The 10 Best Bars in Baltimore, According to a Local

These are 10 of the best bars in Baltimore, according to yours truly, after living in the city for many years. Check out more on Baltimore, like the best restaurants, cheap eats, and hotels; the top museums and can’t-miss works of art there; where to eat the best crab; a Mount Vernon neighborhood guide; and where to get creative at the city’s best workshops and classes for art, dance, cooking, improv, and more.

Neighborhood: Remington

W.C. Harlan is one of my favorite cocktail bars (in the world, not just in Baltimore) for its unique atmosphere and excellent cocktails. Tucked behind an unmarked door in a residential neighborhood, W.C. Harlan feels like stepping back in time. This one-of-a-kind bar is dimly lit with antique furnishings, flickering candles, and vintage portraits that give it an old-world and intimate vibe, perfect for a date.

Neighborhood: Station North

Club Charles is my favorite dive bar ever. If you only go to two bars in Baltimore, make it Club Charles and WC Harlan for the city’s best, most unique watering holes. At Club Charles, the lighting is low, the décor is strange and macabre, the jukebox is excellently curated, and the crowd is eclectic. You might find yourself sitting next to a biker, local icon John Waters, who says Club Charles is “still the coolest place in Baltimore,” or your 60-year-old neighbor who has been frequenting the place for decades.

Neighborhood: Mount Vernon (see my guide to this neighborhood here)

Inside a historic townhouse, Brewer’s Art is part brewery, part upscale restaurant, and part moody basement bar. It’s been going strong for over two decades. Their house-made Belgian-style beers, especially the Resurrection Ale, are local legends. Upstairs has beautiful architecture, with a bar and a separate section for white-tablecloth dining, while the basement has a gritty dive bar feel. It’s a great place to take someone you don’t know well since you can choose between its different spaces.

Neighborhood: Old Goucher

Dutch Courage is a gin-centric cocktail bar with over 100 bottles of gin. It’s located in a historic rowhome. The interior is polished but unpretentious, while the outdoor patio has a relaxed, casual vibe. Their cocktail menu, though focused on gin, features all spirits and has something for everyone. One of my favorite things about Dutch Courage is the beautiful, unique glassware sourced from antique shops.

Neighborhood: Bolton Hill

Mt. Royal Tavern, or “the Dirt Church,” is one of the city’s most-loved dive bars. It’s cash-only, opens at 10 AM, and is famous for its reproduction of the Sistine Chapel ceiling. Located near MICA, the bar attracts a friendly mix of art students and local regulars. It’s gritty, charming, and always interesting.

Neighborhood: Mount Vernon (see my guide to this neighborhood here)

The Coral Wig is a cocktail bar inspired by the clubs of 1980s-era Manila, from the same Baltimore restaurateurs behind W.C. Harlan. After opening in 2024 in Hotel Ulysses, it was rated one of the best new bars in the U.S. The Coral Wig transports you far away with its tropical cocktails, moody lighting, dark wood furniture, amber-stained glass windows, green velvet couches, and golden accents.

Neighborhood: Hampden

Inspired by literature, The Bluebird Cocktail Room features dark blue walls, chandeliers, and shelves lined with books and fine spirits. While the setting is refined and sophisticated, the bar has a relaxed atmosphere, true to its Hampden roots. The menu rotates seasonally with literary themes, reflecting creativity and craftsmanship for those who appreciate the finer and more whimsical things in life.

Neighborhood: Federal Hill

Mums is a neighborhood favorite dive bar. It has a gritty but homey vibe, with memorabilia on the walls and graffiti covering the bathroom. The bar serves cheap, strong drinks and endless entertainment. Mums has a jukebox, pool table, and dart board to keep you occupied into the wee hours. You’ll find regulars chatting with long-time bartenders, service industry folks, and late-night-stragglers there.

Neighborhood: Mount Vernon (see my guide to this neighborhood here)

Sugarvale is a below-ground cocktail bar with a down-to-earth neighborhood feel. Its small size and dim lighting give it a cozy and intimate vibe. The drinks are creative and well-crafted, and the bar serves small bites like bao buns to go with them. Sugarvale also has a few tables outside that are a great place to sit on a nice day when exploring the area’s best sights, like the Peabody Library around the corner.

Neighborhood: Fells Point

If you’re looking for a great live music bar, look no further. Open every day of the year since 1975, Cat’s Eye Pub is a no-frills local institution with the kind of old-school charm that only comes with time. There’s live music every night, and it’s not background noise—it’s the main event. The place has a charming mix of maritime, Irish, and Baltimorean decor, 35 beers on tap, and a fun, welcoming crowd.