Pros: - Delicious food (from Doobys around the corner) - Drinks are tasty and creative. - Place is small and cozy. Cons: - Once I got there, I was a bit confused in regards of the seating process. I was expecting to be seated, after few minutes I realized it was self seating. No big deal but at least put a sign. - The place is way to noisy, this is supposed to be a "speakeasy" kinda place and the music was uncomfortably loud. You will have to yell in order to listed to what your date/friends are saying + you will be listening at other conversations for sure. I will be back just because of the food and hopefully the noise level will be more adequate. It's a small place, probably 40'x15', you shouldn't be blasting music that loud. read more

Really sweet cocktail bar, downstairs near the real Washington Monument, Sugarvale serves it up right. The cocktails are well-prepared, the joint is cool, with a bit of an austere but nonetheless inviting feel to it. Everything you should want in a cocktail bar, and a nice place to take a date. Two complaints, though one is double-edged. The place is so small that, when you get a good seat, it is wonderfully intimate. When you get a not-so-good seat, a bit crowded. When you do not get any seat, well, too bad for you. The more serious complaint is that, for a cocktail bar, they need to expand their cocktail list to about double what it is. I may not want overload, with so many options they blend together in that hazy mesh in my head and I just order whatever. But for a place that is all about the drinks, some additions and experimentation would be appreciated. read more

I didn't eat here, but the bartenders were great. The drinks were really outstanding, you can't find better in Baltimore in my opinion!

In short, this place has a nice, intimate atmosphere but poor service. I came here with 3 girlfriends on a Saturday night and was very happy to have found a bar that wasn't so loud we'd have to shout to hear one another. However, the bartender had a condescending attitude and was very difficult to get a hold of. It took us over half an hour to get our check from him once we were ready to leave. The crafty cider was great, but what I ordered off the food menu left a little to be desired. The onion dip was delicious but unfortunately topped with swiss cheese that solidified by the time it reached our table. It was impossible to share or divide up the cheese. I would have preferred gruyere (which melts more readily) or having the swiss cheese served above a tealight to keep it melted. And the deviled eggs were completely overpowered by horseradish! I couldn't finish even one egg because it was so bitter and unpleasant. The piece of duck ham on top of the eggs is literally the thinnest smallest bit of meat I've ever seen and I could not taste it at all over all the horseradish. read more

Had a very solid old-fashioned here the other day. Was pleasantly surprised to find that happy-hour discounts are in effect all Sunday. And then got some good bourbon-buying tips from the bartender. A great place to spend the tail end of a rainy winter afternoon. read more

I love this bar!!! It's a great place for a fancy cocktail and to just sit and enjoy someone company. The service here is amazing and the food looks pretty good too - never had it though. Once I asked a bartender to just make me a drink and it was so creative and fun! He used squid ink in it!! Definitely would recommend! read more

It's a low lighting hipster basement bar in Mt. Vernon. The drinks are reasonably priced-- not a huge selection but has the typical favorites. It's a good pre-post dinner drink spot. It's small so probably wouldn't be ideal for big groups. But the vibes are cool, and conversations can be had here as it's not too big or too loud. read more

This place is superb! Came here on an extremely cold night, the kind of cold where even being outside is torture. This place welcomed us immediately, it was warm and cozy and the bartenders were very nice and informative. I got 2 cocktails, a winter one and then a more tropical one and both were excellent. By watching the bartenders, you can tell that they take the utmost pride in creating your drink. These drinks take several minutes to make and the taste is worth it! Next time I want to try the smoked whiskey cocktail, it looked amazing! This was a nice place to go with friends -- great, lively atmosphere yet you're still able to hold a conversation with whomever you're with without shouting. Lovely, lovely place! read more

All I can say is, "omg!!!" The drinks here are so creative and delicious! You haven't had good drinks until you've tasted these. I'm not exaggerating. Can't decide from the menu? Tell the bartender what you like and he'll craft something for you. read more

Way too loud in there. They could use some sound dampening. And it would help if the cocktails were any good.

