Guidebook for Peterborough
Food Scene
An easy walk from the Sunny Suite, you can go for your breakfast coffee, a lunch on the patio by the river, or to fill your refrigerator with healthy food.
27 locals recommend
Nature's Green Grocer
374 Union StAn easy walk from the Sunny Suite, you can go for your breakfast coffee, a lunch on the patio by the river, or to fill your refrigerator with healthy food.
Delicious coffee and lots of room--wifi is free and you are welcome to spend the morning there, working or catching up on social media. In summer work near the river on the patio, in winter by the cozy woodstove indoors.
11 locals recommend
Parker And Sons Coffee Roasting
166 Hancock RdDelicious coffee and lots of room--wifi is free and you are welcome to spend the morning there, working or catching up on social media. In summer work near the river on the patio, in winter by the cozy woodstove indoors.
Adjacent to the Toadstool Bookstore, great coffee and good food.
17 locals recommend
Aesop's Tables & Events
12 Depot StAdjacent to the Toadstool Bookstore, great coffee and good food.
Lovely river view. Watch for the blue heron. We love the bento boxes!
15 locals recommend
Kogetsu boiler house
50 Jaffrey RdLovely river view. Watch for the blue heron. We love the bento boxes!
Sandwiches and hot meals. Menu changes daily. Delicious desserts. Buy your lunch and eat it at the nearby Riverside Park--we do it every Friday in the summertime.
16 locals recommend
Twelve Pine
11 School StSandwiches and hot meals. Menu changes daily. Delicious desserts. Buy your lunch and eat it at the nearby Riverside Park--we do it every Friday in the summertime.
Good pizza, good prices, family-friendly, and occasionally they show a movie with your meal!
La Mia Casa Pizzeria
1 Jaffrey RoadGood pizza, good prices, family-friendly, and occasionally they show a movie with your meal!
Delicious food, great ambiance, and it overlooks the lovelyl Contoocook River. We like the thin-crust pizzas. A lot.
34 locals recommend
Waterhouse Restaurant
18 Depot StDelicious food, great ambiance, and it overlooks the lovelyl Contoocook River. We like the thin-crust pizzas. A lot.
People come from out of town to eat here, and no wonder. The Asian fusion food is delicious, an amusing contrast to its strip-mall location. Take the extra few minutes after the meal to share the Pain Perdu, or, well, any of the desserts. They are definitely above average.
31 locals recommend
Pearl Restaurant & Oyster Bar
1 Jaffrey RdPeople come from out of town to eat here, and no wonder. The Asian fusion food is delicious, an amusing contrast to its strip-mall location. Take the extra few minutes after the meal to share the Pain Perdu, or, well, any of the desserts. They are definitely above average.
Best ice cream in town, best chocolates in town, and one of the nicest owners in town! She catered my daughter's wedding, an ice-cream social, it was fabulous. Treat yourself to an ice cream soda on the patio and watch the town go by.
14 locals recommend
Ava Marie Handmade Chocolate
17 Grove StBest ice cream in town, best chocolates in town, and one of the nicest owners in town! She catered my daughter's wedding, an ice-cream social, it was fabulous. Treat yourself to an ice cream soda on the patio and watch the town go by.
This Peterborough icon has been around as long as most of us have and, like Luke's diner in Gilmore Girls, used to be a hardware store. For real. Now you get good diner-style cooking with a staff that will remember you if you visit it a few mornings in a row. Make it your go-to breakfast place if that's the kind of thing you love!
13 locals recommend
Nonie's Restaurant & Bakery
28 Grove StThis Peterborough icon has been around as long as most of us have and, like Luke's diner in Gilmore Girls, used to be a hardware store. For real. Now you get good diner-style cooking with a staff that will remember you if you visit it a few mornings in a row. Make it your go-to breakfast place if that's the kind of thing you love!
Every town needs its own iconic diner, and this one is ours. Right across from the bookstore and movie theater, a great place to get your fries and soft drink after a day of hiking or swimming or climbing or skiing--in short, after any Peterborough day off.
17 locals recommend
Peterborough Diner
10 Depot StEvery town needs its own iconic diner, and this one is ours. Right across from the bookstore and movie theater, a great place to get your fries and soft drink after a day of hiking or swimming or climbing or skiing--in short, after any Peterborough day off.
These bagels are everything a bagel should be. I seriously think they are among the best in New England. Plus they have coffee and wifi, so why not start your day here?
15 locals recommend
Bagel Mill
145 Grove St. ExtThese bagels are everything a bagel should be. I seriously think they are among the best in New England. Plus they have coffee and wifi, so why not start your day here?
