50 Best Cocktail Bars near Essex

“Never had anything bad. Best pizza bar none. Well managed by Jason.“

“We had a wonderful first visit to Charley’s! Our party of seven arrived around 4:30 without a reservation, but what appeared to be the manager quickly had a table cleaned and ready for us within five minutes. He was attentive and present throughout the restaurant, which was great to see. Our server was excellent, the food came out surprisingly fast, and the whole family loved the cozy, fun atmosphere—especially the arcade room. The plants and café lights are a nice touch too. We’re already looking forward to coming back!“

“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!“

“We had the wonderful experience of having dinner last evening celebrating our son’s graduation! The food was outstanding! We had appetizers, drinks, NY Strip, dessert and cannot express how delicious everything was! The service was excellent! Brittani S. was awesome, personable and checked on us frequently making sure we had everything we needed! The atmosphere was great too! Definitely will go back again when visiting Baltimore! Thank you for a memorable evening!“

“If you want great food, great service, and a great atmosphere, Order of The Ace is where you want to go. The cocktails were superb, the appetizers were great, the main course was perfect. Do not skip the dessert menu. I almost did and would have missed the lemon meringue cheesecake. It was absolutely delicious. We will be back for sure. The live jazz was the cherry on top.“

“The food is very good, but It is a little pricey. I am disappointed to find out yesterday that they no longer have the French dip grilled cheese sandwich on their menu. Why not??“

“Good peoples :) Great location.“

“This has by far been my best experience at any hotel bar. This staff is amazing but I’ll start with Adelleke. She was so welcoming and warm and was a subject matter expert in directing to me to a classy Baltimore experience. She made some amazing drinks and some great suggestions for food in the area. I will be staying at this hotel every time I’m in Baltimore. Thank you Adelleke!!!!“

“Great atmosphere Tasty cocktails Nice people“

“We went to Indigma this evening for restaurant week. The food was fantastic and my nine-year-old loved everything! She gave it a 1523/10 rating! Though everything was excellent, the creme brulee was the best I've ever had. Thank you for a fantastic meal!“

“Absolute best meal I have ever had I any restaurant! Make sure you call ahead. It is so good it will be hard to get into!“

“This was by far the BEST seafood in the area. Food was delicious, service was superb, staff very friendly. Shuttle service right on point! Overall experience 10/10 in all areas. I definitely will be back and telling everyone looking for great seafood and experience! Thank you!“

“Food was bomb and the service was on point“

“I Love It Here!!! I’ve Been About 4-5 Times, Each Visit Was Great Customer Service, Food, Vibe, Drinks All A+“

“Best vibe in the City every Saturday!“

“Cloud Shrimp - Juicy shrimp fried in potato starch, served w Kimchi-kewpie Mayo“

“Fun times and great service.“

“One of my absolute favorites in Baltimore City; your experience starts as you enter a uniquely decorated space- covered in plants and coziness! High ceiling - open space - big windows, yet simple decor transforms you into a different kind of county!

Delicious, creative, beautiful- must try ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Food was delicious! I would have taken a picture but I ate it too fast. The flavors were all so bold and fresh. Will definitely be back!“

“This hidden gem is so a cozy, cool, sexy place with amazing staff & owner. We feel like family here . We luv to karaoke and enjoy the atmosphere . Check it out you may fall in with the place too“

“Fantastic evening at One- Eyed Mike's recently. Our server, Eugene, was top- notch, as was the food and beverage!“

“I dream about the honey sriracha cauliflower wings. Love Maggie’s!“

“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“

“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!!!!!“

“The service was phenomenal. We were there for my sis in laws 50th Birthday (came in from Columbus,Oh and they treated her amazingly. Our server was great managing staff amazing.“

“Definitely a great atmosphere nice to see something like this in my old neighborhood. Eric and Chad were phenomenal. Me and my girlfriend definitely enjoyed ourselves. I felt like I hit a time machine and went back to the 90s down fells point. It definitely gave me that type of vibe. 💯💯🫡“

“It made for a lovely date night with my wife, who fortunately made reservations in advance. The cocktails are creative and tasty. Our server danced to the jazz band. At first it feels crowded because you're seated so close to other folks, but very quickly it feels like you're in your own cocoon. Highly recommend.“

“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 wasn't prepared for how outstanding the food was. Seriously. I ordered takeout and went with what the keywords were: Brussel sprouts and Cheesesteak. The portions were ample. The fries were hot and hearty, and the cheesesteak was delicious. Not messy but juicy- terrific toasted roll. BUT WAIT!!! The brussel sprouts were the best - THE. BEST.- I have ever tasted. They were roasted to perfection and they were solidly baked through! They retained every ounce of heat and were a solid treat as they were. OMG THE SAUCE! The spicy sauce on the sprouts were an explosion of taste. Phenomenal! First time there and I will be back.“

