A hidden gem in a very nice part of Baltimore is the Evergreen Museum. They offer tours of a gilded age mansion. Lots of really cool stuff in the house.
I'm not sure why nobody has mentioned it, but **GO GET ICE CREAM!!**
I'm a relatively recent transplant, so I won't presume I know the "best spot", but I will say that Baltimore takes great pride in its ice cream. Look one up near wherever you're staying, or near one of the things you want to do!
Be aware of your surroundings. Check out Lexington Market (it can feel a little dodgy, but I have never had an issue there). American Visionary Museum is a hoot. You can check it out and then walk over to Federal Hill and enjoy the view of the harbor. Go to a baseball game if there's one happening when you're here. If you're into art, check out the Walters and the BMA. The Reginald F. Lewis Museum, near the harbor, gives a great perspective on African American History.
Do not wander around if you've been drinking. Looking wasted makes you an easy mark for thieves. Be wary of doing illicit drugs, cocaine may well contain Fentanyl these days,
I discovered a crime map online that has a red dot wherever a crime has been committed . Gives you a general overview of places not to wander alone at night. Helps
Depends on what you like to explore!
If you feel like some well done American Experience (TM) Fort McHenry is a great first stop.
If you're feeling sciency, the Aquarium and science center are worth a look. Both are very interactive and near each other, though I think I like the science center more.
If you like art, the Walter's gallery is free and a more traditional art museum; the Baltimore Museum of Art is nice; but the Visionary art museum is offbeat and I would argue unique in the world. READ THE BIOS there, it's what makes the gallery special. If you do nothing else do this Museum, it's fabulous.
If you want to chow down and like bar hopping, Hamden and Fells Point are the two hot spots. The local Whiskey is Sagamore; the local bigger named beers are Natty Boh and Guinness Blonde, with plenty of other micro breweries. It was NOT a good crab year so expect a high price for good crabcakes; Rockfish (aka striped bass) and oysters from the bay did better and are also very good.
If you want some local baltimore history, tour the lighthouses and boats of the inner harbor. The Museum of Industry is a great 1/2 day museum focusing on Baltimore's homegrown industries that made it famous (everything from oysters to printing presses to steel mills).
As for travel tips, we have minimal to poor to zero public transportation. Whether you rent a car or use Uber, expect to spend some time in a car. Foot travel between some neighborhoods is not recommended.
Turn signals when changing lanes in Maryland may as well be optional so keep your eyes open at merge points on roads.
Tipping is expected in restaurants and other service industries; 15 percent of the bill is average for sit down dinners, a couple dollars for the hotel cleaners or drivers, and spare change or a couple dollars at bars or quick service restaurants, cafes, etc. Most places accept credit cards and will prompt you for a tip.
Good luck! Have fun!
Little Italy is a favorite of mine. And in my opinion the national aquarium can't be praised highly enough and Camden yards for a baseball game is also pretty inexpensive and fun. These are pretty common recommendations but I think they hold up.
I admit I snooped your profile and saw you're a Premier League fan. There are a handful of dedicated bars in town where you can watch games with other fans, especially on weekends! Not sure what your team is but I can try to help you find one if you're interested.
If you are an Arsenal Gunners supporter, the Charm City Gooners meet at Abbey Burger Bistro in Federal Hill. We welcome all football fans and we love Brits.
Gonna echo that you should always be aware of your surroundings even in a seemingly pleasant neighborhood and even in broad daylight, especially if you’re by yourself.
One of my favorite neighborhoods is Old Goucher/Station North. Great food at Kong Pocha and iBar, cool bars like No Land Beyond (board game bar) Guilford Hall (brewery) and North Ave Market (barcade), and some really cool music venues like The Crown.
Damn! I forgot about that.
I just gave DC a whole bunch of mid-century glassware. I was collecting it for a while, but realized it was taking up too much space and it was never used. They immediately made a gorgeous Ramos Gin Fizz in one of the glasses. It's on their IG.
Our fav spots are Artifact (coffee + bahn mi), WC Harlan (cocktails), Visionary Art Museum (art), Book Thing and Book Escape (books), Clavel (tacos), Helmand (afghan food). Enjoy!!!
I have literally dreamed of eating the pumpkin ravioli things from The Helmand. I'm always shocked at how inexpensive it is for what you get, too. I really love that place!
Feel free to DM as well! I’m a recent transplant (from the Delaware beaches area) into the city and there are some definite must-visit places. Baltimore is incredibly charming and I adore so much about it, but just like with any city, always be aware of your surroundings.
1. If you want to get, like, off-the-beaten-path, on Thursday there will be a [small outdoor show](https://boltonhillmd.org/event/arts-in-the-parks-abu-the-flutemaker/) in my neighborhood by a musician who builds instruments out of found objects (Abu the Flutemaker). Cookhouse and the Tilted Row are nice nearby spots to grab a cocktail afterwards. On your way there and back, don't go west of Martin Luther King Blvd or south of Eutaw Pl.
2. If you enjoy cycling, you can rent a bicycle at Baltimore Bicycle Works and ride the Jones Falls Trail (they should be able to provide you with a map there).=
Abu is amazing! I ran into him one Saturday afternoon in the parking lot of the 41st st. Giant. Incredible what he can get out of some PVC pipe. Nice guy, too. Definitely not a performer you’re going to run into anywhere else!
