Baltimore/Downtown

[[file:Baltimore Bromo-Seltzer Tower banner.jpg|1280px|Halal Travel to Downtown Baltimore|caption=Reflection of the Bromo-Seltzer Tower}} Baltimore City Hall 2 - City Hall at night

Downtown Baltimore is Baltimore's central business neighborhood and seat of the city government. While home to some iconic Baltimore architecture and the city's economic heart, visitors and even local residents, tend to keep their distance from this often seedy and decidedly unloved town center, unless they are going to the Baltimore Arena and the Hippodrome Theatre, or visiting Poe's grave at Westminster Hall. Don't make the all-too-frequent mistake of skipping (or fearing) Lexington Market, though, which can be an easy highlight of a visit to the city—on a hungry stomach!

Travel to Baltimore/Downtown

Downtown is nothing if not easy to get to, being just north of the Inner Harbor, off I-395 and on all major public transportation routes.

How to travel to Baltimore/Downtown by car

There are many parking garages downtown, with an especially convenient one just north of Lexington Market on North Paca St. Coming in from I-95, take exit #53 for I-395, which will dump you on northbound Howard St, straight through Downtown. The B-W Pkwy will terminate on the even more useful Paca St. If coming from the north on I-83, take the right turn for Fayette St.

By light rail

Downtown Baltimore map - 600px

The light rail has two very handy stops at Lexington Street (for Lexington Market) and Baltimore Street (for the Baltimore Arena and Hippodrome Theatre).

By Metro

Yes, even the rarely used Metro has a few good stops downtown: Lexington Market, Charles Center and Shot Tower Station.

Travel by Bus

With the convenience of the light rail, it's unlikely that you would want to catch a slow, semi-reliable local bus, but #7 would take you down Greene Street from Lexington Market through the Inner Harbor, on to Baltimore/Fells Point|Fells Point and then on to Baltimore/Southeast Baltimore|Canton. If you are going to Federal Hill, or further to Fort McHenry, Bus #1 picks up at Baltimore Street & Paca St. The Circulator's Orange route will also traverse Baltimore Street eastbound to Fells Point and its Purple route runs up Charles Street through Baltimore/Midtown|Midtown to Penn Station.

What to See

Cognac, roses and shadowy figures|For 75 years the famous Poe Toaster, hooded and clothed in black, would slip into the Westminster graveyard on 19 January to leave Edgar Allen Poe a birthday toast of a half bottle of three roses arranged in a still secret pattern, left at the original grave. Starting in the 1930s and the tradition continued unbroken until 2009 and the bicentennial of America's most famous horror writer's birth, when the toasts ended as mysteriously and quietly as they had always been. Several impostors have attempted to revive the tradition, but their clumsy attempts at stealth and ignorance of the signature floral arrangement have given them away. The legend lives on, though, in current works of crime and occult fiction, such as crime novel In a Strange City by Laura Lippman and the Washington Audio Theater audio play The Poe Toaster Not Cometh.

• Battle Monument Web: apAG 112 Calvert Street (roughly) 39.2906,-76.6125 Battle Monument -QQ91875 Far less known than the Monumental City's other memorials, but no lesser in size, is the Battle Monument in the median across from the Baltimore Circuit Courts. Dedicated to the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812, it stands on an Egyptian tomb-like base, with Baltimore's fallen soldiers' names engraved. Lady Baltimore stands atop the column, bearing a wreath of victory and is the oldest structure in this part of the city.

• Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower - 21 South Eutaw Street 39.2875,-76.6208 ☎ +1 443 874-3596 Emerson Bromo-Seltzer Tower - Bromo-Seltzer Tower MD1 This beautiful old landmark clocktower dates to 1911. Recently vacant and the city in 2007 converted the building to artist studios, in addition to a fire station at the bottom. Visitors can come in during the monthly open house, held on the first Saturday of March (check ahead to be sure). The Bromo Shop is currently closed indefinitely.

• City Hall 100 North Holliday Street 39.291,-76.6107 ☎ +1 410 396-3100 Opening 8AM Monday - 4:30PM Free Baltimore City Hall =1city hall baltimore - A beautiful, huge post-Civil War Baroque Revival building and major city landmark and the seat of the city government is partially open for visitors, who can stop by to see exhibits on Baltimore art and history (but mostly to gawk at the architecture).

