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Seacoast Local Loop
Garrison City Brewery
Seacoast Local Loop Spotlight

Garrison City Brewery

We are a 7bbl nanobrewery and Street Taco Kitchen in downtown Dover, NH, focused on brewing high quality, inventive craft beer. Our main passion is the New England IPA, but you'll find a constant rotation of fruited sours, Saisons, Stouts and Lagers. Our small scale, paired with our brewer Nicole's creativity, means you'll consistently find new offerings alongside our core lineup of New England-style hazy beers. Our taproom is open 6 days a week, currently for both outdoor patio and indoor seating, with all seating as first come, first served. Please call ahead for any large party accommodations. We offer full and half pours of all of our current 13 drafts, as well as Hard Cider from North Country, hard kombucha from Auspicious Brew, and a small wine selection.

"This place has a very limber environment. Fast service after you order of line, a modern-day way of things. The food is killer and the Paloma and margaritas are killer. Thank you for the experience."

- Eric B., Google Review

Visit Website Brewery · Dover, NH
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What's happening in Dover this weekend?

Dover has 191 upcoming events, 25 of them this weekend (Aug 28–Aug 30). Highlights include Summer Art Program for Kids at Aplomb; Kids Eat Free @ Newicks; Happy Hour @ Ichi Ramen.

Upcoming in Dover

All events →
Getting to know Dover

The Garrison City, growing fast

Dover is New Hampshire's oldest permanent settlement - 1623, the same year as Portsmouth - and its mill-town bones are aging beautifully. The brick mills along the Cochecho River that once wove the city's fortunes now hold breweries, studios, and small businesses, and Central Avenue has quietly become one of the liveliest main streets in the state.

We treat Dover as the easy night out that never disappoints: coffee and record shops by day, a genuinely great bar scene in four walkable blocks, and waterfalls right downtown. It is the Seacoast's family hub too - the Children's Museum of New Hampshire, the riverfront at Henry Law Park, and Apple Harvest Day filling the whole downtown every October. This is what it looks like when a historic city actually pulls off its second act, and the people opening shops in those old mills are the ones pulling it off.

Things to do in Dover

  • Take the kids to the Children's Museum of NH and Henry Law Park
  • Brewery-hop the converted mills along the Cochecho
  • Walk the riverside path and count the waterfalls downtown
  • Apple Harvest Day (October) - one of NH's biggest street festivals
  • Catch a show or a game at the Whittemore Center's little sibling venues downtown

Local favorites

  • Central Avenue - coffee, records, tacos, and a genuinely great bar scene in four blocks
  • The mills at golden hour - brick, river, waterfall - Dover's whole story in one view
  • Garrison Hill Tower - climb it for a view from the mountains to the sea

Good to know Downtown parking is easy by Seacoast standards (garage on Orchard Street). Dover's train station is on the Amtrak Downeaster line - Boston without the drive.

The Dover guide

Full food & drink guide →

Eat, drink, shop & do in Dover - where locals actually go.

Outdoor Dining

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Chapel + Main

Downtown Dover's brewpub, where the patio hums all summer and the kitchen cooks well above what the word brewpub usually promises. House-brewed beer, a scratch menu, and enough going on around it that the evening keeps going after the plates are cleared.

Wed-Sun, from 4pm (noon wknds) Directions Website ↗

Beer & Cocktails

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Garrison City Beerworks

Dover's downtown anchor and the natural opening move of a Central Avenue evening. Hazy IPAs built the reputation; a genuinely friendly bar crowd keeps it. Everything else worth doing in the Garrison City is a short walk from your stool.

Wed-Sun afternoons, Mon eve Directions Website ↗

Where to Stay

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The Garrison Hotel & Suites

The sensible base camp: comfortable, well-priced, and within twenty minutes of Portsmouth, Durham, and the beaches. If your trip is more exploring than lounging, spending less on the room here and more on dinners is the smart trade.

Cochecho Country Club

Dover's historic club, rolling along the Cochecho River since the nineteenth century. Semi-private, so call about access before you drive - the riverside holes repay the phone call.

Tendercrop Farm at the Red Barn

The big red barn on Dover Point Road holds a serious farm store - butcher counter, produce, prepared foods - while highland cattle pose photogenically outside. It has quietly become our answer for weeks when regular grocery shopping feels uninspired.

