Portsmouth Harbor Inn and Spa

I’m one of those people who reads the negative reviews of a B&B and gets a little nervous, but I’m happy to report that our experience here was fantastic! We got stuck in traffic for three hours coming out of Boston, and we didn’t arrive until 6:30 — about two hours after we expected to get there. Lynn greeted us when we came in the door and pointed us to the cookies — Neiman Marcus and brown butter — and encouraged us to try one of each. She pointed out the port, sherry, and accompanying chocolate, and then showed us to our room, the Valora. It was lovely. Breakfast on both days was outstanding: blueberry french toast casserole with sausages on Saturday, and blueberry compote blintzes with bacon and a baked amaretto peach on Sunday. It’s a short walk across the bridge into Portsmouth (12 minutes, max.), and Lynn is great about making recommendations if you need them (we already had plans). We would stay there again in a heartbeat.

the pros:
clean, eclectic, seemed to cover all the bases with thinking of what we might need as a guest.
the outdoor hot tub.
walking distance to town.
the rest of the not so great things to say:
I’m kinda with gabrielle on this one. We are a 38 year old couple.
I’m not going to say anything negative about the house, the linens, or the hospitality, but there was def. a strange vibe from the Inn keeper, started when she showed us to our room. We were perhaps a tad late, too, but that shouldn’t matter, it was well before 7pm.
I had asked about the history of the house and she pointed to the plaque on the wall in the 3^rd floor room (most expensive) and she said, «there he is.»
We stayed in the house alone, which was nice.
We booked couples massages but Lynn, didn’t ask, she stated, «is the tip in cash or charge.» Massages were $ 100each, and the setting was, nice, but not great, we heard all the outdoor noises and the therapist above me talking to my partner was a distraction, she could perhaps get some white noise machines and eliminate that annoyance.
He went to go check out and she said, «should we leave the tip for housekeeper on the card, or are you going to tip her in cash.»
At over $ 300/​night, she didn’t need to nickel and dime us and make us feel like we weren’t going to tip.
Also for breakfast she served a baked apple covered in sweet sauce and whipped which i thought was excellent, but my dear honey, doesn’t like his fruit, cooked or covered in sugar. She seemed offended that he wouldn’t even try it, and she took it away and said she would eat it, «so it didn’t get wasted». I felt that was rude and out of line.
He humored me for a BB getaway, and will try another one next time.
ALL IN ALL PORTSMOUTH IS A GREAT GREAT PLACE TO HANG OUT FOR THE DAY, THE EVENING, THE OVERNIGHT, ETC. we will def. go back to portsmouth, just not this inn.
all in all, i do have to say she was nice and conversing after the awkward breakfast scolding, but then she did that awkward tip thing.

The attitude was there from the second we walked in. We felt as though we were on a class trip and she was going to be watching us to be on our best behavior. It was so uncomfortable and off putting to say the least. It was my bf and I’s one year anniversary, and instead of relaxing and being at ease, the owner made it everything but that while in the house.
The moment we walked in she asked us to close the screen door behind us, rather than welcoming us in she was already scolding us. It was so rude! Not to mention, the screen door was open upon our arrival. She was already in a pissy mood that we were coming after our expected time due to Friday night traffic out of the city. 8pm was our arrival, which I would think to be pretty early considering how much we rushed from work. I called to make her aware that we would be a little late to be courteous and she said ok, well if it’s later than 8pm you need to let me know because we need to eat too ya know. Who says that? Especially to someone who is paying a pretty good amount to stay at your bed and breakfast.
From our arrival her behavior just continued to go on. I would have to say that I strongly believe she has some kind of stigma with younger people. Particularly her comments about not spilling red wine on her sheets and then being shocked that we wouldn’t bring flip flops for the hot tub (so awkward.) It just went on and on. We also decided that the second morning there, our last, we wanted to skip out on breakfast so we could sleep in. Since it is OUR vacation, I didn’t think that this would be a big deal. She was in shock that we weren’t coming to breakfast, «Oh realllllly? Wow.» Chill out lady. It’s our vacation and we were courteous enough to let you know the night before rather than just not showing. We had a feeling she was going to react like considering her behavior prior, and we should not have felt that way. Again, OUR vacation, we will do as we please while still be courteous to your home, as we were.
Everyone else at the inn seemed to have a great experience although they were all 35 up. Mind you I’m 28. Clearly an adult and should have been treated as everyone else.
End result, I will not be returning and would not recommend anyone under 30 to go here, unless you want to feel like you are at boarding school. Oh, and when we were leaving, she said «you owe me money.» I say, you need to learn some manners. My poor boyfriend having to deal with that from her after he booked a wonderful surprise for me.

