The Bow Hotel

The room was well designed and very comfortable. The hotel is nicely located next to shops and restaurants. There are no staff on site at this hotel. We were surprised at how poorly our visit went due to this set up. On our check in day, we were provided a text with the door code and instructions for downloading an app for our room key. When we arrived, our electronic room key would not open our room’s door. We called the hotel phone number and were given instructions on how to access a safe on site which held room keys for all the rooms. Each key in the safe had written on it both the room number and the name of occupant. This feels like a serious security issue. We booked a room with a king bed and a double pull out sofa. Our reservation was for 2 adults and 2 children. When we got into our room, the sofa bed was not made up and there were no linens in the room for us to make up the pull out. We called the hotel number again and were told they “would try to come by to make up the pull out”, to which we insisted that our children needed a place to sleep. In the end they did come by and make up the pull out, but the check in situation was not as seamless as the hotel website describes. Lastly, we could not find anywhere in our room which showed the check out time. The room key app showed check in 4pm and check out 1pm. At 11:15am on our check out day I had a staff at our door telling us we needed to exit the room because check out is 11am. I showed her that our electronic room key showed 1pm check out. She told us that was a typo and check out was 11am. She was not at all understanding of the mix up and treated us like we were doing something wrong. We immediately packed up as quickly as possible and left the room by 11:40am. I shared this feedback with the hotel a week ago and have gotten no reply, so I am sharing it publicly.

We spent one night here because the area looked interesting. What a find! The location was perfect and the room was great. The bed and pillows were super comfortable. We really appreciated the room had two chairs with a small table to enjoy quiet time and coffee. We walked to everything in the area including our Portsmouth Harbor sunset cruise. Highly recommend!!

I had high expectations reading the reviews but honestly our experience was far from good. To start with the minimum, the coffee machine was out of service multiple times, I had to fix it myself by resetting it , no sugar for the coffee and the digital key didn’t work. The worst part was the customer service, I reached out to them about the AC not working during a hot night around 11pm and they did not get back to me until the next day. The room was no equipped with a fan to at least cool down. We couldn’t sleep at all and our friends had the same issue but they at least had a fan. Well if someone would’ve gotten back to me at least it would’ve been helpful. Only The next morning a text saying that it was unacceptable that the AC did not work and they will solve this issue yet to go MIA on us once again. The digital key showed 1pm check out so I reached out to make sure that was correct. On top of everything we had experience they simply said check out is at 11 there is a typo and we are trying to fix it. No apologies whatsoever for this typo this is on top of the AC issue we had all night which they didn’t not get back to us on that they did not offer any sort of compensation at all either. They simply waited for us to check out and only asked if we can rate our experience. How dare you ask that when you were simply a horrible host. Anyway do not recommend.

We've only posted a few reviews before, but our stay here was frustrating enough to warrant this one. Location was great and it has a lot of potential, but something seemed really off. We take a night a year away from our kids when we travel to Maine/NH from Colorado. We chose this hotel based on great past experiences with Lark properties. But from the moment we arrived, it was clear this wasn’t going to be what we hoped. The lobby looked half-unpacked and disorganized. Little things weren’t in place, like there was no coffee available in the morning. But my biggest issue was there were construction workers were stationed directly outside our window in the morning, with full visibility into our room—and no one told us in advance. We reached out directly to the hotel and got a polite AI generated response but no follow-up or resolution. It lacked any personal touch or accountability. For the price, the experience fell far short. Very disappointed.

It seems this “idea” of a hotel is still sorting out some kinks? We don’t know. Apparently there is another hotel in the area that runs this place? I realize I sound like “Old man shouts at clouds” here. May be. My wife and I are at the tail end of a ten day New England ramble and have stayed at high-end full-service hotels and gussied up DIY motels on this journey. This place is nice yes but … could use an overhaul of its truth in advertising as to what it is exactly before one books. The heading on their emails is quite ironic I feel. “We’ll take care of everything.” I’ll use a word the young folks running this place can understand. Gaslighting. I have lot more that would be helpful but Google reviews doesn't give me enough room.

Let me preface this by saying, I have stayed at many boutique, luxury hotels in my life. There’s something unique and vintage about a place that is converted into boutique hotel, but this one was half-baked motel. Lots of potential, but definitely missed the mark…badly! So disappointed.||Positives: Bed was great and sheets were very, very comfortable.|Bathroom was updated. Products were good.||Negatives:|1. Noise. We were in Room #3 and it was very noisy due to outside noises. The door/walls are very thin. |2. Temperature. We couldn't control the a/c because it was central air, so when the room got really warm, we opened the windows and it got waaaay too noisy! It was a tough choice between a warm room or a noisy room. Noise won! Ugh. Miserable night.|3. Bathroom. Shower knob was installed it incorrectly/backwards. Bathroom was dark and absolutely no place to store ANYTHING.|4. Closet. There's a closet with a hanging rod but no door. Weird.|5. Communication. Saved the best for last. They apparently pride themselves on contactless but they’re always available…call…shoot them a text. Two calls, messages and then text messages (about parking, early arrival & about the lack of a/c) and NOTHING - no call back. No text. Nothing. Horrible. Communication is everything - they had none!|5. Furniture. 80’s throw back?||We loved Portsmouth, but this hotel was NOT worth the price AT ALL. Great location. No view of the water OR anything else! Bit of false advertising showing the water and tugboats and you look out your window to see scaffolding and the roof of another building.||As my husband said, “Best HOSTILE ever”|Just stay at the Hilton.

