2 Best Restaurants in Baltimore, Maryland

Authentic Basque cuisine is on full display at this lovely restaurant located in the Meadow Mill building: pinxtos like ham croquettes with Gruyère cheese, sardines in oil, and fingerling potatoes with garlic aioli are perfect for sharing. The vast space is anchored by a 40-foot chestnut bar, behind which sits a wood-fired grill.

In the heart of Hampden, on "The Avenue" (36th Street), chef Chad Gauss presents some of Baltimore's most consistently excellent dining with a global reach. Try the Amish soft pretzels with cheddar-cheese dipping sauce as a starter, then move on to coconut green curry or the lamb with spaetzle.