Crab Houses in Baltimore, Maryland

Crab houses in Baltimore can be found across the city, and as you might expect, some of the best are located in the Inner Harbor. These crab houses are world famous, partly because of the fact that the plentiful blue crabs that can be found in the Chesapeake Bay waters are extremely tasty. Baltimore crab cakes are among the most popular food items in the city, if not the most popular, though you don't have to limit yourself to them when it comes to blue crab dishes. Freshly steamed crabs are also on offer at the crab houses in Baltimore, and you never know how else they might be served up on a crab house visit. If you are truly interested in devouring some savory blue crabs on your visit to Maryland's biggest city, you might try to plan your visit around a Baltimore crab festival.

Between the crab houses in Baltimore and those that can be found at other regional destinations such as Annapolis, seafood lovers will have no shortage of fantastic places to eat. Some of the crab houses in the region are fancier than others, so you can choose accordingly when trying to decide where to dine. In the more immediate Baltimore area, the Inner Harbor, the Fells Point neighborhood, and the Canton neighborhood boast some of the best crab eateries. You might even find a lively bar at your crab house of choice, and more often than not, the waterfront establishments offer waterfront seating. At some of the waterfront establishments, you can even pick you crabs out before you eat.

When dining on steamed blue crabs during your Baltimore visit, the seasoning of choice will most often be Old Bay. Some of the crab houses offer their own seasoning mixes however, one of which is a garlic-based version. In a city with this much crab house competition, the crabs are usually delicious regardless of how they are seasoned.

When a break from steamed crabs is in order, indulging in some of those famous Baltimore crab cakes can make for a fine alternative. Crab cakes can be purchased at any number of Baltimore destinations, including the local crab houses, the renowned Lexington Market, and even Oriole Park at Camden Yards. If you can't make it to the city to enjoy some Baltimore crab cakes in their home environment, they can be shipped to your home. It's even possible to order some of the crabs themselves, both steamed or alive.

Yummy blue crabs can be enjoyed at any time of year in Baltimore. That being said, those who are truly interested in these curious little delicacies might want to plan their visit around a Baltimore crab festival. Various crab festivals are held in the Baltimore area, primarily in the summer months. If you really enjoy seafood, however, the Baltimore Crab & Beer Festival or the more comprehensive Maryland Seafood Festival are worth keeping in mind. Held in late August, the day-long Baltimore Crab & Beer Festival is an Inner Harbor event par excellence.

As for the Maryland Seafood Festival, it is held over the course of a weekend. Nearby Annapolis is the home of this popular event, which showcases blue crabs and virtually every other kind of seafood that you can imagine. Live music, various exhibits, an arts and crafts fair, and plenty of food and drink can be enjoyed at both the Baltimore Crab & Beer Festival and the Maryland Seafood Festival, as is true of any good food festival in the state or country. It should be noted that during the summer months, special crab eating tours can be enjoyed in Baltimore, and they are also worth keeping in mind if you are a seafood lover.