Market Square Reviews

Definitely spend time here. Lots of restaurants and shops in the square. A must do when in the area. Close to Prescott park and the Strabery Banke.

I visit this place once a year for many years now. It just makes me feel good. It really is the perfect New England town square centrally located white church and all.

It can get busy on holiday weekends and parking can be challenging but well worth it. There are hundreds of shops and my favorite kitchen supply store is here on the main street too. A ton of really fine restaurants and coffee houses to enjoy.

I'm telling you it just makes you feel good.

After a good meal, we walked around the downtown core. Was nice and clean, with lots of benches. Street musicians were playing, and lots of folks sitting enjoying the nice warm evening. Lots of boutiques around the square, as well as a few watering holes

I loved walking around the area, looking at the shops and restaurants. It's a delightful and walkable experience and parking was relatively easy to find.

Just a square. Kept clean and neat. A couple of street performers provide some beats and add to the vibe making it more than just a commercial area. Cute and interesting shops all over.

We visited Portsmouth a few times during the holidays, and Market Square was very festive, with its large Christmas tree, wreath-decorated street lanterns, beautiful trimmed storefronts, and lots of seasonal activities.

Market Square is the main downtown attraction area near the water for shopping, dining and attractions. Everything is in walking distance and conveniently located parking.

We stopped in Portsmouth on our way to Maine from SC, and met up with a friend who showed us around. So glad we did! Fun city(smaller than Boston) and great ambience. Popovers, toy stores and great Pub for lunch. Worth a few hours to relax. The shop keepers were very friendly.

Since I arrived before check in time at my hotel, I had asked the clerk for some recommendation. Aftter going to Odiorne Point State Park and walking along the ocean coast, I did window shopping in Market Square. Portsmouth is a quaint and enjoyable town and there were quite a large number of eclectic shops and restaurants. I stopped for lunch at Popovers on the Square and went in to a few shops including Celtic Crossing.

The area is so new england. There is everything u want, food, bars, entertainment. Quaint shops, fill the area. They are a little pricey but have a lot of unique items. Safe area even late at night.

Market square offers a diversity of shops and restaurants. Family-friendly and definitely a walking town.

I loved Portsmouth immediately and I felt I could stay. It has that great, old- style American feeling to it and such wonderful history. I look forward to my return trip!

Market square Portsmouth is very unique it combines old with new whatever you are looking for there is something for everyone

Before we went to lunch at a local restaurant, I took a few photos of Market Square's North Church and the 30-ft white fir holiday tree. A tree is brought in and set up each year (some tourists think the tree is a permanently planted one, but no ), and it's not always the same type of tree -- a few years ago, it was a blue spruce. This year the tree was lit with white lights instead of colored ones.

Sit at Breaking Grounds in Market Square on a nice day and watch humsnity stroll by a la Paris. Lots of shops and restaurants and harbor access. Inexpensive parking garage. Great place for Fourth of July fireworks. Definitely a summer destination for coastal New Hampshire.

This where you start your walking tour.
Fan out in any direction.
Return and start out again.
Public parking three blocks away n Hanover Street.

Market Square is a vibrant area with lots of historic architecture, the North Church, the Athenaeum, and several cafes, restaurants, and shops, but we saw something this visit that we're never seen before -- a horse patiently waiting outside Kaffee Vonsolln for its owner and drinking water from a bowl. It might have been a policeman's horse and maybe the officer had to 'see a man about a horse' -- that would explain it!

A gorgeous historic area full of history & great architecture! We just started walking all over winding through streets to breathe in the cooler air, shoot some photos & really enjoy this charming town! Gorgeous in the fall as the foliage changes. Great restaurants & really kind locals.

Felt like you were walking through part of American history, with lots of little shops. Don't bother with a car.

Provides a lot to see and do and the tourist shops seemed to have much better quality items than a lot of places I've visited. Excellent walking area.

In and near the square you will find many unique one-of- a- kind shops. There is plethora of nice restaurants in the are for everyone's tastes, A fun place to be on Market Square Day (usually held in June} where many streets are closed to traffic with vendors of every ilk lining the streets. It is a fun day to shop and eat to your hearts content.

Small, compact area for strolling, windows watching or visiting plenty of cute, little stores with souvenirs, art works. Nice place to have a meals in quite romantic settings.

Wandering around downtown Portsmouth will always lead you to the heart of our small town, Market Square. Whether you are window shopping or looking to eat, the Sq is a great place to start your wandering!

A great shopping experience for us. I found a few great things that were irresistible. Check out Water Monkey on Vaughn Mall. Known for hats, incense, clothes, and GREAT VIBES! The owner has been there for 25 years and it must have a family operation since he spoke of his mother who passed away but left him good advice to pass along. We found a Peruvian shirt AND an baby onesie with bees on it that was SO PERFECT for a baby shower we're going to, it was like getting stung, but in a good way!

market Square is where the major streets converge in historic Portsmouth. There are many nice shops and restaurants. Also lots of people. Something to consider if you plan to visit on the weekend. Portsmouth is well worth a visit

would be great to spend time here with a husband or boyfriend or friends we didn't have time to do this

Bottom Line: Nice area with shops and restaurants but didn't really win me over.

Details: We visited here in July during our trip to Maine. Parking was pretty good but we arrived around 10 and by the time we left around noon it was packed. Nothing special stuck out for us and our first visit will also be our last.

There are a variety of restaurants to choose from and all the little stores had different items whether you were shopping for yourself or for gifts to bring back.

What a wonderful area! Bright and festive with many engaging businesses. Parking was easy and lots of benches to sit and watch the world go by--great bakeries to facilitate that process.

I stopped in Market Square on the way to a family lunch because It was such a spectacular autumn day that felt more like August than late October -- it was 80 degrees! The Halloween decorations were up and there were literally hundreds of people soaking in the warm weather and sights. I especially liked the clever Portsmouth's 400th Anniversary signs on the square's Colonial lampposts that said "History LIGHTS Our Way - 1623-2023".

Find a bench and let the people entertain you. I like one by the bus stop to see more folks coming and going. The traffic and people on cross walks interaction is amazing,

This quaint waterside town has plenty of charm. Camera buffs and foodies will not be short of opportunities to feed their stomachs as well as their eyes.
When you are tired of walking head to Market Square to relax, refresh and watch the world go by.

Historic downtown of Portsmouth. Great quirky shops. Super restaurants. I love the fish places along Tugboat alley - but they get busy in summer. Of course the Portsmouth brewery restaurant is a must see.

Portsmouths downtown strip. Interesting shops, at least one brewery, an inn that used to be a brewery, cool shopping that is both hip and hippie. We went down and under to Harpoon Willies for a beer by the river. We wandered through the hat shop, the place with expensive pressurized reusable beer growlers. We walked past several cool jewelers. We ended at RiRa Irish bar sipping pints watching rugby, and seeing how many towns we recognized in their collection of police and fire patches.

My knowledge and visits to Market Square go back to when the legendary lunch cart was located on the street right next to the church in the 1960s. It is now on a sidestreet near the parking garage. My wife and I remember going to see The Shaw Brothers a well known folk duo of twins perform at Jarvis' restaurant in the 70s. Over the years Portsmouth-both for better and worse(mostly better) has become more and more upscale and is a magnet for tourists from all over. Market Square remains very "user friendly" with cafes , shops, restaurants and plenty of seating for people to enjoy this happening place. Portsmouth is a very nice small city and Market Square represents it's heart -a very nice place to visit.Parking does represent a growing problem here and is inadequate at times.

Great little town. Lots of cute shops, pretty gardens/parks, plenty of restaurants. A lot of nice places to sit and take it in. It was pretty busy when we were there but totally manageable.