The new renovation is absolutely beautiful at the Bow Hotel. They did an amazing job overall. The bed and pillows are super comfy. The decor is outstanding and the bathroom and shower is beautiful. The parking is right across street!! This hotel is in the core of town and right next to all the great restaurants on the water! Will definitely stay there again in the future!

We had an overall disappointing stay at this hotel. Positives: Bed was great and sheets were very comfortable. Negatives: 1. Noise. We were in Room #1 and it was very noisy due to proximity due to the cleaning station and the coffee machines. The doors are very thin and there are no noise insulations. The other guests were also very loud and were walking barefoot around the common area in their bathrobes (very gross). It was like a rundown motel. 2. Temperature. We couldn't control the a/c because it was central air, so when the room got really warm, we opened the windows and it got too noisy from the music next door. It was a tough choice between a warm room or a noisy room. 3. Bathroom shower knob was confusingly in reverse. Hot was cold and cold was hot. It took us a while to figure this out that they installed it incorrectly because the bathroom was very dark. 4. There's a closet with a hanging rod but with zero hangers. Doesn't make any sense. 5. On our last day, we thankfully moved all of bags to the car earlier that day (around 8am) and then we got some breakfast. We wanted to go back in the room around 10:25am (before 11am checkout) to freshen up before our big road trip, but was denied entry. Called the help desk and got a very unhelpful response. We love Portsmouth, but this hotel was too new to operate. It felt like they still have a few things to figure out before opening fully to guests.

We needed to escape the city for a night and went back to the Ale House Inn. We were treated like royalty and the staff were beyond friendly. We booked a petite queen, and the room was cozy and comfortable. I was concerned about noise given we were close to the front desk but we never heard a thing. We slept great and I left happy and rested in the morning. Update: Turns out they can't give away beer, so they give you a 'squealer' (32 ounce) bottle that can be filled at two local breweries. We hit one on the way home. Makes for a great souvenir.

Charming, great location, subpar room. The building is cool. And the location is perfect to easily walk around Portsmouth. You enter the building overlooking a theatre with bustling people grabbing cocktails and snacks. Once you exit the elevator, you're in a small sitting room with lots of Ale House Knick-knacks. The bed was comfortable! But, the room / bathroom leave you a bit disappointed. Both on the smaller side and in need of repair/update. Other observation - you can definitely hear a lot from the room next to you. I would recommend this Inn to anyone that doesn't spend much time in the room. Someone who wants convenience to Portsmouth bars/restaurants and just needs a nearby place to rest their head for the night.

Very cool place. Interesting concept. Wonderful location with parking. Also next to the little repertory theater. Definitely no frills but I would definitely stay there again. Clean and unassuming very functional and extremely cool.

We arrived late on a Monday in October and not being great with technology, we called the number at the door to get in. Rochelle answered the phone and could not be more friendly, kind and with a sense of humor, all three times we called her. The elevator is a bit slow but no big deal. The entrance is welcoming with a couch, fireplace, complimentary water & coffee along with books & games. If we needed towels or toiletries they were there to our disposal, much appreciated. Room was small but it was room I selected and new it was small (room 9). Bed was comfy and plenty of hangers. My two complaints, bathroom and carpet. Carpet needs to be changed out or put some other type of flooring. WIth such a small room, heavy traffic is inevitable. The bathroom, i am not sure was cleaned prior to our arrival. Toilet appeared to have some old poop marks in it and shower had the pink bacteria in some areas.

4.5 Stars. I've been quietly stalking this place since reading about it in the NY Times. When I found a weekend where they had a vacancy and I could get away, I pounced and booked the biggest room in the joint (room 7 which is very spacious and had a nice desk, couch and chair in addition to the excellent king bed). I found the hotel and the staff (Craig, Josiah, Terry) very welcoming. Little things like complimentary water, coffee and snacks being available in the cozy lounge were so awesome. Hotels often nickel and dime you but this was a delightful and sweet gesture on the part of Lark Hotels. My wife was bumming though because both mornings we were there the coffee was not hot at all. Her first cup of the day needed to be found elsewhere. It seems also that the rooms were once equipped with Keurigs because there's a little sign in the room giving instructions on how to brew your own cup of coffee. The hotel was perfectly quiet at all times. It was as though there were no other guests there. I can't say I've ever had the pleasure of the peace and quiet this hotel afforded. I saw that other folks said they were greeted with an empty growler or squealer to be filled at a local brewery but sadly we were not. Not a big deal but it would've scored big points with me if we were greeted as such. To wrap it up...this was a great experience. Portsmouth is lovely as is the Ale House Inn. I would recommend it highly.

Aidan was a wonderful host; unfortunately the Inn didn't come close to matching his performance. Until arrival we did not know that the central air was not working. Instead, the Inn substituted individual room units that were extremely noisy, cycling on and off throughout the night. The elevator (whose posted certificate expired 3 weeks before we arrived) had a mind of its own. The rooms were on the second floor, a private residence on the 3rd. Pressing the button did little. The elevator would stay on 2, then eventually move to 1, then to 3 without opening the door. The sink backed up and the TV remote must have been paired with the elevator, since it took a great deal of time to get it to change channels. The "Open Key" app didn't work, but Aidan had also provided swipe cards. The room was clean. The Ale House Inn is in a great location, but since Portsmouth seemed very walkable, another location is what we will book next time. The response from the owner committing only to speaking with the team does nothing to answer the concern of an outdated elevator certification or why would they charge the same rate for a room with faulty AC. I feel that I deserve a real response, not something blowing off my concerns.

