Portsmouth: A Boston Weekend Getaway

Brazo enlivens the seacoast with a spectrum of Latin-American dishes (from mojitos to steak empanadas), incorporating caliente energies into a rustic, high-ceilinged dining room and bar. The perfect analogy for tasting the tropics in New Hampshire? The Yucatan-style fish taco, a finely fried and fiercely dressed specimen of New England native cod.

A walk off the main drag rewards you with one of the most darling cafes imaginable. Anchored by a Turkish market (including daily newspapers, pizza-flavored crackers and walnut-raisin sausages), Caffe Kilim explodes with colorful tapestries and Istanbul photographs as it doles espresso drinks with precision and a motley of plump baked goods.

From a sleek, silver, branch-shaped bottle opener to a modernist's wall-mounted pencil sharpener, there's more than meets the eye at this gorgeously understated home accessories boutique. Peruse cocktail glassware, glittering vases, and pillows galore; be sure to explore the lower level for more utilitarian household needs and adorable kids? objets d?art.

The Portsmouth Brewery is a central stopover for the finest things in life: beer, beer and more beer. Pouring its own brews and spotlighting stellar local breweries Redhook and Smuttynose, this institution (heralded as ?New Hampshire's original brewpub?) wets your whistle while dishing absorbent snacks of the homemade buttermilk biscuit sliders ilk.

Perched on the waterfront, the River House keeps things beach-cottage minimal while letting the rippling views take center stage (we'll excuse the flat-screen televisions as demure meets de rigueur). Sunday brunch is a treat, with over-the-top bloody marys (cocktail shrimp! dilly beans!), egg benedicts, scrambles, crepes and a housemade short-rib hash.

Birthed from the same brilliant minds behind rustically gourmet Anneke Jans next door, AJ's is a casual, Scandinavian-chic eatery that's worth the wind-in-your-hair walk across the bridge to Kittery. The namesake grill produces thin-crust beauties such as the Mediterranean (prosciutto, balsamic fig jam, blue cheese and arugula) and the signature AJ's (house-smoked bacon, caramelized onions and herbed goat cheese).

Anyone can feel quite literally the king or queen of the hill at the Sheraton, located right at the northernmost bit of downtown. Guests can chill out in the swimming pool, sauna or 24/7 fitness room, and also schmooze at the Riverwatch lounge with insane (you guessed it) river-watching views.