A Black A** Travel Guide To Baltimore
Baltimore is one of the Blackest cities in America. With a nearly 65% African American population and a Black culture at the forefront of pop culture and politics, the city has long been a place of thriving Black businesses and Black joy. Travelers looking to connect with the city’s many Black businesses won’t have to look too hard. Baltimore is very Black and proud.
If fresh seafood, diverse Black folks, and a laid-back, almost Southern-like feel are what you’re craving from your next trip, add Charm City to your list.
These are the top Black-owned things to do in Baltimore, Maryland.
Best Black-Owned Restaurants In Baltimore
The cuisine in Baltimore is famous for a reason. No trip to the harbor-side city is complete without eating through the many Black-owned cafes, restaurants, and bars. From soul food to seafood, Baltimore is an underrated food city, undeniably Black. These are some of the best Black-owned restaurants in Baltimore.
BRUNCH
When the weekend rolls around, it’d be a sin not to brunch at the top Black brunch spots in town. From mouthwatering red velvet pancakes to delicious coffee, these are the best places to eat in Baltimore.
Water For Chocolate
Water For Chocolate is an intimate neighborhood spot serving an eclectic twist on comfort cuisine that Chef Sean Guy dubbed “#sexycomfortcuisine.” And the menu is sexy with plates like Jerk Duck Confit with Sage Cornbread and sweet potato polenta. Seafood fans will love the Jerk Elote with Old Bay Crab. Beyond its menu, Water For Chocolate is known for its warm and home-like service. WFC doesn’t miss.
When: Wednesday - Saturday, 10 AM - 3 PM, 5 - 9 PM; Sunday - 10 AM - 3 PM
Where: 1841 E Lombard St, Baltimore, MD 21231
Website: waterforchocolate.com
Teavolve
Tea lovers, rejoice! With over 30 varieties of loose-leaf teas, boba, and locally-roasted coffee, Teavolve truly is a zen place. They’ve been charming brunch lovers with an expansive menu for over a decade. We really love the shrimp and grits! Teavolve is also vegetarian and vegan-friendly.
When: Tuesday - Sunday, 9 AM - 4 PM
Where: 1401 Aliceanna St. Baltimore, MD 21231
Website: teavolvecafe.com
HomeMaid
Well-loved for its scratch kitchen plates, HomeMaid is one of Baltimore’s best Black-owned brunches. Their emphasis on fresh, quality ingredients shines through in dishes like “James Brown” — creamy grits topped with deep-fried catfish and topped in the HomeMaid house sauce. French toast lovers should try the “Oh My Gawd”—thick-cut French toast.
When: Saturday and Sunday, 9 AM - 5 PM
Where: 1400 Key Highway, Baltimore, MD 21230
Website: homemaidbrunch.com
DINNER
When dinner time rolls around, there’s no shortage of Black-owned restaurants in Baltimore to try. From seafood to vegan eats, there’s a plate for every palette.
Fishnet
All fish lovers should pull up a seat at Fishnet; with a commitment to keeping things simple, fresh, and local, there’s so much to love. Located inside Mount Vernon Marketplace, Fishnet is casual dining done right. Their fish sandwiches are the true stars on the menu, but the calamari and even a three-cheese mac are available from salmon to catfish. Order the “Steakfish Sandwich”— a crispy, fried wild Steakfish (Hake) sandwich served on a locally-baked bun to tap into true Black Baltimore culinary history.
When: Tuesday - Sunday, 11:30 AM - 8 PM
Where: Located inside Mount Vernon Marketplace, 520 Park Ave, Baltimore, MD 21201
Website: eatfishnet.com
The Urban Oyster
You came to Charm City for seafood. The Urban Oyster is one of the best places to eat in Baltimore. The best part? (besides the oysters, of course), The Urban Oyster is the first Black-woman-owned oyster bar in Maryland (and the entire U.S.). Chef Jasmine Norton opened the restaurant to create a space in a relaxed atmosphere where oyster lovers could consume their oysters. So leave your Sunday’s best at home and try UO’s chargrilled oysters or the seafood nachos. They even do steam pots with everything from lobster tail to shrimp in a Cajun or curry butter sauce.
When: Varies
Where: 910 W 36th Street, Baltimore, MD 21211
Website: www.theurbanoyster.com
The Land of Kush
No Black vegan is left behind in Baltimore. The city has a variety of vegan restaurants, but The Land of Kush is top-tier, serving vegan soul food. Don’t leave without trying their vegan crab cakes or coconut curry cabbage. If you’re stopping by, they even have fresh juices and smoothies. In 2012, the restaurant’s founders created Vegan SoulFest, an annual celebration of the city’s Black vegan community.
