The Charles

My very 1st time going to a Speakeasy in Baltimore and I am a native Baltimorean. We came here to…read morewrap up a date night for a late night cocktail and conversation. There is a secret black door to enter. You can make reservations however, I was unaware that reservations were needed. We waited for about 20 minutes before a table opened up. Of course, the lights are dimmed inside with a very chill atmosphere. It is also pretty spacious inside for Speakeasy. We enjoy as it was something different to try. I will definitely return

It's a cool spot. It was a little hidden like most Speakeasy's which I love. When we entered it had…read morea cool dark but calming vibe and they weren't too busy. We had a party of 7 and we pretty much had our pick of where to sit. The waitress was talking really fast and low and we kept having to ask her to repeat herself. She never slowed down OR spoke louder. Once she had our drink orders, they didn't take long to come out. I ordered the "AKA" it was tequila based and was pretty good. Everyone was pretty happy with their drinks. This is when the night turned. 4 of the 7 of us wanted to leave and head elsewhere, the waitress made ALL 7 of us pay even though the others wanted to stay and order more. She would not budge on this and seemed pretty nonchalant about it. .. all in all. Glad we found it but won't be back.

Lounge

Bar area

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Dining area and dainty dècor.

Tiki Garden

4.3(7 reviews)

0.1 mi•Federal Hill

I was looking for this to be a big place. However, you had to actually go in thru the Cross Bar…read moredoor and Slush Garden is located on the inside to the left. It wasn't as crowded as I thought it would be on a Friday night. The bartender was very friendly and attentive. They do not serve food but, food can be purchased inside the Cross Bar. I ordered a PAIN IN THE ASS slush with an extra shot which was a mix of rum runner and Pina colada. It had a nice taste to it. This is not the drink for someone who is looking for something strong. I did enjoy mine. They didn't have as many selections as the places I've been to out of town that are similar to this kind of place. Go check it out and write a review so that I can read your opinion.

Service was fast and friendly Small seating area…read more The slushy drink was very cold and slushy but definitely not a lot of alcohol you can't taste it at all I would of added one or two miniatures lol

Planters Punch

Mai Tai

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Puka Punch

GameOn bar+arcade

4.4(52 reviews)

0.0 mi•Federal Hill

Fed Hill isn't short on unique bar experiences and GameOn's Fed Hill location is no exception…read more While small it's a nice little place to bring a couple of friends, play some games and kickback. I recommend getting the adult Capri suns or slushies! But the cocktails and draft beer menu are also pretty good too!

DJ Mack is seriously the BEST! He had GameOn Bar + Arcade LIT the entire night! His music…read moreselection was on point, the transitions were smooth, and he knew exactly how to read the crowd and keep the energy going. There was never a dull moment--just hit after hit and GOOD vibes all night! You can tell DJ Mack genuinely loves what he does because the energy he brings completely sets the atmosphere. If he's on the DJ booth, you already know it's going to be a good night! 10/10 experience! DJ Mack definitely made our night and is a huge reason we'll be coming back to GameOn!

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DJ Booth

The James Joyce Irish Pub & Restaurant

4.3(159 reviews)

0.8 mi•Inner Harbor

Great restaurant. First, I came on a hot day after walking around the Inner Harbor, and my water…read moreglass was never less than half empty, which was immensely appreciated. Service was perfection. The interior has a great dark wood/chandelier, old-school bar vibe and comfortable seating without it being too noisy when packed. There is some signage about the poet himself. We started of with the "cheese dip" which is an interesting way to describe a pretzel appetizer. But boy howdy, the cheese dip was enormous, which complemented the salty, buttery pretzels perfectly. The stuffed lamb was pretty reasonably priced and came with spinach and potatoes. Both that and the strip steak were a bit heavy on the sauce though, but otherwise, great dishes. Don't forget to swing by the bathroom. I just really like the posters in the hallway. The bathrooms were nice though. Overall, this is a reasonably-priced, inviting atmosphere, and tasty good. Great spot for the area.

Really nice Pub in the heart of Baltimore harbor. The space is huge. Been here for company event as…read morewell as private dinners. The food options are limited but they do have a good variety of options. They were able to accommodate a large party with short notice. Everything was made fresh. It's a nice pub restaurant mix. Also great for professional or casual dining. The service was fast and reliable.

Irish mule

Outdoor seating.

