50 Best Bars in Baltimore

“Bartender Alex understands how to serve patrons! Delightful person who was offering deals on Jamo shots and Guinness pints.
Welcoming atmosphere dominated by men (after a new friend left, Alex and I were the only women in the place:-)
Well worth a frequent stop in!“

“Buffalo arancini spring salad w egg lemon curd dessert“

“I organized a work event that was held there today. The service and experience were amazing. From start to finish they were true professionals and all the attendees had a great time. I highly recommend having your next corporate event here and can’t wait to come back.“

“My husband and I have been here at least a dozen times, have taken other friends as well. We are always greeted and told about the 20% being included in each drink order and we’re fine with that because the mixologists are fabulous, the atmosphere is wonderful and we will continue to patronize this wonderful establishment and support the city of Baltimore and a small business in the process.“

“My husband and I stopped by for a drink, and ordered the cream of crab soup, gf fried shrimp, and the honey maple brussel sprouts. Everything was delicious! Special thanks to the bartender, Lee, who was very attentive!“

“Drinks were good, the ambience was very romantic

I wish the music was slightly quieter, the bar was empty when we entered but it was still hard to hear each other well

We came around 7:30pm on a Thursday and only a few people were there but by 9:30 it was bumpin, no more seats available“

“Wow! We ordered carryout from Ellie’s Tavern and were absolutely blown away. The food was incredible — huge portions, hand-cut fries, house-made blue cheese, and perfectly hand-breaded chicken tenders. The Crab Rangoon dip and Buffalo Cauliflower were outstanding. The service was awesome — fast and friendly — even while busy. We can’t wait to dine in next time. What an awesome Canton neighborhood gem!“

“The is a true local gem. The bar is decorated in a 1970’s theme. They offer old timey beers like Stroh’s and Schaefer as well as inventive cocktails. The menu consists of unique pizzas, sandwiches and salads. Their wings are tender, tasty and delicious. The bar has a pub like quality and the clientele is friendly and welcoming. The Dive is a wonderful new addition to the neighborhood“

“Knotty Pine is a great neighborhood bar & grill in Brewers Hill with a laid-back, welcoming vibe that makes it easy to kick back with friends anytime. Locals praise its friendly service and casual atmosphere — it’s the kind of spot where you can grab a cold beer, catch a game on the TVs, and hang out for hours without feeling rushed.

The menu is surprisingly strong for a bar: smash burgers (especially the Knotty Pine Burger), wings, sweet potato fries, fried pickles, crab dip, and flatbread pizzas are all crowd favorites, and the portions are generous. You’ll also find fun twists like tacos or burrito bowls, so there’s something for different cravings.

The atmosphere feels casual yet lively — perfect for a chill dinner, a few drinks after work, or weekend hangs. A few folks mention parking can be a little tight sometimes, but that small inconvenience doesn’t dim the overall experience.

Overall: Knotty Pine is a friendly, relaxed neighborhood staple with solid pub food, tasty burgers, and a welcoming bar vibe — easy to recommend for laid-back nights in Baltimore.“

“The Backyard is the best neighborhood bar in Baltimore. Expertly curated wine and spirit list, knowledgeable and friendly staff with amazing food and cocktails that are all very reasonably priced. It is am absolute hidden gem!“

“The atmosphere is friendly and lively. the cocktails were interesting, and may have even converted my gin-hating husband. The bartenders, Ted especially, really rounded out the experience. one of the best places in the city!!!!!“

“Doug is the best. This is our favorite neighborhood spot. Cocktails are on point, wine selection is simple but good and reasonably priced, and the smash burgers are f-ing fire 🔥 and we love Doug’s company, and Kirsten’s, and all of his staff. We love Southpaw!“

“I heard the stories about this place and it had been closed for a couple of years as the hotel it's in underwent renovation and ownership changes but it's back open and I couldn't be happier.

Steve the bartender is currently a one man show and we were there on the weekend it reopened and he was so happy to be back in his happy place. The man is a cocktail maven who loves his craft and what he does and his customers as well.

There is currently no menu here you ask for what you want or can tell Steve what you are in the mood for and he will make something amazing!

