious drink I’ve ever had. This place is amazing and I highly recommend it if you’re in town!!!“

“THIS IS A TRUE TO FORM NEIGHBORHOOD CAFE IN THE OLD TRADITION, IN THE FAM FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY..all fam owned and all original to the ears, eye and touch..a gem a real place filled with real people, friendly, rustic and very kool indeed... being a proud East-Bayer for more than three decades, this place should be on your list of "check this out"... stop bye and tell them "Papa Angelo" sent you... enjoy“

“Delicious food, great service and I highly recommend.“

“Stuffed mushrooms are amazing, and cocktails were on-point.“

“We never made it to the old location but we have been going for date nights now for about a year. The food is phenomenal, the atmosphere is perfect! The music is always on pointe! And we have our favorite waiter, Phil, every time we go! He is as much the reason we go there as the restaurant itself! Great guy!“

“Waterdog delivers on every front. The food is delicious, crafted with care and full of bold flavor. The atmosphere is wonderfully eclectic, giving the space a personality all its own. The service is outstanding, warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. A spot that makes you want to come back again and again!“

“Amazing drinks and beautiful moody vibe“

“Good location with ample seating inside and outside patio. The pizzas we ordered did not disappoint, good quality ingredients and the dough is delicious. We also had a few cocktails and they were really well prepared and at mixology level presentation and taste. Then there is the service, everyone is attentive, friendly but professional. Our server Eliza was the best, she knew all the dishes and cocktails and their ingredients. Thank you for another wonderful dinner in Newport and keep up the great work!“

“galactic theater is the best music venue in New England. Dave and his team of human beings keep a fun vibe, great music and interesting line-ups almost every night of the week. I'll be performing here on Fri Feb 6 with my associate, Jake Perry. I highly recommend coming to this location regardless of which night it is. you'll always find something worth checking out!“

“Today we made a pilgrimage to Basil Yu’s restaurant, Yagi Noodles. My son happened to see that Basil had become a successful restaurateur while he was watching one of Guy Fieri’s shows. We had become acquainted with Basil when we were all involved with a Boy Scout Troop in Manchester NH. We were disappointed to discover that Basil wasn’t at the restaurant, however we got over it when we found out it was due to a commitment to a fundraiser for the James Beard Foundation. Basil, You weren’t there, but your food is delicious. You get the Merit Badge! You weren’t there, but your staff is spectacular! You get the Merit Badge! We wish you continued success! R&L Standish + R&L Welsch“

“I cannot express how much I enjoyed/appreciated working with the Primo Catering team for my wedding. The food was absolutely delicious, the team was friendly/attentive, and they were so incredibly accommodating. Beyond that, Shannon went above and beyond for us in every single way. They had a beautiful candle lit dinner for our tasting and had solutions for every problem we encountered when planning our wedding. I cannot recommend them enough. Thank you Primo’s team for being such a key part of our big day! 🤍“

“Everything we had to eat was incredible! The drinks were also phenomenal! and the service was impeccable! Looking forward to going back and trying more of their menu“

“Stopped in to this little gem, food & drink excellent & Katie at the bar was wonderful!“

“love the food and drinks they were AMAZING ❤️❤️💯“

“Atmosphere and food are amazing!! Can’t beat the pizzas!!!“

“Best experience ever, food was amazing, our server Jack was spot on and everyone was warm and welcoming to us and our puppy Opi who was treated like a queen ! Thank you, we will definitely be back and highly recommend Diego’s Newport!!!“

“Great food. The owners are very welcoming. Will definitely be back !!“

“It was one of the most relaxed dining experiences ever. The tables are about two feet away from each other-we all had room. We didn't have to hear other people talk. Our servers didn't have to play Tetris. It was July 3rd and the place was relaxed. Everyone was smiling. We got to eat some of the best French food I have ever had (I am a picky and non adventurous eater) ever. The Coq au Vin, Mediterranean chicken and steak frites were out of this world. Vermont Butter. I cannot tell you how much that made my cold dead heart feel nostalgic and joy and somehow understood. The wine was really reasonable priced as well and I feel that the restaurant chef or owner cares more for the diners than making money because quality of ingredients was stellar too.“

