The best bars in Salem, NH

The bars in Salem NH fall into two clusters. Tuscan Village, off I-93 Exit 1, has the rooftop, the wine bar, the beer garden and the late-night tavern, all within walking distance. Route 28 (Broadway) has the cocktail rooms, sports bars, pubs and live-music lounges. Here is where to go, sorted by the kind of night you want.

Rooftop and cocktail bars in Salem NH

The Rooftop at The Artisan

This bar sits on top of The Artisan Hotel at Tuscan Village. It has a 24-seat bar, lounge nooks for year-round use and views over the village. The kitchen sends out snacks and entrées to match the cocktails, such as Rose’s Focaccia, Lobster Fried Rice and Wagyu & Frites. Reservations are taken online. Its posted hours differ between sources, so check before you go. 19 Via Toscana, Suite 550, (603) 458-3028, therooftopattheartisan.com.

Dreo Food and Drink

On North Broadway, Dreo is a cocktail-forward restaurant from the owners of MaryAnn’s Diner, with about 35 handcrafted cocktails and shareable plates like Dreo Fire Shrimp. Happy hour runs 4–5 p.m. Monday–Thursday and 1–3 p.m. Sunday. Live music plays Thursdays 6:30–9:30 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays 7–10 p.m. 254 N. Broadway, #101, (603) 824-6337.

Tuscan Kitchen and The Capital Grille

For a drink in a dining room, Tuscan Kitchen (19 Via Toscana) runs happy hour 3–5 p.m. on weekdays. The Capital Grille (19 Artisan Dr.) is the village steakhouse, with a clubby room for a martini before dinner.

Wine bars

AV Wine Bar pours New Hampshire wine from Appolo Vineyards, a veteran- and family-owned winery founded in 2006 by owner-winemaker Mike Appolo. The bar says Appolo was the first vineyard in the state recognized as certified sustainable, and it grows cold-climate grapes such as Brianna. Choose from more than 24 wines by the flight, glass or bottle, with scratch-made small plates, and buy bottles to take home. The October calendar includes Monday Wine 101 classes and Industry Nights, plus Music Bingo. Hours: noon–9 p.m. Monday–Thursday, noon–10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon–6 p.m. Sunday. 16 Artisan Dr., (603) 328-8975.

Beer gardens and outdoor bars

• Sam Adams Pavilion at Tuscan Market (9 Via Toscana): a beer garden open from noon daily (posted hours run to 10 p.m. Monday–Thursday, midnight Friday and Saturday, and 9 p.m. Sunday), with Sam Adams Boston Lager, a seasonal and Juice IPA on draft, plus Dogfish Head 60 Minute and Angry Orchard. There are spritzes like the Limoncello Blu, an Amalfi Mule, made-to-order panini, and lawn games including cornhole and giant Jenga.
• Sun Cruiser Social Club: an open-air bar built from shipping containers, with lawn games, live music, light bites and firepits. It is family-friendly. Posted hours: 3–9 p.m. Monday–Thursday, noon–10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon–9 p.m. Sunday.
• Tavern in the Square: a patio on the ground floor of a two-floor tavern (see below).

Both outdoor bars depend on the weather, so check before you head over in late fall.

Sports bars and pubs

Tavern in the Square

The chain’s largest location fills two floors at Tuscan Village, with a patio, pub food and pizza. It is the late-night pick in the village: open until midnight Sunday–Wednesday and 1 a.m. Thursday–Saturday, with a late-night menu after the full menu ends at 11 p.m. Weekend brunch starts at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. 16 Via Toscana, (603) 685-3135.

Par28

Par28 pairs a 34-seat bar and six big TVs with TrackMan golf simulators, axe-throwing lanes and Rae’s coal-fired pizza. It stays open until midnight Friday and Saturday. 23 S. Broadway, (603) 458-7078.

The Lim’s Sports Bar and Cafe

In business since 2017, The Lim’s sits in the former Grand China Restaurant building, now a poker and gaming room, off Exit 1. Expect comfort food, games on TV and rotating food and drink specials. 7 Veterans Memorial Pkwy.

More pubs and bars on Route 28

• Margaritas, 1 Keewaydin Dr., (603) 893-0110: trivia in the lounge Thursdays 6:30–8:30 p.m., happy hour weekdays 3–6 p.m., and open until 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
• Peppers Pub, 326 S. Broadway, (603) 328-5476: a neighborhood pub listed as open 4 p.m.–1 a.m. daily.
• Copper Door (41 S. Broadway) and T-BONES (311 S. Broadway) both stay open until midnight Thursday–Saturday.
• 99 Restaurant & Bar, 149 S. Broadway: the bar stays open until 10:30 p.m. Thursday–Saturday.

Live music and a quieter drink

• Black Water Grill, 43 Pelham Rd., (603) 328-9013: a chef-owned grill with a lounge, live acoustic music on Friday and Saturday nights and an outdoor deck that does not take reservations.
• Sevmar Mediterranean Bistro, 401 Main St., (603) 870-0018: a Lebanese bistro and bar with live music every Thursday night and a seasonal drink menu.
• Dreo (above): live music three nights a week.

Tips for a night out

• Get a ride. The Tuscan Village bars are walkable from one another and from The Artisan Hotel. Route 28 bars are spread out, so plan a designated driver or a ride. See where to stay in Salem NH.
• Start with dinner. Our date night guide pairs restaurants with a nightcap.
• Coming in 2027: the Rockingham Grand, being built at the Mall at Rockingham Park, plans a center bar and a sports bar and restaurant when it opens in mid-2027. Guests must be 21 or older.

For the full list of places to eat and drink in the village, see our Tuscan Village restaurants guide, and for dinner anywhere in town, the Salem dining guide. Hours and happy hours change, so check before you go. Planning the whole evening? See our date night guide.