The Bow Hotel

4.0 star property

Photo gallery for The Bow Hotel

Beach
Interior entrance
Interior
City view from property
King Studio Suite

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Air conditioning
  • Free WiFi

Explore the area

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

Room options

Gallery Queen

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

Petite Queen

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

Gallery King

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

King Studio Suite

  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed

Similar properties

About the area

Portsmouth

With a stay at The Bow Hotel, you'll be centrally located in Portsmouth, steps from Market Square and Warner House. .This hotel is 0.2 mi (0.3 km) from Portsmouth Brewery and 0.2 mi (0.4 km) from Prescott Park.

What's nearby

  • Market Square - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • Prescott Park - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Strawbery Banke Museum - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Portsmouth Brewery - 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

  • ‪Hearth Food Garden - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪River House - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Gas Light Pizza Pub - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Daniel Street Tavern - ‬2 min walk

About this property

The Bow Hotel

Hotel in Portsmouth, steps from Market Square
The Bow Hotel offers 10 air-conditioned accommodations with bathrobes and designer toiletries. Memory foam beds feature premium bedding. 32-inch flat-screen televisions come with cable channels.

Bathrooms include shower/tub combinations, complimentary toiletries, and hair dryers. Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access. Housekeeping is offered on request and hypo-allergenic bedding can be requested.

The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
Make yourself at home in one of the 10 air-conditioned rooms featuring flat-screen televisions. Your memory foam bed comes with premium bedding. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainment. Private bathrooms with shower/tub combinations feature designer toiletries and hair dryers.
Take advantage of recreation opportunities such as bicycles to rent, or other amenities including complimentary wireless internet access and concierge services.
Featured amenities include express check-in, express check-out, and luggage storage. Limited parking is available onsite.

Languages

English

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

  • Limited-hour front desk
  • Luggage storage

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
Express check-out available

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open daily from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Guests will receive an email within 24 hours before arrival with check-in instructions and an access code; front desk staffed during limited hours

Access methods

Access code, front desk (limited hours)

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Payment types

Important information

Optional extras

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

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards, and cash
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a first aid kit

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
Only registered guests are allowed in the 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

The Bow Hotel Reviews

Reviews

8.8

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 245 out of 426 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 112 out of 426 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 47 out of 426 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 10 out of 426 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 12 out of 426 reviews

9.2/10

Cleanliness

8.8/10

Staff & service

8.2/10

Amenities

8.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.4/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

8/10 Good

Tamara

Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tran

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

8/10 Good

Paula

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

10/10 Excellent

Kitty

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

4/10 Poor

John

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Staff & service, amenities
After you have paid your bill, they asked for $35 fee for parking. There was no attendant to even check us in. In a text before we arrived there was an opportunity to ask questions which I did but got no responses. If we hadn't met someone who knew the code to get in, we would not have have been able to get into the facility. All in all customer service was non-existent
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
Confusion with check-in / plumbing needed some attention. Staff is friendly, but seems like the place isn't managed well anymore.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

6/10 Okay

Kathleen

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

2/10 Terrible

Amy

Travelled with partner
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Saturday, 5pm housekeeping came knocked and came in without a chance for us to answer the door. She doesn't have enough towels; but what she did bring she put ON THE BATHROOM FLOOR and didn't clean up or make the bed. For what we paid, I figured service would be a tad bit better than a motel 6. Very disappointing. There was a toenail by my pillow on the bed frame. My husband's pillow smelled of old spice, he doesn't wear old spice. Unacceptable.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

6/10 Okay

Kevin

Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Very good and convenient place to stay
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

4/10 Poor

Robert

Travelled with partner
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Dirty and not well maintained
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Eh

Reserved a King bed and got a queen. Room was quite small. Bed was poorly made. Just because you asked for my opinion.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

2/10 Terrible

Jennifer

I did not ever get to check in to the hotel and had to be moved. Not happy!
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

8/10 Good

Michael

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tomas

Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Colleen

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Ale House was lovely! We had a nice room and the staff member working was very helpful with recommendations. I wish we had another night or two.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Amanda

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stay was great and location was perfect!
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

6/10 Okay

Kristi

Travelled with family
I know check out time is at 11. I was back at 11 sharp to find my room bring cleaned and told that check out is at 11. So this person was in my room before the designated time and was very rude.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kristen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Wonderful service, big clean room with comfy bed and lovely view, great downtown location
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Brian

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We will definitely stay here again. Very convenient location to our usual dining favorites. Simple but nicely done and comfortable and priced reasonably for a night out.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Roger

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great spot. Love the uniqueness. Great communication w easy check in. Loved the room, the location, and the cool common spaces and amenities.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Andrew

Business traveller, Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
The rooms are nice, and the location is good. There's no one at the desk past 6-ish. It took me three phones and a couple of texts to figure out the keys to the room, but it was a minor inconvenience. I will definitely stay here again when I get back to Portsmouth.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

2/10 Terrible

Maryellen

Travelled with partner
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Wouldn’t ever stay here again yikes
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

matthew

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Ok hotel, great location

The convenient location was the best part of this hotel.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024