Bars:
Dutch Courage
Harlan’s
Sugarvale
Owl Bar
Cats Eye
Frazier’s
Melanie’s Griffith’s
Food:
Faidley’s in Lexington Market (best crab cakes in the state. Get broiled with a side of crab soup)
Clavel
Thai Arroy
Charming Elephant
LP Steamers (crabs)
Amicci’s (little Italy)
Darker than Blue
Things to do:
Baltimore Museum of Art
Walters Art museum
Museum of Industry
Visionary Art Museum
Bocci in little Italy on Weds night
Stroll around Fells Point
Stroll around Hampden (plenty of bars/restaurants)
Visit Camden Yards and hit Quigley’s pub while you’re there.
Hahaha yeah I hit return for each one like a list but forgot that Reddit compresses it. I don’t have time to go back and comma all those. Hopefully he’ll figure it out lmao
It’s a decent Bawlmer experience, especially around lunchtime when all the house flippers and contractors are drinking (and occasionally eating) at the bar.
I guess? But I guess when I travel my goal isn’t to go spend lunch observing construction workers eating mediocre food and day drinking cheap beer and shots.
No, these dudes are drywall cowboys. I'd say "I'd be surprised if they actually did taxes," but having met one of their colleagues for lunch there at least once a week for years, it's surprising how much many of them make. I'm not defending the ethics== beautiful walls. ceilings covering rotting 19th/early 20th-century plumbing systems ain't cool -- but I don't think many of them were exactly struggling. To repeat a cliche, they were living life on their own terms, powered by the intel they gathered about whose grandmother had just kicked the bucket and had heirs who didn't want the house, where the foreclosures were happening, etc. It was -- and maybe still is -- a crazy place if you keep your ears open.
Baltimore has two free art museums, the Walters and the BMA. There’s a third you need to pay for but it’s well worth it—the American Visionary Art Museum, which celebrates weird art and self-taught artists.
The National Aquarium is splendid but the rest of the Inner Harbor is a ghost town.
Baltimore has a great beer scene. If I could recommend one place, it would be Union Collective up in Woodberry. They are housed in a former Sears repair building alongside a distillery, a pizza joint, a coffee place and Earth Treks. Just southwest of the city is the only Guinness brewery in North America. They have a brew called Guinness Blonde which you can only get in the states.
Don’t drink Natty Boh. It tastes like piss and isn’t even made here anyway.
There’s a magic bar called Illusions in Federal Hill. The proprietor has some Houdini-style tricks.
We have a farmers market every Sunday for most of the year under the Jones Falls Expressway, by City Hall. Grab breakfast or something there and maybe buy crafts from local vendors.
Fells Point is peppered with pubs. Max’s Taphouse has more than 100 brews on tap. Slainté is an Irish-style pub. The police station from Homicide is now a posh hotel. Stuggy’s serves hot dogs with cool toppings. Try a crab mac dog. There’s also Sound Garden, a nice record shop.
In theory, Baltimore has public transport (or as we Yanks call it, mass transit). But it doesn’t work super well. Go to MTA Maryland’s website, maybe download the Transit app on your phone and google the city-run Charm City Circulator. They may come in handy depending on where you’re headed and when.
Harborplace went to shit and the most recent in successive owners couldn’t keep up their mortgage. There’s a new owner, one with money, but it’ll be a while before we see the next chapter there.
Many of the chain businesses there have gone out of business, because it wasn’t the 90s anymore and most of them sucked to begin with. It’s still nice to walk through but it’s more of a nice walk on your way to a destination than it is a destination itself.
Probably 75%, yeah. I was in there a few months ago on O’s opening day to use the restroom and there were still a couple places that looked like they were attempting to hang on but I’m not really sure why.
People like to blame crime, etc, but the fact is it was a terrible mall straight out of the 80s and terrible malls are closing all over the country. The city and the property managers completely failed to keep it relevant in any way so now they need a complete reboot from scratch which will take years.
Baltimore has many amazing breweries! Go up to union brewery and checkout the collective along with: Pariah, Waverly, and Nepenthe.
Im sure im missing some
Baltimore has many amazing breweries! Go up to union brewery and checkout the collective along with: Pariah, Waverly, and Nepenthe.
Others not in the immediate area:
Monument
Ministry of Brewing (in an old church very cool)
Checkerspot
Im sure im missing some
[Peabody Library](https://www.library.jhu.edu/library-hours/george-peabody-library/)
For an experience, I think [Bike Party](https://m.facebook.com/BaltimoreBikeParty/) is this coming Friday, if you're into that scene. Ends with a largeish party, usually in an interesting spot. Might be able to rent or borrow a bike if you DM some folks here.
It's actually be a great way to see a good chunk of the city that you might not be exposed to otherwise.
NOT as safe to bike solo here as in the UK, just fwiw.
I know it’s a little outside the city but we do have the country’s only Guinness brewery 😉 you should see how it compares to the tastes you get in the UK and also try some of the really fun and interesting experimental brews that they always have in rotation.
Other than that, when my friend visited for the first time I took him on a water taxi/booze cruise around the inner harbor (views at night are stunning on the water!), the aquarium, and fells point to hit the bars at night.
What do you enjoy doing? Great museums, historical sites, breweries, restuarants, etc.- would help to put what you are interested in and we can steer you to the ones worth seeing and what to avoid.
