Fall and its inescapable companion, football, seemed far away when we ducked into iBar in Station North on a scorching early August evening. But despite the humidity, kickoff of the 2026 season was so close that we could taste it. And football tastes like wings.
There is no shortage of Baltimore bars that serve chicken wings. In fact, you’d be hard pressed to walk into a pub that doesn’t have them. But in the two decades-plus since it opened, iBar has emerged as home to perhaps the city’s best.
Chef and co-owner Jeffrey Holter—known as Cheffrey around these parts—serves what he calls “authentic” Buffalo-style wings, modeled on the Anchor Bar in the upstate New York destination where wings were purportedly invented more than a half century ago.
They can be fried or fried hard, which provides a crispiness, texture, and flavor that sets them apart. They pull perfectly from the bone, with the meat remaining juicy. The exterior crunch pops and the flavored sauces—which include everything from Cajun to spicy Thai peanut to mango habanero—tickle the taste buds. The hot sauces, the menu notes, are made fresh daily, so the heat may vary.
When we stopped in, the only place that was hotter than the air outside was the inside of our mouths after we polished off a plate of fried hard Buffalo hot, the fourth hottest of the seven varieties. (God speed if you try the hottest, known as devil’s blood.)
There are also chef-style wings, which are a mixture of hot sauce and garlic parmesan that have proven so popular that a neon sign touts them from a window above the front door.
As good as its wings are, there’s no way iBar would have survived for more than 20 years if it was a one-trick pony. Cheffrey’s kitchen also churns out sandwiches, pasta dishes, rice bowls, tacos, quesadillas, and an array of daily specials like a blackened fish pita wrap.
Among its many great attributes, the friendliness of its staff stands out. As co-owner Rebecca Holter once told The Sun, “We have Black, white, gay, straight, trans—every kind of person comes in here. We make you feel comfortable. No one’s going to judge you.” That feeling of inclusion is palpable. Even though Orioles and Ravens memorabilia hang on the walls, Buffalo Bills fans are still welcomed on Sundays to watch the (star-crossed) team’s games.
Cocktails include fresh squeezed Crushes; “iBar Favorites” like the White Gummy Bear—Stoli raspberry, peach schnapps, sour apple, and lemon lime soda; and a pomegranate margarita. Served in a mason jar mug, it has plenty of tequila, and the fruit juice and sour mix give it a nice acidic kick.
While most people may come for the wings, they stay for the spirit of the place. IBar is a classic Baltimore neighborhood bar. Sitting on one of the 10 or so stools (there are also a smattering of tables), we overheard two old friends discussing—no kidding—the night the Colts left town.
Later, one ordered chef-style wings. “Why not,” he told the bartender. “I ain’t got no one to kiss tonight. Unless you know someone.” She laughed, took a second, then replied, “I’ll keep my eyes open for you.”
Maybe there is something (or someone) for everyone at iBar.