Baltimore is a city that sprawls from the Inner Harbor to Hampden, everything north of Fort McHenry, south of Towson, and east of I-83. If that sounded like geography jargon, just know this city’s cocktail scene is massive. Baltimore mixes historic taverns, modern lounges, and most importantly—bars that serve serious drinks. Here are our top spots, including a speakeasy with barrel-aged negronis and one of the best places in town for craft gin cocktails.
Little Donna’s
$$ | (443) 438-3956 | WEBSITE
Little Donna’s is our favorite spot for Eastern European fare in Baltimore, and as an added perk, their cocktails are the perfect accompaniment to plates of pierogis. We’re talking traditional pierogis with sausage and kraut, zucchini krokieties with lemon aioli, tender beef and dumplings cooked for hours, and one of the best clam pies in town, loaded with rich butter sauce. The staff is very friendly, there’s a cozy rowhome atmosphere, and it’s perfect for date nights or casual dinners.
The only negative thing we can find is that seating is limited, so reservations are advisable.
Papi Cuisine
$$$ | (410) 317-4862 | WEBSITE
If you take a cozy Baltimore corner, splash it with vibrant colors and the sizzle of an open kitchen, and fill it with the aroma of Mexican spices, you get Papi Cuisine. This inviting little spot is officially one of the best places in town for bold flavors, whether you casually crave tacos or your phone’s lock screen is currently a street food market in Mexico City.
Come here on a weekday evening to savor standout dishes like crab cake eggrolls, jerk lamb lollipops with just the right kick, and honey Brussels sprouts that are crispy and sweet as promised. It’s all served without any fuss—the friendly staff won’t assume you’re a culinary expert, but they also won’t totally leave you on your own to navigate the world of jerk seasoning and Old Bay rubs.
And with sides like bomb mac & cheese, mashed potatoes, and broccolini, you don’t have to be a spice fanatic to appreciate a date night (or a relaxed lunch) here, even if parking can be a bit of a hunt and the weekend crowds bring a lively buzz.
Locals Only
$$ | (443) 684-3678 | WEBSITE
We hope you know that Baltimore is a real place. But if it were, Locals Only would be where the locals go for happy hour after finishing their workday and heading out to meet friends. It’s a cocktail bar restaurant that makes weeknights taste good, from brick oven pizza on any given evening to the famous ‘pasta Wednesdays’ that make other pasta nights kind of look bad.
The space (complete with the aroma of baking dough and the buzz of weekly events) is lively and welcoming at the same time, making it ideal for hanging out.
Ethel’s Creole Kitchen
$$ | (410) 664-2971 | WEBSITE
It goes without saying that you should order the gumbo at Ethel’s Creole Kitchen, but we’ll say it anyway. This soup is fantastic. The result of a rich roux paired with a long simmer is this happy marriage of tender shrimp, spicy andouille, and plump crawfish, honeymooning together in a bowl served with a side of that perfect cornbread. Go nuts with their honey chive butter (we prefer it slathered thick).
And while you’ll definitely want the gumbo in some form or another, the jambalaya is the unsung hero—well-spiced and hearty, it’s excellent comfort food, and shines in a city that has a few too many bland versions.
Baltimore Seafood
$$ | (410) 624-5166 | WEBSITE
This seafood spot delivers an awesome dining experience that you should prioritize for a celebratory dinner or a “treat-yourself-after-a-long-week” kind of meal. The space is filled with the smell of spicy sauce and fun decorative touches, like vibrant nautical accents and playful lighting that sets a lively mood. But it’s the food you’re really here for.
Their build-a-catch dish has a boil that could replace a symphony you listen to for pure enjoyment, and a house spicy sauce that comforts like a warm embrace. Or, if menu-related FOMO takes hold, the seafood boil combo has a little taste of Baltimore Seafood’s greatest hits.
Maggie’s Farm
$$ | (410) 254-2376 | WEBSITE
The dining experience here is really intimate, but we prefer sitting down at Maggie’s Farm at a table with lighting that looks like warm golden honey. They make some excellent chicken and waffles, and it’s even better with a drizzle of maple syrup. We like to order it alongside a steak au poivre paired with a peppercorn cream sauce.
Dutch Courage
$$$ | (667) 309-7167 | WEBSITE
A huge kudos to whoever first distilled juniper berries centuries ago. Without it, we wouldn’t have the smooth botanicals inside Dutch Courage’s extensive gin collection creating complex layers in their creative cocktails, balancing notes of citrus and spice, and refreshing every palate with inventive twists.
The drinks alone would solidify this spot as one of the most charming Baltimore happy places, but the food here seals the deal, like dishes with really unique twists that surprise and delight or the good varied selection that tops off the day. It’s all worthy of sidling up to the bar or grabbing a patio seat alongside something spiked with gin.
Easy Like Sunday
$$ | (410) 701-9840 | WEBSITE
Have you ever been so distracted during a weekend errand that you completely forget your to-do list, but it’s really the brunch burger from Easy Like Sunday on the mind? Same. The burger in question from this Cross Keys spot has a perfect harmony of juicy beef patty, melted cheese, and crispy bacon that just sings when paired with their seasoned fries. Don’t miss their braised short rib hash or blueberry lavender drinks, either.