Pizza is good, if you like New England style pizza, the salads and fried foods are OK, but the sandwiches are amazing. We like to buy a few grinders for summer evening picnics, and if we start missing the summer in the long New England winters, we go get a couple of Pizza Barn grinders and have an indoor picnic. Just to keep the memories alive.
7 locals recommend
Peterborough Pizza Barn
71 Jaffrey RdPizza is good, if you like New England style pizza, the salads and fried foods are OK, but the sandwiches are amazing. We like to buy a few grinders for summer evening picnics, and if we start missing the summer in the long New England winters, we go get a couple of Pizza Barn grinders and have an indoor picnic. Just to keep the memories alive.
Bean to bar, it's all great, but their drinking chocolate is truly an experience. Don't miss it.
7 locals recommend
Vicuña Chocolate Factory & Café
15 Main StBean to bar, it's all great, but their drinking chocolate is truly an experience. Don't miss it.
This place is busy and has great food, but if you stop by without a reservation, somehow they will often find a place for you.
20 locals recommend
Bantam Grill
1 Jaffrey RdThis place is busy and has great food, but if you stop by without a reservation, somehow they will often find a place for you.
Marzano's Trattoria
6 School StGood italian food, nice deep booths.
For when you just have to have a fresh crepe, croissant or baguette sandwich...or that avocado toast...hey, it happens.
7 locals recommend
C'est la Vie,
10 School StFor when you just have to have a fresh crepe, croissant or baguette sandwich...or that avocado toast...hey, it happens.
Drinks & Nightlife
There's a nice family restaurant on the one side, and you can get drinks on the other.
Brady's American Grill
225 Concord StreetThere's a nice family restaurant on the one side, and you can get drinks on the other.
If Peterborough has a gathering place for a lively evening, this would be it. It has that old-fashioned pub feel, the food is good, and it has regular live music.
55 locals recommend
Harlow's Pub & Restaurant
3 School StIf Peterborough has a gathering place for a lively evening, this would be it. It has that old-fashioned pub feel, the food is good, and it has regular live music.
Sightseeing
Shops, restaurants, and a perfect little riverside park make this a lovely place to spend time while in Peterborough.
14 locals recommend
Depot Square
20 Depot StShops, restaurants, and a perfect little riverside park make this a lovely place to spend time while in Peterborough.
Look for the plaque by the entrance--it will tell you that this is the first tax-supported public library in the US. A pleasant place to get out of the sun or the rain, with a nice kid's section.
9 locals recommend
Peterborough Town Library
2 Concord StLook for the plaque by the entrance--it will tell you that this is the first tax-supported public library in the US. A pleasant place to get out of the sun or the rain, with a nice kid's section.
All Saints Episcopal Church
51 Concord StThis lovely stone church is a scale replica of a church in England.
You'll find Teixera Park here, a lovely little riverside park with our own little model stonehenge; and right across the street, one of the few buildings in the country build to the principles of Maharishi Vastu, or Vedic architecture. If you roam from here, you might find the farm with the sign that warns, if you are going to cross this field, do it in nine seconds--because the bull can do it in ten!
West Peterborough
You'll find Teixera Park here, a lovely little riverside park with our own little model stonehenge; and right across the street, one of the few buildings in the country build to the principles of Maharishi Vastu, or Vedic architecture. If you roam from here, you might find the farm with the sign that warns, if you are going to cross this field, do it in nine seconds--because the bull can do it in ten!
Parks & Nature
A small grassy park by the river and the woods yet right in the heart of downtown Peterborough. Here's where the parades end up, the carolers sing, and the holiday tree is lit.
6 locals recommend
Putnam Park
Grove StreetA small grassy park by the river and the woods yet right in the heart of downtown Peterborough. Here's where the parades end up, the carolers sing, and the holiday tree is lit.
Walk the trails and play Pooh Sticks at the shady bridge. Our favorite walk leads to the big boulders.
Shieling State Forest
Walk the trails and play Pooh Sticks at the shady bridge. Our favorite walk leads to the big boulders.
A small mountain with an easy hike; but continue past the first peak and you'll find a grassy clearing with blueberry bushes and stone meditation chairs.
9 locals recommend
Temple Mountain
A small mountain with an easy hike; but continue past the first peak and you'll find a grassy clearing with blueberry bushes and stone meditation chairs.
Mount Monadnock
Our iconic mountain. A must-climb, for every imaginable reason.
A series of hairpin turns takes you to the top, where a weather tower provides views as far away as Boston. Raptor watching in the fall, 360 degree views.
25 locals recommend
Miller State Park
13 Miller Park RdA series of hairpin turns takes you to the top, where a weather tower provides views as far away as Boston. Raptor watching in the fall, 360 degree views.
The other Monadnock. A little less challenging, a lot fewer people, but you still get the views.
24 locals recommend
Pack Monadnock Mountain
The other Monadnock. A little less challenging, a lot fewer people, but you still get the views.
