Guidebook for Baltimore
Food Scene
If you're here on a Tuesday, this should be where you go to try Maryland blue crabs. Every tuesday is "shore night", where shellfish of every kind are deeply discounted.
Happy hour: 3:00-7:00pm, plus all day on Mondays.
30 locals raden deze aan
Ryleigh's Oyster
36 E Cross St If you're here on a Tuesday, this should be where you go to try Maryland blue crabs. Every tuesday is "shore night", where shellfish of every kind are deeply discounted.
Happy hour: 3:00-7:00pm, plus all day on Mondays.
Freshly baked cookies and ice cream, open until 3:00am every night.
9 locals raden deze aan
Insomnia Cookies
1059 S Charles StFreshly baked cookies and ice cream, open until 3:00am every night.
If you're in the mood for seafood, this should be your first choice. The location is right on the water, so you can eat fish in front of fish.
39 locals raden deze aan
Nick's Fish House
2600 Insulator DrIf you're in the mood for seafood, this should be your first choice. The location is right on the water, so you can eat fish in front of fish.
Look, Baltimore isn't known for pizza, but as a pizza snob, I approve of the thin crust here. Plus it's a very friendly neighborhood spot to hang out and Natty Boh cans are always $1.50.
Happy hour: 11:00am-7:00pm.
Trivia night: Sunday 7:00pm.
HomeSlyce Federal Hill
2 Light StLook, Baltimore isn't known for pizza, but as a pizza snob, I approve of the thin crust here. Plus it's a very friendly neighborhood spot to hang out and Natty Boh cans are always $1.50.
Happy hour: 11:00am-7:00pm.
Trivia night: Sunday 7:00pm.
Outstanding mediterranean food. A little cramped during peak hours, but offers quick carry-out.
19 locals raden deze aan
Baba's Mediterranean Kitchen
745 E Fort Ave Outstanding mediterranean food. A little cramped during peak hours, but offers quick carry-out.
Voted best burger in South Baltimore, with a rotating list of exotic meats.
27 locals raden deze aan
The Abbey Burger Bistro
1041 Marshall St Voted best burger in South Baltimore, with a rotating list of exotic meats.
Cross Street Market
1065 S Charles St Under renovation, re-open spring 2019.
Great food, one of my favorite brunch locations on the weekends, and it's open every day at 11:00am for lunch.
Happy hour: 2:00pm-7:00pm.
16 locals raden deze aan
The Rowhouse Grille
1400 Light St Great food, one of my favorite brunch locations on the weekends, and it's open every day at 11:00am for lunch.
Happy hour: 2:00pm-7:00pm.
Excellent tacos, easily top three in the city.
Happy hour: 3:00-7:00pm (bar area only)
Late night happy hour: 10:00pm-2:00am
36 locals raden deze aan
Blue Agave Restaurant
1032 Light StExcellent tacos, easily top three in the city.
Happy hour: 3:00-7:00pm (bar area only)
Late night happy hour: 10:00pm-2:00am
Happy hour: 5:00-7:00pm
Trivia night: Wednesday, 7:30pm
Sunday special: $7 22oz beer in collector's cup w/ $4 refills.
19 locals raden deze aan
Pub Dog Pizza & Drafthouse
20 E Cross StHappy hour: 5:00-7:00pm
Trivia night: Wednesday, 7:30pm
Sunday special: $7 22oz beer in collector's cup w/ $4 refills.
The perfect place to stop for an overly elaborate cup of coffee before or after a trip to AVAM.
11 locals raden deze aan
3 Bean Coffee
209 Key Hwy The perfect place to stop for an overly elaborate cup of coffee before or after a trip to AVAM.
Generally agreed to be the best sushi in the neighborhood. Closed Tuesdays, for some reason.
16 locals raden deze aan
Shoyou Sushi
1450 Light St Generally agreed to be the best sushi in the neighborhood. Closed Tuesdays, for some reason.
This newer restaurant is about a 10 second walk, and serves upscale American comfort food.
