Moxy
Downtown Portsmouth, Portsmouth
Restaurant in Portsmouth, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Price
$30–50per person
Dress
Casual
Why go
Moxy is a practical Portsmouth pick when you want an easy downtown dinner rather than a high-stakes reservation. The strongest case is convenience: central location, low booking friction, and enough flexibility for a repeat visitor's night out. Drinks-first diners should verify the current bar fit before making it the main stop.
About Moxy
Moxy in Portsmouth is a casual dinner option with evening hours every day of the week. Evaluate it by schedule and fit rather than by a specific culinary claim.
The smart way to use this page is as a practical planning note for dinner in Portsmouth. For readers building a fuller plan, our full Portsmouth restaurants guide, our full Portsmouth bars guide, and our full Portsmouth experiences guide are more useful than treating any single stop as the whole evening.
Choose it for an easy Portsmouth dinner, not a trophy reservation
The main appeal is the schedule. Moxy is listed for dinner hours Monday through Sunday, with service from 5–9 PM Monday through Thursday and Sunday, and 5–10 PM Friday and Saturday. The dress code is casual.
Consider it when the evening service window and casual dress code fit the plan. If the night is centered on seafood, compare it against Jumpin' Jay's Fish Café. If the group wants another casual restaurant choice, compare it with Street or Dinnerhorn.
For drinks-first diners, verify the current bar fit before committing
For a drinks-first plan, treat Moxy as a dinner option and check current offerings before making it the main stop.
For a broader Portsmouth itinerary, category planning matters. Pair restaurant research with our full Portsmouth hotels guide if staying over, or use broader Portsmouth planning resources if the day is built around drinks rather than dinner.
Bottom line: consider Moxy when you want a casual Portsmouth dinner plan during its listed evening hours. For a tighter match, compare it with Blue Mermaid Island Grill, Jumpin' Jay's Fish Café, Dinnerhorn, Street, or Tulsi before committing the night.
Planning details
- Location
- 106 Penhallow St, Portsmouth, NH 03801
- Reservations
- Book on Resy
- Website
- moxyrestaurant.com
- Phone
- +16033198178
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Moxy sits squarely in Portsmouth’s Penhallow Street dining corridor, part of a compact cluster of tables that punches well above the city’s population. The profile of the neighborhood—steady local trade augmented by visitors from Boston and beyond—gives the restaurant a destination-minded energy without feeling like a tourist trap. The kitchen reads as rooted in New England’s coastal pantry, privileging Gulf of Maine species and thoughtful preparations. Expect a polished, contemporary place that leans trendy and refined; the menu’s composed signatures signal a restaurant that aims to showcase ingredients rather than theatricalism.
Best For
Moxy is best experienced in the evening, when Portsmouth’s dense dining core comes alive and a single night can include multiple stops. The restaurant suits dinner-focused outings—date nights, post-work meals, and celebratory evenings—where guests want a composed, ingredient-forward meal. Its location on Penhallow Street also makes it a natural stop for groups exploring the corridor: the neighborhood’s walkability lets diners pair a meal here with drinks or a second course nearby. Travelers who plan a deliberate dining night in Portsmouth will find Moxy fits neatly into that itinerary.
Ordering Tips
Stick to the signatures listed: the Beef Short Rib Marmalade and Rabbit Cacciatore speak to the kitchen’s savory, slow-cooked work, while the Pan Roasted Salmon highlights the coastal sourcing that anchors the menu. Potato Gnocchi represents the heartier, vegetable-forward side of the roster. Given the restaurant’s focus on New England pantry ingredients, include a seafood dish to sample the regional flavor profile. Portions and pacing make the menu suitable for sharing, so consider ordering a couple of plates to circulate the highlights among the table.
Venue details
Ambiance
Bustling, energetic two-story loft atmosphere with an open kitchen creating an engaging dining environment and a large, happening bar.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Lively
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Medium
- Kitchen
- Farm-to-table
- Menu Format
- Small plates, A la carte
- Wine Program
- Standard
- Drinks Focus
- Craft cocktails, Local beer flights
- Dietary
- Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten-free options
Signature Dishes
- Beef Short Rib Marmalade
- Rabbit Cacciatore
- Pan Roasted Salmon
- Potato Gnocchi
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 106 Penhallow St, Portsmouth, NH 03801
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Also Consider
- Jumpin' Jay's Fish Café, Notable alternative
- Tulsi, Notable alternative
- Street, Notable alternative
- Blue Mermaid Island Grill, Notable alternative
- Dinnerhorn, Notable alternative
Restaurant context
How It Compares
Moxy is the easier, more flexible choice when booking friction matters. Jumpin' Jay's Fish Café is the cleaner comparison for a seafood-led dinner, while Moxy makes more sense when the priority is a central Portsmouth plan that does not require a narrow cuisine commitment.
For a casual group, Street is the better cross-shop if the table wants a broader, more casual energy. Dinnerhorn is the safer pick for diners who want a familiar local-restaurant feel. Moxy sits between those use cases: useful for a low-stress dinner, less defined as a destination.
Tulsi and Blue Mermaid Island Grill are better alternatives when the group has a clearer cuisine preference. Choose Moxy when location, timing, and ease matter more than a specific menu identity.
Explore Portsmouth
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Moxy guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Moxy
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Moxy | Portsmouth | No published awards |
| Jumpin' Jay's Fish Café | Portsmouth | No published awards |
| Tulsi | Kittery | No published awards |
| Street | Portsmouth | No published awards |
| Blue Mermaid Island Grill | Kittery | No published awards |
| Dinnerhorn | Portsmouth | No published awards |
How Moxy Portsmouth compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lunch or dinner better at Moxy?
Plan on dinner: 5–9 PM Monday through Thursday and Sunday, plus 5–10 PM Friday and Saturday.
Can Moxy accommodate groups?
What should I wear to Moxy?
The dress code is casual. For dinner in Portsmouth, clean everyday clothes are an appropriate default.
Is Moxy good for a special occasion?
It may fit if the occasion calls for a casual dinner in Portsmouth during the listed evening hours. Check current offerings if a formal tasting format, awards, or other special-occasion details matter.
