The Drinkery

patronize this establishment if you don't mind being publicly accused of having an STD by a…read morebartender who nickels and dimes ya. 3 dollar bev came out to 4 but i'm not that good at math so maybe she's right...thoughts on this later....rumor has it there's a man resembling Steve Zahn who will shake ya upside down for any loose change if you're too drunk to remember what happened. pretty sure this is how they keep the lights on....thoughts on this later...steer clear of hot doses and liver cirrhosis...overall 10/10.

This was 1st visit to the notorious and infamous "Tav"…read more Need to blow some steam off from a long day at work, and was kidnapped to here lol. To my surprise I met two cool individuals and one we happened to have the same African roots, creative background and family last names(might be related) Location: - has a classic baltimore mid town dive bar -small and quaint -back patio area as well -right across the street from the famous art school MICA Crowd - posers, punks, generational creatives, queer, drunks etc Drinks - not a place for mocktails Service - it was great and I liked the bartenders, I knew two of them from the artist scene I plan on going back asking each bartender to make a mocktail original to them, see what happens and Check out the back patio. it was great finally making it there heard so much and expected worse but it was actually cool.

See all

Club Charles

4.2(98 reviews)

0.7 mi•Charles North

If you want to be transported to Berlin for the night with a bunch of hipsters of Baltimore in-tow…read moreClub Charles is the place for you. There are no fancy drinks here, but you are in the heart of art Mecca of Baltimore, Station North right across from the Charles Theatre. It is a very special place. There's an interior red hue that just glows over the entire bar and there's a really cool seat which is a nook and you're basically kind of secluded from the rest of the group. I always come here pretty late at night and one time I trjed to come and and they were closed for a vacation, this is a quintessential cigarette smoking (not inside) bar. Like I said, there's nothing really special in terms of the drinks. They have all of your classic dive bar favorites. The last time I was here I took a shot of Fernette, but the team here is hipster friendly so sometimes good service other times fine. Iconic Baltimore Bar. They also have fun things on the TVs.

Had my first experience at "Club Chuck" this weekend and it was great! The dark red atmosphere…read morecoupled with the delicious drinks made for a great spot to hang out. I grabbed a classic vodka cran, which was good (how could a vodka cran be bad). The crowd was early twenties to late thirties, with some MICA professors and students out and about. Despite being a busy Saturday night, it wasn't too loud inside and I was still able to have a nice conversation without having to yell.

Love Bomb

See all

Idle Hour

4.2(56 reviews)

2.0 mi•Riverside

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.

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.

Me at the bar

Idol time

See all

Inside

Butt's & Betty's Tavern

4.4(34 reviews)

2.0 mi•Upper Fells Point

This is your quintessential neighborhood dive bar. I have never been here as I have heard mixed…read morereviews from locals, but decided to stop by with my friends who live near the area. First of all, the bartender was extremely friendly. Their soda tap was really dirty so when I mentioned it to her, she was so really kind about it. They have Jell-O shots here which are dangerous but fun and they have a digital jukebox as well as a pool table. The pool tables is a scarcity in Balitmore so I was really happy to be able to play pool. Oh they also have a digital lottery machine where they take debit. It's so fun!

LOVED butts and Betty's. This is a classic dive and truly a gem. They have scratch off lotto which…read morewas really fun, and one pool table in the back that we were actually able to play on! Often I find it difficult to play pool at bars because there's always a long line. This was great! Butts and Betty's also has Jell-O shots which was fun. The vibes are great 10/10 will be back

Old magazine awards

See all

A proper dive bar has neon, mirrors, pool, and unmatched chairs.

