What is the best neighborhood in Baltimore in your opinion?

[Lumerian Feast]

Wyman Park. All the charm of Hampden, but with more teeth.

[Scudder]

hands down, Mt. Vernon - then Federal Hill, Fells Point then Canton

[diamondeye]

As others have said, there are many good areas; so once having reached a certain level of neighbourhood "goodness" it comes down to a matter of taste and lifestyle. I would have to say, being already in a good neighbourhood, I am having a "grass is greener" envy thing going with my new favorite area, City Center. For just a few blocks, it feels like Manhattan. I really like the whole "downtowniness" of it all. I will sometimes park in front of the Bank of America building and just walk around all the tall buildings, and wander the alleys (don't try this at home). I love reading the plaques on the buildings indicating their original occupants. I adore that Chevy Chase bank with an interior that would make me want to switch accounts just to be able to go in that lobby. I also love the Hotel Junker building; a shame it's got low rent tenants in it. The two Adonis sculptures on the front of the building fairly scream "boutique hotel, people, right here!" My favorite residential high-rise though is 39 West Lexington that place is to die for. Ok so it doesn't have laundry or parking; looking out from the window of a granite/ss kitchen on the 22nd floor over through the forest of skyscrapers to other office buildings and apartments at the same height just has a cool factor that cannot be adequately explained.

Now, for raising a family, I'd say Guilford (we're talking palaces here); though you'll need an army of help to maintain these homes which can be thousands of square feet, ditto Roland Park, though with a slightly smaller army, maybe a platoon. If you're more of the "no kids, urbanite" type, you could do Mt. Vernon, which is very urban and cultured (700 Washington place is channeling the Upper East Side old money vibe, very well actually). Can't say I'm big on Canton; it's just a little too NPR/Hopkins/SWPL (Google it) for me. Federal Hill is really nice; not as cultured, but very homey and yet with nightlife literally on the same blocks as residences; awfully convenient for stumbling home. Another of my latest faves is Locust Point. If you can swing it, look at Silo Point, really nice conversion. But really almost all of what I have seen of Locust Point is very nice. I don't usually like new construction, but here it has been done so well and is so integrated into the existing building styles that sometimes I can't even be sure what's new and what's pre-existing. Moreover, crime is very low here; it's been warded off from coming down into this little peninsula of land which, by the way, is directly adjacent to Ft. McHenry and the new Cruise Port terminal. I really do like it; up in Charles Village I actually forget that this is a water city, to say nothing of the people up in Mt. Washington or Cold Spring or Northern Parkway (nice though they may be). Locust Point is a pretty amazing place; what it lacks in glamour it provides in an affordable waterfront community that is very in touch with its roots.

So all in all, there is no one "best" because at a certain point it's a matter of taste. Despite the interminable moaning about Baltimore's bad neighbourhoods there are a plethora of good neighbourhoods from which to choose. So many so that it's impossible to choose just one.

I'm really glad you asked this question.

[Hiru]

Lauraville is good

[Tom Lennox 70]

Within the city I would say Mt Vernon. Its more leafy and more well kept. I like Fed Hill for the nightlife there but I'm not a fan of brick buildings, I think they're not visually appealing to me.

If you count the suburbs, I like Arbutus a lot, along with Edgemere and the residential portion of Sparrows Point by North Point State Park (not the industrial section with the steel mill!) These are not the fanciest suburbs but they have that small town feel that I personally find appealing and are very down to Earth. Also I like the location of Sparrows Point and the easy access to the park and the Chesapeake Bay.

[bcote212]

I live In Roland Park so I would have to say Roland. I love the area, its not on the water, but its clean and there is really not any crime at all.

[bawltmer]

So few choices for a city this size. Pick one of those "good" neighborhoods and lock your doors. Have fun.

[Miss Crabcakes]

Originally Posted by jonjj

I think a lot of this depends on a person's lifestyle but I would vote for Roland Park. I wouldn't want to live there because the homes are huge and require a lot of upkeep but it is a beautiful neighborhood with lots of trees, etc.

Funny, that was the first neighborhood I thought of. Anytime I drive through I'm in total awe of the wealth.

[Billiam]

I really enjoy Mayfield, which not many people pay attention to. Its a really great neighborhood with a lot going for it. Also, who doesn't love Hampden??

Other nice ones : Locust Point, Federal Hill, Riverside, South Baltimore, Fells, Canton, Greektown, Brewers Hill, Butchers Hill, Downtown, Little Italy, Upper Fells Point, Highlandtown, Lauraville, Morgan Park, (pretty much any part of the Northeast section), Ten Hills, Hunting Ridge, Union Square, Chesewolde, Mt Washington, (most neighborhoods of North central Baltimore), Charles Village, Bolton hill etc etc

you know, now that i think of it, Baltimroe has a ton of nicer neighborhoods!

[ToneGrail]

Originally Posted by rowh

I really enjoy Mayfield, which not many people pay attention to. Its a really great neighborhood with a lot going for it. Also, who doesn't love Hampden??

Other nice ones : Locust Point, Federal Hill, Riverside, South Baltimore, Fells, Canton, Greektown, Brewers Hill, Butchers Hill, Downtown, Little Italy, Upper Fells Point, Highlandtown, Lauraville, Morgan Park, (pretty much any part of the Northeast section), Ten Hills, Hunting Ridge, Union Square, Chesewolde, Mt Washington, (most neighborhoods of North central Baltimore), Charles Village, Bolton hill etc etc

you know, now that i think of it, Baltimroe has a ton of nicer neighborhoods!

You forgot to mention McElderry Park, CHUM, and Broadway East ...just kidding!