Spectacular location in downtown Portsmouth. This boutique hotel overlooks the water and is just steps from every restaurant. The cozy lounge area features a delicious nitro coffee bar which is free for all guests. Staff was attentive & friendly. Room was clean & comfy. Will definitely be checking out other Lark Hotel properties!

We've stayed here 3-4 times now, through a change of ownership and I have to say we are still quite pleased. The attention to detail is still there, to the point where I answered their email survey after my visit with a super tiny thing that I had noticed, I had a reply back within 10 minutes. Did I mention it was tiny? There are snacks in the common area, bottled water and a Keurig in your room, along with more in the common area as well. It's very well sound-proofed. Sure, you can hear people talking and walking by in the hallway, but you can't hear the person in the room next door. It's just so conveniently located and has free parking, which is really unusual for this part of Portsmouth. About the parking.... You park in the lot across the street and when checking in we were lucky enough to get the very last spot. It is filled at times, but I did notice that it really cleared out after 5:00 PM during the week. We'll be staying here again for sure.

The location was phenomenal, the price was fair, the cold brew coffee was wonderful, and the room was just the right size. I have no complaints about this location. We were able to walk everywhere from our hotel. We would definitely stay here again

We stayed for a long weekend in September. It was a great home base. Friendly staff, clean room (and I usually feel uncomfortable with hotel rooms!) and a great "living room" equipped with coffee and cold water on tap. Would stay here again. Also Portsmouth is a fun and friendly city!

Meh, best thing about it was it's location to Market Square. Wi-fi is non existent even when I stood in the hallway with my device 2" from the NetGear device. No Keurig, no Nitro brew, the window blinds had taken a beating, bed was comfy and the tv difficult to work. I realize COVID took a lot out of small businesses and I get it. Paid premium price for meh. Someone needs to tell the playhouse (in the same building) that they should clean their main room air system. It's the first thing you see as you approach the Ale House elevator and all you see is dirt, lots and lots of dirt and dust.

Spent the long weekend at the Ale House again last week. It was yet another amazing stay. We got the same exact room so we kind of assumed nothing had changed... we were wrong. The bathroom had been updated with beautiful wood floors, modern fixtures, and a paint job. I also noticed a little guide book to Portsmouth sitting on the desk. Cute touch. Also, the beds. I don't know how I didn't mention the beds in my first review. They are the kind of bed that you climb into after a long day and are so insanely comfortable that you don't even want to go to sleep, you just want to wrap up and watch TV. We ended up asking Doug what kind of mattress it was and are now shopping for one of our own. Speaking of which, Doug is honestly the nicest guy I've met in a long time. Not only did he recognize us and give us a tour of the hotel, but he stood and talked to us about wedding venues and other local Portsmouthy stuff for a good half hour one day (I believe I mentioned to him once-- through email-- months before-- that we were planning our wedding). Lots of hotels will learn your name and maybe greet you in the morning, but the hospitality of Ale House will keep us coming back! ps. I know I sound like an advertisement, but I swear I'm not affiliated in any way :)

Just had a lovely two night stay here. Hotel is a cute boutique place a block away from downtown Portsmouth. The rooms were modern and clean but a bit on the small side. We had a room on the northern side which didn't have much of a view as there is an adjacent building although the room still had a good amount of light. You could occasional hear neighbors from other rooms as they weren't insulated very well but all of the guests were courteous and quiet so it wasn't a problem at all. The hotel is only staffed by a receptionist during the day which was more than we needed, and there's a cozy little living room with menus from local restaurants, as well as helpful FAQ booklet that the hotel provides with advice on activities, beaches, shopping etc.

The hotel is on the second floor. You need to call the help desk to have them unlock the door for you to enter. This is place is pretty strategically located. A 5 mins walk thru downtown leading up to the water front. We liked our stay overall. Just one thing was a bit strange, that is though the guy at the desk was hospitable, I however found him being quite judgmental while asking what brought us here, as if it was more of an enquiry than a friendly personalization. Rest it was an awesome stay n an awesome town!

A delightful place to stay! Could not have been more pleased with the ambience and service at this cute little inn. Parking included (across street) and steps from everything in the town. Snacks and coffee available in the adorable lounge, and rooms came with robes, an iPad, magazines, and a "how to" guide for getting around town. You can borrow bikes and the room included a "squealer" for us to fill up at the local breweries and then keep. Loved the vibe and could not have been more pleased. Spent a lovely rainy night reading in the lounge enjoying my beer and feeling grateful I'd found this place.

Loved our stay here! The location is great, within walking distance to everything in downtown Portsmouth. The staff is really friendly and offer great recommendations. It was really hot the weekend we stayed, but our room was always cool and comfortable. Also, the soundproofing in the room was great.one night there was a dj at the theater, but we couldn't hear anything in our room.