Historic, beautiful, quaint, busy.... and more! No lack of eateries, shopping options; and parking is easy in their multi-level parking garage. There are some wonderful buildings with interesting architecture (and brightly colored too). You can walk from the Market Square area to view the famous Moran Tugboat fleet, catch a harbor cruise, or sit on one of the Square's many benches to rest your feet from all the sightseeing :)

Great place with lots of stores to walk in-and-out of . Love stopping here. Store owners are so friendly and helpful.

This town square is adorable. Quintessential New England. I have seen it in the early fall and summer. Tons on cute and unique shops. Everyone is friendly and good parking available. Worth the stop!

Walked around & did some sightseeing & shopping but not that
Impressive.
Covid has taken its toll on this old port City.

Market Square is one of my favorite people-watching spots in town! Get a cup of coffee at the Coffee Shop and take advantage of one of their tables outside. The square is in the heart of town with many historic buildings and churches within a one block walk. I've met many interesting people and learned a lot about the area. A great place to spend time while your wife shops! Have fun!

We go to Portsmouth all the time as it is our favorite small city. There are numerous great restaurants from inexpensive to high priced. There are many coffee houses, bakeries (Popovers is wonderful!), bars etc. Wonderful eclectic shops, clothes stores, kitchen stores etc. Fun hotels from quirky (Ale House Inn) to modern (Hampton Inn and Suites). Portsmouth has a great vibe no matter what time of year you go.

This is a lovely place to stop of for a few days, it has lots of little independent shops, loads of restaurants we ate in the Thirsty moose on a couple of occasions which was great, the food was well cooked and plentiful.

I was traveling to Portsmouth on business, and had not thought much about where I was going. What a wonderful surprise it turned out to be. I stayed at a hotel near the Market Square, and I am so glad I did, as it's where all the action is at. It's a great area with so many fun shops and tasty restaurants. You can spend all day walking the sidewalks and checking out the surroundings. It leads down to some great seafood restaurants on the water as well. All of the architecture is so great to look at. The overall area is beautiful, clean, safe, and fun. Highly recommended!

If you're in Portsmouth this is really a must-do. There are some great restaurants and shops not to mention really interesting at architecture and great sightseeing.

This is the main part of town- there was a lot of boutique stores and restaurants. Nice place to spend the afternoon.

The market Square is busy with winding streets, restaurants and shops. I bet the city was laid out by a drunk but they made it interest. Have a good day just walking around.

Great place to come when not a beach day on coast. Lots of great shops, restaurants and parks to walk around and enjoy.

Great shopping and good food in a "quaint" New England city. Good hotels and shops the only problem is parking but they are working on it

Lots of shopping and restaurants, and historical buildings. Parking is a problem. Very nice for strolling around. Liked it a lot

Extremely limited parking and aggressive meter enforcement all seven days and nights !
Roads are a mess. "Paved Cowpaths" no flow.
Walked by stores and looked at other tourists. Had a pricey mediocre meal.

We stopped in Portsmouth for lunch on our way to Portland, Maine and loved it! We ended up staying the afternoon exploring the various stores and coffee shops and didn’t want to leave. The entire area felt friendly, hip and progressive. The buildings are beautiful and I plan to return to the area again in the future.

You name it, they seem to have it. Kitchen shops, art work, clothing stores, and novelty items. We even caught a food and wine tasting. Mostly, we had a great time walking around, exploring, window shopping, and picked up a few items. What a fun place to spend an afternoon.

Right in the middle of Portsmouth, it is surrounded by restaurants, coffee shops and boutique stores. Fun place to just sit and watch people coming and going.

Place to be on a weekend evening. Great shops, big selection of restaurants, lively crowd. Parking is difficult.

Despite the arctic freeze, we braved the cold to explore Portsmouth. Market Square had a lot of unique shops and restaurants. For a small place, it held my interest for hours. There were a few businesses with limited winter hours so I can only imagine how much more interesting your time could be in the summer. Will return when it's not so darn cold! My favorite stores were Bull Moose, Off Piste and Macroscopic. Of course, couldn't resist a popover at Popovers on the Square.

Portsmouth is such a historic and pretty city - lots to do here with shopping, eating, entertainment and historic sites.

Nice town, with a lot of shops where you can pick anything you desire. Shops are closing rather early than in Europe so check out your time schedule!

Nice quaint area of town full of shops and restaurants. Take a walk around this lovely New England harbor town.

Lovely area for shopping, some food, history and the charm of New England. Brick streets and the character of an upscale seaside town. Interesting boutiques, an antique store, cafes, and some history. Lovely people warm the square. Worth the stop for an hour, a day, a weekend. If you are like me you will want to return for more time in this lovely community.

This is the best of the modern New England experience, with preserved soaring white church steeples and brick commercial buildings, repurposed to welcome the visitor with fine food, drink, art, and many, many other attractive offerings. You really cheat yourself here if you don't take time to read all the historical markers. The information on the markers infuses the view scape with much deeper and richer meaning. One supposes it would have been easy to raze all this over time for more modern structures and "efficient" traffic flow, but so much would have been lost as a result. Kudos to Portsmouth for this happy compromise.

Whether you are there for the coffee and pastries, ice cream, or are a true foodie there is something for everyone. If f you prefer to shop there is a nice mix of handcrafted artisan shops, art galleries, retail, and brand name stores. If you are a history buff, historic Strawberry Banke is within walking distance.

This square is cute with shops and benches all over the town. It is 5 minute walk from the Sheraton Portsmouth Hotel where I was staying. Street shows and live music. It has a lot of restaurants to choose from. Don’t forget to reserve on Friday and Saturday nights because the locals come to eat in this area and it’s difficult to find a good restaurant. The Square has lots of bars and nice terraces. It was a pleasant 3 night stay in this area for our family road trip. It is definitely worth a special trip

This is the vibrant center of Portsmouth's down town. There are many unique shops and bakeries, eateries, etc. It is always fun to window shop and people watch. We love to walk down one side and up the other. There is a great used record shop we never miss and good book store. There is a lovely art store and many clothing and jewelry shops. The ambiance is wonderful. Great day trip.

Just take a nice stroll at night. It's lovely, historical, colonial and warm. They have a red brick road in that old area, so easy to know you are in the Market Square

Such a wonderful square to visit. Tons of unique shops and restaurants. Sit and relax on one of the many benches along way too.

I love this place. Sadly the tv chronicle shows have featured Portsmouth so much that now it's filled with often rude tourists.
Go explore yet undiscovered areas like Amesbury center or Kittery center.

My wife and I parked our car in a parking garage and took in the sights of the Market Square. The were numerous shops, and places to eat. My wife really like the store with all the puzzles. She did purchase a few

We visit Portsmouth every year from our motel (Cutty Sark ) in York Beach, Maine. The shops and restaurants on Market Square are fun to visit and provide a wide range of products. We spent about 4 hours shopping and eating. Several restaurants are on the harbor with a fleet of tug boats to watch. We especially like the River House restaurant.

Even though it too small to be a downtown but there are a lot of beautiful building in there. You can come to enjoy restuarant in afternoon and have fun in pub at night 😁😁

Hi, I have a four young adults in the house right now who use words like "sketchy" and "sweet." They sometimes slip up and call me "dude" instead of mom. The plane of intersecting interests, therefore, is narrow and tends to involve food and unconventional shops. A few weeks ago, we spent a great 2 plus hours walking about Market Square and then another hour and a half eating in a cozy restaurant. Nice afternoon taking in the sights and enjoying each other! A quick trip from Boston.

I really love Portsmouth, especially walking around Market Square. So many good restaurants and quaint shops. Definitely make it a point to stop when you are in the area!