Listen, Phil Han is a genius of service, atmosphere, and business. Dooby's is already a mainstay and an important hub of activity, food, and drink in Mt. Vernon. Sugarvale is a beautiful addition to his repertoire and to the neighborhood. The Pale Spirit cocktail is rich and depthy in flavor. The wine list caters to the most casual and the most discerning palates. As for the ambience of Sugarvale, the decor is en pointe. The flooring, especially, demonstrates an attention to detail that is rare in Baltimore. The solution to the noise mentioned in other reviews is easily solved: the bar itself can add dampening fabrics, rugs, and the like; and/or the clientele can pipe down and enjoy the intimacy of this new creation. Few spaces in the city are so well appointed. read more

Sugarvale brings forth a speakeasy-like service, dranks, and appetizers to Mt. Vernon. In the land of great beer, this is a front runner for cocktails. It is def a great date place and a great celebratory dinner place; but a bit too expensive for a regular dinner. However, they do have a happy hour menu that runs M-F 5-7pm. Cocktails and wines are $6 and beer is $4; not as cheap as other happy hours around Baltimore, but you get a more diverse selection of alcohol. I'm also a huge fan of their charcuterie, with all of them being house-made. My wallet isn't a huge fan though :( but it is affordable if shared.. I just wish i could have it all for myself haha. read more

So disappointed knowing that you can't go to local bar to enjoy a cocktail with friends and not feel like an outcast, unwanted vibes... The bartender should be more social to EVERYONE... read more

Stopped in for a drink after dinner and just seeing the small plates and desserts that everyone else ordered had us ordering a second dinner and more!! Absolutely amazing! The chocolates...out of this world. So many delicious flavors and choices in a wonderfully low key setting. Definitely making this a consistent stop every time I come to Baltimore! read more

I went to Sugarvale for drinks a couple of weeks ago. It was my first time and I really enjoyed it. The drinks were AMAZING... Very unique mixing of spirits, liqueurs, and juices which produced superb cocktails. I cannot recall the names of all of the drinks I had, but they were all very tasty. The food was decent - nothing to write home about. I usually find that any bar that serves great drinks usually serves average food. But the food did not ruin my experience because I was there for the drinks - and Sugarvale did not disappoint. The bartenders were friendly, and the patrons were as well. It's a small, intimate bar in Mt. Vernon with a warm, inviting atmosphere. It's definitely a spot I'd got to again. read more

Sugarvale is, hands down, our favorite cocktail bar in the city. It's small and cozy with ambient lighting. Their menu changes every so often, but they always have plenty of options for whatever tickles your fancy; sweet and refreshing, spirit forward, herbal, wine, beer. Go there for happy hour! read more

I've been here a few times now. It is a great little place, fantastic setting, and serves what I'd likely call the best mac and cheese I've ever had. I've had decent drinks in the past but they've often been a little on the sweet side for me. Last night, there were two female bartenders (a cranky or maybe just too cool to speak to anyone blond and a friendly bartender with red hair). I ordered an old fashioned, a pretty straight forward cocktail, from the blond bartender and it tasted like candy, way too sweet and quite week. It was a also a very small drink (especially when I compare to places like Bluebird or Dutch Courage). Will I be back? Absolutely but more for the ambiance and food than for the drinks. read more

Rather expensive, but cocktails are absolutely worth it. The barmen knows what they are doing and the mood is pretty divey as well, with dim lights. read more

Loved my sexy little rendezvous at Sugarvale. The lighting, music, underground ambience -- totally captivating. Wine was unusual and terrific; food was delicious. Service was attentive without being overbearing. I will be back. read more

The "Five friends" drink...yea buddy. Great music played also. Definitely going back.

Great little bar tucked into an easy-to-overlook but very central part of the heart of Mount Vernon. Decor was a lively mix of minimalist, hipster, and cute kitsch --thinking hanging snowflake decorations and strings of lights. Cocktails for happy hour are reasonably priced and well made. I absolutely loved the Pink Magnolia! read more

Stopped by while in the area for a quick drink. The female bartender was rude and when asked for drink recommendations she was not helpful. I requested the check and she threw it on the bar and walked away. I thanked her and told her I was not happy with the service and she said you are welcome to leave. The other bartender was helpful. I will not return nor would I recommend the establishment to anyone else. read more

Sugarvale is a small little wine bar, located on Madison and around the corner from Dooby's. The space is very modern but the details and decorations at the bar make the space feel slightly antiquated and quaint. Sugarvale offers a nice cocktail list, which changes from time to time. The wine and beer collection is always well curated. They offer a small bites menu with a variety of meats and cheeses. I absolutely love the Gouda Spread and order it time and time again. I have found the staff very friendly and helpful. I highly recommend coming here during happy hour. Great, intimate place to catch up with a good friend. read more

This bar is my spot in Mt Vernon, the ceiling is so entertaining and the service is another 5 starts. Very friendly people that come after work to relax from the long day. The wine selection is superb and the cocktails are really good. Only thing is a bit pricey at cocktails costing 12$. The place is small has an intimate vibe so great for dates :) read more

Sugarvale is what you would expect for an off the beaten path / cocktail focused bar. Its very reminiscent of a cozy speakeasy that you might fight in NYC. The spirit selection is superior to the other bars that you might find within walking distance. Try it out and see if it fits your taste. read more

This cozy little spot makes you want to curl up with a heavy beer and a bowl of Ramyun and spend the night. Awesome ambiance for a date or lowkey spot to get some work done with a beer next to you. Servers are polite and the food is great (they share kitchens with Dooby's). This is everything you want in a little neighborhod basement bar. read more

Great cocktails, very intimate setting, bartenders are hard working creative and friendly. If I lived in Baltimore I would be a regular.

