Your guide to the top 5 spots in Baltimore's Federal Hill neighborhood

Your guide to the top 5 spots in Baltimore's Federal Hill neighborhoodPhoto: SoBo Cafe/Yelp
Hoodline
Published on July 25, 2018

Spending time in Federal Hill? Get to know this Baltimore neighborhood by browsing its most popular local businesses, from a cafe to a magic show.

Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top places to visit in Federal Hill, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of neighborhood businesses. Read on for the results.

1. SoBo Cafe

Photo: SoBo Cafe/Yelp

Topping the list is breakfast and brunch spot SoBo Cafe. Located at 6 W. Cross St., it's the highest rated business in the neighborhood, boasting 4.5 stars out of 341 reviews on Yelp. For over a decade, SoBo Cafe has been serving its menu of made-from-scratch American fare to locals and travelers alike.

Vegetarians will appreciate the numerous meat-free dishes (black bean flatbread, mushroom banh mi, among others), and all will enjoy the outdoor seating when the weather cooperates.

2. The Local Fry

Photo: Kristie L./Yelp

Next up is The Local Fry, situated at 21 E. Cross St. This eatery uses french fries as a base and then adds toppings to create globally inspired fare.

On the menu, look for the Hawaiian fries with barbecue pork, barbecue sauce, kewpie mayo, pineapple salsa, bacon and scallions; the kimchi fries; banh mi fries; and poutine, a Canadian dish with cheddar cheese curds and gravy.

A handful of bowls and sandwiches are also on offer. With 4.5 stars out of 298 reviews on Yelp, the casual eatery — with a new outpost on West 40th Street — has proven to be a local favorite.

3. Illusions Magic Bar & Lounge

Photo: Toy S./Yelp

Need a little magic in your life? Check out the popular Illusions Magic Bar & Lounge. It's primarily a venue for the comedic magic shows of Spencer Horsman, offered most Fridays and Saturdays.

Before, after and in between shows, the bar is serving drinks, from single malt scotch to sparkling wines. Yelpers give the business, located at 1025 S. Charles St., 4.5 stars out of 269 reviews. 

Yelp reviewer Leo L., who visited in May, had high praise for Illusions: "It's the best entertainment value in the Baltimore area. The drinks are very reasonably priced. The staff is friendly and warm. ... Spencer is a first-rate entertainer. Welcoming to all, cleverly funny and an absolutely phenomenal magician."

4. Blue Moon Too

Photo: Lindsay M./Yelp

Blue Moon Too is the much larger Federal Hill sibling of the intimate Fells Point favorite, The Blue Moon Cafe. It's an art-strewn space where regulars and first-timers are putting down the scrambles, potato cakes, pancakes and omelets.

Consider the cafe's most well-known contribution to the culinary arts, the Cap'n Crunch French toast, made with heavy cream, vanilla, seasonal berries and, of course, the sugar-forward breakfast cereal of the same name. It's another much-loved neighborhood go-to, with 4.5 stars out of 255 Yelp reviews. Head over to 1024 Light St. to see for yourself.

5. Abbey Burger Bistro

Photo: So Hyun J./Yelp

Finally, check out Abbey Burger Bistro, which has earned four stars out of 755 reviews on Yelp. It's a sports bar serving up a huge list of domestic and imported beer, alongside a menu of burgers, from the Baltimore burger (with crab dip and bacon) to the spicy Korean duck burger.

Look for outdoor seating when the weather allows. You can find the sports bar and traditional American spot at 1041 Marshall St.