The Ale House Inn set the stage for our time in Portsmouth. The room was spacious, the iPad a surprisingly useful amenity for visiting travelers, and complimentary Smuttyhouse Ale on entry a delight. This is not a B&B, so don't expect breakfast. They do provide daily snacks, however, in the form of apples, pretzels, and popcorn for the taking. They also offer bicycles if you so desire. The proprietors helped us chose food spots, jogging routes, and places to catch a drink and watch live music in the evenings. They were genuinely nice, and enjoyable to chat with about pretty much everything. The style and atmosphere at the Ale House really sets a precedent for Portsmouth. With food lovers and leisurely travelers seeking the mellow surroundings, the Ale House is certainly the place to enjoy modern amenities (free wifi, Keurig coffee maker, small fridge, room iPad, cable, Aveda products, etc.).

Absolutely a must stay when in the area. Centrally located, and front desk reception is very hospitable. Maps and recommendations from the staff is given, along with complimentary water,tea, hot brew or cold brew coffee. Loved it!

This was our first time in Portsmouth so I was looking for something close in for easy sightseeing. What we found was a gem of a place right in the middle of the action. The hipster vibe starts with the building which is a repurposed brewery. The Inn is located on the second floor, the first floor hosts a reperatory company. The lobby and the hosts were both charming and welcoming. Little touches you would expect like ample guides to area attractions, and touches you wouldn't, like nitro infused cold brew coffee on tap! Josiah at the desk even helped me arrange reservations for an evening harbor cruise that was spectacular. The rooms are a little small which is something we've come to expect with historical buildings, but we didn't feel cramped by any means. Overall just a great experience and we hope to visit again soon!

Our 3 night stay at the Ale House Inn was wonderful! I am very critical of what "clean" is and this place was spotless, well kept and very comfortable. We were in a queen room with the most comfortable bed my husband and I ever slept in. The staff (Josiah and Craig) were so helpful, respectful and very friendly. They clearly know how to treat a guest! As the Ale House Inn info clearly states...there is a set of steps you must climb to get into front door. My husband and I are in our late 50s and had no issues. The coffee in the lobby was so delicious I could drink it black! There were always snacks and bottled water for the taking. This is a beautiful boutique hotel with fine details the big chain hotels do not have. The location was perfect. We arrived on a Thursday night and did not have to use the car until we departed on Sunday. Portsmouth is a great little walkable city, with cute shops and great restaurants. Start out at the NH visitor center, the staff there were very helpful and enthusiastic about what to see and do.

Meh.... I had expected better from other reviews. Really small motel rooms w some aesthetic and tech upgrades- it still remains what is. Could hear every word spoken by man in room beside me. Tiny bathroom. Teeny windows in rooms. I found bed uncomfortable - lumpy and on firm side. My room lamps, outlets need repair. Free beer? Where? Pros: great location. . Lovely lounge area- what you see pictured most on Website etc Nice soaps. Nice person at check in. Portsmouth is one of my favorite places.

We had a lovely visit to Portsmouth thanks in part to the Ale House Inn. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The rooms are tidy, comfortable, and remarkably quiet considering the Rep Theatre is downstairs. The location is great and the staff provided recommendations for food and beer. AHI is on the top of our list for our next Portsmouth visit.

To those who have reviewed this Inn poorly, I roll my eyes. This place is so amazing we elected to stay in tonight instead of venture back out. We literally refuse to get out of this comfy bed. The mattress and pillows are like sleeping on a cloud. We got the "Petite Queen", which is really all one needs. This hotel is like staying in an Air B&B, in a place where a 20 something decorated, gave you all the cool technology you need, left a couple beers, gave you their Netflix password and left. It is super quirky, really funky and neato. I never once heard noise. If you are a fan of the chain hotels, go stay there. This place has flava. The guy at check in was super cool. We called ahead and informed him that we wanted to take the 1:55pm cruise to Isles of Shoals, and asked if we could check in early. He said he wasn't sure the room would be ready, but offered to take our luggage and place it in our room when it was ready. At noon, we dropped off our luggage, and a 6 pack of cider. He gave us a parking pass for the Middle Street Baptist Church parking lot and we drove there to park. Guys, this parking lot is not that far. If you are pissed about walking this distance, you should question your health. Seriously. Plus the wall is cool. It's literally a couple of blocks, most of which have super cool shops and restaurants to check out to break up your whopping three block trip and entertain you. When we returned after the cruise, the fine young man had put our luggage in our room, put our cider in the fridge, and placed our two welcome beers in there as well. He also recommended the River House for dinner. We did it. You should do it. Holy moly. Get a balcony seat if you can. As for the room itself, the Petite Queen is not huge, but I also wouldn't call it small. I loved it. Decorations were cute. And for the people with the A/C issues, the thermostat in my room has said 70 degree the entire time. Pretty perfect. There's a ceiling fan and a second fan in the closet as well. This temperature thing is not an issue. I almost didn't book this place because of lack of control over the temperature, per previous reviewers complaints. I'm glad I didn't listen to the people who rated this place badly because of it. It's perfect. Also...did I mention the bed that I currently can't get out of......