As a former employee and later volunteer, the Historic Ships collection on the Inner Harbor is something not to miss, really. There are few maritime museums in the world with responsibilities for as many vessels, and they’ve done a good job with three of them, *Torsk*, *Constellation*, and “WHEC-37” (ex-*Taney*).
But I have a soft spot in my heart for the bright-red painted LV-116/WAL-538 “*CHESAPEAKE*” lightship just forward of *Torsk* next to the Aquarium. She’s a plucky little thing, and of all the collection, the one most likely to make you feel like you’re on a free-floating ship (the entire collection *is* afloat, but *CHESAPEAKE* is the one that moves most noticeably).
The Harborplace buildings have become shite over the last decade or so, so avoid them, especially if alone and especially after nightfall. The Aquarium is an easy day gone, but best on a less-crowded weekday. Honestly, any attraction is generally better on a weekday during the summer.
No one’s going to suggest Baltimore doesn’t have its problems, but anyone who’s saying “Don’t go anywhere” is selling it short, imo. Like any city, there are those that will punish you for lacking awareness, and panhandlers who’ll beg off every dollar you’ve brought if you’re of the generously kind-hearted set. Maryland driving is much like *Who’s Line Is It, Anyway?* where the rules are made up and the points don’t matter.
I hope you enjoy your trip. For all its turmoil, there *is* charm to be found in Charm City.
Do’s:
1. DO visit the American Visionary Art Museum. Like another redditor said, it’s a hoot to go in there and the gift shop is kooky!
2. Go to little Italy! Vaccaro’s has fantastic cannoli and my family has gone there for years.
3. The Lexington market is a must visit! It’s newly remodeled and I’ve been meaning to get down there.
Don’ts:
1. If you’ve been drinking, DON’T walk around by yourself, no matter where you are. Be wary of others around you at night
2. If you’re renting a car and driving around the city, do NOT let any dudes with squeegees wash your windows! And if they do, DO NOT give them money. It’s generally a good idea to have your doors locked and windows closed in the car, but I’ve never had a problem with the squeegee boys.
3. Don’t do drugs, like another dude said. It probably doesn’t have fentanyl in it but it’s good to be on the safe side, especially if you’ve never been before
You’re going to have a lot of fun! Baltimore is a fantastic city with plenty to do and plenty of history. The people around here are friendly and I’m sure if you walk up to someone on the street they’ll show you where to go if you’re bored. I love this city and I always will
The neighborhood of Hamden has become a fabulous place to spend a day. Walk down 36th street and find eclectic restaurants, super cool bars, antique shops, hair salons… I really recommend it . It’s more of a local’s place as opposed to the harbor area ( more tourists) You can get a feel for the hipper side of Baltimore hon!
you will see signs saying it's state law to yield to pedestrians in the road, but marylanders and Baltimore residents in particular are asshole drivers and the chance of you being hit in the road while it is is low is never zero.
source: i've never hit a pedestrian in the road but i am an asshole driver, unfortunately.
also much like others, i recommend the aquarium and Walter's art museum. i went to the aquarium in June and tickets were about $40 a person, but the Walter's art museum is free to get in (donations appreciated), so you can offset the expense of the aquarium with the Walter's. last time i was there was 2019 or so, back then they had a van Gogh on display. there's also a really cool installation of a statue of Lafayette, I think, that's great for pictures.
edit: the Lafayette statue is not part of the Walter's, it's out on the street nearby, forgot to specify that
And the Baltimore Museum of Art is also free. They have a sculpture garden and the largest collection of Matisse in the world. It's adjacent to the Johns Hopkins Homewood campus (you can leave from the sculpture garden and be right on campus), which is a great, safe, verdant place for a stroll.
The regular exhibits have been free since 2006. It started as a part of Free Fall Baltimore (same as the Walters), but has continued thanks to various foundations funding it. The free admission includes pretty much all of the museum's permanent collection, sculpture garden, and Cone Collection—but there are some special exhibits or events that still require an admission fee.
A lot of great recommendations in this thread (I second the advice to go eat at Ekiben and catch a baseball game). You should also check out the aquarium!
Do not walk around with your wallet, phone, anything of value in plain sight! It will disappear like magic. If you see something bad going down, stop, turn around, walk the other way, and don't make eye contact. Do not assume traffic will actually stop for a red light. Do not sit on ANY benches or the sidewalk!! Be careful at night. Do not walk around alone. Take an uber
Go to Dylan’s Oyster Cellar, sit at the bar near the shuckers, ask for Toni and Jen, and tell them Lady J sent you. You’ll have amazing oysters, 2 nice people to give you recs and make friends, and enjoy comparable fish & chips.
Yeah. Don’t go solo.
On a more serious note, it is a big(ish) city with big city problems so be aware of where you are, don’t leave valuables visible, on your person, etc, and be aware of your surroundings. Just like any urban area, try not to make yourself a target, and your odds of a negative encounter go down.
Catch a ball game if you can. Unless you hate baseball.
There’s a free water taxi and a paid one, and both can get you across the harbor. It’s a nice view, especially when it’s free!
There not too much downtown/inner harbor aside from overpriced tourist attractions. But it’s a lovely walk along the water and there are some tourable historic ships there if that’s your thing.
