18 Best Nightlife in New Hampshire, USA

Earth Eagle Brewings

Fodor's choice
This bustling gastropub produces unusual, boldly flavorful ales in the Belgian style, some using distinctive botanicals—lemongrass, ginger root—rather than hops. The food is terrific, there's an airy outdoor beer garden, and musicians perform many evenings.

Jimmy's Jazz & Blue Club

Fodor's choice

Downtown's early 1900s YMCA building has been converted into this gorgeous, high-ceilinged music venue with brick walls, color artwork, and a snug mezzanine. An impressive lineup of jazz and blues bands perform here, and full dinner service from a Southern-accented menu is available before each show.

Rek-Lis Brewing Company

Fodor's choice
After a day of hiking or skiing, grab a seat inside this cozy tavern or out on one of the expansive decks and savor the outstanding house-made beers along with guest taps from other notable breweries. There's great pub food, too, and a popular Sunday brunch.

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Stone Church

Fodor's choice

This cool music club and pub in beautifully restored 1835 former Methodist church on a hilly bluff in historic Newmarket presents first-rate rock, reggae, folk, jazz, and blues.

Throwback Brewery

Fodor's choice

After a day of fun at the beach, head a few miles inland to this working farm on 12 acres and its sustainable brewery that crafts first-rate ales using as much local ingredients as possible—some of the hops are grown on-site. On sunny days, sample Throwback's beers in the tented beer garden, and any time of year, you can sip and dine on farm-to-table pub fare, from cheese plates to Korean beef bowls. You can also buy seasonal produce at the farmstand.

Tuckerman Brewing Co.

Fodor's choice
Offering live music on weekends, seating inside as well as—during the warmer months—in a huge tented beer garden, light snacks, and some of the freshest and tastiest beer in the state, this venerable craft brewery on the edge of downtown Conway is a fun place to relax after a hike or mingle with friends.

815

A scene-y crowd mixes and mingles at this dimly lighted Prohibition Era–inspired, speakeasy-style cocktail bar with plush arm chairs and sofas and Oriental rugs, and an impressive list of both innovative and classic cocktails, plus unusual local and international beers.
Bars
825 Elm St., Manchester, New Hampshire, 03101, USA
603-782–8086
www.815nh.com

Branch and Blade Brewing

Don't be put off by the location inside a small industrial park—this convivial taproom offers seating at picnic tables with wooden-keg tables, a big outdoor seating area where you can nosh on tasty pub fare, and, most importantly, great beer, including a tart Gose and potent triple IPA.

Crown Tavern

Set in a stunningly restored downtown theater with a huge adjacent outdoor patio, the Crown is a splendid venue for dining, but it's the natty bar—with noteworthy craft-cocktail list, exposed-brick walls, and tile floor—that's especially alluring. If you are hungry, try the thick-cut truffle fries or Nashville hot chicken sandwich.

Delaney's Hole in the Wall

This legendary après-ski tavern has a real fondness for ski history, displaying early photos of local ski areas, old signs and placards, and odd bits of lift equipment. Enjoy watching games on TV in the sports-bar area and noshing on comforting pub fare.

Pub
2966 White Mountain Hwy., North Conway, New Hampshire, 03860, USA
603-356–7776
www.delaneys.com

Flying Goose Brew Pub

Offering a regular menu of about a dozen handcrafted beers, including a much lauded black IPA and a heady barley wine as well as a few seasonal varieties—made with hops grown on-site—this pub, and solar-powered brewery is a hit with beer connoisseurs. The kitchen serves juicy ribs, paper-thin onion rings, excellent burgers, and other tasty victuals.

Garrison City Beerworks

In a stylish light-filled storefront space in downtown Dover with a large redbrick side patio, sip some of the state’s most inventive craft beers, from saisons to stouts. Globally inspired street tacos (Korean beef, Nashville chicken) are offered too.

Henniker Brewing

It's worth the drive 15 miles west of Concord if you're a fan of craft beer to sample the hoppy IPAs, refreshing Kolsch-style ales, and refreshing sour red ales at this laid-back tap room in the woods of Henniker. Grab a seat on the patio in nice weather.

Lone Wolfe Brewing

Sample raspberry sours and the heady Dippah Double IPA in the cheerful taproom of this downtown brewhouse that also serves tasty pub fare and presents live music many weekends inside or in the outdoor beer garden.

Portsmouth Book & Bar

Combine an old-school indie bookstore with a funky café–cocktail bar, set it inside a restored 1817 customhouse, and you've got this endearing hangout that's popular with everyone from college students to artists to tourists. Live music, comedy, and readings are offered, too.

Post & Beam Brewing

Serving boldly flavored saisons, grisettes, and other fine, mostly old-world-style ales and lagers as well as soft pretzels with hummus, chili, and other tasty edibles, this terrific brewery in downtown Peterborough has a beautiful setting inside the stately 1837 G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic) meeting hall.

Red Parka Pub

This homey pub decorated with license plates and ski memorabilia has been an institution, especially during winter ski season, since the early 1970s, providing a fun and festive venue for après-ski or -hike socializing. Beer is served in Mason jars, the kitchen serves up juicy steaks and comfort fare, and there's live music many evenings.

Twin Barns Brewing

Serving a roster of well-crafted ales along with tasty comfort food (flatbread pizzas, burgers), this beer-centric compound occupies a handsome 1850s restored barn with a large tented beer garden.