Can't say enough great things about our stay! Location worked great for walking downtown (there was a temporary parking issue, but they were able to accommodate us with fairly close alternate parking). Craig who initially greeted us upon our arrival was simply amazing! Got us set up in our room (helped us bring up luggage!) got us beers and filled us in on all the nice amenities. The room comes with a Keurig and and an iPad to use, plus some nice big books on drinks, food and things to do. There's a tub in the bathroom, which for me is a plus! Robes in the closet. Big fluffy pillows on a fairly comfortable bed. The rooms aren't huge, but that's the case in many places. Since we don't spend a ton of time there it's not a big deal to me. Another plus is a small fridge, also found some lovely chocolate biscuits with a nice handwritten note from staff. I would definitely come back and stay here again, especially since my husband & I loved our visit here from California (a little stopover before visiting our daughter's graduation in Western Mass.) hope to be back soon, our stay was lovely and service supreme!

I did a ton of research on places to stay before booking my trip to Portsmouth. I am overall very pleased with our stay at Ale House Inn! Clean, beautiful room, great service from the front desk, good snacks in the lounge, beer upon arrival, incredible downtown location, free parking, and so on. They also had Lark Rosemary cookies in the room... I think I might have enjoyed those more than the delicious beer we got! The room had two bamboo plants that added a nice touch too! We had a wonderful time here. There were a few things I could have done without: - The Wifi strength was abysmal. Streaming a show on Netflix was out of the question, Google Maps wouldn't load, even Googling brief questions took probably double the time to load. There was no password for the network, so this may have contributed? We didn't NEED internet at any point, but the front desk had commented without prompting that their wifi was really great... so that was a disappointment. It also meant that while the iPAD in the room was a nice feature, we were unable to really utilize it. - Our bed creaked... a lot. So much so that getting up to pee in the middle of the night sounded like something more fun was going on in the bed. - Despite the hotel not booking large groups according to their policies section, a large group of adults were staying on the Saturday night. I know because they congregated in the lobby area (which echoes) and were awfully loud late into the night. As a night owl, they weren't disrupting my sleep at all. It just took away from our experience. The front desk isn't staffed overnight, so getting someone to deal with it would have meant calling the sister hotel and having them send someone over or me having to go and ask a room full of adults to quiet down. So I opted to just do nothing. Overall, wonderful experience and would definitely go back!

We recently stayed at the Ale House Inn to celebrate our anniversary. We were greeted warmly and provided all the fun details needed for our stay (where to enjoy happy hour, where to dine, shop, etc.). Our room was quiet, comfortable, cozy, and very clean. The Inn had a delicious selection of in room coffee to brew as well as accessible extras in the lounge. They also offered (no crazy charge) complimentary snacks and bottled water. Location was walk able to everything we wanted to do and we had off street parking. Two thumbs up!

You would think that a little boutique hotel right in the middle of the old part of Portsmouth would be pretty expensive, especially with three days' notice. You would be wrong. Going off that assumption, I looked at two other hotels further away from the cute downtown before clicking on this option. I was surprised to find it was almost $80 cheaper than the Hilton. I myself am not too picky about hotels. I appreciate amenities to a certain extent, but as long as it has good bed, water pressure, parking situation, and ability to lower the room temperature, I'm fine. This hotel had all of that and more. One thing that blew me away: they have free coffee (hot and iced) on tap in the lobby and this stuff is DELICIOUS. I didn't need any cream because it uses nitrogen, much the same way as Guinness does. Holy smokes was that good. The man with the beard at the font desk (I forget his name, unfortunately) could not have been nicer or more accommodating. There is definitely a personal touch to this place, since it is so small. A little note, just in case Ale House Inn is reading this: Your list of nightlife attractions is a bit out of date. The bar we were trying to find had closed down and another one had moved across town haha. This little snafu did nothing to detract from our enjoyment, as Portsmouth is a beautiful city that was made for walking. The little detours and turnarounds were fun, actually. Thank you to the Ale House Inn and its staff for making our anniversary fun and stress-free!

Not that they need another stellar review but we stayed here in March 2011 and it was absolutely our best one-night getaway yet, even with the chilly weather and snow! We were given complimentary tickets to the Seacoast Repertory Theatre, and the show was excellent. The room itself is on the small side, but excellently decorated. We did not mind as we weren't planning to spend any time in our room. Some great features were the Keurig machine (my husband is a coffee drinker, but I love tea, so it was great to have both!), the complimentary water and fruit/chips, and an iPad programmed with all of the local eateries and entertainment. If we ever take a more-than-a-day trip to Portsmouth again, we will definitely be staying here.

We just returned from a quick one night stay in Portsmouth. We live close enough that this doesn't have to be an overnight visit, but we wanted to spend some quality time in town before the first weekend of the two week Singer-Songwriter festival. Both John Prine and his 2 opening acts kicked butt. This is a small place, one floor above a local theater. Right on the Water, extremely convenient to everything in downtown Portstmouth. The rooms are small, but the owners have given the needs of a visitor some serious thought. It all just worked. If they missed something, I have no doubt they'd cover it for you. Scott gave us a great recommendation for lunch. In fact it was so good we blew off our dinner reservation and went back there for dinner. That's another,longer story, that I'll save for another day and another review. I see some sour grapes here. I'm not buying, especially from folks who have no other reviews posted at this site. This is a professionally run operation, run by folks who have put alot of thought into it. It's a small place, and very quiet. We loved it. The hot tub crowd probably should look elsewhere. I should mention to out of towners that you'll find it all in this small charming town. Want laid back, it's here. Family stuff, ditto. And the hot tub yahoos will enjoy it too, just not at this place.

