OctoBar

We enjoyed all of the cocktails we tried! Unique drinks- including eggwhite toppings and smoke…read morebubbles! Bartenders were really great too. They were friendly and paid attention to detail. It's a speakeasy so its inside of what looks like a freezer inside crossbar. Its dark in there so take that into consideration. Good vibes, would return. Love the pornstar martini!

Got a cocktail from menu. It was not good for $20. Drink did not incorporate elements together…read more Atmosphere was cute for a speakeasy though...

Champagne Cocktail

Decor

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French 75

Locals Only

4.2(47 reviews)

The Caesar wrap and pizza were great but def a place for drinking more than sit down. The music is…read moreloud and only bar top tables. Still good food but ambiance is for drinking!

I went for a bday party over the weekend and had a blast. It's a cute spot that has a lot of space…read more The upstairs even has an outdoor section. The music was pretty low so it's a good spot to hang out and have conversation. All the bartenders were so cool and sweet. I got hungry and one of them recommended the chicken Caesar wrap and it ended up being the best thing I ate all week. The fries were a 10/10 as well. If you're ever in the area, I'd recommend stopping by.

Burrata be kidding me

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Winter Cocktail (Part of their winter drinks menu)

Idle Hour

4.2(56 reviews)

0.2 mi•Riverside

•$

Our bartender was super nice and engaging, she provided great conversation. The drink was also…read morereally nice and refreshing. Being here felt like I was in a HBO series and just had so much fun being there, I truly wish it was located even closer to me because I'd be there more frequently.

What a beautiful bar! From the lights to the decor and ambiance of the bar -- really great for a…read moreGNO or a romantic date. We just had drinks there but they were all so good! The service was quick -- it's a smaller spot but I think that ensures you have a personalized experience m.

Me at the bar

Idol time

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Inside

The Elk Room

4.2(418 reviews)

1.0 mi•Inner Harbor

•$$$

My very 1st time going to a Speakeasy in Baltimore and I am a native Baltimorean. We came here to…read morewrap up a date night for a late night cocktail and conversation. There is a secret black door to enter. You can make reservations however, I was unaware that reservations were needed. We waited for about 20 minutes before a table opened up. Of course, the lights are dimmed inside with a very chill atmosphere. It is also pretty spacious inside for Speakeasy. We enjoy as it was something different to try. I will definitely return

So I really love this concept of this place because it reminds me of those old speakeasy where you…read morehave to say a password to enter. I liked that it had a door which was shadow in red light. When we entered I was expecting to give a password but it was not needed...lol. It was a little chilly in there and the lady at the desk when we walked in the door was keeping warm with her small heater. I asked where we could sit and she said anywhere. So we sat down in these large egg shaped seats which were really comfortable. Our waiter was really knowledgeable on the menu and suggested some great drinks. We did not try the food as it was past the restaurant hours being open and we had already eaten at a restaurant in the alleyway. I will be doing a review on that Italian restaurant soon because it was really good. I loved the whole speakeasy vibe and the music was amazing. One of the few places that stayed open to 2am...my birthday ended in an awesome surprise! When back in Baltimore will definitely stop in again maybe to try a bite with a drink.

Lounge

Bar area

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Dining area and dainty dècor.

The Charles

4.0(124 reviews)

Ventured here for a chill Sat brunch...the bottomless option was amazing--AYCD mimosas, crushes,…read morebloody's, & sangria for $15?! yes...please! the food was delish--chix waffie sliders (more please!!), loaded fries (super yummy, plied high with toppings), bacon (duh), the fried chix sammy (crunchy, hot goodness)...!!! music was a vibe and so was the space!!! the service was stellar and friendly!! can't wait to go back and take my friends!!

So fun! Had some beers and watched the Os game! Will definitely be going back again soon! Service…read morewas great also!

Bang bang shrimp, Brussels, crab egg rolls

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Outside

Order of the Ace

4.5(27 reviews)

0.8 mi•Inner Harbor

Fun, speakeasy style cocktail bar with a large menu! Definitely come here with reservations…read more Note that it is a small place, so groups 4 or less are best. It took about an hour-ish for my group to order/drink/hang with one drink but you could maybe do 2 if you tried! We loved everything. Didn't get any food so I can't comment but other folks' dishes looked good. Would definitely come back as there's a ton left I'd like to try - but note it is $20/cocktail.

