Griffith's Tavern

Well I was so excited to come and it was great to see I was not the only one. The place was full of lively patrons. Two tvs on silent with subtitles for conversation starters. A cute fucking bowling game. Friendly staff. Nice selection of beers and spirits. SNACKS, which is not something you can find everywhere in Baltimore. Some cute spots for perching (v drag queen friendly).Really glad I got to show up for the opening. This is definitely going to be a repeat spot. It's a laid back place that is great for meeting up with friends and shooting the shit in a chill environment. CLEAN bathroom for the win and excellent music selection.Honestly I am so glad to have this establishment walking distance to my place. The price, proximity and vibe are RIGHT!

Griffith's Tavern recently changed ownership after 50 years of ownership by one family. (The bar had a really interesting story - check out the Baltimore Sun article about the ownership change if you're interested!) This onetime men-only stag bar now has a vision of being welcoming to all (especially the LGBTQ community). They've kept the décor mostly the same (wood paneling on the walls, ceiling tiles, the bar, the stools), but they've changed up the drink offerings a bit (they still have the classics for customers of the old Griffith's but they've added lots of canned microbrews and cocktails). It's still a dive bar. But it's a dive bar with an edge. The service is great (although they can get very busy late on a weekend night); Hannah - one of the owners - has always been the bartender when I've been there. It kind of feels like you're drinking at home - casual, comfortable, like you could stay for hours. Definitely check it out if you're looking for a bar that is still definitely a dive (no bells and whistles) but is also welcoming to all.

Griffith Tavern is excellent bc it's a true blue authentic Hampden Bar. If you & friends want to experience what Hampden is genuinely about, visit Griffith's. The bar hadn't changed in decades. It is still where neighborhood people feel safe, grab a cool one, relax, laugh and joke. It is an Institution and landmark in Hamden dating back to the 1930s. It was a place where hard-working men would go to grab a beer, relax, laugh and joke with neighborhood neighbors. I am speaking from experience. I moved to Hampden 23 years ago, when Hampden was a much different place. Griffith's power & bat staff was always welcoming & full of great stories! Go before "New Hampden" changes it!

We stumbled upon this place on our way back to the car and decided to check it out. As soon as we walked in, I felt like I had somehow been transported back to 1995 -- maybe earlier. The crowd seemed like regulars. Mostly older, but we sat down next to a man who looked like he was close to my age. If you're hoping to get craft beer, you'll have to venture elsewhere. This is a Yuengling, Bud & Miller type of establishment. They do have a decent selection of liquor, so I chose to go the spirited route instead. The best part, as I'm sure you can imagine, was the price of everything. They're more than reasonable. The bar tender was friendly enough, but she was more interactive with the said regulars I mentioned earlier. I'm not huge into dive bars, but I'm always down to try somewhere new. If you want to experience the local scene, I'd recommend this spot.

This place is amazing. quiet, friendly, everything you could hope for. definitely off the ave, but in the best possible way. i definitely recommend!!

After walking past this bar for months and wondering what was inside, I finally ventured in last night. It was everything that I had imagined - maybe more. Shirley, the bartender, was friendly, but not in an overbearing way. The drinks were cheap and the bar was far from crowded. This bar is a refreshing departure from the over-priced cocktails and craftsman decor that have taken over Hampden.

Love this place. Unpretentious, friendly bartenders, inexpensive drinks, a block off the avenue and never too crowded. Time capsule-like dive ambience: old cigarette machine, bagged chips for sale behind the bar, take-out beer, wine, and liquor. Drop ceilings, less-than-great restroom, but very chill. You can meet your friends and have a conversation here.

This place used to be our late night stop. New owners claimed not to change ambiance. 4 of us stopped in last night and stood at bar and were ignored by bartender/owner. Wasn't packed so we expected to get the service we used to get from Rick. We were sorely disappointed. We will not come back. Unfortunately, the death of another great local watering hole. Oh well, progress I guess...