50 Best Bars near Essex

“Great entertainment! Awaken & Surreal“

“Favorite pizza in MD. I've been going to Pizza John's my whole life. Cheeseburger subs are also pretty good.“

“Nice little neighbor bar ! Mary , Rachel , Tina & Nikki all work hard to keep the place clean , well stocked and the cold beer coming !! Great Happy Hour prices & 6 pool tables !“

“I’m going to tell you about this beautiful establishment. I go here and only here for my dads wine and to cash lottery tickets. This place to me is what a small business should be. I learned to support local businesses from my cousin being a small carry out/bakery. The father and sons here and the employees are loved by everyone in the neighborhood and the liquor prices are the best in the area! Stop by!!! Cash your lottery tickets up to $5,000!“

“It was very quite. And the bar person working seemed very nice and friendly. Will stop in again sometime.“

“Awesome place had a blast last night. Good and friendly employees.“

“I’ve been here multiple times and every time I come, the experience has been great. The wings are delicious and there are so many different sauce flavors to choose from. The service has also always been great, as the workers are super nice and they get your food and drinks out to you quickly.“

“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“

“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“

“Illusions Magic Bar is truly one of the gems of South Baltimore! We recently hosted a private event there, and the entire experience was fantastic from start to finish.

The booking process was incredibly smooth, thanks to Nicole’s responsive and helpful communication. On the day of the event, Nicole and Spencer were flexible and accommodating, making sure everything played out exactly as we had hoped.

Our guests had an absolute blast and were left in awe. Spencer’s performance is engaging and interactive. He involved many of our guests in different parts of the show.

We also appreciated that it never felt rushed and we weren’t hurried out. Spencer and Nicole took the time to chat with our guests after the show and answer our many questions.

Whether you’re hosting a private performance or attending a regular show, you’ll come away impressed not only by the magic but also by the genuine sense of community Spencer and Nicole create during the few hours you spend inside the bar.“

“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!!!!!“

“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 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!“

“Buffalo arancini spring salad w egg lemon curd dessert“

“There is no food so I don’t know why people are giving 5 stars for food. It was confusing reading the reviews. We brought our own nuts. The servers/bartenders were there and then they were gone. The bartender was mixing and serving drinks at one point. Devon the bartender is an excellent mixologist! The drinks were amazing with unique ingredients. He should be getting the included 20% gratuity. I would recommend this spot for a before or after dinner drink(s) and I would come again. BTW we went on a Friday at 5pm.“

“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!“

“My waitress/host GiGi was absolutely amazing! The personality the excellent service the the professionalism and so attentive! Made sure we were good and checking on us made sure the food was great. GiGi truly is the one for this environment. Absolutely represented this company well. I will be back because of this great service. Dr. E Holmes! Ed. D“

“This place is fire. We loved our time at this place, and we were able to try a number of different drinks on the menu. And boy were they good. Every drink hit right, and the basket of fries was well portioned and delicious. We will DEFINITELY be back.“

“Fantastic, legit cheesesteaks on Amoroso rolls“

“Our new favorite spot in Fells Point.“

“I went for the first time yesterday for happy hour. I've been craving oysters. I was not disappointed. The bartender was great, the bar crowd was fun, food fantastic and drinks were perfect. Will definitely be a regular at this spot!“

“Such a great pub. We stay in Canton regularly, and this is one of the best casual restaurants we’ve visited. Atmosphere is friendly, prices are good and service is outstanding. Be sure to ask Najat for a homemade lemonade. You won’t be disappointed.“

“Great bartender Zack with crazy skills on cocktails.“

“Stunning. Let me repeat STUNNING room. We were dazzled walking in and the customer service we received was just as stellar. Jesse helped us and he went above and beyond. He was friendly, willing to go out of his way, even when I was willing to change my order to something easier. Just so kind. Oh and while I forgot the name of the cherry garnish that was used, it was spectacular. I did not expect that from a garnish! The attention to detail here is such an experience. This place is so impressive.“

“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!“

“This is my favorite place to go in Baltimore. Aside from my house. I don't know what to point out as the deciding factor, but it just feels comfortable to me. The food is good, not great — I absolutely love the French Dip Cheesesteak. The wait staff and bartenders are always beyond friendly. We've done trivia nights and game days and quiet nights. My wife absolutely loves the dirty martini. Her favorite in the city. And it's a short walk from my home. I hope it's here for another 100 years.“

