Maximizing app window while persisting Menu bar on top [duplicate]

You can use the free tool Spectacle App which allows to maximize (but no full-screen) the windows to use all available desktop space with following keyboard shortcut:

Option + Command + F

The keyboard shortcuts are visible in the app menu and can be changed within the app if they interfere with your workflow.

I also found this annoying and I use the excellent BetterTouchTool in two ways:

First, I defined an action that right clicking the maximize button will maximise windows rather than trigger fullscreen mode. Of course, you can set your own action or key combination instead or even override the green button entirely.

Second, I use Window Snapping, which basically imitates the functionality in Microsoft Windows. When you drag a window into a corner or to the top of the screen it will either enlarge it to an area of the screen or maximize it, respectively.