Outdoor Dining with a View in New Hampshire
These dining spots pair delicious dishes with unforgettable scenery
After the snowiest, coldest winter in half a decade, Granite Staters have more than earned a cold cocktail and delicious dinner paired with a perfect sunset view. Whether you want to relax by the water or take in the White Mountains, these five restaurants promise a side of spectacular vistas with your meal.
Perched atop the AC Hotel Portsmouth and The Envio, you will find Rooftop at the Envio, offering delicious food and drinks, with panoramic views of the Piscataqua River. Courtesy/ Rooftop at the Envio
Rooftop at the Envio, Portsmouth
There’s only one rooftop bar open to the public in Portsmouth, and it’s located at the Envio. Luckily, it also has a whopping 180 seats. “The rooftop overlooks all of Portsmouth, including the harbor,” says Bill Hart, director of food and beverage. The vibe is modern, but casual. “You get a lot of people that just want to relax, look at the water and have a cocktail.”
Peak rooftop dining is, of course, during the summertime, but this particular rooftop has options for those who wish they could eat outdoors in the middle of December too. In the winter months, all the usual tables and chairs are replaced by two big igloos that seat six each.
“We rent them out for two-hour blocks at a time,” Hart says. “I can’t remember a day when they weren’t full.”
He recommends making a reservation a few weeks in advance, though sometimes walk-ins have lucked out when the weather has led to cancellations.
Chef Laura Horan has curated a menu of modern New England seafare, like warm crab dip, lobster poutine, and a rotating locally-sourced fish dish, mixed with other protein and vegetarian options. Hart particularly recommends the clam chowder, red pepper dip, lamb meatballs and short ribs.
For those seeking a more interactive experience, Rooftop at the Envio has started hosting monthly, themed cocktail classes. In February, for example, attendees learned to make martinis at the Be My Valentini class. March was Jameson-focused, while October was “Spirits and Spirits” — the cocktail lesson came with a side of spooky ghost stories.
There’s only one rooftop bar open to the public in Portsmouth, and it’s located at the Envio. Luckily, it also has a whopping 180 seats. “The rooftop overlooks all of Portsmouth, including the harbor,” says Bill Hart, director of food and beverage. The vibe is modern, but casual. “You get a lot of people that just want to relax, look at the water and have a cocktail.”
Braised short ribs with mushrooms, truffle polenta and roasted baby carrots. Courtesy/ Rooftop at the Envio
Peak rooftop dining is, of course, during the summertime, but this particular rooftop has options for those who wish they could eat outdoors in the middle of December too. In the winter months, all the usual tables and chairs are replaced by two big igloos that seat six each.
“We rent them out for two-hour blocks at a time,” Hart says. “I can’t remember a day when they weren’t full.”
He recommends making a reservation a few weeks in advance, though sometimes walk-ins have lucked out when the weather has led to cancellations.
Chef Laura Horan has curated a menu of modern New England seafare, like warm crab dip, lobster poutine, and a rotating locally-sourced fish dish, mixed with other protein and vegetarian options. Hart particularly recommends the clam chowder, red pepper dip, lamb meatballs and short ribs.
For those seeking a more interactive experience, Rooftop at the Envio has started hosting monthly, themed cocktail classes. In February, for example, attendees learned to make martinis at the Be My Valentini class. March was Jameson-focused, while October was “Spirits and Spirits” — the cocktail lesson came with a side of spooky ghost stories.
299 Vaughan St., Portsmouth • rooftopportsmouth.com
Walter’s Basin, Holderness
Open from late spring to early fall, Squamside Beach Bar is lakeside at Walter’s Basin Restaurant. Photos Courtesy/ Walter’s Basin
Of all the restaurants on this list, you can only drive your boat up to one. Walter’s Basin is on the shore of Squam Lake and, thanks to a patio and large windows throughout the dining area, offers great views throughout the year.
“The water and seasonal scenery become part of the dining room,” says owner Gary Chaffee.
“The view changes the whole mood — boats and sunlight in summer, foliage in fall and a cozy snowy backdrop in winter.”
Chaffee says the space offers three distinct vibes too. The dining room is quieter, “perfect for dinner and conversations with lake views.” The bar and lounge is a bit more energetic, and the outside deck feels like “a casual beach bar” where people can grab “light-fare food and tropical drinks.”
Walter’s Basin has been open since 1996, and Chaffee has been behind the line for 22 years. The menu blends classic New England coastal with modern updates. Chaffee says three of the most popular menu items are the seafood paella, fish tacos and pork porterhouse. There’s also an extensive craft beer selection, specialty cocktails, and a wine selection curated to pair well with everything on the menu.
