Hopestill Restaurant & Bar — Restaurant in Newmarket

"Gem" has been used in roughly 72% of the reviews thus far, and it seems an apt desciptor: small, rare, but beautiful and valuable. In nearly 20 years in Newmarket, I've appreciated the variety and quality of eateries as giving the town a real "punching above its weight" compared to similar communities... But Hopestill absolutely fills a previously unoccupied niche in terms of quality and atmosphere. For those looking for fast food with a wide range of selections, this cozy spot may prove perplexing, even frustrating. But for the patient and discriminating diner the rewards are inarguable. Much has been written about the quality and taste of the various courses, prepared one by one by Chef Amanda, holding down the back of the house single-handedly... but that's not to overlook the incredible range and delightfulness of the truly eclectic cocktail list supervised by Spencer up front! One would literally need to travel to Portsmouth or larger culinary destinations to find the excellence of this selection of mixed drinks. First timers would do well to start off with the Ludo Martini, a beverage utilizing the couple's own local made dry vermouth which remarkably proves to be a worthy sipping beverage all on it's own! The entire experience creates a new and entirely buzz-worthy entry into the Main Street...

All I can say is wow. I grew up in Newmarket and I walked by and could not wait to try this place! We were not disappointed. The owners, Spencer and Amanda, are 2 of the 3 total people working. Spencer is the front of house and bartender. Amanda is the chef and serves all the food herself. They’re incredible.

Atmosphere: 10/10. The vibe is home town European. I complimented the very cute dinner plates which were a kind of French Country design and the owner said “these are the plates we thrifted for our wedding. That detail was amazing.

Wine: WOW. We tried both of their house wines made right in Newmarket and they were absolutely delightful! I will be buying some bottles from them next time!

Food: we got the salt cod cakes which here the star of the night. Light, creamy and very flavorful. The baguette made in house was also phenomenal. We got the pesto pasta dish which was light, fresh and full of veggies. Food was 10/10. We’re already planning our return and what we’ll try next time.

Overall, I cannot recommend this restaurant enough. Exactly what Newmarket needs. Aside from all the technical aspects of this restaurant exceeding all expectations, the love that Spencer and Amanda clearly have for their passion, this restaurant and each other is obvious though out entire...

My husband and I wanted to try a new place (somewhere we hadn't eaten before), and I stumbled on Hopestill Restaurant and Bar as I was looking through reviews of local places. There weren't many reviews, but something about the place just called out to me, so I made a reservation. I am so glad I did!

We arrived to the restaurant on time and were seated promptly. The space is small--room for about 10 seated at tables and more at the bar. Very beautiful, simple, and clean interior. Service was perfect! Quite an accomplishment with (I believe) just 2 employees (the owners?)!

There is a large cocktail menu and the restaurant features wines from their own winery. We tried the house vermouth and it was lovely--delicate and refreshing.

The food menu is small, but everything we tasted was wonderful! The bread, salted cod cakes, scallops Mozambique, and rustic cavatelli. Despite being completely stuffed, we (I) couldn't resist trying the dessert. We had the leite creme, which was similar to a lighter, orange and cinnamon infused crème brûlée. A delicious way to end our meal.

I can't think of a single negative thing to say about Hopestill Restaurant and Bar! Already looking forward to visiting again and trying more...