The Bow Hotel

Location: 121 Bow Street, Portsmouth, us

Star Rating: 2 Stars

Property Type: Inns

About this Property

Important Information

Policies

Check-in: 04:00 PM - 09:00 PM

Check-out: 11:00 AM

Amenities & Facilities

• Parking
• Non-smoking rooms
• Air conditioning
• Lift / Elevator
• Express check-in/check-out
• Non-smoking throughout
• Staff adhere to local safety protocols
• Guest rooms disinfected between stays
• Cleaning standards that are effective against Coronavirus
• Physical distancing rules followed
• Cashless payment available
• First aid kit available
• Contactless check-in/check-out
• Guests can opt-out any cleaning services during stay
• Shared stationery like menus, pens are removed
• Process in place to check health of guests
• Key card access
• Express check-in
• Free wired internet
• Self parking (surcharge)
• Internet access
• Housekeeping on request
• Bicycle-friendly property

Rooms Available

• King Studio Suite

  1 King Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed

  Layout - Separate sitting area

  Internet - Free WiFi

  Entertainment - 32-inch flat-screen TV with cable channels

  Sleep - Memory foam bed, premium bedding, and bed sheets

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower/tub combination, bathrobes, and designer toiletries

  Practical - Iron/ironing board, desk, and wardrobe or closet

  Comfort - Air conditioning and climate-controlled heating

  Need to Know - Housekeeping on request

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 4 (2 Adults)

  • TV
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Bathrobe
  • Desk
  • Private bathroom
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Hypo-allergenic bedding available
  • Designer toiletries
  • Premium bedding
  • Separate sitting area
  • Free WiFi
  • Memory foam mattress
  • Bedsheets provided

• Petite Queen

  1 Queen Bed

  Internet - Free WiFi

  Entertainment - 32-inch flat-screen TV with cable channels

  Sleep - Memory foam bed, premium bedding, and bed sheets

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower/tub combination, bathrobes, and designer toiletries

  Practical - Iron/ironing board, desk, and wardrobe or closet

  Comfort - Air conditioning and climate-controlled heating

  Need to Know - Housekeeping on request

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • TV
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Bathrobe
  • Desk
  • Private bathroom
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Hypo-allergenic bedding available
  • Designer toiletries
  • Premium bedding
  • Free WiFi
  • Memory foam mattress
  • Bedsheets provided

• Queen Room

  This room comes with a flat-screen cable TV.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Shower
  • TV
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Refrigerator
  • Desk
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Heating
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Linen
  • Toilet paper

• Deluxe Queen Room

  This spacious room comes with a flat-screen cable TV.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Shower
  • TV
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Refrigerator
  • Desk
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Heating
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Linen
  • Toilet paper

• Deluxe King Room

  Featuring a seating area, this spacious room comes with a flat-screen cable TV.

  Max Occupancy: 4 (2 Adults)

  • Shower
  • TV
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Refrigerator
  • Desk
  • Seating Area
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Heating
  • Sofa
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Linen
  • Toilet paper

• King Room

  Providing free toiletries, this double room includes a private bathroom with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. The air-conditioned double room provides a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a seating area, a carpeted floor, heating as well as city views. The unit offers 1 bed.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Shower
  • TV
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Refrigerator
  • Desk
  • Seating Area
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Heating
  • Linen
  • Toilet paper