AJ's On Hanover
1500 S Hanover StThis newer restaurant is about a 10 second walk, and serves upscale American comfort food.
A neighborhood institution, Mother's not only has great food and an extensive beer tap selection, but also has an enormous, secondary part of the building behind the dining room open at night. Minor claim to fame: featured on a second season episode of "Drunk History".
25 locals raden deze aan
Mother's Federal Hill Grille
1113 S Charles StA neighborhood institution, Mother's not only has great food and an extensive beer tap selection, but also has an enormous, secondary part of the building behind the dining room open at night. Minor claim to fame: featured on a second season episode of "Drunk History".
Arguably the best Caribbean food in the neighborhood in a category of only this one restaurant, it used to be the Clement Street Tavern, when it was extensively used as a shooting location for season two of "The Wire".
Get It Inn Island Cuisine
1401 E Clement StArguably the best Caribbean food in the neighborhood in a category of only this one restaurant, it used to be the Clement Street Tavern, when it was extensively used as a shooting location for season two of "The Wire".
Drinks & Nightlife
This is the best dive in the neighborhood. Featured on Dave Attell's "Insomniac", they've got pool, live music, and some of the most gruff bartenders in town. Ask for the Number One: a shot of Viryta and a Natty Boh. Don't know what Viryta is? Of course not. Nicknamed "The Evil", it tastes like honey and spices but that hides a lot of grain alcohol.
6 locals raden deze aan
Mums
1132 S Hanover St This is the best dive in the neighborhood. Featured on Dave Attell's "Insomniac", they've got pool, live music, and some of the most gruff bartenders in town. Ask for the Number One: a shot of Viryta and a Natty Boh. Don't know what Viryta is? Of course not. Nicknamed "The Evil", it tastes like honey and spices but that hides a lot of grain alcohol.
Unique for an Irish bar, Foley's offers the best wings in Baltimore. Don't ask why, they've been voted such every year. They're closed Sundays unless the Ravens or Orioles are playing. Maryland liquor licenses are wacky.
Happy hour: 4:00-7:00pm.
Trivia night: Monday 8:00pm.
8 locals raden deze aan
Delia Foley's
1439 S Charles St Unique for an Irish bar, Foley's offers the best wings in Baltimore. Don't ask why, they've been voted such every year. They're closed Sundays unless the Ravens or Orioles are playing. Maryland liquor licenses are wacky.
Happy hour: 4:00-7:00pm.
Trivia night: Monday 8:00pm.
A trendy spot with surprisingly high quality tacos. Seriously, the pork belly tacos are magical. Also they serve 32oz beers.
Happy hour: 4:00-7:00pm.
15 locals raden deze aan
Banditos Bar & Kitchen
1118 S Charles St A trendy spot with surprisingly high quality tacos. Seriously, the pork belly tacos are magical. Also they serve 32oz beers.
Happy hour: 4:00-7:00pm.
This is easily my favorite bar in South Baltimore. They specialize in craft beers that you can get 3 for $7 during happy hour, and on Wednesdays they host one of the best trivia nights in the city. Plus, you can throw a dart at the menu and end up with an amazing meal, the chef doesn't do mediocre.
Happy hour: 4:00-7:00pm.
Trivia night: Wednesday at 8:00pm.
52 locals raden deze aan
Cat's Eye Pub
1730 Thames Street This is easily my favorite bar in South Baltimore. They specialize in craft beers that you can get 3 for $7 during happy hour, and on Wednesdays they host one of the best trivia nights in the city. Plus, you can throw a dart at the menu and end up with an amazing meal, the chef doesn't do mediocre.
Happy hour: 4:00-7:00pm.
Trivia night: Wednesday at 8:00pm.
Hilarious story: the owner of Barfly's won the secret recipe to her ex-husband's famous pizza in a very bizarre divorce, and now it's served here for your enjoyment.
12 locals raden deze aan
Barfly's
620 E Fort Ave Hilarious story: the owner of Barfly's won the secret recipe to her ex-husband's famous pizza in a very bizarre divorce, and now it's served here for your enjoyment.
