Staff Pick's: Portsmouth, NH
Music Roadtrip
Certified: 🌟 Certified
Description: Tucked along the Piscataqua River, Portsmouth blends seaport charm with a quietly thriving creative pulse. Cobblestone streets lead to cozy clubs, craft breweries, and record stores that keep the city’s music scene buzzing year-round. This route captures the best of Portsmouth’s sound—intimate, eclectic, and full of heart. Begin your journey at Visit Portsmouth, where friendly locals can point you toward the city’s must-see spots, waterfront views, and upcoming live shows. From there, grab a table at The Press Room, a beloved neighborhood bar and stage that’s been serving up great food, drinks, and live music for decades. Just a few blocks away, the Music Hall anchors downtown with world-class performances inside one of New England’s most beautiful historic theaters. Continue your exploration at Liars Bench Beer Co., a small-batch brewery with a creative spirit and frequent pop-up shows that make it a local favorite. Round out your tour at 3S Artspace, Portsmouth’s modern hub for live music, film, and art installations, and Bull Moose, a record store built for crate-diggers and collectors chasing that next hidden gem.