McGarvey's

McGarvey’s is the perfect spot to soak in the true spirit of Annapolis — lively, warm, and full of character. The oysters are impeccably fresh, and the seafood selection is awesome. Whether you’re sitting at the bar with a local brew or enjoying a meal by the harbor, the atmosphere feels welcoming and authentic. Service is friendly and efficient, even when it’s busy, and the staff make you feel like a regular from the moment you walk in. The crab cakes are must-tries, and the raw bar is one of the best. A wonderful mix of great food, nautical charm, and local energy — McGarvey’s is an Annapolis favorite for a reason.

We were looking for a seafood restaurant close to the waterfront and we stumbled upon this unassuming place. The lively and historical inside was much bigger than we thought. The crab cake appetizer was affordable and delicious and went well with their tartar and cocktail sauces. I got the shrimp diablo pasta, which was my personal favorite. I loved the creamy Cajun style sauce with its slight spice. There was a generous amount of shrimp, and the pasta soaked up the sauce nicely. The fish and chips were also yummy. They had a nice crispy exterior that was still light and delicious.

Easily one of the best meals I have ever paid for. The swordfish was cooked to perfection. The Chesapeake style was a nice touch with a creamy and smooth texture and delicious lumps of crab. The asparagus was crisp and fresh, and the potatoes were fantastic. Fast service and the water tastes good. I know it is a small thing to most, but water taste is very important to me and this water was good. Overall I would recommend this place to anyone. Side note: my wife had the fish and chips and she made and audible exclamation when she bit into both the fries and the fish. With a wonderful golden brown finish and a nice crisp to a soft inside it was fantastic. 4.5 seems a little low to me hard to beat. Edit: The restaurant replied to thank me for my review. I assure you that I got the better part of this transaction, food and service were excellent. Will come back if I ever return to Annapolis.

I've been to McGarvey's twice this week. First time was just for drinks at the bar late evening and then last night for dinner. Both experiences were great. It was super loud inside last night so I was glad we had outdoor seating by a warming stand. The fried oysters were absolutely amazing as was the homemade key lime pie. I also enjoyed my shrimp and andouille sausage pot but it was a little spicy for me.

My adult son wanted fried shrimp and fries.. the food was good. My dad enjoyed his salmon, the boys had a beer. I ordered sides which were great options for a plant based /vegan girlie. Emma our waitress was attentive and personable. We had outdoor seating, the weather and view were amazing.

I’ve been coming to McGarvey’s every chance I get for the past 2+ years and I am literally never disappointed. Their menu options are insane and deciding on one thing is nearly impossible but whenever I do, I’m always please as each item I’ve had thus far, is a winner. Their food, restaurant vibe and overall sense of community makes me want to move to Annapolis solely to become a regular at their establishment. And whoever makes their tacos (especially shrimp) tacos deserves the highest of praise because they are hands down the best tacos I’ve ever had. See photos from my visits over the years.

Made the Annapolis trip memorable! I am not the one who eat oysters but my friend made me and I must say I didn’t hate it, in fact, we ordered more! Service could be a lot faster but that’s expected if you came on a holiday weekend at lunch time.

Had lunch with friends here during an off day, it had the special 50 years celebration with 50 cents per oyster deal, and we gladly ordered 2 dozens! They oysters were fresh, but wish they clean the shells more detailed. The rest was many pasta and salmon dishes, all in all, it was a nice lunch outing. The total bill included tax and tips for 8 was well over $450. But we did had 3 appetizers, 2 dozen oysters and 2 dozen clams, 8 main course dishes, 4 draft beers and 1 bowl of soup, 1 cocktail and 1 dessert. So it was a blast. The waiter, Ricky, was nice and easy going.

Sat at the bar: cute! Bar area is very old school tavern style which I loved. Food & drinks: all hits, no misses. The one dollar oysters were actually delicious! Which is not always the case lol. Ended up being a mix of briney and more sweet oysters but they were large and very fresh. Tried quite a few other things -- Calamari, fried shrimp and fries were perfectly seasoned, and corned beef Reuben was delicious. Service: excellent. Shaun (bartender) made me something off menu by request and it was one of the best versions of that cocktail I've had. She was attentive and great energy. Rebecca also helped us and she was just as welcoming and attentive.