“This is a typical bar with with bar food. No Different than TGI Friday, except a little better. The service is "OK" the servers are untrained as to waiting on tables. The first thing that should be brought to tables is eating utensils and napkins, the water. The tables dont have slat & pepper available for their patrons, you need to ask for it. The menus are not placed in front of customers upside down. (And I even brought it to her attention and she still didn’t correct it) ?? All in all the server was trying very hard to be attentive. The food was not terrible, it's typical bar food, and dont expect anything more. The Boom Boom shrimp are pre breaded frozen shrimp with the tails on and then fried and covered in some type of sauce. My daughter liked the boneless chicken wings with hot sauce. The onion rings I thought were good. I ordered the toasted Italian sub and wasn't offered the option to get tater tots -vs- fries. I didn’t realize this till later and the fries were soggy. I think this is an "OK" spot for someone looking for a bar atmosphere and same for the food & service.“

“From the moment we arrived, the entire team at Phillips Seafood was incredibly kind, welcoming, and attentive. They went above and beyond to help make our event both seamless and memorable. What truly stood out was the genuine hospitality of the staff. Not only did they provide excellent service throughout the event, but they also graciously helped us set up and display our materials beforehand, making the process stress-free and easy for our team. Their willingness to assist in every detail reflected a level of care and professionalism that made a lasting impression on all of us. The atmosphere, food, and service were exceptional, and our students, staff, and guests all felt warmly welcomed. We are deeply grateful to the Phillips Seafood team for helping create such a successful and meaningful event. We would highly recommend Phillips Seafood to anyone looking for a venue with outstanding food and even more outstanding people behind it.“

“Wide selection of quality still and carbonated meads. I love the collaborations with local breweries. Solid stuff keep up the amazing work team“

“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 happened to drive by and see people sitting outside eating. It looked like a great place to stop. I went by myself. I was able to find free parking right outside the restaurant. The menu I was looking at was mostly breakfast and brunch. The price range was about $15 on up. I got a gingerale and their house wings as well as fries. Everything was good.. My bill was $21. The waitress was very attentive and nice and gave recommendations. I would recommend checking this place out. It had a nice atmosphere.“

“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.“

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

“We celebrated my daughter's bachelorette party weekend at the Power plant. I'm not that much into Country music, but the PBR was definitely the best part of the trip!“

“It made me feel like home! 😍“

“Stopped in for some drinks ended up having dinner food. Great service, food came out hot and fresh. Was very surprised. Really enjoyed ourselves.“

“Best live music band and craft beer.“

“I love the mamas on the half shell in Owings Mills. The food is great and I am a frequent diner. I love Mary, Alaina, and Gavin the best. They are so courteous and customer service orientated. The crab soup there and the cream of crab is to die for. Also love their coddies! The restaurant is beautiful and I also love sitting outside as well. Always seems very clean. Would highly recommend this restaurant. Mindy.“

“good food.good staff. awsome drinks“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“The waitress staff is the best in the area. Never wait for a refill or to be served. They all come over and recognize that you are back and greet you accordingly. The afternoon staff for lunch is the best. I’m not sure of their names but they are the best!!“

“Starting with the food, we had a great kahuna burger with fries and the churros for dessert. The burger was great with some really tasty onions on top and a nice balance of the teriyaki on the burger. The churro was also delicious with a nice soft bitter chocolate flavor to the dipping sauce that balanced well with the sweetness of the churro. I love the idea of being able to do arts and crafts while enjoying a drink and some food with friends after work. We could see how lovely it got shortly after the end of the work day and there was even a jewelry class going on while we were there. If you live nearby and aren’t checking this place out every so often you’re missing out!“

“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!!!!“

“Excellence Love Love Tim dale Phil“

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

“Extensive tap list and special beer fest days. Their June beer fest days offer 6o+ sours. The pit beef is like no other! Try it spicy! They also offers tots, tenders and Mac n cheese and allow children in before 5 PM. Also, really cool environment and excellent service. Expect to order at the counter.“

“Had brunch there this morning and it was super yummy. The only complaint is that the bar chairs are not comfortable. I was in jeans and I was constantly sliding forward. I used my feet to push me back on and hold me there; I shouldn’t have to engage my muscles to sit in a bar chair. Other than that, it was great. Good food, good service, and good bartenders.“

“Cool place. Great beer selection. Great owners and awesome bar staff.“