My wife, mother-in-law, and I stopped here while waiting for a table at Clavel. On arrival we were intrigued by the lack of signage and nondescript exterior. It was very cool stepping through a plain door into a dark and vibrant bar. The interior is very dark. Your eyes do adjust, but some in our party struggled to read the menu. The lights of a phone screen helped, but if you have poor eyesight you may need a friend to help you make your order. My wife got the non-alcoholic water for Adonis. She enjoyed it, and I tasted it and agreed it was quite good. I got a cocktail recommended to me by the bartender after telling him what I liked. Unfortunately, this cocktail was hugely disappointing. It was sweet (after telling him I like dryer). It was also tiny. It came in a highball glass with an ice cube that took up 80% of the volume of the glass. It was also the most expensive drink on the menu. All in all, we got 2 drinks (one alcoholic and one not) and it cost us $30. The atmosphere is cool, and I think it is a unique experience, but given our circumstances, it just felt like they were taking advantage of the captive audience of people waiting for a Clavel table. If money is no object, I think this would be 4/5 stars, but for me, great atmosphere, so-so drinks, and very high prices drop this to a 3. read more

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What a nifty speakeasy! You would not expect such a cute hideout bar would be found in such a random location but it definitely did not disappoint! The vibes were immaculate. Drinks were phenomenal. I ordered their margarita which was strong and delightful. I visited on a Saturday night and it was loud and bustling. Can't wait to come back! read more

WC Harlan - Mezcal margarita - Speakeasies Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I've heard nothing but good things and I finally tried out WC! A buddy suggested we start our night out here and it was great. I'd never seen the place, and my Lyft driver dropped me off half a block away and said "it's just that door, right?" "Uh, yeah." There is no sign, just a dark-colored door. Lucky for me, I saw other folks going inside (it's the building on the corner, if that helps!). They really are going for the speakeasy vibe. Like, the inside is dimly lit and I'm fairly certain this used to be someone's first floor. I half expected some 1920's jazz to be playing in the background. Every cocktail was fantastic. I got a Negroni, which isn't usually my favorite, but this is the place to try good drinks, and my bartender didn't disappoint. I was surprised to see how many alcohol-free cocktails they had, so you can lighten the impact or bring a DD! It ain't the cheapest (nothing is these days), but for what it is, the prices are fair. The two bartenders were just amazing and those ladies could crank out solid drinks for the whole room in no time at all. A great place to get drinks, whether it's a casual date, a start to an even bigger night, or a nightcap to end one, I definitely recommend WC Harlan. read more

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Need a date night? Look no further. This is such a great spot. We got there a few minutes after opening (hello, parenthood), and we were pleasantly surprised that there were other early birds already inside. You're immediately greeted with a menu and an invitation to choose a seat. This is a small place and gets crowded very quickly. We snagged a table and reviewed the menu. Wow! If you're looking for drinks that you probably can't make at home (even with a well stocked bar), this is your dream. The drinks are expertly crafted and well balanced. The name is escaping me, but out of five drinks, our favorite was the pistachio something-or-other. Place your order at the bar, have a seat, and they'll call out the order once it's ready. Pro tip- parking early in the evening was easy, but I can see how it would be a challenge later. Also, they do add a 20% service charge to all orders, so don't be surprised when you get the check. All in all, we will definitely be back. read more

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Thank God for random friends. This has been on my list for a while but I could never create a firm plan to go. A friend and I decided to grab a drink here randomly one Monday night. Although it was Monday, there were more people than I expected but we still grabbed a couple bar stools. The ambiance was warm and sexy. Definitely a great place for a not-so-public date. The bartenders were friendly and inviting with awesome personalities. I tried the daiquiri which was delicious and a wonderful boozy not-so-sweet take on an old favorite. My friend also enjoyed their drink. So refreshing - will be back soon! read more

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Great atmosphere and of course delicious cocktails. I loved you could feel the passion the bartender had for his craft!

