If you guys have been following me for a little while, you know that my last visit to Baltimore was SO FUN! I always knew I wanted to come back and explore some more, but this time with a little more time. My friend Mikey joined me from NYC and with the help of our friend Vanessa, local Baltimore blogger and Visit Baltimore rep, we created a fun itinerary for our long weekend stay. Our plan was to only stay for 3 nights but we extended our stay for one more day because there was just so much to see!
Where to stay, eat and play in Charm City:
Hotel Monaco Baltimore: I’m a huge Kimpton hotel advocate! I’ve had the best experiences visiting many of their properties. Hotel Monaco’s lobby architecture is amazing. Very Instagrammable, so be ready to snap away! Our room came with a wonderful tub that faced a large window that gave us all the natural light we needed to take those much-needed relaxing baths in the evenings. Our room was pretty spacious, beds super comfortable and great closet space. Kimpton hotels offer happy hour daily starting at 5 p.m. and we def took advantage of that. The staff was super friendly and knowledgeable when it came to giving us advice on where to explore in the city. The hotel also has a fun partnership with Baltimore-based The Treason Toting Company where you can rent one of their custom bags with no extra fees! The bags are super cute and perfect for a little day thrift shopping or if you forgot your laptop bag at home and need it for a meeting, they have one available as well.
Ouzo Beach: This lovely little oasis is part of the The Atlas Restaurant group so we came to visit with high expectations and they did not disappoint. The restaurant is located in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor so it comes with killer waterfront views. The cocktail game is strong and they also have a great selection of appetizers. Do arrive early to get a spot at the bar or reserve your table! They have a DJ seven days a week and do brunch on Sundays.
Gunther & Co: So many good things to say about this place! Owners Nancy Hart Trice and Jerry Trice did an amazing job at designing the entire place. You have to be there to see every little detail of their restaurant. Jerry is also the chef and delighted us with one of the best brunches we’ve had in Baltimore. Whatever you do, make sure you start your brunch properly with their homemade buttermilk biscuits. SO GOOD! Mikey order their crispy duck leg confit which smelled and looked delicious. I had their gulf shrimp & cheddar grits which left me full and happy. They have a great cocktail selection that not only tasted good but are all so IG worthy. Def order La Hermosas Mariposa which translates to “the beautiful butterfly”. Almost too pretty to drink it — almost! LoL. And save room for dessert. Their pastry chef is next level good and you can catch her doing her craft though their open kitchen. The venue also has a spacious outdoor seating, so four-legged family members are also welcome and encouraged to enjoy their patio. Overall a great place to visit in Charm City.
The Bluebird/The Pub: As you already know, I have this thing with speakeasy bars or bars that have this type of ambiance and The Bluebird def does. The vibe is super chill and the bartenders are very friendly and match the overally charming aesthetic of the restaurant. Our new friend, mixologist Alan stirred so many next-level cocktails for us. Very hard to pick a favorite! The one that stood out was the Waxen Fruit Impends — a perfect summer cocktail (see photo below). Their cocktail menu is inspired by their two loves: great literature and the wonderful world of botany. The food also stood out. We ordered a bunch of small appetizers to share — my fave was their cacio e pepe and their lamb meatballs. The Bluebird also has a downstairs level name The Pub. I had brunch there the next day and was also impressed with their menu and cocktail options. They are located in a fun little neighborhood name Hampden with a bunch of thrift stores. Follow brunch at the The Pub with some vintage/thrift shopping at Changed my Mind vintage. Thank me later! I found some good stuff.
The Elk Room: I was here during my last Baltimore visit and this place was too good not to come back! They are also part of the The Atlas Restaurant Group. We sat at the bar to watch our bartender expertly make cocktails. They don’t allow you to take photos with a flash but they do provide you with a pen that has a tiny flashlight which helps with Insta shots. The Elk room was also named one of the “Best Bars in America” by Esquire. We highly agree! The cocktail that stood us was the Kitsune. If you are looking for some live music, this is the place for you! Check out their calendar of events, HERE!
La Barrita: This was an amazing discovery I did via google lol. My friend Mikey was craving steak, and I was on a mission to find something good but also with cool vibes. After doing my IG research and reading a few reviews, we decided to give La Barrita a shot and LORD are we happy we did. This place is located in the Butcher Hill neighborhood of Baltimore. The min we arrived, the customer service def stood out! There wasn’t a point where our water glasses weren’t full or my napkin was missing. The owner Sebastian came to greet us as well. He is from Argentina which explained the amazing cumbia music his restaurant was playing. Argentinians know how to cook their steak so we scored the jackpot here! Their menu also offers a few Italian dishes and yummy appetizers. We ordered a bottle of wine, my friend got his steak and I opted for their homemade ravioli which was to die for! Craving it right now. Do not skip dessert. The panquques (pancakes) will give you life! This restaurant is highly up there with my favorite finds. Do not miss out on it. Thank you Sebastian for the good times and asking me to dance just because! #boss
Clavel: Craving tacos? This is the place for you. The look of this place is really cool. Their mezcal selection is pretty extensive, which is music to my ears! Lol We decided to order a few dishes to share — loved their ceviche and cochinita tacos. The fish tacos left us a bit disappointed but maybe they were just having an “off day”. The bar area was pretty packed but we were able to sit by their open kitchen area which was fun! We got to see a bit of the BTS action that happens before dishes land on the table. Overall, good times!
Magdalena: This splurge-worthy must in Baltimore is tucked inside the The Ivy Hotel – an immaculately designed 18-room boutique hotel that’s part of the elite Relais & Châteaux collection. Ask for a patio seat under the stars — a super chic setup with white tablecloths, fountains, and airy vibes. A gin “Garden Party” cocktail is a perfect way to start! Ballers can go with caviar service, or warm up your palate with super seasonal apps like summer ceviche with grilled corn or refreshing heirloom tomato and watermelon salad. You can’t go wrong with the seafood here, like the seared yellowfin tuna and hibachi grilled cod tenderloin. Yum! Eating here also is good for the fishies (they’re big on sustainable seafood). Def save room for the finale — a “Baltimore Lemon Stick” was delic, with peppermint and fresh mint ice cream. Ask the hotel’s super hospitable GM Robert Arthur for a tour of its wine cave inside!
The Brewer’s Art: This was supposed to be our last stop in Baltimore before heading home but it’s here where we made the executive decision to stay for one more day lol. The service here was awesome! I’ not much of a beer drinker now at days but I did enjoy the beer tasting we had and OMG their mussles were amazing! The brewery is located close to Penn Station so def a great place to have a cold one before your trip back to the city.
Baltimore sure charmed us away. If you are from the DMV take the time to go and explore and if you are from out of town visiting DC. Take a day trip to B-more. You won’t be disappointed.
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