Baltimore is a patchwork of over 200 eclectic neighborhoods that give this big city a cozy feel. Go beyond the tourist-heavy Inner Harbor and you will be richly rewarded.
If you’ve already explored Charm City, the time is ripe for a return visit. There are plenty of new dining and drinking spots plus a bike share that will keep you in gear all weekend long.
Eat:
Even die-hard carnivores won’t be asking where’s the beef when they dine at Encantada. This modern American eatery puts vegetables front and center, producing dishes that will have vegans, veggies, pescaterians and meat-eaters mouth’s watering. Animal proteins are not excluded from the menu but they are chosen with care and used with discretion. Rooted in the belief that getting back to the basics moves us forward, the chef supports regional farms, ranches and aquaculture, nurturing the concept of sustainability.
As if the delectable food and drink were not enough, Encantada is located on the top floor of the American Visionary Art Museum. The museum’s original art is created by self-taught artists. It’s a feast of creativity.
Cosima showcases the Mediterranean cuisine of the island of Sicily. Inspired by her beloved grandmother, Chef Donna Crivello captures the essence of traditional Southern Italian flavors. Order Pasta alla Norma and you’ll swear you were in Palermo as you inhale the tangle of heady flavors. The robust sauce of olives, tomatoes, red peppers, eggplant and ricotta is served over cavatelli pasta.
Cosima’s is housed in a former mill tucked along a rolling river, so it feels far from urban. The energy-efficient building incorporates elements of the mill into its fresh design. If the weather cooperates, dine on the serene patio.
R. House is the latest chef-driven food hall in Baltimore. It is located in Remington, Baltimore’s destination for artists, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, makers and innovators. Created as an incubator for chefs to explore new concepts, there are 10 permanent stalls, including a craft cocktail bar, plus space for pop-ups.
Drink:
Get a behind the scenes tour of Baltimore’s exploding craft beer scene with the new City Brew Tour. The five-hour tour includes four brewery stops and tastings of approximately 15 brews.
Don’t miss a stop at hometown favorite, Union Craft Brewing. Sip their generously hopped Duckpin Pale Ale and you’ll get a heady citrus flavor and a strong malt foundation. If you’re into the taste of Tutonic, Old Pro is a German-style wheat beer with a pale golden hue that hits the sweet-salty sweet spot.
The waterfront Sagamore Spirit Distillery has opened, eagerly awaited by their legions of local devotees. They are justifiably famed for their Sagamore Spirit Rye, an 83-proof blend of high rye and low rye, barrel aged for 2 years. It’s complex on the palate with notes of molasses up front and zesty nutmeg on the end. The distillery building houses the production equipment. Next-door is where you’ll find the two tasting rooms.
Stay:
Baltimore’s newest hotel, the Sagamore Pendry, opened its doors to overnight guests in March. Originally a turn-of-the-century dance hall, today it’s a 129-room boutique hotel with all the luxury trimmings. It is situated in the Fell’s Point neighborhood, one of the best-preserved historic areas in the country thanks to substantial revitalization efforts that have protected the historical integrity of the neighborhood. In season, take a dip in the pool and you’ll do your laps with a stunning view of the Baltimore Harbor and skyline.
Getting Around:
With all that eating and drinking, you’ll need to expend a little energy. Baltimore Bike Share is its most innovative form of public transportation. Launched in 2016, the Baltimore Bike Share system is the largest eBike (electric-assist) bicycle fleet in North America and is a leader in active transportation by offering both Pedelec and traditional options for residents and visitors. In 2018, the city added scooters to the share program.
Get to Baltimore from NYC
Amtrak, Megabus and Bolt are all options
For additional information, go to Baltimore.org
Photo credits: Christine Horan, Rachel, Cook, Visit Baltimore and the author
Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributes travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She is fluent in Italian and Spanish and laughably adequate in French. Her background as an Early Childhood Educator gives her an added understanding of what it takes to travel with kids in tow. She firmly believes that the most important part of education takes place outside of the classroom, on the road, around the world. She never misses a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. Follow Allison at @gourmetrav.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram