Nashua Dining Guide: Main Street Restaurants and Cafes

Nashua is the second-largest city in northern New England, and most people know it for its shopping centers near the Massachusetts line. Downtown is a different place. Main Street runs through a historic mill-city center close to the Nashua River, and within a few blocks you can find a seafood restaurant, an Irish pub, a martini bar, two cafes that roast their own coffee, and a reliable takeout spot. This guide covers restaurants in Nashua NH that are worth a dedicated trip downtown, all within an easy walk of one another.

Downtown Nashua at a glance

Nashua sits at the confluence of the Nashua and Merrimack rivers in Hillsborough County. The 2020 census counted 91,322 residents, making it the second-largest city in northern New England after Manchester. It is one of several American cities nicknamed the Gate City, a reference to its role as a gateway between the Boston area and New Hampshire.

Like many New England river towns, Nashua grew around textile mills. The Nashua Manufacturing Company was incorporated in 1823 and eventually ran four mills employing about 1,000 people. The mills are long gone, and the city's economy has shifted to technology, health care, defense and professional services, but the downtown that grew up around them remains the heart of the city's dining scene.

The name of the river, and the city, comes from a Native word usually translated as "beautiful stream with a pebbly bottom."

Seafood on Main Street: Surf

Surf Restaurant, at 207 Main Street, is the downtown choice for seafood. The restaurant has been "setting seafood standards since 2002," according to its website, and it has sister locations in Portsmouth and Woburn, Massachusetts.

The kitchen's approach is simple: its chefs work with seafood buyers to choose the best of each day's catch, and daily specials are often sourced from local fishermen. That makes it a good place to ask what came in today rather than ordering straight from the printed menu.

Surf also mentions private party accommodations, so it is worth a call if you are planning a group dinner. It is an evening restaurant, so plan it for dinner rather than lunch, and check its site for current hours.

An Irish pub: The Peddler's Daughter

The Peddler's Daughter at 48 Main Street describes itself as an Irish restaurant and pub. It has a second location in Haverhill, Massachusetts, but the Nashua pub is a fixture of the downtown strip.

Pubs like this fill a particular role on a city Main Street. They are a place to watch a game, meet friends after work, or get a hearty meal without a reservation. The Peddler's Daughter posts menus and a "Nashua Happenings" page on its website, which is the place to check for live music and events before you go.

A martini bar on East Pearl: Stella Blu

Just off Main Street, Stella Blu at 70 East Pearl Street bills itself as an "award winning kitchen and martini bar." It takes reservations through OpenTable and offers takeout, which makes it flexible for both a night out and a quieter meal at home.

Stella Blu is the downtown pick when you want something a little dressier than a pub, such as a date night, a birthday dinner, or drinks before a show. Because it takes reservations, it is also one of the easier places downtown to plan around on a busy weekend.

Coffee and breakfast: two local roasters

Downtown Nashua has two cafes that roast their own coffee, and each has a distinct story.

Riverwalk Cafe. At 35 Railroad Square, Riverwalk describes itself as an independently owned eatery and coffee roastery in the heart of Nashua. The beans are roasted right in the cafe, and the menu covers breakfast, lunch, a coffee bar and pastries. Riverwalk also has a sister location in Amherst, where pre-ordered pastries are picked up, and it ships its roasted beans to all 50 states, which makes a bag a good gift for coffee lovers. It is open seven days a week.

Bonhoeffer's Cafe and Espresso. At 8 Franklin Street, Bonhoeffer's calls itself "coffee with a mission." It serves direct-trade coffee roasted in-house and runs a creperie. The mission part is real: according to the cafe, profits from its roasted coffee go to its sister nonprofit, Hope and Life for Kids, which supports children internationally with food, housing, medical supplies and education. If you want your morning coffee to do some good, this is the place.

Both cafes are within a short walk of Main Street, so you can easily start the day at one and stop at the other for an afternoon break.

