Really loved this place. Looks like an old bank on a corner in downtown. Great atmosphere for a coffee. Added bonus of having lite food and books and cocktails! It will likely be our go to spot for coffee +. We stopped in right before an event, so most of the tables had reserved signs on them. We grabbed one that had some time before the reservation and sat. We browsed through the books and had some coffee. Service was prompt and the coffee was great. There were a lot of folks hanging out, having coffee, cocktails, and food. Many were playing games or reading books. Great place to take a break. We will be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Sam Powell
Pretty damn cool place to get a drink and see a live show - especially with the outdoor courtyard seating. Vibes are excellent - I think the book theme is brilliant and the tag line “Get Lit” really nails it.
Atmosphere: 5
Marilyn Ridley
Great place to unwind with a coffee or glass of wine and a book. Meet friends or just hang out with yourself. Great atmosphere!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ruth
Definitely different, relaxing with tasty treats ...books and live ?..a nice
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Melissa Flynn
This was an amazing place and I would spend every day here if I could.This is perfect to hang out and a play a game with some friends. Sit back and read a book.Did not try the food, but what we did see looked amazing.They have teas! Which is my favorite part since I dont drink. However if you would like to get a fancy cocktail to sip on while enjoying your book that is available to you as well.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kate Benson
Great place to go with friends! Options for drinkers and non-drinkers (coffee, tea, etc). Games, books, easy place to spend hours!
Atmosphere: 5
Theo King
A hole in the wall feel to a large capacity coffee shop. Instantly as you walk in you hear the warm music and feel the ambiance of this cozy spot. Throughout the store are used and non used books at incredible prices, placed my genre so you can browse exactly what you like to read. Every time you turn a corner you find somthing new, another shelf, more books, another great place to sit down. But this isn't just a used book store, they are also a coffee shop... and a bar? After looking around for 20 minutes I went to the counter to buy my books and order a chai latte, then sat down at a table(or couch!) To read my new books and relax. The staff were super friendly and very communicative so I knew exactly what I was ordering was what I wanted (because it's never fun going to a new place and sitting down to taste what you accidentally ordered). Have yet to try the bar, but I cannot wait to go again! I haven't had a coffee shop in about a year so I think this may be my new favorite!Wheelchair accessibility: With stairs to get up and in and tight squeezes around book cases, this place isn't what you're looking for if you are wheelchair bound.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Amber Castillo
LOVE this place! Excellent food, wonderful staff, and very relaxed atmosphere. Highly recommend visiting this absolute gem in Portsmouth.Vegetarian options: Full range of vegan and vegetarian options.
Great space! Buy a book, het a cup of coffee, read and enjoy.No hot food, but there are salads.Vegetarian options: They serve several types of saadstorting using butternut squash.
Recommended dishes: Ploughman
Kayla LeGrand
Great atmosphere but terrible, terrible service. We sat ourselves, as instructed at the front, and waited to be served for 30 minutes before I found a server. And when asked about whether we order at the bar or wait for table service, they said “whatever works for you”.And to make matters worse, two ladies sat down after us, and were almost immediately greeted and had their orders put in, AND got their drinks before us.It’s really a shame about the service because I really enjoyed the music and unique environment. I’m not keen to return, but if I do, I hope the service will have improved.
Great place. Food was really good. People that work there are awesome. The band, Sneaky Miles was really good. Just a great experience.Wheelchair accessibility: There's a ramp in the back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kristen Murphy
Really loved the atmosphere here !
Hannah Z
If you love books... this is a place you will LOVE! Even if you wish you were a reader and are inspired by being around books, this place is for you as well. Ask for Andrea if you want a great book recommendation. She chooses all the books that they have. Don't come here to find a specific book; we all have Amazon for that. But if you're looking to branch out with a qualified recommendation, Andrea will help you out. She is so easy to talk to and loves what she does! The books are chosen carefully and always rotating. The tea was good, coffee was ok. Ambiance for the win, though. We didn't get food or cocktails. Come to relax and read, work, talk, browse, eat. If I lived here I would be here constantly. So fun!
Dan B
This is one of the most unique hangouts! They have books to browse while taking pay in your choice of booze, coffee, dessert, or food. We started with having dessert and cappuccino. Then started playing games and ended up ordering some roasted brussel sprouts. Everything was great. The only reason why I gave it four stars for service, was the servers were new and learning the ropes. Next time I'm sure they'll get five stars.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
C Daub
Book & Bar is the best! We spent four nights in Portsmouth and three of them at Book & Bar because we could not get enough. Great poetry selection, great drinks & chocolate chip cookies right out of the oven. But the person who made the place for us was the GM, Brooke, who welcomed us warmly, made us laugh, introduced us to Stormalong Holiday cider & all the great acts that are coming to perform there. One night we were there the singers from the Maritime Folk festival came in and spontaneously started singing the sea shanties they’d been singing all day. A crowd formed and even though the place was understaffed, the hardworking servers made everything seamless. This is a place which loves its performers, clientele, staff and books. What could be better!? It will always be our home away from home whenever we are in Portsmouth. O, and we love Holly too!
