Club Charles

This is a legendary bar. If these walls could talk! It is probably the coolest hipster bar in the country. I went there back in the day. It was a place where you could chat it up with John Waters and the whole Maryland Institute of Art scene. Make the pilgrimage. It is a must.

Classic. Timeless. The best place to go after a movie at The Charles across the street and soak up the vibe.

Genuinely a safe space. Couldn’t ask for a nicer staff. I found myself in an unsafe situation, while walking in the area nearby. Having gone to Club Charles numerous times I knew I could get there and be safe. The staff was incredibly reassuring and kept me safe that night. I was given water and allowed to stay as long as needed. Even without this situation, Club Charles has been a wonderful place to visit. I plan on returning often.

tried to go to the depot but its always closed, so went right next door to this spot. the drinks were really good & the bartenders were super attentive. overall a cool space with lots of people but not too loud

Great atmosphere and drinks! The bartender was super nice and there were a lot of seating options. They have a bar on the first floor and the upper floor. The decor was super unique and a kinda 80s vibe in parts of it. It’s a good date spot or to hang with friends!

My favorite bar in Baltimore for over 15 years now. I always stop in here when in town. Love the red and the whole vibe of the place. They also do Halloween time right in Bmore.

Came early evening so it wasn’t busy, the bartender was having full blown conversations with other customers which made some of us wait to get her attention. The atmosphere is nice though

I don't recommend if your middle age and black. It was close to harassment the way the tall blond comb over.. perhaps manager's wanted to clean up our group of four glasses. Yet, he never cleaned up the other patrons that were gone empty glasses at the top bar. I was just visiting from GA but: "They not like us!" Just go somewhere else. Highly disappointed.

Outstanding bar but would've preferred to be a little brighter on the first level. I understand what they were going for but I could barely read the menu. The bartender was fabulous and made the drinks delicious and fast. Plenty of seating available on a Saturday night and great place to visit after a show at the metro gallery.

It's the kind of place where the bartender has to buzz you in the door. But the interior is amazing. Like you stepped back in time. Not quite to old Hollywood glamour, but maybe to the 1980s stockroom where all that was stored. You will have a good time here, and there's no telling who you might meet in a dark corner. But bring cash, because they don't take anything else.

Lorenzo (bar manager we met tonight) was drunk out of his mind and had the audacity to shove his nasty fingers in my mouth and thought it was funny. I just met the guy. He apparently manages this place. Absolutely disgusting for him to do that. it was super unexpected and I felt assaulted and ashamed that happened to me. I tried telling the police and they didn't even believe me because they KNEW him. Like how unlucky and disgusting is that?!!!??? It was our first time visiting the bars in Baltimore and it's safe to say we're never coming back here ever again and will definitely alert all our friends and family to stay clear of this place. AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COSTS!!!!!!!

If Baltimore could be captured in the confines of one bar, Club Charles would be it. Club Charles, or as us locals lovingly refer to it, "Club Chuck", is like if a dive bar in a Quentin Tarantino film and the favorite hideout of John Waters had a baby. No seriously, you might even see the man, the myth, the legend responsible for Hairspray here if you're lucky. Cheap drinks, neon signs, weird vintage decor, plenty of bar and booth seating. I personally love their Manhattan. It's one of the best in the city and won't break the bank. They usually have some good specials going on too like discounted sours on Wednesdays. Expect very little and leave feeling like you got in on Baltimore's best kept secret that everyone seems to know about. Glad to see Club Chuck back in action and thriving!

I stopped by Club Charles for the first time a few weeks ago with my husband and our friends. We were on a bit of a bar crawl, and our friends suggested stopping in at Club Charles (they had been once before for a friend's birthday). I've probably walked past it a dozen times and not noticed it or thought it was closed! Once you buzz in, it's cool inside - eclectic, retro, fun. The cocktail menu was amazing, and the drinks were good. Definitely one of the coolest bars that I've been to in Baltimore - and one with really different vibes than some of the other great spots in the city!

Kinda reminds me of Mount Royal Tavern. This bar is old, dated, and slightly creepy, looks like a place you'd see in the Rob Zombie movie "Devils Rejects". Nothing fancy here, but it's a pretty cool place. Drinks are reasonably priced ,there was music playing so I'm not sure if was a juke box or someone from the bar playing. Not a place I'm dying to go back to, but I'm sure I'll return.

