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The Bow Hotel

4.0 star property
4-star hotel near Market Square

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for The Bow Hotel

Beach
Exterior
King Studio Suite | Premium bedding, memory foam beds, desk, iron/ironing board
City view from property
Exterior

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Air conditioning
  • Free WiFi

Explore the area

View in a map
121 Bow Street, Portsmouth, NH, 03801
  • Place, Market Square
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Strawbery Banke Museum
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, The Music Hall
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Airport, Portsmouth, NH (PSM-Portsmouth Intl.)
    ‪8 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Petite Queen

Premium bedding, memory foam beds, desk, iron/ironing board

Petite Queen

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(16 reviews)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Gallery Queen

Premium bedding, memory foam beds, desk, iron/ironing board

Gallery Queen

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(28 reviews)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for King Studio Suite

King Studio Suite | Premium bedding, memory foam beds, desk, iron/ironing board

King Studio Suite

8.8 out of 10
Excellent
(6 reviews)
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed

View all photos for Gallery King

Gallery King | Premium bedding, memory foam beds, desk, iron/ironing board

Gallery King

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(11 reviews)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

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About the neighborhood

Portsmouth

City center stay.A stay at this Downtown hotel places you steps from Warner House and within a 5-minute walk of Market Square. Prescott Park and Portsmouth Love Wall are also within half a mile (1 km).

What's nearby

  • Market Square - 1 min walk - 0.0 miles
  • Prescott Park - 2 min walk - 0.1 miles
  • Strawbery Banke Museum - 3 min walk - 0.2 miles
  • The Music Hall - 5 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Water Country - 8 min drive - 3.8 miles

Getting around

  • Dover Transportation Center - 18 min drive
  • Portsmouth, NH (PSM-Portsmouth Intl.) - 14 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The River House Restaurant - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Surf Restaurant - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Hearth Food Garden - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Cup Of Joe - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Gas Light Pizza Pub - ‬3 min walk

About this property

The Bow Hotel

4-star hotel near Market Square
As a guest of The Bow Hotel, you'll find concierge services and express check-in. Public spaces have free WiFi.

Smoking is allowed in designated areas at this 4-star Portsmouth hotel.

  • 10 guestrooms or units
  • Built in 1880
  • Express check-in
  • Storage area for luggage
  • Concierge
  • Smoking in designated areas
The Bow Hotel offers 10 air-conditioned accommodations with bathrobes and designer toiletries. Memory foam beds feature premium bedding. 32-inch flat-screen televisions come with cable channels.

Bathrooms include shower/tub combinations, complimentary toiletries, and hair dryers. Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access. Housekeeping is offered on request and hypo-allergenic bedding can be requested.

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Front of property
The Hotel Portsmouth
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  • Pet friendly
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
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Nov 5 - Nov 6
Total with taxes and fees
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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Offsite parking available (USD 35 per night)
  • Limited onsite parking (max 1 space per unit)

Things to do

  • Bicycle rentals

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • 15 steps to reach entrance
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only

Room amenities

Entertainment

  • 32-inch flat-screen TV with cable channels

Bedroom

  • Hypo-allergenic bedding
  • Memory foam mattress
  • Premium bedding

Bathroom

  • Bathrobes
  • Designer toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Shower/bathtub combination
  • Towels provided

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Desk
  • Heating (climate-controlled)
  • Iron/ironing board

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Express check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 11 AM
Late check-out subject to availability
A late check-out fee will be charged

Special check-in instructions

There is no front desk at this property
Guests will receive an email within 24 hours before arrival with check-in instructions and an access code; access will be through a private entrance
A virtual front desk provides assistance to guests

Access methods

Access code, private entrance

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
  • Cribs (infant beds) are not available.

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • Nearby parking fee: USD 35 per night (49 ft away)
  • Late check-out is available for a fee (subject to availability)

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards, and cash
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a first aid kit
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Diners Club, JCB International, Union Pay, Carte Blanche, debit cards, and cash. Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited. For guests' safety, the property includes a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a first aid kit in each accommodation.

We should mention

  • Registered guests are the only ones allowed to be in guestrooms.
  • This property welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+ friendly).

Property is also known as

Ale House Inn Portsmouth
Ale House Inn
Ale House Portsmouth
Ale House Hotel Portsmouth
Ale House Inn
The Bow Hotel Hotel
The Bow Hotel Portsmouth
The Bow Hotel Hotel Portsmouth

Frequently asked questions

How close is The Bow Hotel to the airport?

The Bow Hotel is 6.2 mi (14-min drive) away from the Portsmouth, NH (PSM-Portsmouth Intl.) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

How much does it cost to stay at The Bow Hotel?

As of Oct 14, 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Bow Hotel on Nov 11, 2025 start from $143.0, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Does The Bow Hotel have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at The Bow Hotel.

How close is The Bow Hotel to the beach?

This hotel is 16.2 mi (21-min drive) from Hampton Beach and 11.7 mi (18-min drive) from Long Sands Beach. Don't forget your sunscreen!

Does The Bow Hotel offer free breakfast?

The Bow Hotel does not offer free breakfast.

Is there a casino at The Bow Hotel?

No, there is no casino at this hotel, but Hampton Beach Casino (22-min drive) and Ocean Gaming Casino (22-min drive) are nearby.

What time is check-in at The Bow Hotel?

Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime.

Is there free parking at The Bow Hotel?

Free parking is not available at this hotel.

Does The Bow Hotel have a pool?

The Bow Hotel does not have a pool.

