The Press Room

We just had a great evening at the Press Room at 77 Daniel St in Portsmouth, NH. It was our first visit. We were in the upstairs area for a music show and foodies. Everyone was super nice, our food was delicious and I’m really looking forward to going back again soon! We parked in the Hanover St lot and walked the short distance to the venue. I liked the elevated stage so you could see the talent from almost everywhere. We got the last two seats at the bar and were psyched to see there was a large viewing screen above the bar too, so yay. The sound was great! I give the Press Room two thumbs up! The hubby got the chili wings and I got and awesome beets salad with steak. So yummy! I loved how hey had a large ice water dispenser on the bar for people to stay hydrated. Next time we’ll get there earlier to, hopefully, sit by the stage. I forgot to take pics of our food! Sorry! The wings came in a sizzling cast iron skillet! The is place is winners!

We are in the restaurant downstairs while there was a live music performance upstairs. The soundproofing is very impressive as we barely heard it while eating. The food was fine with fair prices.

This place has a great vibe and the music and clientele is great. The one thing dragging the review down was how one bartender, big eag gauges and black hair. She was beyond rude for no reason, wouldnt look you in the face when you ask a question and acted like she didnt want either of us in the bar. Ive never been to this place so it wasnt a great first impression. I hope it improves on my next trip to NH. 2/5 no ghosts.

The Press Room is the perfect place to be for a nightcap in Portsmouth. Serving the community for 5 decades, it is an institution, and a favorite with locals. The nightly live performances on the second floor are superb; the eclectic mix of bands and performers make this a great place to gather for a night on the town. The place has gone through extensive renovations in the recent past and has great acoustics. Set up in an old world brick structure, the atmosphere is very cozy and offers a very warm and inviting vibe. The service is outstanding; one of the Managers, Joe, in particular is very affable and brings great passion and energy in running the place. You do need to buy tickets in advance for the shows, and given the small venue size, most times they are sold out, especially with bands that have a local following. They have an interesting selection of cocktails, worthy of note are the Espresso Martini and Bananas and Blow.

Intimate music, gets crowded, always fun! Looks like complete make over with original vibe! We went to see a local band, Kings Highway from Hampton area. Great sound and light system. Although it was packed, service was great! Food was also delicious! Go and have some fun!!!!

We didnt eat but did drink and felt very welcome and well taken care of. My husband likes to tell his stories. Our server listed when he was able and that was super nice. He served a lovely Manhattan.

I called and spoke with GM and Chef of the kitchen Zac. I work at Win Waste Innovations and talked them about catering for us and the food was nothing less than remarkable. The steak tips were perfect, cauliflower was tremendous, and they provided a perfect spread. They were about to accommodate with vegan dishes, gluten free options and much more. I will be ordering again as they were a fan favorite of ours and just wanted to make sure a huge thank you went out to the GM and kitchen team!!!

My gf and I came for lunch around 230, no problems with a bouncer and staff were all nice, professional, and courteous.Now, the real star of the show was the food. We ordered the hummus board and the fish and chips. The hummus is made in house and served with a veggie mix and house made pitas. We both loved the hummus and pitas, both were very delicious. The fish was also very well done, nice and flaky. Only issue, very small, was the breading on the fish was, in places, a little oily.F- the pain away, the mix drink I had, was very good.

Absolutely lovely. The servers were very friendly and efficient. The drinks were incredible and the music was excellent. This is a perfect evening to enjoy with a group of friends, a date night, or if you just need a good time yourself for some musical inspiration.The atmosphere was a calm, hometown feeling with friends coming together to see each other, enjoy some music and have a drink . Just a fantastic evening.

The staff was super friendly and the music was great. From the moment I walked in I felt like I was home. Everyone was inviting and kind. The food looked great so i asked what time they served until and instead of hearing I dont know from the (clearly) new hire she said hold on a second Ill find out. The bartenders smiled at everyone, handled the crowd, and totally hooked it up. Cant wait to come back! Super big thanks from RI.

Went there for the music but had dinner too, typical bar food menu BUT way better quality than most! Fresh ingredients cooked to perfection. Impressive draft beer list with local NH & Maine beers. The stage set up is awesome!

Randomly stopped in for brunch. Was lucky to get there before it got busy. Waiter was very nice and did a great job. Bloody Marys were delicious and the food was fantastic!! Will definitely be back!

Second time being here. Ive been meaning to come back, such a good time. Great food, music, drinks. Dont miss this spot. Dessert was a pumpkin ice cream chocolate chip sandwich.

Asked for water for my walk home. Was told it was illegal for me to take water to-go (I work downtown, I know it’s legal) and to have them laugh at me as I go. I had terrible service and left immediately after showing my id. I have never had worse service than tonight (8-22).

This venue has become one of my favorites to work with and attend. Even at the height of the pandemic - the talent buyer for this venue was responsive, kept me updated and has continued to be a pleasure to work with. The install of the new sound system from a few year back is perfect for this 125 cap room and its location is clutch!The food is very good, the vibe is cool, and the diversity of shows they have are great. In terms of the staff: they have definitely assembled a team of people who get how to run a bar/restaurant/venue of its size. Its not easy to do and meet all the expectations of others.I stopped in last week and it appears they have a built in audience that just enjoys being at the Press Room in addition to those that are seeking out certain genres of music or a certain vibe for the evening.They took a chance recently on having Dueling Pianos (which has been never there) and it was sold out way in advance and it crushed live. Super interactive, positive, and fun.The up-and-coming shows to the room are an excellent combination of original music, cover bands, and DJs. They have something for everyone.A place like the Press Room is the kind of room you want in every town! Keep up the good work and thank you.

