Pier 5 Hotel at the Baltimore Inner Harbour Review (Harbor Magic)
"After the party, it's the hotel lobby..." -Jay Z
Check out the look of the hotel at night:
Most hotel reviews don't include a quote from rapper Jay-Z, but when you're a huge fan AND the lyric rings true, why not just go with it?! Pier 5 Hotel, just one of three Harbor Magic hotels, is located at 711 Eastern Avenue in Baltimore, MD. The lobby was impressive with edgy decor, mixed with vibrant colors and eclectic furniture. It was very open and inviting to hotel guests and offered a great alternative to hanging out in your room for the entire day. Overall, the lobby made a wonderful first impression.
Here's a quick tour (a bit blurry and shaky...sorry):
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| Computer and printer in the lobby for hotel guests to use |
The service was great as well. There was one person at the desk helping another guest in front of me. After noticing I had been waiting in line for just a few short minutes, another member of the hotel staff quickly made his way to the desk to assist me. He checked me in immediately, explained a few things concerning the hotel and suggested I return to the lobby for "Crabby Hour" (hands-on cooking demonstration held in the lobby between 530-630 PM to make a crab dish). Because I was already attending an event serving food and drink in a couple of hours, I declined, even though I wanted to experience this. Maybe next time.
Pier 5 Hotel is intimate in the fact that it only has 66 rooms. My room was on the second floor, in the corner, facing the water. It was a harbor-view King room. There was a sliding glass door leading out to a balcony with a table set. On this particular day the weather was perfect. I got a glimpse of joggers, families pushing strollers, birds resting on rails, and listened to the water gently flowing around the pier. Check out these wonderful views:
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| Who wouldn't want to wake up to these picturesque views? |
That was a prompt ending. I have no clue what I was thinking. You get the idea though.
Pier 5 Hotel sits quietly in a perfect spot– away from all the hustle and bustle of the downtown noise, but easily accessible to all of Baltimore's treasures. A quick stroll across the bridge lead me to Inner Harbour and great attractions such as The National Aquarium, The Maryland Science Center and endless restaurant choices. Not to mention, there are two restaurants attached to the hotel itself– Ruth's Chris Steak House and McCormick & Schmick's. If you want to hit the night scene, Power Plant Live! is just a few blocks away. Location alone is a great reason to stay here.
Here are a few other thing you should know about Pier 5 Hotel:
- It's pet-friendly. I didn't see any pets during my stay, but if I wanted to bring along my pooch (as if I own one) I certainly could have. Check with the hotel for more details.
- You can work out or swim at the MAC Wellness Center located a few blocks away. Just remember to bring your guest pass and a photo ID. Don't forget to take advantage of the Harbor Magic Shuttle to get you to their sister locations.
- Check-in is at 4:00 P.M. and check out time is at 12 noon.
- No SMOKING. Even with rooms that have balconies, there is no smoking. You can smoke outside the hotel, in front of the lobby.
- A Harbor Magic specialist is at your disposal to answer questions and provide you information about the area.
The Pier 5 Hotel was a short drive away from Baltimore City Paper's Cosmic Cocktail Party 2012, held at the American Visionary Art Museum. It was the whole reason I was in town.
For information on the hotel and how you can make reservations, visit: http://www.harbormagic.com/Pier5/pier5_default.asp
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I was provided complimentary accommodations during my visit to Pier 5 Hotel. The opinions and views are my own.