Stay at the Ale House Inn, then brag to your friends that you crashed overnight in an old brewery. Now your trip has some merit. There's no doubt they will be impressed, plus it beats staying at another predictable Hampton Inn. It's funny when people have issue with "no breakfast offerings", or "no staff on duty." Are you completely helpless, where you can't roll down the street to grab a bagel and a coffee? Go on a cruise. Explore a little bit. Portsmouth is stunning. It's kind of nice to be away from home, but feel like you have a private studio apartment. It's homey. The staff pays attention to detail- just how I envision the decor of my future beach cottage. The price of the Ale House Inn is right on par with all options in downtown Portsmouth, if not less expensive. Certainly you could stay a couple miles away from downtown, but you don't have the luxury of walking back to your bed. For no extra charge, your room comes with a free parking spot, coffee, umbrella, iPAD, goodies in the common room, fast Wi-Fi, bikes, a couple Smuttynose, and a staff knowledgeable about the area. The front desk at chain hotels always seem to fail at giving restaurant suggestions. 106 Kitchen and Bar was the right move. Good call. You can say this rating is generous considering I don't give out many five stars, but I believe the owners have put their heart into this boutique. It's unique, cozy, downtown... and where else are you going to stay overnight in an old brewery? I'll drink to that.

I called this inn to make a reservation over the phone and it just led to a voice recording directing me to make a reservation on the website. Since the website doesn't allow you to make reservations for the same night I was forced to call back. I believe the reservationist is also the owner and my friend spoke to him on the phone asking if they had rooms available. He was given what was available and in the background of the call I asked 'is there a hot tub'...my friend said we would call back shortly with a decision. We called back and the call was ignored, called back again and said we had just spoken with him....the same reservationist said "I refuse to offer a room to someone who is clearly drunk with people screaming in the background". At first we thought this guy was joking, however, he continued to refuse to let us book the room INSISTING we were drunk saying that was his 'prerogative'. Being accused of being drunk at 3pm in the afternoon while trying to pay hundreds of dollars to rent a nice room for the night is basically the last thing I would expect from an alleged high end hotel. Worst customer service I have ever experienced....EVER, honestly I still can't believe it happened. Unfortunately for him we were extremely sober and will spread the word of how unacceptable their rapport with potential patrons is. Nothing like insulting people without cause to ruin your reputation.

Very nice place. Check out their website to get a good idea of all they offer. Rooms are smallish, but very nicely done. Comfy beds, iPad in every room. Theater tix come with room reservation for the theater that is downstairs from the Inn. Nice snacks & beverage at check-in. The Inn is just a short stroll from restaurants & shopping. Nice area! I have one minor quibble-11AM checkout. That hour makes a big difference!

This is such a great little inn! We stayed here for one night as a little "staycation" (we live 20 minutes away) on the eve of the 2012 Kate the Great Day at the Portsmouth Brewery. Epic beer release + "Ale House" Inn? has to be a good combo right? Well they did not disappoint. The building has the quaint charm of an old brewery...exposed brick, on the water, cozy fireplace in the common area... The rooms are clean and modern, simple and everything you need. They even offer the use of an iPad in each room for your stay, pre-loaded with info about Portsmouth, restaurant links, etc. The rooms aren't huge, but definitely enough space (we chose a queen room, though it looks as though their King room has a sitting area too). Scott checked us in, offered 2 free local beers (+++) and didn't hesitate to assist with dinner reservations or information. I also hear that they will give you free tickets to a show at the Seacoast Rep next door if there's something playing while you're there. That's a pretty nice addition. I would highly recommend this place for a stay in Portsmouth. It has the amenities of a larger hotel packed into it's 10 rooms, better location on the water, and from what I've found, less expensive pricing than the 3 major chains that are also downtown. And a number of thoughtful touches to make your stay memorable. -fresh fruit and snacks in the common area -Keurigs in the room -iPad in the room -free WiFi -great selection of books, magazines, papers and guides in the room and in the common area -iPod dock radio in the room -eco-friendly fixtures (TV, toilet, lighting) -very comfortable beds and bedding -free parking -free theater tickets -gym passes and very gracious hosts that are willing to arrange whatever you may need. I also thought it was adorable that they give you real live old school keys. If you are not that familiar with Portsmouth, you can walk everywhere in downtown very easily from this hotel from the shops and restaurants to the Strawberry Banke living history museum. I look forward to making this an annual ritual on Kate Day. (though hopefully next year will be a little warmer).

