Kislings Tavern — Restaurant in Baltimore

For as long as I can remember, Kisling’s Tavern has been a cherished watering hole in Baltimore, and for good reason. This longstanding dive bar has earned its place in the hearts of locals, myself included, not just for its laid-back, no-frills atmosphere, but for serving up what I consider the best wings in Baltimore—a title they’ve held for years. The tradition runs deep; my father used to frequent Kisling’s when he was younger, and it’s a place that’s been passed down through the generations, continuing to serve up cold drinks, hot wings, and plenty of good memories.

Kisling’s is a classic rowhome-style dive bar, with a narrow space that’s cozy yet packed with character. The interior is drenched in old-school charm, featuring a wood-heavy construction, sports memorabilia from local teams plastered on the walls, and a massive wood bar that stretches across most of the room. It’s the kind of place where the atmosphere is just as important as the food, and the vibe is always relaxed, making it perfect for kicking back with friends or watching the game.

The bar has a second floor that functions as overflow for the main bar downstairs, so even if it's packed—particularly during Ravens or Orioles games—you’re still likely to find a spot. And that’s part of what makes Kisling’s such a reliable staple in the Baltimore bar scene: no matter how busy it gets, it’s always welcoming and never pretentious.

These are some of the best wings you’ll find anywhere, and certainly the best in Baltimore. They’ve won numerous awards for their wings, and for good reason. The size of the wings is impressive—large, meaty, and perfectly crispy on the outside without being overcooked or greasy. But it’s the signature buffalo sauce that truly sets them apart. The balance of spice and tang is spot-on, making it so addictive that I find myself ordering them every single time I’m here (I’m a purist when it comes to wings, after all).

The wings are offered in platters of 10, 25, or 50, and you’re required to choose just one flavor per order. As mentioned, I stick with the classic buffalo, but there’s a vast selection of other sauces to choose from if you want to switch things up. Over two dozen options range from garlic parmesan and Old Bay honey BBQ to more adventurous choices like spicy sriracha and teriyaki. On a recent visit, several of my friends decided to experiment with some of the other flavors, and even they were impressed by the richness and boldness of the sauces.

For about $12 for 10 wings, the price is perfectly in line with what you’d expect from a dive bar—nothing too fancy, but you’re getting great value for the quality. Given the size and crispiness of the wings, it’s easy to share a platter with friends, making it an ideal food for a laid-back night out.

No dive bar would be complete without a solid drink selection, and Kisling’s delivers in spades. They offer a good range of domestic beers on tap—think your standard favorites, along with a selection of local brews from Baltimore-area breweries like Key Brewing in Dundalk, Monument Brewing in Highlandtown, and Peabody Heights in Remington.

But the real standout when it comes to drinks are the crushes. Baltimore is known for its fresh-squeezed citrus crush cocktails, and Kisling’s has a particularly delicious rendition called the Kisling’s Crush. It’s a local twist on an orange crush, combining the citrusy goodness of an orange crush with the kick of a Black Eyed Susan cocktail, made with locally distilled Sagamore Spirits Rye. It’s refreshing, perfectly balanced, and the ideal complement to a platter of wings.

If you’re looking for a place to enjoy some of Baltimore’s best wings while watching the Ravens or Orioles in a laid-back, divey setting, Kisling’s Tavern is the place to be. From the unbeatable wings and cold beers to the cozy, no-frills atmosphere, this bar has been a cornerstone of the local scene for years, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a perfect spot to relax, catch up with friends, and enjoy a truly authentic...

If it were possible to give zero stars, I would. We ordered 10 wings and asked for 2 different sauces. When it arrived, we got 20 wings, with 10 wings each having the different sauce. We explained to the waitress the error and she kindly explained they don't split orders, but took away one of the untouched 10 wing order. Shortly thereafter, an older man can from the back, didn't identify himself, and asked us what was wrong with the wings. We explained the simple mistake but he surprisingly began berating us in front of everyone that it was our mistake, that we didn't know how to read the menu and what should he do with the wings we sent back. Shocked by the bizarre confrontation, my girlfriend and I tried to explain it was a simple misunderstanding, that we were just trying to have a nice evening out and didn't appreciate being berated as customers. He complained that he was having the problem a lot. After about a solid 2 minute argument of him standing above us yelling, I finally said, "What would you like to do about us this?" His response, "I guess I'll have to pay for those wings you sent back" and then he walked off. The silver lining was that the wait-staff sensed the owner/manager had crossed the line and they were apologetic, even asked to comp another lemonade. But disgusted by the lack of customer service by the top guy, we asked for boxes and a check, paid our bill and left. I mentioned to the waitress on our way out I'd like to speak to the manager again. He caught us as we walked up the street and I proceeded to tell him we didn't appreciate him attacking us like that and simply putting it on the menu that wing sauces can't be split or having the wait-staff explain that would have been simple fixes. He was still visibly angry and frustrated. Suffice to say, we will never go there again. Dine there at...

This place was recommended by a friend for their cheesesteaks. I called my order in 25 mins in advance, the phone did ring off of the hook for a while, but they eventually picked up right when I was going to hang up. When I got there, I expected the place to be packed since it took forever to pick up the phone. But, there were maybe about 5/6 people sitting at the bar and the tables were empty. The tavern was extremely dimly lit and the crowd was much older. Definitely didn't fit in and got a lot of stares when I walked in. I was unsure of where to pick up my to go order and there wasn't a hostess at the front. So, I just walked all the way to the back, with the stares following me. The bartender who l guess also served as the waitress had my order ready. I will say this place is EXTREMELY pricey... for 2 cheesesteaks and 1 order of lemon pepper wings, it was $55. That's nuts! Had I known the prices beforehand, I probably wouldn't have ordered from here. The cheesesteaks were good, nothing to write home about. And the lemon pepper wings were actually pretty solid. They were fried hard and didn't lack seasoning. They came with blue cheese I forgot to ask for ranch. Taking off stars for the outrageous prices and the unwelcoming stares from the guests. I guess I wasn't the...