A Quiet and Private Lounge Overlooking the Inner Harbor.
Bio
The Royal Sonesta, formally the Intercontinental, is easy to get to has a lot to look around at and talk about. As you turn into the hotel you are greeted by an open stone courtyard with a fountain. A valet will park your car. When you enter the building take the spiral staircase. Straight ahead (slightly to the right) is the Explorers lounge. The lounge is open late and has couches, arm chairs and tables for your enjoyment. The romantic lighting adds to the ambiance.
Basics
Cost: Drinks ($5 to $10) and parking ($5 to $30). The lounge may or may not validate your valet parking. The official policy is to not validate it unless you spend $30. The unoffical policy is to validate it any time. Validated valet parking is $5 while unvalidated is $26. Try your luck!
Date Length:
1-4 hours depending on how long you can talk for.
Travel:
About a 25 minute drive from Pikesville or Greenspring. At night or on weekends, there is no traffic.
Best Route: Take I-83 South and stay on it until it ends when it turns into President St. Continue a few blocks on President St and take a right on Lombard St which is one way. A number of long blocks down, take a left onto Light St. The hotel will be on your right.
Bonuses
- The lounge is usually quiet
- Perhaps one of the classiest lounges in Baltimore
- Waiters or waitresses are polite and usually come over to offer drinks
Things To Think About
- It’s is a popular date spot, so you may see other dates
- Although it overlooks the harbor, it is not in walking distance of any other harbor attractions.
Tips
- Do not park in the parking garage. It is a shared parking lot with an apartment complex, not well lit, and not easy to access the hotel from.
- Call ahead and speak to the bar to find out if there are events going on. Do not relay on the front desk to know.
- Look at directions for the return trip before you go as the streets around the hotel are one way.
Courtesy of shidduchspots.com