Shopping

SHOPPING SHOPPING

From the One-of-a-Kind to the Biggest of Boxes

Independently-owned shops, locally-sourced everything, and a quaint ambiance – these are the promises of our cozy downtown, where “Made in Dover” defines your everyday shopping experience.

On the outskirts of town: Chains and big-box stores, plus The Mall at Fox Run, a central hub for all things convenience and pack-it-in shopping. Because Dover is the kind of place where you can have it all, and where we understand that “all” can encompass everything from New Hampshire-made candles to the latest electronics.

But back to downtown – not only the heart of Dover, but the embodiment of our independent spirit. Here, there are no chains and everything is locally owned: from jewelry and clothing boutiques to skate shops and candy stores, all are lovingly curated and stocked with locally made, sourced, and produced goods.

Downtown Dover shopping also melds old and new: Longstanding retailers, like Jewelry Creations, which has sold high-quality designer jewelry for more than 40 years; My

Country Story, dedicated to one-of-a-kind local and handmade gifts; and Noggin Factory, the Seacoast’s premiere destination for quality toys, are hospitable neighbors to newer arrivals like Ryder Street Co., a skate and streetwear stop, and Groovy Witch, where you can create your own magic from their boutique clothing offerings.

Of course, tree-lined downtown is as much about the everyday as it is the once-in-awhile. For here, one-ofa-kind treasures are wont to be found: original art (and plenty of galleries), New

England antiques, hand-turned pottery, traditional film developing, and all other manner of specialty shops that cater to almost any interest or whim.

Because, as we said, you can have it all. Right here, in Dover.

Savor the City DINING

The Dover dining scene is a thing of delight – of heritage and tradition, of innovation and daring. And with dozens of eateries, bakeries, and restaurants to choose from, you’ll have plenty of fodder to fuel both your downtown wanderings and culinary adventures.

Because, while we love our traditions – classic brown breads and ooey gooey pizzas, New

Hampshire lobster rolls and maple-drenched pancakes – our restaurant scene has diversified to encompass an entire globe’s worth of cuisines.

While you can still happily pair your fried fish with cider donuts or a juicy taphouse burger with sky-high chocolate cake, you can just as easily savor your choice of Indian butter chicken, Thai pho, Lebanese shawarma, and Japanese sushi.

Even better, Dover’s geography lends a helping hand, inspiring local chefs with New England produce – apples, sweet corn, maple products, and more – and some of the Seacoast’s best seafood, including plump lobster, exquisite scallops (both dry sea scallops and bay scallops), New England steamers (clams), oysters, and just-caught fish, including Atlantic cod, pollock, haddock, yellowfin tuna, and so much more. If you’re in a heritage state of mind, stop in at Harvey’s Bakery, where the ovens have fired since 1932. It was then that Harvey Bernier, an original Seacoast baker, opened in three locations: Dover, Rochester, and Portsmouth. Since then, his namesake bakery has kneaded, risen, and baked their award-winning recipes, serving up everything from traditional New England brown bread and sourdough to Parkerhouse dinner rolls and what may just be Dover’s best maple donuts.

Keep the award-crawl going at La Festa Brick & Brew Pizza, named the best pizzeria in New Hampshire (New Hampshire Magazine, 2021). In addition to their traditional brick oven pizza, La Festa serves New York-style pizza and specialty pies, including their signature garlic knot pizza, spicy buffalo chicken pies, and veggie offerings.

Cheer for one of our own at The Sassy Biscuit Co., where Chef Britnie Lia was named Chef of the Year by the New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association (NHLRA). Chef Lia keeps things local at her bruncherie, which promises to bring big-city living to small-town plates with everything from steel-cut porridge and dropped biscuits to French toast and biscuit sandwiches.

We also tip our hats to Blue Latitudes Bar & Grill, schooled in Downeast American sensibilities and dusted with a sense of culinary adventure. Not only do they serve excellent small plates, New England seafood, and beloved pub fare, but Blue Latitudes also gives back to the Dover community: every year, they partner with a local aid agency, prepare a Thanksgiving dinner, and feed hundreds. Cheers to that!

Many restaurants now offer patio seating and outdoor dining!