Daily 9am-6:30pm Directions Website ↗

Wagon Hill Farm

Home of the most photographed wagon in New Hampshire, and our favorite free outing on this list - public farmland on the Durham line rolling down to the Oyster River and Great Bay. Trails, winter sledding, and sunsets worth planning around. Bring the dog and a camera.

Daily 8am-dusk Directions Website ↗

DeMeritt Hill Farm

A pick-your-own orchard in nearby Lee where apples and peaches hand off to hayrides and a famously spooky haunted trail every October. One of the most complete fall outings in the region - plan a whole afternoon, not a stop.

Tue-Sun 9am-5pm, wknds to 6pm Directions Website ↗

Restaurants

Christopher’s Third Street Grille

Christopher’s Third Street Grille – Dover’s Upscale Casual Steak & Seafood Destination

Mon-Sat 4pm-9pm, closed Sun (603) 740-0044 Directions Website ↗

Ember Wood Fired Grill

More than a restaurant - a destination. Bite into globally inspired cuisine, and sip on meticulously crafted cocktails, all within Dover's historic first Fire House

Tue-Thu 4pm-9pm, Fri-Sat 4pm-10pm, closed Sun-Mon (603) 343-1830 Directions Website ↗

Juniper Kitchen

Juniper Kitchen is a community-oriented, plant-based cafe featuring healthy breakfast, lunch, smoothies, gluten-free treats, and more.

Katz’s Deli & Market

Katz’s Deli has been Dover’s one stop destination for the best steak n cheese subs, burgers, wings, pizza, breakfast plus soda, chips, beer, wine and ice cream.

Taste Of India

Discover authentic Indian flavors in the heart of Dover Taste of India offers fresh, vibrant dishes crafted with tradition and passion, perfect for every craving.

The Brick

Explore Dover with our listings of attractions, museums, shops, restaurants, outdoor activities and more!

Tue-Thu 4pm-10pm, Fri 4pm-11pm, Sat 11:30am-11pm, Sun 11am-9pm, closed Mon (603) 749-3838 Directions Website ↗

Wing-itz

Wing-itz is a lively neighborhood spot where bold flavors, cold drinks, and friendly competition come together. It’s more than a place to eat—it’s a place to gather, play, and have a great time.

Bars

SoDo Pub

SoDo, South Dover’s neighborhood pub at Pointe Place, combines cozy charm, lively energy, and great food and drinks to create a welcoming spot where every night feels like a shared experience.

Sonny's Tavern

Sonny’s Tavern is a neighborhood restaurant and bar in the heart of Dover, New Hampshire, built around a love for great food, craft cocktails, and genuine hospitality. We’ve created a space that feels warm and comfortable — where conversations flow easily and everyone feels welcome, whether you’re here for a drink at the bar, a full dinner, or just to unwind with friends. Our menu blends familiar comfort with a creative touch, and our cocktail program highlights balance, craftsmanship, and a sense of fun. At Sonny’s it’s about connection, community, and the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to stay awhile.

The Living Room

The Living Room is a cozy, intimate and inviting lounge where we explore the world of thoughtfully created cocktails, curated wines, and tasty and shareable small plates.

The Office Lounge

Where flavor meets vibe, our diverse menu features everything from fresh sushi and sizzling steaks, to crave-worthy wings, hearty pasta dishes, and bold Korean-inspired flavors.

Token's Taproom

Ready to take a trip back in time? Tokens Taproom, an arcade bar located in downtown Dover, is the first of its kind in New Hampshire. The vast variety of classic arcade and pinball machines were meticulously collected throughout the years by owner and arcade game connoisseur, Josh Hynes. After driving all over the northeast acquiring the games, they were then refurbished and brought back to their original glory! If you're feeling nostalgic for your childhood or are curious to see what games were like before the Xbox existed, pay a visit to Tokens Taproom for drinks, food and fun!

Shops

Breakfast Spots

Coffee Shops

Barking Sisters Coffee

Family-owned and dog inspired, Barking Sisters Coffee crafts small-batch roasts packed with flavor and heart-because every great day deserves coffee that makes your tail wag.

Breakaway Cafe

Breakaway is one of the community hubs of Dover, powered by a dedicated team of service industry experts sharing their passion for espresso and scratch made food.

Two Bees Cafe + Patisserie

Two Bees Café + Patisserie serves up French-inspired pastries, fresh salads, hearty sandwiches, and artisanal drinks—crafted with care, seasonal ingredients, and a cozy touch.