Lynn was the most accommodating inn keeper anyone could ask for! I stayed here with my boyfriend and when my sister found out she didn’t have a place to stay, Lynn made up a cot for her in our room. The room was lovely and the bed was oh so comfy. My sister even said the cot was the most comfortable cot she’s ever slept on!
A million high-​fives to Lynn and the Portsmouth Harbor Inn!

Now why would you travel across the bridge to find a massage? Because this place has clean, large inviting massage rooms with showers. Quiet, serene and relaxing!
I treated my sister (Shawn)r and myself to a sugar scrub (all over) massage and a facial. I was there 2 ½ hours of bliss.
Katina is a calm and strong therapist. I came here in 2008 and she was here then so I think she enjoys her work and it shows through with her massage.
Barbara is a soothing but very strong massage therapist as well as a physical therapist.
I have been to Portsmouth’s offerings downtown and on the west side but I have never gotten the attention to detail and the best massage around. If you are going to spend you hard earned money on something that makes you feel wonderful go here.
it is the best I have found anywhere. They do have a hot tub outside so bring your suit if you want a dip. The whole place is in an old house with beautifully done woodwork that is clean and inviting
I think human touch and massage is definitely good for the soul. It made my whole week more peaceful and productive.

Amazing facility! The Dido room was immaculate and the attached bath was clean and modern. The views of the private gardens (in springtime bloom) and the partial view of the harbor were wonderful. Quiet, clean and beautiful. Other rooms afford breathtaking views of the river and of Portsmouth, NH. Fantastic service! Due to a delayed flight, we arrived horribly late. The inn keepers were gracious and accommodating, we got settled in with no fuss or drama! During our 1 week stay, we never skipped fresh coffee in the morning or the elegant breakfasts prepared by the inn keepers. The food was nutritious and ever changing, we were always pleasantly surprised and never disappointed. The inn is easily accessible from the interstate and until the bridges are repaired in summer of 2013, a free shuttle (just a few minute’s walk from the Inn) will bring you into the heart of downtown Portsmouth. The Inn is only a few driving minutes from the Kittery Outlets, Old Town Kittery and the Interstate. Well worth the stay, if even for a night, and an exceptional value for the long term guest.

Had a wonderful massage today with Barbara! I hope to be able to visit her again soon!

Have stayed here 6 times over the past 18 years. While the inn has changed hands several times during this time we keep returning because of the location (proximity to Portsmouth and ME towns north of Kittery) and each and every owner has kept this establishment in pristine condition. Lynn is a fabulous host and Rick her innkeeper couldn’t be more accommodating. You won’t miss by choosing this Inn as your place to stay while visiting the area.

I stayed here for my very first bed & breakfast experience, and I was very pleased! Everyone was very friendly, the breakfast was lovely, and our room (the Minx room) was clean & cute. I found the bed extremely comfortable and it had tons of pillows! It wasn’t kitschy at all, but it was more personal than a standard chain hotel — the perfect balance!
There’s no mini fridge in the room, but there’s a shared one on the second floor, stocked with free seltzer water. There’s also a small library of books and movies to browse and borrow during one’s stay, which is a nice touch.
Even though the bridge to Portsmouth is currently under construction, there’s a free hourly shuttle to the town that leaves from a spot less than five minutes from the inn. For folks like me who don’t like driving a lot, it’s extremely convenient.
My only regrets are that I didn’t stay longer, and that I didn’t make a spa appointment! I will absolutely stay here again next time I visit Portsmouth.

