Life in Baltimore

Charm City Hon!

As you choose where to apply, we encourage you to visit and spend some time in Baltimore. We put together an interactive map of the city and a list of popular neighborhoods and activities to explore. We want you to be as excited about Baltimore as we are! 

Where to Stay

We also compiled a list of hotels in the area. We recommend staying in one of the city's charming, historic neighborhoods so that you can experience Baltimore beyond just the downtown area.

What to do!

Check out an interactive google earth tour of campus, neighborhoods, and Baltimore highlights. We recommend driving and/or walking through the neighborhoods and parks to get a feel for life in the city.

Some of our students put together the below suggestions which we hope you find helpful when visiting. Keep in mind these are just popular places our students suggested but we encourage you to do your own research and find the Baltimore that fits you best!

If you arrive in Baltimore bright and early and want breakfast, you can visit a Baltimore classic, Miss Shirley's, which has been featured on Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives and has a famous crab cake and fried green tomato Eggs Benedict. The Blue Moon Cafe is another popular brunch spot and has locations in Federal Hill and Fells Point. If you are looking for something quicker, Diablo Donuts in Federal Hill and Iron Rooster in McHenry Row are popular options and offer donuts or homemade poptarts. For a vegan-friendly option, Pure Raw Juice in Federal Hill has acai bowls and smoothies. If you are gluten free, Harmony Bakery is a popular option. Maybe you aren't hungry but could still use that morning jolt, Order & Chaos and 3 Bean Coffee in Federal Hill are popular coffee shops.

If you are visiting for an afternoon, Baltimore has plenty of daytime activities for people with different interests. Widely considered one of the best aquariums in the country, the National Aquarium in the Inner Harbor is always popular. The Maryland Science Center in the Inner Harbor is another popular place to visit and features many hands-on, interactive exhibits. If you enjoy going to museums, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture is located right in downtown Baltimore, as well several art museums, including the American Visionary Arts Museum in Federal Hill which showcases self-taught art and features unique and quirky pieces. The Baltimore Museum of Art in Hampden and Walters Art Museum in Mt. Vernon are more traditional art museums that are free to visit and include collections from more than seven millenia. If you are a history buff, we recommend visiting the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime ParkBaltimore Civil War MuseumB&O Railroad Museum, or Fort McHenry where Francis Scott Key penned the National Anthem. For the more adventurous, you can go axe throwing at Urban Axes in Highlandtown. If you decided to have a big breakfast and want to walk it off, Federal Hill Park provides gorgeous views of the Inner Harbor and Baltimore skyline, out into the Chesapeake Bay. The park is only about a mile walk from the law school! 

Who could visit Baltimore without getting some crabs and Old Bay? Overlooking the water, Nick’s Fish House is a popular spot in Port Covington, Bo Brooks Crab House overlooks the water with a tiki bar in Canton, and Jimmy's Famous Seafood has been featured on the Food Network, Travel Channel, and Beat Bobby Flay. The renowned  Woodberry Kitchen in Hampden offers a farm-to-table menu and has been listed in the Washingtonian's Top 100 restaurants in the DC Area for several years (reservations are needed well in advance). If you are looking for comfort food, Papermoon Diner has an eclectic menu and is iconic in its Hampden Neighborhood. Both RA Sushi and Shoyou Sushi are popular sushi spots and Ekiben in Fells Point has won awards for its tofu brah and Asian street-fare. For a quick bite Mt. Vernon Marketplace showcases Baltimore's diverse food scene in a food hall setting and offers many different cuisines. If you are gluten free, Sweet 27 is a popular option. There are too many to list here, but below you can find some additional popular spots:

If you have a sweet tooth and saved some room for dessert, Baltimore has some great options. Bmore Licks in Patterson Park has every ice cream flavor imaginable and is a popular spot for an Instagram photo. For adventurous ice cream flavors like Old Bay Caramel, the Charmery in Hampden is another good option. Pitango Gelato in Fell's Point often has a line out the door and Vaccaro's in Little Italy is a great spot if you want a cannoli, tiramisu, or other Italian staples.