Guest Reviews

• Edward (4/5): - The location was great. The room was attractively decorated and bright. The worst bed we’ve ever slept in. Impossibly soft and non-supporting. The floor might have been more comfortable.
• Meredith (9/5): Overall, just terrific. I would stay there again, for sure. - I liked the refurbished rooms, the cleanliness, the fancy bathrobes, and the pantry. The location is just about perfect and within walking distance of all that downtown Portsmouth has to offer. The off-street parking availability is a bonus. I also appreciated that help was both responsive and only a phone call away. The rooms could use a real blanket to be used on chilly nights. I think parking should be included in the room price. Two of my companions are not particularly techno-savvy and had they been alone would have struggled with instructions for keyless entry.
• Todd (9/5): Best place to stay in Portsmouth for a weekend getaway or week long stay for two people. - The room was cozy and clean and the location was prime. Centrally located and walking distance from everything Portsmouth and even the Kittery side since you are right next to the bridge to Maine and walking distance to several eating locations on that side. Location, efficient and easy to check in, park and get settled. No need for a car to get around the city and experience Portsmouth's charm.
• Joanne (10/5): Great stay in a cool place right in the heart of Portsmouth. - Great location, cool vibe, clean! Easy access and close by parking. Nothing !
• Renee (9/5): Location made this an excellent stay. - Location was excellent - rooms clean & communication very quick and reliable Small rooms but has all the essentials- pillows were too thick for me, Perhaps a choice of 2 types.
• Christine (9/5): Great location - We've been staying here for years. GREAT location. The remodeled shower are nice. Robes. New fancy coffee machine. Comfortable beds, rooms, lighting. They offer parking spot for a fee Confusion over parking spots. Registered to have one both nights. On second night none marked Bow were available. There are 7 spots for 10 rooms. They used to have 10. Totally understand if I didn't get one first come. But no one said we didn't have one when I reserved and paid. Would they charge for second night if I didn't complain? Little bit sketchy. Was told to still park in lot. Not risking that! It's a pay lot for non guests also a church lot. Not risking a ticket or tow.
• Linda (10/5): - Next door to the theater we wnt to and an easy walk to lots of cool place's and restaurants. Didn't really like the coffee station. I can only have decals and brought my own pods but no kerig machine to make it.
• Sarah (5/5): -
• David (9/5): - Clean Comfortable and close to my event!
• katherine (9/5): - We were just there overnight so we did not spend much time at the hotel but we would consider another stay in the future. The room was clean and had everything you would need.
• Bonnie (6/5): I still dont know if its pronounced "bow" or "bow" - Location. The church bells started before 7am. VERY drafty windows with roller shades, had to put stuff in front of the shades when drawn to keep them from blowing into the room. The roller shades did not block out the light, so if you have a room with an east facing window next to the bed like I did, you get a beam of sunlight straight into your eyes at sunrise. Uncomfortable feather pillows. My allergies did not like them. The bathroom sink felt like it would come off the wall if any pressure was put on it. ONE super tiny trashcan with an inner diameter akin to a solo cup, it was annoying to put trash in it. Parking is a required accessory, yet an additional $35 fee, and isn't guaranteed when renting a room. The lot is shared so it is a tight fit to park even with the hotel's 7 reserved spots.
• Paul (10/5): I enjoyed my brief stay at the Bow Hotel. I highly recommend it when visiting Portsmouth. - It was clean, comfortable, and priced very reasonably. I also like the location. Short walk to downtown. Would have loved free parking, but that wasn't a big issue.
• Wendy (10/5): highly recommend location! - Great location! Friendly staff! Convenient and easy! N/A
• Sinead (9/5): -
• Michael (9/5): Beds were incredibly comfortable. Great location in Portsmouth. -
• John (10/5): -
• Kasey (6/5): -
• Joan (8/5): -
• Leslie (8/5): -
• Christine (7/5): Great location, otherwise now disappointing - We have stayed at this inn numerous times when it was The Ale House. It is now the Bow Hotel. The location is fabulous. The newly renovated shower is very nice. But since the change of owner some things have gone downhill. The coffee machine that worked once in 2 stays this year was frustrating. The elevator was down one day too. The common area sofa is now really gross. They used to have some free snacks, now they have a self serve/honor pay shelf. Sounds picky but it had nice touches considering the price. We were disappointed in June 2025 and August 2025 for the money. We travel to see family in Portsmouth every year but considering looking into new place to stay as the best thing about this is the location. The auto key locked us out 10 minutes early and the person we called to let us back into the room (we were loading the car) seemed annoyed. I used to love this place. Meh.