Really loved this place. Looks like an old bank on a corner in downtown. Great atmosphere for a coffee. Added bonus of having lite food and books and cocktails! It will likely be our go to spot for coffee +. We stopped in right before an event, so most of the tables had reserved signs on them. We grabbed one that had some time before the reservation and sat. We browsed through the books and had some coffee. Service was prompt and the coffee was great. There were a lot of folks hanging out, having coffee, cocktails, and food. Many were playing games or reading books. Great place to take a break. We will be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Pretty damn cool place to get a drink and see a live show - especially with the outdoor courtyard seating. Vibes are excellent - I think the book theme is brilliant and the tag line “Get Lit” really nails it.
Atmosphere: 5
Great place to unwind with a coffee or glass of wine and a book. Meet friends or just hang out with yourself. Great atmosphere!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Definitely different, relaxing with tasty treats ...books and live ?..a nice
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This was an amazing place and I would spend every day here if I could.This is perfect to hang out and a play a game with some friends. Sit back and read a book.Did not try the food, but what we did see looked amazing.They have teas! Which is my favorite part since I dont drink. However if you would like to get a fancy cocktail to sip on while enjoying your book that is available to you as well.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great place to go with friends! Options for drinkers and non-drinkers (coffee, tea, etc). Games, books, easy place to spend hours!
Atmosphere: 5
A hole in the wall feel to a large capacity coffee shop. Instantly as you walk in you hear the warm music and feel the ambiance of this cozy spot. Throughout the store are used and non used books at incredible prices, placed my genre so you can browse exactly what you like to read. Every time you turn a corner you find somthing new, another shelf, more books, another great place to sit down. But this isn't just a used book store, they are also a coffee shop... and a bar? After looking around for 20 minutes I went to the counter to buy my books and order a chai latte, then sat down at a table(or couch!) To read my new books and relax. The staff were super friendly and very communicative so I knew exactly what I was ordering was what I wanted (because it's never fun going to a new place and sitting down to taste what you accidentally ordered). Have yet to try the bar, but I cannot wait to go again! I haven't had a coffee shop in about a year so I think this may be my new favorite!Wheelchair accessibility: With stairs to get up and in and tight squeezes around book cases, this place isn't what you're looking for if you are wheelchair bound.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
LOVE this place! Excellent food, wonderful staff, and very relaxed atmosphere. Highly recommend visiting this absolute gem in Portsmouth.Vegetarian options: Full range of vegan and vegetarian options.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cheese Plate, Salad Plate, Charcuterie Board, Tortilla Soup
Great space! Buy a book, het a cup of coffee, read and enjoy.No hot food, but there are salads.Vegetarian options: They serve several types of saadstorting using butternut squash.
Recommended dishes: Ploughman
Great atmosphere but terrible, terrible service. We sat ourselves, as instructed at the front, and waited to be served for 30 minutes before I found a server. And when asked about whether we order at the bar or wait for table service, they said “whatever works for you”.And to make matters worse, two ladies sat down after us, and were almost immediately greeted and had their orders put in, AND got their drinks before us.It’s really a shame about the service because I really enjoyed the music and unique environment. I’m not keen to return, but if I do, I hope the service will have improved.
Restaurantji Recommends
Great place. Food was really good. People that work there are awesome. The band, Sneaky Miles was really good. Just a great experience.Wheelchair accessibility: There's a ramp in the back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Really loved the atmosphere here !
If you love books... this is a place you will LOVE! Even if you wish you were a reader and are inspired by being around books, this place is for you as well. Ask for Andrea if you want a great book recommendation. She chooses all the books that they have. Don't come here to find a specific book; we all have Amazon for that. But if you're looking to branch out with a qualified recommendation, Andrea will help you out. She is so easy to talk to and loves what she does! The books are chosen carefully and always rotating. The tea was good, coffee was ok. Ambiance for the win, though. We didn't get food or cocktails. Come to relax and read, work, talk, browse, eat. If I lived here I would be here constantly. So fun!
This is one of the most unique hangouts! They have books to browse while taking pay in your choice of booze, coffee, dessert, or food. We started with having dessert and cappuccino. Then started playing games and ended up ordering some roasted brussel sprouts. Everything was great. The only reason why I gave it four stars for service, was the servers were new and learning the ropes. Next time I'm sure they'll get five stars.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Book & Bar is the best! We spent four nights in Portsmouth and three of them at Book & Bar because we could not get enough. Great poetry selection, great drinks & chocolate chip cookies right out of the oven. But the person who made the place for us was the GM, Brooke, who welcomed us warmly, made us laugh, introduced us to Stormalong Holiday cider & all the great acts that are coming to perform there. One night we were there the singers from the Maritime Folk festival came in and spontaneously started singing the sea shanties they’d been singing all day. A crowd formed and even though the place was understaffed, the hardworking servers made everything seamless. This is a place which loves its performers, clientele, staff and books. What could be better!? It will always be our home away from home whenever we are in Portsmouth. O, and we love Holly too!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5