• Enoch Pratt Central Library 400 Gothic Church Street - ☎ +1 410 396-5430 Opening Hours: Monday - West 10AM Monday - 8PM, Thursday 10AM Monday - 5:30PM, F-Sa 10AM Monday - 5PM, Sunday 1PM Monday - 5PM Enoch Pratt Free Library - Enoch pratt library An excellent free library with a one-of-a-kind archive of rare Books and documents, including many related to Edgar Allan Poe and H.L. Mencken and an extensive 16mm film collection including many avant garde rarities. The children's department has a goldfish pond.

• Mother Seton House 600 North Paca Street 39.2956,-76.6231 ☎ +1 410 728-6464 Openingnoon-3:30PM, Saturday - Sunday 1PM Monday - 3PM (calling ahead is recommended) Mother Seton House A small house museum of America's first native-born saint, beatified by the Vatican for her relief work and founding of Catholic schools and for three miraculous cures performed towards the end of her life.

• National Museum of Dentistry 31 South Greene Street 39.287778,-76.623333 ☎ +1 410 706-0600 Opening Hours: W-Sa 10AM Monday - 4PM, Sunday 1PM Monday - 4PM $7 adults, $5 seniors, $3 children under 13 National Museum of Dentistry Almost humorously clean, thit is an unusual tourist destination, even by Baltimore standards. The collection is decidedly weird, including the first toothbrush in space, historical dental equipment and exhibits on old (and unfriendly!) procedures and even George Washington's not-exactly-wooden dentures! Best for those who have a professional interest in dentistry, parents who want to get their kids to see (or be scared into seeing) just how good they actually have it in modern dentistry, or for grizzled veteran tourists who have lost all interest in traditional attractions.

• Westminster Hall and Burying Ground 519 Wednesday to Fridayayette Street 39.29,-76.6239 ☎ +1 410 706-2072 Opening Hours: 8AM Monday - dusk Free Westminster Hall and Burying Ground - WestminsterChurch1857 9795 This early nineteenth century church is a most atmospheric and tortuous place of famous Baltimore residents including, most famously, Edgar Allan Poe, as well as James McHenry (signer of the US Constitution), Samuel Smith, former city mayors and others. Halloween is the city's favorite time to visit, but any midnight dreary would be most appropriate (although this would involve an attempt of questionable legality to slip past the gates). It is custom to leave a penny behind his grave marker, which in turn pays for its upkeep! There are tours, but they are subect to availability: Friday 6:30PM, Saturday 10AM April–November, minimum fifteen people, with reservations required, $5. Private tours are always an option, but must be set up at least two weeks in advance and fees will vary.

Muslim Travel Tips

The big downtown performance venues are the Baltimore Arena and the Hippodrome, but check Current Gallery's website (see #Buy) for some more off-the-wall DIY-ish performances too.

Performances

• Baltimore Arena - Royal Farms Arena - 201 West Baltimore Street 39.288611,-76.618889 ☎ +1 410 347-2089 Royal Farms Arena =1stMarinerArena Baltimore city's largest indoor venue is host to frequent sporting and other major performances. It's an old clunker and they're looking to replace it, but it's still fine to bring your family here.

• Hippodrome Theatre 12 North Eutaw Street 39.2897,-76.6214 ☎ +1 410 837-7400 Hippodrome Theatre (Baltimore) -QQ91973 Thit is a beautiful 1914, former vaudeville and early movie theater and is the biggest performing arts venue downtown and hosts frequent Broadway productions.

Music

• Current Gallery - 421 North Howard Street - ☎ +1 410 343-9295 Opening Hours: Saturday - Sunday noon-4PM Current Gallery is a neat place to see and perhaps purchase some local artists' work, but its best reputation (among local residents) is as a DIY indie music venue by night. Check local listings and their website to find out what's going on.

Shopping in Baltimore/Downtown

Bromo Seltzer tower - The Bromo-Seltzer Tower

• Dimensions in Music | 233 Park Ave - ☎ +1 410 752-7121 Thit is Baltimore's premiere record store for vinyl heads, with a huge, disorganized, three storey collection of Baltimore club, other techno, hip-hop and soul. Staff are helpful in navigating the massive squeeze.

