Brian Nagele
Federal Hill is a historic neighborhood located south of the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Maryland. The area witnessed many life-changing events over the years.
The War of 1812 was one of the most notable, where the Union soldiers occupied the hill. Federal Hill is a beautiful area filled with historical buildings, as well as new ones.
Small businesses, restaurants, and stunning views fill the area. And then when the sun goes down, it becomes full of life with plenty of nightlife options to keep you occupied.
After taking in the scenery and maybe doing some shopping, you might be wondering where to eat.
My list of the best restaurants in Federal Hill offers some insight to help you find the delicious cuisine you’re looking for!
SoBo Cafe
6 W Cross St, Baltimore, MD 21230
Phone: 410-752-1518
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You can find SoBo Cafe on the west side of Federal Hill and a short six-minute walk from Solo Gibbs Park.
The cafe offers a twist on American cuisine with a menu full of scratch-made dishes that are sure to please.
And don’t worry if you have dietary restrictions. They offer plenty of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options to choose from!
They also have specials depending on the day you visit. They have pasta Mondays, Greek nights on Wednesdays, wine Wednesdays, burger nights on Thursdays, and rosé Saturdays.
During my visit to this restaurant, I enjoyed their Thai Curry Pei mussels and the shrimp linguine.
I was somewhat skeptical about coconut milk with the mussels, but I promise, it completely makes the dish!
The Abbey Burger Bistro
1041 Marshall St, Baltimore, MD 21230
Phone: 443-453-9698
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The Abbey Burger Bistro sits smack in the middle of Federal Hill. It’s an eight-minute walk from Federal Hill Park and an 11-minute walk from the American Visionary Art Museum.
This bistro has several locations throughout Maryland, but this one is the original. Their menu offers many normal and exotic foods that you wouldn’t normally come across.
And by exotic, I mean alligator, bison, and other meats of the sort. But, they still have the more familiar meats, as well as vegetarian and vegan options.
They also have a nice selection of drinks and spiked milkshakes. Their happy hour, or “Abbey hour”, is Monday through Friday, 4 pm-6 pm.
I stuck to the safe side and had the cherrywood smoked Angus burger. The best part was the combination of the spicy jalapenos and bbq sauce.
The Outpost American Tavern
1032 Riverside Ave, Baltimore, MD 21230
Phone: 443-388-9113
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The Outpost is on the east side of Federal Hill. It’s approximately a five-minute walk from Federal Hill Park and a seven-minute walk from the harbor.
Their menu is full of tavern favorites, nightly specials, and a decent list of happy hour drinks. On Mondays, the tavern has burger night.
On Tuesday, they have fried chicken with your choice of prosecco or sparkling water. And they have pizza night on Wednesdays. They also offer brunch on Saturday and Sunday mornings from 10 am-3 pm!
All of their food looked so good, but I visited on a Monday so I definitely felt like I needed to get a burger. I ended up choosing the salmon burger and the lemon-dill sauce was a huge winner in my book.
Magerk’s Pub & Grill Federal Hill
1061 S Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21230
Phone: 410-576-9230
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Magerk’s Pub is on the west side of Federal Hill and about a seven-minute walk from Solo Gibbs Park. It is a little far away from the harbor, but still within walking distance.
The harbor is about a 13-minute walk from the pub. If you’re in the mood for some pub food, definitely go here.
They offer a menu full of pub favorites such as cheesesteaks, burgers, chicken fingers, and a plethora of sandwiches. And don’t forget about the beer!
I highly recommend the crab pretzel and the cheesesteak hoagie. That soft pretzel topped with crab dip and cheese will be one of the best appetizers you’ll ever eat. It’s such a strange combination but the flavor was unbelievable.
Banditos Tacos & Tequila – Federal Hill
1118 S Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21230
Phone: 443-835-1517
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Banditos Tacos and Tequila is in the lower west corner of Federal Hill and is an eight-minute walk from Solo Gibbs Park. The restaurant is a 13-minute walk from M&T Bank Stadium and a 16-minute walk from the harbor.