If you are looking for a date night surrounded by candlelight ambiance this place is a perfect fit. I enjoyed my Plavion Martini which was similar to a espresso martini and look forward to trying their other fun concoctions! read more

WC Harlan - Pavoni Martini - Speakeasies Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

If you're looking for a speakeasy with great vibes, strong- delicious cocktails, and space for a smaller crowd- go here! This place was packed (great signs) and the bartenders were extremely friendly and attentive. read more

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This is a really cool place. The service was nice. The atmosphere reminded me of a haunted bar. Very dark inside but there were candles throughout the bar. It's a bar that the great poet Edgar Allan Poe would enjoyed. There's no food service here so I suggest you eat before coming here. Overall it's a cool speakeasy bar. The entrance is on the side of the building not the main door. read more

WC Harlan - Drink more - Speakeasies Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Definitely a cute vibe for an impromptu nightcap or drinks with friends. As a group of 4 we visited Clavel 1 block up, but still wanted more drinks. Very moody inside (loved it) and the sporadic smell of incense smoke was familiar:comforting. I ordered the apple cider which had a spirit option of bourbon or tequila...bring me I asked for Cognac, ha! Absolutely delicious. read more

Always a great beginning or end to our the evening. Our most recent visit did not disappoint! read more

WC Harlan - Speakeasies Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Great service, great ambiance and the drinks were fantastic. It definitely looked like a row home instead of a bar. Coolest speakeasy I've been to in Baltimore. read more

Idk if my 2-stars reflect my status as a middle-aged person or the fact that I am not a cocktail drinker. Either way, here we go... WC Harlan is a seemingly hipster spot. It's small and mostly narrow. I feel like the space is trying to be glam and dive-y at the same time and it just doesn't work. It was super dark in there and I had to use my phone's flashlight to see the menu, which disturbed the ambiance. They do a lot of cocktails here, and I bet if you're into cocktails, you'd enjoy what they offer. However, I'm a beer drinker and I saw they only had 1 light beer and 1 dark beer. Uh, what? That's it? I ran down a bartender to get more details and didn't get much more other than those two beers are both around 5% ABV - not worth my time. A friend and I ended up splitting an overpriced mocktail that I didn't love. I'd be super OK not returning to this place. read more

My friends from DC really like this spot so I finally joined them. Nice vibe, like the ambiance and they offer mocktails. Always a win for me. read more

Weird hipster bar with spooky ambiance. If you have a twirled villain mustache, this is the bar for you. They don't have lights, just candles. And their house specialities are all sorts of things containing flowers and herbs. It's expensive, but worth it for the unique experience I'd that's what you're into. read more

Perfect! The ambiance was EVERYTHING!! It was as if we'd been transported to a time past! Whole place lit by candle and the way the shadows move after your 3rd crafted cocktail makes this a place I'll hit every time i'm in Baltimore! read more

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It's super dark but matched the chill atmosphere. Top notch cocktails. Had an amaro flight to try something a little different. Will definitely be going back read more

Amazing spot, no sign, no artificial light, and no bullshit this place is sure to put you into a mood. Not to mention great service and drinks. read more

WC Harlan - Speakeasies Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

What a lovely spot in Bmore. Tucked away and the perfect spot for an intimate cocktail and great moody vibes. It gives old school Edgar Allen Poe eta Baltimore in the best way. Between the candles and antique settings, I highly recommend popping in for a date or just a cool spot to wow a guest! Needless to say every cocktail is delicious. read more

Absolutely love this place! It was my first time going but will definitely be back! The lighting in this place is PHENOMENAL! Everyone looks super sexy!! The drinks were great, through a little on the pricey side. The interior decor is also such a great touch. On the outside, use the door that says "enter" read more