A spacious neighborhood bar that has live music most nights after 7:00pm, plus there's shuffleboard in the back. AYCD domestic beer and house wine on Fridays from 7:00-10:00pm.
7 locals raden deze aan
Don't Know Tavern
1453 Light St A spacious neighborhood bar that has live music most nights after 7:00pm, plus there's shuffleboard in the back. AYCD domestic beer and house wine on Fridays from 7:00-10:00pm.
Another newer bar with an outstanding menu that turns into a crowded trendy place after 9:00pm nightly. On Thursdays they do coin flip night 9:00pm-12:00am. Order a beer, call heads or tails, and if you win, the beer is free.
Happy hour: 11:00am-7:00pm.
9 locals raden deze aan
Wayward Smokehouse
1117 S Charles St Another newer bar with an outstanding menu that turns into a crowded trendy place after 9:00pm nightly. On Thursdays they do coin flip night 9:00pm-12:00am. Order a beer, call heads or tails, and if you win, the beer is free.
Happy hour: 11:00am-7:00pm.
A quiet dive most of the time, on weekend nights the second floor opens up and the college kids come into town to yell over dance music.
Happy hour: AYCD 6:00-9:00pm.
6 locals raden deze aan
Nobles Bar And Grill
1024 South Charles Street A quiet dive most of the time, on weekend nights the second floor opens up and the college kids come into town to yell over dance music.
Happy hour: AYCD 6:00-9:00pm.
Stop in here on Thursdays for $9 crab cakes, play some skeeball, and reminisce about the days of Ronald Reagan's presidency. A fantastic place most of the time, only attempt to visit here after 9:00pm on a weekend if you're into standing in line with girls carrying their shoes.
Happy hour: 4:30-7:00pm.
11 locals raden deze aan
Ropewalk Tavern
1209 S Charles St Stop in here on Thursdays for $9 crab cakes, play some skeeball, and reminisce about the days of Ronald Reagan's presidency. A fantastic place most of the time, only attempt to visit here after 9:00pm on a weekend if you're into standing in line with girls carrying their shoes.
Happy hour: 4:30-7:00pm.
The best Philly cheese steaks in the city are served up here, and with a ton of big screens, any sporting event you wanna catch is bound to be playing.
Happy hour: 7:00pm-2:00am.
15 locals raden deze aan
Magerks Pub & Grill Federal Hill
1061 S Charles St The best Philly cheese steaks in the city are served up here, and with a ton of big screens, any sporting event you wanna catch is bound to be playing.
Happy hour: 7:00pm-2:00am.
This is another great German place for sausages and beer, though full disclosure: it gets pretty college bro after 9:00pm or so. Fun activity: check the Natty Light leaderboard by the front door for your host's ranking. AYCD Fridays from 10:00pm-1:00am. If you're really going for the gusto, hit this AYCD immediately after Don't Know's AYCD, they're a block apart from each other.
Happy hour: 4:00-7:00pm.
Das Bier Haus
This is another great German place for sausages and beer, though full disclosure: it gets pretty college bro after 9:00pm or so. Fun activity: check the Natty Light leaderboard by the front door for your host's ranking. AYCD Fridays from 10:00pm-1:00am. If you're really going for the gusto, hit this AYCD immediately after Don't Know's AYCD, they're a block apart from each other.
Happy hour: 4:00-7:00pm.
Do you like mahogany? What about leather? Scotch? All of the above and more can be found in this dimly lit cocktail lounge that represents the more sophisticated side of Cross Street.
Happy hour: 4:00-7:00pm.
32 locals raden deze aan
Bookmakers Cocktail Club
31 E Cross St Do you like mahogany? What about leather? Scotch? All of the above and more can be found in this dimly lit cocktail lounge that represents the more sophisticated side of Cross Street.
Happy hour: 4:00-7:00pm.
This bar specializes in chartreuse, so if you happen to be a Carthusian monk you should feel right at home.
