Portsmouth

The Puddle Dock is a genuinely pleasant spot to eat in Portsmouth, and the Wednesday half-price wine night earns real goodwill — but the list itself is playing it safe with steep markups on familiar names. Come for the room, the food, and the mid-week deal; don't come expecting to discover anything.

Jimmy's is a jazz club first and a wine destination second — but for a live music venue in coastal New Hampshire, a California-focused list with fair pricing and a Wine Spectator nod is genuinely worth your attention. Send your friends here for a Stag's Leap Cab and a blues set; just don't send them expecting a deep-dive natural wine experience.