The Press Room in Portsmouth NH is a very cool place to have a meal or just a drink. Fast and friendly service at the bar, indoor and outdoor table service. Great wait-staff. The interior looks was modern but reflected the classic brickwork that make Portsmouth special. I had a chicken sandwich and a hard seltzer after a day of photoshoots in town. Great food, great place, highly recommended

Unique combination of bar, restaurant, and bilevel entertainment center. Nice menu with lots of vegetarian options complimented by excellent service and very reasonable prices. First floor offers a nice pub atmosphere often with live music. Upstairs is another bar and full music stage with food and drink table service. Its an unassuming location from the street view, but a special location within.Update Mar 24: still nice vegetarian/vegan options including a real veggie burger and not an impossible or beyond burger which unfortunately seem increasingly to be the only options elsewhere. Great service - some really low beer prices too.

Had a great time here last Friday! I was part of a thirty person surprise birthday party who needed to find a bar last minute. Upon arriving we let the bartenders know how many of us there would be and they were extremely kind about it, they just asked that we have patience with them as it was a large group of people.We were patient, and they were superb! The bartenders were amazing with getting everyone their drinks and their food orders and were overall very friendly and welcoming!I would definitely recommend this place for good cocktails, good food, and a great atmosphere!

Press Room upstairs is fantastic since the renovation. A true club feel and with new local ownership, it will flourish!

The upstairs stage and bar level is such a great space, and the bartender was fun and charming! I brought my parents and they had a great time listening to music, and loved the food. Excellent experience and made for a perfect Mothers Day.

Moseyed in based on reviews. What a great place! Bartender schooled me on the finer points of my favorite cocktail. Service is great and friendly. I’ll be back!

Tristan organized my boss’s retirement party of 25 people swiftly. He responded frequently to my questions and providing his own advice. Was excellent to coordinate with. Once in the restaurant, everything was ready to go like we arranged and our service from Jamal was spectacular. Our group was over joyed by their attentiveness. Also the food was excellent! See you guys again soon.

Best brunch ever. I usually get the polenta with poached eggs, shrimp and brussel sprouts. You know the saying what would you do for a Klondike bar? Well Id kill a man for this polenta. Came here for dinner once too and it was fantastic but the portion sizes were small. The atmosphere here is great and the staff is super friendly, their chicken sandwich is also fantastic.

There are two jazz/rock/country venues in my city. One is big, expensive, and has a terrible sound system and acoustics. The other is the Press Room. Its small and has been around for 50 years. It closed a few years ago and underwent a long renovation. Now, IMHO, its nearly perfect. Awesome sound system and sound engineer, amazing acoustics, and reasonable prices for some great lesser-known performers. This was a brunch event at the Press Room. I just paid the $10 charge and had a coffee. Id love to add some photos but Google is rejecting all photos today.

Solid drinks and comfort-food eats makes The Press Room a must-visit spot no matter if you’re a local or dropping in from out of town.Local musicians, artists and creatives have called the Room their home away from home since the ‘70s. The local chapter of the Fourth Estate (myself included) used to hang there on a regular basis in the ‘90s.Times have changed. But after a recent visit, I can testify that all the great things at The Press Room are still there.Under the leadership of Tristan Law (a longtime PR veteran), the staff is friendly and come across like old friends ready to welcome you in for a cocktail and a chat. Portsmouth’s reputation for its top-notch restaurants and nightspots is well deserved. But the benchmark is set at The Press Room.

Great spot for food, drinks and music. Lincoln was an incredible server and was extremely attentive even on a busy weekend night. Thank you!

Go for a show here to see some gen z kids you’ve never heard of and end up having a quasi-spiritual experience. Honestly one of the best bars in America.

You cant go wrong with The Press Room. Excellent food, service and atmosphere. Always a 10 out of 10.

Good cocktails, live music upstairs. Atmosphere is fun and lively later on.

This place was wicked fun.My partner and I came from Masss to spend a night in Portsmith, and we love to walk around and ask locals for their recommendations. PRESS ROOM was a fan favorite, and it did not disappoint!!We got in around 530, and the place was already packed, we found two seats at the bar, we got quick and friendly service and a lively but cozy environment.Drinks and food came out fast and delicious.Would totally recommend it!

Great place in town to grab a bite and a drink. Brunch here is fantastic, best fried chicken sandwich in town. They host some of the best live music and DJs in Portsmouth at night. 10/10

Food and place was great, bartenders werent very attentive, but we liked it here.

Love these little hole in the wall venues you are able to actually see the band thats playing and interact with others that are there! Love the old building and all of its amazing features!

Great spot! Service and bar downstairs was cool and energetic and upstairs has a great sound system.

Ate upstairs, food was awesome the staff was friendly, and the music was from my era!! We will go back.

