11 Best Hotels in Baltimore, Maryland

This inn is an upright anchor at the center of the action in funky Fells Point. By joining together buildings constructed between the late 1770s and the 1920s, the owners created a structure that resembles a small, European-style hotel, with lots of character and quirks. The rooms, which vary in shape, all have four-poster canopy beds. Three suites and eight rooms have whirlpool baths. Some hallways have a few stairs, and some rooms face a quiet, interior courtyard; if steps or street noise bother you, let the reservation agent know.

One of Baltimore's largest hotels, the Baltimore Harbor divides its rooms between two towers and also houses the largest ballroom in the city, which makes it especially popular with conventioneers. Rooms, decorated in light colors, have a contemporary flair and marble-floor bathrooms. Amenities include Wi-Fi, free breakfast, and 40-inch HDTVs.

Proprietors Nancy and Kevin Kupec oversee every detail of this small inn in the heart of Fells Point. Guest rooms, all with private bath, are furnished in Early American style; two suites accommodate large groups. Upscale amenities include down comforters, terry robes, fireplaces, and whirlpool baths. Continental breakfast is served in the cozy dining room. The rooftop deck provides a wonderful view of Baltimore's skyline and harbor.

Directly across the street from Johns Hopkins and within walking distance of the Baltimore Museum of Art and the charming Charles Village neighborhood, this hotel is 15 minutes north of downtown. Rooms are welcoming, with rich, warm furnishings, and there are extras such as a glass-dome swimming pool and whirlpool baths.

The Embassy Suites brand recently bought and updated the Tremont Hotel, adding a two-story lobby and creating a brand-new restaurant, B'More Bistro. There is also a Starbucks on-site. Once an apartment building, this 37-story all-suites hotel is located in the densest part of the business district. Upgrades to its suites include HDTV's, kitchenettes with refrigerators and microwaves, and Wi-Fi. The best views of the city and the small park in the center of St. Paul Place are from rooms with numbers ending in 06.

The free breakfast and the logo may be the same, but this Hampton Inn tries to be more urban and chic than others in the chain. In an early-1900s office building that lay vacant for many years, the hotel follows the historical direction of the structure, but keeps things contemporary. Rooms, done in warm mauve and beige and dark wood, have a clubby, streamlined look. The biggest and most expensive rooms, on the top floor, are studio suites in the former executive offices. There is a complimentary breakfast as well as an indoor pool.

Built in the 1960s as an apartment house, the 13-story Home2 Suites is now a modern and eco-friendly all-suites hotel located near Mount Vernon and the Inner Harbor. All of the hotel’s 100 rooms are studios or one-bedroom suites, complete with a kitchen, desk area, queen-sized bed, and 42" flat-screen TV. Other amenities include free Wi-Fi. The hotel is pet friendly. The Spin2Cycle area features a workout room and self-serve laundry, plus a small snack shop on the ground floor.

Built in the mid-1800s as a B&O Railroad tobacco warehouse, this richly decorated, warmly inviting B&B–style inn has harbor or garden views from all of its rooms. The inn is at the water's edge, on the very peninsula that gave Fells Point its name. Adjacent to the inn is a marina with slips to 150 feet; all possible amenities are available to visiting yachters. It's a short, scenic walk from the shops, bars, and restaurants of central Fells Point.

Baltimore's historic landmark hotel, the Lord Baltimore extends its Jazz Age elegance to the guest rooms. Built in 1928, this 23-story hotel is distinguished by an elegantly gilded art deco lobby with Murano glass chandelier and contemporary artwork. Upstairs, each of the recently updated 440 rooms feature dark wood accents and a gray color palette. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, 40" flat-screen TV, pillow-top mattress, and down comforter. Rooms on the south side have the best view, and from the top three floors you can see the harbor. The hotel is quiet and comfortable, and the location is central, three blocks from the Baltimore Convention Center or Harborplace. The on-site restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The city's tallest hotel and one of a handful directly on the Inner Harbor, this 32-story Marriott has a neoclassical interior that uses multihued marble, rich jewel-toned walls, and photographs of Baltimore architectural landmarks. Although it's at the eastern end of the Inner Harbor, all downtown attractions are within walking distance. Most rooms offer unobstructed views of the city and harbor; ask for one that faces west toward downtown for a splendid panorama of the waterfront and skyscrapers.

This three-story wood house, built in 1886 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is 1½ blocks from the bay. Green with dark green trim on the outside, the inn has a Victorian look, with antique beds and other period pieces. A porch extends the width of the house front, and the gazebo in the backyard is as old as the house itself.