Best of Portsmouth, NH | 2013 Editors’ Choice Awards

BEST ATTRACTIONS IN PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE

BEST PUBLIC PARK PRESCOTT PARK, Portsmouth Ten acres of flower gardens, walking paths, and grassy areas alongside the Piscataqua River make the perfect backdrop for arts festivals, outdoor concerts, and performances during summer months. Events are free, but donations are accepted. Marcy St. 603-431-8748; cityofportsmouth.com/prescottparkBEST MARINE SCIENCE MUSEUM SEACOAST SCIENCE CENTER, Rye Check out “Tofu,” the 32-foot humpback-whale skeleton, and then explore touch tanks, interpretive exhibits, and more. Step outside to enjoy the New Hampshire seacoast, including 135 acres of rocky shoreline and the walking trails of Odiorne State Park. 570 Ocean Blvd. 603-436-8043; seacoastsciencecenter.orgBEST BOUTIQUE PUTTIN’ ON THE GLITZ, Portsmouth Possibly the city’s most popular window-shopping destination, this one-of-a-kind venue offers a rich display of hats, jewelry, and handbags. And not just new stuff: Check out the store’s unique selection of vintage beaded purses, going all the way back to the 1920s. 40 Market St. 603-436-5600; puttinontheglitznh.com

BEST FOOD & DINING IN PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE

BEST HOUSE CHARCUTERIE MOMBO, Portsmouth Cooks at Mombo lovingly craft the sausages and terrines for the restaurant’s charcuterie plates, not to mention sweet-and-savory accompaniments such as red-onion compote, fig jam, cranberry-olive tapenade, and stoneground mustard. Vermont cheeses are also included. Entrées: from $22. Strawbery Banke, 66 Marcy St. 603-433-2340; momborestaurant.comBEST RAW BAR JUMPIN’ JAY’S FISH CAFE, Portsmouth Jay’s cooks up some great fish dishes, including a rich San Francisco-style cioppino. But the uncooked seafood is, if possible, even better. In season, you can taste several different New Hampshire oysters, alongside bivalves from Cape Cod, Damariscotta, Long Island Sound, and Chesapeake Bay. Entrées: from $17. 150 Congress St. 603-766-3474; jumpinjays.comBEST SPANISH FOOD CAVA TAPAS & WINE BAR, Portsmouth Cava makes Spanish food from great New England fish, meat, and produce, and serves tapas as well as hearty small plates. Some dishes (such as grilled octopus and chicken-sausage paella) are Spanish classics, while others are inspired by a wider Mediterranean influence. Wine selections are among New England’s best. Even the back-alley setting seems fittingly Old World Spanish. Tapas: from $6. Plates: from $12. 10 Commercial Alley. 603-319-1575; cavatapasandwinebar.comBEST BURGER ROCKY’S FAMOUS BURGERS, Newmarket Select Angus beef, bison, turkey, chicken breast, or a homemade veggie patty for your char-grilled burger; then pile on bacon, guacamole, cheese, sauteed mushrooms, and other toppings. For an American classic, opt for a beef “Rocky,” with lettuce, tomato, onion, and cheese. Burgers: from $7.29. 171 Main St. 603-292-3393; rockysfamousburgers.com

BEST LODGING IN PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE

BEST MODERN TOUCH ALE HOUSE INN, Portsmouth Portsmouth’s newest hotel addition is also its sleekest. Set on the Piscataqua River, the Ale House Inn offers 10 cozy-yet-modern rooms, each one equipped with an iPad and a Keurig coffeemaker. And because it’s just a minute’s walk from downtown, you can leave your car behind for the weekend. Rates: from $115. 121 Bow St. 603-431-7760; alehouseinn.comBEST DOWNTOWN B&B SISE INN, Portsmouth Located in Haymarket Square, the Sise Inn gives guests a front-row seat on downtown Portsmouth. Stretch your legs with a short walk to Prescott Park and Strawbery Banke or the shops and restaurants along Congress Street. Or cozy up with a book in the Queen Anne-style mansion’s fireplaced parlor, or settle into one of the 34 elegant rooms. Rates: from $199, including continental breakfast buffet. 40 Court St. 603-433-1200; siseinn.comBEST ELEGANT OVERNIGHT THE EXETER INN, Exeter Built by Phillips Exeter Academy for guests in 1932, this Georgian-style gem completed a $5 million renovation in 2008. There’s no connection between school and inn today, yet charm and elegance still resonate throughout, thanks to intricate millwork, French doors, and tall archways in the lobby and lounge–not to mention plush terrycloth robes in all 46 guestrooms and five suites. Rates: from $145. 90 Front St. 603-772-5901; theexterinn.com