Bar / Restaurant · Visited October 12, 2026

Boatyard Bar & Grill

Our impressions and services

Overall impression: Excellent
Beauty of the place: Excellent

Our experience

We discovered the Boatyard Bar & Grill during our visit last year. Their Bloody Mary was excellent and the atmosphere very 'local', definitely pleasant!

This year, during our visit with Marc and Julie from DreamTeam, the atmosphere was a bit less spectacular, since a large part of the bar was reserved for a private event. But we still had a good time!

Boatyard Bar & Grill

Located at 400 Fourth Street in the historic Eastport waterfront neighborhood of Annapolis, Maryland, Boatyard Bar & Grill is a restaurant and bar founded in 2001 by Dick Franyo. The establishment draws on the nautical culture of the Chesapeake Bay and welcomes a clientele of boaters, fishermen, residents, and visitors. Its décor evokes the maritime world, with sailing photographs, sailing mementos, and items brought back from the owner’s travels.

The kitchen highlights Chesapeake Bay products and classic American coastal restaurant fare. Specialties include Maryland crab cakes, made primarily with large chunks of crab meat, crab soups, lobster rolls, fish tacos, and burgers. The restaurant also offers a raw bar with a changing selection of oysters, clams, shrimp, and mussels, as well as on-site smoked fish.

The menu includes shareable starters, salads, sandwiches, and various seafood entrées. Brunch is offered on weekends, with classic breakfast dishes and specialties inspired by regional cuisine. A list of beers, wines, and cocktails completes the offerings.

Boatyard has an indoor dining room and, during the warmer season, outdoor dining spaces set up under large tents. The restaurant generally does not take reservations, but you can call ahead to check availability. It can be very busy at peak times.

The establishment participates in several environmental initiatives related to protecting the Chesapeake Bay. It collects oyster shells consumed at the restaurant so they can be reused in oyster reef restoration projects. It also supports local organizations dedicated to bay conservation and to providing access to sailing for people with functional limitations.

For boaters, Boatyard is located near Annapolis City Marina. A dinghy tie-up is located at the end of Fourth Street on Spa Creek, allowing access to the restaurant from the water. Annapolis’s historic downtown is within walking distance by crossing the Spa Creek bridge.

400 Fourth St, Annapolis, MD 21403
boatyardbarandgrill.com