Home > Bars & Clubs > Bar Review > Inside: The Horse You Came In On

Vibe: Behind the old-time, saloon-style doors of The Horse You Came In On in Fells Point there's a party going on. It may be small, but there are plenty of people who don't mind the squeeze. Signs behind the bar read, "Honestly now, what's your hurry? You're here!" and "No one is ugly at 2 a.m." The Horse definitely encourages you to sit back, relax and allow the alcohol do its job.

Crowd: The Horse draws a broad spectrum of people. When you first walk in, you see the older patrons, mainly flannel-clad men with thick beards, yelling requests to the band for Skynyrd. Back toward the second bar, UGG boots and factory-ripped jeans surface, and you know you're in the presence of the college crowd, or, if you prefer, the college aged crowd, since there's no telling what these kids are into. One guy actually wore a T-shirt that read, "I Comes Before U." So, maybe the Horse is a little lenient on fake IDs. Despite the fact that many of the patrons didn't know one another, this guy, and everyone at the bar, was extremely friendly.

Libations: The Horse serves a lot of beer and a lot of shots. They serve so many rounds, in fact, that they just use plastic cups. I was told that a new martini menu is in the making, but they must not promote it too heavily, because there was no one with a martini glass in his hands. In fact, I didn't really see anyone with a glass in hand. Most everyone drank bottled domestic beer. I asked the bartender for one of the new martinis (his choice), and he presented me with a simple Apple Martini. It was good, but if you're looking for a new and creative beverage menu the Horse is not the place for you.

Sounds: The Horse features live music nightly. The Todd Miller Band, composed of one singer/guitarist and one bongo/cymbal player, performed the night I was in. They played The Killers, Green Day, Foo Fighters and Prince. Definitely a crowd-pleaser, Todd Miller had couples and a smattering of tipsy ladies dancing all night. Even if you're not in a go out and get wasted kinda mood, you can come here any night just to check out the band.

Service: Really good service. Everyone is helpful, even the bar back. On a busy night you may have to fight or elbow your way to the bar, but once you get there, you'll be served promptly.

Bottom Line: This is not the place for originality, but that just adds to its charm. The Horse was established in 1775, making it quite possibly one of the oldest saloons in America. There's a great crowd that unites all ages, and, best of all, the Horse has live music every night. You could easily stop in alone and meet someone there who wouldn't mind your company.

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