Gay Friendly Baltimore

In the world of gay travel, one might consider Baltimore the "Jan Brady" of the East Coast. Just as Jan was always overshadowed by her beautiful older sister Marcia, and Cindy - the baby of the family, Baltimore often gets overshadowed by the attention paid to the power base of nearby Washington D.C. and the nightlife excitement of it's neighbors to the north - Philadelphia and New York City. However Baltimore, as the center of Maryland, is an exciting, cosmopolitan, and vibrant city and one that deserves a little attention o it's own.

In recent years, an economic and urban renewal has taken place in Baltimore and it has been one of the most successful such revitalization programs in the nation. Striking modern buildings, fountains, plazas, and overhead walkways distinguish Charles Center from the downtown buildings of other cities. Baltimore's downtown business district, at One Charles Center, is home to a 24-story skyscraper of bronze and glass designed by Mies van de Rohe. Vision and energy thrive at Johns Hopkins University, Peabody Conservatory of Music, and The Maryland Institute of Art. All provide the city with a sophisticated and stimulating environment which is what draws much of it's gay population to the city. This forward-thinking and creative environment leads to an ambience which supports gay a local gay community - and gay travel.

The Inner Harbor is the pride of Baltimore. Gleaming office buildings, the seven-story National Aquarium, and the glass-enclosed pavilions of Harborplace rise from the water's edge. In recent years, the development of the Inner Harbor has included the transformation of Fell's Point, a well-preserved waterfront neighborhood, into a gay friendly urban sanctuary. However, Baltimore's gay community thrives in the city's Mount Vernon section which is home to numerous restaurants, gay bars, concert halls and museums with a gay friendly attitude.

Getting Around:
Much of Baltimore is accessible without a car - so should you fly in or take the train, we suggest just taking a taxi to your hotel and enjoying the city by foot. Travelers staying in the Inner Harbor area can walk to many destinations and for travel between neighborhoods, taxi hire is easily available on the streets or in front of most of the larger hotels.

Where to Stay: Gay Friendly Hotels in Baltimore

Baltimore has many suitable accommodations for gay and lesbian travelers. The city has a wide array of gay-friendly and gay owned B&Bs, as well as other gay-popular inns, boutique hotels and large branded hotels which welcome the gay community. Many of the more unique Inns and B&Bs are located close to the up-and-coming Fell's Point area while the branded and mainstream hotels tend to be closer to Inner Harbor. The Inner Harbor accommodations tend to be more convenient for navigating home from Baltimore’s hottest night spots, and they suit a wide range of tastes and prices, but the smaller B&B’s and boutique hotels always offer something a little more special. From mainstream to trendy, to quaint and romantic - Baltimore has it all. Some of our favorites that you may want to try include Pier 5 Hotel, the Marriott Inner Harbour or The Inn at 2920.

Pier 5 Hotel is the trendy pick for those travelers looking to experience truly fabulous style. The lobby walls are the color of gemstones and the atrium holds velvet couches where travelers can enjoy a waterfront view. For a more romantic gay Baltimore experience, the Inn at 2920 is the place to go. It offers old-fashioned charm with brand-new amenities in a gay-friendly atmosphere.

Camden Yards is another exciting destination spot in Baltimore. Staying in the Camden Yards section of Baltimore, you will find yourself amid many of Charm City's more captivating attractions, including Orioles' Park at Camden Yards, the Ravens' M&T Bank Stadium, the Baltimore Convention Center, and the famed Inner Harbor. Here you will find contemporary hotels, with the easiest and quickest access to all major highways and BWI airport. Whether you prefer theater, shopping, culture, fine dining, or sporting events, you'll find an array of outstanding options within minutes of Camden Yards. The Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor at Camden Yards is the one of our favorites in this neighborhood. This gay-friendly hotel is backed-up by the history of an established hotel, offering everything from wireless internet in their business center to high-end gym equipment in their fitness room - certainly popular for the gay man looking to stay fit.

What to do? Where to go?
Baltimore is a city filled with 300 years of history. And trust us - there is more to do in this city than the Orioles and steamed crabs (though maybe checking out the eye candy at an Orioles game isn’t such a bad idea). Seriously though - Baltimore is a thriving metropolis with enough attractions to keep you busy for days.

A spectacular starting point is Federal Hill at Warren Avenue and Key Highway. From the top of the hill, you can see a beautiful view of the Baltimore cityscape. For another birds-eye view of Baltimore, experience the view of the city from the Top of the World Observation Level and Museum at 401 E. Pratt Street (410-837-4515), or take a high speed elevator ride to the top of the World Trade Center for a five-sided panoramic view of the harbor.

The Baltimore Museum of Art is just minutes from Inner Harbor at N. Charles Street and 31st Street. The museum houses a permanent collection of more than 100,000 objects, ranging from ancient mosaics to contemporary art. Also located in the Inner Harbor area is the newly re-opened Hippodrome Theatre where travelers can see everything from modern concerts to the latest Broadway musicals.

