Home > Baltimore Bars & Clubs > Bar Review > Inside: An Poitin Stil

Vibe: While it's bigger than any of the Irish pubs I ever visited on the Emerald Isle, An Poitin Stil (Poitin is pronounced put-cheen) is a good re-creation of the sort of homey, welcoming establishment you'd find in the motherland. Except, well, it's in Maryland. And no one has a brogue.

Inside, you can't help but immediately notice the pulpit-style bar, the octagonal structure is perfect for hunkering down to sip a beer and chat with friends. Behind that, the bar stretches out in two directions, occupying most of the front room. A small stage accommodates live performances, but, to distance themselves from the band, some folks head out to the Paddy'O, an enclosed outdoor space with another bar and some TVs. Befitting of an Irish pub, The Stil's wood walls and floor are weathered-looking, and the whole bar is decorated with various Irish knickknacks and memorabilia.

Crowd: In addition to being a popular local watering hole, An Poitin Stil also happens to be a fairly well-reputed restaurant, so in the early hours the crowd is a mix of beer drinkers at the bar and families in for a good dish of Irish fare. Though as the night wears on, a good mix of 20-somethings through 40-somethings stick around to collect digits, listen to live music or enjoy a tasty Irish brew.

Libations: Draft beer is a mainstay, with taps of Guinness (natch), Smithwick's, Murphy's Irish Stout and more. The non-beer drinker could try his luck with an Irish coffee or a classic Irish martini, but the real pot of gold is The Stil's lengthy list of fine Irish whiskeys, including standards like Jameson as well as lesser-known blends like Oban, Laphroaig and McCallen.

Sounds: The Stil features live music every night at 9 p.m. -- Irish-themed musicians and bands, as well as some good old rock 'n' roll. Monday is open mic night, when regulars take the stage in Maryland's little-known nod to "American Idol" (sans disgruntled, eccentric and drug-addled judges, of course).

Service: When we went on a Thursday night, the bar was packed, and, despite the cold weather, so was the Paddy'O. The bartenders managed to keep up rather well. The waitstaff, on the other hand, was a little slow.

Bottom Line: The Stil is a place where friends meet friends to make more friends, and where everyone is a little bit Irish.

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