Let’s talk about how amazing the Press Room is! After all we experienced thru Covid, my fiancé (now husband) and I decided we wanted to host a small, intimate family gathering/wedding (about 30-40 people) and we’re having such trouble finding a venue in Portsmouth who could accommodate our needs.In walks Jamie and Zac, the Press Room Event Coordinator and Chef. Wow, just wow. Not only did they respond to our request immediately and deal with and answer my bajillion questions, they were so professional, kind and accommodating!Now I’ve lived in Portsmouth for over ten years and I’m not gonna lie, I was blown away by how beautiful their private room upstairs is. Not only is the room gorgeous, but when you throw a party up there, you’re in your own world; you’ve got your own private bar, private bathrooms, a stage, a place to have a cocktail hour and a place to have a sit down dinner. I couldn’t have wished for a better place to host my event.Now getting back to Jamie and Zac and the execution of our event. Jamie is just the best. She dealt with me bringing in my own linens and my own decor-she was beyond accommodating in allowing me to help set up and pulling off my vision. The Press Room is beyond lucky to have her; I am beyond thankful for her. I wanted a cocktail hour, she made it happen. I wanted a set up for a photo booth, she made it happen. Anything I requested, she worked with me to make it happen. And Zac, the Chef, is beyond talented. We really wanted something more intimate than a buffet so they went above and beyond to provide us with a family style dinner. Something they don’t typically do! And our family and friends are still raving about dinner, I don’t think they’ve stopped talking about the chicken and the steak tips and just the quantity of food in general. The service was top notch, they executed everything we asked for, I honestly don’t have anything negative to say.I could go on for days about how amazed I was with my experience and how professional the staff is but the bottom line is, if you’re looking to host an event, don’t waste time and call the Press Room. I assure you, you will be beyond impressed. Thank you again! You guys are the BEST.

Paid for 2 tickets for a Brunch music event but arrived and no tables available and no space at the bar. Couldnt really do Brunch standing up so left..maybe overbooked or less tables than expected. Ho hum.

Artsy local spot without the dive bar side eyes or hipster pretension. Great everything (drinks, service, food), but it’s the music and the staff that make this place special. The upstairs venue is spectacular to catch a show and perfect for a private party or event. And Tristan, the man behind the curtain, carries the torch for keeping culture in Portsmouth

One of my favorite one-off bars OAT. The bartenders were so cool. We listened to The Strokes and the IPAs were flowing, a wedding party happened, bought the groom a beer and congratulated the lucky couple, their friends were cool af and I cant wait til Im back in New England so I can go to this halcyon place again. Snapshot perfect in every way.

Cool local place. A bit noisy sometimes, so if you want a post work or post event place to talk (rather than to drink) you should probably go elsewhere.

I was here for an event that comprised of a presentation. They served deli meats, cheeses, crackers, olives, & vinegar peppers. That was good. The bar/beverages was great. Service was excellent. Unfortunately the place wasnt suitable for our event due to the noise coming from the musician on the first floor, which was pretty loud on the second floor, the location of our presentation.

Check out this place, theres nothing like a live show or some poetry, and this is a great room to catch it all. The food and drinks are very good as well.

If you give the man child w the bun a valid id and passport he will still turn you away for his nightly power trip

We stumbled upon this place, and had a great time listening to music! There was a jazz jam upstairs, and then a New Orleans old timey band started right afterwards, downstairs. Cocktails were inventive and delicious. They offered a lot of NA choices, including several different NA beers.

We hosted our after party at the Press Room following our wedding and had an absolute blast! Tristan was very accommodating towards our party size and many of our guests commented on how much fun they had. Great drinks, service and music!

Great food, cocktails, and live jazz! Cozy, intimate atmosphere. Perfect for a date night!

Spent a couple of hours day drinking at The Press Room last week, first time there since it changed hands -- Lincoln was behind the bar, and hes friendly and super easy to talk to. Place just has a terrific vibe, a beautiful barroom, and a great looking menu (we were just there for drinks, but will 100% eat there next visit) - looking forward to returning soon.

Great spot for live music upstairs. Great atmosphere and food downstairs

Fun bar with good service. The bartenders know how to make the perfect gin and tonic.

I like to write these reviews in hopes the owner/manager will take this as helpful feedback. Ive known the Pressroom for years, dating back to Jay Smith the original owner. Kudos to this new ownership or owner (corporate?) whos created a fantastic music venue upstairs. Many of the long-time, highly talented Portsmouth musicians were there for the Swing dance event on 2/5. The qualify of the music and sound system was 5 Star! The food was good, but the surly bartender is where things fell apart. The $18 cocktail was sub-par with barely a hint of tequila in there. Then she charged an automatic 20% tip on my tab - I would have probably done 10% or less based on the above. Hope to see a friendly, personable bartender next time, or Ill just not order water and save save $18 plus tip.

This place is the most important part of the local music scene and has been for generations of musicians.

Jazz on tuesday was a blast and a super cool atmostphere.Staff was friendly and made us feel welcome. Drinks were delicious as well, the press room made for a really special night in Portsmouth for my wife and I

They also do brunch! Not sure if this is new or not, but feel like it is important to mention.Shout out to Dan - who was THE MAN after my family had the most atrocious experience next door at Colbys (never go there, the service blows) trying to get a seat last Sunday after the Portsmouth half marathon. Dan and Remy were able to accommodate our large group of 12 outside and provide excellent service, good company, and phenomenal food.Definitely coming back here next time Im in town.

