The Hotel Portsmouth

The place

An 1881 Victorian mansion near downtown Portsmouth, kept intimate at 32 rooms and suites. Elder & Ash reimagined the interiors as a bold, contemporary take on vintage charm — red, blue, and neutral tones, whimsical furnishings, vibrant wallpapers, art on the walls.

Some rooms hold a clawfoot soaking tub; a long bath after a day of travel is the point. There is an outdoor patio, a pool table, a listening room. Mornings bring a complimentary small-plates breakfast from the small kitchen. No restaurant here — just Lily & John's, a bar pouring beer, wine, and cocktails.