Location: Baltimore
Top Things to do in Baltimore
Things to do in Baltimore, Maryland (MD): The Best Neighborhoods
Since the redevelopment of the Inner Harbor in the late 1970s, Baltimore has set the standard for urban renewal. While a good part of the city's action centers around the fun and festive Harbor area, where street entertainers, open-air concerts, fireworks and parades abound, the surrounding neighborhoods offer all sorts of interesting landmarks, unique shops and delicious restaurants. Wander around Fells Point, the oldest section of Baltimore, reminiscent of an old English village, complete with pubs and cobblestone streets. Take the kids to the aquarium and check out the imaginative creations at the American Visionary Art Museum. Or stop by the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum for an in-depth look at the Great Bambino's life. Baltimore is also renowned for its African-American heritage sites, plus festivals and cultural events that take place throughout the year. From historic places and harbor cruises to family friendly attractions and fabulous neighborhoods, Charm City is one of the top tourist destinations in the United States.
Restaurants in Baltimore
1. Butchers Hill
2. Fell's Point
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,779 reviews
This charming national historic district, dating back to the 18 century, has cobblestone streets, historic buildings, craft and antique stores, coffee houses and street fairs. Stop by the Art Gallery of Fells Point to see some fine work by local artists.
Reviewed By scraphollie27 - Comox, Canada
Fell’s Point is such a quaint, historic area and you definitely won’t be disappointed with the fabulous food and drink you find down here!
3. Little Italy
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 471 reviews
Reviewed By Room-in-my-suitcase - Ottawa, Canada
I just finished an almost all day stint at the Baltimore National Aquarium and I was famished, but I did not want to eat fish. Meandering around the surrounding area, a short walk from The Big Fish House, I stumbled upon the warm and inviting neighbourhood of Little Italy, nestled nicely between the Inner Harbour and historic Fells Point. This community is small, full of vintage houses, fragrant bakeries, charming cafes and a bevy of fine Italian restaurants. Italian immigrants settled here, and not only brought over their bodies, but their culinary skills as is reflected in the reputation of the cluster of eateries that are here. What better place to seek out a meal. To accomplish this task, I needed to get the lay of the land , so I decided to explore Little Italy a little further. As I strolled through the narrow streets I noticed this area is embraced by the gentrification efforts in the revitalization of Baltimore. Buildings here seem almost bolted together, but each exhibited their own unique personality. Restaurant facades showcased like the neat row houses that flanked the streets. Peeking inside a few restaurants, I discovered that the decor generally followed the standard Italian eatery pattern, much like the restaurant depicted in the Godfather movie where Al Pacino whacks his fathers arch gangster enemy along with a NYC police captain. The building footprints are not over spacious and on entry to these establishments you are usually greeted with a substantial display case sporting all kinds of Italian desserts: cannolis, napoleons and the like, accompanied by signs that display quips like 'Eat Desserts First Or Perish' or some such. Lots of exposed brick, painted and unpainted, candles, large salami, pastrami and pepperoni sticks hang around as well as an assortment of shelved cheese rounds and walls are usually profusely adorned with a collection of photos of the old country ...Italia. The tables are squashed closely together and to wiggle your way to your chair you have to suck your belly in only to worry that after you eat you may not be able to accomplish this manoeuvre. The table cloths are predominately a matrix of 1" x 1" squares that could sub for a chess or checker board. These restaurants are usually a mom and pop or intergenerational operation reflecting lots of pride in ownership, strong customer relations and exemplary Italian culinary delights. The range of restaurants is outlandish, from casual to fine dining, all aimed at tickling your taste buds. I passed Amicci's, touting it's 'Build Your Own Pasta" plate by selecting your favourite pasta type and smothering it with your sauce of choice, and then there was Sabatino's with its signature, tongue tingling Penne with vodka sauce. Don't forget La Tavola, renowned for its home-made ravioli avalanched with cream sauce or Gambino's, ( a