clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
Photo: Ocean City, Maryland Convention and Visitors Bureau

Where to Eat and Drink When Visiting Ocean City, Maryland

Crab cakes and Orange Crushes are what this Maryland getaway is all about

View as Map

The town that Orange Crushes built, Ocean City, Md. is also the vacation destination where many in the Mid-Atlantic flock to in the summer with family and friends.

For those mapping out a trip to OC this summer, there are several pit stops along the way for prime pit-beef sandwiches and superior snoballs. But don't fill up too much on the three-hour drive from D.C., because Ocean City is a wonderland of eating and drinking too. After all, this shore town is home to one of the highest-grossing bars in America, Seacrets Jamacia USA. Good luck scoring a bushel of crabs from Higgins, Crab Bag or Hooper’s on Memorial or Labor Day weekend, so be sure to plan ahead accordingly.

Well-seasoned visitors know the deal — there are certain eateries and bars to hit along Coastal Highway-1, and there’s almost always some Old Bay involved, too. Here are 21 top stops in Ocean City.

Read More

Über Bagels & Deli

Copy Link

This New York-style bagel shop, now open daily for the season, is a shore favorite for everything from a dozen everything to a bacon-egg-and-cheese to a bagel loaded with lox. There’s also an Old Bay bagel and pretzel bagels for the Philly set.

Summer is right around the corner and that means... OCEAN CITY is now open 7 days a week! See you at the beach ⛱ Photo credit: @maisinbrancrunch

Posted by Uber Bagels on Wednesday, May 12, 2021

Pablo's Bowls

Copy Link

This Salisbury University venture has extended its roots to the shore with a tiny shack serving fresh-pressed juice, smoothie bowls, and vegan-friendly options. Handmade acai bowls and Maryland's Rise & Grind Coffee are the main draws in this grab-n-go setting.

The Original Greene Turtle

Copy Link

Whether you’re part of the mug club or just here to scarf down some wings, this quintessential Maryland bar that got its start in North Ocean City continues to draw in thirsty throngs in search of a proper sports pub.

Liquid Assets

Copy Link

Liquid Assets is an upscale wine bar with a wide selection of bites, including cheeses sourced from around the world.

Trattoria Lombardi's Restaurant

Copy Link

This family-style red sauce joint maintains a brisk business based on its reputation for slinging some of the top pies in town. It’s best to call ahead and do takeout at the peak of dinner. Try the “famous summer pizza” with mozzarella, fresh basil, sliced tomato, olive oil, and garlic.

The Bayside Skillet

Copy Link

Known as “the crepe and omelet place,” this savory breakfast joint that’s pretty in pink boasts beautiful bayside views with Orange Crushes served as early as 9 a.m. during weekend brunch.

Rosenfeld's Jewish Delicatessen

Copy Link

This deli adjacent to the 59th Street bridge is a go-to staple for stacked deli sandwiches, chopped liver, and eclairs. The restaurant goes back several decades and serves Kosher-style food all year long.

Belly Busters

Copy Link

This sub stop is popular for cheesesteaks and those seeking steamed crabs doused in Old Bay seasoning. Crabs here come by the tray load and soft shells are served early into the season.

On the Bay Seafood

Copy Link

You can’t beat the sights, sounds, and steamed crabs at this quintessential Maryland crab house. While there are plenty of other options to order a bushel, On the Bay is guaranteed to have some of the freshest jumbos around.

Barn 34

Copy Link

Captain Crunch French toast or crabby eggs make Barn 34 a standout option for brunch. It also serves a superior Bloody Mary, spiced with Old Bay and topped with shrimp.

Fractured Prune

Copy Link

Get your hands sticky with these sweet treats that originated in Ocean City. Fractured Prune now has several locations up and down the Eastern Shore, but only one claims the namesake for the OC Sand donut, a warm honey glazed donut dipped in cinnamon and sugar.

28th St. Pit-n-Pub

Copy Link

This beloved smokehouse situated in South Ocean City offers brisket, smoked wings, racks of ribs, and whole smoked chickens with all the fixings.

Pickles Pub

Copy Link

Popular with the Baltimore crew, this popular pub next to Camden Yards is open all year, seven days a week on 8th Street and Philadelphia Avenue. The bar is known for its pickleback shot and serves $5 Orange Crushes on Fridays from 10 p.m. to close.

Shotti's Point Cafe

Copy Link

From breakfast sandwiches to ahi tuna tacos, Shotti’s is one of the freshest options for breakfast or lunch on the boardwalk. The colossal crab cake is made with six ounces of jumbo lump crab meat.

M.R. Ducks

Copy Link

From chugga-duck shots to Orange Crushes at sunset, M.R. Ducks is a bayside dock bar where boaters flock for happy hour. Its seafood-heavy menu celebrates the Chesapeake Bay with a lump rockfish sandwich on a roll and fried rockfish bites.

Harbor Inn

Copy Link

The oldest bar in Ocean City has been in continuous operation for more than eight decades. The building dates back to the 1800s, and this dive is the spot to order Maryland craft beers or a Natty Boh served with a whiskey sidecar.

Cork Bar

Copy Link

Arguably the best bar on the boardwalk, Cork Bar has been serving up frosty pints and OC’s top-rated wings for more than five decades.

Thrasher's French Fries

Copy Link

Marylanders know Thrasher’s fries complete a perfect day at the beach. Just be sure to apply some vinegar then pepper its famous fries in some Old Bay seasoning.

Dumser's Dairyland Boardwalk

Copy Link

It’s the soft serve that reigns supreme on the Ocean City Boardwalk, and with several other locations up and down Coastal Highway, it’s a shore bet that ice cream will become a nightly ritual during a beach trip.

