I had such a good time exploring Baltimore, Maryland! The restaurant and activity recommendations in this vlog are perfect for a weekend trip or quick getaway, especially from DC as the city is just 30 minutes away by train! This mini travel guide features so many amazing Black-owned businesses as well!
Check out:
Rize & Rest - This new all-day concept (cafe by day, fine casual by night) was a standout, with fun and well-balanced cocktails, crispy oysters, and a broccoli Caesar that just made me happy. #BlackOwned
www.rizerestcafe.com/
Urban Oyster - Open in a new location that’s absolutely gorgeous, this is a great spot for oysters as the name implies. The grilled oysters hit and there's a selection of raw oysters to choose from as well. I also loved the seared scallops with mushroom risotto and corn puree. #BlackOwnedBusiness
www.theurbanoyster.com/
The Art of Balance Spa - Located in the Ritz Carlton Residences this spa offers a range of treatments. I had a hydrafacial that had me glowing and my friend loved the massage she got here. It has cute day spa vibes with staff that are attentive and really knowledgeable. #BlackOwned
www.artofbalancespa.com/
Crust by Mack - The scratch-made pastries at this bakery are phenomenal! The new location is right on the water for a lovely view, the crab pie is a favorite for a reason and I’m already planning to go back to try some of their expanded menu items. #BlackWomanOwned
www.crustbymack.com/
Cuples Tea House - This cute tea house has a great selection. You can try a tea flight and stop for a quiet moment, shop teas to take home, and they offer pastries as well. And you can also visit Vinyl & Pages next door, owned by the same duo behind Cuples Tea House, and shop local goods, records, and a really well-curated selection of books. #BlackOwned
cuplesteahouse.com/
Stem & Vine - The lush space at this plant store meets wine bar feels so inviting, and the wine program is phenomenal, featuring wines from marginalized makers. It's a great place to sit, learn about wine, and maybe find a new favorite. #BlackOwned
www.stemandvinebaltimore.com/
The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture - This ended up being one of my favorite stops on this trip. The third floor houses a permanent exhibit on Black Maryland history and the second floor a rotating exhibit. During our visit that second-floor exhibit was a textile-based exhibit called Black Woman Genius that focused on Elizabeth Talford Scott’s work among other contemporary Black women artists and explored themes like ancestry, healing, tradition, girlhood, and more.
www.lewismuseum.org/
Sagamore Spirit Distillery - This is one of the few stops we made that was not Black-owned. As someone who truly loves food, wine, cocktails, and beer because I love tasting, love being able to pick out little notes and learn about the history of dishes or drinks or brands and how they’re made, I love a distillery tour. The distillery tour we took at Sagamore walked us through the whole story, from the history of Maryland Rye, to the development of the brand’s location on the Baltimore Peninsula, to various aspects of the distillation process. Also, keep an eye out for a location of the viral #BlackOwned Slutty Vegan which is slated to open soon right across from the distillery on Baltimore Peninsula. There are also multiple other venues opening soon on the Peninsula, including a coffee shop at The Roost, the hotel where we stayed during our trip that has large apartment-style rooms that would be ideal for families or groups.
sagamorespirit.com/
Olivia Coffee - We hit up this spot on our way out of the train station and it was lovely! The matcha I had was excellent and its a cute stop for a caffeine break in the city. This stop is also NOT Black-owned.
/ olivia.coffee.co
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Video Description - Scenes from Anela's trip to Baltimore with her friend Dominique!
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CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
00:52 DC to Baltimore on Amtrak
01:24 Day 1
06:44 Day 2