Perfect date night!!!!! The ambiance was sexy, romantic, small, and intimate. I loved how close I…read morewas able to sit by my boyfriend while enjoying the smooth sounds of the live jazz band featuring, Anna-Lisa Kirby. It was AMAZING! The decor was sexy and very exclusive, felt like a speakeasy vibes as the decor transported you into another era. It was magical Service was good, our waitress was really helpful with recommending good drinks. This was a post dinner bar visit so we mainly had drinks and added a few treats: colossal shrimp cocktail and warm butter cake. The colossal shrimp cocktail contained some of the largest prawns that I've ever had. They were fresh and perfectly prepared but one was enjoy to fill you up. The warm butter cake was sinfully good! Warm, soft, and sweet. The drinks were AMAZING! I ordered the Recurrence Eternal which contained gin, pear, and champagne. There were other ingredients in there but I wanted to spotlight these few. This was the perfect drink which will creep up on you LOL but it was sooooooooooo good. My boyfriend enjoyed his whiskey drink as well. Overall, the music, ambiance, drinks, and small bites made this place perfect. Can't wait to return

The vibe

Inside

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The Outpost American Tavern

4.3(288 reviews)

0.3 mi•Federal Hill

The egg custard martini is my new favorite drink in the entire city…read more Parking sucks because it's in Fed Hill, so if you're going at nighttime, be prepared to spend 10 mins finding parking and then walking 2-3 blocks. Despite the horrible parking situation, I would come back again and again just for their egg custard martini. Service is friendly, we were helped immediately when we sat down at the bar. They also have a lot of fun season drinks as well, which I would love to try. The bartender was happy to help us, and even gave me a fun straw for my water when I asked! Loved their fall decor as well, such a cute spot.

Came here to pregame before the game and decided Outpost wasn't too far…read more We had great service although there were some small communication issues but our server was quick to correct them and ensure we received what we ordered. Grabbed the Farmhouse Benni & Chicken & Waffles. My homegirl throughly enjoyed her benni with dippy egg and all and my C&W was ok. The chicken was dry and somewhat burnt (see pic). I was unsure if it was supposed to be two chicken thighs or one and a half since that's what I received. The calabrian chilli hot honey was very tasting and saved the dish. I always ask for sauces on the side and glad I was able to control how much sweetness I needed for each bite. I was already in a crappy mood and didn't contest my food since it fit and just wanted to try and finish my carafe of mimosa before we needed to leave and watch the game at The Bank. They do have some fun upcoming happenings like a 4 course tequila paired dinner that I was intrigued to try but was sold out. It would be fun to come back and try a paired dinner.

Bar area

Halloumi Carbonara

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Outside

Illusions Bar & Theater

4.7(499 reviews)

0.3 mi•Federal Hill

Illusions Magic Bar is truly one of the gems of South Baltimore! We recently hosted a private event…read morethere, and the entire experience was fantastic from start to finish. The booking process was incredibly smooth, thanks to Nicole's responsive and helpful communication. On the day of the event, Nicole and Spencer were flexible and accommodating, making sure everything played out exactly as we had hoped. Our guests had an absolute blast and were left in awe. Spencer's performance is engaging and interactive. He involved many of our guests in different parts of the show. We also appreciated that it never felt rushed and we weren't hurried out. Spencer and Nicole took the time to chat with our guests after the show and answer our many questions. Whether you're hosting a private performance or attending a regular show, you'll come away impressed not only by the magic but also by the genuine sense of community Spencer and Nicole create during the few hours you spend inside the bar.

I love this place. I've been twice. Once as an invite Elite Yelper and another time as still in…read moreAhhh fan. The show never disappoints. The theater is cool and the decorations are all so interesting. I love the history of the family and how he continues on. It's a two person run show, husband and wife. The wife is an awesome bartender. They have a fantastic drink menu but I always order the same thing no matter how much I say I want to try something different. She makes a salted caramel espresso martini that is out of this world. I'm so addicted. They do not serve food but you can bring in outside food to enjoy up until the show starts. Everyone gets involved in the show. I think that's my favorite part. I got pulled up front and was truly amazed by what he did. I mean how does he know?? Treat yourself to this local in plan sight hidden gem. You will not be disappointed but you will be bewildered.