While on a work trip, I had multiple people recommend McGarvey's. My coworkers and I loved this place! We shared some crab dip and crab soup appetizers, and I had the crab cake entree. It was all fabulous! The location is also perfect--just steps away from Main Street that literally looked like a Hallmark movie.

A fun Irish restaurant on the waterfront. An excellent menu and a good beverage menu. This was a much needed food stop. We enjoyed the fried oysters and the crab pretzels which was delicious and paired nicely with the local seasonal cider. Definitely a popular spot especially on a Friday night after 8. You maybe standing in line for a table. We had excellent service on a busy night.

Had lunch there with a friend today and was not disappointed at all. The food was amazing and considering how packed they were, we got seated in 15-20 minutes. The server was very attentive and our food came out pretty fast as well. My favorite was the fresh oysters. For $1.00 each you cannot beat that! The oysters were very fresh and tasted delicious!!

McGarvey's is always a great spot for hosting friends or just having a good meal. I've been here for years and they have a menu of various seafood, appetizers and all around bar food etc. Love the oysters here too!

Solid 3.5 for me. Hubs and I had a quiet lunch here as part of an afternoon visit to downtown Annapolis. I ordered a bowl of the MD crab soup with a large house salad as my main, hubs got the fish tacos, which he said were delish. My soup was good, though not the best I ever had, salad was a-ok. It wasn't terribly busy when we were there, and service was efficient. I don't know if I'd go out of my way to come back, but I also wouldn't hesitate to come back if we were in the area.

The atmosphere was amazing, and I loved every minute of it. Now for the food, I did not care for the bland tasting gumbo (which is usually somewhat spicy) that I ordered as well as the crab ball that I tasted from my counterpart. Plus I didn't like the fact that my butter packets for my bread were in my soup along with the long hair. The staff were rather friendly, but very inattentive to my drink that I finished and never got a refill. This place is more nostalgic than a true food spot or maybe it was just me. I gave them a one due to the hair mainly, which I didn't complain about because I've seen grosser things, I was hungry and I'm in the military and hair doesn't scare me.

An excellent option for seafood in the heart of Annapolis! We were quickly seated on a weekend for dinner. Outdoor seating with space heaters available. Great ambiance. Quick service. Some of the best oysters I've had in the area, highly recommend. The fish and chips were also tasty. Would definitely recommend if in Annapolis!

Came here on a Sunday. We saw that they don't take reservations so we decided to come right when they open at 11:30 just to be safe and was surprised to see so many people outside waiting for them to open. There was plenty of seating, both inside and outside, so there was probably nothing to worry about. We got calamari and their raw oysters to start with and you can't go wrong with either option! I saw some reviews saying the calamari was too salty but I personally thought it was well seasoned and so delicious! You also can't go wrong with some oysters at $1 per piece. I got the crab cake ($28 market price for 1) for my main dish and it was full of crab meat and came w fries and some steamed (tasted like it was unseasoned) veggies. Overall we all enjoyed our meals and would come back again!

Third try was not a charm. This restaurant has amazing outdoor seating, great location .... that's where it stops. Menu has good potential.! But the food is frozen, fried and bad. The calamari was salty. The fried oysters had no flavor. The char grill oysters were covered in cheese. The best thing was an order of fries! Drinks are overpriced and not good. Service is hit or miss. My 1st water was great then Rebecca took over and she NEVER even came to our table.

Great food in a naval aviator themed dive bar. Go in and have seafood, soft shell crab sandwich (in season), ahi tuna poke bowl which has no rice, and could have more tuna, lump crab dip, or Louisiana style Char-Broiled oysters. There is a full bar, and a few wine offerings. Service at the bar was good.

This place was OK. Not the best, not the worst. We started with an order of the crab dip. It was almost too much cream cheese. There were huge chunks of cream cheese and the taste of cream cheese overpowered the crab. We also got oysters, which were some of the best oysters I've had. For my meal I got the simple fish and chips were good and crispy. I went here with a group of 5 other people and the server was not the best. He seemed bothered that people at the table were asking for special instructions for their dishes. He was also not very attentive during our meal. Took our food order and didn't see much of him after that until he brought over the check. Overall, I think the food was pretty good (besides the crab dip) but I think this would have been more enjoyable if our server was a little more engaged in conversation and bit more friendly.