10 locals raden deze aan
Idle Hour
201 E Fort Ave This bar specializes in chartreuse, so if you happen to be a Carthusian monk you should feel right at home.
If you like your seafood deep fried and a bunch of nautical decor, this is the place for you.
Happy hour: 4:00-7:00pm.
8 locals raden deze aan
Captain Larry's Bar & Grill
601 E Fort Ave If you like your seafood deep fried and a bunch of nautical decor, this is the place for you.
Happy hour: 4:00-7:00pm.
Southside Saloon
430 E Fort Ave A legitimate dive and a window into old South Baltimore.
Voted the best bar in Maryland, the owner, Jeff, treats every customer as though they were in his own living room. The only downside is the bar is about as big as a living room.
8 locals raden deze aan
bar Liquorice
Voted the best bar in Maryland, the owner, Jeff, treats every customer as though they were in his own living room. The only downside is the bar is about as big as a living room.
This is easily my favorite bar in Locust Point. Daily food specials, order anything, you can't go wrong.
Happy hour: 5:00-7:00pm.
Trivia night: Wednesday 9:00pm.
8 locals raden deze aan
Wiley Gunter's
823 E Fort Ave This is easily my favorite bar in Locust Point. Daily food specials, order anything, you can't go wrong.
Happy hour: 5:00-7:00pm.
Trivia night: Wednesday 9:00pm.
What was once a power plant is now an indoor/outdoor complex of bars and stages. Extremely touristy, it nevertheless hosts some of the bigger bands when they come through town. Plus one of the bars there has an electric rodeo bull.
110 locals raden deze aan
Power Plant Live!
34 Market Pl What was once a power plant is now an indoor/outdoor complex of bars and stages. Extremely touristy, it nevertheless hosts some of the bigger bands when they come through town. Plus one of the bars there has an electric rodeo bull.
Modeled after an outdoor oktoberfest, this enormous indoor space with the largest skylight in the city has benches, fest lights, and other decorations imported from Munich oktoberfests from years past. One of the best places to grab a brat and a stein.
6 locals raden deze aan
Crossbar
18 E Cross St Modeled after an outdoor oktoberfest, this enormous indoor space with the largest skylight in the city has benches, fest lights, and other decorations imported from Munich oktoberfests from years past. One of the best places to grab a brat and a stein.
Loud and hip, this is the place to go if you're into techno-pop and trendy crowds.
Happy hour: 4:00pm-8:00pm.
The Charles Baltimore
1110 S Charles St Loud and hip, this is the place to go if you're into techno-pop and trendy crowds.
Happy hour: 4:00pm-8:00pm.
20-somethings. Slushy drinks. College football. Loud dance music. This polarizing bar features three floors, just as many bars, and lines out the door after 10:00pm on weekends.
9 locals raden deze aan
Stalking Horse
26 E Cross St20-somethings. Slushy drinks. College football. Loud dance music. This polarizing bar features three floors, just as many bars, and lines out the door after 10:00pm on weekends.
Pigtown's premier brewery hosts a very nice taproom.
16 locals raden deze aan
Suspended Brewing Company
912 Washington BlvdPigtown's premier brewery hosts a very nice taproom.
Tucked out of the way in a former industrial building...I've just described every microbrewery didn't I? It's a good one.
11 locals raden deze aan
Diamondback Brewing Co.
1215 E Fort AveTucked out of the way in a former industrial building...I've just described every microbrewery didn't I? It's a good one.
Checkerspot opened its doors in 2018 and is now the closest brewery. It's a short walk to a decent taproom. Word of warning - their sour beers are super sour.
Checkerspot Brewing Company
1421 S Sharp StCheckerspot opened its doors in 2018 and is now the closest brewery. It's a short walk to a decent taproom. Word of warning - their sour beers are super sour.
Union Brewery recently moved to this enormous space that shares a building with a distillery, ice creamery, and rock-climbing (well, bouldering) gym. It's an entire afternoon of activities in one place. It's out of the way and only really approachable by car, but it's definitely worth the visit.
