The Best Burgers in Maryland: Baltimore Burger Guide (2026)

The best burgers in Maryland are easiest to find in Baltimore, where neighborhood bars have turned the smash burger into a local obsession. Start with The Royal Blue in Station North and Sally O's in Highlandtown, then cross to Canton for Wanna Smash and Fells Point for Fuzzies Burgers. For something thicker, Hampden and Federal Hill have you covered.

This roundup is built from the spots in our Baltimore burger guide, grouped by style and neighborhood. Many of these are bars, so check hours and age rules before you bring kids.

How Baltimore does burgers

Baltimore's burger scene runs on neighborhood bars. Most of the best smash burgers come from bar kitchens or small counters in the rowhouse neighborhoods of East Baltimore, especially Canton, Highlandtown, Fells Point and Brewers Hill. Martin's potato buns and sesame buns are common, and you'll see a few local touches, like Old Bay chips on the side.

East side smash burgers

• Sally O's: a Highlandtown spot whose Highlandtown Smashburger uses a short rib, brisket and chuck blend, smashed thin and stacked as a double with American cheese, iceberg, fried onion, pickles and burger sauce. It'll go to a triple, and there's an Impossible version.
• Wanna Smash: an O'Donnell Street bar in Canton where every signature burger is a double wagyu patty on a Martin's potato bun. The Quickie is the straightforward order. Wondering about the beef? Read are wagyu burgers worth it.
• Fuzzies Burgers: a former food truck now serving from a trailer in the courtyard of The Undefeated on Thames Street in Fells Point. The beef is a dry-aged Prime Black Angus blend, and The Fuzzy is a double with cheese, pickles and Static Sauce.
• 7th Street Burger: the New York smash burger chain's Canton location on Boston Street. The menu is short: burgers, fries and drinks, with Impossible patties available.

Station North: The Royal Blue

The Royal Blue is a neighborhood bar in the old Gallery One Bar building, and its smash burger is one of the most talked-about in the city. Two seasoned Angus patties get sticky griddled onions, applewood smoked bacon, American cheese, iceberg and RB sauce on a sesame Martin's bun. Brunch adds a version with a runny egg.

Compare the styles in smash burger vs. regular burger, or browse our best smash burgers page.

Loaded, pub and specialty burgers

• Knotty Pine: a Brewers Hill spot serving loaded double-patty burgers. The Knotty Pine Burger adds Gouda, avocado, caramelized onions, roasted red peppers and chipotle aioli, and every burger comes with Old Bay chips and a pickle.
• Chuck's Trading Post: a small spot on 36th Street in Hampden with a double Black Angus burger and a smoked garlic-onion aioli on brioche. Wednesday is burger night, so expect a crowd.
• The Abbey Burger Bistro: a local burger bar that started in Federal Hill and added a Fells Point location on South Broadway. The menu runs from a Baltimore Burger to lamb, turkey, shrimp and veggie patties, with a build-your-own option.
• Bar Dalí: a Mount Vernon tapas bar on Charles Street whose Dalí Burger arrives as three short rib sliders with Manchego on milk buns. It's built for sharing with a few small plates.

More in this style is on our best gourmet burgers page.

How to plan a Baltimore burger crawl

1. Pick an east side cluster. Canton, Highlandtown, Brewers Hill and Fells Point are close together, so Wanna Smash, 7th Street, Sally O's, Knotty Pine and Fuzzies can fill a night.
2. Make Fuzzies a waterfront stop. It lives in a bar courtyard on Thames Street, so it fits a Fells Point evening.
3. Head north for Station North and Hampden. The Royal Blue and Chuck's Trading Post are a short drive apart.
4. Bring a group to The Abbey. The long menu works for mixed tastes.
5. Go on a Wednesday. Chuck's Trading Post runs its burger night that day.

What to order

• The Royal Blue: the double smash burger with RB sauce.
• Sally O's: the Highlandtown Smashburger.
• Wanna Smash: The Quickie, or the Hot and Heavy for heat.
• Fuzzies Burgers: The Fuzzy.
• Knotty Pine: the Knotty Pine Burger with Old Bay chips.
• Bar Dalí: the Dalí Burger sliders to share.

Make a Baltimore-style burger at home

Press two thin patties hard onto a very hot pan, top with American cheese and griddled onions, and serve on a soft potato bun with a sprinkle of Old Bay on your chips. Our ultimate smash burger recipe covers the technique, and our guide to making sliders helps if you want to try the Bar Dalí format. Cook ground beef to 160°F for USDA-recommended doneness.

Know a great burger in Annapolis, Frederick or on the Eastern Shore? Suggest a spot.

FAQ

What is the best burger in Maryland?

In Baltimore, The Royal Blue and Sally O's are two of the most talked-about smash burgers, with Wanna Smash and Fuzzies Burgers close behind.

Where can I get a smash burger in Baltimore?

Canton, Highlandtown and Fells Point have the biggest cluster: Wanna Smash, 7th Street Burger, Sally O's and Fuzzies Burgers. The Royal Blue is in Station North.

Is there a Baltimore burger tradition?

Not a single regional style, but neighborhood bar burgers and smash burgers dominate, and local touches like Old Bay chips show up at places like Knotty Pine.

Where can I get a burger in Fells Point?

Fuzzies Burgers serves from a courtyard trailer on Thames Street, and The Abbey Burger Bistro has a location on South Broadway.

Where can I get a burger in Hampden?

Chuck's Trading Post on 36th Street serves a double Black Angus burger and runs a Wednesday burger night.