Awesome place in Annapolis for seafood! They have very neat bar that welcomes their customers! They have great deals on their raw oysters and they are great! The peel and eat shrimp were cooked perfectly. Staff is friendly and place is clean

The food here is just incredible. Their wings are on another level and the oysters are just to die for. If you're on the area this is a must stop!!!

The ladies behind the bar were wonderful and were great company. I got the small steamed platter. The only annoyance was a rowdy group of young men enjoying an extended bottomless brunch of their own. Haha Oysters were amazing.

We apparently came on a bar crawl night but we still got seated for dinner immediately. Our server, Brooke, was great. She gave us time to ask questions and read through the menu/drinks. We ordered a calamari appetizer, chicken Riesling and crab cake dinner. All were great and my husband said the crab cake was one of the best he ever ate. My chicken had a creamier sauce with mushrooms and bacon. Very tasty! For dessert we had the special Bailey's cheesecake. It was topped with a thick piece of chocolate (not my favorite) but the creamy center was delicious. It was extremely loud inside but beyond that the food was good!

I was living in Annapolis in the 80s and this restaurant has been my favorite place . It's located in the heart of Annapolis City Dock and right outside of the U.S Naval Academy campus . This restaurant has also been a daily dining resource for these future Naval officers. My favourite is their local oysters for $1 each , great seafood selections . I had the seafood combo today that featured oysters , clams , crabs and boiled shrimps $38 , in addition I ordered another a dozen oysters for $12 and blackened seared tuna for $16 just for myself . All the seafood was super fresh especially the oysters . The price is reasonable considering the center of the tourist spot . So this is definitely a great place to experience the truth Annapolis !

Good good. Good vibe. Really good service. We laughed because there were several cockroaches running around. Didn't bother us. Just chalked it up to being near the water on the East Coast. I have been coming here for years when I visit Annapolis and I will continue to hang out here

This was my first time visiting Annapolis and I really wanted to try some crab cakes so I stopped by McGarvey's for lunch. I got the single crab cake with seasonal vegetables and fingerling potatoes and my partner got the steak and avocado salad. The food came out in a timely manner and the waitress was super friendly. I really enjoyed the crab cake and the lightly seasoned veggies were a great contrast to it. The steak and avocado salad portion was massive but served on a rectangular plate which was an interesting choice. My partner requested the steak medium rare and it was delicious. If I'm in the area again I'd love to come back!

Food great/solid Service : perfect with a smile Ambiance: just right Bloody Mary -excellent Enjoy yourself here at mcgarvey's

Fun spot for lunch. Recommend the oysters at $1 each. Sports/sailor bar with bright interior. Attentive service and good beer selection. Right near the wharf.

Sincerely one of the best meals I've had in a long time! I was wandering through Annapolis with a friend, looking for somewhere to eat and the menu looked promising so we sat down and hoped for the best... and we were not disappointed! I got a rum punch which was full to the brim and potent, absolutely loved it. My friend got a Bloody Mary which she absolutely loved loved and it was a little spicy which was pleasantly surprising. I got Shrimp and Grits that were cooked and seasoned to perfection. I literally cleaned my plate because it was so good and I didn't want to let any of it go to waste. The meal was filling too so if I had gotten a side salad like I had initially planned to, I wouldn't have finished it. My friend got fish and chips which she enjoyed. I tried some of her fries and they were equal parts soft and crunchy to perfection. Our waiter was readily available as needed and it felt so nice to side outside, enjoying the food, weather and people watching. Indoors, they have additional seating with a huge bar and extra courtyard seating with beautiful lighting. I really love this restaurant and hope to go back sometime. 10/10 recommend.

Food is phenomenal as always. Service is ok, (it's a pub), and the ambiance is definitely worth having out in the side room with the tree!

The resturant is spacious with two bars and plenty of table seating. The servers were quick and the food was delicious. The ambiance is cozy and warm with lots of greenery and wood tones. They're famous for their oysters and seafood but their plenty has plenty of scrumptious options.

Wasn't really expecting much by we were pleasantly surprised. We were a group of 7 without a reservation (they don't take them) but they sat us immediately and our server was very pleasant and attentive. The place looks a little divey but the food was very good.

Great location near the harbor the shrimp and crab salad sandwich with cream of crab soup was very tasty.

So disappointing. I researched restaurants in Annapolis and loved their menu. I was excited to grab some dinner and started off with little neck clams. They were so small I was shocked. Looking over the rest of the menu I decided to call it quits at that point.

