There's Never Been a Better Time to Eat in Baltimore

Baltimore, known as Charm City, has become a culinary hotspot. While it’s famous for its seafood—think steamed crabs, mammoth crab cakes, and bivalves—it now caters to a broader palate. One standout is Magdalena, a Maryland Bistro located in Baltimore’s Mount Vernon neighborhood. Under the guidance of its first Black head chef, Scott Bacon, Magdalena’s menu features vegetable-centric dishes like charred eggplant with smoked sweet potato yogurt.

Grouper from local waters is spiced with berbere, and grilled shrimp gets a kick from gochujang. Another notable chef is David Zamudio, the Venezuelan-born executive chef of Alma Cocina Latina. Zamudio has transformed Alma’s focus from mostly Venezuelan cuisine to pan-Latin flavors, incorporating influences from Mexico, Peru, and Argentina. Fans of their signature dish, arepas, will be delighted to know that Zamudio and Alma founders Irena Stein and Mark Demshak are opening Alma Arepa Bar in the same neighborhood.