Hats In the Belfry

A hat shop?! How quaint. Greeted and treated so well from the start. The gentleman that took care of me fitted me with a thousand hats, chatted casually, he was extremely accommodating, understood my style, and was patient. Excellent salesmen skills.
I left with two new lids: the first was one-​size-​fits-​all that he resized and expanded to fit my noggin better and the other he tried tried several sizes to find the perfect one
Very stylish, chic, and good quality hats.

You want a hat? This is your place. Even if you’re not a hat wearer it’s worth a visit — you don’t find any hat shops anymore, and not one this good. Great staff, great hats.

I’ve always been amused by places masquerading as ‘hat stores’ that only sell baseball caps. I’ve also been disappointed by other random places that have tiny selections of actual hats with only a few sizes. If you’re with me on these two points, Hats in the Belfry is a godsend.
They have just about every style of mens hats that you can imagine (save for baseball caps because what’s the point…), and a plentiful selection for gents with a larger melons. Put simply, if you’re serious about actual hats, this is the place to go.
As for service, I’ve always been pleased. I’ve never been treated rudely, and I don’t walk into a place expecting to have flower petals thrown in front of my path, so this place is a real gem as far as I’m concerned.

Came in to the shop, wasn’t acknowledged or greeted or asked if I needed help.
I browsed for at least 10 minutes and was never spoken to or helped by the only gentleman working, who was talking on his cell phone the whole time. I was the only person in the shop and I was dressed nicely (which I don’t think should be a requirement for service) and don’t understand the «Pretty Woman» treatment I got. Did he not feel awkward? I did!
So I bought a hat from a nearby shop instead. Hat’s in the Belfry’s selection was nice but the dismal customer service ensured that I would NOT spend my money there.

Cute little hat store in Fells Point. They didn’t have a ton of ball caps like most of the other hat stores, but instead had unique hats that people don’t wear everyday. If I was a hat person I’d definitely shop here!

As I walked past this place, I was about to write it off as another one of the dozens of trendy places in Fells Point that uses a clever play on words to piqué consumer’s curiosity. And while that is probably still an accurate assessment, I have to admit that this store rocks! It is the first establishment that I have been to, including your traditional department store, that has an extensive array of tastefully fashionable as well as hipster hats for women. On the men’s side, if you have a penchant for pageboy and Kangol-​style caps, this is your mecca. The store also sells top hats, cossacks, fedoras, rubber wallets, gunny sack bags, and belts. You cannot leave the store without smiling because there is just something about the array of headgear, earmuffs, knitted caps, and berets that brings out your inner child. Thank goodness the staff is patient when you start running around the store giggling and modeling the different hats for your friends. I highly recommend we all work to bring hats back for the 2010’s. So, check them out online at
or visit them at one of the four Maryland locations, two of which are in Charm City.

I bought a fedora.
I’m never going to wear it, but it’s the first place in about three years of not really looking I found one that fit my melon head… so I bought it. The 25% off sale didn’t hurt. Actually, I was seriously on the fence and the cool looking, engaging guy working there made owning one seem so natural that I really couldn’t argue against it.
I wanted to be as cool as him.
I know I never will be.
How can you be cool with such a big head?
You can’t.
I’m gonna try.
Don’t judge me.

After a thoroughly satisfying lunch at Meli, HG and I decided to wander around the area to explore… and of course my eyes lit on Hats in the Belfry. (What hat-​collecting crazy cat lady wouldn’t be drawn to such a place?) While he finished his very messy ice cream cone, I trolled among the gorgeous hats on display, thoroughly engaged — did I mention that they specialize in cloches? My very favorite type of hat? Which I look fabulous in?
The gentleman behind the counter was engaging, enthusiastic about hats, and quite debonair in his chapeau. Having just purchased boots (yay, boots!), I couldn’t justify the purchase of a hat (or six), but I’ve bookmarked the site, and will be visiting it, online, at least, often. Sweet cloches, with your buttons and ribbons and fur and felt, you will be mine! (And there’s a charming houndstooth cap that is likely to end up in HG’s Christmas stocking…)

I don’t wear hats but I like trying them on, apparently. I was not hoping to obtain a lice infestation or worse, it is just kind of fun to try on silly hats and joke around with your friends. The staff here was very knowledgeable and friendly without being pushy. I found a cool hat and a scarf for my girlfriend and I nearly bought a hat for myself after finding one that fit my giant cranium. It looked kind of cool but I know that I’ll never wear it, so I left it there for the time being. I’m still thinking about that hat, so I may go back for it.

Great little hat shop in the heart of Fells Point. They have a decent selection but they are pricey. Staff is friendly; they were more than happy to offer recommendations and give their input on different styles.
Sometimes they serve wine and cheese; nice!
I don’t recall seeing baseball caps, so if that’s what you’re looking for, definitely check out «Lids». They have stores at Eastpoint and Towson malls.
Note: They also have a small selection of scarves and mittens/​gloves.

CliffsNotes: Hats in the Belfry good selection of hats and all reasonably priced. Apparently, everything you see in the movies (e.g. Indiana Jones) are all wrong: NEVER squeeze or pinch the crown because you should handle by the brim only. There’s a lot you can learn about real hats here — everything from Kangol driver’s caps, top hats (yes, they still exist), derby hats to fedoras. There are great selections for women as well like cloche and flapper hats. So if you’re looking for something to adorn your head, then check out Hats in the Belfry. You’ll have a lot of fun to say the least. [Original Visit: May 30, 2010]

Like this place in Fell’s Point. Was a random walkby, and found a hat on clearance for only $ 20. Good balance between male/​female styles, and the 2 guys behind the counter were pleasant and polite.