Blue Pit BBQ & Whiskey Bar in Baltimore has been selected as Maryland’s representative in Islands’ new list of “The Best Barbecue Spots Worth Visiting in Every State.”
Located at 1601 Union Ave in Baltimore’s Woodberry/Hampden area, Blue Pit combines slow-smoked barbecue, homemade sides, and an extensive whiskey selection in a laid-back, dog-friendly setting. The restaurant is named in honor of the owners’ pit bull.
Islands highlighted the restaurant’s coffee-rubbed brisket, describing the preparation as giving the beef “some added bitterness and depth.” The travel website also pointed to previous recognition from publications including The Baltimore Sun and Southern Living, along with praise for Blue Pit’s mac and cheese and whiskey selection.
The restaurant’s menu includes Zeke’s Coffee Rubbed Brisket, 18-hour pit-cooked pulled pork, bourbon-glazed St. Louis pork ribs, smoked bratwurst, and barbecue chicken leg and thigh quarters. Diners can pair their meats with sides such as four-cheese mac and cheese, loaded potato salad with Benton’s bacon, collard greens, red chili mayo slaw, and Chesapeake pickleback slaw. Plant-based offerings include pulled jackfruit sandwiches and vegan-friendly sides.
The bar features more than 100 American whiskeys, bourbons, and ryes, alongside craft cocktails and local draft beers. Blue Pit also offers a bi-level indoor space and an outdoor patio where dogs are welcome, with water bowls and treats available for four-legged visitors.
Islands is a travel website with roots dating to 1981, when it began as a print publication focused heavily on island destinations, including the Caribbean and Hawaii. Its coverage has since expanded to broader travel planning, destinations, and food experiences around the world.
