One bar that typifies Baltimore?
Good morning, gang.
I have made an executive decision to blatantly steal an idea from Elizabeth Large, because it's a good one and I wish I'd thought of it.
Here's the question: If you had to pick one bar that typifies Baltimore -- one bar that truly embodies "Baltimore" more than any other, which one would it be?
Palma, perhaps?
Hee hee ...
You know, this is a really tough question, but I'd have to answer it with the Knotty Pine Inn way out near Brewer's Hill. The Pine is incredibly inviting and has cheap beer and friendly regulars.
In my opinion, Baltimore's not a big club town or a big high-end lounge town, so it has to be a corner bar or something like that. But there are so many to choose from.
I'm interested to see what suggestions you guys have.
(Illustration from Sun archives)
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
Mount Royal Tavern.
Posted by: Mary | January 5, 2009 11:50 AM
Club Charles, Baltimore's perfect combination of a neighborhood bar with (just) a little bit of class.
Posted by: Eric | January 5, 2009 12:00 PM
anywhere along harford road - racers, the emerald, dead freddies
you can find typical baltimore people, typical baltimore conversation, and typical baltimore drinking at any of these places on any given night
Posted by: ed | January 5, 2009 12:23 PM
The Mt. Royal Tavern. Great art, cheap drinks and lots of character.
Posted by: Matt | January 5, 2009 12:27 PM
Ledbetter's, Mount Royal Tavern, Frazier's, South Side Saloon, pretty much any place in Hamilton (for now at least).
I can't any of these typify Baltimore more than any other, but they're certainly up there over lots of other places
Posted by: Evan | January 5, 2009 1:08 PM
I like the choice of Racer's on Harford Road. I am still a fan of the old Wroten's on Key Highway which unfortunately no longer exists.
Posted by: jason | January 5, 2009 2:01 PM
I forgot about Muir's Tavern on Fort Avenue.
Posted by: jason | January 5, 2009 2:01 PM
mt. royal tavern,
1919 on fleet st.
Posted by: katie | January 5, 2009 3:26 PM
What Baltimore bar would you take an out of towner to who you wanted to favorably impress?
Posted by: GDA | January 5, 2009 3:41 PM
My vote would also be to
The Club Charles
Bars come in go. So do trends. The Club Charles is always the same great Baltimore go-to bar.
The first bar I became a "regular" of (circa 1990 - 1992).
If ever a law would be passed that all Baltimore establishments would have to close, except one (and I could choose that one), the one I would choose to keep open would be the good ol' Club Chuck.
Posted by: LoveGrove | January 5, 2009 4:13 PM
Mount Royal Tavern. Surly yet sweet.
Posted by: Julie B | January 5, 2009 4:29 PM
I'm going to have to go with someplace that might be considered more a restaurant than a bar, but I'll go with Nacho Mama's. First off, great name. You've got Natty Boh, Colts, O's, Ravens and Elvis, good food, great drinks, and wonderful people. The owner is usually there and everyone feels completely welcome when they are having a great time there.
Posted by: Eutaw Street Historian | January 5, 2009 5:44 PM
LoveGrove,
not SkyLounge!
just joking!
Posted by: anon | January 5, 2009 7:19 PM
Dego Dames on Eastern in Little Italy is my vote. I take my out of town friends there because:
it's in a rowhouse, the menu is mostly what they have in the kitchen, beer is cheap (even the good stuff), there are murals on the wall of Brooks and Johnny U, there is plentiful Elvis on the jukebox and most of all - there are no tourists. The wait staffs from the local restaurants usually pour in after their shifts are over.
Hooray Dego Dames even with it's unfortunate name!
Posted by: bryaninimonium | January 5, 2009 8:00 PM
Walt's Inn on O'Donnell Street
Posted by: Stefanie | January 6, 2009 9:07 AM
Mum's. Or Club Charles.
Posted by: bonnie | January 6, 2009 9:15 AM
Sliders. but not Pickles.
Posted by: Allan | January 6, 2009 9:27 AM
Allan: hee hee. That's like saying Luckie's but not Babalu.
Posted by: Sam Sessa | January 6, 2009 10:04 AM
Dego Dames? Yeah, right.
1) Imported beer poured straight into a glass without letting the head settle. Glass of foam = $6 plus tax
2) Out of everything. The owner gets around to ordering stuff every once in a while or maybe doesn't get deliveries for the usual reason
3) Busboy/dishwasher knife fight last year with four of them laying in the street at 2am waiting for ambulances while the cops chuckle. Now that's Baltimore. Not a lot of Mexican cops here.
4) Friends of owner beat up a waiter and his girlfriend while the owner watched (some say with concern) from the second floor window.
5) With an absentee owner anything can happen and not the good kind of anything.
Have fun, ghetto phun.
Posted by: Marv | January 6, 2009 10:44 AM
Nacho Mamas ... best bar name based on an old racist joke.
Posted by: Sho Nuff | January 6, 2009 11:30 AM
Wow, Sho Nuff. I'd never thought of it that way. I wonder if the owner did.
Posted by: Sam Sessa | January 7, 2009 11:29 AM
Butts & Betty's, Fells Prospect. Corner of S. Collington & Gough. Coldest beer in the city, craziest customers and a great spot to watch the Ravens.
Posted by: Furious MB | January 7, 2009 2:40 PM
Mt Royal Tavern. Best place to put your Nick Nolte face on.
Posted by: DUDACKATTACK!!! | January 9, 2009 11:49 AM
Too many great places. How about, well I guess it's just called "Bar", down in Fells Point around the corner from Jimmy's? NOT the Bar Baltimore thing at Power Plant. I've pretty much only gone there fairly early afternoons (ahem), but it's tiny, the bartender is usually the perfect mix of sweet and sour, and they have possibly the most screwed-up pool table in the city (the Rendezvous' was just refelted recently). The Mount Royal Tavern is a great pick too. I love the Club Charles, but it may be a bit too hip (I know, what?!) to really typify Baltimore. This is too tough a question.
Posted by: The Blob | January 13, 2009 1:20 AM
Butt's & Betty's - funny, a betty in england is slang for gay
Posted by: karlosi | January 13, 2009 11:51 AM
Cat's Eye Pub Fells Point
Posted by: RayRay | January 13, 2009 2:42 PM