From the moment that I checked into the Inn, I was formulating what exactly I wanted to say in my Yelp review. Yes, i'm that obsessive at times. Especially when I absolutely love a place. My significant other and I had been planning a day/night trip up to Portsmouth for some time now. We just wanted to get away and re-energize ourselves, what with being absolute workaholics. So after doing plenty of research online, I came across this little gem of a spot. The photos absolutely sold me, and I knew he'd love it even more. The location itself is really quite easy to locate, and its so close to downtown we walked everywhere during the entirety of our stay. Upon checking in, I was pretty much blown away by the amount of charm the lobby held. Anchor screen printed pillow, as well as a screen printed ship on another pillow. So cute! Chips and fruit were out on the table, and the owl statue is lucky I didn't have a bigger pocketbook. We grabbed the room keys (which were both attached to a cast iron anchor, loves!) and got settled into our room. I was a little hesitant that our room was too close to the reception desk, noise wise, but honestly we didn't hear a peep. And I hope they didn't.. either.. The room itself was so comfortable. Like others have said, immaculate and I loved the decor. I was so excited to sleep on a real bed (hello air mattress recently!) and it didn't disappoint at all. There are only 10 rooms, so the place is small and well kept. A total gem! The two men we dealt with behind the reception desk were very accomodating and helpful. Eager to whip out a local map, circle the good parts and x out the bad parts. We listened to all their recommendations and honestly were only disappointed with the places we chose to go on our own. Off the beaten path, if you will. While checking out, we let it slip that we wanted to steal the keychains, so the man behind the desk promptly responded that we could own them for $10 each. Of course, we bought two. We'll certainly be making another trip out to Portsmouth just to stay here. Hopefully during the off peak season, to cut back on costs just a little.

This was nothing but a great experience in the heart of downtown Portsmouth. The staff was friendly, helping me with a dead car battery, the rooms were clean and comfortable, and the location was perfect. I'd highly recommend the Ale House Inn to anyone staying along the Seacoast of New Hampshire. I gave this place 5 stars only because there aren't 10 starts available. The bathroom was clean, the amenities were ample and the flat screen tv was a nice touch. The next time I have an excuse to visit Portsmouth, I will only be staying at one location: The Ale House Inn.

This place was recommended to me from a colleague and boy, did it exceed expectations. First, there's complimentary beer (Smuttynose) at check in for those of age, of course. The staff is very friendly and had great recommendations. The location is walking distance from everything, granted the town is small (& so quaint!). The beds are VERY comfy!! Rooms are clean and modern/contemporary. (The boyfriend and I stayed in the regular queen room.) There's a Keurig in the room and an ipad with pre-loaded recommendations. AND there are complimentary snacks (Pirates booty! Goldfish!) and fruit in the front. We stayed for one night on a Wednesday so on Thursday morning we had to move the car out of the church parking lot by 11am. (This is for Thursday mornings only.) The staff was nice enough to give us some quarters to street park the car! So surprised by this extra gesture. Next time I'm in Portsmouth, which I hope is soon, I will definitely be staying here. And after such a wonderful experience at this location, I will try out the other Lark hotels.

Absolutely in love with the inn. There is a keurig coffee maker in the rooms with hot coca, tea, regular and decaf coffee. Everything is exceptionally clean and the managers are very nice. It is completely different than any other inn I have stayed at.. I didn't feel like I stepped into a cottage. Instead it was hip and simple with the perfect amount of decor. The inn was a little pricey, but worth every cent. The location was prime- just a few minutes walking distance from everything in downtown Portsmouth but just off the beaten track so it isn't as loud as other Portsmouth hotels and inns. Absolutely loved it- you have to stay here! I had to edit this because i forgot to mention the aveda products they use and the eco friendly TV's! Fabulous!!

Delightful/helpful staff; clean, comfortable, attractive room; free snacks; iPad!; easy parking; good/central location; great for a weekend getaway. Slight downside: No view, awkward entrance, persistent nightlight.

Adorable and cozy - perfect for a couples getaway weekend. You can't beat Portsmouth, NH for food and shopping. We also love Lark Hotels, having spent many anniversaries at their Kennebunkport Inn. The quality was great and the attentive inn keeper, Craig, was very kind, helpful and accommodating! We will be back for sure!

Best place to stay in Portsmouth. Right downtown within walking distance to bars, restaurants, water front. My boyfriend and I stayed for just one night and had a perfect stay. Greeted with a complementary bottle of champagne :-) and iPad in the room with web pages bookmarked for local spots. Also fruit and snacks placed out in the cool common area. We had a great dinner at Cava who discounted us 20% because we were staying at he Ale House inn. Comfy room with a heater in the bathroom and a perfect blend of cozy and modern. Highly recommended to anyone passing through. Thanks!

Any place that gives you the keys to the house is pretty cool. I think they have like eight rooms, so cozy b&b is an understatement. On the other hand it is right near state st and close to the happenings in downtown Portsmouth. I found the room to be right in line with what i was expecting and the "common area" is pretty cool. I usually don't take advantage of such things but found time to read the paper and relax by the fire. Some might find it to be problem that there are no staff around most of the night but I had no issue with it, just make sure you don't lose the keys. The rooms are nice and the bed was comfy, also the GF says "very clean" so there you go from someone who knows "clean". check it out its better than any chain you will ever stay at.