Espresso martinis are the best I’ve had! Great energy, great service, great times. Must visit

This bar is extremely cool. The live shows are very interesting, but we havent been to one yet. The space is very comfortable and handsome. The food and cocktail menu are full of fascinating options, and I would love to come back regularly and try them all. They use house made infusions and flavored salts, kimchi, etc. Our waiter was awesome. He was very attentive but also very laid back, and made us feel comfortable taking our time, even on a busy night.

I’ve been here plenty of times and truly loved the atmosphere. But tonight I was turned away at 12:25 on a saturday because they were “done for the night”. What’s odd is my friends walked ahead and got in minutes before me. for whatever reason.. sad really. what is the bouncers problem :)

This is a quaint bar and restaurant, with live music many nights. The cocktails are strong but not inspired. Food is pretty good, especially salmon tacos.

The Press Room has stepped up their game with food and drinks! I recently had an exceptional meal (one of the specials) and delicious cocktails. The cocktails were surprisingly unique with perfectly blended ingredients. Still thinking about that meal. Now I look forward to more than seeing great musicians there!

Great place to see live music but, even better when you get a chance to see a bigger name like Marco Benevento! The sound in the loft is much better than downstairs ✌🏼

We had my grandson’s 21st birthday dinner there. The waitress was amazing. I don’t know how she did it. The food was good. The atmosphere was terrific. Definitely recommend this place.

Met a potential client there for happy hour! Great bartender !

The Press Room is THE place to be in Portsmouth. Great atmosphere, great food and drink, badass music venue upstairs, its got it all. Do yourself a favor and show up.

Girlfriend and I sat outside for dinner and were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the meals we got. For a typical “bar” the food is well above average and they have several options for even the pickiest of eaters. Recommend outdoor seating for a warm evening meal.

The DJ cant maintain a beat for his paycheck and cant seem to get that music has a rhythm that can play more than 45 seconds before being sloppily chopped into garbage. Bar was nice, hated the moan every 12 seconds the DJ from the night of the 21OCT23 seemed to need to add.

My (now) husband and I rented the top floor of the Press Room for the after party for our wedding. Tristan and Jamie were phenomenal to work with! We corresponded over email a few times to start and went in for a few consultations. They were accommodating across the board - customizing the drink menu and offer a specialized late night snack menu for our guests. Jamie and Tristan were both quick to respond via email, and offered ideas and suggestions when we were unsure of what we wanted to do. The Press Room was accommodating, professional, and a joy to work with. They worked directly with our band to coordinate all logistics for music and dances, and made the logistics of planning a wedding so much easier. I would highly recommend renting holding any event with the Press Room!

First time here for karaoke night. We all had the best time.The karaoke host, Carmen was great. There is a cool and fun vibe upstairs. Great service by the bartenders, too. We ordered fries and mozzarella sticks for the table; because if course you need munchies with your drinks. They both were yummy. I didnt realize how many performers they have booked here. We will be back for both the live entertainment and karaoke.

You always deliver a perfect experience!!! Not sure how you continue to perform at such a high level yet, we are always grateful. Our place to go for special moments, music, and occasionally, just when we want to escape and have an amazing experience.

Really enjoyed the cocktail selection. The bar staff were really nice and fun. The food was bad food but excellent. Enjoyed the nachos and chicken tenders.

Now serving brunch on Sundays from 10-2!!! My friends and I had a great experience there this morning. The staff were super friendly and there was no wait for a table. (Note: all other dine in for brekky establishments nearby had about an hour wait). Ill definitely be visiting again soon.

Stopped in last evening for drinks and light dinner. Live music outside with excellent deck scene on street, all well integrated with interior that’s new and clean. Been to the Press Room many times in last twenty years except last few. Menu is even more casual than in past. Not much requiring a fork. But food is a serious improvement. I had burger special which was honestly one of best burgers I’ve ever had. Better than Lexie’s. Nachos were high on taste and almost seemed farm fresh. Service was attentive and friendly. Beer draft menu includes Guinness as in the past but also includes some local microbrews with backup bottled options if more variety is desired. Overall I’ll be going back more. The little city is much more lively with decks on street and the Press Room is primed and ready for action.

Atmosphere was cool, good decor and everything. Bartender was horrible and ruined the experience. Group of college aged friends and I sit at the bar, order our drinks, waited forever while they talked with other customers. Finally got my drink and it was very weak. Paid with no tip due to average service/quality. 10 minutes later the bartender walks up to us and say “hey not trying to sound like a d*** but you should tip more, i know you guys are young but I only make $5 an hour, you have to give me tips.” How about you stop begging for tips from a 23 year old and make quality drinks and not waste time. Bartender was patronizing and really ruined the experience. Didn’t order another drink, won’t go back here again.

Intimate venue,nice sound, excellent poutine

Service and staff is top notch! We recently hosted a going away party for a friend here and started our night in the back of the restaurant with catering - later moved upstairs to watch the show. Food was amazing, Piper was our server and worked the room with ease. Band was great (Toubab Krewe) - overall an amazing night, cant thank the press room enough!

Ive only been here a few times but its becoming one of my favorite spots in downtown Portsmouth! The first few times Ive come here have been for a couple drinks and a quick bite to eat. The beers and mixed drinks are very good and the food has been delicious every time. The staff is always pleasant and the atmosphere is very welcoming. Theres also another bar upstairs that has a stage for live music! We went for an open mic one night and had a great time! I highly recommend checking this spot out. Cheers!