It's nice little square.
Lovely to walk around in a nice sunny day. Weekends are better as there are more peopel around. There s few cute shops around as well.
The church is nice too.

After breakfast my husband and I walked around Market Square. We had a great walk looking at the buildings, history and in and out of shops. We really enjoyed our stay in Portsmouth and would highly recommend going in October!

A really great place to stroll, browse shops, see lots of different restaurants, and people watch. Market Square is one of New Hampshire’s best towns best areas. There is something for everyone-from families with young children, teenagers, two wonderful date nights you won’t want to miss Market Square and it’s proximity to everything in Portsmouth.

The snow might not have been flying but thew atmosphere was delightful . Charming town of a bygone era. Everything was clean and beautifully lit. Enjoyed strolling through Market Square.

We went on a walking tour through Discover Portsmouth. The historians are passionate about sharing the history and preservation of this coastal town. Wish we had gone to Strawberry Banke. I think it would have been well worth it but opted to shop instead. You can't get a bad meal in Portsmouth.

Lots of little shops and places to eat. A little pricey, but a nice way to spend an evening. It gives you a good feel for a typical New England town.

Beautiful shops, restaurants, and pubs. An old nostalgic scenic town with lots of old and charismatic charm. Lots to see and all with walking distance from the water to the brick pavers. Parking is all paid during day and early evening hours. First time here and a town to see again. Public transportation is available.

We attended the Tree Lighting and Christmas Parade. Great fun. The town is so friendly and supportive of their activities. Great shops, restaurants, bars.

Today was a particularly beautiful day in Portsmouth. Mid-morning brisk under a perfectly blue sky, sitting across the street from a church first settled in the 17th century. A local coffee shop across the street with outdoor seating, couples and families enjoying the morning, many with friendly dogs. If something more commercial appeals to you, Starbucks is across the street. As is Popovers, the most delicious version of Yorkshire Pudding I've ever had.

Chose Market Square to find eclectic gifts for family members/friends and was not disappointed! Found something for everyone on the list! The variety of fun gifts for the off-humor family members, kids, quality imported Irish products, tobacco/pipe for those man cave meetings and unique jewelry for myself made the time well worth the stop. Serious shoppers, plan on a few hours to take a good walk around.

This is a cute town and the town square has a great mix of restaurants, coffee shops, quaint shops and lovely architecture.
I loved the old feel of the place which looks so much like where I grew up in England.

When you are shopping around, make sure to stop in at Off Piste. It’s a great store that will have you giggling. Perfect for first dates to see whether you have a possible match based on shared humor, or to share with friends.

Market Square in Portsmouth boasts great restaurants, coffee shops, specialty shops, and a glimpse into New England life. New money has taken over, but if you can find time to visit off season, you'll get a better taste of this community. Eat at any of the locally owned restaurants, enjoy coffee at Breaking New Grounds and you won't be disappointed. The Music Hall is a gem, but not the only opportunity to enjoy the arts. Check out 3S Artspace, the Prescott Park Arts Festival, Strawberry Banke Museum, the Players Ring, and Seacoast Rep., all within walking distance of Market Square.

For a small town, this place is really lively. Loved the small custom shops and great little bars. Would have been nice if the Old North Church was open for viewing - but it still looked pretty cool. Highly recommend spending a few hours downtown

Market Square is great anytime of year but especially in the autumn during peak foliage when you can grab a table or bench and have a coffee and take in the great views.

A busy popular area in the warm sunshine, lots of small shops, restaurants, many locals as well as tourists. Portsmouth is easy to walk around and is a safe place to visit.

Staying at a hotel and waking up before the shops opened my friend and I had the opportunity to explore downtown Portsmouth without the hustle and bustle. The sun was out, a crisp breeze made for a perfect morning stroll along the water. We were able to window shop, read menus and enjoy a quiet moment at the Hero's round-a-bout. How fitting since it was Veterans Day!

As the commercial hub of downtown Portsmouth, Market Square is full of shops, restaurants, interesting buildings and good people watching. Great for a stroll it's usually pretty difficult to find a parking place here.

A very eclectic variety of shops, and all very inclusive. Lots of laces places welcomed pets and accommodated dietary restrictions. The town itself is very walkable, plently of shade, lots of shops and dining options.

We strolled the streets and checked out some shops. Also had lunch in a local restaurant then walked around some more. Great photography area.

I was here for just a few hours on a business trip. I loved the area and would love to come back to visit. The aura of the place is just really New England look and feel and I loved it. There were so many cute shops and places to eat. Highly recommend visiting this city.

Great selection of restaurants, but lacking in fun shopping. We ended up going up the road to Kittery

I come to smaller towns, instead of big cities, because of the charm of their squares and restaurants, and Portsmouth delivers in spades ! This place is an embarrassment of riches when it comes to not just retail, but quality food wherever you look ....

Find a parking spot close to downtown and make your way to Market Square. There are restaurants and cafes nearby or in the square. If you're into shopping, there is plenty of that too. Great place to go during the holiday season.

Right in the heart of the town. There is shopping and places to eat and get coffee. It's a fun place to walk around and explore.

Market Square is right in the center of Portsmouth. It is so beautiful to just look at. There are many shops to choose from or you can just walk around and enjoy yourself. At Christmas time they have a humongous Christmas tree that is just breath taking. This spot would make a beautiful painting!

i must admit that walking around the main street you could have been in any number of UK towns. The only real difference was the lack of empty shops which blight the English town centres now. There are lots of shops, although only one bakery with very limited option to take away pastries. Still it was nice enough but didn’t feel like anywhere worth visiting if you are looking for something different or a tourist sight.

Awesome time, wide variety of shops and restaurants. Great for light breakfast to lunch and dinner. The only drawback was gift shops closing early between 5 to 6 pm.

Went up for the weekend and it happened to be Market Square day. Nice day of shopping the local shops and the vendors.

A great land fun city with lots of sights and restaurants. My wife was saved by the very nice lady at Clays when she had left her dress at home and had to find something appropriate to wear. The store was actually closing and she stayed with us to find an outfit for my wife. We also enjoyed the restaurant we eat at the brew pub and Martingale Wharf, which was excellent. The staff and waitress were very friendly and prompt. The food was very good . We will be back

Always something going on from protests to street performers--The square is also amazingly clean--lots of walking around

Market Square is in the heart of town with many historic buildings and churches. The square combines old with new. The Square is a unique place with good restaurants, wonderful art galleries and lovely shops. Whatever you are looking for there is something for everyone. This is a really nice way to spend a few hours. The ambience of this town captivates tourists absolutely. A must-see when visiting Portsmouth.

Great restaurants and shops for everyone coffee shop's art galleries store's for children and adults.

My husband and I went to Market Square on a day trip. The unique shops, eateries and beautiful church in the square, all made for an enjoyable day. It was nice to walk around and enjoy the scenery. We stopped in several stores, ate lunch here and also took a tour of the Moffatt-Ladd House. What history! I would highly recommend a house tour - there are several to view. Bring your AAA card for $1.00 off admission price!

Portsmouth and her old building by the bay provided even more than we expected. It was a fun place to visit with the educational opportunity a true bonus.

We were looking for an old town spot with shopping, history and good food. We found it in Portsmouth. Friendly and inviting people. A slower pace where you can stop and smell the roses, listen to live street music and stroll down the sidewalks. It was delightful!!!

We stopped twice at Tuscan Market. The first time was for a light lunch - they prepared a cheese and charcuterie board - just perfect for something light. We also enjoyed their house wine. On our way home, we stopped for their fabulous bread (we live in Connecticut where the bread is mush), plus a salad and a bottle of house-label olive oil. Service is friendly and polite, and well versed in their unique bistro-style dining.

