Baltimore Little Italy
Little Italy, Baltimore, MD
Home to multiple generations of Italian-American families, Baltimore’s Little Italy neighborhood draws visitors to its colorful festivals and community events. Most, however, come here to eat, and eat well. The neighborhood is filled with much-loved, longtime restaurants serving up dishes “just like mamma made.”
The basics
Dining options in Little Italy range from casual to upscale restaurants. A few favorites include Sabatino’s, which has been in business for more than 50 years, homey, mural-covered Café Gia, and La Tavola for fine dining. If you can’t decide where to go, join a food tour that lets you sample specialties from various eateries. Also be sure to stop at the area’s bakeries for Italian pastries: Vaccarro’s is famous for its cannoli.
Even if you have no plans to eat, Little Italy is worth visiting for a stroll through its charming cobblestone streets where, in the summer, you may happen upon a bocce ball game in action.
Things to know before you go
- Some, but not all, Little Italy restaurants are wheelchair accessible. Navigating the narrow streets can be challenging for wheelchair users.
- As is the case throughout the city, crime can be a problem. Be aware of your surroundings, especially after dark.
- Little Italy is a small neighborhood, so you can easily experience it within a couple of hours (including a meal).
How to get there
Little Italy is a short walk from the Inner Harbor in Downtown Baltimore. Visitors who are driving can find free street parking (3-hour limit) or opt to park in one of the area’s paid parking lots or garages. A number of buses, including the free circulator, stop at Lombard and Albemarle Streets, and the Convention Center light rail station is a 20-minute walk away.
When to get there
With festivals throughout the year, Little Italy is a great place to visit anytime. June’s Feast of St. Anthony features a colorful street procession, and July’s weekend-long Feast of St. Gabriele has a sausage-eating contest. In September the Madonnari Arts Festival showcases street chalk artists, while October brings Italian Heritage Day festivities. At the beginning of December, the Christmas Tree Lighting is a long-standing neighborhood tradition.
St. Leo’s Church
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Renaissance Revival–style St. Leo the Great Roman Catholic Church is the heart of Little Italy. Established in 1881, it was the first church in Maryland built specifically for Italian immigrants, and is known for its cultural as well as architectural significance, having been the site of baptisms, marriages, and funerals for many generations of community members. Visitors can attend mass from Tuesday through Sunday.
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