When visiting Baltimore, a trip to the zoo is always in order. The Baltimore Zoo at Druid Hill Park sits on 186 acres, with more than 2,000 birds, mammals, and reptiles calling it home. It also includes a large breeding ground (stop launghing - we're serious - it's a breeding ground) of African black-footed penguins. Be sure to check out the African Safari Trail and the African Watering Hole with the white rhinoceroses and zebras.

Explore Baltimore's past and present at Fell's Point. Go east on Pratt Street to President Street to Aliceanna Street to Broadway Street and you'll arrive in one of America's oldest surviving maritime communities; Fell's Point, which is now a national historical district. Cobblestone streets front many charming gay-friendly shops, galleries, pubs, and restaurants. About 350 of the neighborhood's original residential structures, many dating to the early 1700s, have been renovated and are home to those who wish to take advantage of all that city life has to offer. There are walking tours available to learn about the history of the area as well as specialty tours such as water taxi travel and ghost tours of the area’s haunted locations. There are also numerous museums and theatres available in the neighborhood.

Many of Baltimore's celebrations and festivals take place in the Inner Harbor or in the surrounding parks and plazas. The Inner Harbor also hosts the Showcase of Nations during which colorful ethnic festivals are held each weekend from June to September. Baltimore's Gay Pride celebration also takes place during this time - so pack your rainbow ballcaps and check out Baltimore Pride!


Gay Friendly Dining in Baltimore

You can't go to Baltimore and not get crabs! No - not those crabs! Autumn is the official crab season in Baltimore; however, even in the off-season crabs are still meaty and delicious and as you'll learn in Baltimore - dining on soft shell crab is truly an indigenous American experience. What could be more satisfying that sitting down to dine in front of brown paper, being handed mallets and knives, large amounts of napkins, then, dozens of gargantuan steamed crabs presented for your dinning experience? Try Crabby Dicks, Gablers, Ocean Pride, and Costas Inn for gay-friendly dining spots with fantastic crabs!

Crabbed out? There are numerous gay- friendly dining options located throughout Baltimore. Mount Vernon is home to all kinds of different dining options, from Asian fusion vegetarian cuisine to a more meat and potatoes selection. One of our favorites is The Brewer's Art, a brewery which offers light European-influenced dining and delicious desserts baked onsite. Another Mount Vernon location popular with the local gay community is The City Cafe which features both a coffee bar and a cocktail bar (no wonder it's popular with the gay boys of B'more) to compliment the delicious desserts coming out of the kitchen.

For a complete list of our favorite gay friendly restaurants in Baltimore, click on the "Restaurants Tab" on the City Directory found on the left side of this page.

Baltimore is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city which offers a wide range of options for gay travelers. Whether the travel experience desired is one of immersion in gay-oriented neighborhoods like Mount Vernon or more general travel with a gay-friendly flair, there is something in the city for everyone.

Baltimore Gay Nightlife - Bars, Clubs and More

Looking for gay nightlife in Baltimore? Mount Vernon is your spot! Gay travelers who want to go bar hopping in a safe and welcoming environment will find that this is the place to be. With each venue offering something a little bit different in terms of the gay Baltimore scene - and each being just steps away from the other - Mount Vernon is a unique little gayborhood.

For example, travelers looking for fun with leather will want to go to the Baltimore Eagle or maybe even Grand Central. Both venues are located on Charles Street, but each offers a different scene, with the former being a cruise-y spot and the latter being more of a dance club which offers a leather bar on one floor.

Gay Baltimore travelers just looking to sip a martini in a casual atmosphere should head to the Drinkery, while those looking for comfort and low attitude will want to stop at the Mount Vernon Stable and Saloon. And Guys looking to strip off their shirts and grind with a local to the dirty beats of the house DJ should head to Hippo, touted as being the oldest gay nightclub operating in the country today. Hippo has a huge main dance floor featuring light shows, DJ's and live performances as well as a separate room with a bar and yet another room for playing pool and having conversations with cuties off the dance floor.

As Baltimore has grown, gay travel - and the overall gay community of Baltimore has grown - an open attitude towards the gay community has moved in to the bars outside of the Mount Vernon area. Some of the bars themselves, such as the Phoenix Club, have even moved locations. The larger gay scene in the city offers even more diversity of venue, including hole-in-the-wall watering spots (try Leons), gay goth clubs (Club Orpheus) and even sports bars (PW's Place). With so much activity happening in the area, Baltimore is climbing on the list of gay travel spots nationwide.

For a complete list of bars - and more information on our Pride City Guide featured gay bars and clubs in Baltimore, click on the Bars and Nightlife tab under the City Directory on the left side of this page.

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