Owings Mills · Maryland
5 Reasons to Visit Owings Mills, Maryland: The Easy Base for Baltimore’s Best Art, Food and Gardens
A historic mill town turned Baltimore County hub, with a standout restaurant, a stylish hotel and a subway line straight into the city. Here is why Owings Mills deserves a spot on your Maryland itinerary.
Owings Mills was once an isolated mill town, known for grinding flour, producing grist and making plaster from limestone. Today it sits at the heart of bustling Baltimore County, and it has quietly become one of the smartest places to base a Baltimore trip. At its center, Metro Centre at Owings Mills brings together shopping, dining and a full-service hotel, while the end-of-the-line Metro SubwayLink station whisks you into the city without the hassle of downtown parking.
Here are five reasons to visit, from an upscale table in Owings Mills to the galleries, gardens and grand old houses just down the line.
The smartest place to base a Baltimore trip may be at the end of the subway line.
5 Reasons to Visit Owings Mills
- The shopping in Baltimore’s Harbor East.
- The art at the Baltimore Museum of Art and the murals of Station North.
- The cocktails and cuisine at The Tillery Restaurant & Bar.
- The gardens, with tens of thousands of spring tulips at Sherwood Gardens.
- The architecture of Homewood House Museum.
1. The shopping: Harbor East
Surrounded by monuments, museums and historic, quirky neighborhoods, Harbor East is Baltimore’s most polished waterfront district, beloved by locals and visitors alike for its upscale retailers, fine dining and cultural and family-friendly attractions. Spend a day here and there is no shortage of ways to indulge. From Harbor East, a short walk along the waterfront promenade leads to the Inner Harbor, with Fell’s Point and Little Italy just a few blocks away and the newer Harbor Point neighborhood right next door.
Image Credit: Harbor East
2. The art: the Baltimore Museum of Art and Station North
Founded more than a century ago, the Baltimore Museum of Art connects art to Baltimore and Baltimore to the world, with a commitment to artistic excellence and welcoming everyone. Save time for its sculpture gardens, where dozens of modern and contemporary works are set across nearly three lush acres, from towering pieces to intimate ones.
Image Credit: Baltimore Museum of Art
Then head for the murals. Station North, spanning the neighborhoods of Charles North, Greenmount West, Remington and Barclay, is packed with artist live-work spaces, galleries, historic rowhomes and some of the most striking street art in the city. Walk Graffiti Alley and you’ll find a constantly changing canvas.
Image Credit: Visit Baltimore
3. The cocktails and cuisine: The Tillery Restaurant & Bar
Right in the heart of Metro Centre, The Tillery Restaurant & Bar brings a modern, intimate New American dining room to Owings Mills, where traditional fare meets culinary innovation. Its philosophy is “Farm to Centre,” pairing the best of the surrounding countryside with seasonal specials and the indulgent comfort of a prime cut of beef. Signature cocktails include a smoky, honey-kissed take on the Old Fashioned.
The menu has featured favorites like fried green tomatoes with crab salad, Heritage Farms pork belly with a gochujang glaze, a crispy Maryland soft shell crab sandwich, charbroiled oysters, duck confit bao, buttermilk chicken and waffle with hot truffle honey, and The Tillery Burger with candied bacon and a sunny-side-up egg. Save room for something sweet before you go.
Image Credit: The Tillery Restaurant & Bar
Make a Reservation at The Tillery Restaurant & Bar
4. The gardens: Sherwood Gardens
Each spring, Sherwood Gardens in Baltimore puts on one of the region’s most glorious displays: tens of thousands of tulips in dozens of varieties, spread across beds throughout six acres of gardens with roots in a design by the Olmsted firm. It is one of the city’s great hidden gems, so pack a lunch, spread out a blanket and relax. Admission is free, and the grounds are pet-friendly.
Image Credit: Sherwood Gardens
5. The architecture: Homewood House Museum
A National Historic Landmark, Homewood House Museum is one of the finest surviving examples of Federal-period Palladian architecture in the nation. Built around 1801 for members of Maryland’s prominent Carroll family, it was also home to at least 25 enslaved people, including William and Rebecca Ross and their two children, and Izadod and Cis Conner and six of their 13 children. The house is best experienced on a guided tour through its elaborately furnished rooms, which tells the intertwined stories of the Carroll, Conner and Ross families.
Where to stay: Marriott Owings Mills Metro Centre
The first full-service hotel of its kind in Owings Mills, Marriott Owings Mills Metro Centre sits amid the shopping, dining and events of Metro Centre, a short walk from the Metro SubwayLink station. Unwind in the elegant lobby lounge, dine downstairs at The Tillery Restaurant & Bar, and keep up your routine in the 24-hour fitness center. Guest rooms and suites feature work desks, high-speed internet, mini-fridges and local artwork, making it an easy choice whether you are in town for business or leisure.
Image Credit: Marriott Owings Mills Metro Centre
Owings Mills — At a Glance
- Where
- Baltimore County, about 15 miles northwest of downtown Baltimore
- Getting in
- Metro SubwayLink from Owings Mills station; about 25–30 minutes by car
- Eat
- The Tillery Restaurant & Bar at Metro Centre
- Stay
- Marriott Owings Mills Metro Centre, 10101 Grand Central Avenue
- Best time
- Spring, for the tulips at Sherwood Gardens
- Don’t miss
- Harbor East, the Baltimore Museum of Art, Station North murals, Homewood House Museum
Plan Your Stay
Book a room at Marriott Owings Mills Metro Centre, reserve a table at The Tillery Restaurant & Bar and ride the Metro into Baltimore for the day.
Book Marriott Owings Mills Metro CentreFrequently Asked Questions
Where is Owings Mills, Maryland?
Owings Mills is a community in Baltimore County, Maryland, about 15 miles northwest of downtown Baltimore. Once an isolated mill town known for grinding flour and producing plaster from limestone, it is now a busy suburb centered on Metro Centre at Owings Mills.
How do you get from Owings Mills to downtown Baltimore?
Owings Mills is the end of the line for Baltimore’s Metro SubwayLink, with a station a short walk from Metro Centre, so you can ride straight into the city. By car, downtown Baltimore is usually about 25 to 30 minutes away, depending on traffic.
What is the best restaurant in Owings Mills?
A standout is The Tillery Restaurant & Bar inside Marriott Owings Mills Metro Centre, an upscale New American restaurant known for its “Farm to Centre” approach, seasonal specials, craft cocktails and dishes like its crispy soft shell crab sandwich and chicken and waffle.
Where should I stay in Owings Mills?
Marriott Owings Mills Metro Centre, at 10101 Grand Central Avenue, puts you in the middle of Metro Centre’s shopping and dining, steps from the Metro SubwayLink station, with The Tillery Restaurant & Bar on site.
When is the best time to see the tulips at Sherwood Gardens?
Sherwood Gardens in Baltimore is at its peak in spring, usually from mid-April into early May, when tens of thousands of tulips bloom across its six acres. Admission is free.
What is Homewood House Museum?
Homewood House Museum is a National Historic Landmark built around 1801 for members of Maryland’s Carroll family and one of the finest surviving examples of Federal-period architecture in the country. Guided tours explore its furnished rooms and the intertwined stories of the Carroll, Conner and Ross families, including those who were enslaved there.
Is Owings Mills a good base for visiting Baltimore?
Yes. Owings Mills offers easy parking, a quieter suburban setting and a direct Metro SubwayLink connection to the city, making it a convenient base for Harbor East, the Baltimore Museum of Art, Station North, Sherwood Gardens and Homewood House Museum.
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