Baltimore Nightlife

Nightlife abounds at the Inner Harbor, Little Italy, Fells Point, Canton, Federal Hill and Mount Vernon. Baltimore is a lively town, with every genre of music represented, from jazz and blues to rock and reggae, plus sports bars and gay clubs. If you can't decide, head for Power Plant Live! (at the intersection of Market Place and Water Street) - an entertainment complex housing a variety of bars, restaurants and clubs.

Dress code and admission are specific to the venue but a photo ID (identification) is necessary, as minimum drinking age is 21 years. Most bars and nightclubs are open 1100 to 0200.

Publications providing nightlife listings and information include the daily Baltimore Sun (website: www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment), the free Baltimore Alternative, serving the gay community, and the monthly guide distributed through hotels, Baltimore Ambassador.

Bars: If you like hangouts with character, head to Fells Point. This historic neighbourhood's charming old buildings have been restored, and many are now home to cosy pubs and classy cocktail bars. The Cat's Eye Pub, 1730 Thames Street, is Irish themed, serving an impressive selection of single malt whiskies and draught beers on tap. Live rock, blues and jazz some nights. Max's on Broadway, 737 South Broadway, serves 92 rotating draught beers and has 17 satellite receivers to view American sports. The Explorer's Lounge, (Harbor Court Hotel, Inner Harbor) has interesting décor: animal-print murals and furnishings. The upmarket Havana Club, above Ruth's Chris Steak House, 600 Water Street, is the place for a stylish smoke. For a stellar selection of micro-brews and a fantastic harbour view, try the Capitol City Brewing Company, 301 Light Street. The atmosphere is lively, with a diverse crowd. Similarly, the DuClaw Brewing Company, 901 South Bond Street, offers a great range of speciality beers and ales. Billed as Baltimore's hottest beach bar, the Bay Café, 2809 Boston Street, prides itself on running a bikini contest through the summer; think Frat house antics and you won't be far wrong.

Clubs: Baltimore has toe-tapping variety. For Latin rhythms, hit the Latin Palace, 509 South Broadway (website: www.latinpalace.com); salsa lessons available. If disco, is more your thing, try retro Have a Nice Day Café, 2 Market Place, with its lit dancefloor and mirror balls. Visitors staying downtown or in the Inner Harbor need not look hard for a good party. Swanky Sonar, 407 East Saratoga Street (website: www.sonarlounge.com) holds 1000 party-goers on its main floor and has a chill-out lounge, bar and smaller club area. High-energy Paradox, 1310 Russell Street (website: www.thedox.com) caters to the trendy, housed in a former warehouse and boasts a colossal dancefloor and a nine-screen video wall. One, 300 East Saratoga Street (website: www.onebaltimore.com), attracts chic young professionals with its minimalist décor. The floors are themed on earth, wind, fire and water. Mount Vernon's Club Phoenix, 1 West Biddle Street (website: www.baltimore-phoenix.net) is an intimate gay club. The bar offers cheap, creative concoctions. Its theme nights include karaoke, ladies' night and a Sunday tea dance. Nearby, savour Asian tapas, sip exotic cocktails and dance at Red Maple, 930 North Charles Street (website: www.930redmaple.com). Vigorous rhythms set the tone at ultra-trendy, neon lit Club Mate, 3612 Hanover Street (website: http://mateclublounge.com), with its five bars, specialising in exotic cocktails, and a terrace.

Live Music: Downtown, the Ram's Head Tavern, 20 Market Place (website: www.ramsheadtavern.com) is a major venue, accommodating up to 1,600. Great seafood and several sleek bars. Eight by Ten, 10 East Cross Street (website: www.the8x10.com) hosts up-and-coming local talent. Beer and cocktails are discounted early in the evening. Ottobar, 2549 North Howard Street (website: www.theottobar.com) features bands that range from indie rock to hip hop and folk. The New Haven Lounge, 1552 Havenwood Road, is the top choice for live jazz, with swing and big bands sometimes invited. Harbor Cruises, docked near Harborplace, Inner Harbor, offers the chance to dine and dance on water, while viewing the impressive, illuminated Baltimore skyline as you twirl.

Baltimore's performing arts have a long and distinguished history. The American national anthem was penned here and the elite of American society helped culture flourish.

Use Ticketmaster (tel: (410) 547 7328; website: www.ticketmaster.com) or Baltimore Tickets at the Visitors Center, 451 Light Street (tel: 1 877 225 84673; website: www.baltimore.org).

Baltimore Ambassador magazine lists cultural performances and events and is often found in hotels. Monthly Baltimore Magazine also lists events and offers dining suggestions. City Search (website: www.baltimore.citysearch.com) provides up-to-date information on cultural events.

Classical Music: The city's main classical music venue is the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral Street, Mount Vernon, home of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (tel: (410) 783 8000; website: www.bsomusic.org). The Lyric Opera House, 140 West Mount Royal Avenue (tel: (410) 685 5086; website: www.lyricoperahouse.com), boasts a few unusual guests, such as Alanis Morissette and the Moscow Ballet, as well as hosting musicals as well as opera. The Baltimore Opera Company, 110 W. Mt. Royal Avenue (tel: (410) 727 6000; website: www.baltimoreopera.com), is more traditional in its performances, although sometimes includes musicals. The Peabody Institute, 1 East Mount Vernon Place (tel: (410) 659 8100; website: www.peabody.jhu.edu), the oldest music school in the USA, often schedules free recitals as well as running workshops for the public.

Theatre: Baltimore's many theatres are cast across the Downtown area. The Strand Theater Company, 1823 North Charles Street (tel: (443) 874 4917; website: www.strandtheatercompany.org) aims to explore innovative drama to inspire the younger generation, with emphasis on the feminine perspective. Theatre Hopkins performs in a brick barn dating from 1804, located at Johns Hopkins University (tel: (410) 516 7159; website: www.jhu.edu/~theatre). This semi-professional company performs everything from Shakespeare to Shaw and Sophocles. Centre Stage, 700 North Calvert Street (tel: (410) 332 0033; website: www.centerstage.org), produces a similarly diverse repertoire, keeping ticket prices low to ensure drama is available to all. The Everyman Theatre, 1727 North Charles Street (tel: (410) 752 2208; website: www.everymantheatre.org) performs classics, such as Chekhov, alongside contemporary premieres. It has plans to move to 315 W. Fayette Street by 2010. The Vagabond Players, 806 South Broadway, Fells Point (tel: (410) 563 9135; website: www.vagabondplayers.org), tend to perform modern classics, including those by local playwrights.

For dinner-theatre, try Toby's (tel: (410) 649 1660 or 1 866 998 6297: website: www.tobysdinnertheatre.com). It serves adaptations of popular musicals, like Phantom and West Side Story, with its buffet menu. Family owned Lorenzo's Timonium Dinner Theatre, 9603 Deereco Road (tel: (410) 560 1113 or 1 877 560 1113; website: www.timoniumdinnertheatre.com), offers Broadway-type shows and tasty homemade specialities.

Dance: In addition to occasional dance performances at some of the above venues, there is the Baltimore Dance Center, 1546 Eastern Boulevard (tel: (410) 574 2444; website: www.baltimoredancecenter.com), which offers classes. The Baltimore Ballet School (tel: (410) 667 7974; website: www.baltimoreballet.com) performs classics at major venues around the city.