OctoBar

TLDR: Hidden speakeasy vibes, great cocktails, and an awesome spot to unwind before a night out in…read moreFederal Hill. Located on the top level of Crossbar Biergarten, The Wurst is a true hidden gem. You would never know it was there unless someone told you. The entrance is literally a walk-in freezer door just to the left of the stairs on the second floor, which adds to the fun speakeasy feel. We stopped in for pregame drinks before a nearby Yelp Elite event, and it did not disappoint. We were the only ones in the bar, and our bartender was fantastic, quick, friendly, and clearly knew his craft. I ordered a Paper Plane, a whiskey based cocktail with Aperol, lemon, and Amaro Nonino. It was perfectly balanced and the ideal drink to have after work. My fiancée ordered the Pornstar Martini, which she became very familiar with during a recent trip to Paris. The Wurst's version was a bit unorthodox since they serve the champagne on the side instead of as a floater on top. Not a negative, just different, and more of a deconstructed approach that some might treat like a chaser. Overall, The Wurst is a really cool concept bar that feels unlike anything else in Federal Hill. Between the hidden entrance, relaxed atmosphere, and quality drinks, it is definitely worth checking out if you enjoy creative cocktails and a good story to go with them.

The Wurst Speakeasy is one of those hidden gems that instantly makes you feel like you've…read morediscovered something special. From the secret entrance to the moody lighting and curated cocktails -- the whole vibe is top-tier. I tried one of their signature smoky bubble drinks, and it was a full experience -- visually stunning and smooth to sip. The staff was friendly, the music was classy, and every detail felt intentional.

Champagne Cocktail

Decor

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French 75

Locals Only

4.2(46 reviews)

We usually come here before the Ravens' games, as it tends to be less crowded than Lin's/Mother's,…read morebut still has a great atmosphere. Midway through the season, I was hungry one game and ordered a chicken Caesar wrap. My life has not been the same since that day. The chicken Caesar wrap (grilled) is one of the best wraps/sandwiches I have ever had. The chicken is white meat tender, the croutons crunchy, the parm thick, the creamy Caesar dressing and the buffalo sauce are perfectly portioned, balancing out this beauty. I never thought I would be getting chicken Caesar salad wraps from a sports bar delivered to my house across town, but here we are.

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!

Burrata be kidding me

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Winter Cocktail (Part of their winter drinks menu)

Idle Hour

4.2(53 reviews)

0.2 mi•Riverside

•$

Great service and excellent cocktails. Clientele is a no fuss and down to earth. Friendly vibe.read more

Stopped in to get an old fashion and it wasn't tasty I could barely drink it ..... not sure what…read morebourbon was used but we left it and went somewhere else. Its very hard to find parking due to the area being permitted parking only. Very small and divey.

Idol time

Cocktail

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Wine

The Elk Room

4.2(409 reviews)

1.0 mi•Inner Harbor

•$$$

Stumbled across this establishment on a late night adventure. Was greeted and seated promptly upon…read moreentering. Order the the Fools goal and enjoyed the environment. There is a dark candle lit ambiance. I could actually hold a conversation with others cause the music wasnt too loud. I absolutely loved that. Definitely going back and trying a dish or 2 next time.

Such an amazing atmosphere, knowledgeable and personal staff, and fabulous cocktails. Truly a…read morehidden gem we missed our first two trips. Definitely worth tracking down.

Lounge

Bar area

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Dining area and dainty dècor.

The Charles

4.0(124 reviews)

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

It's been a long time since I've been to this spot! I dropped in for brunch with my cousin on an…read moreearly Saturday afternoon. Given my experience with DC and other parts of MD, I was determined to contact them ahead of time and make sure I would have a spot for brunch. But after some contact on IG, they said it's just walk-ins and I would most likely get a table with no effort or wait. I was concerned... but they were right! So we got settled immediately and started ordering. Our gracious server asked for drinks, which have a bottomless option during brunch. We could pick from mimosas, crushes, sangria and bloody marys. I tried everything but the bloody marys, and while they were good, whew there was a lot of ice in the mimosa... I'm not used to ice there, so it threw me off but it was still good! The REAL highlight was the food... the item I got changed my life: Crab. Cake. Eggrolls. They came with this amazing sweet chili sauce and were so filling and delicious! I also got chicken & waffle sliders to go that had a nice kick and the waffle texture was great! My cousin enjoyed his food as well. Also, shout out to the bagel wall that's on the way to the bathroom. It had great options and all the fixings! If I wasn't full I would've gotten one myself. I will return here for brunch.

Interior

Sangria, bang bang shrimp, crab egg rolls, Brussel sprouts

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Outside

Order of the Ace

4.5(26 reviews)

0.8 mi•Inner Harbor

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

This review is solely based on my experience with the bartender at the bar. I dine out solo a lot…read moreand always sit at the bar. I have never been splashed in the face during the shaking of a drink that was being made by the bartender. The bartender was of a different race and seemed annoyed by my presence from the jump. I had been splashed in the face twice until a customer of his race came and sat next to me. I did pay attention to his behavior while the woman was seated next to me and his drink mixing wasn't as aggressive. I had to go to the bathroom during my visit and told him I would pay before going to the bathroom so he wouldn't make any assumptions about me. I asked him to keep my drink behind the bar because the woman was still seated next to me. I came back and the woman eventually left. I was still finishing my drink and I was splashed 2 additional times. The last time I made him aware of what he was doing. His apology was disingenuous and passive aggressive. I left after this even though I had intentions on ordering desert and listening to the musicians that were about to get started. I did inform the manager about my experience prior to leaving. I'm leaving the review bc the experience still bothers me. If they have cameras at the bar I'm sure my reaction to the splashing can be observed.