Cat's Eye Pub

4.1(148 reviews)

1.9 mi•Fells Point

Great old-school bar, Great music every day!…read more We are always happy when we can catch a band at Cats Eye Pub in Fells Point Baltimore. Lots of rock and some americana. We were even happier to catch a blues band the other day! (Jun 2026). Charlie Owen & Pocket Change gave a great performance, with some well-known songs and a number of good more-obscure ones. It's fun when they feature one or another band member for a riff. We also love the divey character of the bar, while the crowd is more hip than divey. It's dark and gets crowded. The stools at the bar and by the windows always fill up. The ones along the wall come and go. The dance floor is usually packed. There's a room in back with a few tables, too, and you can hear the band from there, too. The bar has a full selection. They have around two dozen beers on tap, mostly crafts, some standards. Morgan pulled us a Snowball Sour draft from Dundalk's Key Brewing. It was smooth and creamy, only lightly sour, a fairly mild flavor, but well-balanced and pleasant. Steven served us a Banhez Mezcal, nicely flavored, rather mild in that trend to over-refine the bite out of agave spirits. He brought out a tequila that he likes, though i dont recall the name, also smooth and not bitey. We ended with a pure shot of Absolut Peppar, normally an ingredient to add some spice to bloody marys. On its own, there really is no spice, just the dark and slightly bitter bite of jalapeño and black pepper. We love Cat's Eye Pub! It's one of very few spots for blues in Baltimore.

Fun spot for live music or to take in a game or some people watching in Fells Point!!…read more Check out the Filthy Mittens next time they're playing!

Better than a QR draft list :-)

See all

Mums

4.4(35 reviews)

1.7 mi•Sharp Leadenhall

Mediocre tattoos at best. Sophie expects you to order correctly and not be a dick. Thanks!read more

This is an awesome dive bar! Sophia was our bartender and she was wonderful. Lots of friendly…read morepatrons to chat with. Drinks are very reasonably priced. I will be coming back to this spot for sure.

Best place in Baltimore! 100%.. Bartenders are awesome, back greenspace beyond words. I would come back to Baltimore to be at this place!!

See all

1919

3.9(35 reviews)

1.9 mi•Canton

I had only been here once before and just learned that one of my neighbors sometimes bartend here…read moreso I went recently for karaoke night. It's a quintessential Baltimore dive bar, but really vibrant and colorful. They usually have some sort of band or live music. This is definitely a local watering hole, but people come here from all over. Karaoke was really chill and fun and unlike other places I didn't have to wait long to sing. They don't have food here, but they sell chips at the bar and the menu is cheap. They only have white claw for seltzers -- a tip for my girlies who don't drink beer. On a nice day you will smell cigarette smoke as they leave the doors open. Definitely a favorite of mine and I will be back.

Got harassed by 4 different people at this bar and then the bartender kicked us out even though we…read morewere respectful and bought several drinks. Beyond horrible experience

Karaoke night

Lobster bike

See all

Halloween 2011

Clock Kitchen & Bar

Clock Kitchen & Bar was such a fun Baltimore find! I stumbled upon this hidden speakeasy and loved…read morethe whole experience. There's even a cigar lounge on another floor, which adds to the vibe. The bartender was friendly and welcoming, and I ordered a burger and fries that were absolutely delicious. You can tell the chef genuinely aims to please, so I don't think you'll be disappointed with the food. Part of the fun is actually finding your way in. I won't give away the secret, but let's just say the elevator requires a special code to get you upstairs. That little touch makes it feel like a true speakeasy experience. Definitely a cool hidden gem in Baltimore and a spot I'd visit again!

A little difficult to locate & find parking Orange crushes…read morewere truly Maryland !! Old fashioned was okay, my husband thinks maybe another bourbon would've made it taste better Smash burgers perfect 12" chicken sub excellent and enough for 2 people Waiter got lost after we ordered another round of drinks but did comp us due to the long wait. Free pool table & shuffle board table were fun to play while waiting for our food We'd go back if in the area again

Here's looking at you kid! A custom made prohibition style cocktail served on our copper bar

See all

Peter's Pour House

4.1(341 reviews)

0.9 mi•Downtown

We went to Peter's Pour House after Orioles game. The place was crowded with baseball fans. The…read moreserver was friendly and attentive throughout our entire meal. I had the jumbo lump crab cake platter and it tasted amazing. The platter came with 2 large crab cakes, coleslaw and french fries. The crab cakes were well seasoned and had large chunks of lump crab meat with very little filler. Coleslaw was tangy, not too sweet.