• Donna (5/5): - The room was modern and clean The toilet wasnt secure to the floor. Had wedges to try and stop it from moving. Waited for 2.5 hrs to get a check in code that never arrived, no reply over email. Finally got code to get into the room and there was no key so another 20 minute delay. Arrived at 4pm got into the room at 7:30, our night in Portsmouth was wasted. Could hear what people were saying through the walls
• mcgrail (7/5): - Good location and fairly clean Very loud from other guests. No insulation between rooms. Expensive for what was offered. Light came through the windows at night and early in the morning due to poor blind covers. Room #7
• Patrick (10/5): Unique spot - Great location. Super comfortable. Easy check in Nothing not to like
• Pierre (8/5): Séjour agréable - Chambre très confortable et bien équipée , moderne, propre Emplacement parfait à proximité du centre historique Parking en face de l’hôtel aucun accueil ni contact avec le personnel À notre arrivée nous n’avions pas le code de la porte d’entrée, ni celui pour récupérer la clé de la chambre. il a fallu téléphoner. Finalement ça s’est assez vite résolu
• Sarah (7/5): - Comfortable bed. Good location No staff when we arrived in the rain mid afternoon. Check in not straightforward
• Shelle (6/5): - There was no staff on site. I didn't receive check in email so didn't have the code to get in front door. When i called to get the code the staff gave me the wrong code. Thankfully an employee from the business downstairs knew the code. When he gave us the code he said lots of people in the last week had been given incorrect codes.
• Eli (10/5): -
• Stacey (10/5): - This property offered great parking. It was very walkable to restaurants and shopping and the whole property was very clean and safe.
• Timothy (4/5): Did not Like “virtual hotel” model - will not stay there again - Location and free parking Key system and entry - no front desk, checkout confusing, tv difficult for basic stations
• Gilbert (9/5): -
• Jeffrey (4/5): - 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.
• Charles (10/5): -
• Veronica (8/5): -
• Melissa (7/5): Good location! - The location is great! You can easily walk to restaurants and shops. The room was very clean and the bed was incredibly comfortable. Though there's no staff on site, we were able to reach someone when we had a question before our arrival. Reading other reviews I was a little worried about the digital key, but it ended up being fine. You have to install an app to set up a digital key on your phone. They send you a text the day before and day of your reservation. The text they sent me went to spam, so check there if you don't receive a text (or call like I did - they were able to help). The app requires that you turn on your location and Bluetooth in order for it to work. Unfortunately we were not able to reach anyone on the phone right before our check out. On our way back from breakfast on the morning of check out (at like 10:15am) the digital key stopped working. We tried calling the number for assistance, and no one answered. Eventually someone from the cleaning staff helped us get in our room so we could get our stuff to check out on time (it probably took about 15 minutes). Not a huge deal, but kind of stressful to think that no one was there to help - we were lucky someone from the cleaning staff was already on site. Also parking is an additional fee of $35
• DOUGLAS (6/5): - ?
• Lisa (8/5): - 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.
• Helena (8/5): When they get a better key system, go! Til then, don't. - Location is perfect. Once you pay your $35 per day for parking, you can walk everywhere in downtown Portsmouth. That's no small benefit in an old city. Plus, hotel is above a playhouse - check out their offerings! The electronic key system is ATROCIOUS. You can't get into room electronically. Period. Another couple was wandering around when we appeared. At least I had a phone number with a helpful voice and there were backup physical keys. A second concern is there really could be better lighting so you could read.
• Amanda (10/5): - 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.
• Timothy (6/5): - Did not like check in procedure. Requires internet connection which is not guaranteed. Downloading the app took more than 15 mins without WiFi.
• Nancy (5/5): Great location, but needs improvements - Great location. Housekeeping staff were great! Unsuitable for business travel (no desk, limited outlets, insecure WiFi). Entrance is via steep steps exposed to the elements. Check in process extremely poor.
• Joel (7/5): -
• Clark (9/5): Great location! -