WC Harlan - Gorgeous candle - Speakeasies Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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WC Harlan is open again! I love all of Lane Harlan's businesses, so I'm not sure if it's my favorite, but WC Harlan is a GEM. A dark, moody speakeasy with great cocktails and candlesticks covered in months of wax? This bar has character. Definitely a hipster paradise, so, yeah, it gets busy. I've been early on a weekday for happy hour, and it was empty when we walked in (still cool), and I've been on a Friday night after dinner at Clavel when it was packed, but four people left a table just as we walked in and it was a miracle. It's a small bar, so some people might not be comfortable visiting during COVID times. If you're not, save it for your Baltimore bucket list for the future. If you are comfortable now (get that booster, folks!), run, don't walk to WC Harlan for their amazing cocktails (like the W.C. Pisco Sour). read more

WC Harlan - Speakeasies Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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This speakeasy has become a staple for us over the past year. Every time we bring someone here, they enjoy their drink. The drinks are ever changing and innovative. The pisco sour is still my favorite! The mocktails haven't changed in a while, so I am looking forward to trying new ones in the future! read more

WC Harlan - Speakeasies Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Good drinks that are reasonably priced. I especially enjoyed the pisco sour and bohemian forest. I definitely had a great time and enjoyed sitting at the bar watching the bartender do their magic. Also, they were very approachable, attentive, and friendly. Overall, I'd go again after work or just because- and if I come with others only with a small group because it can get crowded and as a result, getting your drinks can take a bit longer than usual. read more

WC Harlan - Peele and pisco sour - Speakeasies Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

A hidden gem in an unsuspecting building. It's very dark and cozy inside and transports you to a different time. We only stayed for a drink (the Old Fashioned tastes like Christmas in a cup) but we'll absolutely be back! read more

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A very cute cocktail bar and a very convenient option when you are waiting for a table at Clavel! Be aware, the lighting inside is very speakeasy-eque and dimly lit. You order at the bar and can pick your own table with the group you are with. I've been a few times and their cocktails are great-- expertly crafted and well balanced with flavor and spirit. The bartenders and nice, but definitely busy and the space is small but worth checking out! read more

One of my fave speakeasies in Bmore. It was very crowded when we went but that didn't bother me too much. Eventually a table freed up and we snagged it. Fantastic cocktails and ambience. You could spend an hour just looking around at all the paintings and things on the walls. Great date spot. read more

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Happy 2023! I recently did the NYE bar crawl which WC Harlan was apart of and really enjoyed myself! It was so great to see local restaurants collaborating. WC Harlan was such a beyond pleasant surprise! This establishment gives major speakeasy vibes. The outside is extremely unassuming but once you get inside it is beyond magical. One walks into a almost whimsical like living room that could have been out of a Tim Burton film. Basically it's a vibe ! Beyond the ambiance being a vibe the drinks were even better! From presentation to taste it was 100% great. There were so many drink options that looked delicious to be but I settled for the classic WC Sour! It was so so so good I had to order it twice. I'm excited to try more drink options as I continue to visit again. The staff and service were all very friendly and helpful. The space is small so you have to go to the bar and order but the drinks come out quickly and tasting great! Overall I can't wait to go back! It is a great place to go on a intimate date, drinks with friends or just because! read more

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A staple for Baltimore scene, favorite date spot, the most Instagramable place that you'll never see in the gram

Hands down my favorite speakeasy. This is the most intimate, cozy, legit speakeasy I've ever been to. It's located in a row home away from all other bars with no sign or anything, just a door on the side that says enter. I saw a few people on here saying that it was SO dark, and yes it is but that's a normal speakeasy secretive vibe and is to be expected and what I feel gives it character. I also loved that the lighting was mostly from the many candles scattering the bar and sitting area. It really does feel like a speakeasy from prohibition times. Ok, now let's talk drinks and service. I got the Alpine Elephant, WC Pisco Sour, and Red Right Hand. All of which were amazing. My boyfriend got the Manhattan and Gourmand's Dessert and we're just as good as mine. You cannot go wrong with any of their cocktails. They also have mulled cider for those cold nights out. I also love that they describe the drinks on their menu (ie. tropical fruit sour, herbaceous + bittersweet, etc). It makes it a lot easier to pick what you want. Because let's be honest not everyone knows what Avéze Gentian liquor is LOL and I don't like having to google all the ingredients to figure out what I want. As for the service, it was great. The bartenders were so friendly and greeted us right when we sat down. And we're helpful throughout our time there. 10/10 recommend this place for an intimate date night stop. read more

