Silver Fountain Inn & Tea Parlor

A gorgeous Victorian manse with a host as welcoming and gracious as Pam makes for a warm and inviting Inn. It is a lovely, intimate and elegant setting. We traveled there expressly for the Tea Parlor and afternoon tea, and it was well worth every second of the more than 60 minute drive through the lovely NH landscape. The food was sumptuous, the table beautiful and perfectly appointed, the atmosphere elegant, and the service impeccable. That Pam takes time to visit with her guests, and shares the history of her lovely Inn, is well beyond expectation. What a lovely experience… we will definitely be back. I should add, we have been fortunate enough to have visited some of the world’s most famous tea rooms and are, therefore, experienced enough to say that Silver Fountain’s Tea Parlor is as good as it gets.

Pam is a warm, car in, genuine soul with a penchant for fine service without being one bit pretentious. My mother and installed here for a day on one of our mini vacations and mom asked to go back again for the wonderful hospitality, lovely home cooked breakfast and fine teas. We stayed in the large king suite on the ground floor that was easily accessible for my elderly mother and Pam cheerfully brought her breakfast in bed on short notice, the homemade quiche was one of the best we’ve had. This lovely old Victorian mansion has a very unique and charming flair that you expect to find in a home that dates back to the civil war era and the one person who saw these characteristics as flaws should perhaps book her next stay at the local Marriott. The Silver Fountain in a wonderful diamond in the rough and mom and I recommend it highly.

Beautiful home, rooms are exquisite, owner Pam is an excellent host. I want to come back an do the high tea (:

EXCELLENT! A great place to host a bridal or baby shower. My mother and sister chose the Silver Fountain Inn and Tea Parlor to host my bridal shower in April. Everyone loved the food and atmosphere. The sandwiches and tea were delicious and the scones were out of this world! Pam was very easy to work with and was on the spot with anything we needed during the event. We had 25 or so guests and it went so smoothly.

Love having tea at the Silver Fountain Inn & Tea Parlor. Its not as expensive as other tea parlors and is more laid back (theres no dress code). The atmosphere is unbelievably beautiful and quaint and a perfect place to pretend you are fancy. I believe their tea time starts at 11:30−3pm on most days except for Sundays. I have been here a few times now and it has always been an enjoyable experience. The woman that served me was very nice and welcoming. No need to make a reservation. If you are a fan of tea and yummy tea appetizers this is the place for you. I would suggest their scones– so good my mouth is watering just thinking about it! Cannot wait to go back

Stayed here last month after looking for various inns around the Portsmouth area. It was a lovely house, we chose the Boudoir Room for its silk panelled walls and gorgeous woodwork. Any history fan will love this inn! Jim and Pam were gracious hosts as well, offering tea and fresh cookies upon our arrival as well as a delicious breakfast the following morning. Our room had its own private bathroom, a mini fridge, a TV, and was very spacious as well. If you’re looking for wonderful hosts and a comfortable stay in an elegant historical inn, look no further than the Silver Fountain! We plan on staying here again during our next trip to Portsmouth!

As soon as we pulled out of the parking lot on Sunday, I was already plotting my return to the Silver Fountain Inn. This place is so adorable and a very short walk to the center of Dover, which has some great restaurants, bars and shops to keep you busy for a day or two. As many of other Unilocalers have mentioned, Pam is excellent (very warm and welcoming) and quickly committed my name to memory even though my name was not listed on reservation. Is there anything better than being welcomed down to breakfast in the morning that someone saying your name as they offer you a cup of coffee in a beautiful parlor (I think not). The room we had (#7) was large and spacious (a tad warm but in the winter, I’ll take that over too cold) and had cable and Wifi. The bed was very comfortable. I would definitely go back and don’t miss out on this gem of a B&B.
Then why 4 stars and not 5
Minifridge — We had a fridge but it definitely was not cold — can not really place blame here because we didn’t complain about it
WiFi — Was free but was not 100% consistent

My daughter and I booked a lovely stay at the Silver Fountain Inn over Thanksgiving weekend. What a delight. The proprietors of this solid, yet quaint landmark home have done a beautiful job. Our room, a large one on the main floor, was impeccable and comfortable. There were other guests for the weekend yet we did not hear any of them while we were in our room, and only met up with everyone else at breakfast, a delicious, made-​to-​order start for the day. And even though we have family in the area, we preferred our private sanctuary at the Silver Fountain Inn and will definitely consider staying there again. We were well cared for while, at the same time, given all the privacy we wanted. It was a pleasure to meet the owners, Jim and Pam Pidgeon.
They really do leave the light on for you.

