Of Love & Regret in Baltimore: A Cocktail Bar Built on Conversation Over Flash
Of Love & Regret is a 40-seat cocktail bar in Fells Point that prioritizes talk and technique over noise and spectacle, mixing classical spirit-forward drinks with original house recipes in a deliberately quiet room.
What Of Love & Regret Actually Is
The bar occupies a narrow storefront on the Fells Point waterfront block, with exposed brick, dim Edison-bulb lighting, and a small front window that faces the street. The space holds about 40 people seated at the bar or small tables; there is no standing room, no music beyond background volume, and no projection screens. The bartenders work behind a traditional wood bar with visible bottle racks and mixing station. This is a place where you can hear someone three seats away and where the bartender can hear your drink preferences clearly. The bar opened in 2016 and has remained a neighborhood fixture without expanding or pursuing broader recognition.
Cocktails, Pricing, and Service Style
Cocktails run $12 to $14 for house originals and $11 to $13 for classical drinks like Manhattans, Negronis, and Daiquiris. The house menu rotates seasonally but typically includes six to eight original recipes alongside the classics. A recent seasonal menu featured an Original Sin (bourbon, apple, allspice, lemon) and a drink built on rye, Chartreuse, and bitters. Bartenders ask questions about your taste before making recommendations rather than assuming you want the sweetest or most Instagram-friendly option. The bar does not serve food; liquor-only operations in Maryland do not require a food license, and Of Love & Regret operates under that model. If you are hungry, Fells Point restaurants and takeout shops are steps away.
Service is notably slow by design. Orders are made one or two at a time, not shouted in batches. Each drink receives individual attention to temperature, dilution, and garnish. On a busy Friday or Saturday night, expect 15 to 20 minutes between ordering and receiving your cocktail if the bar is full. On quieter weeknights, service moves faster. The bartenders are experienced enough to discuss technique and ingredient sourcing if you initiate that conversation; they will not approach you unsolicited with recommendations, but they will answer direct questions.
How Of Love & Regret Compares to Other Baltimore Cocktail Bars
Most of Baltimore's cocktail bars fall into one of two camps: craft bars with ambitious menus and DJs or loud ambient music (like Bad Decisions in Canton or The Owl Bar downtown), and casual neighborhood spots with simpler drinks and TV screens. Of Love & Regret sits apart. It is more technically serious than a dive bar but far quieter and smaller than the craft-focused venues that double as weekend nightlife destinations. If you want to order a drink and have a private conversation, this bar is the obvious choice in Fells Point. If you want a high-energy social scene or want to meet strangers at a crowded counter, you will feel out of place. The Owl Bar, which sits in a quieter hotel setting with classic cocktails and lower prices ($10 to $12), is a reasonable alternative if you want old-fashioned drinks in a calm space; Of Love & Regret's original recipes and more intimate scale make it a different experience.
Who This Bar Suits and Who It Does Not
This bar works for dates, small friend groups planning to talk for two hours, and people who order one or two drinks and stay. It does not work for large groups (no space), people who expect fast service during peak hours (the pace is intentional), drinkers who want multiple rounds in quick succession (the slow, careful approach does not encourage rapid ordering), or anyone sensitive to cold environments (the bar can be chilly on winter nights). If you have never ordered a cocktail by describing flavor preferences rather than by name, the bartenders here will help you find something; if you order by name and quickly, you will get what you asked for without elaboration.
What a First Visit Involves
Arrive on a weeknight if possible; weekends fill by 9 p.m. Sit at the bar or a table; seating is not assigned but first come. Expect the bartender to greet you after you settle in. Order by name or by taste description. If you choose taste, saying "I like bourbon, citrus, and something herbal" will prompt a specific recommendation. Your drink will take 10 to 20 minutes depending on how many orders are ahead of you. Tip cash or card; the bar accepts both. Plan to spend $12 to $14 per cocktail plus tip.
Hours, Parking, and Logistics
Of Love & Regret is open Tuesday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to midnight, Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., and Sunday from 6 p.m. to midnight. It is closed Mondays. Hours can shift seasonally; verify before visiting on a specific date. Street parking on the Fells Point waterfront blocks fills by 7 p.m. on weekends; the neighborhood has several paid lots nearby. The bar is accessible by foot from the Broadway pier and the water taxi stop.
Of Love & Regret succeeds because it refuses to compete on volume, noise, or Instagram appeal. For people who order cocktails to taste them rather than photograph them, it is the best option in Baltimore.
