Guidebook for Portsmouth
Food Scene
Great atmosphere, free wifi, masterfully made espresso drinks, great selection of wine (by the bottle or glass), beer, and fine liquors; Food selection is limited but delightful.
9 locals recommend
Lofts Coffee Company
842 Gallia StGreat atmosphere, free wifi, masterfully made espresso drinks, great selection of wine (by the bottle or glass), beer, and fine liquors; Food selection is limited but delightful.
Great panini sandwiches, wraps, and salads. Coffee drinks, smoothies, and desserts are staples. Get the turkey crunch wrap on spinach wrapper (I add tomatoes). Great lunch spot; the restaurant is not open for dinner.
8 locals recommend
Market Street Cafe
212 Market StGreat panini sandwiches, wraps, and salads. Coffee drinks, smoothies, and desserts are staples. Get the turkey crunch wrap on spinach wrapper (I add tomatoes). Great lunch spot; the restaurant is not open for dinner.
Fork And Finger Restaurant
232 2nd StGreat specials and great recipes! Good value!
Hickory, wood-pit grilled country-style pork ribs (like pork chops NOT spare ribs), GREAT ribeye and New York strip steaks (my favorite), grilled chicken quarters/halves (my other favorite), and several beers brewed here in Portsmouth by the Mault family’s Portsmouth Brewery. The atmosphere is very casual with no dress code. One guest commented that the Ribber served him the best baked sweet potato he had ever eaten (also one of my favorites)! My other favorite side dish is the German cole slaw. The food isn’t anything fancy, but it’s delicious, for what it is; don’t go there expecting Ruth’s Chris or Jeff Ruby Steakhouse fare. The portions are HUGE; be sure to take your appetite.
30 locals recommend
Scioto Ribber
1026 Gallia StHickory, wood-pit grilled country-style pork ribs (like pork chops NOT spare ribs), GREAT ribeye and New York strip steaks (my favorite), grilled chicken quarters/halves (my other favorite), and several beers brewed here in Portsmouth by the Mault family’s Portsmouth Brewery. The atmosphere is very casual with no dress code. One guest commented that the Ribber served him the best baked sweet potato he had ever eaten (also one of my favorites)! My other favorite side dish is the German cole slaw. The food isn’t anything fancy, but it’s delicious, for what it is; don’t go there expecting Ruth’s Chris or Jeff Ruby Steakhouse fare. The portions are HUGE; be sure to take your appetite.
Ice Cream shop with very affordable food. Get the foot-long hot dog with chili sauce (with slaw, if you want it West Virginia style)! My favorite frozen treat is the rainbow sherbet (or sherbeRt, if you're from the Appalachian foothills). This place is within comfortable walking distance. Take your sweet treats to the river bank and enjoy the beautiful sunset!
Second Street Dari Creme
333 2nd StIce Cream shop with very affordable food. Get the foot-long hot dog with chili sauce (with slaw, if you want it West Virginia style)! My favorite frozen treat is the rainbow sherbet (or sherbeRt, if you're from the Appalachian foothills). This place is within comfortable walking distance. Take your sweet treats to the river bank and enjoy the beautiful sunset!
Now Kathy Sue’s Bakery with delicious cookies, cakes, sweet rolls (pecan rolls are my favorite), brownies, and bread/dinner rolls! This is likely the oldest business in town that has continually operated as in its original format. Ownership has transferred over the years, but most of the recipes are the same. Good, old fashioned bakery items (not gourmet, but delicious, comforting, old-fashioned goodness) for a decent price.
Helen's Bakery
219 Market StNow Kathy Sue’s Bakery with delicious cookies, cakes, sweet rolls (pecan rolls are my favorite), brownies, and bread/dinner rolls! This is likely the oldest business in town that has continually operated as in its original format. Ownership has transferred over the years, but most of the recipes are the same. Good, old fashioned bakery items (not gourmet, but delicious, comforting, old-fashioned goodness) for a decent price.
Arts & Culture
Vern Riffe Center for the Arts
940 2nd StCheck out the performing arts calendar for special presentations.
Shopping
Second Street Historic District
Great place to go antiquing!
Essentials
Kroger
811 Gay StStaker's Drugs
826 Chillicothe StPharmacy
Walmart Supercenter
4490 Gallia StIf you must! lol
ALDI
2339 Gallia StBest bang for your buck for groceries and most essential items.
Entertainment & Activities
Republic Theatres Portsmouth
1623 Chillicothe StParks & Nature
Lakes with public boat ramps, public swimming areas, hiking trails, horse trails, a nature center, and a lodge with a restaurant/bar and inside and outside pools. There is also a public golf course and boat marina near the Ohio river.
13 locals recommend
Shawnee State Park
4404 OH-125Lakes with public boat ramps, public swimming areas, hiking trails, horse trails, a nature center, and a lodge with a restaurant/bar and inside and outside pools. There is also a public golf course and boat marina near the Ohio river.
Officially, you’ll need a permit from the forest service to hike this trail (it’s free, but still technically necessary), but that’s on you and you can hike at your own risk (don’t tell the rangers I said that)! Anyway, the view at the end of the trail is one of the most gorgeous views of the Ohio River valley, anywhere, with beautiful views of the Ohio River, the city of Portsmouth, and the area that was the first settlement in the immediate area, Alexandria (it is farmland, now, but much of the area you can see was part of the settlement. Folks decided, after many floods inundated the settlement, to settle the City of Portsmouth, which is largely on a plateau).
Raven Rock State Nature Preserve
Old River RoadOfficially, you’ll need a permit from the forest service to hike this trail (it’s free, but still technically necessary), but that’s on you and you can hike at your own risk (don’t tell the rangers I said that)! Anyway, the view at the end of the trail is one of the most gorgeous views of the Ohio River valley, anywhere, with beautiful views of the Ohio River, the city of Portsmouth, and the area that was the first settlement in the immediate area, Alexandria (it is farmland, now, but much of the area you can see was part of the settlement. Folks decided, after many floods inundated the settlement, to settle the City of Portsmouth, which is largely on a plateau).
Getting Around
Access Scioto County (ASC) is the public transit system for Scioto County, Ohio. The service is curb-to-curb with door-to-door service available on request. ASC is open to the public Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and available to anyone in Scioto County and South Shore, KY. You must call the ASC office to register for our service and to schedule your trips in advance. To register and to schedule trips call (740) 353-5626, ext. 203 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday - Thursday.
Access Scioto County
601 8th StreetAccess Scioto County (ASC) is the public transit system for Scioto County, Ohio. The service is curb-to-curb with door-to-door service available on request. ASC is open to the public Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and available to anyone in Scioto County and South Shore, KY. You must call the ASC office to register for our service and to schedule your trips in advance. To register and to schedule trips call (740) 353-5626, ext. 203 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday - Thursday.
Portsmouth Taxi
http://portsmouthtaxiservice.com/
740-355-2222 (740-355-ACAB)
740-354-2982
8th Street
8th StreetPortsmouth Taxi
http://portsmouthtaxiservice.com/
740-355-2222 (740-355-ACAB)
740-354-2982