The Sidebar Tavern

Awesome place to grab a drink and see a show. I make the 2 hour drive every now and again. Nothing can give you the same taste of a DIY punkshow

We were in town looking for a place with live music and found the Sidebar. Decent little venue. Beers & drinks all seemed to be $6 no matter what we ordered. The night we were there, they had 4 different bands playing, and each one had 20-40 minute set. Then they would tear down, and the next band would be setting up. So our group was able to talk in between bands, but once a band started, there was no way anyone would hear anything. Bartender gave us ear plugs after she noticed one of our group trying to cover one ear. Then I noticed that almost everyone in attendance seemed to be using ear protection of some kind. Given the high level of distortion and feedback with the amps all cranked to the max, I think they could back off the amperage just a bit and end up with a better sound. But it worked, and was a nice way to spend an evening.

I love going here for shows but the place needs alot of TLC. It was flies and bugs in the drinks and the floor by the steps and bathroom are like they are about to cave in. The bar stools are old and need to be replaced and made me very itchy like it was bedbugs in the stools even with long pants on. Also make sure you bring earplugs the sound in here is extremely loud to the point you could go deaf.I still recommend the place if you're into punk,metal and indie music.

Music was deafeningly loud, didn't even stay long enough for a drink. The girl taking cover was nice though and gave us ours back since we had been there for roughly 2 minutes before the band finished setting up & started playing. I can still feel my ears ringing just thinking about it again.

Baltimore's premier punk bar! This spot is awesome and has lots of cool events. I have seen lots of cool acts including some great bands and comedians. The open mic night is a lot of fun too. This is the place to check out for some authentic Baltimore fun!

Cool intimate venue for live music. Bartender was great and drinks were awesome and reasonably priced.

Walked in as they were closing down and as the last band was packing up. I was on 3 weeks of straight work that were hell and just needed a beer. The bartender Amy , had her drawer already cleaned out and counted and was minutes from closing yet she still let us order some draws of Fat Tire and drink leisurely for about 15 minutes. I wish more places had people like this as bartenders. Good customer service is also hard to find and Amy hit it outta the ballpark!! Will definitely catch some live music here the next time I'm in town.

The live music was always a show. This place had an interesting mix when I went there. Around 5 to 7 you had lawyers and such, then later the freaks come out. I do not mean that in a bad way being I WAS one of those freaks. It goes from custom suits to custom piercings. Quite the eclectic mix I always had a good time.

I have to admit that I love the spirit of the Sidebar and what it offers for the music community in Baltimore. If you are into the local music scene and dive bars, then this is a great place for you. That said, the bathrooms are usually disgusting and have a pungent smell of urine and vomit. And the alcohol options are really cheap quality. There is no food offered here, but they have no problem with you bringing in food from outside.

I LOVE Side Bar. Great staff and drinks. Sunday nights are a blast. Eve is a great bartender, knowledgeable, welcoming, professional and genuine. The vibe is real chill. The area is somewhat smallish. But it adds to the atmosphere and environment. Everything compliments eachother. I have and will continue to bring friends here.