The Press Room was one of the best bars I’ve ever been too. Joe was super knowledgable about the bar menu and gave us the best cocktail recommendations based on our tastes!

Horrible experience and rude staff. Went to Pressroom for a night out with the lads, the bouncers were extremely aggressive and overbearing. They made the atmosphere very uncomfortable for all of us and ruined what was a supposed to be a night of celebration. There are plenty of better options in Portsmouth like the goat, thirsty moose, and gaslight.

Beautiful place. 😻 (Odd thing to mention but...) I actually really liked the bathroom design. I was there to see a show and decided to arrive early and eat dinner there. I ordered the handmade veggie burger, made with root veggies. The concept is delicious, the reality not so much. It was very dry and literally cold. Burgers are a hot food you guys! 🙄 The fries were mediocre, the type of fry a non ketchup user 🙋 dumps ketchup on. Waitress was solo and i arrived during the beginning of a slam. She totally rocked it! The show was also pretty amazing (its a really good venue for intimate shows). Limited seating, a dance floor, and a balcony. The sound guy did a fantastic job too. The sound didnt rattle my brain or pierce my ears and was somehow still loud enough to not hear my own words! Thats quite a feat, cheers to the sound guy (bands or house? idk) 🍻

Good bar, solid food, good service, good value. Nothing to complain about here.Kudos to the staff; very efficient and with a great attitude. The menu is smart; they dont try to do a million things, but concentrate on some popular appetizers, sandwiches and salads. And in a town that is trending a bit pricy, Press Room keeps things affordable. Good job.

Great food in a true bar setting. Loved it. Buffalo chicken sandwich with waffle fries!

Probably the most dense bouncer I’ve ever encountered, dude doesn’t know what a Maine ID looks like, considering Portsmouth is about a rocks throw from the Maine border maybe you should look into it. Buddy it’s the press room not the ritz, drink a water and relax.

The Press Room has been my favorite locals bar in Portsmouth for years. Good food, great people, and AMAZING concert venue! No better place to go on the seacoast for live music, late night dancing, or simply a drink at the bar :)

This place is super cool. We stayed in an Airbnb basically footsteps from here, so one night we decided to hang out in the outdoor heated seating and grab some drinks. Our server, Jaki, was awesome, and we had a really good experience! The type of place you can hang at all night! Will definitely return when we’re back in the area.

Bouncer tonight was absolutely awful.I bought a beer at the bar (tipped well) and went outside at the press rooms own seating area to join my group. Bouncer followed me and took my beer for absolutely no reason considering everyone at the table was drinking and we caused zero problems. When I asked what the issue was he had no answer besides “I will call the police on you” causing a scene in front of everyone at the table and anyone around. If you can’t sit outside at your own bars seating area maybe say something about it at the bar when ordering? Absolutely ridiculous. Will never be back.

Came here recently after not being in for a few months. Not sure what happened to the food. The only reason we chose The Press Room was because the grilled cheese, tomato soup, and fries were OUT OF THIS WORLD amazing during previous visits. However, during our last visit the sandwich was lousy, soup was actually marinara sauce (and gross), and the fries were disgusting--tasted straight out of a freezer. Our waitress was not super attentive and forgot to put our drink order in until we asked where our drinks were. The cocktail selections are delicious and the atmosphere is nice. Im not sure if you guys got a new chef recently or cut down on food costs but its a huge mistake and clearly shows.

The food was surprisingly good. Price was slightly too high in my opinion. Decor is nice and updated. The service was FANTASTIC!!! Our waitress was absolutely on point! For that: press room is bumped up to five stars.

This wonderful place used to be a staple of my week, 10-15 yrs ago. It was nice to see it got a face lift but i feel it lost a lot of its charm. I was really looking forward to some live entertainment, which was the draw so many years ago. But at $10 per person cover charge, we decided to forgo it. The service was subpar and the giant televisions did not add a bit of charm to my old watering hole. Gone are the days of great live entertainment, good food and rustic dining.

Great place to see a show. Great service and real friendly associates. I would recommend this place.

This place never disappoints. The food is great and available late. The service has always been spot on and the drinks are always tasty. If youre looking to catch up with an old friend, share a laugh with your partner or throw down on an epic night with your crew I couldnt suggest a better place. Cheers to you Press Room. I will be back again soon.

Appears to be a great place to hang and listen to music. Walked in about 8:00pm last night went up stairs to see live music and sat right down at table near stage. Music was great and listened for about 20 minutes without a single person coming over and asking the 2 of us if we wanted anything. So we left. Note there is a sign posted before going upstairs that states you need to be vaccinated to go up stairs which I think is a little discriminatory. Will give it another visit.

Aggressive and rude bouncers that don’t know what a real New Hampshire ID looks like :) Couldn’t tell us what was wrong with it, but he “didn’t like it.” Thanks for being cautious, but just because you have tattoos and cool piercings doesn’t make you a good bouncer who actually can read an ID correctly. All love

Out of town people stay away! Went for a nice evening with my girlfriend, neither of us are from NH. The bartender was aggressive and hostile towards both of us and refused to serve us drinks because he “doesn’t know the out of state IDs”. Not a place we’ll be going back to, awful staff.