Recently visited from England and although it was extremely hot it was enjoyable. A wide choice of shops and restaurants awaits and I felt quite safe walking around.

We needed to walk around and look at the views over the water and this had free parking so was quite handy for our use.

One of my favorite places to walk around. Loaded with small shops and top restaurants from fine dining to bar food. Bring your walking shoes, there is a lot to see and walking is best way to get around

The square is the heart of Portsmouth. My favorite time is in the winter, with gentle snow falling and the lights from the church steeple has a romantic glow. If you stay long enough you may witness a mass mob snowball fight in the square where locals gather for a little fun. If it's still, wait to listen for the church bells to chime. There are many options for coffee and hot chocolate and places to stop for a glass of wine, beer or cocktail. Portsmouth is a very walkable city, but beware, they are short on comfort stations, so plan accordingly.

The confluence of all the streets leading into town. Shops, restaurants, coffee and a pretty square with benches to people watch. Great summer spot to hear some music during their concert series, the gateway to all downtown has to offer.

Beautiful center lined with shops and eateries. We found a number of shops with unique gifts and things to buy. We stopped for an afternoon respite at Ri Ra an Irish pub in an old bank building. Worth the stop.

Really enjoy walking around in Market Square. You will see shops, cafes, restaurants, street performances & bakeries. Some of the shops carry specialty items that are just so unique. Macro Polo is always fun to stop in for its eclectic wares.

The center of Portsmouth is a bit of a taste of Europe. Sitting at the iron tales and chairs outside of Breaking New Grounds coffee shop takes you outside of yourself. From this vantage point you are close to vintage and new shops, and a diversity of restaurants, and probably a street performer to two. I'm lucky to live so close to this small, charming city, and i visit often. When people come to visit this is a must see. Enjoy!

Portsmouth is such a nice walking area. The highlight is market Square. There’s so much to do and see. Tour boats, great restaurants and pubs. Fun shops to visit. You won’t be disappointed

Two adults and 1 child loved how festive and beautiful Market Square was. WE went to 1st night Portsmouth. We went to the festival of trees. It was wonderful and Market Square was beautiful also. We love Portsmouth during winter holidays.

This is a great place to visit for a quick bite, or take as long as you want with a cup of coffee or drink. The ambiance is great and the location is fantastic.

the entire area is walkable and there are many different interesting shops with amiable shopkeepers .Pleasant way to spend a few hours and plenty of place to pause and relax.

Some of the best shops in the area have closed or moved out of Market Square. The latest was the wonderful art glass gallery that used to be here, now replaced by yet another bank. (How many banks does any neighborhood need?) Corporate chain hotels surround Market Square like a fortress. Big new brick office buildings have sprung up all over the place. At least my favorite little coffee shop is surviving, but who knows for how long. Downtown Portsmouth feels more and more like a tourist destination all the time, less like a real town. OK if that's what you want, but I'm very sad to see it turn into a brick Disney version of an olde New England towne.

Starting with your picture in front of north church and wandering around the shops, pubs etc. Have lunch and dinner at any of the fabulous restaurants in the area. Short walks to many historic homes.

Great place to walk around on a beautiful summer day. It was crowded on the day we were there, but it was still enjoyable. Lots of nice places to see.

We were stranded here for a long morning while renewing a passport. It is a beautiful old area to walk around, with nice stores and old buildings. We had a great time here and would return.

This is truly a walk back to the late 1600;s and 1700;s with Jean Paul Jones, George Washington, Strawberry Banke with great food, great history and many places for families to visit...go for a day, a weekend or a summer vacation----enjoy

The area is full of fantastic coffee shops and boutiques! We walked ot several times including all the way down to the water. Plan on spending some time just walking and looking. We found shops and restaurants down the alleys and side streets as well. Its a must see.

We were surprised to be in town during Market Square day! What fun!! It was the biggest outdoor festival I've been to...lots of vendors and music!

Walked around Market Square on the early morning. Had a great cappuccino at Breaking New Grounds right in the heart of the Square. Many places to shop, eat and drink. Very friendly people watching area. Very nice specialty shops.

Plenty of shops, galleries and places to eat, even have a pint or two. Lots of locals along with the tourists. Excellent meeting place, ask the locals.

Shopping, history, people watching, church, restaurants. So many things to do in a small place It enjoy it every time I go.

Basically the center of all activity within town.
All restaurants shops theatre parks within walking distance. For people visiting a great view of the towns colonial architecture in a seaport small city.

Although a bit seedy, this is a cute section of Portsmouth very near the harbor. Interesting shops & restaurants, & a fun walk for about 1-2 hours. Major public parking structure close by. Probably like Greenwich Village (NYC) n the 1920s!

beautiful day in Portsmouth, NH! 60+ degrees with blue skies and the place was jumping with the energy of spring - an acapella concert by Alabaster Blue, sitting outside "Breaking New Grounds" with a nice french roast... Highly recommended.

Absolutely biased for this delightful community...favorite for coffee, shopping, incredible dining, walks to the waterfront, yoga, music, even handmade treats for your beloved doggies...

Just a wonderful experience. Everyone at the hotel was so helpful, especially Christine in the Club. She was so friendly and made suggestions on places to see. We just loved chatting with her. The rooms were comfortable and very clean, thanks to the cleaning staff for taking care of us.

Full of people on a Sunday, strolling about. Locals expressing their political opinions. Festive, interesting

Great place to wander around. beautiful setting and love the architecture. lot's of shops, lot's of food choices and growth has been crazy.

Lots of interesting shops, plenty of restaurants. Good area for walking leisurely. Have a coffee or a tea, maybe an ice cream.

Market square and the few streets nearby are packed full of great foods and unique whimsical shops. Walk down one side of the street and back on the otherside to see everything.

Fun place to walk around. Lots of old historical buildings all within a few blocks. We aren’t shoppers so didn’t go into the shops but had an excellent dinner at The Goat, A+ hamburgers.

It's the best place to people watch in the city With side walk coffee shops it has a very European feeling. Not much has changed since I was a youngster. There's still a bus stop in front of Starbucks,which was once Green's Drug store. The old North Church is still the center of attention. Protests take place occasionally. An Irish Pub next to a coffee shop is not to be missed. A toy store for the wee ones 2 doors down on Market St.
Well you could spend a day as well as you inheritance right here.
I live here and always have.. The barber shop is just around the corner from the Coffee shop. That's one of my frequent stops(not really I don't have much hair anymore.) You can bring your own coffee while you wait. The barbers are all women.
About the only things you won't find in the downtown area are groceries, a drug store, and a gas station. With all the apartments, and condos that can't be too much further from changeinig .

The market Square area is a walking mall where you can shop in a variety of retail stores. Have a couple coffee and a pastry at a café. EN some great restaurants. Great seafood in this area. There is ample parking if you wish to take your car to the downtown. You could easily spend the afternoon in a night just walking around eating and shopping. It is pretty safe being controlled by the local police. Clean and with a lot of variety of things to do .

We are from Portsmouth in the UK so we thought we would stop off at Portsmouth NH while we were driving through and we were glad that we did. The main square is very attractive and had a nice New England style church present. Worth a look around.

Spent a couple hours walking around exploring this area of Portsmouth. Lots of restaurants and shops to visit. Easy walking even though it was very busy on the beautiful Sunday we visited. Stopped for lunch at the Thirsty Moose Taphouse and grabbed coffees after that. There was live music on the day we were there. Good way to spend some time

Great place for coffee and dessert and people watching... or more. Street musicians and free telescope viewing on one of the nights we were there. Great atmosphere day and night.

This is a very pleasant and relaxing place to sit, watch the world and the people go by, and to watch beautiful sunsets.