I took my mother here for afternoon tea for her birthday. It was PERFECT. There was some confusion on our part about which entrance to use (the Cushing St entrance is the correct one), but there was a sign explaining to ring the bell if the door was locked (which it was). Pam, the owner came to the door immediately and that was the one and only hiccup of the afternoon.
We ordered a pot of the Jasmine green tea, a cup of the soup of the day (butternut squash with orange and cardamom– YUM!) and the Duchess afternoon tea service and everything was delicious. The food is simple, but well seasoned and clearly very fresh. The soup was my personal favorite of the meal, but the orange ginger scones with lemon curd and fresh cream were also to die for. Every single sandwich was delicious, but my personal favorites were the cucumber and the egg salad. The cucumber had just a touch of vinegar to brighten up the flavor of the sandwich and the egg salad had a little bite with watercress and I believe some hot sauce in the mix. Awesome.
Pam was very friendly, great at taking care of us throughout the meal and also filled us in on the history of the Inn. She let us wander around and look at the different rooms throughout the house. The architecture is incredible and the décor is absolutely CHARMING.
I would highly recommend the tea room and Inn for a special afternoon like we did today OR for something even more special. I imagine it would be ideal for a wedding party– to stay before the wedding, for the bride and her maids to get ready, etc. Probably not big enough for much more than a small, intimate wedding of max 30 or so guests. Someone getting married at the Rivermill could stay here and be in very close proximity to the venue and it has a lot more character and charm than a chain hotel. It’s also a lot closer than the chain hotels on Central Ave.
It’s definitely a gem right near downtown Dover. The building is nearly 150 years old, and a lot of it is still all original including the amazing plaster molding in the tea parlor. The house and décor have interesting history, so ask about it when you go. Highly recommend.

We just recently had our wedding in Dover, NH and stayed at the Silver Fountain Inn. What a blast! The wedding party stayed there the first night and we loved being together in the comfy, quaint and historic Inn. It was a great backdrop for pictures before the wedding and we even had our post bridal brunch there the next day. Bagels, fruit and pastries were among the spread at the brunch, which proved to be delicious! From the moment we arrived, Jim and Pam were friendly and welcoming. The morning of the wedding, the wedding party and I used the Inn to get our hair and makeup done. It was very convenient and fun! We had a stress free morning enjoying the lovely breakfast prepared by Pam and Jim. Our breakfast was accompanied by an array of teas, which helped calm any last wedding nerves! The accommodations are lovely! We stayed in the Chamber, which was beautiful! We felt transported back in time. From the unique atmosphere, to the welcoming and hospitable hosts, I would highly recommend the Silver Fountain Inn to any guests planning a trip to Dover and especially for any future brides! Our stay was both special and memorable. The Silver Fountain Inn now holds a special place in our hearts and we hope to revisit for future anniversaries! Thank you Silver Fountain Inn!

My boyfriend and I just got back from a great weekend in Dover! We had the pleasure of staying at the Silver Fountain and highly recommend it! Pam is a warm, inviting and wonderful host! My boyfriend chatted with Jim and said the same about him. Beautiful Inn, great accommodations, yummy breakfasts, treats and the teas are wonderful! Definitely worth it!

Just had a fabulous afternoon tea experience! Décor/​Menu/​Ambiance spot on, tea and food delicious! Pam the proprietor was gracious, knowledgeable and a wonderful host! Please find your way to Dover NH, you will not be disappointed.

This is a very old Victorian home that has seen much better days. When we arrived there was no one there to meet us and we had to go searching for people. Our room and most of the place had an old and very musty smell.
The teas were pretty ordinary but the food was very good. Again finding someone to serve you was almost imposible. «High» tea to me is something very different. Not served by a woman in shorts and a t-​shirt. Breakfast was almost not there. We had to wait until some one finally appeared.
We saw no gift shop but there was no one there to guide around the house.
I would not recommend this bed and breakfast

I had the pleasure of staying at the Silver Fountain Inn this past Friday night (6÷20÷2014) while traveling to Maine for a wedding. Having stayed in some excellent hotels, the SFI was just perfect for my short stay.
Not only did Pam honor my request for an early check in, but she made sure that everything we needed, which wasn’t much, was taken care of. We stayed in room #9. The bed and linens were superb, and we were able to enjoy a day in Portsmouth before traveling to the wedding.
The southern pecan coffee was excellent, and was available any time of day.
The room was comfortable and luxurious. Breakfast was excellent. French Toast, Bacon, and Oatmeal, as well as homemade scones. Pam is a great historian of the Inn and I wish them the best of luck with the SFI.
If ever in the area, will definitely be back. Your key is in the mail!
John

