Concord, NH food guide: Main Street and the Saturday farmers market

Concord is the capital of New Hampshire, a small city where legislators, state workers and students share the sidewalks of a wide, tree-lined Main Street. It does not get the attention that Portsmouth or Manchester do, which is part of its appeal. Tables are easier to find, parking is simple and the Saturday farmers market has a long history. Here is how Concord eats and when to go.

What is Main Street like for dining?

Concord's Main Street is the spine of downtown, running from the State House toward the river. A mix of casual spots and sit-down restaurants lines it and the cross streets: Mexican burritos, Chinese food, Indian cooking, pizza, a restored-building restaurant with New England comfort food, a vegan-friendly bakery cafe and bars with full menus. It is a street to walk and read menus rather than a place with one dominant restaurant district. Lunch is lively with state workers, and dinner is quieter than in Portsmouth.

When is the Concord Farmers Market?

The Concord Farmers' Market takes place on Saturdays through the warmer months in downtown Concord, on Capitol Street near the State House. Expect vegetables, fruit, baked goods, cheese, meat, flowers and prepared food, along with live music on some weeks. Check the market's page for dates, hours and any weekday or winter markets. Arrive in the morning for the best choice, and bring bags and small bills.

Where do you find local producers?

Concord sits in the middle of a farm region. Regional food producers include a creamery that makes cheese from local milk, a family farm that raises grass-fed beef, pork and lamb and a candy maker using local ingredients. Many sell at the farmers market or at their own farm stands. In fall, orchards nearby sell apples and cider donuts, and sugar shacks open in late winter for maple season. Drive the back roads with a cooler in the car.

Where can you eat near the State House?

The State House and the Legislative Office Building are a short walk from Main Street, and many restaurants cater to the lunch crowd. When the legislature is in session, midday is busy, with lines for sandwiches and soup. Come after 1:30 for a quiet table. In the evening, Main Street and the streets behind it have casual dinners. The legislative calendar affects crowds, so check whether it is a session day.

What is there for coffee and baking?

Downtown has independent coffee shops and bakeries, some with a small vegan or gluten-free selection. Weekend mornings can be busy, but the lines move. For a local treat, ask for something made with New Hampshire maple syrup or apples, depending on the season.

How do you plan a day?

• Start at the Saturday market if it is in season.
• Walk Main Street for a coffee and a pastry.
• Have lunch at a casual spot, then visit the State House or a museum.
• Drive to an orchard or a farm stand in the afternoon.
• Finish with dinner on Main Street.

A day in Concord pairs well with a trip to the Lakes Region or Manchester, each about forty minutes away.

How do you get there and park?

Concord is on Interstate 93 and Interstate 89. Downtown parking is easier than in Portsmouth, with metered street parking and public garages. Parking rules are usually enforced on weekdays and during market hours.

What about prices and the check?

Concord is generally less costly than the Seacoast. New Hampshire has no general sales tax, but a meals and rooms tax is added to restaurant checks, so the total is higher than the menu price. A tip of 18 to 20 percent is customary for table service, and bakeries and cafes often have a tip jar.

Where do you eat if you are vegetarian or gluten-free?

Main Street has at least one vegan-friendly cafe and menus with vegetarian options. Gluten-free choices are common but not universal. Ask the server and mention allergies at the time you order.

What should you do in Concord besides eat?

The State House is open for visits, and the nearby museum and planetarium draw families. The Merrimack River has paths for walking, and the surrounding hills have trails and ponds. Many visitors combine a meal with a short drive to a lake or an orchard. On a rainy day, the shops and galleries along Main Street give you plenty to browse between courses.

When are restaurants closed?

Smaller restaurants often close on Mondays or Tuesdays and sometimes between lunch and dinner. Holiday weeks and the week after the New Year bring short hours. Check the restaurant's own page or call before you set out, and have a second choice in mind, since the choice of places is smaller than in a bigger city.

How do you keep track of what you liked?

A market morning and a Main Street lunch fill a notebook quickly. Mosey is a food-first app where diners find places by dish, mood and neighborhood and rate what they actually ate. Rate each cheese and each sandwich, and Mosey keeps the trip organized. Make one list for the market and one for Main Street, and your next visit starts with the best of both.

Heading somewhere else in New Hampshire? The Food in New Hampshire page links the rest.

More guides to read next:

• Hampton Beach, NH food guide: boardwalk eats and Seafood Festival
• Hanover, NH and the Upper Valley: Co-op, baking school, market
• Manchester, NH food guide: Elm Street, the Millyard and Riverwalk

More in the US food guides and the ranked lists of places.