When: Monday - Saturday, 11 AM - 9 PM; Sunday, 10 AM - 8 PM
Where: 840 N Eutaw St, Baltimore, MD 21201
Website: The Land of Kush
Blk Swan
Pack your most fly fit for dinner at Blk Swan, a swanky spot in Baltimore’s Harbor East neighborhood worth trying. The menu is American meets soul food and features Baltimore classics (with a twist) like the chicken box and jumbo lump crab cake. But there’s truly something on the menu for most taste bus think lobster scampi pizza all the way to tomahawk steaks. On Friday and Saturday nights, a live DJ is spinning for more of a night out with a lounge feel.
When: Monday - Thursday, 5 PM - 12 AM; Friday - 5 PM - 1 AM; Saturday - 10 - 3 AM [brunch] & 5 PM - 1 AM [dinner]; Sunday - 11 AM - 4 PM [ brunch] & 11 AM - 4 PM
Where: 1302 Fleet St, Baltimore, MD 21202
Website: Blk Swan
DESSERT
After dinner, if you’re craving a little something sweet, head to these Black-owned dessert spots to fulfill your sweet tooth.
Ice Queens
Snoballs have been a part of Baltimore’s culinary culture since the 1800s, particularly in popularity in the 1920s when they were considered “penny sundaes” during economic hardship. Black-woman-owned snowball stand Ice Queens Snoball Shop serves a New Orleans version of the dessert, which differs in ice texture and toppings. You’ll find Baltimore-favorite flavors like Egg Custard, made of eggs, vanilla, and sugar—a must-try on the menu. The shop also sells beignets and breakfast sandwiches.
When: Saturdays, 10 AM - 4 PM
Where: 1648 E Fort Ave, Baltimore, MD 21230
Website: Ice Queens
Taharka Brothers
Now, when was the last time you had some Black-owned ice cream? We’ll wait. Some of the best cones in Baltimore are at Taharka Brothers, an employee-owned company that is more than just an ice cream shop. They’re on a mission to create an impactful, profitable business managed by young adults from the city’s most marginalized neighborhoods. Their award-winning lineup features flavors like Honey Graham, Mintflix & Chillz, and Caramel Crunch and locations at some of Baltimore’s best food halls, like Lexington Market and R. House, it’s easy to get you a scoop no matter which part of the city you’re visiting.
When: Varies by location
Where: Various locations & nationwide shipping
Website: Taharka Brothers
Best Black Experiences To Have In Baltimore
Sometimes, as a Black person living in America, it can feel like we don’t have enough safe spaces. But in cities like Baltimore, there are many spaces where we can go and feel seen by being in community with our people. These are the best Black experiences and things to do in Baltimore.
Celebrate Black Culture At A Music Festival
Baltimore's charming community feel extends beyond the city’s restaurant tables. Summer is the ultimate time to experience the best Black things to do in Baltimore. Since the ’70s, the city has hosted AFRAM, one of the largest festivals celebrating African-American culture on the East Coast. With music, food, and arts, AFRAM is Baltimore’s version of Afropunk.
When: Saturday, June 22, 2024 & Sunday, June 23, 2024.
Where: Druid Hill Park, 900 Druid Park Lake Dr, Baltimore, MD 21217.
Website: aframbaltimore.com
Learn About Black History
Travelers shouldn’t leave Baltimore without visiting the iconic Reginald F. Lewis Museum. The museum houses exhibitions that are full of Maryland’s African-American history. The experience combines art, history, and Black culture perfectly. To dive deeper into our history, visit The National Great Blacks In Wax Museum to see over 150 wax figures of folks important to the culture.
Reginald F. Lewis Museum
When: Thursday - Saturday, 10 AM - 5 PM; Sunday, 12 - 5 PM
Where: 830 E Pratt St, Baltimore, MD 21202
Website: www.lewismuseum.org
The National Great Blacks In Wax Museum
When: Thursday - Saturday, 10 AM - 5 PM; Sunday, 12 - 5 PM
Where: 1601-03 East North Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland, 21213
Website: www.greatblacksinwax.org
Listen To Poetry At An Open Mic
If live performances and open mic night sound like your vibe, check out The Poetry Party’s weekly Wednesday open mic show. Acclaimed poet and event curator APoetNamedNate regularly hosts sold-out poetry shows at the city’s historically Black theatre, Arena Players, Nubian Hueman, a Black-owned concept shop, and elsewhere.