• LaurenB82 (3/5): We were bamboozled by The Bow Hotel. You are paying completely for the location. - You are paying completely just for the location, which was great. But that was about it. The bed was comfortable. Parking is an additional $35. There is not ONE person on staff at the actual "hotel." The coffee machine didn't work, so unless you wanted a keurig dunkin donut pod, you were out of luck. The walls were paper thin so you could hear neighbors easily. The "key" to the room requires downloading an app and figuring out how to use/activate it. What if your phone didn't have any charge on it? What if you were older and didn't understand how to navigate that? Well, my boyfriend ended up having to help an old couple who had no clue how to get into their room. The room doors closed SO LOUDLY and housekeeping was working early so every single noise and bang would make it impossible to sleep in at all. The shower barely got hot. No fan in the bathroom. The price of the hotel was high for what you get.
• Canipe (10/5): -
• donald (8/5): - A+
• Cynthia (8/5): 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.
• LJ Leite (10/5): Love this hotel - Loved the center of town location. The room was beautiful. Everything went seamlessly. I'd stay at Bow Hotel again and again. Honestly, I've never said that before about a hotel, we usually want to check out new places. A microwave would have been handy even just in the communal area because portsmouths restaurant portions are HUGE. The parking is famously crazy in portsmouth, and even the banks will charge for parking while the bank is closed! BOW HOTEL providing a spot right across from the hotel was wonderful. BUT. I do think that offering a free parking spot with your hotel stay would make the hotel look above the rest of portsmouth, classier, it would make guests feel more taken care of even more so than hotels with staff on site. I myself didn't need any staff and felt comfortable not having anyone there. I did have questions about the parking and got a customer service person immediately. I do think that the free parking spot, if given, should be mentioned repeatedly in the transactions so the out of towers realize how rare it is. Even if u tack it on to each night and say it's free. Having it separate seems grubby like the banks, lol. Im from mass and met friends from Gloucester for dinner. The first thing they said to us was how was ur parking? Restaurant people offered advice on how to find free parking. I said our hotel has parking. They said your HOTEL HAS FREE PARKING ?? I said well no.. we are paying the hotel for one of the hotel's spots. I realize parking is a big thing in portsmouth, so charging for an additional spot would be reasonable. That said, I would stay at the Bow Hotel every time we visit portsmouth. The only things that would have made it flawless would be a bathtub, a microwave, and free parking. Loved our stay ❤️
• Christina (6/5): - 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.
• Anita (10/5): - Great Location, comfortable beds, spacious rooms.
• Krystyna (10/5): Clean, convenient, perfect location, easy & safe parking. Comfortable bed! - Loved the location, easy access, very convenient check in and out process, great communication. Very quiet. Adorable room! Absolutely worth every penny! I loved it
• Johanna (8/5): Easy, cute stay in downtown Portsmouth. - Our room was big, clean, and had fantastic lighting (something so many hotels get wrong!). Nice bathroom, great shower, comfy bed. Robes & umbrellas were a nice touch. You have to download an app to unlock your room. Parking is convenient but expensive ($35/night) and there is no unloading zone. We arrived in the rain and there is no awning.
• kristi (9/5): - locale, the vibe it was a bit small and we pairs extra for an upgrade yet the view wasn't very good . i thought a superior king would be bigger and nice view.. it wasn't worth it and the venting was very hard to control.. it was very cold.. the staff did help fix it
• Richard (8/5): -
• Allyson (3/5): Disappointing. Not what was expected. - I couldn’t access the property. Neither the Bow Hotel nor booking.com gave me complete access to property. Instead, I was instructed to access a 3rd party app that I was not able to access. Luckily, after about an hour of reaching out online and calling to no avail, I saw a person who appeared to be a staff member that gave me keys. If not for her, I would not have had access. Also, I booked because of reviews for the amazing coffee bar set up, and the machine was broken for 2 days and on another day there were no cups.
• Michele (8/5): Great location, clean room, nicely furnished, would stay again if ever back in Portsmouth, NH. - Great location within walking distance of many restaurants, attractions and just a stroll across the bridge to Kittery, ME lobster shacks. Very clean room and quality of furniture and decor was top notch. No staff on-site. Although it did say on-line there was staff available 9 to 5 pm we were able to contact someone by phone with a question about parking.
