218 E. Lexington St., (410) 659-4130, sidebarbaltimore.com
This long-running downtown venue (nestled near the courthouse and town hall) has always been known as a lawyer’s bar by day, punk venue by night—as well as a place where local bands without another outlet could reliably play. But in recent years, it has experienced quite a renaissance, with new owner Travis Hunt and bookers like Matty Pants and Hasan Ali successfully growing it into a place where one can expect to see cutting-edge national punk, metal, and hardcore acts while still supporting the bands that make up the Baltimore scene—all while still charging local prices for drinks.