Stopped by the town of Annapolis and stumbled across McGarvey's. WOW... is all I can say. The service and hospitality were just next level! I was seated near the back close to the bar and let me just say the ambiance was unmatched! The food also came out in a timely manner. I ordered the catch of the day which was swordfish with a lovely mango salsa, and the shrimp and grits which was truly a delight. The fish was fresh and very well seasoned and the shrimp and grits were cheesy and flavorful. This restaurant is very affordable and will for sure be back!

I came here with no knowledge of the place and my review is solely for sitting outdoors. I ordered the half and half soup on recommendation from the server, and it did not disappoint. Perfect for someone who loves a cream-based soup but definitely will feel terrible after a cup of cream-based soup. The fried shrimp was ok. Didn't knock my socks off, but nothing to complain about, nicely breaded. Fries were crispy, which isn't my favorite, but they weren't terrible. Honestly, what inspired this review was the hostess coming over and moving the outdoor umbrellas multiple times to ensure the clientele didn't roast in the summer sun. Good service deserves a shout out and I'll definitely be back here next time I'm in Annapolis.

A solid, fun tavern by Ego Alley. It's a bit loud and boisterous, so do not come for a quiet, relaxing night. The decor is English pub-ish, all dark paneled wood walls and hung stained glass lamps, though the football helmets are decidedly more American football. Our server, Brooke was a sweetheart. We also had a drink at the bar and Bartender was a hoot, he seemed like he genuinely enjoy interacting with patrons. He introduced me to the "crush", a local staple, and it was warm enough during our visit to have this decidedly summer drink. I had a cup of the cream of crab and my friend had the bowl. The soup is great, creamy with chucks of crab. It is very rich, and a cup really was enough, my friends bowl was huge, four times as large as mine. "Absolutely no chill between the two sizes." We also had the steamed (peel and eat) shrimp. Holy Old Bay! Otherwise the shrimp was cooked well. Good place to check out if you want somewhere with energy.

I was told to leave without my friends with no explanation and no reasoning. There was a long line to get in, so it seemed they were looking for any reason to kick authorized patrons out to let in more people. Very shady business practice and I will not go there again unless I get a refund for the drink that was taken out of my hand without my consent and an apology.

Pretty standard Irish bar comfortable ambiance. Anything but Irish food though. Excellent seafood from our experience. Loved the Fish & Chips. Firm delicious fish with great fries. Crab cake sandwich was so good! Lots of lump crab with minimal filler. Started with the lump crab with 2 loaves of toasted French bread - delicious, but too rich, so 2/3 came home. Also started with fried oysters. Perfectly fried, large, juicy, and delicious. Highly recommend all we tried. For drinks we had their signature draft, which I enjoyed and their old fashion. Some great, unique, cocktail options. Almost forgot the excellent service provided us by Aleksandra. She was friendly, patient, attentive, and very helpful. Great evening!

Went here for dinner and the service was absolutely abysmal. They sat us all the way in the back of the restaurant in the corner near the bar which was perhaps why we seemed forgotten. It appeared that the same person who was bartending at said bar was also waiting on the tables so in one sense, I felt bad for him, however he didn't at all appear to be hustling and was about as slow as molasses and was not at all apologetic. We waited at least 15 minutes after we were seated before anyone came to acknowledge us. Prior to that, that server/bartender was closing out the bill on the table next to us and when I looked at him expectantly thinking he was going to finally come and greet us and offer us something he said "do you have a question?" to me. I said "I thought you were coming to help us." He then walked away and didn't come back until 10 more minutes when he finally took our drink orders. He didn't introduce himself to us, he just stopped down and said "Hungry?" He didn't bring us even water until another 20 minutes after that. Finally our drinks came and then we quickly orders our food while he was there because we didn't know when he would ever come back. It was a terrible experience for us. This place seemed more like a bar then a restaurant. Would not go back.

What a find for lunch! The calamari was delicious and how great to find $1 oysters! We got a 1/2 doz and they were great. The Ahi tuna salad was FANTASTIC. The service was great. Kids loved their grilled chicken and French fries were good.