Rye
$$ | (443) 438-3455 | WEBSITE
The team behind Rye created a standout bar in Baltimore that exclusively focuses on exceptional cocktails alongside classic bar fare like pizza, and it’s a combination that works. The greatest thing about Rye’s cocktail program is the selection, complete with the kind of extensive whiskey and bourbon offerings that fill your glass with nostalgia when you take a sip.
And unlike many cocktail bars in town, there’s a creative touch in the unique liquors and tailored drinks, which taste like a beautiful cross between a classic Moscow Mule and something entirely new. Order one of their creations, which you can enjoy while watching retro movies, or during a special gathering.
Southpaw
$$ | WEBSITE
We wish we could walk into any bar and come out with a perfectly balanced Sazerac. Southpaw is a refined establishment that exudes elegance and expertise, with a low-lit, cave-like atmosphere and Baltimore memorabilia adding to its charm. The drinks menu boasts an outstanding happy hour selection, with generous and delightful cocktails at great prices. It’s incredibly satisfying and goes perfectly with their smashburger, which you can also get here.
The owner and bartenders are gracious hosts, making it an ideal spot for any occasion.
The Bluebird Cocktail Room
$$$ | (667) 303-3263 | WEBSITE
We discovered a cocktail so balanced and inventive that it doesn’t even need a garnish. You can find it at The Bluebird Cocktail Room, a classy southern retro cocktail bar with a seasonal selection from whiskey creations to vegetarian-friendly options. Not every drink’s a revelation here, so make sure the aforementioned ‘pulp and bone’ with whiskey, apple cider, cinnamon, and maple makes an appearance at your table as well as the delicious fried catfish sandwich.
Bloom’s
$ | (443) 682-8578 | WEBSITE
This mirror-lined lounge is as effortlessly cool as a late-night gathering in a vintage Miami penthouse. People sink into the upholstered lounge chairs and lean against the bar in a scene so intimate it doesn’t even need background music.
And since Bloom’s bartenders know their sh*t about crafting delicious cocktails, you’ll sip a Fue Mejor with sweet and smoky notes, a Jungle Bird that’s begging for a plate of their tasty olives, or even a Midouri Sour that could outshine most frothy green concoctions in a taste test. Come for drinks with some colleagues while you wait for a spot at your next business dinner. Or better yet, just linger here the whole evening celebrating that special engagement.
Angel’s Seafood
$$ | (410) 444-5150 | WEBSITE
We’ve been telling everyone about this seafood spot—neighbors, relatives, and even our dog walker. And that’s because Angel’s Seafood is great for everyone. It’s date night for the couple at the counter splitting a plate of crab legs that rival the best in the city (yeah, we said it). It’s dinner for the family of five squeezed into a booth passing around seafood Alfredo with shrimp and buttery lobster.
And it’s an after-work meal for our aforementioned dog walker who we’ve spotted with a bowl of hot crab dip. This place isn’t a secret—expect a bit of a wait on weekends—but once you’re in, you’re met with warm service, excellent food, and your own reasons to spread the word.
One-Eyed Mike’s
$$ | (410) 327-0445 | WEBSITE
Dining at One-Eyed Mike’s feels like being welcomed into a friend’s cozy living room—and we’re not just saying that because this Baltimore spot has such an intimate, inviting atmosphere. Throughout our visits here, we’ve watched the chef personally check on tables and witnessed bartenders remembering regulars’ favorite drinks, which would be enough to make One-Eyed Mike’s a special place for a meal. But we’d also happily sit at the slightly-too-dark bar just to eat their outstanding food.
From Maryland Clam Soup bursting with briny freshness to crab cakes with perfectly crisp exteriors and tender interiors, these are dishes that make us want to stop everything and savor each bite as if we were in a culinary reverie. It’s possible to have a memorable evening celebrating virtually anything at One-Eyed Mike’s, even if the occasion is, “I finally tried that caramel old fashioned I’ve been hearing about.”
The Back Yard
$$ | (667) 303-3994 | WEBSITE
For some people, happiness is a fancy cocktail and a white tablecloth. For us, it’s a Detroit-style pizza at The Back Yard, where crispy crust gets all loaded up with pepperoni, mozzarella, and tangy tomato sauce. You can keep your crystal glasses and linen napkins. Just give us The Back Yard.
Order of the Ace
$$ | (443) 688-9488 | WEBSITE
Order of the Ace is not just a great place to grab perfectly crafted cocktails like the Secret Handshake or the Espresso Martini Mocktail, crab cakes that melt in your mouth, or steak cooked to such perfection that you should consider avoiding if you have a heart condition. (But savor it if you don’t). This Harbor East spot also happens to have a stunning, swanky interior with live jazz from a saxophonist, pianist, and strings instrumentalist that’s perfect for a romantic night out.
And by romantic night out, we hope you know that we mean cozying up in the luxurious ambiance over warm butter cake so unforgettable you’ll be dreaming about it for weeks. (This place doesn’t have bad vibes.)
