BALTIMORE, Md. — Baltimore’s annual Restaurant Week kicks off on Jan. 23, and food lovers will have plenty to choose from when picking out their next spot to try.
Baltimore is, of course, known for crab cakes. But the city’s food goes beyond crab, and creative restaurateurs have created delicious menus in every type of cuisine. The city is about one to two hours from most locations in Southern Maryland. For Restaurant Week enthusiasts, it’s the perfect near-getaway to explore new cuisines and get out of town for a day of food and fun.
2026 also marks the 20th anniversary of Baltimore Restaurant Week, and several spots are offering deals or specials to mark their participation. You can visit baltimorerestaurantweek.com for a full list of participating restaurants. The site allows you to search by neighborhood, cuisine, menu type and more to find the perfect destination for your Restaurant Week journey.
This list includes just a few of the participating restaurants we hope to visit during the week, and we hope you’ll join us in discovering the amazing cuisine Baltimore has to offer.
A visit to Baltimore for Restaurant Week wouldn’t be complete without seafood. Here are a couple of options:
Baltimore Seafood is a chic, casual spot in Fells Point known for its boil bags. The restaurant has a small team to maintain excellent service and the freshest quality. Customers love this spot for the big portion sizes, and several reviewers said this was their first-ever experience with a boil bag — and it didn’t disappoint.
Rusty Scupper is on the higher end of the price range if you’re interested in a fancier seafood experience. Located downtown, you’ll be treated to water views while you enjoy your meal. The restaurant is offering a $55 two-course dinner menu for this year’s Restaurant Week, so you can taste some of the restaurant’s classics on a smaller budget than, say, a Friday date night or business lunch.
Baltimore’s Little Italy is packed with restaurants that serve authentic, classic dishes — and you don’t have to stick to Little Italy, either. You can find great Italian food in other neighborhoods like Inner Harbor, Federal Hill and more.
Amicci’s of Little Italy has been family owned and operated since 1991. Amicci’s describes itself as “very casual,” and the menu is fantastic for anyone who wants authentic Italian food on a good budget. For Restaurant Week, they’re offering a $15 two-course lunch and a $30 dine-in dinner menu. Amicci’s is also located within walking distance of tourist attractions like the aquarium, which can make your trip even more fun.
La Tavola Ristorante Italiano is a longstanding establishment right in the heart of Little Italy. This restaurant makes fresh bread daily and hand-made pastas. It is offering a three-course dinner menu designed by its Venice-born head chef, Carlo Vignotto.
The Empanada Lady is an authentic Puerto Rican restaurant located on South Street, near downtown. This year, the Empanada Lady is offering brunch, lunch and dinner menus. The lunch and dinner menus include their signature empanada combos, where you’ll get to choose your empanada(s) and sides, or try signature dishes like catfish or shrimp and grits. Some meals come with a cupcake for dessert, and cocktails are available for a $10 add-on.
Alma Cocina Latina is a Venezuelan restaurant that serves Latin-inspired soups, salads, arepas and entrées in a modern space with an open kitchen, so you can appreciate all the effort that goes into your meal. The restaurant serves dinner and cocktails but hasn’t released its Restaurant Week menu yet.
Oleum Vegan Kitchen is an upscale vegan restaurant in Fells Point that aims to reimagine comfort food and global favorites on its plant-based menu. The restaurant serves soups, salads, small plates, pizza, pasta and desserts — all inspired by Chef Alisha Adibe’s 30 years of work and travel in the restaurant industry.
Pink Flamingo bills itself as a neighborhood tavern with a tropical twist. It serves brunch, small plates and some tropical-themed, bar-inspired main courses, along with burgers and wings. One of the biggest draws is the expansive bar menu, with lots of rum-based drinks to fit their theme, plus beer, wine and non-alcoholic options. You can try drinks with names like The Dizzy Flamingo, Whirlybird and No Passport Required.
Miss Toya’s Creole House is a lively Creole restaurant that just opened a new location in Baltimore. This family-owned restaurant offers Creole classics and features a $40 three-course dinner menu for Restaurant Week 2026. Customers will get to try the restaurant’s most popular items, like bayou rolls, Cajun ribeye and peach cobbler.
Check out the Restaurant Week website to learn more about all the exciting foods we didn’t mention above. You’ll find Caribbean, barbecue, American, Korean, Vietnamese, Afghan, Indian and so much more. There’s truly something for everyone at Restaurant Week — and foodies across Maryland can join in.
