The Bow Hotel

4.0 star property
Hotel in Portsmouth, steps from Market Square

Photo gallery for The Bow Hotel

Beach
King Studio Suite
Exterior
City view from property
Exterior

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Air conditioning
  • Free WiFi
The current price is NZ$295
includes taxes & fees
20 Nov - 21 Nov

Explore the area

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

Room options

Petite Queen

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(17 reviews)

Highlights

Air conditioning
Flat-screen TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Memory foam bed
Premium bedding
Hairdryer
Designer toiletries
Private bathroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

Gallery Queen

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(28 reviews)

Highlights

Air conditioning
Flat-screen TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Memory foam bed
Premium bedding
Hairdryer
Designer toiletries
Private bathroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

King Studio Suite

8.8 out of 10
Excellent
(6 reviews)

Highlights

Separate sitting area
Air conditioning
Flat-screen TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Memory foam bed
Premium bedding
Hairdryer
Designer toiletries
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed

Gallery King

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(11 reviews)

Highlights

Air conditioning
Flat-screen TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Memory foam bed
Premium bedding
Hairdryer
Designer toiletries
Private bathroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

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About the area

Portsmouth

The Bow Hotel places you in the centre of Portsmouth, steps from Warner House and within a short 5-minute stroll of Market Square. Highlights at this hotel include free in-room WiFi. .This hotel offers free WiFi in public areas, concierge services and express check-in. Added amenities include luggage storage. There's also the convenience of limited parking. .Places within a short walk of this 4-property class Downtown hotel include Prescott Park and Portsmouth Love Wall.

What's nearby

  • Market Square - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • Warner House - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • Prescott Park - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Strawbery Banke Museum - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • The Music Hall - 5 min walk - 0.5 km

Getting around

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

Restaurants

  • ‪The River House Restaurant - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Surf Restaurant - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Cup Of Joe - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Gas Light Pizza Pub - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Kaffee Vonsolln - ‬3 min walk

About this property

The Bow Hotel

Hotel in Portsmouth, steps from Market Square
As a guest of The Bow Hotel, you'll find concierge services and express check-in. Public spaces have free WiFi.

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

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

Bathrooms include a combined bath/shower unit, complimentary toiletries and hairdryers. Guests can surf the web using complimentary wireless Internet access. Housekeeping is offered on request and hypo-allergenic bedding can be requested.

Similar properties

Property amenities

Internet

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

Parking and transport

  • Offsite parking available (USD 35 per night)
  • Limited on-site parking (max 1 space per unit)

Things to do

  • Bicycle rentals

Conveniences

  • Luggage storage
  • Virtual front desk

Guest services

  • Concierge services
  • Housekeeping (on request)

Accessibility

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

More

  • Built in 1880
  • Designated smoking areas

Room amenities

Bedroom

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

Bathroom

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

Entertainment

  • 32-inch flat-screen TV with cable channels

More

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

Policies

Check-in

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

Check-out

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

Special check-in instructions

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

Access methods

Access code, private entrance

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

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

Payment types

Important information

Optional extras

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

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

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

You need to know

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

We should mention

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

Property is also known as

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

Frequently asked questions

Is parking available at The Bow Hotel?

Onsite parking is limited (max 1 space per unit).

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

As of 14 Nov 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Bow Hotel on 20 Nov 2025 start from NZ$294.97, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Are there any beaches close to The Bow Hotel?

The closest beach to The Bow Hotel is Long Sands Beach (14.6 km).

Is there a free airport shuttle available at The Bow Hotel?

No, The Bow Hotel does not offer an airport shuttle service.

What time are check-in & check-out at The Bow Hotel?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM. Check-out time is 11 AM.

Are pets allowed at The Bow Hotel?

No, pets are not allowed.

The Bow Hotel Reviews

Reviews

8.6

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 267 out of 496 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 134 out of 496 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 58 out of 496 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 20 out of 496 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 17 out of 496 reviews

9.2/10

Cleanliness

8.6/10

Staff & service

8.0/10

Amenities

8.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.4/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

4/10 Poor

Francesca

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

4/10 Poor

Rusty

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
Disliked: Staff & service
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.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Debra

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

michael

Liked: Property conditions & facilities
It was super convenient to everything in town and very comfortable.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Amanda

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Ty

Not really full service hotel but great location.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nancy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Johnathan

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

justin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Miriam

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

Cinderella Musical Show.

It was a very convenient hotel, close to restaurants, shopping, Theatre and much more.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Joerg

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

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.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tristan, Charleston

Liked: Cleanliness
Awesome
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

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

8/10 Good

Thomas

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities

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.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Daniella Nadinne, Scottsdale

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

2/10 Terrible

Linda

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

10/10 Excellent

Michael, Maple Plain

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

8/10 Good

annemarie

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

10/10 Excellent

Joseph

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

10/10 Excellent

Gretchen

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

Fun solo trip!

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

2/10 Terrible

Brian

Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Mickey

Bad check in

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

8/10 Good

Kenneth

Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveller

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

8/10 Good

Tiffany

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