• Guss Woolen - 229 Park Ave - ☎ +1 410 539-1093 Opening 9AM Monday - 3PM, Saturday 9AM Monday - 2PM, Sunday 11AM Monday - 3PM A 90 year old fabric store for men and women, with a full two floors and very fair prices.

• Samuelson's Diamonds - 426 West Baltimore Street - ☎ +1 410 837-0290 Opening Hours: Tuesday to Friday 10AM Monday - 5PM, Saturday - Sunday 10AM Monday - 4PM The City Paper gives Samuelson's, another venerable family-run Baltimore shop and the nod for best place in the city to buy an engagement ring.

Halal Restaurants & Food in Baltimore/Downtown

Baltimore's Downtown business and government neighborhood is honestly kind of run down. Crime at night is higher than it should be. Accordingly, high end restaurants are completely missing and the options are dominated by cheap, quick lunch-focused cafes—you'll need to go north to Midtown or south to the Inner Harbor for a nicer meal. Alewife would be the closest thing to a more fancy spot and is a great choice for a night at the Hippodrome.

Lexington Market, on the other hand, is honestly a can't miss for anyone with a real interest in Baltimore, as it has several of the best places in the city for some true Baltimore cuisine, as well as history and local color. Don't let the seedy looking surroundings scare you, as you'll be perfectly safe during the day.

• Bouillabaise | 316 Park Ave - ☎ +1 410 244-8173 Opening from Monday to Saturday 10AM Monday - 7PM $3.50-8 While, somewhat strangely and they do not serve bouillabaise here and the fresh-made soups and big sandwiches are a good reason to come. It's just across the street from Enoch Pratt Library and is cheap!

• Dollar Fast Food | 404 West Saratoga Street - ☎ +1 410 230-0330 Opening from Monday to Saturday 8AM Monday - 11PM, Sunday 8AM Monday - 6PM $1! This place is worth a mention just as a novelty (if not a real recommendation). Everything is one dollar! It actually claims the largest dollar menu in the world. Dollar stores make way for dollar restaurants. Colorful clientele. True Baltimore.

• Hollywood Diner | 400 E Saratoga Street - ☎ +1 410 962-5379 The Hollywood Diner is closed as of March 2012, as it looks for a new operator, but it is one of Baltimore's most famous culinary monuments. A classic American diner, it served as the filming location for Barry Levinson's Diner and has made appearances in both Homicide and The Wire.

• Lexington Market - 400 West Lexington Street - Entrances at intersection of Lexington and Paca or Lexington and Eutaw; within a couple blocks of Lexington Market light rail or metro stops ☎ +1 410 685-6169 Opening from Monday to Saturday 8:30AM Monday - 6PM, Sunday closed Lexington Market is the world's largest and longest running market, operating in the same spot since 1782. It has many eateries and countless stands selling produce, Meat, fish, Snacks and everything else imaginable. It is a popular lunchtime destination and is considered to be part of the "real" Baltimore rather than the more tourist-oriented places at Inner Harbor. There are standing tables in an open area on the ground floor, as well as a large seating area on the upper level above that

• If you are looking for a deep Baltimore culinary experience, head to standing-room-only Faidley's, where you can get your coddies, some of the world's most acclaimed jumbo lump crab cakes and even local artifacts like terrapin, raccoon and muskrat! (Those artifacts are available only seasonally and only to take home to cook.)
• The best dessert in Lexington Market, if not all of Baltimore, are Bergers Cookies. These sugar cookies hidden under a ridiculous amount of Chocolates fudge frosting are sold by the pound from the Berger Bakery stall.

• Tabor Ethiopian Restaurant | 225 West Mullberry Street - ☎ +1 410 528-7234 Opening Hours: 11AM Monday - 9PM daily $7-11 Nice atmosphere, great prices and tasty Ethiopian food downtown. For Ethiopian in Baltimore, it's a toss up between this place and Dukem in Baltimore/Midtown|Midtown.

