Above, an exterior evening view of the Hilton Garden Inn, on “The Hill” in Downtown Portsmouth
The rather new, modern, three-plus-star, full-service Hilton Garden Inn Portsmouth Downtown, 100 High Street, which opened in 2006, has already gone through extensive renovations of its more traditionally decorated public areas, including a bright, comfortable lobby, and its lobby bar and restaurant. Visit New Hampshire’s editors think that some of its corner guestrooms overlooking the historic district to the waterfront, are the nicest rooms in the city.
Our favorite rooms are the “41” rooms (Room 541, etc.) rooms on the fifth, fourth and third floors, as well as the “39” rooms next door. Call the front desk early on the day of your arrival and request one of these rooms.
The hotel is nestled unobtrusively on “The Hill” amidst a cluster of a dozen or so historic buildings, some dating to the 1700s, that were saved from the wrecking ball, thankfully, in a 1960s urban renewal binge, and now stand restored in a distinctive neighborhood near Portsmouth’s working harbor, and steps from downtown shopping and dining.
The hotel’s 130-room guestrooms are comfortably furnished to Hilton’s high standards, with Herman Miller chairs, and about half of the rooms have large, walk-in showers.
We recommend the conveniently located Hilton Garden Inn for its pleasing decor, and especially for its “41” rooms (see above).