There is a little nook of a room with 4 - 5 chairs and a little table. You can keep intimate company and all the conversations right outside. It's pretty erie. I'm not sure they all knew that I could hear every word they were saying like they were sitting right next to me but it echos in there. This is a cute little divey bar right near Charles Theatre, Single Carrot Theatre and Teatro Tapas. There's a main bar and then one on the upper level. They may not have Natty Boh, but Miller Lite will do.

this bar is the best bar in baltimore. hands down. forever and ever. it's a dive with charm. an old friend when you need a hug. don't say anything negative about this wonderful gem of an icon.

Fun dive bar! Felt so exclusive! You had to get buzzed in to enter. Plenty of bar and lounge seating. The drinks were great. The service was a bit slow and they only had one bar tender until about 10pm and then they had a 2nd bartender for the 2nd bar upstairs. Fun place though!

This place looks like it walked out of a Chandler novel. It's the kind of place you stop in for a beer and wake up in Singapore with a full beard. One must be buzzed in which is appropriate because you'll be buzzed on the way out too. Club Charles has one of the best jukeboxes in the city. The music compliment the red seats and art deco decor. In a town where new bars open up all the time and eacwith all the personality of a paper cup, the Club Chuck stands the test of time. The room is as dark Carrie Nation's bonnet. But that's ok because you don't go here to be seen. You go to kill time. And it dies hard. There are a row of neat bottles on the bar back and the lovely shining glasses sit with anticipation. The first quiet drink of the evening in a quiet bar--that's wonderful. That's this place.

Ran in here for a drink because this was the closest bar near after hour spot I was in. First impression pretty cool looking bar with two levels, bartender attentive for the short time I was there, but what almost killed me was the smell. I'm not sure why it smells like it does but there is a nagging offensive odor, I wish I had my Lysol and bleach. I could never just sit there for any length of time due to this smell. It actually didn't look like it would smell bad but unfortunately it does.

I really liked this place. Great atmosphere, good selection of suds, a cute bartender, but no natty bo? Wha? Isn't this Baltimore? Get some if your finest cheap beer on tap please. That is all.

Club Charles is great if you want a super divey night with good music. Value: Miller High Life bottles were $3 and my amaretto sour was $6. Vibe: Great music but definitely a bit on the hipster side. Ample booth seating. Bathrooms a bit dirty but to be expected in late night spots. Location: Location is a bit sketchy but since it's away from the more downtown locations, free street parking is pretty easy. Note: They start making last call at 1:20am by turning on the lights with a 2am close.

I can't believe there is only one review for Club Chuck! This one of the best bars in Baltimore. It is has a very cool atmosphere (very art deco, 1930's black & red furniture, lots of murals), friendly bartenders, and good drinks. Don't be suprised if you see John Waters here, this place is a Baltimore staple. Barry Levinson actually filmed scenes for his 1999 movie "Liberty Heights" in this bar. And if you get hungry just walk next door to Zodiac, the food is awesome and cheap too

Not sure why I am writing this - It seems that the bar is closed for business.The place was open a couple of months ago, but now there is a vague note in the door window that says it's closed. The last review was written over a year ago - that is usually a strong indicator. In the old days the jukebox was the centerpiece of this place, but at the end the owner would not even replace the light bulb to read the CD selection cards - you had to use a flashlight! No kidding! I guess that the smell (God, that horrible onion/vomit smell), weak drink pours, indifferent barmaids finally caught up with it. I get it but the dive thing should be played carefully, not simply ignored to the point of disgusting...and now it's gone. Sad

Cool spot loved it met family great atmosphere. Good stuff. Good prices word place was hela cool

As a long time aficionado of dive bars, Club Charles is right up there in my national top ten. It's got everything a good dive bar needs, friendly bartenders, cheap/strong drinks, an eclectic jukebox (from Dusty Springfield to The Clash and back again) and lighting low enuf to hide all the facade flaws, dirty corners and broken furniture. There's the main, downstairs bar, and on busy nights an equal sized upstairs bar. It's located in a cool neighbourhood as well with lots of good places to eat nearby and nice city walking, if you should so desire. My only complaint was about the music, not that it was bad, but that it was nonexistent when I first got there. Just a dozen or so early drinkers and NO tunes. When I asked the bartender about it, she said that they just waited till patrons got tired of no music and ponied up for the jukebox themselves. This is a mistake bar owner, whoever you are, you should most surely splurge the few bucks it takes to get the clientele to start buying songs. A good dive bar without music is just a sad bar. As for all the so-called John Waters sightings, nope never seen him here, but if I do, I will definitely ask him about his solo cross country hitchhiking experience. Oh John, you rebel.