As a photographer, it is a little challenging because Portsmouth has a bajillion electrical and telephone wires on poles, and lots of cars / street parking, so it is difficult to try and capture any of what you're watching on a camera. Still, it is very pleasant. Lots of little shops and restaurants nearby.

So many places to eat and drink, Tugboat Alley was cool, along the water front. Very Pet Friendly. Very Clean and lots of parking.

A wide variety of shops and restaurants make this market square an enjoyable experience. They many walkways and alleyways lead to fun finds along the way parking can be tricky, but now with the new parking garage it's better. Fun.

A nice small historic downtown with my shops, restaurants and bars. I found this downtown to be more interesting than Portland, Maine. Do stop into Portsmouth downtown and you will be pleasantly surprised.

Not much to say other than if you are close to Portsmouth, you must minimally drive through! The historical buildings are amazing and beautiful! A definite must stop!

Market is a fun area that locals and tourists start their day in in Portsmouth, a great area for people watching!

Market Square is where Daniel Street becomes Congress Street, and Pleasant Street angles across to Market Street. The convergence has been a major crossroads and center of commerce in Portsmouth since the 17th.century when the City of Portsmouth was settled.

Today, it is still a busy crossroads with today’s commerce ~ shops, coffeehouses, and restaurants, plus the historic North Church of Portsmouth and Portsmouth Athenaeum Library. Bookstores, toy stores, art galleries, more coffeehouses, more restaurants, specialty shops, and three Historic New England homes are just a block or so away.

Market Square is also something of a social center. It’s a place to see and be seen.

Most of the red brick buildings there were built between the early and mid-1800’s. The reason for so much red brick is three devastating fires in the area in 1802, 1806, and 1813. All occurred around Christmastime. The red brick’s fire-resistant quality has withstood the test of time.

The old red brick construction is part of Portsmouth’s charm. It takes one back in time when life was at a slower pace.

On my most-recent visit, it was a warm, sunny spring day. And, for the first time in the decades that I’ve lived in the area and been to Market Square, I had time to relax and hang out on a park bench on the corner of Congress Street and Pleasant Street after shopping at nearby Stonewall Kitchen. During my 30-minute stay, I had some company with people from away and locals.

I rate Market Square at 5.0. It’s a place to gear down and enjoy one’s surroundings.

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Portsmouth is is a good, not great, walking town. We enjoyed finding many small shops & restaurants, and not too many brand name stores. I tried, but failed, to photograph the old North Church. Many other opportunities still exist.

Everyone in town was friendly and helpful.

Town members are helpful in giving directions. Some of the stores have maps to take with you to navigate the area. Afternoon walk was a great idea not to busy so able to take time To enjoy the square

How can you not love this spot? If you are looking for it, you'll find it....lots of great little unique shops and restuarants. Great to just walk around.

We loved our walk around Market Square in Portsmouth. There were several interesting shops to browse, a historic church and a variety of eateries. This was one of our favorite stops during our week-long trip around New England.

This was the cutest town. We had great weather and I absolutely loved shopping through town. We walked to Prescott Park as well for the waterfront views. We only time to walk through the morning but I could have spent a whole day walking around.

The downtown area has many different stores and restaurants. It was a nice area to walk around and browse. There were several interesting stores to look in.

Walked around the market square, is a small little area full of restaurants and shops. Can walk the whole area in about 15 minutes. Nice old historic buildings, great history.

Market Square in Portsmouth NH is a "must experience" place to travel and get some walking in along with shopping therapy. I found most shops to be overpriced but interesting, shop owners kind & friendly, but I also have to add that some of the patrons were downright rude (I guess they had places to go people to see) walking in front of you with no excuse me in sight. I did experience a few places to sit down and grab a yummy bite to eat or a nice hometown brew and I'll give my review on them individually but I started my day with a parisian croissant that was amazing. Enjoy Portsmouth - beautiful town with a lot of history.

Portsmouth has become the Millenial Capital of the World. If you like overpaying for watered down drinks, terrible service at most restaurants, and mediocre food. This place is for you. You'll love sitting on the dock having a drink while taking in the aroma of the dumpsters placed conveniently for the kitchens. Parking is non existent, even in the garage, which is always full. But the younger generation loves it. Must be spending all of daddy's hard earned money!
Try Newburyport instead.

Walked through on our way up to Portland, ME. Nice place to stretch our legs, see some unique shops and spend some time by the water.

This is a great place to visit. I love the feel of this place, the people are very nice. And there are a lot going on in the market square. Food, drink and shopping all around.

There is something for everyone in this area. Book shops, coffee shops, a variety of restuarnts and boutiques and street performers. This is a great place to stroll or meet up with friends.

nice shops, nice people-- places to eat and things to see. I would definitly recommend it. I enjoyed it in spite of being nippy.

The shopping goes on and on. Reminds me of New Orleans. Wish I could has spent more time there. Lots of arts, gifts, and things to eat.

Its a couple of block stretch in the middle of town. The shops are unique, not parts of chains. Wonderful restaurants and bars. Lively and fun.

This is a beautiful downtown Portsmouth shopping area near the waterfront. Plan on staying a few hours to snoop the shops and have something to eat.

While a little larger than some NE villages, Portsmouth Market Square is full of history and charm. One immediately has the sense the residents take a great deal of pride in their history and their town and work hard to retain its charm and beauty.

We stop here mostly to grab a nice mid day snack at Popovers. The biker rats are really starting to bring down the appearance a bit.

Lovely/charming downtown area with plenty of shops, restaurants, bars, several high quality coffee shops, at least one health food store. The jewel in the crown is the people; so nice, friendly, helpful - every single place I went into. New England has lots of quaint small towns, Portsmouth's citizens elevate the experience here.

Old town with much history and shops to visit. The Goat was a good whiskey bar with yummy food. Inside Out was my favorite shop to find gifts, Bryan was very helpful. We drove around sightseeing the town and old colonial homes with fun facts on many corners. Meters everywhere with local police enforcing them.

Great walkable downtown area with a lot to do. There were shops for the children as well as the parents. I'll be revisiting during the summer to spend more time in the area.

Only spent a day but the visit was relaxing and pleasant, an easy walking town with plenty of unique shops and restaurants. Many places to sit outside and enjoy a meal or a snack. We wanted to take a boat tour but they were not running on the day we visited. If you like food you will be in your glory with the many different choices you have.

We visited on a sunny Saturday after Christmas. Nice area to people watch, shop and eat. The only downside for us was the availability of public restrooms. Maybe I just failed to look hard enough. There are parking spots (metered) on the streets and a few lots, but it’s not abundant. This area is kinda like river street in Savannah Georgia and riverwalk in San Antonio Texas. Funky shops, restaurants and lots of people watching.

This fabulous area is a lovely way to spend an afternoon (or a whole day if you want to take your time). It's chock-full of historic buildings, cute shoppes, and interesting restaurants. Wander down an alley to explore a hidden gem of a restaurant, check out a cute boutique, or just enjoy the gorgeous, historical architecture. Everyone was out in full force when we were here, so there was an upbeat energy that made our meanderings much more positive. There were people playing instruments, which we loved. Everything is very walkable here, so put on your comfy shoes and enjoy!

There are great restaurants, no-chain stores, interesting shops, ice cream, pizza, street musicians and little alley ways and non car brick-lined streets to make your walk interesting. We love it!

One of the best small coastal cities in New England. It has everything! Outstanding food, great shopping and a beautiful waterfront! A must stop when in New England!

Visited about 5 different shops and a couple places to eat. Street parking or garage parking in the area. Very walkable once you park. Lots of speciality shops and unique places. Very close to Prescott Park and some boat tours.