Drinks

The gang

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NOLA Seafood & Spirits

3.7(241 reviews)

We stopped into NOLA Seafood and Spirits in Fed Hill on a Saturday evening for some delicious…read moretakeout. In the past we've had a Gimlet here, so we asked and they made us one while we waited, even though it wasn't featured on their online menu. Basically it's a pleasant gin with bright lime juice and probably simple syrup. Very refreshing, and served chilled with a slice of lime in an intricately-etched Nick & Nora coupe. I ordered a freshly-fried $16 Catfish Po' Boy, with lettuce and tomato and a little very lightly-spicy mayo-butter sauce on fresh French Bread. It's a generous enough sandwich that I ate it in two goes, and that bread really crisped-up beautifully flakey! Because we cannot resist, we also got an order of fresh-made deep-fried beignets, little randomly-shaped crispy pastry-dough treats in a sneezeable amount of powdered sugar. It came with chocolate dipping sauce, which was a fun addition. The food and drink were delightful, as were the staff.

First time here with a close friend. Right across from Cross Street Market. Came at 5 on "Fat…read moreTuesday" which is every Tuesday. Happy hour is 4-7 pm. Was great that you didn't have to sit at the bar to order it. We sat inside by the window and it was a great breeze. Chargrilled oysters and crawfish bread was very good. I order the seafood platter. Calamari and shrimp were fried a little hard for my liking. Catfish was more like bites instead of a filet. My friend got the crab cakes but said there was a lot of filler. There was a convenience fee added to my check but have no idea what that was for. Also, they automatically add 19% gratuity to the bill. Overall I would revisit to try some other things on the menu.

Red sangria

Chicken wings

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The whisky drink was tasty

Benny’s

4.6(88 reviews)

1.0 mi•Little Italy

We had such a blast out here. We enjoyed the lovely outside dining with our dog. The peperchini…read moremartini was amazing, and so was the prime rib. The staff was great, the drinks, dinner. Everything!!!

Excellent service and great food. We stopped by on the way back from the National Aquarium and…read morethey fit us in for a quick pre dinner. The lobster ravioli was great. The staff was friendly and the atmosphere relaxing.

Crème puffs

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Pasta and meatballs

OctoBar - tapasmallplates - Updated October 2026

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Seppia

4.3

(36 reviews)

Absolutely excellent experience from start to finish! I've been here twice and I loved my first…read moreexperience so much that I decided to come back for my belated birthday dinner with a group. The food is fresh, flavorful, and made with high-quality ingredients. The dishes are creative and thoughtfully put together, with flavors that feel both authentic and unique... Classic Italian flavors with a flair of what I imagine is the chef's creativity. The pasta is perfectly cooked, the are delicious and have depth without being too heavy...And the presentation is absolutely spectacular. I'm a sucker for attention to detail and every dish we ordered came to the table looking as impressive as it tasted. The table fell silent when entrees came...Always a good sign The atmosphere is warm, inviting, and balanced...Upperish scale industrial meets comfortable. What really stands out though is the staff. Everyone is incredibly knowledgeable, patient, professional, and attentive. They know the menu well, give thoughtful recommendations, provide excellent service, and make you feel genuinely welcomed. They did a wonderful job accommodating our group and made my belated birthday dinner feel extra special. It feels rare for a new restaurant to be this polished right out of the gate, but Seppia absolutely knocks it out of the park...After two great experiences, I can confidently say this has already become one of my favorite spots in the City. I'm looking forward to going back again and again...Highly recommend Seppia.

Incredible experience from start to finish. Came with a…read morefriend on a Friday night, sat upstairs, it's a beautiful space, nicely decorated and seems to be able to fit groups of many sizes. I got a martini and added Gorgonzola stuffed olives (which I definitely recommend adding). It came in a cute little shaker which they poured for me at the table and it seemed to be about 1.5 servings or so. We split the mushroom app which was delish if you like mushrooms! Loved the cream sauce. For dinner I got the squid ink spaghetti which was great - I loved the fried oysters!! It had a great flavor, lots of textures, and was a nice portion size. Shout out to our waiter - Benedict - super nice, knowledgeable, and patient. The restaurant also has servers coming around to constantly refill water which I loved, and they turned our table (plates and silverware) between appetizer and entree. Perfect service for the price point! Overall I loved the menu and vibe, I hope they rotate the entrees so there's more to try but I would definitely come back.

AJ’s on Hanover

3.7

(139 reviews)

Solid local joint with a nice patio / vibes. My burger was pretty good. Although not perfectly…read morejuicy the cheese and sauce were very tasty. The fries disappointed due to being under fried and thus a little soggy / not crispy.

