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!“

“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??“

“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!“

“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!“

“Good peoples :) Great location.“

“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!“

“It is stunning. The photos online had us dying to come check it out and they did not disappoint. Every dish had a wow factor. The chef is so talented. A particular favorite was the quiche. You think you’ve had quiche before? You haven’t until you’ve tried this. My husband who doesn’t even like quiche said he would come back specifically to get it. Our server, Na was an absolute joy! She made it a whole other level of fun. She was attentive, helpful and gave great suggestions. Just excellent customer service all around. You all are doing so much right.“

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

“Truly an amazing experience. They played live jazz which made a great ambience. Also had there wagyu sliders which was cooked to perfection. Their cocktails are pricey but they're made with top quality liquor and ingredients which is worth the price.“

“Absolutely loved this cocktail bar! 🍸 The bartenders were incredibly sweet, welcoming, and genuinely made the experience so enjoyable. The drink selection was amazing. They have so many creative and delicious options. You can tell they really know their craft. Such a fun spot with great drinks and even better service. We’ll definitely be back!“

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

“Fun times and great service.“

“I recently went to Alma with my dad as a special treat. Alma is the perfect place to enjoy high-quality food in a beautiful restaurant with amazing, kind staff. I love this restaurant so much! I’ve gotten to have a tour of the kitchen and meet some of the staff thanks to the owner, Irena, who is one of the kindest and most generous people I’ve ever met. I could not recommend this place enough!“

“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“

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

“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.“

“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. 💯💯🫡“

“Great atmosphere Tasty cocktails Nice people“

“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 food at Heritage Smokehouse is delicious. We got the brisket and it was done right and the sides were very tasty. The great vibe and service was icing on the cake. I highly recommend! 🍽️😊“

“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.“

“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.“

“Great bartender Zack with crazy skills on cocktails.“

“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 ❤️“

“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.“

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

“Amber took good care of our party of 8 even replacing my cold fries. The hot drinks were not exactly hot but I'm still giving it 5 stars because the food was so good and the staff so on it! The hosts keep checking on us until our party all arrived. The food was flavorful. Those who didn't finish took boxes home.“

“Been going to this place on and off for a while seeing as I live 3 blocks away. Always been nice, but since Chris came in, there is a new life and I’m psyched to see where it goes. Oh, and don’t forget to grab coffee with your lunch.“

“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! 😍“

“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 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..“

“We decided to check this out during the Olympics so that we could watch the events but also get some slightly fancy dining on a Saturday. The interior is cozy but well decorated and has plenty of seats for a smaller bar. We didn’t explore the upstairs but there is a staircase in the center. They also had plenty of outdoor seats. We decided to focus on the specials and tried the grilled octopus dish which was fantastic, it came with some nicely grilled veggies and a delicious spread of hummus which all came together for a very balanced and flavorful bite. As a side we opted for the couscous instead of fries or rice. The couscous was nicely seasoned and came with veggies as well. All in all it was a delicious, balanced and healthy meal that was excellently prepared!“

“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!“

“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.“

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

“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!“

“Excellent service with great tasting food“

“Excellent food, excellent service 8-10“

“Our experience at the South Point Park which is what it is it's an open area down by the bridge down by the veterans bridge that you can sit out and maybe watch the water the birds the ducks on the water the boats the jet skiing we watch the 4th of July prequel birthday event with the Blue Angels. It's a grassy area that can accommodate children camping chairs and so forth“

“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!“

“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“

“I had an amazing time celebrating my birthday at LOS TOROS BAR I really appreciate every single detail that the people that work at this place did. All the food was delicious and the service was amazing I definitely recommend this place to anyone that wants to have fun or celebrate any kind of party. thanks a lot for everything you definitely filled my expectations. Love Los Toros Bar😎😎😎🤗“

“Food was bomb and the service was on point“

“The Four Seasons did an exceptional job with transforming their splash pool bar and grill. They had very well decorated sheds, including throws which made it look very cozy. In the sheds you can indulge in a prix fixe (pre-fixed) 4 course meal. Just above the pool bar and grill is a skating rink. They offer marshmallows, coco, music, fire pits and a fireplace. Not to mention, you get the best views of Baltimore's adjacent Harbor. Unfortunately, I did not make reservations via Open Table in advance so I was not able to indulge in the festivities or have the full experience with a meal. With that said, I will definitely try to visit again soon and maybe take the children. I would strongly recommend checking this seasonal offering out and book in advance because the slots fills up fast.“