Cool cocktail dive. The lighting is great and jukebox is one of the best in the city. A great spot whether its empty and dead or busy and noisy. Definitely a stop for anyone visiting.

When it comes to Baltimore dive bars, Club Charles (Club "Chuck" if your a local), is arguably the most legendary one of them all. It's also a semi frequent watering hole for Charm City's most celebrated and colorful film director, screenwriter, and actor, John Waters. The most spot on description I've ever heard of Club Charles' interior is "1920s Art Deco meets The Shining"... Deco mural'ed walls, Dimly lit, Red hued lighting, that bathes everyone and everything inside... Red leather booths & chairs... At any moment you kinda expect little Danny Torrance to come running through the bar yelling "Redrum ! Redrum !" But it's also got all the characteristics of a great dive bar. Located in a slightly seedy part of town, cheap but strong drinks, wobbly bar stools, a jukebox with a wide selection from Ray Charles to Dan Deacon, and always friendly bartenders. The size and mix of the crowd seems to depend on the night, it can be anything from artsy film student types to blue collar locals from the neighborhood. But if dive bars are your thing, a single visit to Club Charles will probably be enough to ensure it a spot in your regular rotation of favorite dives.

I go to this bar so often that my phone started trying auto-correct the word "chick" to "chuck" (if you get what I mean) I could go on and on about how cute the bartenders are, but the really important part is how dependably nice they are. I've gone to plenty of other places where the bartenders are occasionally tired, visibly spent, and a little bit grouchy... that's human. But at Club Charles you are greeted with a big friendly smile 100% of the time. I'll also give an "amen" to the reviews mentioning the good prices and good jukebox. The one slight downside to Club Charles is that it's not really the kind of place where you introduce yourself to a stranger. It's not impossible, but most of the crowd there is inclined to stick to the circle of friends they know/showed up with.

Misogynistic management. This WAS one of my favorite bars in Baltimore for the past couple of years but I had an incredibly unpleasant interaction with the management recently. I ordered a 6-pack of beer to go and was handed my purchase in a thin brown paper bag. I grabbed the bag from the top as it was handed to me, turned around and walked 3 feet, and the beer immediately slipped through the bag as I was still clenching the top and shattered on the floor. The bartender was of no help when I asked if I was able to get a replacement since the bag broke on me, so I asked to speak to someone else. The manager came out a bit later and I explained to him what happened. He told me "I get it, your fingers SLIP sometimes" as he implied I was a frail girl who had dropped my bag in a very condescending tone - even though I was still gripping the top of the paper bag that had a large gaping hole in the bottom. Those around me had even told him they saw the bag break on me but their voices were ignored. It wasn't worth continuing to be undermined so gave up and left. A cheap 6-pack isn't worth that much, but my respect for this business has plummeted. I will be advising those I know against this establishment for this reason.

You know what, Baltimore bars are not bad at all. Baltimore food sucks, but you can't really rip on the bar scene aside from the 1:30 last call. I used to live right by here, so I'd come here all the time. Now I live in Hampden, and I still come here all the time. (Not a fan of Hampden bars and the affectations of Rocket to Venus or Golden West. ESPECIALLY not a fan of their prices.) Club Charles is awesome on Sunday nights when it's dead and it's still awesome when it's completely packed on a Friday night with a show at the Zodiac next door. The bartenders are always so nice and friendly despite the crowds hovering at every end of the bar waiting for a drink or their tab, so I will drink a mixed drink that's sometimes a little too strong. Next time I'll order a $3 Yuengling off the draft. And most of the times they have total babes working behind the bar. The barback with glasses is totally awesome dude too. Also, Sunday nights are "Shipwreck Sundays" so it's $2 Red Stripes and $3 rum drinks. The only downfall is that it's so dark and red inside that you can't really tell who's a girl or a guy. I like it though, because I think the darkness lends itself to the attitude of not-giving-a-shit. I don't see why all these "artsy" pretentious assholes bother some of the other reviewers when you can't really see or hear them anyway. Either way it's the bar atmosphere I prefer the most, especially in comparison to Brewer's or Dionysis or anything in Hampden.

