Nicknamed "Charm City" in the 1970s, Baltimore is indeed attractive, with historic neighborhoods flaunting elegant brownstones, an array of important monuments and museums, and a uniquely eccentric spirit (just look to residents like John Waters, the inimitable movie director, who filmed the cult classic Pink Flamingos locally). And yet Baltimore has stayed under the radar in the last few decades. A gritty reputation, cemented by shows like HBO's The Wire, is partly to blame, and the relative shortage of buzzworthy places to eat, stay, and play hasn’t helped. But a remarkable renaissance is now under way: Developers are rushing to build apartments and hotels, young professionals are moving in, and a growing roster of sophisticated restaurants, boutiques, and cultural spaces is finally luring travelers to this oft-underrated waterfront city.

Where to Stay

Sagamore Pendry Baltimore

Photo: Courtesy of the Sagamore Pendry Baltimore

A Beaux Arts recreation pier in the Fell’s Point neighborhood, built in 1914 to house a dance hall and social club, reopened this month as a modern luxury hotel following a top-to-bottom renovation. Owner Kevin Plank, the Baltimorean CEO of Under Armour, along with California’s Pendry Hotels, tapped interior designer Patrick Sutton to create a casual yet refined atmosphere honoring the property’s heritage. In the 128 guest rooms, polished mahogany headboards, tan leather couches, and minimalist bronze finishes evoke past eras while staying rooted in the present. Common areas include a meat-centric Italian restaurant and a whiskey bar, both helmed by James Beard–winning chef Andrew Carmellini, as well as an infinity-edge pool set on a harborside quay. From $320/night; pendryhotels.com

Hotel Indigo Baltimore Downtown