Denied entry without explanation on 2 separate occasions from the bouncer after speaking to management ensuring it would never happen again. Refused to provide explanation and door was slammed in our face after being physically pushed by the bouncer who has been seeing us there many times. Comical power trip from this bouncer, this is a Portsmouth bar not a Miami nightclub. Sadly ruined our groups experience in Portsmouth. Was previously our favorite spot in town until this

Spacious multilevel bar with dedicated live music space upstairs. Truly excellent service and highly diverse crowd. Bikers, finance bros, transgendered Eskimos, whatever. Everyone mixing freely and enjoying the music. Be sure and order their Sazerac cocktail, possibly the best Ive had, served as it should be. Highly recommended.

I came to this bar last week because my dad told me to meet him there. within 10 minutes of me getting a drink and leaving the bar tender a 100% tip on 1 beer, i was asked to leave and the bouncer refused to tell me why. at first i was just gonna let it be maybe he was just having a bad night. today i decided to give this bar and restaurant another chance and the same bouncer denied my real id and told my friend and i that we needed two forms of government id to get in. on top of that, denied my credit cards with my name on it, then resorted to asking if i knew anybody in there, as if that would confirm me being of age to drink. i am not the review type at all this is actually the first review ive ever written. im a local portsmouth business owner and now twice as ive tried to give this bar my business, ive been treated with complete disrespect by this establishment. the bouncers and bartenders are on a power trip, its a complete joke

Everything about this place is special. Staff is incredible, efficient and friendly. The entertainment schedule has a variety of shows to please most everyone at some point. The sweet chili cauliflower bites are my favorite app. and the Pinot Grigio is 👩‍🍳 💋

First time visiting down town Portsmouth. Trying to meet with a friend went to TJs across the street, IDd and everything was fine. Went to the press room and the bouncer exclusively picked people to go in. Once he asked for my Id I show it and he says he wants another form of Id cause he says so. Mind you I havent drank at all tonight and the bouncer wouldnt elaborate further. Terrible experience, dont recommend this spot if your new to the area. TJs was nice though.

Gluten free and vegan options available, got to see two amazing artist here and the care that the press room puts into the sound was unparallel

Great beer selection. I had a great time doodling to live jazz. Busy but not packed on a Monday night. Chairs pulled up around the musicians, folks moving on the dance floor. Kind waiter. Fun vibes!

Staff needs to be trained much better. My family has told me their two encounters with this place and each time it’s been AWFUL. Kicked out after they closed the tab and tipped 100% on the bill and got no response from the bouncer as to why. Second time, the same bouncer disrespected them AGAIN. He refused to let them into the bar after proper identification WAS shown and said he needs to see two forms of govt issued ID, but didn’t accept the second form bc there was no picture. Absolute BS. Look, I can understand being skeptical of an ID, but common sense speaks for itself, which the bouncer is clearly lacking. After he didn’t approve the REAL ids, he then asked if they knew anyone inside. What is this, a frat? Tf? There are so many other places that have much better service and are actually grateful for their customers. Very disheartening and shameful.

I just love this place. I havent had the opportunity to go in a long time, but coming back it holds true to all my expectations of great music and fun.

The Press Room is hands down my favorite room to see live music here in NH. Friendly staff, delicious food and proper drinks.There is something for everyone at The Press Room…jazz nights, indie rock, DJ’s, R&B, you name it, they book it. If you enjoy live music, you need to experience it here.

I got the honey fried chicken sandwich and it was good! The fries are good, as well. The atmosphere is a bit lacking and dark though.

We stopped in for the dueling piano bar and also had some food and drinks. Food was great, drink menu was decent and the overall atmosphere was exactly what we were looking for. We will be back for sure.

Had a fairly large (40 person) event planned through Erin and Sarah at the Press Room for their upstairs venue. This included a couple of moving parts (e.g. live DJ playing, food, ticket sales, etc.) that made the whole event a little bit of a bear to handle. Despite that, Erin and Sarah could not have been more helpful, supportive, and understanding as we worked things out! Their expertise in all stages of the process, as well as their attentiveness during the event itself, made the night a huge success and a really wonderful time. Food was great with only positive reviews from attendees, and bar was well-stocked without any issues throughout the night. Would absolutely do it all again in a heartbeat - they are excellent through and through!

Love the new polish and incarnation, but what the hell happened to the food? A few weeks ago we had a nice meal, well prepared while waiting for some people to get into town. We came back and everything was just not good, especially the wings. Cold and breaded? Not good at all. Grilled cheese and tomato soup should not be that difficult. Cold and greasy is not yummy.

We recently hosted our company holiday party for Aland Realty in the upstairs space of the Press Room. The staff, food and atmosphere were excellent and we highly recommend renting this space for a private party, event or work gathering. Thank you to the Press Room for such a memorable night for our company!

Great place for drinks. They have bands as well. Can get pretty crowded.

It was a nice interlude before the party started new bar. Nice vibe upstares. Downstairs was busy.

How do you get into this place? I got there at 8pm looking for a Guinness and some bar food. Place seemed very busy inside but the door was locked with a keypad on it? Went around back too but nothing there.

The Press Room is not wheelchair accessible due to a large step to get in. I was able to stop a few guys walking by who helped me up and in. Its tight by the bar but there are several low top tables to access. They have a good beer selection with knowledgeable bar tenders. Ive been in to see The Jazz Jam with Larry Garland and Friends which was downstairs. Bigger bands play upstairs and they say they can carry wheelchairs up but to call ahead.