Dive bar, Shmive Bar. Club Charles, or "Club Chuck" as I like to say, makes frequent appearances in my weekly bar rotation. Not because the drinks are cheap-ish (even thought I can never figure out the deals or promos for the day), or because there is surprisingly good food (try their pizza or nachos), but because of one, glowing, life force tucked away inside the bar. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the jukebox. Whether it's Fleetwood Mac, my favorite Baltimore band, or an artist I'm not cool enough to know about yet, it's there.

Maybe I don't understand this word "gastropub" that I hear tossed around by foodie sorts. Maybe this is how they're supposed to work- high prices, iffy-at-best food, and awful service. But wow, was this place a letdown! I went here for food, which I guess is frowned upon, even though their website makes a big deal about the non-booze element of this place. When I got there and asked the bartender/waitress (only one, who looked to be about 22 and really unhappy to be there), where I should sit if I were to get food, she responded as if she didn't work there and didn't know why I was asking her. A long time later, we get menus. Menus read "ask about our specials" and "ask about our homemade deserts". Being the enthusiastic out of towner I am, I asked about both and got this response from the ray of sunshine that was our server: "Uhhhh...some kind of turkey...thing. And we don't do vegan desserts anymore." Ooook. I looked for a cheap item on the not-so-cheap menu, and got the vegan chili with cornbread, which arrived barely warm with nachos instead of cornbread, and no warning about the switch. My date got the spinach and artichoke dip, which was reportedly mediocre at best. We asked for the check, and she came by the the table with paper, but held on to the paper and said "Oh..yer total is $18.95" and walked away. I'm no food service expert, but I thought it was pretty customary to like... see your bill. Maybe even get it face down for discretion. Not here. I followed her back to the bar, asked if I could pay by credit card, and did. $20 for a soup and an apetizer, both kinda bland, from a dive bar with some seriously bad service. The only thing saving this place from a one star rating was the decor (kinda nice!) and the hipster eyecandy (I can't help myself) that arrived later. But wow. Serious diappointment.

First of all, I love a good dive bar, and Club Charles seemed like it had the potential to become one of my favorites. My friends and I (a ground of 22-23 year olds) were exploring Station North and Charles Village for the first time and decided to check this place out based on the good reviews. We left disappointed and wishing we had liked it more. Pros: -The red lighting and older look of the bar is super cool. Perfect for a dive bar! -Unique seating arrangement with some room for standing so you are your group aren't awkwardly standing behind the barstools as is the case with other bars. -Cheap drinks. We all only had one drink while here but I believe we got a beer for $3? Cons: -Very odd vibes from the general clientele here. My friends and I were stared at by the generally older crowd the entire time we were here. -The worst part, and reason for the two stars, was the rude bartender. My friend and I noticed a door to the side of the bar and a passing bartender informed us that this led to an old abandoned theater. We pushed on the door and it opened, in full view of the bartender, so we decided to check it out (and it turned out to be very cool; definitely the best par of the night). We then came back to tell the rest of our group about it and one of them went to open the door and the same bartender shouted, from the bar, "If you go in there again I'll kick all of your asses out." This was after she had enthusiastically told us what was behind the door, saw us go in, and did not say a word. Now, I understand that the general standard of customer service in a bar like this is not exactly the same as in a higher end establishment, but it is never acceptable to belittle and curse at your customers, particularly loudly and in front of all of the other patrons. My friends and I were taken aback, quickly finished our beers, and left for the night.

I would like to get a shirt made that just says "Club Chuck" on it and wear it 24/7. And when people would ask me about the meaning of my shirt, I would say that it's to pay homage to one of the best, most understated bars in Baltimore. You might be saying to yourself: dude, come on. This place looks creepy on the outside and there's a good chance I'll get robbed on North Avenue. And what do I say to that? If you're thinking about that, you don't understand this bar. It's not supposed to be glamorous, it's not supposed to be trendy. It has character and with great bartenders and prices to boot, you should just savor the ambiance. Club Chuck has trapeze artists, for Christ's sake. +50 right there! This bar isn't for everyone but for those regulars and understanding folks out there, you know how cool this place is. Think of it like a 'Cheers'--- except everyone might not know your name and yeah, you might get jumped out on North Ave. But psshhh, details.

