Chef/owner Frederik de Pue of downtown D.C.’s new bistro The Henri also is behind this stylish and homey Annapolis favorite of Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema. Dine with the seasons with creative dishes like escargot doughnuts, seared scallops, spring lamb, and cotton cake (aka fluffy cheesecake).

This historic Irish pub, located in a cobblestone alleyway steps from State Circle, is known for $6 Guinness pours and hearty food like corned beef poppers and Irish curry fries. The local mainstay refreshed and expanded its bar area, adding colorful stained glass and encased collections of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin.

The beloved Italian restaurant on Capitol Hill has made a surprise comeback in the heart of Annapolis. Acqua al 2 resurfaces with a large selection of steaks and a whopping 16 pastas to choose from, including homemade gnocchi, tagliatelle tossed in a Tuscan beef ragu, and cannelloni. Acqua al 2’s sister speakeasy Harold Black also lives on inside. Lunch and brunch kick off on Friday, May 5.

The tavern was built across from St. Anne’s Church in 1747, so dining here doubles as a history lesson. Relax across its outdoor brick patio strung with overhead lights that hosts rotating trivia and live acoustic nights. Afternoon tea service runs daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This bustling spot serves breakfast all day, but “waffle” burgers are also a hit. Walk off protein-packed omelets, crab Benedict, and creamy grits by wandering to the water to take in the natural beauty of the surrounding harbor. A morning weekday happy hour (8 a.m. to 10 a.m.) caters to Ernest Hemingway types with $6 bacon bloody marys.

Fried Brussels sprouts and spicy tuna tartare are favorites at this lounge devoted to small plates designed for sharing. The globally-influenced plates go well with a cocktail: the long list includes a lime foam-topped gimlet and tropical white sangria.

Tucked under the historic 18th-century Maryland Inn, English pub Drummer’s Lot starts pouring after 5 p.m. at the top of Church Circle. The hidden, brick-lined bar is known for its burgers and beers. Its 1920s-themed, luxe sister bar Harry Browne’s overlooks the Maryland State House and has served American cuisine and wines to local politicians and lobbyists for generations.

This New American restaurant serves canned, pickled, and fermented produce, all with prime people-watching just off Main Street. The all-day menu, available 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday, includes a smoked fish dip, fried duck tongues, bucatini with Virginia clams, and lamb gyros. The team recently expanded to Severna Park with the opening of Garten, a natural wine and beer garden with love for Maryland locals like Binkert’s Meat Products, Lyon Bakery, and Chesapeake Smokehouse, and Pherm Brewing. On-site beer production is scheduled to start this summer.

Atlas Restaurant Group brought its beloved Baltimore seafood house to downtown Annapolis last summer. Prominently situated at waterside City Dock, Choptank sends out steamed blue crabs, raw shrimp, lobster rolls, sea bass, calamari, clams, ceviche, mussels, oysters, cioppino, and more. The catch-all menu also includes a big porterhouse, burgers, fried chicken, wings, and bubble waffle ice cream sandwiches. Dozens of wines join orange crushes and ice-cold beer at an airy bar.

Open since 2008, this downtown favorite for Tuscan Italian cuisine is known for its lengthy wine list, Frank Sinatra tribute nights, neat nests of capellini pomodoro, porcini ravioli, pizzas, and tiramisu. Open for dine-in, carryout, or delivery for lunch and dinner. Soak up the last days of summer by dining alfresco across its sprawling circular patio out front.

This 1920s-era steakhouse, adorned with high-back booths, white tablecloths, and vintage photos, is the crown jewel surf-and-turf option in Eastport. The classic menu includes cuts like porterhouse and filet mignon, clams casino, jumbo lump crab balls, and sides like creamed spinach or mashed potatoes.

Annapolis’s first “nanobrewery” opened right before the pandemic, serving cans, pints, and crowlers of beer brewed in the back. Options include an “Annapolis Boat” kölsch-style ale and a “Ceremonious Exchange” imperial porter made with cold brew from Annapolis-based Ceremony Roasters. The diverse food menu includes chicken tinga tacos, build-your-own meat and cheese boards, and a smoked fish spread. Sit inside the stark white space or saddle up to a stone-filled patio.

This long-standing neighborhood dive, packed into a tiny wood cabin since 1986, sits right by the water. Expect to brush shoulders with exuberant yacht owners downing frosty Loose Cannon beers. Its crab cake pretzels featured on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives put the pub on the map, and soft shell crabs are currently still in stock this summer.

Located in a cozy, self-styled “winecafe,” Vin 909 is known for gourmet pizzas and a seasonal menu. To alleviate long wait times, there’s a “living room” area where visitors can enjoy wines — by the glass or bottle — before sitting down to dinner. Summer specials include sweet corn spinach crab dip with homemade Old Bay tortilla chips.