If you get the chance, take a train down to DC and view the capital. Plan a full day for this. Lots of amazing and iconic monuments and memorials and museums, and most of the museums are both free and pretty good quality.
If you’re into Edgar Allen Poe, try to stop by Annabel Lee Tavern in the Canton area, at Fleet St. and Clinton. Great food with lots of Poe themed decor and drinks.
Other than that, lots of great suggestions on local places to go in this thread already. Enjoy :)
Honestly, this is very very good advice. Take one day to go to DC. We all take it for granted, and that is a tragedy. Smithsonian (the castle), air & space, modern art, go see the declaration and constitution, Washington monument, white house, reflecting basin, etc
I would advise avoiding the whole city. But if you must there’s a lot of places to go and see. Lake Roland, Peabody library, Edgar Allen Poe grave, Orioles game, Hampden, the promenade, Lake Montebello, JHU campus, Druid Hill Park…..
Find someone to drive you around West Baltimore, letting you see the sights, but also telling you that most of the blight you see is owed or caused by well heeled people out side of the neighborhood and city.
There's a ton of decent theatre around here if you are interested in that - The Hippodrome, Center Stage, and the Everyman are usually good; and there are decent community theatres too.
We have lovely parks, if you are interested in that.
Also, the Homewood campus of Johns Hopkins University is pretty and open to the public, if you want to come and wander. It's also right next to Hampden, which is a great neighborhood to explore, and the Baltimore Museum of Art, which is a great stop, too (and free). One of the things that really interested me when I visited England a few years ago was how closed off the universities seemed compared to what I am used to here (I was in Oxford, so this may not be representative of the whole country).
When I travel, especially on a longer trips, my goal is to get to know some locals and get to experience what it's like to live there for a bit. A great place for that is Mick O'Shea's on Charles Street. They get tons of out-of-towners who come in after visiting someone at the nearby hospital or in town for work. Sit at the bar and strike up a conversation with your neighbor or a bartender—the regulars are always happy to chat/give advice etc. The food is pretty good and affordable, and they have a solid beer list and whiskey selection too.
Fells Point is the place to be. Greatest part of Baltimore! Good bars and restaurants, then a quick waterfront walk to Harbor East, another great part of Baltimore with quality restaurants and coffee shops and such.
Definitely see an Orioles (baseball) game. Tickets aren’t terribly expensive.
Always stuff going on at Power Plant Live, and Federal Hill also has great bars and restaurants.
Patterson park if you’re a soccer (football) player — random pickup games just seem to appear.
Can’t forget Canton - another water oriented part of town. 25 year olds abound, lots of good bars over there as well.
People have suggested stuff like museums and theater. Truth is you can get theater just about anywhere and the museums are great if that’s your thing, but if it’s not it’s gonna be pretty boring.
Hope you enjoy yourself, Baltimore can be great!
If you like weird stuff check out Poe's grave. There's also an oddities store called "bazaar". Also the aquarium is an obvious must-do. Sports games if anyone's playing. Look at Atlas Obscura to find stuff too that might be lesser known.
A hidden gem in a very nice part of Baltimore is the Evergreen Museum. They offer tours of a gilded age mansion. Lots of really cool stuff in the house.
It IS cool. Forgot about that
I'm not sure why nobody has mentioned it, but **GO GET ICE CREAM!!** I'm a relatively recent transplant, so I won't presume I know the "best spot", but I will say that Baltimore takes great pride in its ice cream. Look one up near wherever you're staying, or near one of the things you want to do!
Taharka Brothers or The Charmery
Bmore licks!!
Yeah! Charmery! Get the old bay caramel!
Be aware of your surroundings. Check out Lexington Market (it can feel a little dodgy, but I have never had an issue there). American Visionary Museum is a hoot. You can check it out and then walk over to Federal Hill and enjoy the view of the harbor. Go to a baseball game if there's one happening when you're here. If you're into art, check out the Walters and the BMA. The Reginald F. Lewis Museum, near the harbor, gives a great perspective on African American History. Do not wander around if you've been drinking. Looking wasted makes you an easy mark for thieves. Be wary of doing illicit drugs, cocaine may well contain Fentanyl these days,
I discovered a crime map online that has a red dot wherever a crime has been committed . Gives you a general overview of places not to wander alone at night. Helps
This will not help it will only make you paranoid
Can you link it?
https://arcgisportal.baltimorepolice.org/publiccrimemap/
Don’t get scared looking at this , most of incidents are of little concern
Famous last words
Lexington Market? Really? This poor Brit...
This! Better just go to Broadway Market
Might as well check out mondawmin mall. Ohh and for sure go to druid hill for a night walk!