The vibe

Inside

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The Outpost American Tavern

4.3(278 reviews)

0.3 mi•Federal Hill

The food here is always good. However it is a pretty small restaraunt and tables for parties over 4…read morepeople are very limited. Best to have a reservation. Our party of 6 did not have a reservation and ended up waiting about 1.5 hours on a Friday. The hosts seemed a bit overwhelmed with the busyness of the evening - not sure if they just needed some extra hands on deck. Outpost has good cocktails and mocktails. The wings are a go-to for us and the burger does not dissapoint at all. However the star of the show at our last visit was the Brussels sprouts!! Sooo flavorful and crisped up. Highly recommend. Definitely stop by here if you have a reservation or a relatively small party and looking for a tasty lunch or dinner!

A quick xmas eve dinner while we were in the neighborhood, we decided to secure some resys while in…read morethe area. We were promptly sat upon walk in. Vibes were comfy and cozy, with a neighborhood bar feel where if you're a regular they probably know your name and drink order. Parking is very tricky because this restaurant is in a residential area. My bf got the halloumi carbonara but unfortunately it was quite salty. Not just the crispy halloumi bits but the actual noodles and sauce as well. I got the brazillian picanha and though there was a miscommunication about the meat temp, it was promptly handled and I enjoyed the steak itself. The sides of mashed potatoes and asparagus however were a little weak compared to the steak itself. I can't explain it but the seasoning felt a bit off on the horseradish mashed potatoes. Dessert was excellent- we split the chocolate guava tart.

Bar area

Halloumi Carbonara

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Outside

Illusions Bar & Theater

4.7(491 reviews)

0.3 mi•Federal Hill

Simply perfect. Show was about two hours of fun and…read moreinteractive magic/illusions w a stellar magician. Lots of guest interaction on every trick in a very cozy theater space. Drinks were really great and two were included w the ticket price. If u take someone Under 21, they can use the tickets to buy things from the magic store in the theater or drink fantastic mocktails. I can't say enough for the level of entertainment and value for the money. They could charge 100 dollars a ticket and it would still be a deal. I hope to go back again sometime!

Great show and cocktails! Can't wait to return. The service from arriving to leaving was wonderful!…read moreLoved how intimate it was.

The gang

A DIY magic trick that left us all wowed

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I wanted to tell you all the concoctions. The 2 (ok 3) I had were fabulous!

NOLA Seafood & Spirits

3.7(236 reviews)

First try eating etouffee. It was pleasant. I look forward trying it in new Orleans one day. The…read moreservice was great! Loved our waiter. The ambience was cute new Orleans themed and free Mardi gras necklace. The Beignet was not remarkable.

Shannon and Tye held it down, from the refreshing happy hour drinks to the exponential energy…read moreexuded. You feel like family as soon as you hit the door. Everything about my experience exuded southern hospitality. The po boy was enough to slap someone's great grandmother. From the music food, drinks and overall atmosphere, this is definitely a hidden gem.

Red sangria

Chicken wings

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The whisky drink was tasty

Benny’s

4.5(75 reviews)

1.0 mi•Little Italy

We had a great experience at Benny's. The service here was prompt and friendly…read more The eggplant meatballs with polenta are a fantastic vegetarian option. Nice flavor and good portions. My friends got the lemon bar for dessert and they highly recommend it. I'd happily return if I'm ever back in the area!

I had an incredible experience at Benny's this weekend. We had a party of 9 for a birthday dinner…read moreand my wife wanted to go to a Mexican restaurant nearby that didn't take reservations. I went an hour early before everyone else was supposed to be there to get on the waitlist, but the wait was until 10 pm!! So I quickly switched gears and called Benny's because I've heard great things about them. The gentlemen who answered the phone was so kind, and was able to squeeze us in on the fly on a Saturday night, and they weren't slow. Got there super early because I was already in the area, and my wife and I decided to have an old fashioned and an espresso martini at the bar while we waited and they were excellent. The ambiance was upscale but still managed to be relaxed and comfortable. We had a lovely dinner, the waiter was busy but was still attentive and patient. Our whole experience was awesome, so we were already going back in the future. Yesterday I realized a mistake on my bank account from the bar charge, so I called around 6 pm and spoke to the same gentlemen as before. He got all my info and promised he'd call back in 5 minutes. I didn't really expect 5 minutes because I know how crazy the dinner rush would be at an Italian restaurant with a Wednesday wine special. Not even 3 minutes later he called back, and explained what happened, fixed it and I got a follow up text immediately letting us know the refund was already in process. Now, I've been in the service industry and I was a bartender, so I understand that I'm going to be a little biased here but from beginning to end Benny's went above and beyond. They clearly appreciate their customers and love their work, it shows.