Annapolis is one of the most beautiful waterfront towns in America, and I’m proud to call it home. Rich in both nautical and American history, visitors love to stroll the winding red brick roads amid the countless original buildings and famous sites, such as the William Paca House and Gardens. I encourage everyone to take some time to explore our famous sites.
After you’re done exploring, you’re bound to be hungry! I’m proud to say that Annapolis serves up some great seafood. From freshly shucked local oysters, to crabs steamed to order, there is no shortage of fresh seafood in this town. I hate to be partial but, being a local, I have my favorites. Today, I want to share with you my picks for the best Maryland crabs Annapolis has to offer.
The crab cake appetizer at Dock Street Bar & Grill.
If you’re searching for the best crab cake, try Dock Street Bar & Grill. Right on the outskirts of Ego Alley, this small restaurant kicks out some seriously big taste. The Crab Cakes are a local go-to, as they are made fresh to order every day. With generous portions of jumbo lump crabmeat and the requisite Old Bay, there is no room for filler in this cake. Wash it down with some great local beer, and you’ve just had an amazing crab experience.
Now that we have crab cakes out of the way, it’s time to answer the million-dollar question.
Who has the best steamed Maryland blue crabs?
My money is on Cantler’s, and it appears I’m not alone.
A tray of Crabs at Cantlers. Dig in!
While it may not be directly downtown Annapolis, a 10-minute drive or Uber ride will bring you to Jimmy Cantler’s Riverside Inn. There’s a lot of debate about who has the best crabs in Annapolis, and with good reason. But, Cantler’s is the best place for steamed crabs in my opinion. Like many crab joints, the restaurant is set up family style, with picnic benches, crab paper and mallets so that guests have everything they need. But, what I love about Cantler’s is the fresh crabs and its rich history of serving the local watermen. In fact, each morning, local watermen head out to the nearby rivers to catch their daily quotas of crabs and then they deliver them to the dock right out front.
If you’ve always been curious, but have never picked crabs, don’t worry. The great staff at Cantler’s are pros and they are happy to teach newcomers the tricks – don’t be shy in asking for help. You can also learn here with this great video. Once you get in your own groove, it’s easy to spend hours at the table without realizing it. Those things are so dang addicting!
Now that you’ve had your fill of crabs, what’s next on the agenda?
Here are some more Snag-A-Slip picks for eating and drinking in Annapolis.
Even better, share your favorite hot spots below!