Love the new look! First time I have been in since the renovations (ya, dont judge, Ive been away, LOL.) Absolutely love this updated space still pays homage to its history.Food was good also. My light lunch consisted of poutin also topped with some tomato and bacon... Yum!

We visited on Monday evening, starting at 5:30pm. The Celtic music jam was amazing-the regulars love to have new musicians join in. The music ranges from traditional to modern Celtic tunes.Then, we stayed for karaoke, hosted by Agatha Crusty - she is fun and does a great job.When next I visit Portsmouth, Ill definitely go back to the Press Room.

Ive been a patron of the Press Room since the late 70s. The did a pretty good job keeping the old vibe with the renovations. The menu is limited. Id like to see some soups and chili on the menu. The French fries are weird - overly coated and deep fried. With menu improvements Id give 5 starts.

I can’t drink alcohol due to a health condition but was accused in a rude manner of being drunk by the door bouncer. He was extremely rude and condescending!

Great fun staff. Great atmosphere. Great beer...what more could you want? Oh yeah...and they have music!!! ROCK ON

Great place to slip away and relax. Great service great atmosphere!

As others have said this is a great bar where anybody and everybody should feel at home.I love the music by local writers/performers.The fish and chips are my reason for 4 food stars. Cant speak for the rest of the food.Service is OK and the decor is Press Room non-chic.

Press room always offers a great time from the downstairs to the upstairs. You can catch some local music upstairs, or relax and sip some tasty drinks downstairs. Not to mention, I left a real nice jacket there for 3 days without remembering to call them and they were nice enough to keep it safe for me!! You cannot go wrong with the Press Room.

Joe was the best bartender ever!!! I really enjoyed my time at the Press Room and he made my time at the Press Room so worthwhile!! 10/10 would visit again!

Fun spot and key spot in Portsmouth. When I visited, the music downstairs was kinda loud hard to have a good conversation. Better experienced is upstairs for a cover charge.

The piano bar upstairs was absolutely great. Surprisingly, the Chili con Cocao was really good. I expected average bar chili and it was really, really good. Try it.

Excellent little spot for a drink and some live music. Chill place to hang.

Please do a quality check on your menu. The Warm Spinach Salad was a pile of sautéed spinach. I like spinach and the flavor/texture and dish as a whole was very unappetizing. I like the other food although its a bit pricey for a bar.

Fear not, the renovation did not shatter the charm. Weve been drinking in this place for three generations. Its amazing. Great service, great music venue, just the best in town.

The people are awesome, the music is always bumpin, and the food is delicious. Highly recommend the press pockets and the fiction 101 when in season. All around great service, we love Dan!

Really good food and service. Had options for vegetarian eaters and nice selection of drinks. Ambiance was also great!

Our bartender made two drinks for us -- a gin & tonic and an old fashioned. Both tasted awful. Not even close to how they should taste. I suggest all the bartenders there get a refresher on mixology.

The Press Room never disappoints. It has been, and always will remain one of Portsmouths best spots for locals. Thank you to Tristan and team for always providing exactly what we need.

Serendipitous find walking back to the office from the post office. Fridays they have live music lunch. The decor is very warm and inviting. The reuben was fantastic. Not your deli sliced corn beef here, no it was moist tender chunks. Great find, Ill be back!

Great atmosphere... Awesome sound... Fantastic bands... Tasty beverages... Clean bathroom... Sitting, standing, dancing options for crowd. I love the Press Room

Venue is a little narrow and the stage is the floor, which means if youre not up front when the band starts, youre not seeing them. Sound was good, drinks were typical, staff was friendly. I would come back for an acoustic show.

The new press room has a rejuvenated vibe, great food and drink selections, sidewalk seating options, and fantastic staff. Definitely time to reconnect with this new take on a classic Portsmouth destination.

Excellent food, drinks, and service. First time here and really enjoyed it.

We went to the Press Room for the first time Tuesday for the Jazz Jam. Wonderful venue, music, food and service. A+. We’ll be back soon.

Stumbled into this bar and we had a great experience with 2 cover bands on 11/4 Saturday night.

We eat here all the time. Good food and the prices arent bad especially if you go when there are beer specials.

The Press Room is where anyone whos a part of what makes Portsmouth a Top Ten Small Town Place to Live in the U.S hangs out and orders a meal.The food is fine, the service fantastic (come when Lonis working), and manager Bruce Pingree is a local legend.You miss this spot and you dont know why P-town is THE spot in New Hampshire, if not of all of New England. The Press Room is a treasure.

The best local bar. Music upstairs on most nights.

Amazing experience as always! Saw Diaspora Radio performing Sgt Peppers album. Fantastic!

Really cool space. Multiple levels with live music and a friendly staff. For drinking and mixing with locals and visitors alike it was a fun visit!

Enjoyed the cocktails and visited the upstairs as well. They have live entertainment. I do not usually hang out downtown but, will stop by again for a drink if I do. The Painkiller was decadent.

The Press Room is a great place to see live music! The sound and sight lines are great, the staff are super friendly and they have great food to boot - whats not to love?

