With over a 60 percent black population, Charm City is one of the most diverse cities in the U.S. Their annual Black Restaurant Challenge that dates back to 2014 and encourages dinners to try black-owned eateries also showcases their abundance of black-owned businesses. If you find yourself in the Baltimore area for a day, here are a few spots to check out.
Morning
Saturday Morning Cafe is not only black-owned but also proudly veteran owned and operated. This cozy cafe offers “southern treats” like shrimp and grits and southern biscuits and gravy as well as sandwiches and lighter fare to get your day started.
Head over to Everyone’s Place bookstore to browse their selection of books, CDs, health food products, spiritual products, clothing, jewelry, art, fragrances, and more. They also have a lecture series aimed at “supporting knowledge of self from Pre-K to PhD and beyond.”
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Afternoon
Jasmine Simms is the proud owner of Scrub Nail Boutique, a Baltimore-based nail salon that was awarded the title of Best Nail Salon in the Best of Baltimore by Baltimore Magazine since its conception in 2013. Spend the afternoon getting pampered with a range of pedicure and manicure services.
The Land of Kush, named after an ancient African civilization, brings “ancient and natural concepts to our modern society” through food. Offering vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options, this restaurant is as healthy as it is delicious.
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Evening
Spend a few laid-back hours at the black-owned Ivy Hotel starting with a spa treatment and dinner at Magdalena, a fine-dining bistro that calls itself a culinary jewel of Baltimore with main courses such as Rockfish, duck breast, and lamb.
If you have more time to explore the city or want a few additional options, check out this list for more black-owned restaurants in Baltimore.