Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Baltimore / Maryland

OpenTable

Updated January 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in Baltimore / Maryland? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Fallston Barrel House

4.8

4.8 (547)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Fallston

About the restaurant

A new Local Favorite, we bring you craft spirits & provisions. Join us in our Bar or comfortable Dining Room for Lunch, Dinner, or any special occasion to enjoy our Chef's masterpiece menu, featuring local favorites & a modern twist on classic comfort food, paired with small batch craft distills & brews. Congratulations to our very own "Amanda Wiley"who won Best Server of the Year for 2022 at the Restaurant Association Gala.....................................

PLEASE MAKE A NOTE IF YOU ARE HERE TO SEE A BAND..................................................................
PLEASE CHECK WITH THE RESTAURANT TO SEE IF THIS IS A TICKETED EVENT & CALL THE RESTAURANT -
DO NOT MAKE RESERVATIONS ONLINE. THANK YOU

Top review

Irvin

Dined 5 days ago

Food was great! Came out pretty fast! Service was beyond awesome!! Will definitely go back again and again!!

Order of the Ace

4.8

4.8 (13)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

Harbor East

About the restaurant

In the Order of the Ace, certain truths are revealed. Like the power of your person being equal to the place you find yourself present. And the quality of a cocktail being bettered by the craft of its creator. Slip into a space of music and mystique. A mood of intimacy and intrigue. A night where essential truths are served straight up. Or however else you would like.

Top review

AshleyVIP

Dined on Nov 30, 2024

Very lovely space with live music, drinks were good, the snack we ordered was good, vibe was great. Will def visit again.

The Melting Pot - Towson

4.7

4.7 (1894)

$31 to $50

Fondue

Towson

About the restaurant

The Melting Pot in Towson offers an extraordinary dining experience that you won't find at any other restaurant. Here, you'll discover all the ingredients to a perfect evening, including a relaxed atmosphere, private tables, attentive service, fine wines and fabulous four-course dinners. No matter what the occasion, from a romantic date to get-togethers with friends, meetings or large groups, The Melting Pot always hits the spot. We believe in celebrating the everyday, so you don’t need a special reason to come out for our delicious menu offerings.

Your experience begins with rich cheese fondues prepared table-side. Your taste buds will be delighted by a fresh salad course. The third course is diverse selections of entrées choice ranging from steak, seafood, gluten free and vegetarian options! The finale fourth course is Chocolate Fondue served with decadent dippers.

We are sure the time and rich conversations around our steamy fondue pots will bring you closer to family and friends.

Top review

Trevor

Dined 5 days ago

Food was pricey but tasty, but that was to be expected. Our server,Jalen (Sp?), was phenomenal. My dad showed up super late and we had a squirmy infant with us, not optimal diners. He made us right and home and made our little dinner a really nice time. Thanks Jalen, they’re lucky to have you!

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Experience

Celebration Squishie Fondue Pot Stuffed Toy $25

Experience

Valentines Day 2025 - February 14th & 15th!

Unity Bar & Restaurant

4.7

4.7 (198)

$31 to $50

American

Bolton Hill

About the restaurant

Friends new and old get together here. We are centrally located—literally on Centre Street—in the heart of Baltimore’s lively cultural district, Mt. Vernon. Our diverse, vibrant clientele creates our atmosphere—and we create a memorable experience for each visitor, in each visit!

From our creatively crafted food and cocktail menus to our casually elegant décor, our aim is to welcome YOU. And here you will encounter a “little of everybody.”

Here, we dine, drink, and meet in Unity!

Top review

Kimanthi

Dined on Dec 15, 2024

The food and service is excellent as always. A very pleasant experience!

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The Alehouse Columbia

4.6

4.6 (1304)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Columbia

About the restaurant

Join us for dinner, then stay for drinks and live entertainment in our indoor bars or on our spacious back patio. Watch your favorite teams on our 50+ big screens, host a party in one of our private rooms or just relax with a cocktail under the stars. At The Ale House Columbia, you'll find great food, expertly-crafted drinks and Howard County's best nightlife.

