Top Rated Restaurants & Cafes in Baltimore

While the pub offers a relaxed and informal atmosphere, reservations are suggested due to the extreme popularity! Located in the Beverly Hills area of Baltimore, Koco's Pub is known for their mouth-watering crab cakes, which can even be ordered in bulk and shipped overnight! The rest of their menu is comprised of various seafood options and a few land-lover dishes as well. The patrons are usually a mix of locals and well-informed tourists vying for the crabmeat laden, cakes in this hole-in-the-wall Baltimore establishment.

This small Afghani restaurant in the midtown Mount Vernon neighborhood features an intimate, candle-lit dining room decorated in shades of rose. Traditional Afghani robes adorn the bare brick walls. The food is equally lovely. A typical meal would include the pureed pumpkin appetizer, followed by grilled chicken with mushrooms in a yogurt and sour cream sauce, and ice cream with mango, figs and dates for dessert. The Helmand is four-star dining in a lovely setting, all at affordable prices.

This gastropub located in the Canton area of Baltimore is known for its creative cocktails and excellent brew list. Sparse on decor, Of Love and Regret pub features exposed brick walls and duct work in a typical Baltimore row house. The black chalkboard displays the pubs rotating list of drafts, while the menu offers patrons upscale tavern fare with small plates perfect for sharing, hearty entrees and a bevy of appetizers, sandwiches and burgers.

A typical family-owned restaurant, Chick & Ruth's Delly exudes a warm, homely feeling the minute you step in. Thanks largely to the friendly and personalized service as well as the almost communal dining experience, owing to the small size of this place. Cramping tables together, however, was a conscious decision made by the restaurant's founder who wished to cut out the formality in dining which one finds in other restaurants. Everything here spells casual, from the photo frame-dotted yellow walls to the lurid orange plastic seats. The food is typical of a deli, all fast and delicious. Chick & Ruth's challenges its patrons to stomach colossal and super-colossal sandwiches that are more than enough for 3-4 persons. Also, if you happen to check in early morning, you can join in the recitation of the pledge to the National Flag which is done every single morning here.

The Baltimore neighborhood of Federal Hill has a glut of bars, but if you are looking for an exclusive selection of beers, then Ropewalk is probably the best place to visit. With more than 150 different beers to choose from, trying to find one is absolutely mind-boggling. Thankfully, the helpful staff is knowledgeable and instructive while you peruse the menu. From the kitchen, the selections highlight the lauded Maryland Crab, from cakes to Po' Boy sandwiches, it doesn't scream Baltimore any more than this.