If you’re planning a stop at Annabelle’s Natural Ice Cream in Portsmouth, NH, here’s the short version: it’s on the waterfront, it’s cash-first, the lines get long in July, and the ice cream is worth every minute. The longer version — the one most directory listings skip — covers the exact hours, what a cone actually costs, where to park, and how to turn a scoop into a full evening on Ceres Street. That’s what we’ve put together below.
Why Annabelle’s is a Portsmouth institution
Annabelle’s has been scooping on the Portsmouth waterfront since 1982, and the recipe is the reason it keeps winning “Best of NH” nods and 10Best-style reader awards. This is premium ice cream in the technical sense: roughly 16.5% butterfat and very low air injection (low “overrun”), so each scoop is dense and rich rather than whipped and airy. It’s kosher-certified, made in-house, and skips artificial colors.
If you’ve ever wondered what “natural ice cream” actually means here, that’s it — a short ingredient list, real butterfat, and no shortcuts. It is not a health food, and it’s not pretending to be. It’s just made properly.
Location and access
You’ll find Annabelle’s at 49 Ceres Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801, tucked into the historic waterfront district a short stroll from Market Square. From the square, walk down Market Street toward the water and cut onto Ceres Street — it’s a flat five-minute walk past brick storefronts and the tugboats.
Parking: Ceres Street has limited metered spots that fill fast in summer. Your reliable bet is the Hanover Street parking garage, a few minutes’ walk away, or the Foundry Place garage a bit farther out. Metered street parking is enforced, so check the signs.
Accessibility: The shop is at street level with a wide entrance, and the Ceres Street sidewalk connects to the broader waterfront walk. Accessible parking is available in the public garages rather than directly outside, so if mobility is a concern, the garage-plus-short-walk route is smoother than hunting for a curbside space.
Hours, prices, and booking
Current hours run Sunday–Thursday, 12–9 p.m. and Friday–Saturday, 12–10 p.m. Hours can shift with the season — shoulder-season and winter schedules sometimes tighten — so if you’re making a special trip, call ahead at (603) 436-3400 to confirm.
Bring cash. Annabelle’s runs cash-first, which trips up a lot of first-timers mid-line. There’s an ATM option nearby, but the smart move is to arrive with bills in hand so you’re not stepping out of line to find one. Expect roughly $5–$7 for a single scoop and a few dollars more for doubles, sundaes, and frozen yogurt, in line with premium scoop shops across New England in 2026.
There’s no online ordering — this is an in-person, walk-up experience. For groups and events, the shop does handle party and function hosting, so call directly if you want to arrange something.
What to expect
The case holds 40-plus rotating homemade flavors. Regulars rave about Peanut Butter Fantasy, NH Pure Maple Walnut, and Swiss Chocolate Avalanche, but the lineup rotates, so the best move is to ask what came out of the kitchen that week.
Allergy- and diet-conscious visitors are well covered: there are dairy-free options, gluten-free choices, and sorbets and frozen yogurt alongside the full-fat classics. Combined with the kosher certification, Annabelle’s is one of the easier dessert stops in town to bring a mixed group to.
On timing — summer evenings bring a line, sometimes out the door. The crowd is part of the charm, but if you’d rather skip the wait, aim for early afternoon or roll in right after dinner before the post-waterfront-stroll rush. A rainy or overcast day thins the crowd considerably, which is one small upside to New England’s unpredictable summer skies.
Local tip: the flavors on the wall aren’t always the full story. Ask the staff what’s rotating that day — the seasonal batches often don’t make it onto the standard list.
Nearby options: make it a full evening
Annabelle’s sits in the middle of Portsmouth’s best walking district, so a cone is really just the anchor for a bigger outing. Ceres Street and the adjacent Bow Street are lined with restaurants and bars overlooking the Piscataqua River — easy to pair dinner with dessert without moving your car. The waterfront boardwalk behind the shop and nearby Prescott Park are the prettiest spots for a post-scoop walk and a few photos, especially at golden hour.
For a loose plan: dinner on Bow or Ceres Street, a scoop at Annabelle’s, then a slow loop through Prescott Park and back to Market Square. It fills an evening without a single stressful drive.
A quick Florida note: if you’re a Florida traveler escaping the summer heat for coastal New England, Portsmouth pairs naturally with a day trip up the New Hampshire and southern Maine coast — think Kittery outlets, a beach afternoon, and ice cream to close the night. For more Florida-flyer travel reads, see our guide to Wicker Park Seafood & Sushi Bar at O’Hare and our Florida flyer’s take on the Titans Press Box at BNA.
Visitor tips
- Bring cash. It’s the single thing most first-timers forget.
- Go early evening — right after dinner, before the late-night waterfront crowd — to dodge the longest lines.
- Ask about rotating flavors that aren’t posted on the standard board.
- Park in a garage and walk; it’s faster and less stressful than circling Ceres Street.
- Great for mixed groups — families, kosher diners, and dairy-free or gluten-free eaters all have real choices here.
Watching your intake? Premium ice cream runs higher in calories than the airy supermarket stuff precisely because there’s less air and more butterfat — the same logic we broke down in our look at the calories in apple cider drinks. A single scoop is a treat, not a diet-wrecker; plan accordingly and enjoy it.
Chasing one more New England stop with tricky hours? Our 2026 guide to holiday and seasonal hours at chains like In-N-Out is a useful reminder to always confirm times before you drive.
FAQs
Where is Annabelle’s Natural Ice Cream located?
Annabelle’s Natural Ice Cream is at 49 Ceres Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801, on the historic waterfront about a five-minute walk from Market Square.
What are Annabelle’s Natural Ice Cream hours in Portsmouth NH?
Current hours are Sunday–Thursday 12–9 p.m. and Friday–Saturday 12–10 p.m. Hours can shift seasonally, so call (603) 436-3400 to confirm before a special trip.
Is Annabelle’s Natural Ice Cream cash only?
Annabelle’s runs cash-first, so bring bills. There’s an ATM option nearby, but arriving with cash keeps you from stepping out of line to find one.
Does Annabelle’s have dairy-free or gluten-free options?
Yes. Alongside 40-plus homemade flavors, Annabelle’s offers dairy-free choices, gluten-free options, and sorbets and frozen yogurt. The ice cream is also kosher-certified.
Is there antifreeze in ice cream?
No — that’s a persistent myth. Quality ice cream like Annabelle’s is made from cream, milk, sugar, and flavorings with no artificial colors. The confusion comes from propylene glycol, a food-safe ingredient used in some commercial products that shares a name category with industrial antifreeze but is not the toxic kind.
Is there parking near Annabelle’s in Portsmouth?
Ceres Street has limited metered parking that fills quickly in summer. The reliable option is the Hanover Street parking garage a short walk away, with the Foundry Place garage as a backup.