Top review

JoshVIP

Dined on Dec 24, 2024

Delicious! Just what we were looking for after a road trip. Our server Nate was great and so knowledgeable about the menu. We will definitely be back, probably frequently.

Watershed

4.4

4.4 (267)

$30 and under

Seafood

Federal Hill

About the restaurant

Now open in the newly remodeled Cross Street Market, Watershed is a classic Maryland seafood house serving some of the region’s signature dishes, including steamed hard-shell crabs. An expansive rooftop deck provides an intimate outdoor experience in the heart of Federal Hill, complete with a covered bar, gaming area and an abundance of televisions for sports viewing.

Top review

RyanVIP

Dined on Jan 4, 2025

Always love Watershed before Ravens games. Appreciate the flexibility with our party size and love the service and vibe.

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4.3

4.3 (855)

$31 to $50

American

Hampden

About the restaurant

High energy and gracious, Avenue Kitchen and Bar is a place where one can enjoy terrific cocktails and comforting, Latin-American inspired cuisine from Executive Chef Audiel Vera and his seasoned and attentive staff. Our food offers flavors & technique that will welcome and excite you.
We have seating available in our large dining room, our bar & lounge, a seasonally-opened outdoor area, and a small private dining space available for intimate dinner parties.
We are conveniently located on 36th Street, commonly known as "the Avenue" in Hampden. Metered parking is available in a full lot in the rear of the restaurant as well as the front and surrounding streets. Entrances are located at both the front and rear and are easily accessible for all.

Top review

Jimitra

Dined on Dec 28, 2024

My family and I had a great time! We were greeted right away , seated as soon as we confirmed our reservations. “PM B” Tiff was great ! Truly a great time and amazing atmosphere. Food AMAZING, drink AMAZING! I will return again and again. Actually I did I came back 2 days in row lol Thank yooou!

lāk Columbia

4.0

4 (227)

$31 to $50

American

Columbia

About the restaurant

Experience the area’s newest go-to fine dining and afterparty destination. Its lakeshore setting and fashionable atmosphere are ready to welcome locals and visitors alike.

Top review

ReneVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Excellent food, nice setting by the lake, very quiet, but overpriced. I had the crab cake, delicious sauce and accompanied by green beans. I loved it, but I don’t think it is worth $47. The old fashion is ok, not great. The dessert, skillet, good to share, but it is too rich for one person.

Hard Rock Cafe - Baltimore

3.7

3.7 (677)

$31 to $50

American

Inner Harbor

About the restaurant

Hard Rock Cafe is a global phenomenon with 185 cafes that are visited by nearly 80 million guests each year. The first Hard Rock Cafe opened on June 14, 1971, in London, England, and from there the brand has expanded to major cities and exotic locations around the world.

Top review

Melanie

Dined 7 days ago

I hadn’t been to a Hard Rock Cafe in years but we decided to give it a try while in town for a work trade show. They easily accommodated our party of 11 and the service was wonderful! Our food was tasty as well - I got veggie fajitas which were delicious! And of course, great music was playing the whole time, which added to the experience. I hope more people give this place a try!

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Experience

2 X $25

Miracle at Power Plant Live!

3.5

3.5 (63)

$30 and under

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Miracle at Power Plant Live!, serving holiday cocktails in a festive setting, will officially open on November 30. Leinie’s Lodge & Beer Garden will transform into a unique immersive holiday experience, including floor-to-ceiling Christmas décor, holiday-inspired cocktails and small bites, and unmatched nostalgic energy.

Reservations are for 90 minutes and are now only $15 per person, this will be applied towards your bill!
Reservations are not required before 4PM every day. Sunday's require reservation at all times.

Top review

Aeboni

Dined on Dec 22, 2024

I read previous reviews that spoke about long wait times for food and miscommunication on reservation times. However my mom and I had a great experience. My reservation was I presume at a great time because all drinks and foods were still in stock. Others that came after me weren’t so lucky. I enjoyed the food and drinks- all were great! Wish there were more hot drinks like hot cocoa. But overall a great experience and the decor was nice and enjoyable!

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