• Francesca (4/5): - On the plus side, the location is good and you can walk everywhere. Decor was nice. The rest wasn't great for us. The room had a window at most 10-11 inches across and maybe 3 feet high, up toward the ceiling like in a movie prison cell. It was dark and depressing. The towels and floor had long brown hairs on them, with clumps of it under the desk, so no kudos on the cleaning. The room was freezing and no way to control the AC. Staff was responsive by text, but they are offsite so you never see a person. No lobby, no grounds. All in all a weird experience, and we stayed out of the room as much as possible. If refundable, would have looked for another option.
• Joanna (8/5): Convenient location, lounge with games, honesty drinks and snacks available. - The rustic atmosphere was pleasant. There was coffee and cappuccino available in the morning. We arrived late without alerting the staff, but they were available when we called and walked us through the after hours check-in process. We had to carry our bags up a set of steps to get to the exterior door. However, this may have been because we arrived after hours.
• Rusty (4/5): - They contacted me on multiple occasions to see if there was anything I needed. Each time, I told them the internet was out, and the television did not work. Each time, they promised get back to me. They never got back to me even to say it could not be fixed. However, they continued to send automated messages asking if there was anything I needed.
• molly (9/5): Excellent stay would come back again and again. - The room was big And comfortable very clean and very well decorated. Love the expresso machine for all your coffee needs. The location was excellent everything you need in walking distance. Parking could get a little tricky.
• irit (2/5): גרוע!! גם היו שיפוצים מ 8:00 בבוקר רעש!! - רק את הרחוב. א. לא יצרו איתי קשר לצורך צ׳ק אין. ב. כתבתי יותר מפעם אחת, גם למלון, גם ל בוקינג קום וגם התקשרתי ואמרתי שאגיע ב 11:30, כיוון שאני עוזבת מלון אחר. ביקשתי להניח את המזוודה בחדר מזוודות וללכת לטייל. ג. כאמור, לא נתנו פרטים על צ׳ק אין. כאשר התקשרתי ב 11:30, בבוקר להגיד שאני בחוץ ומבקשת את הקוד לדלת הכניסה לבניין, לא ענו בטלפון! חיכיתי בגשם! למזלי אחרי רבע שעה יצאה משפחה וכך יכולתי להכנס לבניין. יש לציין שהמשפחה היתה מצוברחת ואב המשפחה אמר שהיו להם הרבה בעיות. עם המזוודה בחוץ!
• michael (10/5): - It was super convenient to everything in town and very comfortable.
• Ketiesha (7/5): Fantastic location and cute set up. - Loved the location and the bed was super comfy. Compact but luxurious. Loo was broken and didn’t receive the instruction email so had a bit of a stressful time trying to call from my New Zealand mobile. Also, teeny tiny bathroom.
• Ty (6/5): - Not really full service hotel but great location.
• Johnathan (10/5): - My wife and I loved our stay here at the Bow. We enjoyed the location and its proximity to all the shopping and restaurants near by. The room is spacious with beautiful decor. The only thing to be aware of is that noise travels very easily in this establishment, other than that I would recommend staying here.
• Miriam (8/5): Cinderella Musical Show. - It was a very convenient hotel, close to restaurants, shopping, Theatre and much more.
• Joerg (8/5): Great location and everything you need. - Excellent location; very small window without view - but a window to open!! No breakfast, but who wants a lame hotel breakfast when you have the entire town right in your front yard with countless phantastic options.
• Tristan (10/5): - Awesome
• Thomas (8/5): Nice Hotel - Great Location - Pros and Cons - The Bow Hotel has a fantastic location, right in the middle of Portsmouth!! There are pros and cons. The parking and self check-in was a problem only because there was no communication and little information. I needed to download and app to gain entry and was forced to call several times. However, the location could not have been better, comfortable beds, good coffee, reasonable price. I would definitely recommend it, but I prefer a hotel with a front desk and basic services as opposed to a DIY process. Good stay but could have been a little better due to minor inconveniences.
• Lisa (10/5): Exceptional - Very central location
• Linda (2/5): - TV was constantly refreshing. 100% not functional.
• Michael (10/5): - Lovely place to stay. Thank you!
• Gretchen (10/5): Fun solo trip! - Adorable hotel close to downtown. Called ahead to reserve a parking spot and they were very helpful.
• Mickey (6/5): 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.
• Keith (8/5): Very good -
