Fab Five Friday
As promised, here's my list of the five best places to get a beer in Fells Point. Feel free to debate them.
1. Max's Taphouse, 737 S. Broadway.
Max's is heaven for beer geeks -- the biggest selection in the state, I believe. Cellar master Casey Hard is constantly on the prowl for delicious new brews. It's also the only place I've been to where the bar staff can pair just about any cigar with the right beer. And yes, a wild and crazy crowd comes to Max's on Friday and Saturday nights, but you can usually escape them by heading upstairs to the Mobtown Lounge.
2. Friends, 1634 Aliceanna St.
Friends has never let me down. I can always get a table there -- even on Friday and Saturday nights. The list of beers on tap is fairly long, the music selection is always solid and the crowd is, well, friendly.
3. Cat's Eye Pub, 1730 Thames St.
Great local music always makes the beer taste better. At the Cat's Eye, you can soak in some of the area's best local talent -- usually for free. Sometimes I go there just to sip a beer and stare at all the junk on the walls. I always find something new.
4. The Wharf Rat, 801 S. Ann St.
Knock back a few locally brewed Oliver Ales and soak in the classic atmosphere. What more do you need out of a bar?
5. The Dead End Saloon, 935 Fell St.
I'd forgotten about this place until someone commented on it recently. If you want to get away from the fuss and foot traffic of Broadway and Thames Street, head to the Dead End. You won't be disappointed.
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
Nice list! I haven't been out in Fells in a while (likemore than a yr on a wknd) but I "re-descovered" it last weekend. To be honest, I got caught up in living on Fed hill, and it seems like Fells pt. grew up while I was gone! definitely like the atmosphere there.
Posted by: Mather | August 3, 2007 10:00 AM
Great list Sam..i concur on all except Maxs (which is AWESOME in the early afternoon on the weekends) which fills up with meatheads and fratties at night. Also try Lulus,which is opposite Friends on Aliceanna St but on the other side of Broadway. Great crowd and you can sit outside.
Posted by: Don | August 3, 2007 1:22 PM
How could you leave off Duda's!!??
Great selection of beer and a slightly slow, but very delicious kitchen.
Posted by: FellsPointOsfan | August 3, 2007 1:40 PM
How could you leave off One-Eyed Mike's????
Posted by: FellsPointer | August 3, 2007 2:16 PM
The people at Max's are hilarious. If you haven't tried the Bitter Dopple Maple Nut Porter or whatever they have on tap, then you're an idiot.
Morons. I prefer Cocktails and Dreams in Fells. If you've been there, you rule!
Posted by: Max | August 3, 2007 2:23 PM
I think Ale Mary's at Fleet and Washington is still technically Fells Point and it is pretty fabulous.
Posted by: amy | August 3, 2007 4:16 PM
This list, with all due respect to the bars on there, lacks two biggies; The Waterfront and One Eyed Mikes. You want to talk Friday, tell me $5 lbs of shrimp at the Waterfront. NO they aren't cocktail shrimp, but 8-15 count nice sized shrimp. One Eye'd Mikes is just a place that if you know, you know why it is cool. I don't know who I would knock off the list, but these belong on it.
Posted by: Kory | August 3, 2007 10:31 PM
All wear a black arm band for Flips... I was going to give you a personal memory from it, but I'd rather let those who know, know.
Posted by: Scott | August 4, 2007 12:11 AM