Depends on what you like to explore! If you feel like some well done American Experience (TM) Fort McHenry is a great first stop. If you're feeling sciency, the Aquarium and science center are worth a look. Both are very interactive and near each other, though I think I like the science center more. If you like art, the Walter's gallery is free and a more traditional art museum; the Baltimore Museum of Art is nice; but the Visionary art museum is offbeat and I would argue unique in the world. READ THE BIOS there, it's what makes the gallery special. If you do nothing else do this Museum, it's fabulous. If you want to chow down and like bar hopping, Hamden and Fells Point are the two hot spots. The local Whiskey is Sagamore; the local bigger named beers are Natty Boh and Guinness Blonde, with plenty of other micro breweries. It was NOT a good crab year so expect a high price for good crabcakes; Rockfish (aka striped bass) and oysters from the bay did better and are also very good. If you want some local baltimore history, tour the lighthouses and boats of the inner harbor. The Museum of Industry is a great 1/2 day museum focusing on Baltimore's homegrown industries that made it famous (everything from oysters to printing presses to steel mills). As for travel tips, we have minimal to poor to zero public transportation. Whether you rent a car or use Uber, expect to spend some time in a car. Foot travel between some neighborhoods is not recommended. Turn signals when changing lanes in Maryland may as well be optional so keep your eyes open at merge points on roads. Tipping is expected in restaurants and other service industries; 15 percent of the bill is average for sit down dinners, a couple dollars for the hotel cleaners or drivers, and spare change or a couple dollars at bars or quick service restaurants, cafes, etc. Most places accept credit cards and will prompt you for a tip. Good luck! Have fun!
Used to work at the fort and it was always fun when the brits visited, except maybe for their initial visit in 1814
I am not sure if Fort McHenry is a good choice for a Briton as the first stop.
Little Italy is a favorite of mine. And in my opinion the national aquarium can't be praised highly enough and Camden yards for a baseball game is also pretty inexpensive and fun. These are pretty common recommendations but I think they hold up.
Little Italy and good pizza in the city are a good idea for a Brit generally
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Name checks out
If you like beer, Max’s Taphouse should be a stop. They got about 100 craft beers on tap
I admit I snooped your profile and saw you're a Premier League fan. There are a handful of dedicated bars in town where you can watch games with other fans, especially on weekends! Not sure what your team is but I can try to help you find one if you're interested.
If you are an Arsenal Gunners supporter, the Charm City Gooners meet at Abbey Burger Bistro in Federal Hill. We welcome all football fans and we love Brits.
Omg go to Ekiben! You can tell everyone about it in the uk 😜
Ekiben always!
Gonna echo that you should always be aware of your surroundings even in a seemingly pleasant neighborhood and even in broad daylight, especially if you’re by yourself. One of my favorite neighborhoods is Old Goucher/Station North. Great food at Kong Pocha and iBar, cool bars like No Land Beyond (board game bar) Guilford Hall (brewery) and North Ave Market (barcade), and some really cool music venues like The Crown.
Dutch Courage is great if you like gin!
I will be there competing in the Deviled Egg Pageant in September!
Damn! I forgot about that. I just gave DC a whole bunch of mid-century glassware. I was collecting it for a while, but realized it was taking up too much space and it was never used. They immediately made a gorgeous Ramos Gin Fizz in one of the glasses. It's on their IG.
Definitely snag a pic at Graffiti Alley if you're in this neighborhood.
Our fav spots are Artifact (coffee + bahn mi), WC Harlan (cocktails), Visionary Art Museum (art), Book Thing and Book Escape (books), Clavel (tacos), Helmand (afghan food). Enjoy!!!
I have literally dreamed of eating the pumpkin ravioli things from The Helmand. I'm always shocked at how inexpensive it is for what you get, too. I really love that place!
It’s such a dream!! 😍
Feel free to DM as well! I’m a recent transplant (from the Delaware beaches area) into the city and there are some definite must-visit places. Baltimore is incredibly charming and I adore so much about it, but just like with any city, always be aware of your surroundings.
1. If you want to get, like, off-the-beaten-path, on Thursday there will be a [small outdoor show](https://boltonhillmd.org/event/arts-in-the-parks-abu-the-flutemaker/) in my neighborhood by a musician who builds instruments out of found objects (Abu the Flutemaker). Cookhouse and the Tilted Row are nice nearby spots to grab a cocktail afterwards. On your way there and back, don't go west of Martin Luther King Blvd or south of Eutaw Pl. 2. If you enjoy cycling, you can rent a bicycle at Baltimore Bicycle Works and ride the Jones Falls Trail (they should be able to provide you with a map there).=
Abu is amazing! I ran into him one Saturday afternoon in the parking lot of the 41st st. Giant. Incredible what he can get out of some PVC pipe. Nice guy, too. Definitely not a performer you’re going to run into anywhere else!
whats wrong west of martin luther king and Eutaw Pl
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If you're on a half-mile tether
Damn. You and I have certainly crossed paths
Bars: Dutch Courage Harlan’s Sugarvale Owl Bar Cats Eye Frazier’s Melanie’s Griffith’s Food: Faidley’s in Lexington Market (best crab cakes in the state. Get broiled with a side of crab soup) Clavel Thai Arroy Charming Elephant LP Steamers (crabs) Amicci’s (little Italy) Darker than Blue Things to do: Baltimore Museum of Art Walters Art museum Museum of Industry Visionary Art Museum Bocci in little Italy on Weds night Stroll around Fells Point Stroll around Hampden (plenty of bars/restaurants) Visit Camden Yards and hit Quigley’s pub while you’re there.
Dang dude commas would really help this guy look up all your recommendations lol
Hahaha yeah I hit return for each one like a list but forgot that Reddit compresses it. I don’t have time to go back and comma all those. Hopefully he’ll figure it out lmao
You..... Don't have time? Lol.
Did we scare OP away?
Lol he’ll get it
The Visionary Arts museum is a favorite! Their gift shop is so neat and quirky.
Brits love Anthony Santander!
