The Best Neighborhoods to Stay in Baltimore
Inner Harbor
The Inner Harbor area, with its stunning waterfront views and abundance of attractions, is often considered the best area to stay in Baltimore. It conveniently happens to be where a large number of hotels are located. It’s a very walkable area and has many attractions, the aquarium, and restaurants. Little Italy and Fell’s Point are both accessible just to the east.
You will find some of the best hotels in Baltimore like the Four Seasons, the Hyatt Regency to the west of the harbor, which is walkable to Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium, as well as several basic options like Homewood Suites and Courtyard by Marriott.
Fell's Point
Fell’s Point offers a different kind vibe altogether – vibrant energy encapsulated by cobblestone streets lined with boutiques, bars and eateries offering fresh seafood caught straight from Chesapeake Bay. It’s located just to the east of the Inner Harbor and is my preferred place to stay. The area is filled with bars and restaurants, and Little Italy is just a few blocks away.
You can choose to stay at the Sagamore Pendry, one of the most luxurious hotels in Baltimore, enjoy a peaceful atmosphere at the Inn at Henderson’s Wharf, or go for the more budget accommodation at the Admiral Fell Inn with a fun bar in the basement.
A fantastic dinner at Thames Street Oyster House is just steps away, as is a great brunch at Blue Moon Cafe.
Mount Vernon-Belvedere
Mount Vernon and Belvedere is Baltimore’s cultural and historical center. It is filled with single family Victorian rowhomes and is one of the most desirable places in Baltimore to live. This area is home to the Walter’s Art Museum, George Peabody Library, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and the Lyric Opera House.
The area is very walkable, but because it’s located a mile or so north of the Inner Harbor, it’s probably best to take a short drive or taxi ride to the popular neighborhoods there.
Here you can stay at one of the top luxury hotels in Maryland at The Ivy Hotel or the more moderately priced Hotel Revival.
What About Downtown and Near the Stadiums?
Eh. Personally, I don’t like staying in Downtown Baltimore. This area has many office buildings, caters to a lunch crowd, and just isn’t as nice. I do recommend coming here once to visit Lexington Market and trying a crabcake from Faidley Seafood though. And if you do stay here, at least it’s not too far of a walk to the Inner Harbor. You can find low priced hotels like the Lord Baltimore Hotel and the nicer Kimpton Hotel Monaco here.
I also wouldn’t stay in the areas around Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium unless I was in town specifically for a baseball or football game. The hotels like Hilton Baltimore here are fine and actually Rachael’s Dowry Bed & Breakfast is actually really cool. But other than the stadiums there isn’t enough going on for me and I would end up walking the 20-25 minutes to the harbor every day.
The Best Luxury Hotels
#1 Sagamore Pendry
Sagamore Pendry at a Glance
Pros
- Outdoor pool overlooking the harbor
- The onsite restaurant is an excellent Italian chophouse from NYC restauranteur Andrew Carmellini
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The Sagamore Pendry makes a case as the best hotel in Baltimore by redefining waterfront luxury with a nod to the city’s storied past. It is set along the cobblestone streets of Fell’s Point and is a perfect mix of modern design and bygone era charm.
The hotel sits on Rec Pier, which was built in 1914 and served as a landing point for thousands of new immigrants processed across the river at the Locust Point immigration station. It was restored and opened as the Sagamore Pendry in 2017.
While the courtyard facing rooms are still nice, it’s the 3rd floor harbor facing suites with balconies that are the crown jewels. And then of course the outdoor pool is potentially the nicest of any hotel in the city, as it hovers above the harbor. The pool bar is open to hotel guests and non-guests.
For dining, the Rec Pier Chophouse brings an Italian flair featuring pasta, steaks, and seafood. This is the first Baltimore location for Chef Andrew Carmellini, who is behind famed New York restaurants such as Locanda Verde (one of my favorites in NYC), The Dutch, and Bar Primi.
#2 Four Seasons
Four Seasons at a Glance
Pros
- Great location near the Inner Harbor (Harbor East)
- Outdoor infinity pool overlooking the harbor
- Top tier cocktail bar on the 29th floor with city skyline views
- Several excellent dining options
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This is a name everyone identifies for high-end hotels, and the Baltimore Four Seasons upholds this standard of 5-star luxury.
Located right on Harbor Point, the floor-to-ceiling windows provide water views in multiple directions. The summer is an especially great time to stay here, as the outdoor infinity pool overlooks the Inner Harbor. But even if you stay elsewhere, you can visit Splash Poolside Bar & Grill for cocktails or lunch and enjoy the view. There are also three other restaurants on the street level that overlook the water. Plus, the Bygone is a cocktail bar & restaurant on the 29th floor with city skyline views. It also has one of the better Whiskey menus I’ve seen outside of Keen’s Steakhouse in NYC (though priced significantly higher).
While I haven’t partaken in the services, this Four Seasons is also known for its great spa. It’s clear that wellness is a top priority here, with state-of-the-art fitness center as good as any I’ve seen.
