Where to eat in Baltimore and Maryland

Lonely PlanetNat Geo

Jumbo lump crab cake

Baltimore's lump crab cake stall, a Fells Point Irish pub on the New York Times list, and Chesapeake crab houses with paper on the tables.

Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2027: Maryland is on Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2027 list, third in the Time Out roundup, with a lighthouses-and-fishing-villages itinerary. (Time Out, Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2027)

National Geographic Best of the World 2027: Baltimore is on National Geographic's Best of the World 2027, as the birthplace of the American railroad. (National Geographic, Baltimore)

The dish: Jumbo lump crab cake

Mostly crab, barely any filler, broiled or fried and eaten on a saltine or a plain roll. The best one is at Faidley's Seafood.

Where to eat in Baltimore, Annapolis and St. Michaels

Market · the best jumbo lump crab cake

Faidley's Seafood

Lexington Market, Baltimore

Get: The jumbo lump crab cake

The benchmark Baltimore crab cake, hand-formed since 1886.

Source: Baltimore crab cake guides 2026

Bar

The Wren

Fells Point (1712 Aliceanna St)

Get: The seasonal European country plates and a pint

An Irish pub that made the New York Times 50 best list and Bon Appétit's best new of 2025.

Source: The Baltimore Banner / Baltimore Magazine 2026 best restaurants

Restaurant

The Duchess

Hampden

Get: The Chamorro shrimp and corn patties

The New York Times named the patties one of 23 best dishes in the U.S.

Source: Baltimore Magazine, Best Restaurants 2026

When to goMay to September is peak crab season.

Good to knowMany crab houses close for the winter, so check seasonal hours.

New this yearThe Wren, the Fells Point Irish pub, opened in early 2025 and is already on national best lists.

Go, and let us handle the food

Book Baltimore and Maryland with us and a food concierge comes with it: a call before you go, the hard tables asked for through the restaurant's own line with a backup for each, markets and classes, a what-to-order sheet, and a text line while you're there. A real person writes back within a day; nothing is charged now.

Ask Chef about Baltimore

Also on the 2027 lists, nearby

A farm-to-table Hudson Valley dinner

Beacon, New YorkEat: A farm-to-table Hudson Valley dinner

Fried seafood and a raw bar by the harbor

Block Island, Rhode IslandEat: Fried seafood and a raw bar by the harbor

Québec (Québec City and around)Eat: Poutine

All 46 destinations

Every place was checked open on November 11, 2026, from the source under it. On Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2027 and National Geographic Best of the World 2027. Something changed? Write to hello@chefamazing.com. Tourism board? Post this guide free.

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