Their menu offers delicious Mexican street food and a list of handcrafted cocktails. They even offer a bottle club.
With this club, you can purchase a bottle of tequila or mezcal and they’ll serve it to you each time you visit the restaurant.
It’s a special bottle reserved just for you! I enjoyed the barbacoa tacos and a little bit of tequila. Tequila and tacos always go well together.
Brendali Italian Ristorante
1022 Light St, Baltimore, MD 21230
Phone: 410-800-2485
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Brendali Italian Ristorante is in the middle of Federal Hill and is an eight-minute walk from Federal Hill Park and a 12-minute walk from the harbor.
It is also a 10-minute walk from the American Visionary Art Museum. Brendali offers a wide variety of Italian dishes.
You’ll find appetizers such as bruschetta and mozzarella Caprese. And the entrees range from chicken and veal to pizza.
One of the best parts is that you can add pasta as a side to any dish! After taking quite a bit of time looking over the menu, I finally decided on the crab ravioli.
If you like crab, you will be tremendously happy with this dish. They give you huge chunks of crab with beautifully tender ravioli.
Blue Agave Mexican Food
1032 Light St, Baltimore, MD 21230
Phone: 410-576-3938
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Blue Agave is directly across the street from the Federal Hill Preparatory Academy and an eight-minute walk from Federal Hill Park.
As long as you find the academy, it’ll be easy to spot Blue Agave. This restaurant offers a menu of fresh Mexican food and a huge list of over 130 tequilas.
If you’re not a fan of tequila, they have other cocktails too. Blue Agave also has brunch available on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am-3 pm.
They make all of their salsas and guacamoles daily, so you can feel confident that you are getting the freshest food possible. Who doesn’t love fresh guacamole?
I had the chorizo empanada and would recommend you try it too. It was so full of flavor, and it came with a tasty jicama slaw.
Wayward Southern Bar & Kitchen
1117 S Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21230
Phone: 410-223-2269
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Wayward Southern Bar and Kitchen sits at the southwestern corner of Federal Hill. It is just a seven-minute walk from Solo Gibbs Park and a 12-minute walk from the M&T Bank Stadium.
This restaurant serves up some southern classics that are sure to get your mouth watering. And if you’re looking for something to drink, they have a considerably-sized bar menu featuring a long list of whiskey, bourbon, and moonshine.
Happy hour runs 4 pm-7 pm Tuesday through Friday, and they offer other daily specials as well. Tuesday is trivia night, Wednesday is industry night, Thursday is flip night, and extended happy hour night is on Friday.
Brunch on Saturdays and Sundays is a big hit with their bottomless mimosas. The backyard special was out of this world with brisket, wings, beans, and mac and cheese.
The Charles Baltimore
1110 S Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21230
Phone: 410-727-2333
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The Charles Baltimore is in the southwest corner of Federal Hill and a seven-minute walk from Solo Gibbs Park.
If you’re looking to visit the M&T Bank Stadium, it is just a 12-minute walk away from the restaurant. The Charles Baltimore is a massive, wide-open building with a captivating atmosphere.
Not only is it a restaurant, but they have two full-service bars and live DJ music. You can even watch the game on a big screen!
The menu includes brunch, dinner, and drinks. They have a nice mix of appetizers, sandwiches, and salads available on their dinner menu.
I went with the chicken and waffle sliders, which I highly recommend. I like the twist they took on the southern classic by using cornbread waffles.
While visiting Federal Hill, it’s always nice to visit the park and harbor. Nothing beats beautiful views. But, if nature isn’t your cup of tea, you can catch a game at the M&T Bank Stadium or visit the American Visionary Art Museum.
You could even go shopping as there are plenty of small businesses around. There is something for everyone.
Whatever activity you choose to do, you’ll surely be hungry afterward, and finding somewhere to eat can be difficult.
Whether you’re looking for Mexican, Italian, or just some traditional American comfort food, this list of best restaurants in Federal Hill is sure to have an option you will love. Of course, nothing beats the selection of restaurants nearby in Baltimore!
Did we leave a restaurant out of this list? Make sure you leave us a comment and we’ll check it out!