#3 The Ivy Hotel
The Ivy at a Glance
Pros
- A truly historic hotel with just 17 suites and guest rooms and fireplaces throughout
- Onsite dining at Magdalena, one of the best restaurants in Baltimore
- Onsite spa and fitness center
Cons
- No outdoor pool
- Nightly rate is as big as my mortgage payment
- Too far from Inner Harbor to walk there
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The Ivy Hotel is quite different than the other high-end hotel options, as it’s not only a spot to rest your head, but an experience of luxury. The Ivy is nestled within the cobbled streets of Mount Vernon, a neighborhood just north of downtown where history whispers through its charming architecture. Although based on my looking at several maps, it might technically be in the neighborhood of Mid-Town Belvedere, but the two areas are often considered to be one neighborhood.
The nightly rate includes made to order breakfast, a stocked in room refrigerator, valet parking, afternoon tea, and cocktails in the Mansion Bar. This unique bar is serve-yourself style with excellent wines and top shelf liquor to create your own cocktails. If you need assistance, there is a cocktail recipe book on hand.
Although dinner is not included, you can walk downstairs to Magdalena and enjoy one of the best restaurants in Baltimore. And if you are staying multiple nights and want to switch it up, the Prime Rib is located right around the corner and is one of the city’s best steakhouses.
Originally commissioned in 1889 as a private mansion, and a century later used to house visiting dignitaries, it went through a massive restoration before opening as The Ivy Hotel in 2015. It features eight suites and another nine guest rooms, each with a unique design, a gas fireplace, and bathrooms with heated limestone floors.
The Ivy is the kind of hotel where celebrities would stay to remain low key or for wealthy people who want to experience a blend of history and luxury.
Best Mid-Priced Hotels
Hyatt Place
Hyatt Place at a Glance
Hyatt Place is one of the best mid-level hotels on the edge of the Little Italy neighborhood. It was built in 2014 and is very clean and room are good sized. There is a small indoor pool that is ok for kids. Skip the hotel bar and restaurant and instead explore the area by hitting up the Elk Room for great cocktails, La Scala for a great Italian dinner, and Kneads Bakeshop for breakfast. It’s also just a short walk to the Harbor.
Tip: Rather than paying for valet parking, self-park around the back at the Fleet & Eden parking garage for about 1/3rd the price.
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Canopy by Hilton
Canopy by Hilton at a Glance
Canopy by Hilton has large windows and sits right on Harbor Point, so it has a ton of natural sunlight throughout the entire day. The onsite restaurant Cindy Lou’s Fish House is good, and the bar has an inviting view of the Harbor. The immediate area is a little dull with a high-end apartment building and corporate offices next door, but it’s a very nice area and under a 10-minute walk to the busier area of Fell’s Point.
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Inn at Henderson's Wharf
Inn at Henderson's Wharf at a Glance
The Inn and Henderson’s Wharf is near all the action in Fell’s Point but is located at the end of the street beside a small marina so it’s very quiet. While there is no restaurant or bar, they sometimes offer Wine-Down happy hour at 6pm (they stopped during Covid but said they are bringing it back) otherwise I recommend walking just a minute up the street to V-NO Wine Bar.
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Hotel Indigo Baltimore Downtown
Hotel Indigo at a Glance
Hotel Indigo is a modern boutique hotel that is located in the Mt Vernon neighborhood. You will likely want a car to get around when staying here and it’s not as walkable as near the Harbor. But it is an excellent hotel for the price if you are ok with the location. On the first floor, Poets Modern Cocktails & Eats is decent enough for a hotel restaurant, though not near the level of those in the luxury hotels.
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Hotel Revival
Hotel Revival at a Glance
Hotel Revival might be the best Baltimore hotel for digital nomads and remote workers. The lobby area has several sections with plenty of seating and outlets for your laptop. There is also boardroom off one area that is more enclosed. For dining and drink options, this hotel has it all. ‘Dashery is a morning and daytime cafe, Topside is the rooftop restaurant open in the evenings, and B-Side is a speakeasy style cocktail bar that also has private karaoke rooms.
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Extended Stay Hotel
ROOST Baltimore
ROOST Baltimore at a Glance
You’ve probably never stayed at a ROOST before, as they have only opened in a few cities such as Philadelphia, Tampa, and Cleveland. And they are different from traditional hotels, as the focus is a boutique extended stay concept. The guest rooms range from studios up to three-bedroom apartments. They have kitchens with full refrigerators, dishwashers, and some even have clothes washer/dryers.
ROOST might be the best hotel if you are in Baltimore for work or for a longer period of time.
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Best Hostel
Bmore Bunks
Bmore Bunks at a Glance
Bmore Bunks is the only hostel in Baltimore. It’s located just one block from Baltimore Penn Station, with Amtrak train service to BWI Airport and Washington DC. Local train and bus routes also pass through here. Sleeping arrangements are bunk beds in two separate bedrooms. The hostel is basically a small ground floor apartment, but it’s cheap and great for solo travelers. Entrance is in the back, and Hugh often responds better to email than by phone.