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Clock Kitchen & Bar

Clock Kitchen & Bar was such a fun Baltimore find! I stumbled upon this hidden speakeasy and loved…read morethe whole experience. There's even a cigar lounge on another floor, which adds to the vibe. The bartender was friendly and welcoming, and I ordered a burger and fries that were absolutely delicious. You can tell the chef genuinely aims to please, so I don't think you'll be disappointed with the food. Part of the fun is actually finding your way in. I won't give away the secret, but let's just say the elevator requires a special code to get you upstairs. That little touch makes it feel like a true speakeasy experience. Definitely a cool hidden gem in Baltimore and a spot I'd visit again!

The service was nice, the bartender served me, he was a absolute sweetheart, the Ambiance was…read morelovely, felt like I was sitting in a tavern I can only imagine how cozy it is on a Saturday/Friday night! And the food was great!! I tore up the brussel sprouts I recommend them, ALittle salty but I still tore it up! 10/10 would come back, lemonade has free refills!

Here's looking at you kid! A custom made prohibition style cocktail served on our copper bar

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Rusty Scupper

3.8(1.5k reviews)

0.6 mi•Inner Harbor

We had the most amazing dinner at Rusty Scupper this evening! Patty did an amazing job waiting on…read moreus! She was so personable and made our experience there a dream! Our food was phenomenal! I had the Blackened Shrimp and Grits and a Jumbo Lump Crab cake. My husband had the Baltimore Fish Fry! We shared the Warm Butter Cake! SOOOO GOOOOOD! We'll definitely be back next visit and hope we have Patty again!

Best Views in Baltimore. Always a staple in Baltimore for the seafood and atmosphere. Pattie…read morecrushed the service, as always. With a grand piano to set the tones.

Environment

A few rounds of fresh oysters

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RUSTY SCUPPER BALTIMORE

Pratt Street Ale House

3.3(1k reviews)

0.7 mi•Inner Harbor

In any other city, the crab cakes here would be 5 star as they were pretty dang good. Not the best…read moreI've had by any means, but way better than what most places try and pass off as a crab cake. The dinner option was generous with 2 delicious crabby mounds, and two sides which I did not want, but I was able to sub out others. Nice! The old fashioned wasn't much to look at, but man o man... it was actually pretty good and a reasonable price. I had a couple as I'm not one to pass up cheap drinks. Service was spectacular too with our waiter joking around with us and taking good care of us while we dined after a conference. If you're in Baltimore and near the convention center (or the Orioles Park), this place is worth a stop if you're in a crab cake mood and don't want to venture to the Inner Harbor for something a little more upscale.

Pratt Street Ale House is located in downtown Baltimore and is a great spot to grab drinks before a…read moresporting event. We stopped by around 5 PM on a Saturday before an Orioles game, so as expected, the place was extremely busy and had a lively pregame atmosphere. The beers were good, but unfortunately, the food is what brought my rating down to three stars. The fries tasted a little stale, and I ordered the smash burger (forgot to grab a picture), which was pretty average. I've definitely had much better smash burgers elsewhere. We also tried the chicken fingers, which were very basic and reminded me of typical ballpark food, not bad, but nothing memorable or something I'd crave again. Overall, Pratt Street Ale House is a solid spot for drinks and the pregame atmosphere, especially if you're heading to an Orioles game. However, based on the food we tried, I probably wouldn't come back specifically to eat. I'd recommend it more as a pregame drinks spot than a dining destination.

Fish and chips

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Orange Crushes (6.27.26)

Explorer's Lounge

3.3(40 reviews)

0.4 mi•Otterbein

Service was great but all the meals we had... breakfast and dinner were disappointing. Most…read moreeverything was flavorless. Scrambled eggs were hard and inedible.

Cute little place, has an okay view of some area. Staff are super friendly. Food is okay, quite…read morepricey. The crab cake does not seem as legit as other places.

Crab cake

Enjoy a cocktail and meal at our fully stocked bar.

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Brightons Ballroom on the same floor as Explorer

Loch Bar

4.0(650 reviews)

0.8 mi•Inner Harbor

We stopped in here for happy hour on a Friday. My friends and I ordered quite a few things to share…read moreand most everything was amazing. We order the turkey club, hush puppies, cream of crab soup, the charcuterie board, fries, and fried oysters to share. The turkey club was the star of the show. It had nice layers of avocado, the chicken was cooked well, and the bacon added a nice touch. For drinks we stuck to the margaritas and they were perfect! I would say you can skip the fries, the seasoning was great the batch of fries we had seemed like they might not have been fresh. The rest of the menu was so good I would still say you could skip the fries and order a double serving of hush puppies.