• Bradford (7/5): Nice facilities, but overall an odd place to stay - Clean, stylish rooms. Great location near the center of it all. Short walk to Moxy was appreciated. “Invisible service” was dystopian and alienating, and not at all what I was expecting. This sort of thing needs to be made clearer upfront, as I would have never knowingly selected in such an impersonal hotel. Get ready for a texted key code to enter the building, no front desk, and an AI chat bot to answer your texted questions. The unstaffed floor was eerie and felt very 2025 in all the wrong ways, which would be understandable in somewhere like Las Vegas, I guess, but felt especially odd juxtaposed with a historic town like Portsmouth.
• Tiffany (8/5): - 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.
• Bridget (10/5): - Within walking distance to shops and dining. Easy check in and out.
• Eamon (8/5): - We thought the room was very clean and comfortable , and loved that we could walk to the places we wanted to visit
• Joel M Cutler (10/5): - It was great will go again
• Kathleen (6/5): - 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.
• Jonathan (6/5): - 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
• James (10/5): - Awesome DIY experience here! Great location! Very cool room, but on the smaller side. Loved the key on my phone app!
• Linda (10/5): - Quick overnight triip to see Portsmouth and meet family for dinner. Location for exploring downtown Portsmouth on foot is perfect.
• Christine (7/5): GREAT location, needs quite a few improvements to get back to how nice it used to be - I have stayed at The Ale House, now The Bow Inn, numerous times over the last few years. It is in the perfect location for exploring and shopping in Portsmouth. They have updated the rooms/very neutral, the bathroom shower is beautifully tiled and practical. Comfortable bed. The same bath products are still offered and very nice. Parking can be purchased for daily rate, convenient but pricey. Polite housekeeping. Obviously they have been renovating and updating. Unfortunately, the small fireplace is gone, the leather sofa in the common area was gross, the nitro coffee machine is gone. That was such a nice touch in prior visits. The new 'fancy' coffee machine that is there now never worked the whole 4 day visit ! The elevator was broken one day. They no longer sell the bath products. They use digital key which in this day and age should mean it turns off at check out time at 11:00 am but they locked us out at 10:50am and our luggage was still in the room. Was able to call someone immediately but they acted so bothered (the housekeeper let us in, very nice)
• Liane (3/5): Never again. - Newly renovated and very clean. Good bed linens. You need a code to get into the building which they didn’t send us. A passerby gave us the code bcz it was pouring rain; what kind of security is that? You need to download an app to get into the room, but it wdnt download. Said it was incompatible with my iphone. Another guest was also locked out in the hall. I cd go on. But you get the idea.
• Monica (8/5): - 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.
• Molly (8/5): Very good - Great location. Cool hotel. Sofa bed was new and very confortable No extra bedding for sofa bed.
• Brian (9/5): Superb -
• Mary (6/5): - 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.
• Brianna (6/5): - 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.
• Samuel (8/5): - Good spot to stay . A little hiccup with the ownership and name change. It all worked out.
• George (8/5): - Convenient
• Marcelo (3/5): Poor - No lights. No heating.
• Lisa (8/5): Very good -
• Lisa (10/5): Exceptional -
• Thomas (3/5): Poor - I was notified weeks before that I'd be moved to a different hotel due to renovations. Then I was sent texts and messages day before and day of stay telling me to go to original hotel on Bow Street and giving me a code to get in the building. I went in the building and followed all the signs to take the elevator upstairs and place was fully under construction. I called the number on the texts and was rudely told to " follow the email" and that the texts were automated. Very confusing and inconvenient! My only issue at the Hotel Portsmouth was rudeness of staff. There was a breakfast bar and as I was eating he yelled at me that he wasn't done setting up yet. Hotel was nice and unique, but communication about hotel change and staff could be better!
• Lisa (10/5): We came for our anniversary weekend and had a wonderful time! - It was within walking distance of all the great shops and restaurants on and around market street. The rooms were clean and cozy and the sitting area was nice.
• Tina (8/5): - Location is great, walkable To everything. Parking is available but process is a little clunky. Otherwise everything was great.
• Jessica (7/5): Good - Elevator was cold, shower would not drain and the contactless check in was a little complicated. Didn’t get my code at check in time, had to call and you have to download an app to get your digital key. Room was very cute and clean though. Excellent location
• Adam (6/5): - No staff(had to call parent property to be helped) dated (rooms need to be updated). Property was lacking amenities.

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