Some Maryland restaurants were serving meals before the light bulb, the telephone, or even the Civil War. A few of them still open their doors every week and put dinner on the table.
This list covers eight places that have lasted more than 100 years, from a waterfront tavern in Annapolis to a farmhouse with mountain views. If you like good food with a side of history, these spots are worth saving for your next night out.
1. Middleton Tavern, Annapolis, MD
Founded around 1750, Middleton Tavern has been feeding people in Annapolis since before the United States was a country. It sits at 2 Market Space, right in the historic district near the water.
The menu sticks to classic American comfort food with a strong Chesapeake accent. Think crab cake sandwiches, hot crab dip, steamed mussels, and oysters Rockefeller, plus fish and chips and a Cobb salad for anyone skipping seafood.
Inside, a fireplace and live music give the old building plenty of personality. There is also a porch for outdoor seating, and dogs are welcome outside.
I would save this one for a weekend evening, since it stays open until 2 AM on Fridays and Saturdays. Parking downtown can be tricky, so plan on a garage or paid street spot.
Sunday opens at 10 AM if brunch is more your speed.
2. The Horse You Came In On Saloon, Baltimore, MD
Where else can you sit on a horse saddle while you eat? At this Fells Point favorite, some of the bar seats are actual saddles, which makes the name feel pretty literal.
The saloon has been operating on Thames Street since 1775, inside a Colonial-era building. That puts it among the oldest continuously running spots in Baltimore.
Pub fare is the main food draw here, and the kitchen backs up a lively setting with live music every night. The walls are covered with eye-catching decorations, and there are several areas to sit, so you can pick a louder or calmer corner.
Hours run late most nights, until 1:30 AM Monday through Saturday and 10 PM on Sunday. Weekdays start at noon except Monday and Tuesday, when doors open at 4 PM.
Paid garages, lots, and street parking are all nearby in the neighborhood.
3. The Manor Tavern, Monkton, MD
Out in the rolling farmland of northern Baltimore County, dinner comes from a building that once housed horses. The Manor Tavern dates to 1750 and sits inside an 18th-century stable.
The kitchen leans on locally sourced ingredients, including produce grown in its own on-site gardens. Menu favorites include cream of crab soup, gumbo, chicken pot pie, a salmon BLT, and crispy Brussels sprouts.
There are two quieter dining rooms, a fireplace, and a pretty outdoor seating area. The rural setting makes it a good pick for family dinners or a relaxed date night.
Plan ahead, because the tavern is closed Mondays and opens at 4 PM Tuesday through Thursday. Dinner reservations are recommended.
Free parking is easy to find, which is a nice change from the city.
4. The Valley Inn, Timonium, MD
Falls Road travelers have been pulling over at The Valley Inn since 1832. Nearly two centuries later, it still works as a neighborhood tavern and grill.
The food is traditional American with plenty of Maryland flavor. Cream of crab, crab dip, seafood gumbo, grilled rockfish, and a shrimp salad wrap all show up on the menu, along with steak salad and a Caesar.
It is one of the more flexible spots on this list. You can watch a game, catch live music, sit by the fireplace, or grab a seat on the patio.
Night owls will appreciate the hours. The kitchen and bar stay open until midnight early in the week and until 2 AM Thursday through Saturday, and dinner reservations are recommended on busy evenings.
5. Old Angler’s Inn, Potomac, MD
Hikers heading to the C&O Canal and the Billy Goat Trail park right next door to this 1860 inn. That makes it an easy dinner reward after a day on the trails.
Old Angler’s Inn serves modern American food with a seasonal focus. Rack of lamb, pan-seared scallops, seafood pasta, New Point oysters, and French onion soup are some of the standouts.
The setting is a big part of the appeal. There is a terrace, a garden, a fire pit, and string lights outside, with a fireplace indoors for cooler months.
Dogs are allowed both inside and outside, which is rare for a restaurant at this level. The inn is closed Monday and Tuesday, and dinner reservations are recommended, especially on weekends.
6. Atlantic Hotel Bistro Bar, Berlin, MD
Just a short drive from Ocean City, the small town of Berlin hides a dining room inside a hotel that opened in 1895. The Atlantic Hotel has been beautifully restored, and its bistro bar keeps the old building busy.
The menu is homey American food. Fish and chips, a salmon BLT, and a Buddha bowl are popular picks, and desserts get plenty of attention too.
Tablecloths and live piano music give dinner a classic touch. In warmer months, a seasonal screened porch adds extra seating.
Hours are simple, 11 AM to 9 PM every day of the week. Free parking is usually easy to find, so this makes a smooth stop on a beach road trip.
7. The Milton Inn, Sparks Glencoe, MD
For anniversaries and big birthdays, this is the splurge on the list. Prices start around 100 dollars per person, and the experience is built for special occasions.
The Milton Inn occupies a former inn dating to around 1740, decorated with oil paintings and fresh flowers. Its age puts it at well over 280 years.
The menu has a French-leaning style. Steak tartare, onion soup gratinée, beef Wellington, seared foie gras, and steak frites are highlights, with yuzu cheesecake to finish.
Dinner runs Tuesday through Sunday from 5 to 9 PM, with weekend brunch hours too. Reservations are recommended for every meal.
8. The Comus Inn, Dickerson, MD
Sugarloaf Mountain is the view at this 1862 farmhouse in rural Montgomery County. Few dining rooms in Maryland can match that backdrop.
The Comus Inn pairs an elegant setting with a relaxed feel. Comfort food anchors the menu, and full vegan and vegetarian menus mean everyone at the table has options.
Families will find high chairs, a kids’ menu, and changing tables. Dogs are welcome outside, and live music adds to weekend visits.
Hours are limited, so check before you go. The inn opens Friday from 3 to 8 PM and weekends from noon to 8 PM, and dinner reservations are recommended.
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