The press room is a great hang out spot. Frequent live music and a cozy atmosphere even though the space isnt even small. Great group of people here, definitely worth checking out.

Loved this little bar so much. The bartender was amazing. The drinks were amazing. The food was absolutely amazing. I would go back again. 10/10

Love this place, its a Tavern-like beer bar with a good crowd usually in the upper 20s. They have live music upstairs every night. Highly recommend stopping through here

Terrible experience here. Attempted to host a formal here and instead of kicking someone out, they kicked out the entire party and left us stranded and ended the party after 30 minutes. Ridiculous and I will never do business with them again.

Live music upstairs is my favorite part of this place. Theres a third floor balcony where you can watch the band too.

Everything about the press room is amazing. Great food, friendly & knowledgeable staff, fun atmosphere.

Ive sent so many people here from another restaurant over the past few years. It wont be on my list of suggestions anymore. Watch out for Ben. He wont let you back in if you get the hiccups. Im not sure what kind of trading hes had, but it wasnt enough. I had had four beers over the course of 4 hours but after a smoke break with hiccups I wasnt allowed back in for squatting while trying to get rid of them.

Stopped in for a beer. Great atmosphere, staff took good care of us. Large selection of draft beer and plenty of bourbon.

Amazing food, service and atmosphere. But $14 for a single drink.. ouch!

Cool atmosphere but the waiter and bartender were more interested in taking shots then getting our drinks made

It was overall very good BUT they sell a ribeye on their menu but deliver a sirloin (overcooked) to the table. False advertising and kinda like ordering a lobster and getting cod.

Excellent cocktails. Great atmosphere. The drinks dont disappoint. Yet to try the food but will be back.

We tried almost every appetizer and they were all delicious. Great food and really cool atmosphere.

First time here. Went for a couple post dinner drinks. Staff was great and prices were exceptional.

Best chicken sandwiches handsdownn!!! Nom nom 10/10 would eat it again

Motown Greatness 🙌 👏 👌 🙏 ✨️ ❤️ amazing show! Great seats at bar! Great drinks and Food!!! Will be back soon!

Went to 2 shows there recently, the sound and food were amazing both times! Consistency is very important.

Love this place for the live music. If you are a jazz fan Tuesday night is the time to be there.

I give this place 5 stars because its an institution. Great music, good food and terrific service. Its one of my favorites in town.

Great Pub atmosphere, food was good, wait staff was great. Stayed for the evening show...out of the park.

This place was legit.Service, food, entertainment & atmosphere. Definitely worth checking out

Its great now, I guess I just miss the feeling of not knowing if tonight was the night we all fell through the dancing at one of the awesome shows there back in the day.

The new Press Room is better than ever! Has the same cozy vibe, with a great new menu and incredible upstairs music venue.

Played a gig there and they really know what theyre doing. Place was awesome and staff was friendly. Wish I lived closer!

Great burger, meat atmosphere. Server was great.

Great low key atmosphere. Diverse selection of unique craft brews. Lots of seating and an upstairs

Great spot for drinks, food, and entertainment

Amazing venue, got engaged there and the staff brought us champagne... Very friendly people !! Thank you press room!!!

Its not always about size. Press Room has the big room energy packed Into a small venue.

Beautiful venue with excellent food and live music. Highly recommend the Sunday night jazz offerings.

Great atmosphere, Great light show, great live DJ music, affordable drinks!

Service seems to have gone down, little interaction with those at the bar. In 2 hrs, the staff never asked if our party wanted more drinks.

Awesome , love the ambience. Like NYC club. Service outstanding, and audience so respectful.

Nice little bar. Host great music nights. Worth a look if you are looking for a quaint place in Portsmouth.

Had a good meal and beer, friendly staff who enjoyed themselves while still giving good service, music upstairs

Best place in Portsmouth for a cold beer and great sandwich - fantastic burgers and fish&chips

Awesome dueling pianos... allot of fun and was the best experience live performance in a long time

The bar is loud and the food is okay. Usually really good local live music in the upstairs area.

Went to see my friend Dj Tuggy play and it was a great time. Staff was safe and friendly.

The bartenders were unnecessarily rude. I would never go back

Great bar, live music sold place to have a beer downtown

We had a great meal, great service and great show- A Comedy of Errors!.

My favorite local pub. Excellent music, great beer, very good food.

Nice place staff was helpful , drinks are not bad , they have the classics. Venu was good.

Nice vibe. A bit of an older crowd but good drinks and nice staff.

Great music venue! Very intimate, good sound, and great bar staff.

Always a good place to stop Im for a relaxed inviroment while having drinks.

This is a classic venue with some great music - the POS system is a little scary looking but if it aint broke, dont fix it.

Saw San Soucy last night. An evening with the dead heads. Great fun !! Awesome music!!

Always hoppin, upstairs for ShakesBeerIENCE, full house great food and drink, great entertainment. Fun evening!

Loved this place. Was there for a local open mic night on Valentines day and had a blast.

Disgusting act of power by the bouncer. Wouldnt spend my money here.

Great night having some pints. Staff is the best!!

Great music, both live and recorded. Excellent service and food!

I love how chill the press room is upstairs and down, good food, strong drinks, friendly crowd and always great music.

My favorite bar in Portsmouth! Great atmosphere, fun staff, great music.

Its alright if you want to grab a few drinks with friends, good staff from what I see. Kinda small tho