This is the place to start if you're visiting Portsmouth ... cute eclectic shops, boutiques, cafes, art shops, and of course beautiful New England architecture. Younger and more hip atmosphere than Newburyport. Don't forget to explore the side streets as well and stay for lunch, dinner or just drinks.

Unless you just want to relax. We arrived arlund 19 and the place was mostly empty. We understood however that there are concerts sometimes

Such a variety to choose from, something for everyone at all times of the year!
enjoying a meal outside in the summer to skating outside in the winter!

The soaring white steeple of the North Church is the beacon that marks the center of town. The Market Square below has many sidewalk cafes and charming shops to browse.

No shortage of restraunts here. Cute place to walk around but all the shops are overpriced. A typical beach shop community just like all the rest.

Really enjoyed our time in Portsmouth. This location was one of our favorite places. Plenty of places to grab a bite to eat. Also lots of specialty shops where one can purchase plenty of things like clothing to specialty items. We enjoyed walking the streets and seeing so many people while there. Parking is a bit tough in the area so you may want to grab the first street parking spot you can get although they also have public parking as well. You definitely would want to visit this spot if in Portsmouth.

This location was very charming to stroll through. It is a very close walk from our hotel and we were just wandering around and used the tall steeple as a "way-point" and stumbled upon this area. The community is decorated for Halloween and this lent even more charm. There are several local merchants here with a variety of shops to browse through. There also appeared to be a few places to eat / drink coffee / people watch. We're going to go back tomorrow as I found some items that I'd like to purchase for gifts - and if you knew me, you'd know this is very unusual as I do not like shopping. Make this a quick stroll to pick up a coffee or to get some extra steps in for the day. (People were very friendly to boot!)

Great shopping, lot's of little boutiques which I love for finding one of a kind items. Plenty of places to stop for a snack or a full meal. It's a couple/family/dog friendly city and I love walking around it.

Great food, something for everyone. Cute character and nice shopping! Pleasant time walking around; it is very clean and pretty.

When a visitor to Portsmouth, NH wants to feel the central heartbeat of this small city, that person needs to visit Market Square. It is where many roads cross and many people walk, stop for coffee, and shop. The spire on the North Church is a focal point and a beacon for those wanting to feel the life of this city.

So many cute stores to go into. Really nice area. Musicians on street corners. Good restaurant choices all around. Great vacation spot.

So many shops, cafes, restaurants, parks, gardens and historical sites!

Plenty of parking lots as on street parking is not easy to find.

There are many restaurants, art galleries and lovely independent shops in this area. You won't see "the usual" chain stores where you could be in any town in the US. This is a lovely area to stroll around, or sit outside and have an afternoon snack and drink, or have lunch or dinner.

Such a lively, scenic, bustling down town filled with unique shops and restaurants. We parked our car in a parking garage around 5 PM and never went back until after 10 PM. Within that time we had a fabulous dinner at Jumpin’ Jays Fish Cafe, caught a performance in the performing arts center and shopped in the many non-chain gift shops for souvenirs. (I will want to return here for Christmas shopping and to check out the antique stores that we didn’t have the time for.)

Simply beautiful area of Portsmouth. It is everything you think of when you think of New England. Quaint shops and gorgeous white steeple churches. Great waterfronts and awesome restaurants. Don't miss Market Square.

Market Square is the highlight of any Portsmouth visit; tons of old, aesthetically pleasing buildings, alleyways, and all sorts of restaurants & shops (e.g. Nepali restaurant, store selling products exclusively from the UK). For photo enthusiasts, you will get some great shots! Don't miss Bow & Ceres Streets!

Unfortunately the area does attract quite a few homeless; also I wouldn't say this area is handicap friendly (given its ups and downs)

Lovely area of the city. Shops, bars, restaurants, lots of golden retrievers, people, etc. Seemed like whenever we were walking about, we always found ourselves back at Market Square. Really is the hub of the city. Loved this walking city.

With a number of restaurants and shops this is a fun place to spend the day. There are parking garages in the area or on street parking if you are lucky. Besides restaurants there are also several coffee shops in the area.

Great place to shop and dine. TONs of restaurants and boutiques. The entire downtown is very walkable and it's no more that 15 minutes in any direction.

We managed to visit Portsmouth on the very first warm and sunny Saturday in the spring. The square was teeming with people. Musicians on every corner. Dogs basking in the sun. Iced coffees or ice cream cones happily being consumed. The shops were busy, but there are so many that they weren't crowded. Waiting lines at many of the restaurants. Market Square on a perfect day. It's my happy place.

Tons of overpriced shops and bars replete with an abundance of Millennial Hipsters. We saw more Jack Dorsey wannabes with beards and stocking caps to last us a lifetime. Visiting Market Square is worth your time, just don't expect anything too much.

We took our grand daughters shoe shopping at Lively Kids which is a treasure trove of clothing and assessories for young children right in the heart of Portsmouth. The proprietor went the extra mile in allowing us to change the babies and then disposing of the dirty diapers down the street insisting we could not put them in the car for the ride home. She was also most helpful, very pleasant and has a great assortment of funky, cute outfits for the little ones. Look forward to shopping there again for our special girls.

Great cafes, lots of live music, great vibe and great shops! What more could you want? Do go for at least a day!

Nice place. Visitor center on the corner. Nice local coffee shops, serving pastries. Good shopping and restaurants

This store was so cool. LOTS of fossils, beautiful stones ,very unique,My 11 yr. old grandson had on his" bucket list "of "must haves"-fossilized dinosaur poop...got it!

There are many, many small independent businesses. Restaurants, retail stores, art galleries and clothing boutiques. I didn't see any chain stores and I think that is what makes it great. Unique small interesting stores make the world more interesting.

Yes it is. Cute with the church cafés etc. But there many other squares make this one or better. You come to visit Portsmouth and it's old houses not the square

We walked all over on a one day visit. The waterfront, Market Square, had lunch and dinner. Very nice shopping, history and views.

The history is felt the second you enter Market Square! All the shops, from food to clothing, keep the history of the area alive. Tons of options for people with coffee, food, clothes, and goods!

Must visit in Portsmouth!

We enjoyed walking a round the area - a lot of stores and streets were paved with cobblestone- it was quite crowded for a sunday afternoon. It was near the marina- Small town but nice to see would come back to area again

Very cool unique downtown area, we explore various pubs and window shopped but would certainly spend more time if the plans allowed for it.

Walking Market Square is a truely New England experience. The 200 year old buildings, the church, the restaurants, the shops. Well worth an afternoon.

Great place to sit and people watch! Market Square is literally in the middle of all the shops and restaurant and is a great starting point when visiting downtown Portsmouth.

If you are into shopping in small quaint stores this is where you need to go. There is something for everyone from coffee, candy, home goods, folk shops, etc.

The epicenter of Portsmouth, Market Square has it all. From nice dining to buskers, and coffee shops, this is the place to be.

We have the car in advance in a modern parking garage at a favorable
Price parked and ran to the center and the port. Unlike Portland, has
Portsmouth surprised us positively. A beautiful small town with beautiful houses,
many shops, restaurants and nice cafes. Everything close together and very welcoming for a stroll. We walked to the waterfront park and admired the Harbour Memorial Bridge. On State Street we walked back and visited a few more stores.
For a short visit, this place is highly recommended.

We visited Market Square today. It is possible to walk around and shop for hours. One could spend a lot of time window shopping there as there are shops of all types, mostly higher end. There are restaurants of all price ranges and genre. The weather was pretty raw, but we still enjoyed the visit.

Amazing little town with great shopping. Wish we had more time here! So many places to shop, eat and see.