I got a smoked old fashioned that he smokes with his own blend of wood and spices and it was easily in the Top 5 of best old fashioneds I've ever had.

If you are in Fells Point looking for a cocktail and Anchor Tavern is open make sure you visit!“

“Fantastic, legit cheesesteaks on Amoroso rolls“

“The cheeseburger was fantastic! The bartender was superb for drinks and conversation. Dive bar excellence.“

“So I went to blooms on a slow Saturday night. Inside is super nice, & I do love the vintage 70s aesthetic of it all. Idk if they take reservations, but I just walked in &. A hostess sat me down. The velvet couches are a nice touch, though they aren't the most comfortable IMO. It's small, can probably hold about 50 ppl total. But for it to be a slow night, the service was even slower, surprisingly. Getting my waiter's attention felt like the hunger games :( she served me and would disappear for 30 minutes. It took nearly another 30 minutes just to get the check after I asked. I'd go back, but I wouldn't get a table. I'd just stand at the bar, where the service seems quicker. My drinks were very good! On the pricey side but that's to be expected with cocktail bars these days.“

“Great neighborhood hang out. Patrons are totally chill and everyone is there for a good time. Bar tenders are awesome. Reasonably priced with lots of events. 10/10“

“One of our Favs! Wine tastings with Wayne❤️Meg rocks. Tristan is the best.“

“Our new favorite spot in Fells Point.“

“Worked there years ago for John. He has passed but the memories are still there. Oh the things I did on that pool table. LOL Great memories.“

“We were a little surprised to start the evening by ringing a doorbell to get in, but the warm welcome that followed put us at ease right away. The atmosphere is fantastically unique, quirky, and full of character. The bartenders were genuinely friendly and the service was quick.

We ordered the Mac ’n’ Cheese with Jerk Chicken, Yuca Bites, Chorizo con Arroz y Gandules and the Cinnamon Mini Donuts. Everything was perfectly seasoned (especially great if you enjoy a bit of heat like we do). The only downside was that the portions felt a bit on the smaller side.

It also looks like they host a lot of interesting events like book readings, sip-and-paints, comedy shows and more. We didn’t get a chance to attend one this time, but it definitely added to the charm and made us want to come back.“

“Excellent service and great cocktails!“

“Great bartender Zack with crazy skills on cocktails.“

“great venue, very friendly and professional staff. first venue I've ever been to that let me take my merch haul out to my car so I didn't have to worry about lugging it around or standing in line waiting after the show ended. Also quick to respond to questions. Thank you for a great show experience!“

“I wanted to reach out and share how much I absolutely loved the show, the ambience, and the vibe at Illusions.
Spencer was nothing short of incredible. You could tell he truly loves what he does, and that energy was contagious. Baltimore is really lucky to have Illusions; there are so few authentic and magical experiences left out there, and this small business is a jewel for the city.
I highly recommend this show to anyone. It was an unforgettable night full of laughs and nonstop entertainment.“

“good food.good staff. awsome drinks“

“It made me feel like home! 😍“

“Great locals dive bar / pub that is a fun atmosphere and good down to earth friendly people on both sides of the bar. Karaoke 🎤 was going on later in night for St Patricks Day and a great time was had by all!!!! Check out this spot if you're in the Parkville/Carney area hun!!!!“

“What a great local spot! Harry is the best!! Vegas loves u!“

“Excellence Love Love Tim dale Phil“

“If they have the seafood quesadilla on special it was delicious! It was filled with shrimp, crab meat and cheese. Muy deliciosis! 👌“

“Amazing bar ! Great drinks 🍹 great customer service! Great atmosphere“

“This is a great local bar with a lot of character. You won't find friendlier people anywhere. Classic old school decor inside and on the night we were there, DJs spinning the disks at your request. Wander upstairs and check out the record store while you're there. This is a must hang in Baltimore.“

“Cozy spot with a laid back vibe, good cocktails, nice beer selection, and amazing music.“

“Section 771 helped to raise nearly $5000 for the Wishlist Foundation! Thank you for hosting the Pearl Jam PreParty! Your staff was friendly, fast, and kind. Best bar bathrooms in Baltimore! Super clean facility. Check them out before Orioles and Ravens games. Thank you for supporting the community!“