Great place for food and drinks. It was right next to our hotel so we decided to come here after…read morecheck in in December. The beer and cocktails were all great as was our fish (I think Rockfish) and burger (I think Tex Mex). Prices were very reasonable. Ambiance is nice and old school. Staff was fast and friendly.

Hot Roast Beef

See all

From the alley

The Elk Room

4.2(415 reviews)

1.5 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

It's a cool spot. It was a little hidden like most Speakeasy's which I love. When we entered it had…read morea cool dark but calming vibe and they weren't too busy. We had a party of 7 and we pretty much had our pick of where to sit. The waitress was talking really fast and low and we kept having to ask her to repeat herself. She never slowed down OR spoke louder. Once she had our drink orders, they didn't take long to come out. I ordered the "AKA" it was tequila based and was pretty good. Everyone was pretty happy with their drinks. This is when the night turned. 4 of the 7 of us wanted to leave and head elsewhere, the waitress made ALL 7 of us pay even though the others wanted to stay and order more. She would not budge on this and seemed pretty nonchalant about it. .. all in all. Glad we found it but won't be back.

Lounge

Bar area

See all

Dining area and dainty dècor.

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

7 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Robert D.

0

1

10 years ago

Stay Away ! For the last couple years this place has really brought down our community. I live around the corner and have for many years. This place has become very violent and as of now their liquor licence is suspended , because of the violence. The owner worked there under the previous owners. They keep a sharp eye on the place and did not tolerate any violence or hustling. This current owner doe's not care what comes in that door or hangs around outside. For a while it became so bad, you had to be buzzed through the door. They have also affected the business that operate on that street as well. The drinks may be good from what others say,but we who live in the neighboor hood want this dangerous place closed. If the old owners saw it now, they would be sick! Robert read more

Troy C.

0

1

0

10 years ago

If you are looking for trouble come to this place. The men come there to see who's drunk enough to go home with them. Between the fights and the male hustlers on the outside. This place is a dump. Be careful who you take home.They are not going to share there status because they are drunk. read more

Rich B.

0

1

0

4 months ago

Yea yes, everything was awesome. So excited to continue Maverick relationship with your website thank you so much.

Stone R.

2

6

0

10 years ago

This place really is a dive bar, dirty, smells like urine. YUCK!!!!

Jerome J.

0

2

4

3 years ago

Great Bar , we go back a long way,90s Jerome.

Zac C.

141

19

1

17 years ago

Cute little dive bar....great drink prices!

Christopher h.

15

133

27

17 years ago

Best bar in Charm city!

The Drinkery - gaybars - Updated September 2026

Browse Nearby

BEST of Baltimore, Maryland Restaurants near The Drinkery

BEST of Baltimore, Maryland Coffee near The Drinkery

BEST of Baltimore, Maryland Things to Do near The Drinkery

BEST of Baltimore, Maryland Desserts near The Drinkery

BEST of Baltimore, Maryland Parking near The Drinkery

BEST of Baltimore, Maryland Dance Clubs near The Drinkery

BEST of Baltimore, Maryland Drag Shows near The Drinkery

BEST of Baltimore, Maryland Lesbian near The Drinkery

BEST of Baltimore, Maryland LGBTQ Owned Businesses near The Drinkery

BEST of Baltimore, Maryland Crossdressing near The Drinkery

Best of Baltimore

Things to do in Baltimore

Browse Brands

Brands by name

Browse Articles

Articles by date

People who viewed The Drinkery also viewed

Club Charles

4.2

(98 reviews)

