Dock of the Bay
Sagamore Pendry, Baltimore, Md.
Most port cities have hotels overlooking the water. But for a hotel literally on the water, head to Baltimore’s Sagamore Pendry, located on historic Recreation Pier in Fells Point.
The pier was built in 1914, and has had many purposes since, including as an immigrant processing station, an open-air recreation area for inner-city kids, and the fictional police HQ in Homicide: Life on the Streets. It sat empty for much of the 2000s, while multiple attempts to restore it fell apart due to the logistics and expense involved. Enter Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank and his team, who invested some $60 million in renovations and brought in luxury hotelier Montage Hotels & Resorts to run it when it opened in 2017.
The 128-room hotel follows the footprint of the original pier, extending out into the harbor for epic views from all sides. Sitting on the balcony of my harbor-view room reminded me of being on a docked cruise ship, in a good way; I woke to the call of seabirds and watched tugs and workboats ply the harbor as I sipped my morning coffee. Interior design reflects Baltimore’s industrial heritage, with a slight Art Deco hint; think mahogany headboards, tufted leather sofas, and brass accents in the guestrooms, and in the striking main bar, exposed brick walls, iron beams, and a crows-nest upper gallery that hides a private dining room.
In warmer months, beeline to the end of the pier, where the infinity-edge pool overlooks the Domino Sugar factory. Rec Pier Chop House, run by James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Carmellini, features dry-aged steaks and housemade pastas. (Don’t miss the standout linguine mezzanotte with squid-ink pasta and jumbo lump crab.) When you want to wander, Fells Point is at your feet, with shopping and restaurants along cobblestone streets, and a promenade that takes you to Canton Waterfront Park.
Sagamorependry.com. Rooms from $395/night.