Harborside Bar & Grill

Copy Link

This bayside bar is technically located in West Ocean City, but it takes top honors for being the inventor of Ocean City’s signature cocktail the Orange Crush. Crushes here come in several varieties, including grapefruit and creamsicle flavors.

Harrison's Harbor Watch

Copy Link

This waterfront restaurant has a full-service raw bar with the highest quality of hand-tonged oysters from local waters that also appear in its famous oyster stew. In the summer season, fish such as flounder, mahi-mahi, and swordfish are pulled straight off the boats that dock at the Commercial Harbor in West Ocean City, served fresh the same day.

Über Bagels & Deli

This New York-style bagel shop, now open daily for the season, is a shore favorite for everything from a dozen everything to a bacon-egg-and-cheese to a bagel loaded with lox. There’s also an Old Bay bagel and pretzel bagels for the Philly set.

Summer is right around the corner and that means... OCEAN CITY is now open 7 days a week! See you at the beach ⛱ Photo credit: @maisinbrancrunch

Posted by Uber Bagels on Wednesday, May 12, 2021

Pablo's Bowls

This Salisbury University venture has extended its roots to the shore with a tiny shack serving fresh-pressed juice, smoothie bowls, and vegan-friendly options. Handmade acai bowls and Maryland's Rise & Grind Coffee are the main draws in this grab-n-go setting.

The Original Greene Turtle

Whether you’re part of the mug club or just here to scarf down some wings, this quintessential Maryland bar that got its start in North Ocean City continues to draw in thirsty throngs in search of a proper sports pub.

Liquid Assets

Liquid Assets is an upscale wine bar with a wide selection of bites, including cheeses sourced from around the world.

Trattoria Lombardi's Restaurant

This family-style red sauce joint maintains a brisk business based on its reputation for slinging some of the top pies in town. It’s best to call ahead and do takeout at the peak of dinner. Try the “famous summer pizza” with mozzarella, fresh basil, sliced tomato, olive oil, and garlic.

The Bayside Skillet

Known as “the crepe and omelet place,” this savory breakfast joint that’s pretty in pink boasts beautiful bayside views with Orange Crushes served as early as 9 a.m. during weekend brunch.

Rosenfeld's Jewish Delicatessen

This deli adjacent to the 59th Street bridge is a go-to staple for stacked deli sandwiches, chopped liver, and eclairs. The restaurant goes back several decades and serves Kosher-style food all year long.

Belly Busters

This sub stop is popular for cheesesteaks and those seeking steamed crabs doused in Old Bay seasoning. Crabs here come by the tray load and soft shells are served early into the season.

On the Bay Seafood

You can’t beat the sights, sounds, and steamed crabs at this quintessential Maryland crab house. While there are plenty of other options to order a bushel, On the Bay is guaranteed to have some of the freshest jumbos around.

Barn 34

Captain Crunch French toast or crabby eggs make Barn 34 a standout option for brunch. It also serves a superior Bloody Mary, spiced with Old Bay and topped with shrimp.

Fractured Prune

Get your hands sticky with these sweet treats that originated in Ocean City. Fractured Prune now has several locations up and down the Eastern Shore, but only one claims the namesake for the OC Sand donut, a warm honey glazed donut dipped in cinnamon and sugar.

28th St. Pit-n-Pub

This beloved smokehouse situated in South Ocean City offers brisket, smoked wings, racks of ribs, and whole smoked chickens with all the fixings.

Pickles Pub

Popular with the Baltimore crew, this popular pub next to Camden Yards is open all year, seven days a week on 8th Street and Philadelphia Avenue. The bar is known for its pickleback shot and serves $5 Orange Crushes on Fridays from 10 p.m. to close.

Shotti's Point Cafe

From breakfast sandwiches to ahi tuna tacos, Shotti’s is one of the freshest options for breakfast or lunch on the boardwalk. The colossal crab cake is made with six ounces of jumbo lump crab meat.

M.R. Ducks

From chugga-duck shots to Orange Crushes at sunset, M.R. Ducks is a bayside dock bar where boaters flock for happy hour. Its seafood-heavy menu celebrates the Chesapeake Bay with a lump rockfish sandwich on a roll and fried rockfish bites.

Related Maps

Harbor Inn

The oldest bar in Ocean City has been in continuous operation for more than eight decades. The building dates back to the 1800s, and this dive is the spot to order Maryland craft beers or a Natty Boh served with a whiskey sidecar.

Cork Bar

Arguably the best bar on the boardwalk, Cork Bar has been serving up frosty pints and OC’s top-rated wings for more than five decades.

Thrasher's French Fries

Marylanders know Thrasher’s fries complete a perfect day at the beach. Just be sure to apply some vinegar then pepper its famous fries in some Old Bay seasoning.

Dumser's Dairyland Boardwalk

It’s the soft serve that reigns supreme on the Ocean City Boardwalk, and with several other locations up and down Coastal Highway, it’s a shore bet that ice cream will become a nightly ritual during a beach trip.

Harborside Bar & Grill

This bayside bar is technically located in West Ocean City, but it takes top honors for being the inventor of Ocean City’s signature cocktail the Orange Crush. Crushes here come in several varieties, including grapefruit and creamsicle flavors.

Harrison's Harbor Watch

This waterfront restaurant has a full-service raw bar with the highest quality of hand-tonged oysters from local waters that also appear in its famous oyster stew. In the summer season, fish such as flounder, mahi-mahi, and swordfish are pulled straight off the boats that dock at the Commercial Harbor in West Ocean City, served fresh the same day.

Related Maps