The 10 Best Bars In Baltimore, Maryland

A renovated old factory, Woodberry Kitchen is a trendy, rustic-chic yet upscale bar that’s a mainstay of Hampden nightlife. Their cocktails straddle the border between drink and food, their adventurous mixology includes granola-infused bourbon and drinks thickened with yoghurt whey, or, if you’re not feeling adventurous, you can stick to the Manhampden, their charming farmer’s twist on the classic Manhattan.
2010 Clipper Park Road, No. 126, Baltimore, MD, USA, +1 410 464 8000

Located in historic Canton, this genial place offers a rotating selection of beers to provide variety for the regulars, who can join a beer club, which currently counts over 400 members. The quintessential high-quality dive bar, Mahaffey’s Pub offers moderately priced beer and delicious pub fare, as well as a modernized jukebox. Aside from the daily rotation of taps, it also boasts a large selection of import and micro bottles and a cask-conditioned beer on the hand pump.

2706 Dillon Street, Baltimore, MD, USA, +1 410 276 9899

Bad Decisions steadfastly refuses to take itself too seriously, from its tongue-in-cheek name to its self-appointed appellation as a dive bar. With a collection of over 900 kinds of liquor, there are unlimited options to make any decision of your choosing. Be aware though, there’s only one drinks list, and it’s handwritten in a graph paper notebook. The bartending staff, however, is highly competent and willing to make just about any drink ever concocted, so the only bad decision you can really make is to skip a visit to this charming bar with a self-declared bacon obsession.
1928 Fleet St Baltimore, MD, USA, +1 410 979 5161

With a tin ceiling and rustic aesthetic, Of Love & Regrets is best described as a tavern and the venue takes deconstructed to a new level. A beer and cocktail gastropub near the Natty Boh Tower, Of Love & Regrets is affectionately better known as OLAR. This trendy place features over 18 stillwater artisanal drafts and creative shot-and-beer combinations. Microbrews and barrel-aged options, for just $11 or less, are available for the beer snob, while cocktails include intriguingly-titled options, such as the Natasha Fatale.
1028 South Conkling Street, Baltimore, MD, USA, +1 410 327 0760

An elegant bar with a stunning view of the city from the top of the Belvedere Hotel, the 13th Floor offers an upscale drinking experience accompanied by live dance music reminiscent of Frank Sinatra. The dim lighting not only offers an excellent ambiance but also forgiving cover for those who choose to take advantage of the small dance floor. Perfect for the 1920s lover, the bar offers cocktails such as the aptly titled, The Fitzgerald, which includes Woodford Reserve bourbon and Combier Rouge cherry liqueur.
One East Chase Street Baltimore, MD, USA, +1 410 347 0880

A modest rowhouse turned tavern turned bar, Bar Liquorice utilizes every inch of its limited space to offer a slightly removed lounge area as well as bar seating. With bold paintings and an LED fireplace, the unconventional aesthetic only adds to the whimsical ambiance provided by the ubiquitous mason jars of candy, ranging from peppermints to, of course, liquorice. The bar itself is long and narrow, but has a very dark-chic setting and is the home of a delicious spectrum of cocktails, running from Bar Light to Bar Dark.
801 East Fort Avenue, Baltimore, MD, USA, +1 443 708 1675

With over 100 different drafts and 2,000 bottles, Max’s Taphouse is an ambitious project that has thrived for over 25 years in Maryland. In order to house its vast selection of beers, Max’s offers three separate bars, as well as billiards and TV for a classic beer experience. Don’t let its traditional outlook fool you into thinking anything about Max’s is outdated though; Max’s generally unveils a new beer about once a week, ensuring its spot as a cutting-edge brewery.
737 South Broadway, Baltimore, MD, USA, +1 410 675 6297