Spend a day eating at some the best restaurants in Baltimore at in-demand dining establishments from sunrise to sunset.
The Baltimore area is home to people from all over the world, so it’s no surprise that the city is a melting pot of cultures and rich flavors.
If you find yourself in Charm City, check out these amazing cafes and great Baltimore restaurants to keep your stomach full and your taste buds happy throughout the day.
We’ve chosen our favorites for best places in Baltimore for every meal of the day.
Table of Contents
Baltimore Breakfast
Miss Shirley’s Cafe
- Address: two locations
- Roland Park: 513 W. Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore, MD 21210
- Inner Harbor: The Charm’tastic Mile, 750 E Pratt St, Baltimore, MD 21202
- Website
For years we’ve heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and if that’s the case, you’re going to want to head straight to Miss Shirley’s dining room. Miss Shirley’s Cafe opened in 2005 and quickly became one of Baltimore’s best restaurants with its constantly evolving and innovative menu.
Their culinary team executes each dish masterfully and has been nationally recognized for the award-winning culinary experience they provide. With a combination of healthy and indulgent cuisine made using only the freshest locally sourced ingredients, and outstanding service, it’s no surprise that Ms. Shirley’s was ‘voted Maryland’s favorite restaurant’ by the Maryland Restaurant Association.
The menu has everything you need to wake up your taste buds; I suggest starting with a Shirley’s Crush cocktail and some small plates of fried green tomatoes or guacamole deviled eggs.
You can then dig into their house specialty, the Cuban Huevos Sandwich which is piled with house-made BBQ pork, applewood-smoked ham, and Swiss cheese. Miss Shirley’s also has a dedicated vegan menu with favorites like pineapple griddle cakes and a southern chopped salad.
Whether you want to start with a light meal or have a great food feast, Miss Shirley’s is the right choice for breakfast in Baltimore.
Their Inner Harbor location is a great place to enjoy the bustle of downtown Baltimore from its outdoor tables.
Brunch in Baltimore
Ale Mary’s
- Address: 1939 Fleet St, Baltimore, MD 21231
- Website
Ale Mary’s is one of those laid-back, neighborhood joints where you can easily become a regular and feel like part of the family even on your very first visit.
Situated right in the heart of Fells Point, the tavern has bold decor that could tip the line of controversy for some, but I love the vibe with their religious iconography and walls lined with old Catholic school photos.
They have a solid lunch and dinner menu throughout the week but it’s their weekend brunch menu that makes it my favorite spot. I’ve tried almost everything, including their $5 16oz Sangrias, but my go-to is the Saints & Sinners Sandwich.
After waking up from a night out in Fells Point, imagine sinking your teeth into a sandwich piled high with bacon, a sausage patty, fried egg, and cheddar cheese – all in between two grilled honey glazed donuts.
It is one of the best brunch options in Baltimore and though it’s served with home fries, I always add a side of Drunken Sunday Tots which are crispy tater tots topped with scrambled eggs, cheese, bacon, and sausage gravy.
Lunch in Baltimore
R. House
- Address: 301 W 29th St, Baltimore, MD 21211
- Website
Tons of great Baltimore restaurants offer a delicious lunch depending on what you’re craving, whether it be Italian, Mexican, Korean, or American – but what establishment can offer it all?
R. House is the brainchild of ten chefs who wanted to unite their new restaurants but also the community around Baltimore’s food scene.
The family-friendly food market hall is housed in a converted auto body shop and has extensive indoor and outdoor dining space. You’ll find vendors with everything from fried chicken sandwiches to poké bowls.
One of my favorite choices is the shrimp Camarones Morita from Amano Taco, an artisanal taqueria; this queso taco is stuffed with seared shrimp, cheese, greens, roasted corn, and a refreshing lime-cilantro aioli.
If you’re in the mood for something lighter and healthier, head straight to STEM, which is a 100% plant-based eatery that focuses on clean, yet delicious, cuisine. The Rainbow Pad Thai is gluten-free and vegan and is made with pickled purple cabbage, roasted tempeh, rice noodles, bean sprouts, bell peppers, and spinach is delicious, especially if you get it with the Thai peanut sauce.
Dinner in Baltimore
Jimmy’s Famous Seafood
- Address: 6526 Holabird Ave, Baltimore, MD 21224
- Website
Jimmy’s Famous Seafood and Raw Bar is the perfect example of a Baltimore success story; Greek immigrant restaurateur Jimmy Minadakis has been in the seafood business since the 1970s and the restaurant is now known as one of the best seafood restaurants in town for its authentic Maryland-style seafood (crab cakes, anyone?).
And let’s be honest – you can’t come to Baltimore and not try the fresh seafood!
Jimmy’s is an excellent place to delve into it, and it is always packed with locals and visitors, all of whom want to feast on the reliably delicious food that Jimmy’s reputation comes with.
While your best bets might seem to be the MD-style steamed blue crabs, you’re also going to want to try their award-winning Baltimore’s Best Crab Cake. The two 8 oz masterpieces are perfectly seasoned and come with bay sauce – and if you love it like I know you will, you can get some shipped to anywhere in the US.
I also suggest trying Jimmy’s Famous Hors D’oeuvres which is a medley of scallops, oysters, jumbo shrimp, shrimp cocktail, and crab balls – you won’t regret it!
Not to be confused with Jimmy T’s, the best bar in Fells Point and local favorite for great happy hour deals, late night comfort foods and typical greasy breakfast.
Dessert in Baltimore
The Charmery
- Address: two locations
- 801 W 36th St, Baltimore, MD 21211
- 46 E Cross St, Baltimore, MD 21230
- Website
Though you’ve spent a day eating your way through Baltimore, make sure to keep a little room for dessert. Locally established, as you can tell by the name, The Charmery has a very hyped-up reputation – and they have earned every single bit of it!
The family-owned ice cream shop opened its doors in 2013, and even now nearly ten years later, you’ll find a line of patient people snaking around the building waiting for a scoop of ice cream. There’s a good reason to wait because once it’s your turn, you’ll be met with an array of ice cream flavors from the basics to the more eccentric.
Stick to the theme and go for a scoop of the Old Bay Caramel or the Oreo-filled Maryland Mud. On those humid summer days, I opt for the vegan Sangria Sorbet which is a red wine sangria mixed with cranberry juice, apples, and oranges to create the perfect concoction to cool you down.
If you’re not a fan of ice cream, The Charmery also has root beer floats and chocolate egg creams. It’s the perfect way to end your day in Baltimore on a sweet note!
