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The Bow Hotel

4.0 star property
4-star hotel near Market Square

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Photo gallery for The Bow Hotel

City view from property
Exterior
Exterior
Interior
Beach

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning

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.)
    ‪9 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
(17 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)
  • 1 bedroom
  • 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)
  • 1 bedroom
  • 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)
  • 1 bedroom
  • 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
  • Seacoast Repertory Theatre - 1 min walk - 0.0 miles
  • Warner House - 1 min walk - 0.0 miles
  • Strawbery Banke Museum - 3 min walk - 0.2 miles
  • The Music Hall - 5 min walk - 0.3 miles

Getting around

  • Dover Transportation Center - 21 min drive
  • Portsmouth, NH (PSM-Portsmouth Intl.) - 14 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Oar House - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪The River House Restaurant - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Surf Restaurant - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Toscana Chophouse - ‬5 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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  • Pet friendly
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Feb 22 - Feb 23
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
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

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 4.8 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 Feb 7, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Bow Hotel on Feb 16, 2026 start from $116.0, 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 (26-min drive) from Hampton Beach and 11.6 mi (20-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 (23-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.

The Bow Hotel Reviews

Reviews

8.6

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 274 out of 507 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 137 out of 507 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 59 out of 507 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 20 out of 507 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 17 out of 507 reviews

9.2/10

Cleanliness

8.6/10

Staff & service

8.0/10

Amenities

8.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

8/10 Good

Katherine

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Interesting experience. Place was clean and we loved the decor and the bed was amazing. There was no front desk or attendants on site though, everything was done through your phone, which we weren't expecting. The hotel has a tiny lot for parking though and you have to pay an extra $35 to park there. That was a bit frustrating. Overall ok, great central location, but we would take the parking price into account if we stayed here next time to see if it was worth it.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

8/10 Good

Katherine

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great experience in a great location in Portsmouth! If you’re looking for a clean, comfortable stay, that embodies a self service model, this is your place. They have a cozy lounge area with games and couches, a self serve coffee station as well as snacks that you can purchase. Very comfortable and our room was spacious. Good communication with staff. Will definitely stay here again in the future.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

4/10 Poor

Donald

Traveled with group
Disliked: Staff & service, amenities
Open Key App was a complete failure, but call to the 24hr help line provided pass codes allowing entry. The rest was okay - fair location for walkable downtown activities but view to the roof of the abutting building wasn't exactly the river view I had hoped for and had led to my choice. Several better, more reasonably priced alternatives in the area.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Roni

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The room was just perfect. We had the petite queen and it had everything in it that we could want or need for our two night stay. I had no trouble checking in. If I needed to call and ask a question there was always someone available by phone. The ability to park right opposite was super. The area is so pretty and right on the water. The only thing to mention but it did not bother us was the heaviness of the doors when they opened or shut and the thin walls. However, during the night we heard nothing and that's all we cared about. Will definitely stay again!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

6/10 Okay

Mary

Disliked: Staff & service, amenities
Ok parking across street. Need to be careful as it is a curve & locals speed
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Terry

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Check in directions sent via text were not clear. And, I was with other guests all standing outside trying to figure out how the front door opened. the key pix should not be sent first, when it is not the first thing a guest has to deal with. Otherwise, it was a nice place to stay.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

William

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Room was very nice. View out the windows was bad, mechanical roof top, no water view.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

2/10 Terrible

John

Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

4/10 Poor

Megan

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Not having staff was weird. Got an email to do a keyless room entry did that and wouldn’t work. Had to call and figure out how to get a key. Again no staff and no direction was a little weird. Room had an odd odor. Overall did not feel comfortable here probably wouldn’t come back.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

4/10 Poor

JAMES

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Disliked: Staff & service
Contactless check-in sucks! We never got the code for the entrance, had to wait for a guest to let us in and give us the code. The app to use open door took forever to download and another guest said theirs never worked. The room is small and bare bones, the bathroom about the size of a closet. More like a hostel than a hotel.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Anna

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Our stay in Portsmouth was great. Everything is so walkable from the hotel, we enjoyed leaving our car parked across the street for a day. The hotel itself is beautiful and we specifically loved all the amenities, like the pantry, coffee maker and robes - nice touch. Would definitely come back here if I were to visit Portsmouth again.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Stacey

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
This property offered great parking. It was very walkable to restaurants and shopping and the whole property was very clean and safe.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025

4/10 Poor

Jeffrey

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness
This was difficult to rate. While many would be fine… I am Claustrophobic… the room was very tiny with a small window and was very warm.. I was in the room 5 minutes and had to leave .. we did not spend the nite.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

6/10 Okay

DOUGLAS, Chambersburg

Traveled with group
Liked: Property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Amenities
?
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Lisa

Disliked: Staff & service
We are an older couple and this property doesn’t have people on site for anything. You have to download an app to get in, all questions are via text. Having said that, we did have a few glitches but we were able to solve most of them through this method. The TV didn’t really work. It kept “freezing” and tiling…. Too hard to actually watch. The hotel is in a premium location. We were able to walk everywhere …that was great as parking is a premium here. Overall, our stay was good, but we were a little stressed when we found out it was all virtual. If they told us when we booked, I sure missed it. Maybe this is the style of the future. I hope not. Book for the location, but be ready to use your smartphone.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Amanda

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Perfect location, right next to the water and downtown. Our rom was really comfortable and clearly updated with new furniture and textiles. I wish they had mentioned there was no elevator to the main floor from the street and that we had to pay for parking. I thought it was included due to the wording they used.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Kelly

Liked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Sam

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Neil

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

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

8/10 Good

donald

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
A+
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Patrick

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Cynthia

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

Great location for exploring historic Portsmouth

Great location for exploring historic Portsmouth. Room was clean and modern, but had a funky layout (shower and toilet in a small, separate area, with tiny sink area outside right next to entry door). Check-in was entirely online with no reception area, which wasn't made clear in communications; I called a number shown at the front door (open only with a key code) and a receptionist walked me through the process. Front door was up an outside flight of steps--not accessible. Small common area with coffee machine (which wasn't working) and ice; pantry with drinks and snacks available for purchase on the honor system. Very close to restaurants, shops, bars and the waterfront.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

2/10 Terrible

Mercedes

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

6/10 Okay

Christina

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The room was clean and contemporary, but very small. There was central air but our room was still quite warm making it difficult to sleep. The hotel offered use of bikes and helmets which we would have used if weather permitted, but we took full advantage of the hotel umbrellas. Much appreciated! My biggest complaint is that there was a lot of noise. Lots of doors slamming and I was woken up at 1:15 by very loud talking and laughing in the hallway. The rooms are not sound proof at all. I did enjoy its location; it was a quick walk to numerous restaurants, bars, shops, and the park. There is also a theater on the ground floor of the hotel.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025