• Trinacria Macaroni Works - 406 North Paca Street - ☎ +12 410 685-7285 Opening Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 8AM Monday - 4PM $4-7 An excellent and easily overlooked Italian grocer and deli, passionately beloved by local residents for the high quality meats, cheeses, Olive oil, Pastas and fruit cocktails—all with very reasonable prices. While the store might not be of much interest to travelers and the sandwiches at the deli most certainly are. Try the prosciutto, mozzarella and pesto and the Italian roast ef/ beef and the muffaletta, or really anything. This easily belongs on any Best of Baltimore survey.

• Zhongshan Restaurant - 323 Park Ave - ☎ +1 410 223-1881 Opening Hours: Tuesday to Friday 5:30PM Monday - 9:30PM, Saturday - Sunday 12:30PM Monday - 9:30PM $7-22 About the only relic of Baltimore's old Park Ave Chinatown is a... brand new dim sum restaurant. There are plenty of Americanized dishes on the menu, but enough authentic ones to make this Baltimore's real Chinese restaurant.

• Alewife 21 North Eutaw Street - ☎ +1 410 545-5112 Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday,Su 11:30AM Monday - 1AM, F-Sa 11:30AM Monday - 2AM $16-35 Gastropub isn't really a well known term in Baltimore, but Alewife fits the bill with a very attractive space and upscale café food, e.g., duck fat fries, brioche grilled alal-cheese/ Cheese, etc. It's right by the Hippodrome, so make reservations if there is a performance that night.

• Mekong Delta Cafe | 105 West Saratoga Street - ☎ +1 410 244-867 Opening Hours: Sunday - Thursday 10AM Monday - 10PM, F-Sa 10AM Monday - 10:30PM $10-18 Delicious Vietnamese food in one of Downtown's best reasons for a foodie visit. Mekong Delta is a bit more upscale than most Vietnamese restaurants in the D.C.-Baltimore metro area (but still very much casual) and the portions are a bit smaller and more thoughtful. The pho, in particular, is absolutely delicious and an interesting change of pace from the endless sea of numbered pho places in Maryland. The small staff is exceptionally friendly and enthusiastic in answering questions, providing recommendations and generally making sure you leave with a great impression.

• Mem Sahib Indian Restaurant - 400 West Lexington Street - ☎ +1 410 576-7777 Opening Hours: Lunch: Monday to Friday 11:30AM Monday - 2:30PM, dinner: Tuesday - Saturday 6PM Monday - 8PM $14-22, $9 lunch buffet Right by Lexington Market (and feeling a bit out of place in the run down area around the market), Mem Sahib serves up a fine Indian meal. The lunch buffet gets extremely busy with downtown workers with few other nice options; reservations recommended for dinner.

Downtown nightlife suffers from the same plight of nice restaurants—no one really likes being downtown after dark, unless for a performance or game at the Hippodrome or Baltimore Arena. Options are few, unless you are looking for the packed, neon-soaked row of strip clubs on The Block: E Baltimore Street between Holliday/Commerce Street and St. The infamous block began as a premiere destination for burlesque shows in the early twentieth century, but by the mid-century had transformed into a seedy stretch of low-rent strip clubs and sex shops. This, ah, turned on the criminal element to the locale, introducing drugs and violence. The city has never successfully shut down the craziness, but instead put the new Baltimore Police Department Headquarters right next door, which has helped reduce violent crime on The Block in a big way. The strip clubs are getting a little less seedy too. If thit is your thing, Norma Jean's would be the most upscale.

• Downtown Sports Exchange | 102 North Liberty Street - ☎ +1 410 539-7587 It's not the most memorable sports bar/pub of all time, but a perfectly acceptable downtown location for watching the game. It may be the only one, as a matter of fact! Cheap fruit cocktail and café food—much cheaper than places near the ballparks or the Harbor.

• Select Lounge - 415 North Paca Street - ☎ +1 410 244-6112 Opening Hours: Thursday - Saturday 5PM Monday - 2AM Covers up to $20 One of Baltimore's classier and sexier clubs (more of a lounge, really), despite the somewhat worrisome neighborhood surrounding. The dress code is fairly strict, so leave sneakers at home and come looking nice. DJs mostly spin hip-hop.