6 locals raden deze aan
Union Collective
1700 W 41st StUnion Brewery recently moved to this enormous space that shares a building with a distillery, ice creamery, and rock-climbing (well, bouldering) gym. It's an entire afternoon of activities in one place. It's out of the way and only really approachable by car, but it's definitely worth the visit.
Largest craft beer selection in the city, and located in the heart of Fells Point's nightlife area.
60 locals raden deze aan
Max's Taphouse
733 S BroadwayLargest craft beer selection in the city, and located in the heart of Fells Point's nightlife area.
Sightseeing
Visit this very well-preserved Army post that served as a primary maritime defensive position during the war of 1812 as well as the civil war, when the Fort was expanded to its current size.
193 locals raden deze aan
Fort McHenry
2400 E Fort Ave Visit this very well-preserved Army post that served as a primary maritime defensive position during the war of 1812 as well as the civil war, when the Fort was expanded to its current size.
While the USS Constellation was one of the first three ships to be commissioned into the US Navy in 1797, this isn't it. This sloop of war is the second Constellation, commissioned in 1854. From 1855 to its decommissioning and transformation into a floating museum in 1933, she's been to the Mediterranean, the western coast of Africa, the Caribbean, and just blasted the sides off of many confederate ships during the civil war.
23 locals raden deze aan
USS Constellation
301 Light St While the USS Constellation was one of the first three ships to be commissioned into the US Navy in 1797, this isn't it. This sloop of war is the second Constellation, commissioned in 1854. From 1855 to its decommissioning and transformation into a floating museum in 1933, she's been to the Mediterranean, the western coast of Africa, the Caribbean, and just blasted the sides off of many confederate ships during the civil war.
During Edgar Allan Poe's time in Baltimore, he lived in this house with his grandmother, aunt, and two cousins, one of which he would later marry (gross). The floorplan is almost entirely unchanged since then, though the surrounding neighborhood is not. I recommend the visit, but don't walk around the surrounding neighborhood after dark.
64 locals raden deze aan
Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum
203 N Amity St During Edgar Allan Poe's time in Baltimore, he lived in this house with his grandmother, aunt, and two cousins, one of which he would later marry (gross). The floorplan is almost entirely unchanged since then, though the surrounding neighborhood is not. I recommend the visit, but don't walk around the surrounding neighborhood after dark.
Completed in 1829, this original tribute to George Washington predates Washington, D.C.'s larger (and considerably more phallic) monument by about 60 years.
93 locals raden deze aan
Washington Monument
Completed in 1829, this original tribute to George Washington predates Washington, D.C.'s larger (and considerably more phallic) monument by about 60 years.
Domino has been operating in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor for 90 years (the sign is 61 years old). Much of the plant shows its age. Walls and stairways are dingy with industrial grime, heavy steel fire doors have been in place since the 1920s, and some original machinery is still in use, helping to process 6.5 million pounds of raw sugar a day.
Domino Sugar Baltimore
1100 Key Hwy E Domino has been operating in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor for 90 years (the sign is 61 years old). Much of the plant shows its age. Walls and stairways are dingy with industrial grime, heavy steel fire doors have been in place since the 1920s, and some original machinery is still in use, helping to process 6.5 million pounds of raw sugar a day.
Brewers Hill is the historic renovation and adaptive reuse of two landmark breweries: the Gunther Brewery and the National Brewery, the latter being home to the renowned “Natty Boh”.
Brewers Hill
Brewers Hill is the historic renovation and adaptive reuse of two landmark breweries: the Gunther Brewery and the National Brewery, the latter being home to the renowned “Natty Boh”.
Originally the Patterson Park Observatory, the Pagoda was built in 1891 as an observation tower for viewing the city and is still open to visitors today.
12 locals raden deze aan
Baltimore
Originally the Patterson Park Observatory, the Pagoda was built in 1891 as an observation tower for viewing the city and is still open to visitors today.