For drinks, Baltimore has several popular breweries and distilleries. Under Armour founder Kevin Plank owns the Sagamore Spirit distillery, which is popular for whiskey lovers. Guinness Open Gate Brewery, which is Guinness' only U.S. Brewery, Diamondback Brewery in Locust Point, or Ministry of Brewing, located in the former St. Michael’s Church and recently featured in Esquire magazine's best bars in America, are popular spots to grab a beer. Monument City Brewing Company is another option and has corn hole, ping pong, and more. Although it is only open seasonally, one of the most popular outdoor spots is The Sandlot in Harbor East because of its beach. If you are looking for a view, Topside in Mt. Vernon has an enclosed rooftop bar and The Bygone offers spectacular views of downtown. 

Neighborhoods

Fells Point

Fells Point is one of the most charming areas in Baltimore. Its waterfront location and cobblestone lined streets make it a very appealing location to live, dine, and shop. Fells Point is accessible from other areas of the city by Water Taxi. It is a popular location for lots of bars, some great restaurants, boutique shopping, live music, and the historic Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park.

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Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon is just north of the law school, still within walking distance, with more of a downtown feel. It is home to the Washington Monument, Walters Art Museum, and Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. This area is known for its culture and charm. Additionally, this neighborhood is home to some of Baltimore's best LGBTQ+ nightlife. You will find plenty of individual coffee shops and historic landmarks. You can also find Penn Station here, where you can hop on an Amtrak to New York or Philadelphia, or take the Marc Train to DC.

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Federal Hill

Many of our students live in the Federal Hill area. Federal Hill is within walking distance to the law school. It is also near the Ravens stadium. Many young professionals live here and it is a lively community with a big tailgating and bar scene, many restaurants, and home to Federal Hill Park, which overlooks the Inner Harbor. It is full of historic rowhouses and charming streets.

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Locust Point - This neighborhood is at the southern end of the Federal Hill peninsula and has a similar look and feel to Federal Hill, but is a bit quieter. Here you can find Fort McHenry where the national anthem was penned and the Under Armour Global Headquarters. Many students live in Locust Point.

Harbor East/Little Italy – Harbor East is on the east side of the Inner Harbor, between Downtown and Fells Point. It is full of high-rise apartments, gyms, shopping, waterfront dining, and a Whole Foods. This is also where the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School is located, should you pursue a JD/MBA. Little Italy, just to the north, is a charming area full of Italian restaurants. 

Canton – Canton is just east of Fells Point and is situated between the waterfront and Patterson Park, which is home to walking trails, sports fields, a pool, and tennis courts. Canton Square is a fun area with a park surrounded by bars and restaurants. Canton, like Federal Hill, is a mix of historic rowhouses and restaurants and bars. Canton is also is on the water and has Canton Waterfront Park, which offers eight acres of harbor views and is one end of the 4.4 mile Baltimore Waterfront Promenade trail that goes from Canton through Fells Point to the Inner Harbor and Federal Hill.

Hampden - Hampden is a bit north of Baltimore city and you will certainly need a car should you visit there. Known for its fantastic food scene and arts community, each year Miracle of Lights on 34th Street draws many visitors around the holidays to view the lights. 

Downtown – Downtown is where the law school is located, along with the Inner Harbor, National Aquarium, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture, and other tourist landmarks. Edgar Allan Poe's Grave is actually right next to the law school courtyard, downtown. Being on the harbor provides many benefits, as well. Baltimore Beach Volleyball is a popular daytime activity. The Orioles stadium is also located downtown, next to Camden Station, where you can take the MARC train to DC for an externship. Many students also choose to live in the high rises in the downtown area, including Redwood, Camden Court, The Zenith, and The Atrium. 

Where is Maryland Carey Law?

Here's our map that shows us in relation to various other Baltimore highlighted areas.

VIEW MAP