Hearth Market Brings Eclectic Touch to Downtown Portsmouth

Hearth Market in Portsmouth. (Photo Courtesy of Hearth Market)

Stepping off the bustling brick lined sidewalks in Portsmouth and into Hearth Market, which opened last June, sunlight streams through the large windows, illuminating a feast of culinary delights, artisanal crafts, and architectural wonder.

Inside Hearth Market people have their choice of a range of food and drink options. There’s an Elixir Bar offering a variety of cocktails, beer and wine, as well as a bistro, pizzeria, café and bakery, and two full-service areas, along with other sections where people can order and then seat themselves.

While the design of this three-story, 50,000-square-foot mixed-use building on the corner of Penhallow and Daniel Streets departs from the traditional colonial brick buildings for which Portsmouth is known, it captures a part of the city’s ship-building history. The Rev. Noah Parker moved into a four-story wooden gambrel on the Hearth Market site in the 1760s. While that building was razed in 1965, it had become known early on as “Noah’s Ark,” according to John Willemse, marketing and creative director for Portsmouth Hospitality, which owns Hearth Market.

The original idea for Hearth Market was put forward by Heidi Feinstein, a successful restaurateur and founder and CEO of Life Alive Cafes in Boston. Feinstein’s vision in 2019 for Hearth Food Garden was a farm to table operation, Willemse says, but that vision morphed when it finally opened in June 2023.

While Hearth works with several local farms and vendors, “we’ve adapted [Hearth] as it has grown,” to meet the demand of customers, says Willemse. “It’s very organic and we’re trying to adapt to the needs of the community. We want this to be a place for people to gather, eat, drink, and celebrate.”

“We haven’t even been through the whole year but last year year’s summer season was very busy and successful,” Willemse says, adding Hearth Market is planning to host beer garden events this summer in its courtyard. “And we hope to bring back live music as well.” For more information, visit hearthmarketportsmouth.com.