Things to Do in Downtown Frederick, MD

Updated November 2026

We’ve been making spirits on South Carroll Street since 2016, a block from Carroll Creek, and we get asked the same question every day: “What else should we do while we’re here?” This is our answer. It’s the downtown Frederick we send our own friends to, from dinner and cocktails to museums, festivals and the trails just outside town.

Book a free tourHours & directions

Our Favorite Day in Downtown Frederick

• Morning: Coffee and a pastry downtown, then a walk along Carroll Creek Linear Park while it’s quiet.
• Late morning: The National Museum of Civil War Medicine (48 E Patrick St), one of the most unusual museums in the region.
• Lunch: Sabor de Cuba (9 E Patrick St) or Café Nola (4 E Patrick St).
• Afternoon: Browse the shops and galleries on Market and Patrick Streets, then stop into the Delaplaine Arts Center (40 S Carroll St), right across the street from us.
• Late afternoon: Tour and taste at McClintock Distilling (35 S Carroll St). See how we make organic gin, vodka and whiskey in a restored garage that’s more than 100 years old. Tours are free.
• Dinner: Black Hog BBQ (118 S Market St) for something casual, Isabella’s (44 N Market St) for tapas, or The Tasting Room (101 N Market St) for a nicer night out.
• Nightcap: Walk back to our Back Bar for a cocktail made with spirits distilled steps away.

Where to Eat Downtown

We don’t serve food at the distillery, but you’re welcome to bring takeout from any of these spots.

Bars and Cocktails

Downtown Frederick is small enough to walk between a half dozen great bars in one night. Start at Back Bar by McClintock (35 S Carroll St), our speakeasy-style cocktail bar behind the red doors, where every drink is built on our own spirits. From there, White Rabbit Gastropub (18 Market Space), the loft bar at Hootch and Banter, The Wine Kitchen on the creek and Brewer’s Alley are all a short walk.

Date Night in Frederick

Our go-to date night: a tour and tasting with us, a stroll along Carroll Creek as the lights come on, dinner at The Tasting Room or Isabella’s, then a show at the Weinberg Center for the Arts (20 W Patrick St), a 1926 movie palace that now hosts concerts, comedy and films. End with a nightcap at Back Bar. For something different, book one of our distilling classes.

Things to Do on a Rainy Day

• A free distillery tour and tasting at McClintock (about 20 minutes, Saturdays and Sundays)
• National Museum of Civil War Medicine
• Delaplaine Arts Center galleries (free)
• A matinee at the Weinberg Center
• Escape rooms, paint-your-own pottery and the toy and book shops on Patrick Street
• A long lunch at any of the restaurants above

Free Things to Do

• Walk Carroll Creek Linear Park, with its bridges, fountains and public art
• Baker Park, Culler Lake and summer concerts at the bandshell
• Francis Scott Key’s grave at Mount Olivet Cemetery
• Gallery hopping on First Saturday and the Sunday Artwalk that follows
• Self-guided architecture walks through the historic district’s 18th and 19th century buildings
• Our distillery tours (tastings are $10, refunded with a bottle purchase)

First Saturday and Annual Events

First Saturday happens the first Saturday of every month. Downtown shops, galleries and restaurants run tastings, openings and specials, with live music on the streets. It’s the liveliest day of the month downtown and a great time to stop in for a tour.

Dates change every year. Follow us on Instagram for what we’re pouring during each one.

Get Outside: Parks and Trails Nearby

• Monocacy National Battlefield (5201 Urbana Pike): Civil War battlefield with easy walking trails
• Sugarloaf Mountain: short hikes with big views of the valley
• Gambrill State Park and Cunningham Falls State Park: hiking, overlooks and a waterfall
• C&O Canal and the Appalachian Trail: biking and hiking along the Potomac

Come back to town after for a drink. You’ve earned it.

Frequently Asked Questions