Its a very lovely spa, quaint and very relaxing. far away from the noise and the hustle and bustle. I went there to get a massage and a pedi. When you get there they give you a neck warmer, which is nice, and they give you tea/​coffee/​water.
I had a deep tissue back massage and the sad part was it was only for 30 minutes.
I have a lot of knots in my back and I would of liked it if the massage was for an hour instead of half. Also for just that half it was extremely expensive.
But the masseuse gave me a free little hot stone massage, which was very nice of her. totally good to remember if i want to come back and splurge on that.
Any who, you go upstairs and are in this room with the sun beaming on you and its very tranquil. it was incredibly nice and relaxing and i was doused in the smell of lavender, which i love.
After the massage I got squeezed in to get a pedi. I felt as if the lady just wanted to get home and she just wanted to make a quick buck. It was extremely nice of her to stay after her shift to give me a pedi. But for the price I was paying, I expected her to actually do a great job and give me what I was paying for.
over all it was relaxing and really expensive.

Had a lovely weekend girls get away here! The rooms were cozy and beautiful, the spa was comfortable and the staff friendly. Every detail was taken care of here, you lack for nothing! The spa treatments were amazing! The hot tub was super clean and easy to use. I really can’t say enough nice things, this place was great!

my husband took me here for my birthday and did alot of reserch trying to find a nice place around Portsmouth; he booked «the best» room in the inn. When we arrived, we learned we were in a very busy street across from an industrial complex.
Upon walking in we were directed to our room; a tiny room on the 3^rd floor right above all the noise with a minute bathroom and a tub with only a handheld shower unit. When we asked if we could switch to another room with a shower the inn keeper was rather short with us (though their guestbook recorded others’ displeasure with the bath) and told us «no» so we are now stuck in the «best» room across from a loud lady who is
sharing our mini fridge (located outside of our room in the hotel linen
closet)…not quite the romantic weekend my husband worked so hard to plan! He got me some spa treatments which I hVe yet to have but given the innkeepers surliness when we asked for another room with a shower, Im not expecting much. I should say that we love Portsmouth but this place has proved to be a dud… maybe ok if one is in town for a wedding but don’t expect to get pampered by any means…

We stayed two nights over Labor Day weekend and had a great time. Location is fantastic and makes for easy walks around the quaint coastal neighborhood, over the Memorial Bridge, and to Portsmouth downtown.
Room was very nice – clean, cozy, and plenty of room to spread out and relax. Nice comfy pillows. The highlight was breakfast. On day 1 we had roasted plums with marscapone and then spinach quiche with sausage. On day 2 we had a fresh fruit cup with double berry sauce and then orange and cardamom french toast. Delicious and as well prepared as presented!
When we arrived we were greeted by Leslie who was a friendly host throughout. There are some little details beyond the rooms and breakfast that really make this place special: cookies, friendliness, port and cherry downstairs :), good selection of travel books, the journals in each room going back 4 – 5 years with fellow traveler’s tips, etc. It’s on the pricey side but we knew that going in and both feel that it was worth it.
And the spa… on the last day my pregnant wife got a massage at the Spa and was feeling fabulous all day. Hesitant going in, she raved about it all day and it really made her feel more comfortable.
We’ll be back!

what a nice introduction to the world of b &b. The staff, super nice, the breakfast, yummy. Would highly recommend the accommodations to anyone going that way for some r & r. However, cannot say the same of the massage treatments unless you ask for someone specifically– my mother’s masseuse was more of a «petter «than a true massage therapist :-(she didn’t even inquire if the pressure was good or not– not a sign of a professional! My therapist– Amy was a doll. I would definitely recommend her ~

This was a superb massage, very professional and relaxing. The hot tub felt great in the cool Maine air.
Highly recommended.

I’m sure I’d have added another star had I stayed at the inn, but I’ve only been here for a massage. I brought my now-​ex-​boy here for a facial, and while my massage was good, his skin nearly made me gasp with its peaces and cream-​like glow. I was so wowed. I’d love to come back here soon.