Pretty shopping area with a number of street musicians. Parking is a nightmare so we headed for the parking garage, which charges $1.50 per hour. Well worth not driving around the streets looking for a parking spot. You have numerous restaurants and stores in easy walking distance. Stores can be a bit if a tourist trap, so beware of prices. There is also a brewery in town. I enjoyed looking at some of the building which had plaques showing their age, including many that dated back to the 1700's. Very busy with an eclectic group of people, good people watching if you want to just sit on a bench and watch the world go by.

Great place to walk, shop and eat in Portsmouth. Really nice way to spend a couple of hours. Grab a snack, a cup of of coffee and sit a spell.

A must to visit in New Hampshire. Quaint buildings shops great eateries so many things to do and see

There are dozens and dozens of shops and eateries located within this very walkable location. On street parking is a challenge, but Portsmouth has plenty of off street parking available. Plan to spend an entire afternoon exploring this area. Prices range from $$ to $$$$$. A very good take indeed.

The girlfriend and I took a day trip to the Market Square in Portsmouth coming from the south of Massachusetts. It was our first time visiting and we both had a great time. Lots of nice shops, and restaurants to choose from. Great place to visit.

Market Square boasts lots of nice coffee shops, restaurants, shops, bookstores, and space to just stroll to take in the 'eye candy.'

There are a number of shops by the square along with multiple restaurants. A great place to sit and watch people while enjoying a coffee or ice cream.

From shops to restaurants,Historical sites and waterfront activities this section of Portsmouth has plenty to offer.Dining options include everything from fine dining to Pubs and casual spots to try.There is a parking garage available on Hanover St. and is the best option.Lots of hotels nearby.

This is a quaint New England town, with a neat history. Lots of shops, restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. I was there in the evening and had a wonderful time walking around window shopping, eating, and drinking.

Great shopping and exploring. The people were friendly and kind. Restaurants were amazing and plentiful depending on your tastes.

Portsmouth is a wonderful town. Love the downtown area and the people in/around the square. Always walk thru when we are visiting and sip a drink and people watch. The people are friendly and love the feel here. Generally, my go to place when I stay in New England is Portsmouth.

I have been going here since the 60's....seen lots of changes, mostly good. There is the church, theatres, restaurants and shopping within a few blocks. Most people are friendly and treat you right, although store prices can be a bit higher than in the suburbs. It is an easy walk to get around here once you find a parking spot or use the city garage.
Best times to go are market square day, christmas parade day and new years eve.

Beautiful at Christmas time! It was a chilly visit but a beautiful town ☃️ We loved taking pictures at sunset in the square.

The opportunities are countless and varied from pub food to fine dining, with a great array of shops. Almost every shopkeeper is welcoming and personable even if you're just browsing. Perhaps the nicest thing is the variety of pleasant people, from babies to older folks. Nice to see students reading quality novels in the coffee shops.

Lots of places to eat and there are many shops to take your money here! Colonial buildings, cafes, and pizza places line Congress Street, with the mid-19th-century North Church dominating the landscape here.

Love going here. During the day it is busy with families, couples, college students and business people. During the night it transforms into a great place to have dinner and some drinks. Always safe and clean.

Enjoyed the whole downtown area with all the shops, restaurants, craft stores, etc.....So much fun as it was lively and everyone was having a great time!

Enjoyed wandering the quaint waterfront and downtown shops in the streets of Market Square. Reminded me of most waterfront towns but without the cobblestone streets. Worth the visit.

Acknowledged as the center of town, Market Square is definitely worth passing through. Several cafes with outdoor seating and the glorious old church with its bells on the hour are lovely. Every time I passed through, for three days, the curb was full of motorcycles that took away from the quaint charm of the area.

A historic setting in downtown. The market square will take you back in time. Beautiful brick sidewalks. Magnificent historic church. Many local shops. Wish I could have spent the day there.

me and my wife have travelled lots of the USA(we live in Canada)But this town is AMAZING.....so different....a little surreal....such great shops...great food....amazing people...you will never forget this place----go and visit!!!!!!!!!

Very nice area to walk, window shop and grab a bite to eat from many restaurants. Several points of interest such as churches and small museums. During the day was very lively and crowded with tourists and residents. During the night it was also lively with restaurants, pubs and cafes.

I loved getting the city overview through the walking tour Strawberry Banke offered. The bakeries were sublime and I appreciated the walkability and community feel that the Market Square provided!

Got in town a little late so some of the shops were closed. But it was still fun to walk around and then enjoy the night time when all the lights come on. Had a great pizza and then went to our hotel.

Nice area to walk around and some unique shops and breakfast restaurants. We were pleasantly surprised with how much we liked Portsmouth.

I am originally from the area, Portsmouth is always have been one of the best tourist attractions in the Seacoast area, nowadays it get better, great local shops, variety of restaurants, cafes, updated hotels. I can not wait to return here during the Holidays, when downtown Portsmouth has Ice Cravings and an awesome street party and of course fireworks. Plenty of parking in the parking garage and it's not as expensive compare to downtown Boston.

A nice New England town. Also, the coastal drive to the south is beautiful. Kennebunkport is about 30 minutes north.

All kinds of activities: restaurants, shops, coffee houses, street people.
Anything you want to see or do is on or around market Square
All kinds of activies going on in typical New England fashion.

This area is easy to get to, will give you plenty to do and is a nice walk. Parking in the garage is easy but often busy. Park, grab a drink and stroll the beautiful streets and shops.

So many bars, restaurants and cute little shops in the Market Square area of Portsmouth. Had a great time exploring even though it was the dead of winter and giant piles of snow were everywhere. Love Portsmouth and can't wait to return in summer at some point!

Nice places to eat or just drink coffee.
Probably more festive in summertime. Our visit was on a rainy day.

Market Square is the heartbeat of Portsmouth, there is shopping galore and then more shopping. Thankfully most of the shops are one-of-a-kind and owned locally. There are tons of wonderful places to eat, from coffee and espresso to juice bars, lots of bars with local brews and foods of all ethnicities and flavors! From cheap eats to fine dining, Portsmouth has it all.

Haven’t been to Portsmouth in many years, it really has blossomed into a great pedestrian town with lots of tourist appeal. Nice stop for a few hours and a meal....

Area is nice and convenient! People are friendly and businesses are welcoming. Everything is within walking distances which is very nice.

There are many lovely shops and cafes around this small square, great for a walk around town. An old church sits right on the square.

This is a really great area to explore downtown Portsmouth. Essentially there are 4 streets that come from one intersection. There are tons of great little shops and restaurants to explore. I would say you could explore this area in one day, but could certainly really take your time and do 2-3 days by stopping in all the restaurants.

We had a nice walk around Market St area (and Strawbery Banke). Many shops were closed (Saturday night around 6-8 pm). We ate dinner in the area. There are also local musicians playing instruments.

we really enjoyed exploring this area of portsmouth. nice parking garage, easy walking to shops, sights, restaurants, etc. a lovely town!

Make sure you visit the kiosk in the middle of market Square or go to the Portsmouth welcome center to enjoy the best at this awesome town has to offer

Loved this little gem, park and walk area - lots of little shops and great food selections. Very picturesque and New England-ish. Winding roads and lovey cobblestone walkways - great place to spend afternoon with friends, family, kids and pets.

Central location, many stores with a variety of specialties, just around the corner from a main parking garage, and just a few minutes from Strawbery Banke, Bow Street, and Gov. John Langdon House.

The tourists are back. Market Square was wonderful on the morning of the first day of summer. There are plenty of historic tours, the Market Square fountain is running, and all the cafes and restaurants have their outdoor seating again.

This is a great place to sit outside for lunch, dinner, or just coffee. There are many coffee shops just steps away.They are all good.The folks are friendly, dogs are welcome. This is the hub of one of the nicest towns in NE. Enjoy!!!

