About Reynolds Tavern
Where Annapolis Has Gathered for Nearly Three Centuries
Reynolds Tavern sits at the corner of Church Circle and Franklin Street, facing St. Anne’s Church in the heart of the Annapolis Historic District. It is the oldest tavern in the city and one of the oldest in the United States — a Georgian brick building that has served continuously as a gathering place since hatter and merchant William Reynolds opened its doors in 1747.
Over the centuries this building has been a colonial ordinary, a boarding house, a bank, a public library, and very nearly a gas station. Today it is, once again, what it was always meant to be: a tavern — a place to eat and drink, to meet friends, to spend the night, to mark an occasion, and to feel the presence of the people and stories that came before.
A Living Landmark
The first floor holds the dining rooms, largely unchanged from 1747, where afternoon tea and evening meals are served beneath woodwork crafted by the celebrated Annapolis cabinetmaker John Shaw.
Below street level, the original stone cellar that once served as William Reynolds’ kitchen and hat shop is now the 1747 Pub — all exposed stone, brick floors, low ceilings, and a walk-in fireplace with its 18th-century Rumford Broiler still intact.
Upstairs, three guest rooms offer overnight stays in period comfort. And out back, a courtyard and terrace open to the Annapolis sky.
Reynolds Tavern & 1747 Pub is one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in the city — a two-and-a-half story, five-bay wide, gambrel-roofed brick structure laid in all-header bond, with a distinctive four-course belt dividing the façade. The National Register of Historic Places has listed it since 1975.
From Afternoon Tea to Dining to Last Call
The rhythm of a day at Reynolds Tavern is not unlike what it was in the 18th century. Mornings begin quietly with breakfast for overnight guests. By midday the first-floor dining rooms fill with the clink of teacups and conversation — we serve a traditional English Afternoon Tea alongside a full lunch menu, one of the few places in Maryland where you can take a proper tea in a room that predates the nation itself.
Evenings shift the mood. The dining rooms become candlelit and the kitchen turns to seasonal fine dining rooted in Chesapeake traditions. Downstairs, the 1747 Pub fills with a different crowd — craft beer, casual fare, live jazz on Wednesdays, and music on weekends. Two centuries apart in atmosphere, one staircase apart in fact.
The 1747 Pub
You reach it by descending the original 1737 stairwell — the same steps that William Reynolds climbed each morning to open his hat shop. The cellar pub sits within the oldest bones of the building: rough stone walls, centuries-old brick underfoot, ceilings low enough that you notice them. Founding Father quotes line the walls, and the fireplace is the real thing — the same hearth that cooked meals for colonial Annapolis.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation has called it one of the country’s great historic bars. It is also, simply, a very good pub — the kind of place where you go for one drink and stay for three, where the bartender remembers you, and where on any given evening you might hear jazz drifting up through the floorboards into the dining rooms above.
Staying the Night
Three rooms on the second floor offer something no hotel can — the experience of sleeping above a tavern that has hosted guests since before the American Revolution. The rooms are furnished with antiques and period pieces, oriental rugs cover the original wooden floors, and the bathrooms are finished in marble. Breakfast is served each morning in the dining room downstairs.
It is a particular kind of pleasure to step out onto Church Circle at night after dinner in the pub below, to walk the brick sidewalks of the Historic District, and to return to a room where the floorboards have settled into shapes that only 278 years can produce. Explore our rooms.
A Place for Gathering
Reynolds Tavern has been a gathering place since it was built — the Corporation of the City of Annapolis and the Mayor’s Court met here regularly in the 18th century. That spirit continues. Our dining rooms and courtyard host rehearsal dinners, wedding celebrations, milestone birthdays, corporate gatherings, and private parties throughout the year. If you’re planning something, our events coordinator would love to hear from you. Learn about private events.
Nearly 280 Years on Church Circle
1747
William Reynolds builds his tavern and hat shop, The Beaver and Lac’d Hat, on glebe land leased from St. Anne’s Church.
1812
Cabinetmaker John Shaw renovates the interior for Farmers National Bank, adding the pedimented entrance porch.
1935
Saved from demolition by local preservationists. Becomes the Annapolis Public Library for four decades.
1974
Title transfers to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Locally Owned & Operated
Wes Burge
PROPRIETOR
Wes has operated Reynolds Tavern since 2003, bringing a passion for historic buildings shaped by years living in Paris. His aim is straightforward: honor the building's character while making it a place people genuinely want to spend their time.
Marilyn Burge
PROPRIETOR
Marilyn oversees the tea room, guest accommodations, and events. She is likely the person who greets you when you walk through the door — and the reason many guests say Reynolds Tavern feels less like a restaurant and more like visiting someone's home.
Recognized & Preserved
National Register of Historic Places
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Historic Grant
Recipient
Annapolis Historic Landmark District
Visit Us
We’re at the center of it all — directly on Church Circle facing St. Anne’s Church, a short walk from the Maryland State House, the U.S. Naval Academy, City Dock, and the shops and galleries of the Historic District. The Gott’s Court parking garage is steps away, and we provide guests with a parking discount card.
We'd Love to See You
Whether it’s tea for two, a pint after work, a special evening, or a night above the tavern — you’re always welcome.