mafia sounding name), serving up authentic Italian cuisine with a contemporary twist. The sheer number of eateries in Little Italy causes pandemonium when it comes time for restaurant selection. So I decided to just meander down the streets and randomly, , walk into Little Italy restaurants to consume a different portion of my meal at each....sort of a game of Italian restaurant 'roulette'. All the restaurants in Little Italy are worthy of going too.....so what did I have to lose..I'm like a blind monkey playing darts and can't help but hit the bullseye. First up was was a Moretti beer and an appetizer in the form of Spicy Bruschetta..nicely diced Romano tomatoes with a zesty sprinkling of herbs on a bed of Italian baguette.. that altogether sparkled like a firecracker.....takes the nip out of your belly. Next stop, another beer, Peroni this time with Italian wedding soup....beef broth packed with pingpong sized meatballs, kale, micro sized pasta spheres and lightly sprinkled with mozzarella cheese.......this was a slam dunk. Continuing on, I opted for a 50-50 pizza, half Garlic BLT Cauliflower and because we are in Maryland, the other half was a Blue Crab. I ordered an extra large since I wanted leftovers for tomorrow. Both parts were tasty, but the more savoury Cauliflower side won the taste test. Now for my sweet tooth, the piece de resistance, a 1/2 orange with its innards scooped out and filled with Italian gelato with a smidgen of limoncello over the top...ooh so good. Winding down at a bakery/bar, a cappuccino was in order, not the ones made with a high tech appliance but custom-crafted with goats milk froth and mildly capped with shaved chocolate...the real McCoy. As an ending, I opted for a shot of grappa. This stuff can come almost 100% proof making it nearly a fire accelerant. I spilled a drop or two on my shirt and it burnt a hole in it and after a drink of this stuff, your lips pucker up like you just kissed your mother-in-law. All of the 4, on a wim restaurants I haphazardly visited provided savoury food, well presented, in comfortable surroundings and with great service, sometimes even from the owners of the establishment, a rarity these days. So, if you would like to visit the essentially Italian community of Baltimore, with its cadre of Italian eateries amped up to provided authentic hand-crafted Italian food.....try Little Italy......to Tickle Your Taste Buds.
4. Hampden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 231 reviews
Reviewed By prophetesssandraw - Baltimore, United States
Beautiful! Fun times! Great way to get into the Christmas Spirit! ???????? I highly recommend taking the entire family!
5. Mount Vernon Cultural District
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 195 reviews
Mount Vernon is home to Baltimore's most prestigious cultural institutions including: The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra，The Walters Art Museum， The Lyric Opera House, Centerstage, Spotlighter's Theater, The Peabody Institute,Contemporary Museum, Enoch Pratt Free Library, Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute, Garrett Jacobs Mansion, The George Peabody Library, Maryland Historical Society, Theatre Project
Reviewed By mailo17 - Baltimore, United States
Lots to see, experience and enjoy great food. Visit all the museums, monuments and find a walk tour. Great food in the area. Also fine bars with great food options.
6. Charles Village
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 6 reviews
7. Greek Town
8. Bolton Hill
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By lpMaggi713 - Baltimore, United States
While driving thru Bolton Hill, my husband and I noticed Blue Plaques on some of the houses. We were curious to find out what they represented. Lo and behold, Baltimore Heritage answered our questions in one of their Five Minute History Episodes they have been doing since the Coronavirus came to Baltimore. The Blue Plaque program originated in the United Kingdom in an effort to link a location with a famous person. It was launched in 1866 in London. Bolton Hill decided to honor the houses where famous past residents once lived. Some notable blue plaque honorees include F. Scott Fitzgerald, President Woodrow Wilson, and the Cone Sisters. We stopped and took a photo of the plaque that honored Curt Richter, PH.D and Garry Moore. We found it most curious that they did not list Garry Moore’s real name, which was Thomas Garrison Morfit, III. Spend some time driving around Bolton Hill and see how many Blue Plaques you can find.
9. Broadway Street
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 3 reviews
10. Roland Park Historic District
Overall Ratings
3.0 based on 1 reviews
