When we visited Baltimore last fall, our first priority was to find the best crab cakes. We definitely succeeded, and we also found that Baltimore had some hidden gems if you venture out beyond the Inner Harbor. Of course, if you stay around the Inner Harbor, there are tons of chain restaurants and attractions. You can find everything from Shake Shack to Chick-Fil-A and Ruth’s Chris, but we found some really special places just a short ride away.
Things to do
Baltimore is known for the National Aquarium. You can plan to go on a number of different tours or just wander around the aquarium yourself. Plan to get your tickets ahead of time. It’s located right on the bay, next to a collection of historic ships, which you can also tour. For an outdoor experience, visit Fort McHenry, the fort that inspired the song, The Star-Spangled Banner.
![Thames Street Oyster House bar has is the best restaurant in Baltimore for crab cakes, lobster rolls, and oysters in historic Fells Point, The Taste Edit #travel #lobsterroll](https://thetasteedit.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/baltimore-thetastesf-1008064.jpg)
![Visit Baltimore and tour ships in the inner harbor, The Taste Edit](https://thetasteedit.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/baltimore-thetastesf-1008126.jpg)
Where to Eat & Drink
Attman’s Authentic New York Delicatessen – Just around the corner from Baltimore’s Little Italy, this is where you’ll find the best deli in downtown Baltimore. You must go and try the famous corned beef sandwich and matzo ball soup.
Woodbery Kitchen – This one is outside the downtown area, but just a short ride away. Set in a historic flour mill, this farm to table restaurant has a huge space. Come early and enjoy a glass of wine or hot chocolate by the giant roaring fire outside. You can’t go wrong with this spot.
![](https://thetasteedit.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/historicships-baltimore-thetastesf-1008123.jpg)
![Attman's Deli is the best Jewish Deli try the corned beef in Baltimore for crab cakes, clam chowder, and oysters in historic Fells Point, The Taste Edit use the form to order your oysters and raw bar options](https://thetasteedit.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/attmans-baltimore-thetastesf-1008114.jpg)
![Woodberry Kitchen is the best restaurant in Baltimore for local farm to table cooking, try the beef and polenta, The Taste Edit #baltimore #restaurant](https://thetasteedit.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/woodberrykitchen-baltimore-thetastesf-1008292.jpg)
![Rye is the best bars for cocktails in Baltimore in historic Fells Point, The Taste Edit #cocktails #travel](https://thetasteedit.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/rye-baltimore-thetastesf-1008139.jpg)
![Thames Street Oyster House bar has is the best restaurant in Baltimore for crab cakes, lobster rolls, and oysters in historic Fells Point, The Taste Edit #lobster #travel](https://thetasteedit.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/baltimore-thetastesf-1008056.jpg)
Rec Pier Chop House – Located in the Sagamore Pendry, they have fantastic cocktails in a beautiful space.
Thames Street Oyster House – This was one of our favorite places. The historic Fells Point district is super cute and buzzes at night. If you don’t have a reservation, put your name down on the list and walk across the street to the new Sagamore Pendry hotel bar for a cocktail while you wait. They’ll text you when your table is ready. They have an amazing list of oysters and their lobster roll is literally dripping with butter. We also had to try the cast iron crab cake. What we liked about it was that it was huge, and it didn’t have a lot of added ingredients to detract from the crab.
Rye – This is a great bar for craft cocktails in a historic building located in the Fells Point historic district.
![Stay at the Baltimore hotel Sagamore Pendry, The Taste Edit](https://thetasteedit.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/baltimore-thetastesf-1007987.jpg)
![When you visit Baltimore near the inner harbor for some of the best cocktails in baltimore head to the Rec Pier Chop House at Sagamore Pendry, The Taste Edit](https://thetasteedit.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/baltimore-thetastesf-1007998.jpg)
Where to Stay
There are a lot of chain hotels located in the Inner Harbor of Baltimore near the water. For luxury hotel options, we would recommend the new Sagamore Pendry, Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore, or The Ivy Hotel.
Thank you to Alaska Airlines for sponsoring this guide.
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