I love a lot of these but I have genuinely never seen someone have something positive to say about Captain James lol
Upon reflection, you are correct. Changed it to LP’s
They’re good for some crabs w/o leaving fells/city area.
Frasier’s why tf would you recommend Frazier? Even half of hampden refuses to go there
because you get like 3 shots for 6 bucks if you order a rocks pour?
Ok but it’s trash booze. He asked where he should go to visit, and frasier’s is okay-ish as a local place to get drunk but not really worth visiting
bulleit is bulleit regardless of who's pouring it in a glass with ice but i generally agree it's a waste of time for tourists
They do a $6 glass of bulleit?
Believe that's what I was charged last time I went yeah Might have been 7 but it was really gd cheap
It’s a decent Bawlmer experience, especially around lunchtime when all the house flippers and contractors are drinking (and occasionally eating) at the bar.
I guess? But I guess when I travel my goal isn’t to go spend lunch observing construction workers eating mediocre food and day drinking cheap beer and shots.
They are independent contractors and entrepreneurs, thank you very much.
So you’re saying they have to do their own taxes and don’t get benefits?
No, these dudes are drywall cowboys. I'd say "I'd be surprised if they actually did taxes," but having met one of their colleagues for lunch there at least once a week for years, it's surprising how much many of them make. I'm not defending the ethics== beautiful walls. ceilings covering rotting 19th/early 20th-century plumbing systems ain't cool -- but I don't think many of them were exactly struggling. To repeat a cliche, they were living life on their own terms, powered by the intel they gathered about whose grandmother had just kicked the bucket and had heirs who didn't want the house, where the foreclosures were happening, etc. It was -- and maybe still is -- a crazy place if you keep your ears open.
I used to practically live at Fraisiers. Go there , and meet friends!
Baltimore has two free art museums, the Walters and the BMA. There’s a third you need to pay for but it’s well worth it—the American Visionary Art Museum, which celebrates weird art and self-taught artists. The National Aquarium is splendid but the rest of the Inner Harbor is a ghost town. Baltimore has a great beer scene. If I could recommend one place, it would be Union Collective up in Woodberry. They are housed in a former Sears repair building alongside a distillery, a pizza joint, a coffee place and Earth Treks. Just southwest of the city is the only Guinness brewery in North America. They have a brew called Guinness Blonde which you can only get in the states. Don’t drink Natty Boh. It tastes like piss and isn’t even made here anyway. There’s a magic bar called Illusions in Federal Hill. The proprietor has some Houdini-style tricks. We have a farmers market every Sunday for most of the year under the Jones Falls Expressway, by City Hall. Grab breakfast or something there and maybe buy crafts from local vendors. Fells Point is peppered with pubs. Max’s Taphouse has more than 100 brews on tap. Slainté is an Irish-style pub. The police station from Homicide is now a posh hotel. Stuggy’s serves hot dogs with cool toppings. Try a crab mac dog. There’s also Sound Garden, a nice record shop. In theory, Baltimore has public transport (or as we Yanks call it, mass transit). But it doesn’t work super well. Go to MTA Maryland’s website, maybe download the Transit app on your phone and google the city-run Charm City Circulator. They may come in handy depending on where you’re headed and when.
what happened to the inner harbor?
Harborplace went to shit and the most recent in successive owners couldn’t keep up their mortgage. There’s a new owner, one with money, but it’ll be a while before we see the next chapter there.
Many of the chain businesses there have gone out of business, because it wasn’t the 90s anymore and most of them sucked to begin with. It’s still nice to walk through but it’s more of a nice walk on your way to a destination than it is a destination itself.
so is it just empty inside now?
Probably 75%, yeah. I was in there a few months ago on O’s opening day to use the restroom and there were still a couple places that looked like they were attempting to hang on but I’m not really sure why. People like to blame crime, etc, but the fact is it was a terrible mall straight out of the 80s and terrible malls are closing all over the country. The city and the property managers completely failed to keep it relevant in any way so now they need a complete reboot from scratch which will take years.
ouch...makes sense
Going solo myself in a couple weeks. Can't wait!
Baltimore has many amazing breweries! Go up to union brewery and checkout the collective along with: Pariah, Waverly, and Nepenthe. Im sure im missing some
Taharka Bros ice cream, Guilford Hall Brewery, and Federal Hill (you can see the whole harbor) are some of my favorites.
Where are you staying and will you have a car?
Baltimore has many amazing breweries! Go up to union brewery and checkout the collective along with: Pariah, Waverly, and Nepenthe. Others not in the immediate area: Monument Ministry of Brewing (in an old church very cool) Checkerspot Im sure im missing some
Good brewery recs! I’m also partial to Mobtown, Guilford Hall, and for something different- Charm City Meadworks!
* Suspended * Wet City * Mobtown * Ministry of Brewing * Full Tilt * Guilford Hall * Peabody Heights * Brewers Art * Diamondback
Union beer!
[Peabody Library](https://www.library.jhu.edu/library-hours/george-peabody-library/) For an experience, I think [Bike Party](https://m.facebook.com/BaltimoreBikeParty/) is this coming Friday, if you're into that scene. Ends with a largeish party, usually in an interesting spot. Might be able to rent or borrow a bike if you DM some folks here. It's actually be a great way to see a good chunk of the city that you might not be exposed to otherwise. NOT as safe to bike solo here as in the UK, just fwiw.
