Lord Baltimore Hotel- Baltimore, MD

Not all historic hotels are created equal. Sadly, some hotels just feel old. While updated, the Lord Baltimore has lost much of its charm. Not that it isn’t there, hidden under the veneer of its oddly anachronistic modern decor, you just have to look for it.

Completed in 1928, the 22 story hotel was constructed in the French Renaissance style, using brick and limestone over a steel frame, crowned with a copper topped mansard tower. Once the largest hotel in Maryland, the property changed hands several times over the years, before closing in 1982. Although it reopened after a renovation, it was seized from its defunct creditor during the savings and loan crisis of the 1980s.

Once reopened, the hotel cycled through several owners and managers, including multiple stints by Radission. Most recently it was purchased by an independent hotel group, who reopened the property in 2014 after an extensive remodel of the property, including restoration of the public spaces. They did an exceptional job on the coffered mezzanine ceiling, as well as the decorative metalwork. The rooms themselves retain little original character.

The lobby is a mash of styles that don’t particularly complement the space. A bland lounge was unceremoniously placed in the rear of the room. Fortunately they did also add a much more inspired option, a new rooftop bar, which offers excellent views of the surrounding city, as well as their own copper topped tower.

Convenient to most Baltimore attractions, the hotel works for a short stay. A bit dark, and still a bit dated even following the recent renovation, I doubt I would return, but it’s an option for those looking for affordable historic downtown accommodations.