Solid food, severely understaffed. Arrived on a Saturday night to find only 3 bartenders on staff…read morefor a fully sat restaurant (including 2 floors and outside area). The service was friendly, but staff was clearly overwhelmed. We waited about 50 minutes for our food. The California BLT was great, but I wouldn't say great enough to return again for the wait. Be patient, kind, and know it may take a while to receive your drinks.

Bar Dalí

3.8

(24 reviews)

Delightful addition to the neighborhood. This is an intimate, chill spot to have a cocktail and a…read moresnack. A tiny bowl of delicious olives comes with your drink. There is a semi-hidden space behind the bar with a few low lit booths if you want privacy, or you can sit at the long bar and make some new friends. The service can be a bit spotty, but the atmosphere more than makes up for it. Also, they open at 4, which is earlier than many bars.

Is it my favorite tapas place in Baltimore? No, but the vibe is nice and service is great. I'd…read moreprobably give the food more of a 3.5 stars but the ambiance of the bar is nice enough to where I wouldn't mind returning for a drink or two. This time around, I ordered the papas bravas, deviled eggs, and the picada banderillas. My favorite was the picada banderillas which came with two toothpicks stacked with chorizo, yummy cheese, and sweet and sour pickles. This is a pretty simple and easy dish and would be pretty hard to screw up so I'm glad it didn't disappoint. The potatoes were not my favorite though. I wished they were more crispy. The red sauce felt thin and lacked flavor. The aioli was sloppily squirted into a pool on the side of the dish. I've had much better at other tapas spots nearby. The deviled eggs were also just okay. They came with chopped pickles underneath the bed of egg/mayo mixture. Again, I've had better and I'd venture to guess that most people's Moms or Aunts could make a better version at home. I love the selection of vermouth and the complimentary olives though. Super nice touch. I would return for casual drinks at the bar!

Midlina

4.1

(60 reviews)

Highlight of my summer restaurant week dinner experiences last month. I went right at 5:00 so…read moreparking was easy and the restaurant was just opening so I was seated right away. The drink menu did not tickle my fancy so I ended up just having water. The restaurant week menu was a good selection of their regular menu items so it was an opportunity to try something that I could get again. I opted for the tuna as an appetizer, the whole branzino as my entree, and the zalabia for dessert. Everything was delicious! I would have liked the tuna to be more chilled; it came out closer to room temp. I have no notes for the bronzino. It was perfectly cooked, I really love the time and orange, the olive tapenade was the right amount of salty and briny, and the accompanying roasted harissa potatoes were fantastic. I guess if I had any critique it would be of the too skinny and woody asparagus. The dessert was something I'd never heard of, something like Mediterranean donuts. I really love the pistachios and the I think pomegranate sauce (it wasn't described on the menu so Im guessing), but the addition of chocolate was completely unnecessary and I'm not just saying that because I don't like chocolate lol. After dinner me and my dining companion went upstairs to the speakeasy for a cocktail. I was hoping they had a different drink menu and they did! This menu was much more interesting to me and I ended up getting a a well-balanced gin cocktail. I just read that they are closing to relocate so I'm hoping that I'll be able to go again soon.

Visited Midlina at the behest of a friend. I'd already eaten and don't typically drink cocktails,…read morebut that's where she wanted to grab a drink. The venue is dimly lit with the bar side giving glam dive vibes and the table side just giving glam. I wasn't able to see the speakeasy part due to some Harry Potter event. I was there on a Thursday, which meant I got to enjoy the happy hour that started at 7. I ordered a watermelon margarita which was very good, and later on a schmancy mojito. Overall the vibe was good and the bartender was great. Would like to return and sample some food soon.

Nora Blu

3.6

(18 reviews)

The dj that Saturday night was playing afrobeats and all and mostly an African crowd. It was an…read moreamazing vibe. The decor is quite nice which was appreciated as the exterior was a bit questionable. I especially adored the marble accent walls in the dining room and the velvet seats. Really nice. You kinda felt you were in someone's home. The servers were super kind. The food was wonderful (crab falafel I should've ordered more to go omg so freakin good; then the Moroccan carrots were really tasty as well). All that said, the wings I make better at home these tasted like some Tabasco hot sauce and cheap honey sauce tossed together on slightly burnt crispy wings. I didn't like the flavors. The fries were fine. Go, enjoy

I haven't been out in a while so for girls night we chose dinner and a show . We started our night…read moreat the Meyerhoff then made our way across the street to Nora Blu . Ok so Boom ! The decor and vibes are pretty cool . The drinks were the star of the show but honestly I did not enjoy any of my food . Presentation wise , things were ok . Our server was amazing but the food , Ehh . Everything under seasoned and overcooked . I started with Crab Falafel , the crab was entirely too fishy and the falafel extremely dry . Next up , Crab risotto. Once again , I don't know what type of crab they offer but the smell and taste wasn't as if it was crab and it's super fishy fishy . Maybe this was an off night but I left disappointed.