I've heard a lot of good things about this place so I decided to check it out . The restaurant looks nice and cozy ...drinks aren't that impressive...but not too bad ... service was okay .. it took a while for a bartender to greet us when we came in and it wasn't that busy ... the kitchen was already closed at 8.40 ... out of 7 drinks that we tried, I only liked 1 ... but everyone has its own taste buds so you should just check it out anyway and see if you like it ... oh and the prices were a bit high for the cocktails ...not worth it ...And in general I feel like the place is overrated.... read more

Wow, what an amazing hidden gem! The food is amazing, the wine is affordable and yummy! The staff her is knowledgeable and friendly. Truly a wonderful night out! read more

This is a small little bar with limited seating. We arrived just as another party was leaving, so we took their table. Otherwise we probably would have left because there isn't really standing room and this isn't a "college" bar that's packed with standing room. We were here in December and they had a great list of holiday cocktails. We each (four of us) ordered a different one to sample and ended up sharing because they were all so good. read more

This place is definitely a find -- chill, unpretentious basement bar where you can tell the bartender the kind of drinks you like and they'll make you something solid. This was a success for me (I like sparkling drinks with a fruity edge) but less so for my husband (he likes spicy drinks but wasn't 100% sold on the spicy magarita he got). So, docked a star. But overall love the feel of the place and the bartenders were friendly and knowledgeable. read more

Sugarvale is owned by the same folks as Dooby's, so I expected a delightful and inventive experience. Dooby's has a fantastic cocktail program, but I often forget in favor of the coffee. This seems to mesh both worlds. I have been in a few times, and this tiny little spot is like none other in Mount Vernon. The off Charles street basement entrance has the speakeasy of downstairs Brewer's. Inside though, it's a little cold - white tile floor to ceiling, metal tables, and minimal decorations. I met a few of my friends, sat at a table and tried some drinks and snackies. I am not sure what service vibe these guys are going for. You have very knowledgeable bartenders, but they come across slightly pretentious with the dry sense of humor. It took me a little while to get used to it. I started focusing on the balanced spirit forward concoctions I was getting and soon forgot. They gave me an excellent Last Word. Food was good, but its the cocktails that outshine. read more

Awesome nice little quaint spot! I came with my husband at 5 pm for happy hour on a Tuesday. It was actually quite busy and there was only bartender until about 6:30 pm. The drinks were amazing and reasonably priced during happy hour. Just wish there was one other bartender or server to help with the load. We had to wait a while to order our second round of drinks and food- even though were the only ones sitting at the bar. But thankfully the bartender was very patient and worked as fast as he could. Would be a 5-star if there was another bartender/server read more

I really wanted to like Sugarvale because I love Dooby's, but the service was lacking. The wine was great, my friend had an awesome cocktail, and we loved the Gouda spread. However, despite there only being 10 people there, we spent at least 20 minutes without service after finishing our drinks. We finally went to the bar to ask for our check, but still had to ask a second time before it was brought to us. I haven't had service this bad in Baltimore in a long time. read more

Intimate hipster bar with really good cocktails. The kind of place where they squeeze citrus peel with a lighter over your drink.

Creative cocktails that spark fun conversations at the table trying to google what the ingredients are to sharing drinks to experience the unique flavors together. An intimate environment that's will leave you wanting to come back time after time to build lasting memories with old and new friends. read more

Went here last night on a date. Loved the speakeasy atmosphere and the happy hour prices! Our bar tender was attentive and talented without be pretentious. We didnt try the food but it looked excellent as well. Will definitely become a go-to neighborhood spot. read more

Love this place - great atmosphere and drinks selection. The butter is amazing. My only issue is it can get very loud when it's busy. Baltimore needs more places like this. read more

Sugarvale! Ah! The best bar in Baltimore. I live in the neighborhood, but do yourself a favor and come here on a Monday or any day of the week for that matter to be greeted by amazing service and warmth. Every bartender here is amiable and attentive, Collin, Taylor, Paige, Harry, Nate, I truly love them and they make my experience here ten-fold! Absolutely Fantasia bevs (they can make anything your heart desires) This place feels like home, so happy it is here with such great service and libations. Keep it up! read more

Stopped in for a quick bite and drink---both were delicious. The place is small but it was very cozy and I love the ceiling lights. We'll definitely be back to try more things on the menu. read more