Mia’s Bar & Lounge: ‘We want to be the late-night spot for Newmarket’

NEWMARKET — Searching for a place downtown to get a nightcap past 10 p.m.? Look no further.

Longtime residents Dave and Maribel Hernandez will be opening Mia’s Bar & Lounge at 156 Main Street, bringing what they say will be a speakeasy-type space with a “modern” and “classy” twist to Newmarket.

Newmarket’s nightlife consists mainly of sports bars, according to Maribel, and their new establishment aims for a different vibe. A place, she said, with “a little bit fancier” touch and a more “loungey” atmosphere.

“We want people to come in, feel comfortable hanging out… A place for if you're going to grab drinks after dinner with your colleague,” she added. “I don’t think there’s anything like it here.”

The couple purchased the 1,500-square-foot space between Jade Garden and Main Street Laundromat in November.

She said they have been putting their “sweat equity” into the space for the past six months, transforming it into what it is today.

The 48-seat lounge is accessorized with abstract paintings behind the bar, black furniture to play off the upscale and intimate ambiance, and a TouchTunes (a digitalized jukebox), which patrons can use to request and play their own music.

“We want to be the late-night spot for Newmarket,” said Maribel.

Dave said their goal is to open Mia’s Bar & Lounge by July 4 weekend, operating five days a week, Wednesdays to Sundays, from 4 p.m. to midnight.

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What’s on the menu at Mia’s Bar & Lounge?

Dave and Maribel said they plan to highlight their Puerto Rican and Caribbean background, offering an eclectic combination of traditional delicacies and American classics on the menu.

Appetizers on the menu include empanadas, mofongo (fried green plantains mashed together with crispy pork skin and fresh garlic, served with a red shrimp sauce or chicken broth), and ceviche (fish or shellfish marinated in citrus and seasoning).

Their drink menu consists of cocktails and mocktails incorporating tropical flavors such as passion fruits and guava into the drinks. Mia’s Bar & Lounge will also offer wines and different beers on tap.

The Hernandezes hope the Hispanic touches in the menu will bring customers back.

“It’s not something that you’re going to find everywhere,” said Maribel. “So, you have that, and you loved it, and it was delicious, where else are you going to get it? You’re going to have to come back.”

Even the restaurant’s name Mia, according to Maribel, is a play off a Spanish word, which means “mine” in English.

“It’s sweet, short, catchy, and it still means that it’s ours,” she added. “This is our baby.”

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Mia’s Bar & Lounge owners: ‘We want it to feel like a part of town’

The Hernandezs said they chose to open their new lounge in Newmarket because they believe the town is on its way to becoming a “mini-Portsmouth,” citing several eateries that recently opened in the past year.

“I think we have a lot to offer even though it’s a small town, there’s so many food options, and we’re still close to UNH,” said Maribel. “I think we still do have a lot more opportunity for growth.”

When open, the couple said customers can expect to walk into a welcoming and relaxing space.

“We put our time, effort, and love into this place, so we want it to be successful,” said Maribel. “We want to build a clientele. We want it to feel like a part of town – we want them to get to know us, and we want to get to know them.”

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This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Mia’s Bar & Lounge: A new late-night spot in Newmarket