My boyfriend had gotten an email over a year ago about this place opening in downtown Portsmouth. We're from Boston and love hanging in Portsmouth for a night or two away, and had been dying to check this place out. I read a lot of reviews, all seemingly really great. A few people even said that they received upgrades for a special occasion or some such. We were intrigued by the old looking mill style building, the modern feel to the place, the brick walls (we love brick walls). Our stay was fine. The place itself is nice- clean and neat, which of course are priorities. It's convenient to downtown. Since we were only staying one night, and we didn't spend too much time at all in the room, we didn't mind so much that the room was smaller than we expected, for the price that we paid, and that we had so much trouble getting the heat to turn down (we ended up just having to shut it off). The snacks and fresh fruit in the cozy sitting area when you first walk in were nice. The brick walls and wood floors were funky- we liked that. We found it odd that we checked in and checked out all upon arriving. We found it a bit inconvenient that we needed to move our car from the church parking lot where the Inn contracts with for parking, by 7:30am the next morning (on a Sunday). When we checked in, we had parked in a metered spot right out front, and were told to park in the church lot. But then we needed to move our car from the church lot by either 7:30am the next morning, or the night before. Had we known this, we would have just stayed in the spot we had in front of the Inn, rather than having to search for a new spot on the street. Sure, parking after 7pm was free, and free all day Sunday, but the whole process was a bit inconvenient. Bottom line, we wished we had just stayed put in the spot we were in to begin with. Other than check in, we didn't see the Innkeeper(s) until a quick hand off of our keys on checkout. It was a little odd that no one was around at all in the evening, but then again the Inkeepers were reachable by phone... I had hoped for some sort of upgrade if the option became available, as it was our anniversary, but that didn't happen. I realize that there are only 8 or 10 rooms and this maybe wasn't an option, but I had hoped maybe something...anything small even, for our special night away. All in all, it's a nice place... but it didn't totally live up to our expectations, unfortunately. I'd go back, but I'd probably try another local Inn in the area first, as there's tons around and for the price we paid, we might be inclinced to look around a bit more next time.

Went there April 2011 Our room was really nice- much bigger than I thought it would be and it didn't have that stale hotel room smell. It was like being in a much nicer version of my own bedroom! Also, the Ipad in the room was very helpful for looking up things to do The owner was super friendly and helped us figure out places to eat and let us know we could borrow a bike. awesome! Finally, the reason that pushed me over the edge into writing a review (which normally I am too lazy to do) Apparently, unbeknown to me, I left a pile of clothes behind (and my underwear too. Oh God, they folded my underwear. Very embarrassing). Anyway, they fedexed them to me and they were at my doorstep within 24 HOURS of me checking out!! That was so nice! I don't think I would have ever even noticed they were gone! The Ale House Inn folded my underwear and mailed it home to me. And for that you earn 5 Stars!!

Made last minute plans to stay at the Ale House while my best friend was visiting & wanted to do Portsmouth while she was in town. It's a perfect location for tooling around Portsmouth - no need to get in the car, which was conveniently parked in the parking lot across the street! The rooms have all the conveniences you need, nice setup - small but adequate & comfy. We were greeted with a warm welcome upon arrival & provided with a great suggestion for lunch. The coffee setup in the room was easy & delicious. If you are looking for a great location to stay w/ good price/performance, I strongly recommend the Ale House.

We stayed at the Ale House Inn for three nights last summer and loved it. The room was comfortable, beautifully decorated and had everything and more you could need. All the fixtures (including in the bathroom, not sure why other people had problems with the bathrooms) were updated, and modern. The room and bathroom were IMMACULATE. The amenities are not to be beat! fridge with freezer, a Keriug coffee maker with complimentary coffee tea and hot chocolate re-stocked daily, complimentary water re-stocked daily, a corkscrew and wine glasses, an HD-TV, an iPod / iPhone docking station that doubled as an alarm. The service is exceptional. The staff goes out of their way to be friendly. My one pet peeve is the wall are a tiny bit thin. We were there on vacation and when someone next door was blow drying their hair first thing in the morning it could be heard. But all the other things beyond outweighed that and generally the place is so quiet I don't think it matters too much. I have recommended Ale House Inn to others and will continue to do so.

Chose the Ale House for a short getaway after getting married. It's for sure a small boutique hotel, located on the second floor of what was once a brewery. The brick building keeps the temperature pretty stable, and comfortable. The staff--Scott in particular-- was Amazing. He left us a complimentary bottle of champagne in the room upon our arrival, and even gave us a tube of toothpaste since we forgot ours. He had plenty of info on local restaurants and was more than willing to make reservations. The Ale House is ideally located just a minute or 2 walk from the central downtown area. It's pricey, but so worth it. Those beds were to die for. All in all a fantastic place to stay. We will for sure be back.

I travel frequently and don't often find hotels quaint and comfortable. The Ale House Inn was a pleasant surprise and was both comfortable and accommodating. Upon arrival, I was a bit confused about how to get into the unique entrance, but the entry area, reception greeting and room were more than I could have expected. Most hotels don't provide iPhone chargers, Kurig machines or personalized attraction guides, but they came standard. The rate is extremely reasonable for the location and I would recommend staying here to anyone visiting Portsmouth.

There's no doubt that this place is cute. The rooms are nice and the amenities are classy. I enjoyed my experience there. Unfortunately, the cost will likely prevent me from visiting again. That said, I'd rather support a local boutique hotel than one of the major chains, and if I could afford to do so more readily I would without hesitation.

Our stay was fantastic. Craig at the front desk was warm and welcoming, you can't help but smile when talking him. He was knowledgeable, helpful and you could tell he truly loves his job. Our room was even more cozy in person than in the photos. Bed was incredibly comfortable and the entire place was full of thoughtful details like the fresh spring water on tap in the lounge, the hot or iced nitro cold-brew coffee also on tap, spa robes and the pull out make-up mirror in the bathroom (which was a lifesaver when I was primping for our night on the town). It's within walking distance of all the best bars and restaurants and super close to Prescott Park. This is our new favorite getaway location. I cannot say enough great things about this place!