“Many people describe (the restaurant) as feeling like being welcomed into a friend’s lake house that happens to serve great food,” Chaffee says.
859 US Route 3, Holderness • waltersbasin.com
The Switchback Grille at Rosebrook Lodge, Bretton Woods
Stellar mountain views enhance everything on the menu at Switchback Grille’s outside patio. Photo Courtesy/ Omni Mount Washington Resort & Spa
The largest ski resort in New Hampshire also offers diners some stunning mountain views at its summit.
“No matter where you are, perched at the bar or settling in for lunch, your eyes are drawn to the sweeping panorama of the Presidential Range,” including an unobstructed view of Mount Washington and its Cog Railway, says Céline McArthur, the official Slopeside Storyteller at Bretton Woods. “The restaurant is designed so all the seats — inside and out — have that incredible view,” she says.
Executive chef Dan DeFusco oversees the culinary teams across Omni Hotel properties, including Switchback Grille. The menu is tightly curated — shared plates, soups, salads and a wide range of burgers and sandwiches — with comfort dishes for everyone, including vegan and gluten-free diners.
“My go-to on a cold day is the grilled cheese with tomato bisque — it’s made with three different cheeses, and it’s honestly one of the best you’ll ever have,” says Ana Encisco, food and beverage supervisor at Rosebrook Lodge. For something a little more unexpected, she recommends the vegan pumpkin curry paired with the Cocoa Runner (rum, rumchata and hot chocolate) cocktail.
Switchback Grille closes for mud season (early April through Memorial Day), but flourishes again in the summer. From June through October, Rosebrook Lodge hosts a reservations-required full moon dinner series that’s timed so guests can watch the sun set over Bretton Woods and the moon rise over Mount Washington.
“It’s a spectacular sight,” McArthur says.
310 Mount Washington Hotel Road, Bretton Woods • brettonwoods.com
Bubba’s Bar & Grille, Newbury
Located in Newbury Harbor, with direct views of Lake Sunapee, Bubba’s Bar & Grille offers beautiful sunsets and crowd-pleasing food. Photo Courtesy/ Bubba’s Bar & Grille
For a panoramic patio view, Bubba’s Bar & Grille is the place to be.
“From the main dining room, and especially from the outdoor patio, diners see wide open water, boats cruising by in the summer, and some of the most beautiful sunsets in New Hampshire,” says owner Heather Skeie. “There is really no bad seat in the house, but sunset on the patio is something special.”
The patio is on the side of Route 103, with a direct view of Lake Sunapee and its surrounding hills.
Bubba’s opened in 2008, and Skeie took over in 2023 when the original owners, Bubba and Robin Williams, decided it was time to retire. The vibe inside is “relaxed, welcoming, and full of personality,” Skeie says. “Think classic lake house meets neighborhood gathering spot.”
The menu features a crowd-pleasing mix of North American favorites — like burgers and pulled pork sandwiches, as well as lobster rolls and pizza — served in generous portions. Plus, like any New England waterfront restaurant worth its salt, Bubba’s has an award-winning clam chowder. “It is rich, hearty, and packed with fresh seafood,” Skeie says.
Ultimately, the team aims to be a casual, welcoming place where locals and tourists alike can gather after a day on the lake or the slopes. “Our longtime tagline is, ‘We’re havin’ a lot of fun,’ ” Skeie says. “That spirit really reflects the experience here.”
976 New Hampshire Route 103, Newbury • bubbasbarandgrille.com
A Side of Extra Views
Here are a few more places to soak in the sights and flavors
Waterhouse Restaurant
18 Depot St., Peterborough • waterhousenh.com
Rosebrook Bar at Omni Mount Washington
310 Mount Washington Hotel Road, Bretton Woods • omnihotels.com
The Rooftop at The Artisan
17 Via Toscana, Salem • theartisanhotelattuscanvillage.com
Sky Meadow Country Club
6 Mountain Laurels Drive, Nashua • skymeadow.com
The Patio at The Fisher Cats Stadium
101 S. Commercial St., Manchester • thepatiomanchester.com
Covered Bridge Farm Table
57 Blair Road, Campton • farmtablenh.com
Franconia Inn
1172 Easton Road, Franconia • franconiainn.com
Panorama Six82 at Owl’s Nest Resort
40 Clubhouse Lane, Campton • owlsnestresort.com
Lost Cowboy Brewing Company
546 Amherst St., Nashua • lostcowboybrewing.com
