Bolton Hill - Baltimore, MD Area Guide

Construction of the majority of the homes in Bolton Hill took place from the 1850s to the early 1900s. Famous former residents here include Woodrow Wilson and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Many Hopkins intellectuals also relocated here thanks to its beautiful Queen Anne architecture, wide boulevards and scenic landscape. A period of decline occurred in the 1950s, but today, Bolton Hill thrives as a major historic arts and culture district of Baltimore.

The iconic Walters Art Museum lies less than 2 miles from Bolton Hill proper. Often cited as the best museum in Baltimore, this free museum displays art from ancient Egypt to medieval armory to modern-20th century European paintings. The museum hosts a number of arts events and workshops targeted to children and art aficionados alike.

Stop by Graffiti Alley and the adjacent Graffiti Warehouse, both of which provide space for street artists and photographers to work their magic and display their wares.

Residents of Bolton Hill appreciate a number of eclectic restaurants with distinctive menu items. The Land of Kush offers creative vegetarian, vegan and raw food. The best way to describe the cuisine here is "Vegan Soul Food." The menu features dishes such as collard greens, juicy vegan BBQ ribs, candied yams and surprisingly creamy vegan mac and cheese. Best of all, prices here tend run about $10 or less.

Just as its name suggests, the Bun Shop bakes international buns and pastries along with freshly brewed coffee drinks. It makes the buns daily and selection varies, so make sure to come in early to get the most options. This place has sweet roti boys from Malaysia, croissants from France, red bean buns from China and savory mushroom feta tarts. The relaxed atmosphere of the cafe makes a great place to read, work or study.

The classic Baltimore dive bar, Club Charles resides just a few blocks from Bolton Hill. You have a decent chance of meeting Baltimore native John Waters if you visit here because he often frequents the place. Strong drinks, a hip crowd, decent music and funky decor make this place a fun Baltimore establishment to check out. It also lies across the street from Baltimore's main independent theatre, The Charles.

The Charles shows classic, art, foreign and independent films in an old-fashioned cinema complex. While it doesn't take place at night, Cinema Sundays provides patrons with the opportunity to catch pre-release films over bagels and coffee for a slightly elevated price. Watchers discuss the film afterwards with a film critic or expert.

Bolton Hill serves as one of the best areas to access public transit in all of Baltimore. Residents need walk only 5 to 10 minutes to reach the Baltimore metro, light rail and bus routes. You can also reach Charles Street and take the free Charm City Circulator. Baltimore's main train station, Penn Station, also sits roughly a mile from Bolton Hill. Cyclists and pedestrians find it very convenient to get around this neighborhood because people tend to rely on public transit more than cars.

Parking can be tricky in this part of the city. However, the wide streets do make it somewhat easier to park here than other central regions of Baltimore. Residents often have permit parking. Spots can be somewhat arduous to come by after dusk as people come home from work. You can usually find public parking along Charles Street, one of Baltimore's main streets.

Catching a cab or requesting Uber services doesn't take much effort in this neighborhood. Most times, you can even find a cab on the street. Residents can also walk about 10 minutes to Penn Station to find a line of cabs waiting to pick up passengers.

Baltimore's first public city park, Druid Hill Park, resides just a few miles from Bolton Hill. Children love going to this park because of its playground and proximity to the Maryland Zoo. Athletes enjoy the numerous sports field and courts, trails and golf course. The park also provides scenic landscape, picnic spots and greenhouses. This area also welcomes leashed dogs.

The cost of living in Bolton Hill fares quite well compared to other central neighborhoods in Baltimore. The neighborhood's young, bohemian feel survives because Bolton Hill maintains its modest cost of living. For instance, the average rent here costs $1,200. Many students and young professionals share one of the large Victorian row homes and cut down rent by a large margin. Rental costs for a studio apartment or one-bedroom apartment run as little as $700 in the area.

Residents walk to the city center and don't really need a car to get around the city. The public transit availability in this neighborhood obviously helps residents save a lot of money. However, residents who do own a car save money on gas if they purchase gas in Bolton Hill. The cost of gas lies below the city average. Maryland gas prices exceed the national gas average, but Bolton Hill gas prices sit at just 2 percent higher than the national average.

Costs for a drink and a meal in Bolton Hill and its immediate surrounding neighborhoods vary significantly, depending on the choice of establishment. A beer sets you back as little as $3 at a dive bar and as much as $8 at a fine establishment. Likewise, you can grab a decent meal for under $10 or over $30. Bolton Hill truly lies in the center of the city, so residents enjoy a wide range of dining to fit every budget.

Bolton Hill primarily exists as a residential area, so no major shopping areas are truly well defined. Those looking to complete a major shopping venture travel to the Inner Harbor or to the suburbs, where the malls reside.

However, plenty of small boutiques and local shops lie scattered around Bolton Hill, reinforcing the artistic, hip vibe of this neighborhood. Baltimore residents from all over the city flock to Red Emma's Bookstore and Cafe. This independently owned bookstore and vegetarian cafe also hosts community events for the liberal minded.

The ZONE in the nearby neighborhood of Mount Vernon features a plentiful collection of vintage clothing items and accessories. Many of the collections displayed here stem from the 1960s and 90s. The eccentric jewelry pieces make great costume accessories or just the piece to bright up a dull wardrobe. Prices here tend to run toward the lower side compared to other vintage shops in the city.

No major grocery stores exist in Bolton Hill proper. However, the locally owned grocery store Eddie's provides residents with a decent range of products. Locals also take the light rail to Whole Foods in Mount Washington and the metro to another Whole Foods in Harbor East.

Milk and Honey Market presents itself as part farmers market, part local grocer and part cafe. Stop in here for a bite to eat, fresh organic produce and local dairy products. The main Baltimore Farmer's Market and Bazaar lies less than 2 miles from Bolton Hill.