Exeter NH Restaurants: A Local’s Guide to Where to Eat Downtown

Why Exeter, NH, Restaurants Have Become a Seacoast Destination

Exeter, NH, restaurants are among the biggest surprises on New Hampshire’s Seacoast. There was a time when we routinely told guests to drive to Portsmouth for dinner. These days, we tell them to leave the car parked. The Exeter, NH, restaurants scene has quietly become one of the best small-town food destinations in New England, with a James Beard Award semifinalist chef, house-made pasta, two breweries, and a standout noodle shop all within a few blocks of the bandstand at the center of downtown.

With so many things to do in Exeter, the food is only half the reason to come. Exeter is a walking town, and the same few blocks that hold many of the best restaurants in Exeter, NH also lead you to the shops along Water Street, the Squamscott River waterfront, the American Independence Museum, and the campus of Phillips Exeter Academy. In summer, the Exeter Brass Band, the oldest continuously performing community brass band in the United States, fills the bandstand with free concerts. Spend a day in downtown or take a day trip from Exeter. Either way, dinner in Exeter, NH, is the perfect way to end a foodie getaway.

It is easy to make Exeter into a luxurious getaway, so rather than driving home after dessert, we recommend staying at Inn by the Bandstand, one of the best hotels in Exeter, New Hampshire. Our lodging sits directly across from the bandstand, which means nearly all Exeter, NH, restaurants in this guide are less than an easy walk from your room.

Discover Exeter, NH, Restaurants for Every Occasion

Our favorite Exeter, NH, restaurants cover everything from special occasion dinners to a quick taco between shops. One of the best things about downtown Exeter, NH, restaurants is that they are all close together, most within walking distance, making it easy to enjoy a cocktail before dinner, browse the shops, and stop for dessert. Many of the dining rooms in town are intimate, so reservations two to three weeks in advance are a smart idea for Saturday nights, especially during fall foliage season and Phillips Exeter Academy events, graduation, and alumni weekends.

1. Ambrose sits in the main dining room of Inn by the Bandstand, where our chef, Stanley Arnoldo Orantes, formerly of Boston’s Ostra, Cultivar, and Ecco, prepares seasonal plates designed for sharing. Our intimate dining room has just six tables by a fireplace overlooking historic downtown, with garden patio seating in warmer months. We believe Ambrose belongs among the best restaurants Exeter, NH, has to offer and is one of our favorite choices for fine dining in Exeter, NH.
2. Vino e Vivo recreates the feel of a European wine bar, where owner and wine director Tony Callendrello curates a frequently changing wine list with 20 wines by the glass and more than 100 selections by the bottle. Chef Paul Callahan, a 2023 James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef: Northeast, changes the menu with the seasons, and the duck fat beignets have developed a loyal following. The restaurant is closed Sunday and Monday and also offers a seasonal riverside patio and a reservable chef’s table tasting menu.
3. Il Cornicello is one of the names we mention most often when guests ask about the best Exeter, NH, restaurants. Expect Tuscan cooking with house-made pasta, seasonal dishes built around local ingredients, and thoughtful Italian desserts that change with the menu.
4. Epoch Restaurant & Bar, the gastropub on Front Street, is a reliable choice for dinner in Exeter, NH. The thoughtful cocktail list and menu featuring seasonal New England ingredients, fresh seafood, steaks, and elevated comfort food make it an easy recommendation whether you are celebrating or simply looking for a relaxed evening.
5. Fat Hen Brewing Co. is one of the most pleasant surprises among the best restaurants in Exeter, NH. This small brewery serves excellent British-style meat pies, including a steak and ale pie and a chicken tikka masala pie that regulars return for again and again.
6. Sea Dog Brewing Company offers relaxed pub fare, outdoor seating overlooking the river, and occasional comedy nights.
7. OBA Noodle Bar is a tiny downtown noodle shop serving excellent wonton noodles, curries, and other Southeast Asian favorites.
8. Las Olas Taqueria covers the quick-and-affordable end of Exeter restaurants, serving some of the Seacoast’s favorite Mexican food.
9. Lexie’s lives by its motto, “Peace. Love. Burgers.” It is one of our favorite recommendations for a casual meal, serving creative burgers, fries, and milkshakes in a fun, laid-back setting.

If you work your way through downtown and still want to explore more restaurants near Exeter, NH, neighboring Newfields has several excellent options just a few minutes away, while Portsmouth’s nationally recognized dining scene is only about twenty minutes northeast. Hampton’s seafood restaurants are about fifteen minutes east along the coast.

Why Inn by the Bandstand Stands Apart from Hotels in Exeter, New Hampshire

The easiest way to enjoy the best Exeter, NH, restaurants is to stay close by. Our boutique hotel occupies a beautifully restored Federal-style mansion built in 1809, directly across from the town bandstand, with eight guest rooms and suites, seven of them featuring fireplaces. Choose from two spacious suites with a king bed and a separate room with two twins, two junior suites with king beds, or cozy queen rooms tucked away on the quiet top floors.

Morning is another reason guests choose us over many hotels in Exeter, New Hampshire. Guests can reserve an à la carte breakfast prepared fresh to order, whether you are looking for something light or a heartier meal before exploring the Seacoast. When you do not feel like walking anywhere at all, dinner at Ambrose is just one flight of stairs from your suite.

Book Your Exeter Foodie Getaway

If you are looking for hotels in Exeter, New Hampshire, that let you experience the best of Exeter, NH, restaurants, we would love to welcome you. Book your room at Inn by the Bandstand and start planning your foodie getaway.

Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best restaurants in Exeter, NH?
Ambrose, Vino e Vivo, Il Cornicello, Epoch Restaurant & Bar, and Fat Hen Brewing Co. are among the top restaurants in Exeter, NH, ranging from fine dining to casual pub fare.

What is there to do in Exeter, NH?
Beyond its restaurant scene, Exeter offers Water Street shopping, the Squamscott River waterfront, the American Independence Museum, and the campus of Phillips Exeter Academy, all within walking distance of downtown.

Where is Exeter, NH?
Exeter sits on New Hampshire’s Seacoast, about twenty minutes southwest of Portsmouth and roughly an hour north of Boston.

Where should you stay for an Exeter, NH, foodie getaway?
Inn by the Bandstand sits directly across from the town bandstand in downtown Exeter, placing nearly every restaurant in this guide within an easy walk of your room.