“Always a great time at Pig & Rooster! The beer selection is varied, the pizza is sooo satisfying, and the vibes are impeccable. I also recommend the Caesar salad - it’s got a yummy honey mustard flavor that makes it a delightful departure from your typical bar salad. Go for music trivia on thursdays, it’s a great time!!“

“Hospitality is alive and well at Meander Art Bar. The cocktails are impeccable, and the food is delicious. But the shining star is the bartender, Maggie, who not only remembered us after several days between visits but also remember our cocktail orders from the previous visit. The art bar concept is also super creative and fun. If I could put this bar in my pocket and take it back to where I live, I'd do it in a second. It's unpretentious and the perfect neighborhood haunt. Oh, and try the umami cocktail ftw.“

“Great place for all genres of music worshippers to come together and JAM !“

“This is the spot to be!!!! Great bartenders.“

“I recently had a surprise engagement party here, and it couldn’t have gone better. The staff was incredibly helpful and accommodating, the space was both spacious and reasonably priced, and all of our guests had an amazing time. Max’s is truly a cornerstone of the Fells Point waterfront.“

“The service provided was first class. I went with a group of friends to watch the NFL DRAFT. The food was great and the staff were awesome. I would highly recommend this restaurant. we will be going back.“

“I really enjoyed myself I can’t wait to come back“

“This place is very low key and inviting. The drinks were amazing, the cool part about this place is that they have the NA version of the drinks as well. ABC cocktail is very very good. This is the first place I liked the hot cocktail. The staff is very friendly. I highly recommend this place.“

“Octobar is one of my favorite spots in Federal Hill! Not only for its incredible food and drink selection, but for its truly outstanding service. I had to plan a last-minute going-away party, and Octavio made the entire process completely seamless. He handled every detail, from arranging the bartender to creating a custom drink menu featuring our favorite cocktails, and even made it easy for everyone to pay their tabs individually. The experience was truly one of a kind. I highly recommend booking Octobar whether you’re planning a night out for dinner and drinks or hosting a special gathering.“

“Great vibes and great music and love the bartender Maria ♥️“

“Marta manages to be both lively and cozy simultaneously in a rowhouse that previously housed Salt (one of my all time favorite upscale restaurants) We went for a friend's birthday, and all 3 courses were delicious, beautifully presented, inventive, and not the same old menu that you find everywhere. Very sweet wait staff was super attentive, educated about the food and wine and made great suggestions. Our original wait staff had an emergency and had to leave in the middle of service, but seamlessly another wait person stepped in to covered us. Kudos to the front of house team for handling with such skill and ease. But the food was definitely the star of the show. For me, the standout was the tuna cannoli. I'm not even sure I can do justice to this deliciousness with a crunchy outer "cannoli" shell with a slight hint of sweet surrounding a creamy center of tuna crudi with little dots of avocado cream. And all was covered with a pistachio "dust." The spicy meatballs were delectable nestled in a cloud of creamy spicy ricotta. And the Duck and Foie Gras Panzotti (little triangle ravioli) was creamy, delicious and the perfect combination of delicate tastes. And the Tiramisu Affogato ended the dinner on a delicious note! And for two people with drinks it was really pretty a good deal for the quality if the food, service and location. We will be back! Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Atmosphere: 5/5“

“OK this is the bar and only a bar no food is served. It is completely retro from the gold tinsel hanging on the walls to the hanging red light strands, the disco balls, a front door covered in stickers, the vintage widows and bar and even vinyl night. The hanging speakers provide amazing music acoustics and the tasty cocktails and miller highlife 😆and bar seating add to the amazing vibe. Absolutely A MUST!“

“So look.. I am always good for a hood spot and initially tht was my impression but then I stepped inside.. Babbbbbbby the bartender.. the owner took great care of us.. It was karaoke & ppl were singing and having a great time.. I am def going bk.. family oriented..good food..just a great time!“

“Great Dive bar- .50 cent pool tables- cheap drinks and good eats - locals hangout-“

“Fun atmosphere, everyone had a great time!“