“Gorgeous hotel and beyond amazing staff and service .. just a wonderful time there“

“This food truck brings a unique flair to our events. Their dishes are not only flavorful but also visually appealing, adding to the overall experience of our guests.“

“Gorgeous hotel and beyond amazing staff and service .. just a wonderful time there“

“Great food and great drinks! Can’t wait to come back here!“

“Huge thank you to Jared and the entire Pine House team for letting us take over your beautiful space for a baby shower. Our vision came together perfectly thanks to your stunning venue, amazing food, and the kindest, most attentive staff. Pine House Kitchen & Bar is already a favorite for lunch and dinner and now l'll be telling everyone it's the perfect place to host their next celebration!“

“Great food & drinks“

“Shelly really made my first experince here a great one! She really took good care of us and was super helpful with choosing menu items since I was new and needed suggestions. Service was fantastic. Drinks were good. Loved it she is a rockstar!“

“We hosted a laid-back wedding celebration at Newport Craft and had a great experience overall. The venue is modern, spacious, and perfect for a relaxed gathering, and the drinks were delicious.

Jim, the new general manager, was responsive and attentive throughout the planning process. He made us feel well taken care of and was great to work with leading up to the event.

The only reason we aren’t giving five stars is that Newport Craft experienced some staff turnover during the year we were planning, and we only learned about the changes when we reached out rather than being proactively notified. That created a little uncertainty along the way. However, it seems like they are actively working toward becoming a more established event space, and with Jim helping lead the way, they appear to be in good hands.“

“I had one of the best mocktails I’ve ever had at this place. My husband really enjoyed his cocktail. I only had drinks here. The bartender was very friendly and it was a nice place to stop in and rest a while while exploring town.“

“We were here visiting and found this little place outside Newport and it was amazing! We had two lobsters and steamers the servers were great. It's very laid-back fun atmosphere.!! Definitely five stars!!“

“Had a wonderful time. Spa was excellent.“

“Pizza cold and undercooked. Meals arrived different times.“

“The best chile relleno! vegetarian options! excellent margaritas! this was a wonderful dinner and experience. friendly service and excellent food. like walking into a friends home and being served the best food from grandma.. <3we went upstairs after for some music and will be back for brunch. thanks for a wonderful evening.“

“Great atmosphere and service. I come in here multiple times a week and it's always a pleasure. Leah made me a coco loco and it made me loco in the best way. It was the best margarita I've had. Leah, Stacey, Nicole and Jaelyn always make it a great experience. Come check it out and you'll find yourself back here again.“

“Awesome bartender deserts are over the top“

“Always a great experience at The Lobster Pot!“

“WOWWW LOVE!! This atmosphere is peak Newport . My mother in law and I sat at the bar and I truly had the best time. We got 6 oysters, 3 different kinds that were picked for us. All incredible. Drinks, incredible. This experience would have not been possible, though, without our bartender Mitch. Fast, professional, and most importantly friendly!! I live in FL but I can’t wait to come back.“

“Stopped by after a long road trip because it was close to our destination. Our waitress was super nice, checked on us frequently. At first glance it doesn't look like a place you would want to bring your kid, but once you're in the door and seated it feels comfortable. There is a kids menu as well. I meant to take a picture but forgot. It had a hot dog, chicken tenders, kids burger, a pasta dish.

The food was good. Wings are LARGE with a capital L. We each had a cup of soup, split an order of wings and split a sandwich and were very full. Drinks were good as well. Not overly strong, just right. Absolutely would go back.“

“Absolutely great food and service. Dined last Saturday evening with two of our teen and preteen grandchildren. All of us enjoyed our meals and the service was on point. This next point deserves mentioning as it speaks to the culture of the establishment: When my granddaughter became ill (NOT food related), the manager came over immediately to help comfort her… she brought hot tea and took her to more private quarters to relax until her discomfort passed. We were impressed and remain grateful for the compassion and level of care exhibited. We will continue to visit again and again in the future. Many thanks!!!“

“If you are spending time in Newport, please make a stop here . The food is awesome! You will have an amazing view of the Newport bridge . Lastly, I cannot say enough good things about our waitress . She was beyond lovely and sweet! Thank you all for such a wonderful experience !“