Sagamore Pendry Baltimore

Recreation Pier’s reimagined waterfront gem
VERIFIED LUXURY

When Under Armour founder Kevin Plank makes a move, he goes big. His first hotel venture, Sagamore Pendry Baltimore, borrows from his Sagamore Development Company’s name (which, among other things, includes a horse farm and a distillery). It’s also the first East Coast location for Montage International’s offshoot brand, Pendry Hotels, which caters to a younger, trendier audience.

Dating to 1914, the Recreation Pier structure that houses the hotel had at times been an immigration hub, a rec center and, of late, an eyesore. Opened in the spring of 2017, the brick building was stripped down and reimagined as a stylish 128-room pied-à-terre piled with local art, a buzzy steakhouse, a sparkling outdoor pool and some of the city’s best views of the Inner Harbor.

SHARE
Our Inspector's Highlights

  • For a hotel owned by a fitness executive, one might call the workout area “compact,” even though it’s large by most hotel standards. But the real perk is exclusive access to the waitlist-only FX Studios, a massive wellness facility just across the harbor — the same place that caters to NFL pros and visiting celebrities
  • You’ll enjoy special perks at other local Sagamore-owned spaces, too. The hotel partners with Sagamore Farm (a nearby racehorse breeding and training operation) for special events, as well as Sagamore Spirit Distillery, which makes the famous Sagamore Spirit Rye Whiskey placed in all the guest rooms and sold in local bars and restaurants.
  • This Baltimore hotel is the spot to host a show-stopping event. The Sagamore Ballroom on the second floor is part of the original building and has been painstakingly restored, from the 35-foot ceilings to the oversized windows.
  • The seasonal outdoor pool is a real see-and-be-seen spot, complete with a pop-up outdoor restaurant and bar made from shipping crates. Bring your best bikini and glammed-up sunglasses to lounge in style.
  • After dinner, stop by the hotel’s whiskey bar for a sensational selection of brown spirits and a few surprises. Dubbed The Cannon Room, the lounge was named for the 18th-century cannon found beneath the floor when the property was being renovated. It’s now on display for all to see.

Things to Know

  • The Fell’s Point neighborhood is popular for bar hopping, so don’t expect a tranquil evening on your guest room terrace. Though, we love this hotel for major events, like the Fourth of July or New Year’s Eve, when the city puts on a beautiful fireworks display and town feels busy and festive.
  • The centerpiece of the glassed-in hotel courtyard is a 12-foot-tall horse sculpture by Fernando Botero that’s so large, it had to be brought in by crane via the roof. The massive structure and gorgeous gardens drenched in natural light provide a perfectly Instagrammable selfie spot.
  • In true Maryland fashion, it’s easy to arrive by boat. The hotel has its own selection of slips attached to the building for overnight or by-the-hour docking, and there’s a water taxi stop just outside as well.

The Rooms

  • Designed to evoke a ship’s captain’s quarters, the hotel’s 128 rooms are modern-meets-tradition, with designer details like hardwood floors, rich millwork and cozy leather sofas that feel very residential in design.
  • Minibars are a highlight, chock-full of everything from Old Bay potato chips to the hotel’s signature Sagamore Rye.
  • While the courtyard views are nice, we prefer the vistas from the luxury hotel’s third-floor suites that feature large outdoor balconies overlooking the water.
  • Bathrooms offer a spa-like retreat with trendy brass accents, white herringbone-patterned marble walls and chic octagon-tiled floors. Deep-soaking tubs and walk-in showers are all stocked with custom Min New York amenities.

The Restaurants

  • The first Baltimore restaurant from well-known chef Andrew Carmellini (The Dutch, Locanda Verde, Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Little Park), Rec Pier Chop House features a steak-and-seafood-heavy menu with Italian roots.
  • Shareable starters, like the sheep’s milk ricotta crostini, are a great way to begin your meal, as are creative cocktails like the Biscotti Old Fashioned, made with Sagamore Rye.
  • The brick-walled space has two floors (there’s an open semi-private dining area that overlooks the restaurant and bar below) and it can get loud. It’s a great atmosphere for a group or party.
  • Main dishes are a hit, and, for a menu that has a number of steak cuts, our picks tend toward the pasta and seafood, which are always perfectly cooked and seasoned. If it’s available, order the lobster fra diavolo — you won’t be disappointed.

Amenities
24-hour room service
Bar
Gym
House car
Meeting rooms
Outdoor pool
Pet friendly
Restaurants
Getting There
1715 Thames Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21231
TEL443-552-1400
TEL443-552-1274
NeighborhoodFells Point
NEARBY AIRPORT(S)
BWI (20-40 min)   DCA (55 min-1 hr 20 min)   MTN (22-35 min)  
Check Availability