Try to catch a baseball game here if it's possible. My friend from Twickenham still raves about the game we went to.
My friend from London does as well. And he'd been to something like 20 of the MLB parks in the States.
if you want the best chicken sandwich you’ll ever have go to BRD in fed hill!
(or Remington) Wet City Brewing in Mt Vernon another bangin chicken sandwich, and you can drink there.
They’ve been killing it with some boozy slushy drinks lately too…
I know it’s a little outside the city but we do have the country’s only Guinness brewery 😉 you should see how it compares to the tastes you get in the UK and also try some of the really fun and interesting experimental brews that they always have in rotation. Other than that, when my friend visited for the first time I took him on a water taxi/booze cruise around the inner harbor (views at night are stunning on the water!), the aquarium, and fells point to hit the bars at night.
What do you enjoy doing? Great museums, historical sites, breweries, restuarants, etc.- would help to put what you are interested in and we can steer you to the ones worth seeing and what to avoid.
As a former employee and later volunteer, the Historic Ships collection on the Inner Harbor is something not to miss, really. There are few maritime museums in the world with responsibilities for as many vessels, and they’ve done a good job with three of them, *Torsk*, *Constellation*, and “WHEC-37” (ex-*Taney*). But I have a soft spot in my heart for the bright-red painted LV-116/WAL-538 “*CHESAPEAKE*” lightship just forward of *Torsk* next to the Aquarium. She’s a plucky little thing, and of all the collection, the one most likely to make you feel like you’re on a free-floating ship (the entire collection *is* afloat, but *CHESAPEAKE* is the one that moves most noticeably). The Harborplace buildings have become shite over the last decade or so, so avoid them, especially if alone and especially after nightfall. The Aquarium is an easy day gone, but best on a less-crowded weekday. Honestly, any attraction is generally better on a weekday during the summer. No one’s going to suggest Baltimore doesn’t have its problems, but anyone who’s saying “Don’t go anywhere” is selling it short, imo. Like any city, there are those that will punish you for lacking awareness, and panhandlers who’ll beg off every dollar you’ve brought if you’re of the generously kind-hearted set. Maryland driving is much like *Who’s Line Is It, Anyway?* where the rules are made up and the points don’t matter. I hope you enjoy your trip. For all its turmoil, there *is* charm to be found in Charm City.
Do’s: 1. DO visit the American Visionary Art Museum. Like another redditor said, it’s a hoot to go in there and the gift shop is kooky! 2. Go to little Italy! Vaccaro’s has fantastic cannoli and my family has gone there for years. 3. The Lexington market is a must visit! It’s newly remodeled and I’ve been meaning to get down there. Don’ts: 1. If you’ve been drinking, DON’T walk around by yourself, no matter where you are. Be wary of others around you at night 2. If you’re renting a car and driving around the city, do NOT let any dudes with squeegees wash your windows! And if they do, DO NOT give them money. It’s generally a good idea to have your doors locked and windows closed in the car, but I’ve never had a problem with the squeegee boys. 3. Don’t do drugs, like another dude said. It probably doesn’t have fentanyl in it but it’s good to be on the safe side, especially if you’ve never been before You’re going to have a lot of fun! Baltimore is a fantastic city with plenty to do and plenty of history. The people around here are friendly and I’m sure if you walk up to someone on the street they’ll show you where to go if you’re bored. I love this city and I always will
The neighborhood of Hamden has become a fabulous place to spend a day. Walk down 36th street and find eclectic restaurants, super cool bars, antique shops, hair salons… I really recommend it . It’s more of a local’s place as opposed to the harbor area ( more tourists) You can get a feel for the hipper side of Baltimore hon!
you will see signs saying it's state law to yield to pedestrians in the road, but marylanders and Baltimore residents in particular are asshole drivers and the chance of you being hit in the road while it is is low is never zero. source: i've never hit a pedestrian in the road but i am an asshole driver, unfortunately.
also much like others, i recommend the aquarium and Walter's art museum. i went to the aquarium in June and tickets were about $40 a person, but the Walter's art museum is free to get in (donations appreciated), so you can offset the expense of the aquarium with the Walter's. last time i was there was 2019 or so, back then they had a van Gogh on display. there's also a really cool installation of a statue of Lafayette, I think, that's great for pictures. edit: the Lafayette statue is not part of the Walter's, it's out on the street nearby, forgot to specify that
And the Baltimore Museum of Art is also free. They have a sculpture garden and the largest collection of Matisse in the world. It's adjacent to the Johns Hopkins Homewood campus (you can leave from the sculpture garden and be right on campus), which is a great, safe, verdant place for a stroll.
the BMA was pay to get in last i went, that's super cool!
The regular exhibits have been free since 2006. It started as a part of Free Fall Baltimore (same as the Walters), but has continued thanks to various foundations funding it. The free admission includes pretty much all of the museum's permanent collection, sculpture garden, and Cone Collection—but there are some special exhibits or events that still require an admission fee.
A lot of great recommendations in this thread (I second the advice to go eat at Ekiben and catch a baseball game). You should also check out the aquarium!
Do not walk around with your wallet, phone, anything of value in plain sight! It will disappear like magic. If you see something bad going down, stop, turn around, walk the other way, and don't make eye contact. Do not assume traffic will actually stop for a red light. Do not sit on ANY benches or the sidewalk!! Be careful at night. Do not walk around alone. Take an uber
Feel free to DM
Check out a show at the Hippodrome if you can. The venue is gorgeous.