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This was a very quaint spot. I'd definitely come back here and try other menu options. The crafted speciality drinks options were plentiful. My old fashioned was very strong though. It was a good drink, but I wasn't able to make it through all of it. I do want to come back and try something different next time. read more

WC Harlan - Old fashioned - Speakeasies Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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This bar was fantastic! Everything about it is great, from the atmosphere, the service and the drinks! This is truly a speakeasy and by far one of my favorite speakeasies I have been too. The vibe was creepy and also reminded me of the roaring 1920's. The drinks were also adequately priced not too expensive! They were very very good. We came here on a Saturday around 8:30 pm and we were luckily able to get a table for 2. We enjoyed our experience here and will definitely be returning here in the future when were back in Baltimore! read more

Super quaint place. Great speakeasy vibe. Phenomenal drinks. Can't go wrong here. Unique little place, get there early. For drinks and conversation and not for food read more

Perfect date spot! Dark, candlelit, with a wide variety of crafted cocktails. Asked for a fruity cocktail, and was given something with 'meadow' in the name. I loved it! Couple of different seating areas. Lots of ambience. Will definitely be back. read more

WC Harlan - Drink and ambience - Speakeasies Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

The drinks at WC are world class and the ambiance is incredible. The Bhoomi and Pisco sours were some of the best cocktails I have had (and I have had many!). The only reason for a 4 star and this was probably not something they could control, was they were severely understaffed on a Saturday night causing delays of up to 30min per order. We would have liked to have a second drink but were waiting on a table at Clavel so didn't do it because of the uncertainty. Otherwise, five stars all around. read more

A gem of the area~ we think about coming here often because of the dark ambiance and creative drink menu. The service there has always been stellar and we love to stop by there for pre-dinner cocktails before heading to clavel. read more

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I really, really want to give WC Harlan a 5 star rating, but I just can't because of their drinks. Everything else they knock out of the park. It's in a random, yet trendy neighorhood just a few blocks from one of Baltimore's best restaurants, Clavel. It's a true speakeasy with no signage anywhere. The atmosphere is dimly set the moment you walk in and the service is attentive. It's a speakeasy. However, my friends and I ordered three different drinks- their pisco sour, a negroni, and their version of a manhattan and neither was very good. My pisco sour was large, but the chamomile they added to it changed it entirely. I wasn't a fan. If you want atmosphere, go here, but surely you can find better drinks in Baltimore (like at nearby Clavel). read more

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Nice ambiance! Reminds me of an old saloon with all the candles!! Drinks are tasty and staff was nice!! Would definitely come back if waiting to get in to Clavel!! read more

This is by far the DARKEST place I've ever been to. Please be sure to bring a flash light or 2 because you are will not be able to see otherwise. Lol. Definitely a classic, old school vibe and lives up to its category of being a speakeasy. Overall pretty low key vibe. The music was a little loud for me. It has an intimate vibe but it's very loud overall. Not the best place for larger groups because the walkway is a little narrow to get by others. I only had one drink (on my wait for a table at Clavel). It was a classic, the Old Fashioned. It was pretty good. I would definitely be willing to have it again. I think it's definitely a place to try. I will be going again for sure. These are the places that make Baltimore "Charm City." read more

WC Harlan - Old Fashioned - Speakeasies Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Amazing bar full of flavor and very secluded. Old style speakeasy. Great drinks and ambiance

WC Harlan is the perfect speakeasy to a T. Dark, cozy, a little creepy, it's the ultimate date night spot to snuggle up in the dark over an amazing drink. Everything we had was unique and delicious and crafted with care. read more

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