The Poetry Party
When: Every Wednesday, 7 PM - 12 AM
Where: 6 E Lafayette Ave, Baltimore, MD 21202
Website: @thepoetrypartybaltimore
APoetNamedNate
When: Varies monthly
Where: Varies (Area Players, Nubian Hueman, Good Neighbor, and more)
Website: www.apoetnamednate.com
Attend A Blk Ass Flea Market Event
We’ve been curating our Black A** Travel Guides for years, so naturally, we must uplift Baltimore curated event studio and marketplace, Blk Ass Flea Market. They host karaoke nights, happy hours, flea markets, and more to empower artists, creatives, and business owners with the purpose of “keepin’ the coin in the community.” Be sure to plan your trip around their monthly day party, Da Juke, hosted every third Sunday, and it’s always a good, Black ass time.
Blk Ass Flea Market
When: Varies monthly
Where: Varies at locations around Baltimore
Website: Blk Ass Flea Market; Instagram
Learn To Make Handmade Soy Candles
KSM Candle Co
At KSM Candle Co, learn to make a soy candle from scratch using clean and sustainable ingredients. Their candle-making workshops run weekly, and for $40/person, you’ll get all the supplies needed to make your candle—no experience necessary. The team at KSM will teach you the benefits of using soy wax, help you customize a fragrance, and share candle care tips. And the good news is it’s BYOB.
When: Varies weekly
Where: 3600 Clipper Mill Rd UNIT 123, Baltimore, MD 21211
Website: KSM Candle Co
Explore A Record And Bookstore
Vinyl and Pages go beyond an average boutique retail store experience. It’s part record shop, part book, and part community. Located in the BROMO arts district, it’s a must-explore for travelers coming to Baltimore and wanting to connect with the culture. The collections are handpicked by owners Eric and Lynnette. For books, there’s everything from Black classics like Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower to local new releases like Devin Allen’s No Justice No Peace. The records on sale range in sound, including soul, R&B, hip hop, funk, jazz, afro beats, reggae, and soca.
When: Thursday - Friday, 12 PM - 6 pm; Saturday: 10 AM - 6 PM
Where: 407 N Howard St, Baltimore, MD 21201
Website: Vinyl and Pages
Shop Black-Owned Artisan Goods
Nubian Hueman is a gorgeous shop in Mt. Vernon that sells curated collections of artisan-made goods from Black artists and makers worldwide. From cowrie rings with brass sourced in Ghana to ‘Always Black. Never sorry’ t-shirts from one of our favorite Brooklyn brands, Nappy Head Club, Nubian Hueman, is a must-shop Black-owned business to support in Baltimore.
Best Black-Owned Hotels In Baltimore
At Buoyant, we love fly a** hotels, specifically Black-owned ones with a boutique feel. Here are the best Black-owned stays in Baltimore, from hotels to vacation rentals.
The Ivy Hotel
Nestled in Baltimore’s historic Mt. Vernon neighborhood, The Ivy is a Black-owned boutique hotel worth planning a trip around. It’s a 17-room property with an undeniably regal charm featuring clawfoot tubs, opulent chandeliers, and floor-to-ceiling windows. It all screams luxury, and it doesn’t stop at the guestrooms. The Ivy’s spa offers incredible treatments, including body rituals, massages, and facials. If you’re looking for a luxurious Black-owned stay in Baltimore, you might as well book your stay at the Ivy now.
The Ivy’s restaurant, Magdalena, is a beautiful garden bistro serving up “from-scratch” fare inspired by the surrounding Chesapeake Bay region. The menu evolves with the seasons, but dishes like Local Blue Catfish, served with turnip and mustard greens and topped with trout caviar béarnaise and onion grass oil, have appeared on the menu. The Yellow Hoppin’ John with a poached egg, smoked mushrooms, root vegetables, and squash sauce celebrates the African American foodways of Chef Scott Bacon’s Southern Black roots. Their cocktail program uses libations to tell stories meant to send sippers on a journey through history. They offer “culinary-forward libations with a focus on rare spirits, small batch concoctions and hyper-seasonal fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices.”
Where: 205 E Biddle St, Baltimore, MD 21202
Website: The Ivy Baltimore
How to book: When you book a stay at the Ivy Hotel using our Fly A** Hotels finder service, you’ll get these perks thanks to our hotel partners: A VIP welcome, Complimentary Continental or Buffet Breakfast.
Black-Owned Vacation Rentals
Are you looking for a Black-owned Airbnb in Baltimore? Check out Journey Black Home’s list.
Headed to Baltimore? Let us plan your trip.
All hotel listings featured on Buoyant are independently selected and reviewed by our team. We may earn an affiliate commission if you book something through our links.
