Community awards
Celebrating the very best restaurants, bars, Boardwalk businesses, and things to do in Ocean City, Maryland—voted by locals and visitors— these are the places that make OC unforgettable.
The Best of Ocean City® is the longest-running, most prestigious readers’ poll of its kind in town. Every year, we call on visitors and locals to crown the best of the best across dining, bars, things to do, and the boardwalk. Last year’s polls drew more than 125,000 votes across 42 categories.
Winners earn online recognition on OceanCity.com, a spot on the official Best of Ocean City® list, and a place on the Best of Ocean City® Trails, so you can taste and explore the community’s favorites for yourself.
Grab a free pass and explore this year’s winners. Follow the trail, check in at each spot, and unlock exclusive offers as you go.
The next ballot is in the works — 48 categories including dining, bars, things to do, and the boardwalk. Subscribe to hear when voting opens.
Newsletter signupSee winning businesses by year and category. Use past results to plan your next trip around community-certified favorites.
View 2026 winners
Community photo contest
The winning shot from this year’s OceanCity.com Photo Contest — chosen by community vote.
Suggest your favorite local businesses across all award categories during the open nomination window.
Once nominations close, the top contenders in each category advance to the public voting round.
Winners are announced, featured on OceanCity.com, and recognized with Best of OC badges.
Voters choose favorites across 48 categories that reflect the full Ocean City experience.
Jun 1 – Jul 6
Public Voting
Jul 10
Winners Announced
All Summer
Winner Spotlights
Winning a Best of OC award drives real traffic. Promote your nomination, encourage customer votes, and amplify your win with featured placement on OceanCity.com.
