A guide to Baltimore’s neighborhoods

While much of your time at Hopkins may be spent in classrooms and office hours, the city of Baltimore is an underrated facet of the Hopkins experience. Luckily, you’ll have four years to discover the charm of the city. I highly recommend breaking the “Hopkins Bubble” and leaving campus when you can to engage with the rest of the city. This is a guide to many of the neighborhoods across the city to jumpstart your adventure through Baltimore.

Homewood: The neighborhood defined by the University’s campus is likely where you’ll be spending most of your time. You’ll likely end up living near Homewood as a junior and senior looking for off-campus housing and will become very familiar with the campus’s surroundings by the end of your freshman fall. St. Paul Street includes many staples such as Honeygrow noodles, Chipotle and the food emporium quintessential to the Hopkins experience — University Market, aka “Uni Mini.” 

If you haven’t heard of Uni Mini, welcome to Johns Hopkins; I promise you’ll become well acquainted with this bodega-style establishment. This street will become your go-to for grocery shopping at CVS, quick bites or late-night treats. I also highly recommend Kajiken on 33rd Street, one of my favorite restaurants in all of Baltimore. Most of your Homewood experience will be on campus, but St. Paul Street will be your quick and easy access to essentials and fast food.

Hampden: The closest neighborhood to Homewood Campus, Hampden is a cute collection of small businesses with a very New England, mid-Atlantic feel. Perhaps you’ll come here for ice cream scoops at the famed Charmery. Upperclassmen have told me that you may even come here on Monday nights in your later years for Margarita Monday at Holy Frijoles, despite knowing that you have a 9 a.m. the next day (it’s a classic tradition). 

I come to Hampden most often to get my haircut at Old Banks Barbershop. There are many thriving small businesses in the area, and the restaurants are truly underrated. A Baltimore classic, Miracle on 34th Street, takes place here every Christmas season, and it has a truly magical feel. Neighbors coordinate beautiful light displays that give amazing ambience to the holiday season. I would highly recommend coming here for a haircut, date and — at the very least — for Miracle on 34th given its proximity to campus. 

East Baltimore: East Baltimore will likely be en route for you if you are pre-med or studying life sciences. Home to the University’s esteemed medical facilities, pretty much every pre-med rides the JHMI to come work for a research lab or shadow a doctor in this part of Baltimore.

Mount Vernon: While Mount Vernon is most frequented by Peabody students, it is a stop along the JHMI and worth a visit. The George Peabody library is truly breathtaking and the square overall displays beautiful architecture.

Inner Harbor and Downtown: Probably equally as frequented by Hopkins students as Hampden, Inner Harbor and Downtown are the heart of the city. Here, you’ll find the student-favorite Harbor where there are many restaurants and events such as the Christmas Village or the winter ice skating rink. The Christmas Village is a market free to the public, which involves Christmas-themed vendors and shops set up at night outside Inner Harbor. 

This is a good spot for a fancy date night, an aquarium visit with your friends, a walk around the city or late-night clubbing at Power Plant Live. I would recommend Phillips Seafood (American-style seafood), Rusty Scupper (fine dining crab and other fish) and FACCI Baltimore (Italian eats) for restaurants in the area. The aquarium is also a must. Inner Harbor is one of the best spots to step away from Hopkins and see Baltimore.

Federal Hill: Federal Hill is a bougie boutique by day and a lively club strip by night. A venture in Federal Hill at 2 p.m. might lead you to cute little bakeries such as Dulceology, known for their alfajores. Once you've turned 21, after 11 p.m., you might find yourself in bars turned nightclubs, such Noble’s or Ropewalk. Many upperclassmen have recommended looking for a speakeasy in the area.

Fell’s Point: Lastly, we have the fancier version of Federal Hill: Fell’s Point. Its architecture is a truly beautiful homage to colonial America. The cobblestone streets and the Georgian architecture make for a perfect venture during the day or night. Barcocina is a famous stop for dinner. At night, Fell’s Point becomes the center of the city’s nightlife with clubs and bars such as Baja Tap, Rodo’s and The Rockwell that make Fell’s Point a popular spot for student nightlife. Still, like me, you’ll have to wait until you are 21 to participate in most of the city’s nightlife. 

Neil Mahto is a sophomore from Albuquerque, N.M. majoring in Chemistry and English. He is the Opinions Editor for The News-Letter.