Fab Five Friday
Here is my list of the five bars you can use to impress your snobby hipster friends from Washington:
1. The Brewer's Art, 1106 N. Charles St.
The best of both worlds: the upstairs parlor where your friends can mingle with other hipster friends and argue about the similarities between Interpol and Joy Division, and the dungeon-like downstairs lounge where you can all drink delicious beer together.
2. The Dog Pub, 20 E. Cross St.
Formerly the Thirsty Dog, this is a place where you can wow your friends with two glass mugs of microbrew for $3.50 and tasty, cheap personal pizzas. It's got the classic Baltimore look, too -- long and narrow with plenty of wood and brick.
3. Ixia, 518 N. Charles St.
Go here if you want to say, 'Look! Baltimore has hip/classy/semi-pretentious restaurant/bars with fancy martinis too! And here, you don't even have to pay a ridiculous $10 cover like you would back in Washington!"
4. The 13th Floor, The Belvedere, 1 E. Chase St. (pictured)
Just as Patchen said in his comment, the view is something your D.C. compadres will never get back home. Grab a drink, wow em, and head somewhere else -- the 13th Floor should be a stop on a bar tour, not a destination.
5. Leadbetter's, 1639 Thames St.
If your friends are the let's-drink-Natty Boh-because-it's-cool type, take them here. Do it on a Friday or Saturday night when a few bikers are in there and the guy who looks like Dee Snider is serving drinks. That's how you get your Baltimore on.
(Karl Merton Ferron/Sun Photographer)
I've been The Baltimore Sun's nightlife and local entertainment reporter for a couple years, and it's surprising how much the scene has grown in that time. Most of Baltimore's bars and clubs are unpretentious places with fairly cheap drinks and plenty of character. I like dancing and think this city needs more clubs, but nothing beats having a cold, locally brewed beer with friends in a comfortably full corner bar.
Comments
Ha! The guy at Leadbetters that looks like Dee Snider is Fons,the manager. He's a blast! Just make sure you call him "sir" for faster service!
Posted by: Don | August 17, 2007 9:32 AM
Great list. I grew up in Baltimore, but now live/work in DC. But I still come up to Baltimore to go out because DC is much too snobby. The stereotype is true. Give me Federal Hill over Georgetown any day of the week!
Posted by: Mike | August 17, 2007 9:50 AM
I would serve them up a steady dose of:
J. Patricks
Mick Oshea'
Mothers
Little Havana
Cross Street
Nacho Mamas
Posted by: Glen | August 17, 2007 1:02 PM
hmmmm. i'm still biased toward adams morgan.
Posted by: curious4food | August 17, 2007 7:53 PM
the only thing adams morgan has thats better than baltimore is their amazing jumbo slice.
Posted by: a | August 18, 2007 12:40 PM
Jumbo slice rocks my world.
Posted by: Sam Sessa | August 18, 2007 12:57 PM
Jumbo slice is disgusting and shows how little you know about DC. Go to Amsterdam Falaffel.
Also as for the view from 13th floor, which I love and is amazing, please don't say you can't get a view like that in DC. Try the roof of Hotel Washington from which you can see much of DC including the White House.
Sure not quite the Legg Mason building but impressive nonetheless wouldn't you say.
Posted by: J | August 31, 2007 11:09 AM