“This place is a must for all Poe lovers! Go for the love of Poe and stay for the atmosphere, wonderful staff, and delicious food. We will be back ASAP ❤️“

“Great bartender Zack with crazy skills on cocktails.“

“Hey food was great. Just didn't like when I was trying to surprise my mother for her bday the waitress just didn't do the happy bday to my mom . I didn't ask her again because I was like I no she didn't forget . They take tip out even before on check so she get that in advance“

“It made me feel like home! 😍“

“This is a great space for private parties, with a separate area in the private lounge with pool and ping pong tables. Savannah was wonderful, handling orders from multiple people while making sure food ended up on one tab and drinks on another, and frequently checking in with us despite a busy bar. Everyone enjoyed the food and drinks, and if I was local to Baltimore, it would definitely be a regular meet-up spot for me!“

“great location and cool atmosphere..great food and a good local bar bartender Hallie is as nice as they come..I used to go to that spot before it's changed to Papis and I hope that they can make it work and appreciate the local support that really loves the vibe of old skool fells point local love of their faithful patrons who continue to support yall..“

“I had the watermelon salad and the cajun lobster bites. Absolutely delish! Full of flavor. The sangria was good too! 10/10!“

“premiere dining experience with delicious food, cocktails, and a very welcoming and knowledgeable staff!! Will definitely be back!“

“Enjoyed dinner at the bar earlier tonight at Chilango’s. Delicious Jalapeño Margarita. The shrimp on on bruschetta were also amazing. Just moved into the neighborhood and will be back to try some more menu items.“

“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.“

“My friend and I visited this lounge for the first time last month. It is a BEAUTIFUL lounge. A great atmosphere and gorgeous ambiance. The bartender was very nice. However, our experience could have been better for a couple reasons: First, a lot of the items on the food menu were unavailable! Maybe the lounge was waiting for a food inventory delivery? Who knows? My friend tried to order three food items off the menu, and for each item the bartender said “I have to check with the kitchen to see if we have it!” They didn’t have the three items. My friend settled for the steamed shrimp. 🤷🏾‍♀️ My second and last issue/complaint: We both ordered a delicious pink martini-style drink (I forgot the exact name). The drink was good but it was mainly juice/sugar/grenadine— it hardly had any alcohol. It tasted like we were drinking a really good pink lemonade beverage lol. I will give this lounge another chance and most likely several more chances because it’s near my house. They should just stop skimping on the alcohol and have most menu items in stock!“

“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.“

“I recommend Limoncello Baltimore for delicious food and nice atmosphere! Baltimore is known for its restaurants and Limoncello demonstrates great quality and excellent service.“

“I visited Judy's Island off the recommendation of @A.I Brown. The restaurant had a nice vibe, the staff was very pleasant and accommodating, and the food was good!! I had the jerk chicken and my husband had jerk lambchops. Both were good...and we would visit again!“

“Locals Only serves some of the best pizza in and around Baltimore—truly top-tier. The pies are consistently excellent, especially when you dine in, and even for takeout they hold up well if you ask for a crispier crust. The Brussels sprout Caesar is another standout, even if it can run a little heavy on the dressing. And for happy hour, the prices are almost unbeatable for the quality you’re getting.

Our experience is really centered on the early evening, and that’s where things feel a bit different from the late-night buzz the place is known for. During happy hour it’s usually surprisingly quiet, which makes it easy to grab a table but also feels unexpected given how popular the restaurant becomes later. The “Locals Only” concept is clever, but despite visiting pretty regularly around that time, we don’t quite feel recognized as locals—something that could make the theme feel more meaningful. The music can also be louder than you’d expect for 5–6pm. Still, even with those quirks, we keep coming back for one very simple reason: the food is excellent.“

“Always good always hot always fresh i also love how neatly the crabs r placed in the bag an season is on time!!!!! Dave is always kind prices always great wish i could give 1000 stars keep up the great work Dave I appreciate u“

“Excellent food, excellent service 8-10“

“Hosted my BFF’s baby shower here in March 2026 and the entire event was a major success. Huge props to Ellie, the co-owner! Because of her, the planning process was straightforward, and overall the event exceeded expectations: the food and decor were phenomenal, communication was excellent, and it was easy to just enjoy ourselves. I personally love that the atmosphere on the main floor is a huge contrast to the magical feeling of the party room. A beautiful day in a beautiful space!“

“2 clearly labeled vegan options on the menu. I went with the Vegan Hash which was good but felt like something was missing and also felt better suited as a side dish to share not a main entree. If I came back I’d try the vegan pancakes. Good place if eating with non vegans. Updated from previous review on 2026-04-07“

“Excellent service with great tasting food“

“We went here for lunch and it was very quiet, with only a few other guests. Since this restaurant is in a hotel lobby, they probably have more guests at breakfast time. Alicia was a very friendly and attentive server and the food was excellent. We enjoyed the crab cake sliders and fish tacos. A perfect size for lunch!“