I'm basically just going to copy and paste my review for 'The Depot' for 'Club Charles', just changing a few keywords because my review is almost exactly the same. Yay, it's review mad libs. I think I've been here maybe 3 times and only once did I have a semi-decent time with the aide of excessive amounts of alcohol. I don't necessarily blame the entire bar for that but still. The first time someone invited me I approached the door and almost turned around and ran all the way back to my car. In retrospect I wish I had. I recall the drinks got me drunk, but I really don't go out just to drink. I drink so I can socialize more easily and feel less awkward when I dance and this not a place to dance. Maybe if you were alone or there were 5 other people here, which was the case I believe every time I went here. I've honestly had bedrooms that were bigger than this entire bar, not that bars need to be big. Baltimore nightlife really sucks, there are douche clubs (Power Plant area) and um... places to get drunk at. I guess this is a place to get drunk at? It has a lonely, heartbreak hotel, dive bar that has been lost in time vibe to it which I suppose could be appealing... The people are usually clannish, not speaking to anyone but the people they came with, and goat help you if you're single, everyone is too busy being up their own donkey to talk to anyone new. It sounds asinine but this place feels so sad, I even feel like slitting my wrists just reminiscing about it. The decor is dark and twisted which I actually liked and I don't really recall the music they played since I was talking to my "friend" the whole time. Oh, this was years ago by the way when I went here.

A pretty hip spot! While it isn't exactly my "style", Club Charles is an interesting enough place that I would bring a friend who likes to drink out here. I wish I took more pictures because the ones posted here really don't give you a great idea of what the place feels like. You do have to like red neon though. The reason why I have given this place 5-stars is because the place exudes an unpretentious swankiness with absurdly low drink prices...this combination creates an unparalleled bang-for-the-buck value. The barmaid who served us was witty and sassy. Although my friends didn't enjoy it as much as I did, I still rate it perfect.

If you're looking for a club that will give you night terrors,in a good way,for the next 40 years,look no further. Baltimores hottest new club is Club Charles. Opened in 2003 by ginger pornstar Charlie Faplin, this club will have you yelling.. "ANGELA?" THIS CLUB HAS EVERYTHING! pee pants music, chum from the goonies,and the grandson of the Taco Bell dog smoking a Newport cigarette. You'll never want to leave this place,and you can't because the doors lock from the outside.

Not bad for a dive. We came here for a drink after dining at Tapas Teatro. As with most dives, very dimly lit, pretty loud, a little dirty, okay drinks at decent prices. The lower level bar was pretty crowded, but the upstairs one was fairly empty. We sat in the tiny red room, which wasn't bad- just a little crowded with 6 people. Some of the beers tasted very watered down or a bit off, but no big deal as they were cheap. The hipster bartenders seemed pretty nice.

Oh, Club Charles. Or "The Chuck" as some like to say. This is a typical dive bar with a hipster-vibe. The bartenders have never been particularly friendly or attentive, but there's still something I like about it and I'm not sure why. Whenever I first step in, I chuckle a bit on the inside. I think this feeling will last as long as I don't go more than twice...okay, maybe once...a month. They offer one cider, comes in a bottle, I believe it's strongbow.

A dive in the best sense of the word. Retro without being kitschy, unpretentious yet hip, Club Charles is a Baltimore institution. And I love the fact that I have to get buzzed in. It makes me feel edgy and seedy! (Yep, I'm just that much of a dork.) Come February 2nd, it'll be smoke-free (as will all bars in B'more), which I have to say will kind of spoil it for me. It's not so much that I'll miss smoking, it's more that I'll miss the vaguely noir touch of a low-hanging fog of second-hand smoke that gave it that, "Yep, this is a dive" feel. I'll get over it! Great place for a pre- or after-movie drink. Interesting Yelp from Christie S. about the influx of art-crowd....

I like Club Charles, I really do. The inside is dark, the feeling is seedy but hipster-y, and I've been there more often while John Waters was having a drink than when he wasn't. The beer selection is slightly above average, and the service is great, and it's a good hangout before or after a flick at The Charles. That said, the food menu isn't really anything worthwhile, and I feel like I've tried quite a few things. The hours also leave a lot to be desired - I've walked across the street from the movies for a beer, and they've been closed, and this was around 4 or 4:30pm. It's definitely a place everyone who lives in Baltimore should visit, and the atmosphere is fantastic - a good mix of all kinds of personalities and styles.

I mainly love the very loud bartender that's there on weekends. I probably wouldn't come by otherwise. She's hilariously and deals with idiot 22 years olds reaaaaaally well.

