Three of Maryland’s oldest continuously operating restaurants stand as significant landmarks in the state’s culinary and cultural history: a tavern established in 1750 in Annapolis, a saloon that opened in 1775 in Baltimore, and an inn that welcomed guests in 1860 in Potomac. According to Webster’s, a restaurant is a business where meals or refreshments may be bought.
Middleton Tavern (2 Market Space, Annapolis, MD) has played a key role in American history, hosting esteemed figures such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin after the American Revolution. In 1983, Middleton Tavern underwent an extensive renovation, expanding to include a new Tavern and Oyster Bar. The updated upstairs dining rooms now accommodate private parties, meetings, and large weekend crowds. Along with a raw bar, the menu offers a variety of appetizers, sandwiches, soups, salads, and entrees. Learn more about its rich history here.
The Horse You Came In On (1626 Thames St., Baltimore, MD), established in 1775, is not only one of Maryland’s oldest operating restaurants, but it also holds the title of the oldest continually running saloon in the United States. The saloon is famously rumored to be the last place Edgar Allan Poe was seen before his mysterious death. Originally built as Al and Ann’s in 1775, it became a popular “watering hole” in the historic port of Fell’s Point. In 1972, the new owners renamed it The Horse You Came In On, and it changed hands again in 2006. The current menu features items like crab cake bites, Wild West wings, a Philly cheesesteak with crab dip, and more. Discover more about its fascinating history here.
The Old Angler’s Inn (10801 MacArthur Blvd, Potomac, MD) first opened its doors in 1860, initially serving travelers heading to Washington, D.C., as well as wealthy families who settled in Potomac and the surrounding Maryland countryside. Today, it is one of the oldest restaurants in Maryland and the second oldest in the Washington, D.C. metro area, behind only Old Ebbitt Grill (1856) in D.C. In 1957, the property was purchased by prominent attorney John Reges, and his wife Olympia undertook its restoration. Their son, Mark Reges, now owns and operates the restaurant. In recent years, The Old Angler’s Inn has become a popular restaurant, beer garden, wedding venue, and a well-loved stop for hikers exploring Great Falls and the C&O Canal. See additional photos from The Old Angler’s Inn below, including seasonal dishes from the past summer.