Although the food and waitstaff were excellent, the overall experience was disappointing…read more We arrived early for our reservation and were promptly seated at the worst table in the restaurant: the only table with no view, the waitstaff work area directly behind the table, and constant foot traffic behind us as well. We immediately asked the hostess for a different table. She told as that the three booths and the six other two-tops were all reserved. She left us with no attempt at an apology and promptly put reserved signs on all the open tables. When we left an hour later, one booth and 4 two-tops had never been used. Much to our dismay, we saw people seated outside even though we had received a text before arriving saying the patio was closed for the evening. To add insult to injury, even half empty, the noise level was so uncomfortable since everything was tile, marble, or wood that the alarm sensor on my smart watch sounded because of the decibel level. We will not be back.

The bar area

Loch Burger

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Roasted Chicken Club

Blackwall Hitch

3.9(1k reviews)

0.9 mi•Inner Harbor

I'd definitely return, though I don't live in Baltimore, which complicates things a bit :P…read more The overall experience was great. I met up with a friend here, with her husband and kids and my husband, and we had a great time. We didn't realize there would be live music, so it was a bit loud at first, but we got used to it. (The trumpet got a bit loud at times, but that's how such instruments can be!) My friend and I both got a cup of the crab chowder, which was tasty, if a bit weird-looking when the oil separated in it. I got a crab cake, and it didn't seem special compared to other crab cakes I've had, perhaps a bit dry too, but it was definitely fresh. I also went rogue and got a watermelon drink that was good enough where multiple would be dangerous! Everyone seemed to like their food, and my husband even tried clam strips and enjoyed them! The food came pretty quickly, so it's a nice choice if you're bringing kids (or hungry adults).

I stopped in here after visiting the BMA for an early dinner as it was walking distance from the…read moremuseum. It's right on the harbor so depending on where you are seated you may be able to get dinner with a view. Reservations were easy to obtain and I was able to be promptly seated once I arrived. The staff were friendly and my server was attentive. I ordered the crispy fish sandwich and was pleasantly surprised at the portion size. The meal was delicious and I left full. Highly recommend if you're at the harbor.

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5 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Rachel C.

547

8 years ago

The staff is so genuinely nice, and the cocktails are to die for. It does not get much better than this in Baltimore! I've hosted two large events here of 200+ people, and I will be back for more! read more

Tori M.

7 years ago

This is my favorite place in Baltimore! They have good music, food, and drinks! I definitely recommend going there!

John E.

Elite 16

152

8 years ago

Male bartneders prey on females, it's unfortunate to watch it happen, management should shut down such behavior.

Sherray M.

3 years ago

Good food, great drinks. Service was great. The music was the best. We'll be back soon

Durden H.

8 years ago

Great spot and love the rennovation. Food, music and atmosphere are solid.

The Charles - bars - Updated September 2026

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The Waterfront Hotel

3.5

(396 reviews)

This review is not food but for their live music night. I believe the event was battle of bands,…read morebut I came by on a Friday night to see one of the live bands they had playing. The downstairs area had a DJ and people dancing and at the bar, while the upstairs had the live band. It wasn't overly crowded, but drunk people and concept of personal space always gets muddy.

The live music on the weekends is absolutely fantastic, and I can't recommend this place enoughread more

The Point in Fells

3.4

(590 reviews)

It's a nice neighborhood bar and restaurant with very local vibes. The decor is pretty interesting…read morewhich would remind uou if a birthday party celebration. Staff is friendly and food is decent. We were here on our way back from DC and got seated immediately outside which had nice view of the ocean. They have dog menu which is was grit for our pup. The food and drinks came out promptly, a bit slow but it was a busy day for them. The views are nice from outside. Inside ambiance was very casual. Staff is friendly. Overall good neighborhood place if you are in the area.

Made a reservation for Mother's Day fun brunch, through Resy, and wished I picked another spot…read moreinstead, here is why: 1. Walked in at our reservation time and no one there to check us in. 2. Finally someone came back and cannot find our reservation, I should her my text messages and email to ensure we have a reservation. 3. Sat us downstairs by a high table, and that table was nasty, with sticky drink spills and marks all over, we had to clean it ourself. 4. Because we waited for 20+ minutes no server even came over to greed us...finally we waived someone down and he said he can take our order. 5. We ordered a French toast, seafood omelet, crab cake Benedict, biscuits and gravy & drinks. Drinks came out fairly fast, but we waited forever for the food. 6. I personally was not a big fan of any of the mix drinks there, way tooooo sweet. 7. After the food finally came, they are ok, not bad. 8. Then we decided to order some additional food to take with, ugh.... So regret, cause we waited for almost 30min for the takeouts. 9. Additionally, they ask us to put a credit card down to open a tab as soon as our order was taken, and charge 20% gratuity automatically , but claimed they only charge this to big parties....REALY ? There were 4 people in our party, I never heard of party of 4 was considered a large party. 10. Atmosphere, dive bar vibe, loud not in a good way, uncomfortable dining seatings. Based on our experience from this time, I have to say, sorry, we won't be returning to this place. I do not recommend this place.