Ah, Club Charles. You and your trapeze delivered some of the few bright spots of my Baltimorean tenure. I'd come visit you on a Friday night, cram myself into your teeming throngs, be bathed in red lighting, order a Manhattan, and listen to music that I'd actually want to hear. There were times when I'd go by and the crowd would be completely dead (once in the heat of summer when your air conditioner was broken, but other times unexplained). The barstaff seemed friendly but I never really got the opportunity to befriend them because Baltimore's version of hipster boys were all throwing their nonchalant fervor into trying to woo them at once. I can't recommend Club Charles as a non-stop all the time extravaganza of fun. But it's head and shoulders above most of the local competition.

Club Chuck is a great place to go drown your sorrows. Lots of room, central to the movie theater, train station and close to all of the good stuff on North Av. This is typically where I end my Saturday nights. Typical Baltimore bar scene for better or worse.

Stereotypical [not used in as a pejorative] dive-bar that would be good to use as an illustrative example of what a dive-bar is, if you were ever to have a guest from another part of the world where dive-bars aren't "a thing." I often drop in after I've seen a film at The Charles for a bombay tonic and find the staff adequately competent and pleasant. There's a very subtle difference between date-rape bar lighting and actual dive-bar lighting. This place manages to dwell firmly in the dive-bar lighting of the pub-cosmos. Food isn't something I'd urge you to try [specially when there's Sofi's crepes across the street] but hey, it's not the worst either. A high OK that translates into four-stars because three would imply it's not worth a visit or re-visit.

Love love love the place! Nice drinks...good crowd (yes, I'm a little hipster-esque)...great music...awesome decor! The bartender is also very friendly. I guess with the loss of Zodiac (for food...RIP), Club Charles now serves food (although I haven't tried it yet). If I were to go hang out at a bar, then I'd definitely consider Club Charles first.

The first time I was introduced to Club Charles I was very intoxicated, so I loved it. Dark and creepy with red walls. Right up my alley ;) This is all I recall, and I kept this memory with me for a while. I just recently went back to grab a couple drinks with my boyfriend. I was kind of disappointed. Despite its local fame, I don't really see the big draw. Still cool atmosphere, but the drinks weren't cheap (kinda seemed they should've been), the bar stools were falling apart, and the crowd was just local hipsters. As described everywhere, they're pretentious. Don't expect random conversations with strangers to start or to make any new friends. And where the hell were these trapeze artists I hear about?! That would've sold it for me I think. The bartender chick was cute and friendly. We got a couple beverages and left. I'd go back with a group, but eh, I could take it or leave it.

I lived a about a block away from Club Charles for about two years before I moved to Denver...and it was one of my favorite places to hang out in the city. It's dark, sometimes crowded, with decent music, okay food, strong drinks, and, almost always, a diverse crowd. But, really, I always loved seeing the bartenders. They're always so friendly and attentive. I've spent way too much money at this place...

Location is ideal for the 2nd date trifecta: dinner (Tapas Teatro); movie (Charles Theater); drinks, if all is going well (Club Charles). Pretty stiff drinks, usually at room temp (they seem to have an aversion to ice), at pretty reasonable prices, but also hard to come by (service is disaffected and will hostily ignore you). You might feel like you're not hip enough to be here and there's no one here who will disagree. Surfaces are sticky, vibe is divey. If you're lucky, you might get to spill a drink on John Waters.

From 1995-2000, when i lived in Baltimore, this was by FAR my favorite bar to hang at. So please note I haven't been there for some time, so if there have been any major changes or a decline in quality I do not know of it. They have(had?) a fine selection of cute bartenders, who were both very skilled and extremely friendly. The atmosphere is warm and lounge like, it was always a very comfortable place to be. They also have (had?) a great jukebox. I hope this place is as good as the many memories my friends and I have shared there!

Either the drinks here are stupid cheap, or our bartender last Thursday knocked AT LEAST a round off our tab. Whichever one is true, it made a fan of me. I've since decided that the Charles is what The Depot sorta used to be, and still wishes really hard it was. Only nicer. And with cuter bartenders. She gave us advice on tattoos, and she made us really strong and really yummy Red Apple Ketel One martinis. It was a quiet night, even once the hour grew late enough for a crowd. And there was some terrible thumpy music happening a couple doors down, but it's a great chill place to hang out. The only thing it's missing is a decent dance night, though the jukebox had some seriously awesome old stuff on it, once people started to feed it. Oh, and be careful if you duck outside for a cigarette or breath of fresh air, you're likely to get hit up for change by a random possibly drunk homeless woman who will totally yell at you if you don't give her the ten in your wallet. Not that I know from experience or anything.