Birroteca Baltimore

3.9

(657 reviews)

Pleasant casual ambiance, warm hosts, excellent service, outstanding pizza and other things. One…read moreof our favorites.

This is a great find in Baltimore! The hand made pasta was amazing and we had someone at our table…read morewho was gluten-free and they ordered the gluten-free pasta, which was every bit as delicious as the standard. We also really enjoyed the grilled calamari appetizer and artisan pizza. They had paper on all the tables you could draw on, and I loved that they had framed drawings from the tables on the walls. The service was amazing and we felt very welcomed and well taken care of.

The Food Market

4.3

(1.6k reviews)

I came here to cowork over lunch recently. I hadn't been here in forever and actually didn't even…read morerealize they offered lunch during the week but was pleasantly surprised by the menu, prices, and atmosphere. We sat at the bar and were well taken care of by the friendly and attentive bartender. He kept the diet cokes filled and answered questions about the menu. I ordered Chef Chad's chicken caesar cobb without the croutons and with grilled chicken instead of fried (an easy gluten free modification they were happy to make). The bacon, pickled jalapeno, and celery really made this a standout caesar. We also got a side of rosemary parm fries which were yummy too. The whole meal was filling and under $30. Really not bad for lunch! This was a good reminder that The Food Market is still good and there's a reason they've been around for so many years.

Woah! Kinda blown away by almost everything we ordered…read more You can tell how intentional the chef and team here is. My happy hour assortment was phenomenal: one Amish pretzel with beer, cheese, one big old mozzarella stick, one cheesesteak steam bun, and one street taco. They were all phenomenal incredibly flavorful, and this assortment was filling as a meal My husband was a little disappointed by the preparation of the hot honey chicken on Happy Hour. Although the breading was phenomenal, the chicken was a bit tough. The FRIES were divine. I loved my virgin Watermelon lemonade and my husband enjoyed 2 sangrias. We will definitely go back to try their regular menu items !!!

B&O American Brasserie

3.8

(656 reviews)

The Chesapeake omelette was phenomenal. One of the best things I've eaten in a while! Our server…read morewas great. Beautiful restaurant. Food was so good I dined there again the next day.

We were staying at the Lord Baltimore Hotel around the corner and since our hotel did not have a…read morerestaurant, it was quite convenient to come to the Kimpton Hotel. Since it was New Year's eve, there were few patrons or maybe this is the usual scene? Don't know. But there are some comfy couches by the front in which a young couple with a baby was nursing. Another couple was just finishing up dinner and started to head out. We were the only two diners for about 20 minutes before another couple came in for dinner. There were also about two or three people at the bar. So basically a very quiet place. No one at the hostess stand, only a woman at the bar. She eventually sat us and took our order. Things were slow but not so slow that I would complain. I would surmise that most of the staff was off that evening. Food was also slow in coming so there might have been a small crew in the kitchen as well. We ordered the mezze appetizer. Nothing to rave about. It was just a plate with vegetables and hummus. We both got the wagyu burger and fries. The whole meal was quite decent. The meat was cooked to the correct temperature and the fries were crispy. It was quite filling for me. Maybe it was NYE but everything was quiet and nice.

Zorba's Bar & Grill

4.1

(157 reviews)

Between the atmosphere, the service, the drinks and food, you can't miss. Aperol Spitz - divine!…read moreGyro Platter was fresh and well seasoned. Serving portion was even enough to take to-go. 10/10 would highly recommend. Don't walk, run!

Honestly, I've never been to a restaurant where the ups and downs were as blatant. 1 hour wait…read moretime. Great food. Digital payment machine broken. But complementary drinks. An almost hilariously disorganized experience. But "staff" (people in the community that were willing to help out) that made the experience overall memorable and "good". Mixed, truly mixed. But I will come back again. So, here's the review. Food was great, so I gotta see if this is just a one off weird day.

The Charles

4.0

(124 reviews)