I went to McGarvey's to eat oysters because Annapolis was having an oyster fest. We went around 4pm on a Friday and we were seated right away. I loved the vibe of the inside and it was decorated for St. Patrick's day! We ordered 3 dozens of oysters, Calamari, Shepherd's Pie, and Shrimp Po Boy. The oysters were pretty good, had a decent size, and it was $1 which was great. Calamari was super crispy and it was actually so good. The Shepherd's Pie was really good especially when it was hot, and the size was actually kinda big. We were full after the pie. And lastly, the Shrimp Po Boy was good but It wasn't anything special. I think I would want to try something else instead of the Po Boy next time. The waitor was nice although it felt like he came back too often, so we felt a little pressured to order and leave. But overall, I had a great experience and would love to go back!

Stopped by for a few snacks! Oysters Rockefeller-- good but had had better. Alot of cheese that overwhelmed the oyster flavor. Louisiana Style Charbroiled Oysters- well...of you've been to big easy and had Oysters these are not it. Could use a tweak to the recipe. Also had a couple raw local Oysters that had a good flavor. Overall, nice spot for outside dining. Pleasant, attentive staff and reasonable prices. Enjoy!

In the heart of Annapolis, McGarvey exudes local saloon charm. The $1 oysters are great, and the beer selection is solid. Their house lager Aviator is brewed by Heavy Seas and worth trying even though they also have fabulous IPAs on tap. The portions were generous and even though we went in for afternoon snacks and a drink we left happy full and satisfied. Service was friendly and staffed well enough that we didn't wait long for anything. We will definitely come back!

Oysters, Cod Fish & Chips & Key Lime Pie are above average good! Crab Dip is really tasty, like it! Will Repeat!

We had a great snack here. Oysters on the half shell - incredibly fresh. And the crab ball appetizer. Would definitely order again. Vert tasty and a lot of crab!

Amazing food! We ordered the clams casino and a dozen oysters along with the half-and-half Maryland crab and cream of crab soup. Absolutely delicious. Along with two beers and the bill came up to 60 bucks very affordable.

Delicious shrimp & grits! This time, the oysters on the half shell were a bit large for my taste, but that's just my personal preference and not a fault of the kitchen.

Cold beer, raw bar, attentive service. Nice location, fun environment right next to the dock area.

This was our second visit. We stopped here a year ago. The atmosphere is great staff helpful and friendly. My wife had crab melt and I had fish and chips. Both were great. The crab soup half and half was excellent. Would highly recommend this place

A very nice place to stop and enjoy an afternoon lunch by the harbor. We brought our dogs so we ate outside and the breeze was pleasant and with the umbrellas shielding us from the direct rays of the sun. The waitress even brought a bowl of water for the dogs (Nice touch). The children enjoyed kids meals of Mac & Cheese and Hotdogs. The Mac & Cheese got a thumbs up with the white cheese sauce "it was delicious". The hotdog rated a good. It was not completely eaten so have to take that as it could have been better. My wife had the fish taco which she gives 3 out of 5 and I had crab cakes platter with spinach. Mine was 3 as well. The spinach was bland and the crab cake dry. I expected some sauce but to my dismay there was none. The crab cake sandwich which my son-in-law had had a larger cake than my platter. My daughter just had fish and chips and very safe order. I would try others before coming back here again but service was exceptional.

The bartender mistook me for someone else and shamed me for not tipping when I placed my very first order. He then called security on me when i suggested that he should talk to his mgmt about paying him a living wage instead of forcing a mafia-style tip culture on their customers. Don't hang out here.

Service was quick despite how mousy they were. The crab dip is to die for!! The Bloody Mary is super strong with lots of old bay

Very nice place to sit and have a drink with some awesome food. Staff was super friendly and I will definitely be coming back .

Pub crawl with my mid. We didn't eat anything so I can't comment on food but the drinks and vibe was excellent. The service was friendly and prompt. We will definitely return to try the food.

We were in the Washington DC area and decided to take a side trip to Annapolis. A friend recommended McGarvey's Saloon. I was totally blown away. The food was fabulous. The prices were reasonable. And the service was excellent. Normally in a place like this I would expect "bar" food (small servings of hors d'oeuvre type dishes). Instead we got premium restaurant food. My wife says it's the best shrimp and grits she's had in a long time. My son said his blackened salmon sandwich was more than he could eat. And I had the WTF burger that was cooked to perfection. If you're going to be shopping in downtown Annapolis make sure you stop in to McGarvey's.