Whenever I’m in downtown Portsmouth, I always walk to Market Square because there’s always something going on there. It’s not only the heart of Portsmouth’s downtown area, but it’s also the hub of shopping and activity with a good amount of dining and entertainment in the downtown clubs included. It’s the happening place.

On this visit on Small Business Saturday, I’d been shopping on neighboring blocks. All afternoon, I’d heard bagpipe music coming from the heart of Market Square. And, as dusk was coming, I walked there to see if there was a lone piper, or if there was more than one, and they were taking turns. It turned out to be just one in full Scottish dress in his kilt. He was playing Christmas carols near the corner of Market Street in front of Market Square Jewelers.

I did not cross Congress Street to get closer as there was too much vehicular traffic through the square and too much foot traffic on the sidewalk on that side. In short, it was a borderline madhouse at that hour.

I maintain my rating of Market Square at 5.0.

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If you are looking for a place to spend the day this would be an ideal place to visit! There are plenty of coffee shops, terrifc art gallery's, and a tremendous amount of restaurants to choose from with a variety of cuisines (all in close area)!

I walked about three miles every day around the city. Viewed the new African American Heritage Trail Memorial. Lunch at Popovers, not to be missed

Portsmouth has a ton of great little shops and restaurants in this area. Most stores are expensive but they have really unique, great items. At night, there are a good amount of bars and restaurants to go to and most have some kind of live music.

Just very nice to visit. Some great shops and restaurants around it. Really lively and interesting, for everyone there will be sonething interesting.

A good mix of eclectic shops and eateries right down town. You can stop at the visitor center (maybe called something else) and get a map and some good suggestions. Easy to spend a lot of time wandering up and down the streets in and out of the shops. Stop on for a bite to eat and a drink when you're tired and then keep going. Can also walk across the bridge into Maine from here which is pretty neat.

Market square has many shops and restaurants and there are benches to sit and relax! If you're walking around town you will find this area one way or another...another part of a beautiful historic city!!

We live close to Portsmouth and visit often. It's a lovely city with plenty of unique shops and great restaurants. It's sits on the harbour so you can view working fishing boats coming & going. I highly recommend spending an afternoon walking around.

Came here for a long weekend and really enjoyed all the shops and how everything is walking distance.

Great downtown place to watch people, buildings..sit on a bench with a coffee and relax. This is a great place to relax and enjoy many restaurants, cafes, stores and people watching. Very nice place to hang out and relax for a while.

So much to do and see!!!!! Clean and pretty!!!! Restaurants, shopping, you name it!! I love the view from anywhere in the square

Great time of year to visit Portsmouth! We went to Stawberry Banke, walked to Market Square, and checked out all the cute shops along the way.

Beautiful and historic area... Many shops and restaurants also...easily a walkable city with no real need for a car in town.

We had the most perfect day here checking out all the unique shops, stopping for a bite to eat, and then more browsing. The variety of shops and restaurants is amazing. The buildings themselves are such a part of American history.

Its so enjoyable to sit in the square and people watch. The historic feel of Portsmouth is wonderful. There are restsurants, bars, shops. A little something for everyone. At Christmas there is a beautiful tree in the square. I love walking around on a snowy day, or night, just enjoying the sights and sounds.

Shops are unique and despite the winters winds we we warmed by the hospitality of the shopkeepers. Lots of food choices too. We’ll be back in warmer weather to better explore the waterfront. A delightful experience.

What a happening little downtown area. Even midweek, bars, restaurants, shopping all open and accommodating. Everything dog friendly too. Can’t wait to bring the Mrs..

I was in Portsmouth this weekend, never thought it was such a nice town. I've lived in Europe so definitely appreciated the vibe there. I felt like I was back in London! Will be back!

Downtown Portsmouth is one of my favorite places to visit. With interesting shops and galleries, good restaurants and excellent coffee, not to mention street performers and great people watching, it is the sort of downtown that every city would love to have.

My husband and i had fun wondering around over the 4th. The shops and restaurants were great and the staff was always welcoming.

What a charming and vibrant area! Will return to explore more. There were so many shops, eateries, and galleries to explore.

Portsmouth has some nice shops and restaurants all very close proximity to the harbor. You can definitely kill a few hours here walking around. There are many historic buildings that are pretty well preserved and lots of independent stores too.

Variety of shops, something for everyone. Old town feel with sidewalk entertainers, ice sculptures. Walking distance to Prescott Park, Strawberry Bank and the
Music Hall. Restaurants catering to all tastebuds with piers overlooking a working port.

We spent half a day walking around downtown shopping and eating. Fun streets with cool shops and restaurants!

We enjoy coming here once a year to stroll, shop, and dine. We enjoy walking to the park on the ocean. Sometimes in the summer there is entertainment.
There are plenty of places to park. If you like Quincy Market in Boston or Harvard Square or North Conway you will like Market Square. Have fun.

Market Square in late winter isn't nearly as crowded as it is at other times. The giant Christmas tree was recently dismantled. It's like the calm before the storm of tourists. There are also a few new stores, including a Best of British store with a very eye-catching life-sized Beefeater standing at the doorway.

Last Saturday, the sun was shining on Market Square. The street musicians were out in force; the restaurant were doing a booming business; the streets were full of young and old people browsing through the many small shops.
If you are looking for a place to hang out and enjoy the passing scene, this is the place.

We were invited to a business function which was being held at one of the many restaurants in this historic downtown area. There are plenty of shops in which to browse especially art galleries. There are also plenty of restaurants to get good food and drinks while watching the world rush by.

Market Square has quintessential New England charm. The shops and surrounding waterfront were lovely, and the church was gorgeous. All of the shop owners were kind and welcoming. Well worth a stop if you're headed from Boston to Maine.

Market Square is the center of downtown Portsmouth and is a great place to people watch or window shop. We like to grab an ice coffee from Breaking New Grounds and park ourself at one of their tables and snack on popover’s with warm maple butter from another great local place, Popovers on the Square. Other places we like to visit while in Market Square is Book and Bar––a unique bookstore and small bar.

great place to wander, gather history, eat a little, and say goodbye to this great state. Thank you Portsmouth.

Spent some time here while passing through. This is a really cool old shopping district downtown. There are all kinds of unique shops to check out. We wished we had more time to see other things but we were limited on time. Definitely worth taking some time out of your schedule for even if you are just passing through.

Fantastic walk, great shops, easy to walk with great food opportunities! Definitely worth a wonder and to soak up village life

The town was recommended by a friend to check out while doing a road trip from NY to Maine. We were glad we stopped. It was a great place to walk around. Cute shops and plenty of restaurants to choose from. If you have the time to stop for an hour or two, check this sweet village out!

Some cute shops and restaurants, waterfront is a plus. In summer I bet its even better with warmer weather.

Market Square is in the heart of Portsmouth. Lots of fun and interesting shops and restaurants. A fun place to be.

We visited on Sunday, July 2, 2017 in the afternoon. We parked in a public garage at $1.50 per half hour.

We wandered up and down Market Street and Congress Street. Wonderful sunny day. Lots of stores to shop in and my wife found a couple of clothing items to purchase.

Fun people watching. Lots of restaurants and places to get a cold drink.

If you don't mind crowded areas, this place is a must go-to place!! Market Square is on the ocean & bustling with all kinds of different shops & people......nice restaurants & pubs right at your fingertips. Portsmouth's downtown area is a little like Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market in Boston; go for the fun atmosphere, stay for the food!!

It’s a bit outdated but very well kept and comfortable. Bathroom was very nice. Staff great. I didn’t notice any accessibility entrance. We had to bring our luggage up a flight of stairs. Then the elevators were inside.