The heart of Kevin Planck's $5.5 billion Port Covington redevelopment project, it's more than just where tight workout gear comes from. Visit the global HQ and take a tour of Sagamore Distillery next door, and ponder whether the Plancks are the real-life Wayne family.
Under Armour Waterfront HQ Campus
2601 Port Covington Dr The heart of Kevin Planck's $5.5 billion Port Covington redevelopment project, it's more than just where tight workout gear comes from. Visit the global HQ and take a tour of Sagamore Distillery next door, and ponder whether the Plancks are the real-life Wayne family.
Parks & Nature
This is a very scenic park that also features the Maryland Zoo, Botanic Gardens, and the Rawlings Conservatory. Hiking trails along the Jones Falls feel more like a hidden forest preserve than a city park, it's particularly breathtaking in the fall. There is a small, historic graveyard dating back to the early 18th century, but that's not the only part of the park with buried bodies. Safe during the day, after dark strolls aren't recommended.
80 locals raden deze aan
Druid Hill Park
This is a very scenic park that also features the Maryland Zoo, Botanic Gardens, and the Rawlings Conservatory. Hiking trails along the Jones Falls feel more like a hidden forest preserve than a city park, it's particularly breathtaking in the fall. There is a small, historic graveyard dating back to the early 18th century, but that's not the only part of the park with buried bodies. Safe during the day, after dark strolls aren't recommended.
If you're visiting during the summer, Riverside Park is a great place to walk your dog or just yourself, take a dip in the pool for $2, or catch a free concert on a Sunday. This was also the site where the Maryland National Guard set up during the Baltimore Riots....of 1877. Yeah, we've had a few of those.
16 locals raden deze aan
Riverside Park
If you're visiting during the summer, Riverside Park is a great place to walk your dog or just yourself, take a dip in the pool for $2, or catch a free concert on a Sunday. This was also the site where the Maryland National Guard set up during the Baltimore Riots....of 1877. Yeah, we've had a few of those.
The biggest park in the city, this is also the line where the British Army was turned back from taking the city during the war of 1812.
236 locals raden deze aan
Patterson Park
2601 E Baltimore St The biggest park in the city, this is also the line where the British Army was turned back from taking the city during the war of 1812.
Latrobe Park
1627 E Fort Ave One of the smaller parks, it has a dog run area if you have one of those.
Curious about the name of the neighborhood? This is the eponymous hill, which offers one of the best views of the harbor. Did you watch "The Wire?" The steep hillside facing the AVAM is where McNulty tumbled down while drunk after yelling at some guys trying to break into a car.
256 locals raden deze aan
Federal Hill Park
300 Warren Ave Curious about the name of the neighborhood? This is the eponymous hill, which offers one of the best views of the harbor. Did you watch "The Wire?" The steep hillside facing the AVAM is where McNulty tumbled down while drunk after yelling at some guys trying to break into a car.
Arts & Culture
American Visionary Art Museum
800 Key HwyMaryland Science Center
601 Light StHippodrome Theatre
12 N Eutaw StBaltimore Museum of Industry
1415 Key HwyBaltimore Museum of Art
10 Art Museum DrBaltimore Center Stage
700 N Calvert StWalters Art Museum
600 N Charles StPeabody Library
17 E Mt Vernon PlEnoch Pratt Free Library
400 Cathedral StPlatform Gallery
116 W Mulberry StB&O Railroad Museum
901 W Pratt StChesapeake Shakespeare Company Theater
7 S Calvert StPatricia & Arthur Modell Performing Arts Center at The Lyric
140 W Mt Royal AveSchool 33 Art Center
1427 Light StEntertainment & Activities
Charles Theatre
1711 N Charles StNational Aquarium
501 E Pratt StConvention Center station
Royal Farms Arena
201 W Baltimore StM&T Bank Stadium
1101 Russell StCamden Station
Essentials
Harris Teeter
1801 McHenry RowMerritt Clubs Fort Avenue/Federal Hill
921 E Fort AveKim Day Spa
1137 S Charles StFederal Hill Fitness
39 E Cross St