If you want to be transported to Berlin for the night with a bunch of hipsters of Baltimore in-tow…read moreClub Charles is the place for you. There are no fancy drinks here, but you are in the heart of art Mecca of Baltimore, Station North right across from the Charles Theatre. It is a very special place. There's an interior red hue that just glows over the entire bar and there's a really cool seat which is a nook and you're basically kind of secluded from the rest of the group. I always come here pretty late at night and one time I trjed to come and and they were closed for a vacation, this is a quintessential cigarette smoking (not inside) bar. Like I said, there's nothing really special in terms of the drinks. They have all of your classic dive bar favorites. The last time I was here I took a shot of Fernette, but the team here is hipster friendly so sometimes good service other times fine. Iconic Baltimore Bar. They also have fun things on the TVs.

Had my first experience at "Club Chuck" this weekend and it was great! The dark red atmosphere…read morecoupled with the delicious drinks made for a great spot to hang out. I grabbed a classic vodka cran, which was good (how could a vodka cran be bad). The crowd was early twenties to late thirties, with some MICA professors and students out and about. Despite being a busy Saturday night, it wasn't too loud inside and I was still able to have a nice conversation without having to yell.

Melanie’s at Griffith's Tavern

4.3

(15 reviews)

This bar has a vibe that is unlike any other place in the area. It's a little off the beaten path,…read morea few blocks from the Avenue, so it gets a lot of locals and a lot of regulars. It's a mix of old school dive bar and upscale cocktail bar. Like, you can get a Boh here, but you can also get a $16 craft cocktail that will rival anything you can buy at more classic cocktail lounge or speakeasy. It is small, so you will be forced to get to know your neighbors at the bar. They will undoubtedly be cool, though, because this place attracts a fun crowd. The only downside, really, is that it is so dark inside I can never read the menu, which is written in colored marker on the mirror behind the bar.

It has been a minute since I've been to Melanie's at Griffiths and this is the most iconic dive bar…read morein Hamden. The friendliness here is something to be desired. I did go on a Monday night, but the bartender was extremely off putting, and just gave off really negative energy but the service itself wasn't horrible. She just was kind of mean. That's said the cocktails here are stupidly good. The old-fashioned here used to be $10 but now it's $14 but it's still so excellent and worth it. It rivals cocktails of really good places and unexpected for this divey place. There is no food, but they do have chips that they sell that are clothpinned along the door and the plantain chips were really delicious. The lighting is really really low towards the back end of the bar, but to the front where they have the TV there's always something interesting. This is a must visit for anyone that is local or visiting, and hopefully the staff is friendlier this time.

Cat's Eye Pub

4.1

(148 reviews)

Great old-school bar, Great music every day!…read more We are always happy when we can catch a band at Cats Eye Pub in Fells Point Baltimore. Lots of rock and some americana. We were even happier to catch a blues band the other day! (Jun 2026). Charlie Owen & Pocket Change gave a great performance, with some well-known songs and a number of good more-obscure ones. It's fun when they feature one or another band member for a riff. We also love the divey character of the bar, while the crowd is more hip than divey. It's dark and gets crowded. The stools at the bar and by the windows always fill up. The ones along the wall come and go. The dance floor is usually packed. There's a room in back with a few tables, too, and you can hear the band from there, too. The bar has a full selection. They have around two dozen beers on tap, mostly crafts, some standards. Morgan pulled us a Snowball Sour draft from Dundalk's Key Brewing. It was smooth and creamy, only lightly sour, a fairly mild flavor, but well-balanced and pleasant. Steven served us a Banhez Mezcal, nicely flavored, rather mild in that trend to over-refine the bite out of agave spirits. He brought out a tequila that he likes, though i dont recall the name, also smooth and not bitey. We ended with a pure shot of Absolut Peppar, normally an ingredient to add some spice to bloody marys. On its own, there really is no spice, just the dark and slightly bitter bite of jalapeño and black pepper. We love Cat's Eye Pub! It's one of very few spots for blues in Baltimore.