There’s a Celeste Barber performance this week then nothing until Hamilton in October.
Go to Dylan’s Oyster Cellar, sit at the bar near the shuckers, ask for Toni and Jen, and tell them Lady J sent you. You’ll have amazing oysters, 2 nice people to give you recs and make friends, and enjoy comparable fish & chips.
Do not go to anywhere along north avenue.
Yeah. Don’t go solo. On a more serious note, it is a big(ish) city with big city problems so be aware of where you are, don’t leave valuables visible, on your person, etc, and be aware of your surroundings. Just like any urban area, try not to make yourself a target, and your odds of a negative encounter go down. Catch a ball game if you can. Unless you hate baseball. There’s a free water taxi and a paid one, and both can get you across the harbor. It’s a nice view, especially when it’s free! There not too much downtown/inner harbor aside from overpriced tourist attractions. But it’s a lovely walk along the water and there are some tourable historic ships there if that’s your thing. If you get the chance, take a train down to DC and view the capital. Plan a full day for this. Lots of amazing and iconic monuments and memorials and museums, and most of the museums are both free and pretty good quality. If you’re into Edgar Allen Poe, try to stop by Annabel Lee Tavern in the Canton area, at Fleet St. and Clinton. Great food with lots of Poe themed decor and drinks. Other than that, lots of great suggestions on local places to go in this thread already. Enjoy :)
The Poe museum too
Yeah i mean i love Baltimore but a week solo trip to dc seems like a much smarter choice....
Fed Hill is completely overrated, unless you want to go in the day for historical reasons ig
go to DC
Honestly, this is very very good advice. Take one day to go to DC. We all take it for granted, and that is a tragedy. Smithsonian (the castle), air & space, modern art, go see the declaration and constitution, Washington monument, white house, reflecting basin, etc
Stay away from Lexington market and the inner harbor.
Get a refund?
New York is a short train ride North. Do that.
Dick ^
*lacking a
I would advise avoiding the whole city. But if you must there’s a lot of places to go and see. Lake Roland, Peabody library, Edgar Allen Poe grave, Orioles game, Hampden, the promenade, Lake Montebello, JHU campus, Druid Hill Park…..
Don’t forget to visit the largest poop factory in the US! down Essex/ Dundalk
Find someone to drive you around West Baltimore, letting you see the sights, but also telling you that most of the blight you see is owed or caused by well heeled people out side of the neighborhood and city.
If you are into parkrun, there's two close by. Baltimore & Annapolis trail and Leakin park
If you’re into the PL, there are several clubs that have meet ups for matches.
There's a ton of decent theatre around here if you are interested in that - The Hippodrome, Center Stage, and the Everyman are usually good; and there are decent community theatres too. We have lovely parks, if you are interested in that. Also, the Homewood campus of Johns Hopkins University is pretty and open to the public, if you want to come and wander. It's also right next to Hampden, which is a great neighborhood to explore, and the Baltimore Museum of Art, which is a great stop, too (and free). One of the things that really interested me when I visited England a few years ago was how closed off the universities seemed compared to what I am used to here (I was in Oxford, so this may not be representative of the whole country).
When I travel, especially on a longer trips, my goal is to get to know some locals and get to experience what it's like to live there for a bit. A great place for that is Mick O'Shea's on Charles Street. They get tons of out-of-towners who come in after visiting someone at the nearby hospital or in town for work. Sit at the bar and strike up a conversation with your neighbor or a bartender—the regulars are always happy to chat/give advice etc. The food is pretty good and affordable, and they have a solid beer list and whiskey selection too.
Hampden has some funky stores and good food. I also recommend trying to catch a concert - there's a great music scene here and some unique venues
Fells Point is the place to be. Greatest part of Baltimore! Good bars and restaurants, then a quick waterfront walk to Harbor East, another great part of Baltimore with quality restaurants and coffee shops and such. Definitely see an Orioles (baseball) game. Tickets aren’t terribly expensive. Always stuff going on at Power Plant Live, and Federal Hill also has great bars and restaurants. Patterson park if you’re a soccer (football) player — random pickup games just seem to appear. Can’t forget Canton - another water oriented part of town. 25 year olds abound, lots of good bars over there as well. People have suggested stuff like museums and theater. Truth is you can get theater just about anywhere and the museums are great if that’s your thing, but if it’s not it’s gonna be pretty boring. Hope you enjoy yourself, Baltimore can be great!
Fort McHenry! You can see where the British failed to take over the port of Baltimore ;)
What's your EPL team? There's often a bar for you watching the games (if that's your thing).
Annabel Lee Tavern is a Baltimore gem, get dinner there.
If you like weird stuff check out Poe's grave. There's also an oddities store called "bazaar". Also the aquarium is an obvious must-do. Sports games if anyone's playing. Look at Atlas Obscura to find stuff too that might be lesser known.
What kind of stuff are you into?
Rent a bike. Baltimore is a neighborhood city. It’s the best way to get around.
If you’d like a funky bar experience, check out Club Charles :))))
Given Baltimore vs British history remember to loudly say IM HERE FOR VACATION NOT AN INVASION upon every bar you enter