Pam and Jim are just awesome, as are the accommodations. Beautiful home and great location. My fiancée and I took a weekend getaway and this was exactly what we were looking for. Room we stayed in was absolutely huge, super comfortable bed that was like a black hole in the afternoons… you’ve been warned.
Pick their brain as they have a great story to tell about buying the Inn and also a wealth of info on the surrounding areas including the outlets and Portsmouth. Thanks again guys for a great experience.

Cannot say enough good things about this place. The inn itself is beautiful, and there so many extra touches that you don’t see much nowadays-​fresh cookies set out each day, tea/​coffee available at all times, comfy robes in the rooms… and all for less than you would often pay at a high priced hotel. Pam is lovely, and the homemade breakfasts are delicious. As an avid tea-​drinker, the variety of loose-​leaf teas and individual-​sized teapots were a wonderful touch. The set up allows guests to either socialize or keep to themselves, which can be a challenge in a small place like this. We very much enjoyed our stay and would not hesitate to book it again!

Bottom line: Staying at the Silver Fountain Inn was a great experience for my elderly relatives.
Just over a month ago I was having three elderly relatives ranging in age from 75 to 86, one of which is somewhat picky, visit us and wanted a special place for them to stay.
I called to see if I could drop by and check out the Inn. Pam was very gracious and we set up a time one afternoon. Upon arrival she showed me the entire Inn which is beautiful by the way. We then chatted and I explained what I was looking for.
When my relatives and I arrived Jim was up on a ladder doing some minor maintenance outside. He quickly came down and greeted us by name and insisted on carrying their small suitcases in himself. Pam greeted us inside, showed them their rooms, the lounging and dining areas as well as how to get coffee and tea any time. She then invited us to sit down and have coffee. My father tried to get up to make his coffee but Pam insisted she would make and get it for him and the others.
The next day I asked them what they thought of the Inn. They said they liked it very much, the breakfast was wonderful and «Pam was so nice». Dad said incredulously, «she never let me get up to get my own coffee, even once.»
If you are looking for a beautiful inn, genuinely friendly owners who care about your needs and a great breakfast you should consider the Silver Fountain Inn. My relatives had a wonderful experience and it was the highlight of their visit.

Silver Fountain Inn recently came under new ownership, and the new owners (Pam and Jim) are off to a fantastic start. They hosted my extended family during a wedding celebration; I believe we took up every room at the inn. Jim and Pam were remarkably charming and hospitable. The rooms were very clean and cozy, and the breakfasts they served were wonderful. I wouldn’t stay anywhere else in the area!

Very nice little place randomly found on Silver St in Dover. I have driven by here for years and never had the opportunity to stay until recently.
The staff was friendly and accommodating, yet not intrusive in any manner. The room was a nice size, with a very comfortable bed and lovely detail work. Breakfast was one of the better that we have had at a B&B and it was very nice to enjoy it on the porch on a beautiful sunny morning.
My only areas for improvement would be: 1) the in-​window A/​C was very loud; a new unit may be quieter and allow your guests in the Garrison Room a better night’s sleep and 2) the shower basin could have used some replacement or, at a minimum, a new grouting job along the bottom. Neither of these would stop me from staying there again though– just some areas that I noticed.
With many family and friends in the area, we will be back!

Can you say «attention to detail»?
My boyfriend and I found this Bed and Breakfast through
. We originally wanted to stay in Portsmouth, but we waited too long to book a hotel. We were slightly concerned about staying in Dover, but we soon realized that our worries were unfounded. Not only is the Silver Fountain Inn worth staying out-​of-​town for, but it’s only a short drive to Portsmouth, where we found ample parking.
I simply cannot say enough about the Silver Fountain Inn. The inn itself is gorgeous – an old home that has been very carefully updated and cared for. In addition, Susan, who runs it, is wonderful. She has great attention to detail – everything from the DVD library to the little soaps in the room to the teapots & teas provided impressed us. The room we stayed in was immaculate, and the sheets were the softest I have ever felt. The breakfast was gourmet – seriously – and we were even offered a choice between two options.
I would go out of my way to stay at the Silver Fountain Inn again. It is a must-​stay.