The Owl Bar opened on December 14, 1903. It was then known simply as the bar room or bar at the Belvedere and would not take the name Owl Bar until after World War II.
Prohibition did not stop this hotel bar from playing host to an illustrious lineup of whales who were brave enough to take a sip of hooch, white lightening, and bathtub gin.
In the 1930’s, the Owl Bar quickly became Baltimore’s most notorious speakeasy when then bar owner, Colonel Consolvo brought in the infamous owl statues. When the Belvedere’s basement was stocked with whiskey the owl’s eyes would wink.
With a wise eye and a Pikesville Rye in hand, we rebranded of The Owl Bar with a wink to turn of the century liquor packaging, gilded lettering, and to the omnipresent winking owls that were installed above the bar during prohibition.
“ A wise old owl sat on an oak
the more he saw the less he spoke
The less he spoke the more he heard
why can't we all be like
that wise old bird?”
“I'm ombibulous.
I drink every known alcoholic drink and enjoy them all.” — H.L. Mencken
Baltimore is viewed as one of the major “centers of resistance to prohibition.“ The Owl Bar is without doubt renowned as a part of the heart of Baltimore.
Undeniably Baltimore was a “wet” city, which meant that Baltimore continued the selling, distributing, and consumption of illicit alcohol, under the auspices of city and state government.