The Owl Bar

3.5

(465 reviews)

I had an unbelievably bad experience at Owl Bar that I need to share so that nobody ever goes…read morethrough that experience again. My friend called the manager to confirm we could be seated at a table when we arrived while we awaited our third person to join late because we were in a rush to get to the nearby Lyric Theater. The manager confirmed that this was fine. When we arrived, we were told that the table wasn't ready and we couldn't be seated until the third person arrived, even though the manager promised us that wouldn't happen. We weren't able to be seated until fifteen minutes after our reservation time because of this, and we had to beg the server to let us sit. The experience only got worse from there. Our waitress checked in on us once in 25 minutes. She took our order, and the food didn't come. 10 minutes... 20... 30... 40... no updates from her and no food. It got to the point where we had to leave before our entrees even arrived. The only thing that did come, the duck fat fries, were inedible. The duck flavor was so aggressively strong and pungent that you couldn't even taste the fries. We asked our server, the hostess, and the manager for help during this experience, and nothing was done for us. We were told as we were leaving that they were extremely backed up and that the kitchen often has a 50-minute wait time. This isn't true, however; other tables received their food even when they ordered after us, and there were many open tables in the restaurant. Worst of all, they still made us pay! We had to tell them that we wouldn't pay for food we didn't receive. Not a single person who works at Owl Bar offered us anything or tried to turn our night around in any way. I cannot stress this enough: NEVER go to this restaurant. If you're ever in Baltimore, do everything in your power to eat anywhere else--or even just go to your show hungry! This experience was one of the worst I've ever had. Shame on Owl Bar.

Owl Bar is a great place to grab a late night drink or snack in an intimate, funky setting. The…read moreambiance is what really stuck out to me about this historic bar. Stained glass windows, owl decor, and the speakeasy vibe really make this place an interesting spot to hang out. The drinks are well made and feature seasonal offerings, while the food is just okay. Service is great and we were not left alone for long at all. I went for Christmas Eve dinner and got their prix fixe menu. Overall, great atmosphere and delicious drinks make this spot a must-hit on a late night out in Baltimore.

Lee's Pint & Shell

3.9

(293 reviews)

The best veggie burger I've ever had!!!!! Couldn't recommend a place more. Had the most incredible…read moreserver too - shoutout to Nieco. Must go if you're in Baltimore

The last time I visited this establishment, they made my wrap wrong. It was supposed to have…read moreavocado and they forgot to include it. A nice waitress took the order back to the kitchen. Note, my daughter had put ketchup on plate before realizing the oversight. So, when the MANAGER brought the food back, I'm thinking it was a show of good faith given the error. Nope. He had a smug attitude and puts the plate on the table where I immediately notice the original plate was reused because it had the ketchup smear. I asked him if this was the same sent back plate of food and he said "yes" and said the added the avocado. They UNWRAPPED the original wrap and just added the avocado and brought the entire plate back. I immediately questioned how that follows food handling guidelines. If they weren't going to redo the order, they could have just brought avocado slices to the table! The MANAGER had a very dismissive, RUDE attitude and so I sent everything back and left. I did tip the waitress cash because she was great and had got us drinks by that point. Again, she was nice and side-eyed the manager agreeing what he did was not acceptable. Apparently he also had a rep for being rude and nasty. I will never eat there again. You have a kitchen with seafood and meats and have no food handling controls? Yeah, miss me with the risk of food poisoning or cross-contamination. No thank you! You're rude to customers and have no standards? Whoever runs the kitchen should know better as should the manager. I can only imagine what else goes on in that kitchen. Dine there at your own risk.

Avenue Kitchen & Bar

3.7

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Exceptional experience from start to finish! Katie, the hostess, made us feel immediately welcomed,…read moreand Madison, our server, was knowledgeable, patient, and incredibly attentive. The food was outstanding, especially the steak! I also have to commend the management and entire team for creating such a well run establishment. Everyone worked seamlessly together, and the service was impeccable. Highly suggest the steak!

Had a great Bachelorette brunch here. The food was great, best Branzino I've ever tasted! The…read morecatfish was also delicious. Chicken and waffles were good, but the chicken had a different flavor that I wasn't used to. Not bad, but different. My sis had the vegan burger and loved and she's not vegan! Service was great considering our large party. The DJ had us singing more than eating! Great vibes! Highly recommend this place. Will be back when im back in town.