We just stayed here for our weekend honeymoon, and it was perfect.
Absolutely lovely, homey, comfortable, well-​kept inn that’s just a delight to stay at. All of the staff, from the innkeepers, Lynn and Nat, to the girls that make the yummy breakfast, to the masseuses and manicurists at the spa, were so accommodating and friendly. Very clean, comfy, sweetly decorated room (we stayed in the Dido room; it has 2 twin beds, which would be great for friends to stay in, but they can also attach the beds so it’s like a king), with a good-​sized bathroom, and hardwood floors. Nice little touches, like the fridge on the 2^nd floor with complementary bottles of Poland Spring water; a journal in each room for guests (past and present) to record their activities and recommendations, which was fun to look through; amazing *I am serious. AMAZING…* chocolate chip cookies that are baked by the innkeepers fresh every day @ 4pm; port and sherry that are offered every evening at your leisure, and staff that will go out of their way to make recommendations, or anything else that you need. *Did I almost forget to mention the hot tub outside? What a treat!* And that’s just the inn.
The spa is phenomenal. Beautiful, warm, welcoming converted barn that’s so relaxing just to sit in. Everyone is at the top of their game here; I had a fabulous brown sugar scrub, manicure and pedicure, and my husband had a truly wonderfully relaxing hot stone massage. (Let’s put it this way; the man was totally falling asleep at dinner.) Amy and Sue were awesome, very sweet, professional and sooo good at what they do!
The Inn is so conveniently located in Kittery, and it’s about a 5 minute drive to all of the cute shops and great restaurants in Portsmouth. *Just drive over the 2 little bridges and bam! there you are in Portsmouth!*
Check out the website for great, very affordable seasonal package deals. Totally the way to go, and nice relaxing weekend excursion, any time of year.
(Thanks to the Unilocalers that reviewed this place before me; it’s one of the main reasons I chose it when looking for a cute bed and breakfast in Kittery/​Portsmouth. We’re already planning our next visit back! *Um, bring some warm clothes if you stay when I did, late Feb./early March. I should’ve brought a parka and boots. Brrrrr*)

My husband currently is in the stressful position at work where he really cannot take any time off for a vacation, long weekend, spend a day sleeping, nada. A while ago our friend Bridget M. recommended this place, so I rifled through my old email to find the name… And it certainly delivered! My plan was to take a weekend and pack it with massages and such (because really, spas are for people who don’t have the time to relax!), to try and get him a concentrated dose of relaxation.
The inn is a gorgeous building, and the innkeepers Lynn and Nat are pretty much awesome. Breakfasts were great, and there is a ton of good eating just across the way in Portsmouth. The massage therapists we worked with were really talented, and very adaptable to our needs and wants (yeah, they can do Swedish, but they can also get right in and get some real work done!). The spa’s in a restored barn attached to the inn, and it’s really quite charming and cozy with all of the exposed beams and wood. There’s also a Jacuzzi on the grounds, and I had never sat in a hot tub in cold weather before… I can see the appeal now and in fact, it’s so damn chilly today I wish I had one outside right now.
In sum, this inn is owned by a pair of wonderful folks and is so convenient a getaway from home or Boston (it’s practically in Portsmouth) that I am sure we will be back!

We stayed overnight here a few years ago to celebrate Valentines day.
We were met in the dining area with offers of port or sherry, detailed descriptions of local area restaurants, and friendly faces.
Our room was cozy, a very homey feeling moreso than many B&B’s I’ve stayed in, since they seem to be becoming more trendy and sterile (which is an aesthetic I like as well) and had a big claw foot tub in it, perfect for soaking in.
The next morning we woke up to a fantastic breakfast prepared by the owners, and then it was on to spa time.
My husband had a hot stone massage, which he loved, and I had a sugar and spice body massage coupled with an aromatherapy facial. Bliss, bliss, bliss. All the treatments took place in this large, sun soaked, warm barn (and it was in February, but it felt like spring inside the barn). They were able to tailor the treatments to adapt to my sensitivities, which I thought was fantastic. I just loved that both the quality of the treatments and the environment in which they took place in were just so above par.
Sadly, we did not have time to sit in the outdoor hot tub, and let me tell you, if there is one thing I’ve learned from two trips to Iceland (other than the fact Iceland is awesome) is that sitting in hot water in cold weather is the best.
Aside from the fact that the inn and spa are awesome, they are very very close to both Portsmouth (I really love Portsmouth) as well as the outlet stores in Kittery, if that’s your thing.
I loved this place, it’s absolutely in my top 3 for both B&Bs and Spas, and I really need to get moving on getting back up there soon.

We didn’t stay at the inn. Instead we went directly to the spa.
I’m not a spa expert by any means, but we had a great time. Very relaxing facials and massages. Very homey and family feeling. I would say it was more of a country setting versus trendy but don’t let that scare you — the services were very professional.
I would definitely recommend checking it out.