What can't you do here? There are hiking trails, a swimming beach, picnicking and barbecuing; yet it tends to be empty and private.
6 locals recommend
MacDowell Reservoir
What can't you do here? There are hiking trails, a swimming beach, picnicking and barbecuing; yet it tends to be empty and private.
Arts & Culture
Walking tours, exhibits, museum and archives, you can learn about our region and pass a pleasant day at the historical society.
14 locals recommend
The Monadnock Center for History & Culture
19 Grove StWalking tours, exhibits, museum and archives, you can learn about our region and pass a pleasant day at the historical society.
Quality art from local artists.
8 locals recommend
New Hampshire Institute of Art - Sharon Arts Center Campus
457 NH-123Quality art from local artists.
Open to the public only one day a year, this has been a creative home to James Baldwin, Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copeland, Alice Walker, and many others--the most dear to us being Thornton Wilder, who wrote Our Town here, and used Peterborough for his setting.
13 locals recommend
The MacDowell Colony
100 High StOpen to the public only one day a year, this has been a creative home to James Baldwin, Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copeland, Alice Walker, and many others--the most dear to us being Thornton Wilder, who wrote Our Town here, and used Peterborough for his setting.
Exhibits, workshops and performances from teh world's folk cultures.
25 locals recommend
Mariposa Museum & World Culture Center
26 Main StExhibits, workshops and performances from teh world's folk cultures.
Really excellent summer theater, with consistently great professional acting. If you are here in the summer, go see at least one play!
41 locals recommend
Peterborough Players
55 Hadley RdReally excellent summer theater, with consistently great professional acting. If you are here in the summer, go see at least one play!
Shopping
Alice Blue
10 School StInteresting clothes in a very sweet location.
EMS' original flagship store is still here in its Peterborough, NH home!
7 locals recommend
Eastern Mountain Sports
1 Vose Farm RdEMS' original flagship store is still here in its Peterborough, NH home!
Come browse and taste the many flavors of olive oil and vinegar. I visited my first store of this type on Newbury Street in Boston, and was delighted when Peterborough opened its own!
9 locals recommend
Monadnock Oil & Vinegar Company
43 Grove StCome browse and taste the many flavors of olive oil and vinegar. I visited my first store of this type on Newbury Street in Boston, and was delighted when Peterborough opened its own!
Health food and kitchen wares. Maggie's and its sister (or brother) stores, Roys and Little Roys, are true old-time markets, where the people know you and will run a tab for you if you are local.
12 locals recommend
Maggie's Market Place
14 Main StHealth food and kitchen wares. Maggie's and its sister (or brother) stores, Roys and Little Roys, are true old-time markets, where the people know you and will run a tab for you if you are local.
Independent bookstores might be challenged, but you wouldn't know it to visit the Toadstool, with its wonderful selection of books old and new, and its adjacent cafe. Readings most weekends.
22 locals recommend
Toadstool Bookshops
12 Depot StIndependent bookstores might be challenged, but you wouldn't know it to visit the Toadstool, with its wonderful selection of books old and new, and its adjacent cafe. Readings most weekends.
Sarah's Hat Boxes
141 Forest RdA very different kind of gift store.
A very short walk from the Sunny Suite, and set up so attractively that everything they have looks tempting!
Piggy's Fine Repurposed Goods
375 Union StA very short walk from the Sunny Suite, and set up so attractively that everything they have looks tempting!
Joseph's Coat
32 Grove StQuality handcrafts, and their stories. Browsers welcome.
Fresh and local produce and goods on a beautiful farm. Summer camps, organic vegetables and herbs.
8 locals recommend
Rosaly's Farmstand
63 NH-123Fresh and local produce and goods on a beautiful farm. Summer camps, organic vegetables and herbs.
Entertainment & Activities
Here's where you come for the playground, the pool, the tennis or basketball courts, the soccer and baseball fields, the sliding hill and skating rink. This is where Peterborough goes to have its fun.
6 locals recommend
Adams Park & Playground (Adams Pool hours are listed separately- see below).
71 Union StHere's where you come for the playground, the pool, the tennis or basketball courts, the soccer and baseball fields, the sliding hill and skating rink. This is where Peterborough goes to have its fun.
Here's where to go for New England Candlepin Bowling, for your local arcade, for pizza and soda.
Bowling Acres
32 Elm StHere's where to go for New England Candlepin Bowling, for your local arcade, for pizza and soda.
Quaint and old-fashioned, with one line, one screen, this theater is adorable. Go at least once while you're in town for an old-time movie experience.
20 locals recommend
Peterborough Community Theatre
6 School StQuaint and old-fashioned, with one line, one screen, this theater is adorable. Go at least once while you're in town for an old-time movie experience.