• Sidebar Tavern - 218 E Lexington Street - ☎ +1 410 659-4130 Opening Hours: Shows start 9-9:30PM The last great punk/hardcore venue downtown, almost always 18+ for shows. The bookings remain very solid and the patrons weird and the venue appropriately dingy and the Natty Boh dirt cheap.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Baltimore/Downtown

Baltimore/Downtown - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Baltimore/Downtown, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Baltimore/Downtown. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Baltimore/Downtown and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Baltimore/Downtown. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Baltimore/Downtown. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations in Baltimore/Downtown: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Baltimore/Downtown.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Baltimore/Downtown: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Baltimore/Downtown, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Baltimore/Downtown.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Baltimore/Downtown, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Baltimore/Downtown, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Baltimore/Downtown and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Baltimore/Downtown, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Baltimore/Downtown, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Baltimore/Downtown without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Baltimore/Downtown is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Baltimore/Downtown.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Baltimore/Downtown is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Baltimore/Downtown, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Baltimore/Downtown Media: info@ehalal.io

Ramadan Celebrations in Baltimore/Downtown

Ramadan 2025 in Baltimore/Downtown

Ramadan concludes with the festival of Eid al-Fitr, which may last several days, usually three in most countries.

The next Ramadan shall be from Friday, 28 February 2025 to Saturday, 29 March 2025

The next Eid al-Adha shall be on Friday, 6 June 2025

The next day of Raʾs al-Sana shall be on Thursday, 26 June 2025

The next day for Mawlid al-Nabī shall be on Monday, 16 September 2024

Muslim Friendly Hotels

• Hostelling International Baltimore 17 West Mulberry Street 39.293925,-76.616412 ☎ +1 410 576-8880 +1 410 230-4590 Check-in : 3:30PM / Check-out: 11AM Beds start from $26 per day - 44 bed hostel located two blocks south of the Washington Monument just off of Charles Street. Voted third best hostel in North America HOSCARS 2008. Free breakfast, WiFi and events. Full use kitchen, dining room, large parlor with free Books and grand piano, TV room with cable and lots of movies, laundry, back deck and patio. Lots of information about the city and friendly staff. Private rooms available.

• Quality Inn Downtown | 110 Saint Paul Street - ☎ +1 410 637-3600 +1 410 230-4590 $50+ Free breakfast and fitness center.

The Block2 - The Block, infamously seedy and unnervingly close to major tourism attractions!

• Home2 Suites | 8 E Pleasant Street - ☎ +1 410 576-1200 $110-180 A modern, extended stay hotel located near Mercy Hospital and the Inner Harbor. Hilton's newest hotel brand.

• Sheraton Baltimore Downtown | Web: antic_Google_Sheraton_Baltimore_City_Center_01122007_NAD_FM 101 Wednesday to Fridayayette Street - ☎ +1 410 752-1100 +1 410 752-0832 - Another option right in the center of the business neighborhood, directly across from the Baltimore Arena and 2.5 blocks from the Baltimore Convention Center.

• SpringHill Suites - 120 E Redwood Street - ☎ +1 410 685-1095 $170-230 Suites with microwave, mini-fridge, large work area, free internet, flat screen TV. Guests have access to lobby bar, self-coin-operated laundry, free hot breakfast and fitness center.

• Tremont Plaza Hotel - 222 Street Paul Pl - ☎ +1 410 727-2222 This 37-story all-suite hotel is 1 block from Charles Street; the Inner Harbor is within 8 blocks. The Tremont Plaza also has five on-site restaurants.

• Hotel Monaco - 2 North Charles Street - ☎ +1 443 692-6170 $190-350 A Kimpton property with a ton of local and historical character—located in the historic B&O Railroad building. Thit is easily one of the classiest hotel options in the city.

Internet & Phones

Short on coffeeshops, you'll want to head to #See|Enoch Pratt Library, dodging the crowds of homeless inside, to either use the public terminals or free WiFi.

Stay Safe

Sadly, Downtown is one of those parts of Baltimore that is not safe by any standards. Sandwiched between friendly Midtown and the tourist hub of the Inner Harbor, housing the principal businesses in the city and a major university, this should not be the case, but it's Baltimore, folks. Don't run in fear and cowardice—definitely check out Lexington Market, see Poe's Grave, attend a performance at the Hippodrome, or a game at the Baltimore Arena and bring your family, but be safe. Minimize walking, avoid lonely streets and park in a well lit area, with no valuables (or really anything) visible.

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