Does The Bow Hotel have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this hotel.

How close is The Bow Hotel to downtown Portsmouth?

The Bow Hotel is 0.6 mi away from Portsmouth.

Reviews

The Bow Hotel Reviews

8.6

Excellent

9.2/10

Cleanliness

8.8/10

Staff & service

8.0/10

Amenities

8.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.6/10

Eco-friendliness
Rating 10 - Excellent. 264 out of 480 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 129 out of 480 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 57 out of 480 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 14 out of 480 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 16 out of 480 reviews

Reviews

6/10 Okay

Timothy

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Staff & service
Did not like check in procedure. Requires internet connection which is not guaranteed. Downloading the app took more than 15 mins without WiFi.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

2/10 Terrible

Linda

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Disliked: Staff & service
TV was constantly refreshing. 100% not functional.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Michael, Maple Plain

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Lovely place to stay. Thank you!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

annemarie

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Disliked: Staff & service
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Joseph

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Gretchen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Fun solo trip!

Adorable hotel close to downtown. Called ahead to reserve a parking spot and they were very helpful.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

2/10 Terrible

Brian

Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Mickey

Bad check in

Never got check in text message so had to call a couple different numbers until I got someone to walk me through check in ( no staff on site). Once we finally checked in we left to go to dinner and talked w another guest staying at the bow who told us they also had problems checking in and were first given the wrong room ( which happened to be the room we were staying in ) we found his toothbrush in the bathroom after coming back. Hotel wasn’t bad itself just very unorganized check in.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Kenneth

Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveler

Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Tiffany

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The Bow is probably not for everyone, but we had a good experience. There is no "front desk" or staff on site. However, they are quick to answer the phone or communicate via text if you have questions. There is no physical key, you need to download the Open Key app to use. There is an elevator inside the property, but you must go up approximately 12 steps to get into the building from outside. Parking is right across the street, it's a little clunky to figure out, but there is one spot reserved for each room, it didn't seem they really verified who was parked where. The rooms were nice and as shown, no extras. The location is very walkable to the waterfront area of Portsmouth. Because everything is done via email and text there may be some people who would not care for it, however for us it was fine.I would stay here again.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

4/10 Poor

Barbara

Disliked: Amenities
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Bridget

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Within walking distance to shops and dining. Easy check in and out.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Eamon

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
We thought the room was very clean and comfortable , and loved that we could walk to the places we wanted to visit
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Joel M Cutler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
It was great will go again
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

6/10 Okay

Georg

Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

6/10 Okay

Kathleen

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Staff & service
The check in ordeal was terrible. Supposed to do everything online but they didn’t send all the information. Had to call about parking. They didn’t tell us the code to get into the building. Once we figured out how to get in there was a nice man at the desk to help us but it was a very frustrating check in. The rooms were ok. Clean but not very user friendly. I will not be going back.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

6/10 Okay

Jonathan

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
The entrance process was very poorly done. Had to wait for another couple, who had already checked in, to let us into the building. Room's windows were oddly positioned. Nothing left out for breakfas
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

James

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Awesome DIY experience here! Great location! Very cool room, but on the smaller side. Loved the key on my phone app!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Linda

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Quick overnight triip to see Portsmouth and meet family for dinner. Location for exploring downtown Portsmouth on foot is perfect.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Kelly

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Riley S

Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Monica

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
This is a nice boutique hotel that has been beautifully renovated and is close to everything. You can tell that the new management has put a lot of care into the place and the experience. The check-in/check-out is seamless. But if you are looking for a traditional hotel experience - which I was not - this isn't for you. Don't expect concierge service or traditional keys/TV. Overall, a nice experience. I would recommend they insulate the doors more. At times, there's a lot of sound from the hallway, but it didn't ruin the trip.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

6/10 Okay

Mary

Traveled with group, Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The non contact check in did not work well for us. Communication was problematic. Check in time was 4pm. We did receive a check in code for the lobby. Explaining we would recieve information about room entry when the room was ready. We arrived rushed at 4:30 and had not received room entry information. We parked with no time to deal with room entry situation. The information arrived at 8:30pm. The room was beautifully appointed. Bed and linens comfortable. We did not find a blanket for the sofa couch. After running the shower for more than an adequate amount of time. It was lukewarm at best. No coffee machine in the room. The one provided in the foyer was broken. It's a shame. Before changing the Ale House to the Bow house and it's lovely renovation. It was our go to place for lodging. Hopefully communication will follow this review with remediation. So I do not have to look elsewhere.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

6/10 Okay

Brianna

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Room was great and you can tell it was newly furnished or they kept up with it well. Bed was very comfortable. Walls were paper thin and you could hear everything from every room. Check in was a bit frustrating. I requested an early check in which I know isn't guaranteed but was told I would get a text from the hotel when the room was ready. After 4pm, check in time, I still never received a text or email. Called the number at 4:15pm. They were friendly and then sent the text but said if the code doesnt work on the app, there is a lockbox with all physical keys and gave me the code. I clarified that all the keys were in there and that there wasn't a separate lockbox for each room and they confirmed. To which I then said I would grab the physical key rather than the app so no one else had access to my room since all the keys can be grabbed my anyone with the code. The woman said it's never been an issue before but I didn't feel comfortable chancing it. I also texted and emailed about parking the day before arriving and the hotel never wrote back. I decided to street parking which was significantly cheaper than their $35/ night lot. Though the hotel is in a perfect location and room was cozy, very underwhelmed by the check in experience and lack of communication and safety.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025