The Chasseur

4.0

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Cool neighborhood bar in Canton! Great service here. Thank you Kelsey!…read more We visited this past Tuesday and enjoyed the rooftop! Several TV screens. I'm sure on weekends or game nights this place is packed! Parking wasn't terrible. Found a spot across the street. I like that they offer happy hour until 8. Since it was a Tuesday they had some specials on tacos and tequila based drinks! Woot! I liked the jalapeño line crush. It had a lil kick but wasn't overly spicy! I ordered some chicken tacos and they were just ok. I probably won't get them again! I would return for brunch! Any takers?

The Chasseur is a chill sports bar with good food and service (shoutout to Kayla!) I love coming…read morehere to watch hockey games. The bottomless brunch is one of the more solid, actually bottomless brunches in the city! The 2nd floor space is so nice for game days. Overall, a great spot in Canton.

Of Love & Regret

4.2

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My friends and I chose Of Love & Regret as our local neighborhood brunch destination on a Sunday…read moremorning. It was dimly lit, lowkey, and quiet- great for our group of 5 (plus one baby). The service was a little prompt but a little confusing as we had two waitresses that did not seem to be communicating since we got asked the same question multiple times by both. The food did come out quickly though! I ordered The Roma sandwich and swapped the fries for the kale caesar salad. The chicken was juicy and paired well with the fresh tomato, field greens, and creamy aioli. The fresh rosemary focaccia was buttery, however, it was still dry and flaky and fell apart rather easily so it was hard to actually eat it as a sandwich. The kale salad was veryyy creamy and heavily dressed with lots of cheese so that's great if that's your jam- I just enjoy a lighter salad. I did steal a french fry from my friend and they were salty, crispy, and quite delicious. The rest of the food was ordered by my friends and are their flavor reports. The hangover burrito was devoured by my two friends, but the words "structural integrity" were mentioned multiple times- unsure if this was due to a weak tortilla, wrapping skills, or a combination of both. My friend's shroom burger was average- the patty was a little dry and underseasoned, but the umami mushrooms and garlicky sauce saved it. The beet burger was savory, paired well with the vinegar and aioli sauces, and is a great vegetarian option. My biggest complaint about this establishment was the price. The food was all decent, but my bill for one drink and one sandwich was $50 total, which I deem as pretty steep.

Of Love & Regret is a solid neighborhood spot in Canton that works well for a casual date or…read morecatching up with friends, and also for company gatherings which is what I went for. The space has a comfortable, lived-in feel with a large wooden bar and plenty of seating that makes it easy to settle in for a while. The menu has a good mix of items like their handmade pierogies and chicken bulgogi wraps, and the bar always has an interesting variety of craft beers and cocktails on tap. It gets pretty busy, especially during dinner time, but the staff is always quick and efficient, and keeps the mood relaxed and welcoming for everyone.

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4.5

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I had a great experience at Union Hill Craft Bar & Kitchen! The food was absolutely…read moreamazing--everything was fresh, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. The drinks were just as good, with a nice selection and great taste. The atmosphere was welcoming, and the service made the experience even better. I'll definitely be coming back and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great meal and delicious cocktails!

Union Hill Kitchen & Craft Bar is truly one of the gems of Baltimore. The food and cocktails feel…read moreintentionally crafted, and you can tell there is serious talent in that kitchen. From the shrimp carbonara to the steak to the craft cocktails, everything I've had has been excellent and consistently prepared with care. The bartenders are always warm and friendly, and the outdoor space is such a nice place to sit, eat, and enjoy a drink. The chef is easily one of the best I've experienced in the city. Just really, really good food and drinks every time.

The Bluebird Cocktail Room

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This is the kind of cocktail bar you go to when you want to have a deep intimate conversation with…read moresomeone. It is gorgeous, but dark, and the seating is spaced out enough to give you a bit of privacy. This is a great place to visit when you want to impress a date and ask them all of the awkward background questions about why their last relationship ended. And when you want to drink a fancy cocktail and don't mind paying $15-$20 for the privilege. The bartenders know what they are doing and are super professional, but probably are not trying to listen to your life story. You're also probably not going to meet new people here. It's not that kind of vibe. Basically, this is an upscale cocktail lounge, not Cheers (or Fraziers). And it is a very good one. I love stopping in for a cocktail on the way to dinner on the Avenue, or on the walk home. It is always a treat.

Wonderful date spot - it's so charming inside. For groups of 3+, I'd recommend a reservation if you…read moredon't want to sit at the bar. Drinks do take a long time to get out.

Corkscrew

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