We're currently trying to figure out where we'd like to live (we left Boston in May) and thanks to those explorations, we had the chance to visit Nashua, NH a few weekends ago. Nashua is an interesting mix of downtown, suburb, and country backroads. And if you're a foodie, this is definitely a place to make a point of visiting.
Based on our plans, here's how I'd recommend spending a few hours in Nashua:
Spyglass Brewing
Located in an industrial park, Spyglass Brewing has a fantastic menu of beers to choose from. Between the super friendly staff who are happy to steer you in the right direction based on what you like, board games available to borrow to play with family or friends, and rotating food trucks on Sundays — it's a great spot to spend a few hours. The taproom only holds several tables so space might be tight and there are no outdoor seats, making it a good choice for chilly (or super hot) days.
Spyglass is located a few miles outside of the main downtown. You'll need a car.
Head into Downtown
Drive into downtown and wander around. (Free street parking after 5pm Saturdays; free all day Sundays.) Several shops and restaurants line Main Street.
Our first stop was Empanellie's a vibrant empanada shop with a variety of flavor combos to choose from. They also serve cubanos, jibaritos, and locos — going hungry here won't be a concern. And I can recommend the steak & cheese empanada which is delicious and piping(!) hot.
A pop-up gallery near Martha's Exchange showcases Nondas Galiotzakis' contemporary artwork.
His bold works are immediately eye catching, many of which underscore current crises or critical topics, and others highlight themes with extreme clarity in their simplicity. Duck inside and walk around.
Find the Firehouse
If you're ready for a pick-me-up, head over to Liquid Therapy, a brewery inside the old Nashua firehouse. Walk around the main room to take in all of the firehouse memorabilia and history. Another great pick, especially if you have wine drinkers in your group who want an option beyond beer.
If we hadn't made reservations elsewhere for dinner, we would have eaten here. Just looking at the food ordered by the neighboring tables was enough for us to want to come back.
Dinner
There are a number of well-rated restaurants to choose from, it all comes down to the type of cuisine you'd like. We opted for MT's Local Kitchen & Bar, which lived up to its great reviews. MT's is the sort of place that is clearly beloved by locals, with regular clientele hanging out at the bar or catching up with friends on a regular Saturday night out.
Choose from their extensive wine list or opt for a mini wine tasting trio for the price of a regular glass
And the food was delicious.
Calamari with pesto
Since we visited in the later afternoon, there are a number of stores we weren't able to explore, but are certainly reasons to come back!
We live in a suburb of Milwaukee WI and are planning to move to NH to be closer to our daughter and family who live west of Boston , MA. We are looking for a place where we can walk or take a short drive to restaurants, coffee places, and pubs. We want to purchase a condo or townhouse. Are there areas of Nashua that would meet our needs?
Nashua or the surrounding towns could certainly fit what it sounds like you’re looking for!