Explore Manchester, NH’s, Growing Wellness Scene
With a rising interest in personal wellness, Manchester, NH, is making it easier for residents to opt for more health-conscious alternatives and routines. From fitness classes to mocktails to fresh food, residents have everything they need to pursue a healthy, active lifestyle. Ahead is a snapshot of what you’ll find in Manchester, NH’s, growing wellness scene.
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Fitness Studios
Exercise is key to wellness, and those interested in personal training, group classes or nutrition consults in Manchester, NH, will find everything they need at places like FITLAB Fitness Club and The Workout Club.
The Planet Fitness franchise, which is headquartered in New Hampshire, is another gym known for its accessibility and affordability. Over at Individual Fitness, experts tailor programs to meet individual needs, while Barre Life and Kama Fly Fitness bring yoga, Pilates and barre to the masses through studio classes, workshops and events.
For family-friendly activities, the YMCA of Downtown Manchester is a reliable source for community members of all ages and interests, and EFX Fitness is all about weightlifting and agility training for young athletes.
Mocktails
For a speakeasy-style space to gather, 815 Cocktails & Provisions offers made-to-order mocktails, hopped sparkling water and nonalcoholic IPAs. Firefly American Bistro & Bar pairs playful drinks like Nothing Com-Pears 2 U and Pink Panther with its menu of brunch items, comfort food and gluten-free options.
Boards & Brews, a café in downtown Manchester, NH, offers wellness items like tea-based “character tonic mocktails,” which customers can enjoy while playing a board game.
Set to open in January, the new dry bar called Without will be 100% liquor free. Restaurateur and co-founder Dan Haggerty says the inspiration to open the unique space was multifaceted and came after years of research and listening to regulars at his other restaurants.
“Trends are changing,” he says. “More of these places are popping up. More people kept asking for nonalcoholic options. A lot of our regulars would say that they were trying not to consume so much alcohol.”
The establishment will serve light bites alongside signature mocktails made from fresh juice and syrups as well as nonalcoholic spirits, wines and beers. Without will be unique to the area so, the buzz has begun. Haggerty believes the all-inclusive space will be a popular gathering spot and a welcome addition to Manchester.
Farm-to-Table Restaurants
It’s easier to make healthier choices and prioritize wellness when you know the origin of your food, and a few Manchester, NH, restaurants are sourcing their ingredients locally or nearby. Republic Brewing Co. gets many of its ingredients from nearby farmers and makers, like handmade tortillas from Hadley, MA, and grass-fed beef from Exeter, NH. Its menu is full of options you’ll love, too. Try the black bean tacos with avocado, chili aioli, pickled onion, cilantro and radish.
Campo Enoteca features an array of Italian cuisine, incorporating beef, chicken and pork from farmers across the state as well as wild-caught seafood from the North Atlantic. It proudly boasts a menu built entirely from scratch, with pastas made fresh daily and artisan bread. At The Foundry restaurant, diners find an array of local cheeses and seasonal meats on their charcuterie plates. The eatery is also known for its popular award-winning poutine topped with homemade gravy.
Community-Supported Agriculture
In collaboration with the Organization for Refugee and Immigrant Success (ORIS), Fresh Start Farms in Manchester, NH, works with 30 farmers across three farms to bridge the gap between farmers and the marketplace.
Hayden Pickens, development and grants manager, says farmers can sell their produce to ORIS’ Fresh Start Food Hub, which then distributes the produce to the community in a variety of ways. One of the ways is by offering a weekly farm share/community-supported agriculture program. Customers can customize their boxes online and pick them up at Fresh Start Market in Manchester or at one the delivery sites in Manchester, Concord and Nashua.
Pickens adds that while the farmers have their own plots and operate independently, “they have access to technical assistance, training and support on successful farming and business practices and important resources and technology, like wash stations, greenhouses and irrigation.”
Aside from its philosophy to put the best, healthiest food on plates across the community, Fresh Start Farms also stand behind its mission to make that process as easy and affordable as possible. This helps Manchester, NH, residents who are trying to prioritize their wellness have access to the food they need.
“The Food Hub and Mobile Market stops are located in areas with limited access to fresh food, and they accept SNAP EBT and Double Up Food Bucks,” Pickens says. “This makes it easier and more affordable for Manchester residents to find and purchase fresh, healthy food, including culturally significant produce that the immigrant and refugee populations in the city may otherwise have a difficult time finding.”
This article was sponsored by the Manchester Economic Development Office.