How can you not give the club charles 5 stars? Are you a monster? Can you only achieve and maintain an erection while listening to a blended symphony of seals being beaten, children being denied ice cream, and hipsters complaining about their record collection? Are you a shitbag? Do you sit around at night, using facebook on your fucking iphone 4S, making snarky comments on your friends's posts? "Oh, he posted a picture of a hamburger. Dislike, because I'm vegan, and obviously I'm morally superior and not someone that deserves a punch to my anaemic and iron-deficient cock on a daily basis." Oh, you don't like the chill with your friends in a comfy dive and have drinks and totally, you know, enjoy people's company and laugh in real time. Oh, ok, you're a shitbag. I can understand if you gave it 4 stars. Maybe you were drunk, and couldn't remember how awesome the bartenders are, or how good the drinks are. Maybe you forgot that they carry chartreuse and know how to make excellent drinks with it. Maybe you are so used to 1 dollar beers(you are probably from pittsburgh you fucking steelers fan) and a 2 dollar natty boh is just...you can't even comprehend it with your feeble and incapacitated brain. I don't know, I love good drinks and 2 dollar beers and getting boozy without getting woozy. 3 stars, though...what is going through your feeble mind? What gets five stars from you for a bar? Does your favorite bar have automatic dick sucking machines under the counter - something that looks like the sarlacc(bang, return of the jedi bitches) that undulates as it brings you to the cusp of perfection, maximizing your pleasure with mechanical, german efficiency? Does your bar have Jay-Z just walk in and he's all like "oh hey how you doin girl" and then beyonce comes in with her baby and her baby fucking tends bar and tweets about that shit and then makes a tumblr called "baby blue bartending" or something like that? Jay-Z presses his warm hand on your shoulder smelling faintly of cocoa and the Juun J cologne from six scents and he says "this is the greatest day in your life, but it is just average to me. I will always remember the disparity of our recollections" and then you weep golden tears that turn into diamonds when they hit the floor? Probably not, you jerk offs. If that is your bar though...seriously, call me.

Pretty cool place to get a drink and hang out before going to the Depot for an 80's dance party. Don't be surprised if no one talks to you though because they are pretentious art assholes.

And in conclusion.... I really used to love Club Charles. It is the only decent bar in town with Tom Waits in the jukebox, the Bar Staff is always pretty cool, and I have had tons of good times. I only say I used to love it, because it got a little too hipster for me. And if there is one thing that ruins a good time it's a stinky hipster. Not all hipsters, just the annoying ones, or the ones who refuse to use deodorant. Which equates to around 72% of all known hipsters. The food at Club Charles in the past was pretty amazing for a divey bar. The Zodiac (R.I.P.) was my favorite restaurant in Baltimore until it closed down a few years ago. In my opinion it was because of bad management. Numerous times when going to see movies at the Charles Theater, I had to walk up to the door of Zodiac and try to open it, because you could never tell if it was open or not. This restaurant management 101. They can blame the city fro having the street torn up for 2 years all they want, but even when the street was fine, you could never tell if the place was open. It's a real shame because it was a great restaurant. Anyway... Club Charles uses the same kitchen and last time I was there, the same cooks as Zodiac did. The pizza is fantastic. I am giving Club Charles 5 stars because if it is what you are looking for, it is a great bar, and if you have never been to it, it is a must see for the city.

It's hard for me to really find a problem with this place. It's a good bar. Don't know about the food (never had it) but the drinks are strong and cheap, so what more can you ask for?

They have a very nice atmosphere inside that I don't just want to call it dive. Eclectic, decadent, hip, dive, each of these words describes part of its feel. I may as well give up categorizing it because the bartender in a mistress dress did tricks on the swing over the bar. Duh. I like this place. It's across from the movie theater so it's a good place to get a drink when waiting for the show time and the pretentious tapas place is full.

I love Club Charles. It has become my favorite bar in Baltimore hands down. The atmosphere alone is reason to go. They have these great Art Deco murals on the walls. I almost feel like they belong on the cover of an Ayn Rand novel. If you think about them too hard they can be a little creepy, but I love them. There is also a jukebox in the corner that plays mostly 70s and 80s albums. Good picks in my opinion. I usually go on week nights, so I'm not sure how busy it gets on Friday or Saturday, but for me it never gets too crowded.