Takeout near the canal: Mint Cafe

Mint Cafe at 13 Canal Street is a takeout and delivery spot for Chinese food. It offers pickup and delivery within five miles, and it has recently moved its online ordering to a new website, so use the link on its homepage to order.

Mint Cafe is the kind of place locals keep on speed dial rather than a destination restaurant. It is open seven days a week, which makes it useful for a late weekend dinner when other downtown kitchens have closed.

How to plan a downtown food day

Downtown Nashua is compact enough to do on foot. Here is one way to spend a day:

1. Morning coffee at Riverwalk in Railroad Square, with breakfast or a pastry.

2. A walk along the river. Mine Falls Park, a 325-acre park on the Nashua River, is close to downtown and has trails along the old mill canal. Our Nashua parks and trails guide has more.

3. Afternoon coffee and a crepe at Bonhoeffer's on Franklin Street.

4. Dinner on Main Street, either seafood at Surf or a pub meal at The Peddler's Daughter.

5. A nightcap at Stella Blu on East Pearl Street.

Tips for eating downtown

• Check hours before you go. Several downtown restaurants are dinner-only or close one day a week. Each restaurant's website lists current hours.
• Book ahead on weekends. Stella Blu takes reservations online. Surf and The Peddler's Daughter both mention private events, so call for larger groups.
• Park once. Downtown is walkable, and the restaurants in this guide are only a few blocks apart.
• Bring the family to the cafes. Riverwalk and Bonhoeffer's are daytime spots that work well for all ages, while the pub and martini bar suit evenings.
• Make it a fall day out. September is a good time to combine a downtown meal with a walk in Mine Falls Park before the weather turns.

Beyond Main Street

If you have more time, Nashua's dining extends well beyond downtown. Amherst Street, west of the center, has many more restaurants in our directory, and the South Nashua commercial district near the state line, anchored by the Pheasant Lane Mall, is a major regional shopping area. For a broader look at the region, see our Merrimack Valley weekend guide.

FAQ

What are the best restaurants in downtown Nashua, NH?

Downtown highlights include Surf for seafood, The Peddler's Daughter for an Irish pub meal, and Stella Blu for a kitchen and martini bar. For coffee, Riverwalk Cafe and Bonhoeffer's both roast their own beans.

Is downtown Nashua walkable?

Yes. Main Street, East Pearl Street, Franklin Street, Canal Street and Railroad Square are all within a few blocks of one another.

Where can I get seafood in Nashua?

Surf Restaurant at 207 Main Street has served seafood since 2002, with daily specials often sourced from local fishermen.

Why is Nashua called the Gate City?

The nickname refers to Nashua's role as a travel gateway between the Boston region and New Hampshire.

Is there a park near downtown Nashua?

Mine Falls Park, a 325-acre park along the Nashua River, is close to downtown and has walking trails.

Sources

• Nashua, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (2020 population, Gate City, mills, river name, economy, shopping): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nashua,_New_Hampshire
• Mine Falls Park, Wikipedia (325 acres, location on the Nashua River): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mine_Falls_Park
• Surf Restaurant, official site (207 Main Street, since 2002, locations, sourcing): https://www.surfseafood.com/
• The Peddler's Daughter, official site (48 Main Street, Irish restaurant and pub, Haverhill location): https://www.thepeddlersdaughter.com/
• Stella Blu, official site (70 East Pearl Street, kitchen and martini bar, reservations): https://stellablu-nh.com/
• Riverwalk Bakery and Cafe, official site and contact page (35 Railroad Square, independent roastery, Amherst sister location, shipping, open seven days): https://www.riverwalknashua.com/
• Bonhoeffer's Cafe and Espresso, official site (direct trade, roastery, creperie, Hope and Life for Kids): https://www.bonhoefferscafe.com/
• Mint Cafe, official site (pickup, delivery within five miles, new ordering site): https://mintcafenashua.com/