The 20 Best Restaurants in Baltimore

A gloriously weird Remington diner where every surface is covered in mannequins, Pez dispensers, and toys — with legitimately good comfort food underneath the chaos. Locals love it for brunch; kids and first-time visitors are mesmerized. Big caveat: it's no longer 24/7 — now open only Wednesday through Sunday, daytime hours.

The last great survivor of Baltimore's Corned Beef Row — a family Jewish deli slinging hand-cut corned beef since 1915. The sandwich (about $15) is legitimately one of the best outside New York, ordered at a chaotic counter in the 'Kibbitz Room.' A friend sends you here without hesitation. Caveat: it closes by 5:30pm, so this is a lunch mission.

The classic no-frills Baltimore crab house — brown paper on the tables, mallets, Old Bay everywhere, and a rooftop deck with harbor views in Locust Point. If you want the full steamed-crab-feast ritual without driving to the county, this is where locals send you. Caveat: steamed crabs are market-priced and a proper feast isn't cheap.

The crab cake against which all Maryland crab cakes are measured — a softball of jumbo lump with almost no filler, served since 1886 from a stall in Lexington Market. Around $27 and worth it; this is the one place on this list a friend might tell you to fly in for. Closed Sundays, and it's counter service, not a sit-down restaurant.

Jimmy's Famous Seafood is a large, well-regarded seafood restaurant in Baltimore known for consistently delicious food and exceptionally attentive service from staff who genuinely seem to care about your experience. Servers are knowledgeable and helpful with recommendations, and managers make table visits to ensure satisfaction. The reviews don't mention any significant caveats, though the venue's size means it can accommodate large groups and special occasions.

A jacket-preferred supper club that has been Baltimore's special-occasion steakhouse since 1965, all black lacquer, leopard carpet, and a live piano. Order the bone-in prime rib or the Greenberg-style crab cake, and don't skip the potato skins. It's expensive and deliberately old-school, so come for the ceremony, not for anything trendy.

Little Havana is a Cuban restaurant on Baltimore's waterfront serving well-executed traditional dishes like masitas de puerco fritas (crispy pork bites), cubanos, and empanadas alongside mojitos and Cuban hot sauce. The patio has water views and welcomes dogs, making it ideal for lingering over drinks and appetizers. Service is consistently praised, though the menu skews toward late-night snacks and smaller plates rather than full entrées.

A Canton Square neighborhood seafood tavern that locals lean on for a proper Maryland crab fix without leaving the city. The steamed crabs, oysters on the half shell, and a well-regarded crab cake are the order, ideally with a beer on the upstairs deck. It's popular and can get loud and crowded on nights and weekends, and steamed crabs are seasonal and priced by market.

Ampersea is a waterfront restaurant on Thames Street in Fells Point serving seafood and contemporary American fare with harbor views. Reviewers consistently praise dishes like the crab pretzel, short rib, mussels, and honey teriyaki salmon, plus the attentive service from staff like Joey. One reviewer noted the restaurant was short-staffed during their visit, so service can be uneven depending on timing.

Maryland's first mezcaleria and chef Carlos Raba's love letter to his Sinaloan childhood, with a James Beard Best Chef nod to show for it. The handmade tortillas are the tell, so build a spread of tacos (the aguachiles and any of the seafood are standouts) and drink deep from the agave list. It doesn't take reservations for small parties and the wait can be long on weekends.

A counter-service phenomenon that started at farmers markets and now draws lines for its steamed-bun sandwiches. Get the Neighborhood Bird (Taiwanese-style fried chicken) and the Tempura Broccoli, both of which have a cult following, plus a rice bowl if you're hungry. It's fast-casual and cramped with limited seating, so plan to grab and go.

A farm-to-table restaurant in a rustic building where produce and baked goods arrive daily from their own farm. The brunch and prix fixe menus feature inventive dishes like pork belly with fried oysters and farm eggs, and the intimate space is popular for both casual dining and micro weddings. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for weekend brunch, as the small dining room fills up quickly.

Fells Point's best seafood restaurant, full stop — a handsome raw bar and dining room on the cobblestones doing Maryland and New England classics at a high level. The lobster roll and oyster selection are the stuff of local bragging. Caveat: it's popular and not huge, so book on Resy or expect a real wait.

Blue Moon Cafe is a small, cozy brunch spot in a historic 1800s building serving creative breakfast and egg dishes with standout items like Cap'n Crunch French toast, eggs Benedict, and crab-based scrambles. The food is consistently praised as excellent and worth seeking out, but expect waits of 30–45 minutes, especially on weekends, due to limited seating.

The Afghan restaurant that put the cuisine on Baltimore's map, run for decades by the Karzai family. Start with the kaddo borawni (pan-fried baby pumpkin with garlic yogurt and meat sauce) which is one of the best single dishes in the city, then move to the aushak dumplings or a lamb entree. Rooms can feel dated and it gets busy on weekends, but the cooking is remarkably consistent and gentle on the wallet.

Spring Cafe serves authentic Afghan home cooking in a small, cozy space where the owner handles everything personally. Start with saffron tea, then try the rice with raisins and lamb or any of their fresh, aromatic dishes—reviewers consistently praise the homemade quality and care. The menu is small, so options are limited, but everything that comes out is well-executed.

Waterfront seafood restaurant with harbor views in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Order the crabcakes, grilled octopus, or fresh rockfish—most reviewers rave about these. Service is consistently praised, though some dishes can be inconsistent (one diner found their seabass mushy), and prices are steep.

A small, eclectic restaurant on Harford Road that delivers unexpectedly excellent food with a simple menu and genuinely attentive service. Reviewers rave about dishes like lamb roll-ups, duck breast, Brussels sprouts, and green curry vegetable soup—meals they compare to top restaurants worldwide. Plan ahead: it gets busy during brunch and lunch hours, so calling ahead is wise.

The Duchess is an elevated Chamorro restaurant from Chef Kiko in Hampden, blending Guam-inspired cuisine with Asian and island influences. Must-try dishes include the pork belly, crispy corn patties (NYT-featured), shrimp kelaguen, and Spam musubi, plus rotating specials like skate. The service is attentive and knowledgeable, the atmosphere homey yet elegant—just note that while reservations are easy to make, it's popular enough that planning ahead is wise.

A convincing Parisian corner bistro from the Foreman Wolf group, doing the classics right in leafy Roland Park. Come for steak frites, escargots, roast chicken, and a well-chosen French wine list in a room that genuinely feels transported. It's a touch formal and the neighborhood setting means you'll want a car, but it's a reliable, grown-up meal.