Fun spot for live music or to take in a game or some people watching in Fells Point!!…read more Check out the Filthy Mittens next time they're playing!

Ottobar

3.9

(179 reviews)

Saw MC Chris here last week with friends. Great venue! Smaller, more intimate club and great sound!…read moreWill definitely be back for more concerts!

Absolutely dogshit experience. Came on a karaoke Wednesday night to get one drink, and sing one…read moresong - the bartender hit me with "we can't run a debit card unless it says debit on the card" / which is not the way debit cards work in any other establishment I've ever been to in 30 years. MY FRIEND GOT ROOFIED. MY FRIEND GOT ROOFIED. MY FRIEND GOT ROOFIED. There was also very clearly some operation happening outside where "homeless people" that were clearly just grifters kept getting sent to try and hassle people at the front door. I know for a fact that these people weren't actually homeless - as a homeless person wouldn't have left as soon as I looked them in the eye and called them a fake, they would've just called me an asshole and moved on about tryna get by. The fact that people kept fucking off and replaced by new ones everytime I clocked the hustle means I am correct - there was a shakedown operation happening out front. All the while? There was only one security guard - and all he did was check ID's. I'm sure the dude would've done more if he was properly equipped though. Y'all sincerely need to get your shit together. That was fucking awful. If you are a woman, or empathetic - do not come to this establishment. Apparently you do not have a choice in the matter, you will be manipulated somehow.

The Elk Room

4.2

(415 reviews)

•$$$

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

It's a cool spot. It was a little hidden like most Speakeasy's which I love. When we entered it had…read morea cool dark but calming vibe and they weren't too busy. We had a party of 7 and we pretty much had our pick of where to sit. The waitress was talking really fast and low and we kept having to ask her to repeat herself. She never slowed down OR spoke louder. Once she had our drink orders, they didn't take long to come out. I ordered the "AKA" it was tequila based and was pretty good. Everyone was pretty happy with their drinks. This is when the night turned. 4 of the 7 of us wanted to leave and head elsewhere, the waitress made ALL 7 of us pay even though the others wanted to stay and order more. She would not budge on this and seemed pretty nonchalant about it. .. all in all. Glad we found it but won't be back.

Iampieri's Westway Bar & Lounge

3.7

(10 reviews)

Time of day : late night…read more Ordered : crown coke , Tito's and sprite Experience : small neighborhood bar , nice spot to catch the game . Heavy Drinks priced right .... Good music Parking : street parking both in front and on the side Note: no kitchen , but definitely can bring ya food in ( liquor store next door if you want snacks )

I love this place! LADIES! Don't be scared - Iamps is awesome and the regular patrons are good…read morepeople. The drinks are on point if you like the basics and service from bartenders ranges anywhere from Coach at Cheers to the Soup Nazi on Seinfeld but if you're cool - they got ya.

Bar Elite

4.9

(10 reviews)

I had a good ole time in here. Music great. Bar super busy but was able to get service ... drinks…read morestrong. Definitely giving 35 and older much older but under 65 lol

Always a good time at Bar Elite great vibes and the bartenders never miss!! Celebrate your event at…read moreBar Elite!

WC Harlan

4.6

(272 reviews)

Such a cute and unassuming spot in Remington. After dinner at Clavel, we walked down the street to…read moreWC Harlan for another cocktail. The lighting is pretty dark, but that's the vibe of the place! We had an Old Fashioned, which was great. The service was ok, we went to the bar to get our drinks and brought them back to the table. Overall, good experience and would return!

My first time checking out WC Harlan. It's so dark inside with very minimal lighting provided by…read moredim lamps. We were greeted and told we can order at the bar when we're ready after finding seats. We found a couple seats in the back and I got the Tourmaline Fizz and my friend chose the High Himalaya. I really enjoyed my drink. A very cool speakeasy cocktail bar.

Power Plant Live!

3.1

(150 reviews)