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List of the oldest restaurants in the United States

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This list of the oldest restaurants in the United States includes currently operating restaurants that were founded before 1900. Most of the establishments are located in the Northeastern United States, many of them predate the Civil War, and a handful predate the Revolutionary War.

Closures

[edit]

Samuel Cole opened Cole's Inn 390 years ago on March 4, 1634, and was the first tavern in America. It was on Washington St. (now Downtown Crossing) in Boston, Massachusetts. The building was destroyed by fire in 1711, 313 years ago.[1]

Buckman Tavern was built 314 years ago in 1710 by Benjamin Muzzey (1657–1735). His license was granted 331 years ago in 1693. It was the first public house in Lexington, Massachusetts. His great-granddaughter and her husband John Buckman owned it at the time of the Battles of Lexington and Concord (April 19, 1775). Several dozen militiamen gathered there to await the arrival of the British troops. It ceased restaurant operations in the 1910s and is now a museum.[2]

Boston landmark Durgin-Park was founded 197 years ago in 1827, making it one of America's oldest restaurants. It closed its doors on January 12, 2019 after operating for nearly 192 years.[3]

Jack's Restaurant was opened 161 years ago in 1863 by George Voges in downtown San Francisco, California. [4] It became a brewery in 2002, and permanently closed in May 2009, 15 years ago. It has been a San Francisco landmark since 1981.[5]

The Jacob Wirth Restaurant was founded 156 years ago in 1868, operated for 150 years in Boston before permanently closing 6 years ago on June 9, 2018, after a fire damaged the building.[6][7]

Jules Maes Saloon had been open since 136 years ago in 1888 and was possibly the oldest restaurant in Seattle, but it closed permanently 4 years ago in July 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.[8][9]

List of the oldest restaurants in the United States

[edit]
Year of opening Age (years) Restaurant Opened by City State GPS Claim to fame Sources
1673 351 White Horse Tavern William Mayes, Sr. Newport Rhode Island 41°29′29″N 71°18′50″W / 41.491340°N 71.313755°W / 41.491340; -71.313755 Oldest restaurant in America (non-continuous) [10][11][12][13]
1686 338 The Wayside Inn David Howe as "Howe's Tavern" Sudbury Massachusetts 42°21′28″N 71°28′5″W / 42.35778°N 71.46806°W / 42.35778; -71.46806 Titular inn in Longfellow's Tales of a Wayside Inn; oldest restaurant in America (continuous) The inn's archive has documents from 1686 onward, including the official inn license granted to the first innkeeper, David Howe, in 1716.[14]
1706 318 Ye Olde Centerton Inn unknown Pittsgrove New Jersey 39°31′32″N 75°10′03″W / 39.5254486°N 75.167618°W / 39.5254486; -75.167618 Widely known as one of the oldest restaurants in NJ [15]
1716 308 Concord's Colonial Inn unknown Concord Massachusetts 42°27′42″N 71°20′58″W / 42.46179°N 71.34954°W / 42.46179; -71.34954 One of the Inn's original buildings was used as a storehouse for arms and provisions during the Battles of Lexington and Concord [16]
1728 296 The Red Fox Inn & Tavern Joseph Chinn Middleburg Virginia 38°58′05″N 77°44′11″W / 38.9681°N 77.7364°W / 38.9681; -77.7364 Oldest continuously operating inn and tavern in Virginia [17]
1737 287 Stage House Tavern John Sutton Scotch Plains New Jersey 40°39′05″N 74°23′55″W / 40.65137°N 74.39857°W / 40.65137; -74.39857 Originally called the Stage House Inn. It's rumored that Gen. George Washington enjoyed a pint or two there. [18]
1742 282 Black Horse Tavern & Pub Ebenezer Byram Mendham New Jersey 40°46′34″N 74°36′05″W / 40.7760096°N 74.6013081°W / 40.7760096; -74.6013081 Started out as just an Inn [19][15][20]
1743 281 The Clinton House unknown Clinton New Jersey 40°38′07″N 74°54′52″W / 40.6352389°N 74.9145386°W / 40.6352389; -74.9145386 [19][15]
1745 279 Rocky Hill Inn Harrison family Rocky Hill New Jersey 40°23′59″N 74°38′12″W / 40.3997905°N 74.636788°W / 40.3997905; -74.636788 [19][21]
1754 270 The '76 House Casparus Mabie Tappan New York 41°01′11″N 73°56′31″W / 41.019666588°N 73.941996232°W / 41.019666588; -73.941996232 Oldest restaurant New York The '76 House, Retrieved August 8, 2021
1762 262 Fraunces Tavern Samuel Fraunces New York New York 40°42′12″N 74°00′41″W / 40.703394°N 74.011335°W / 40.703394; -74.011335 Oldest standing structure in Manhattan [10][22][23][13]
1775 249 The Horse You Came In On Saloon unknown Baltimore Maryland 39°16′53″N 76°35′39″W / 39.28151°N 76.59417°W / 39.28151; -76.59417 Oldest continuously operating saloon in the United States
1776 248 The Griswold Inn Sala Griswold Essex Connecticut 41°21′05″N 72°23′13″W / 41.3512692°N 72.3868961°W / 41.3512692; -72.3868961
 Oldest Inn in America [10][24][25][13]
1779 245 Old Talbott Tavern George Talbott Bardstown Kentucky 37°48′33″N 85°28′03″W / 37.80905°N 85.46750°W / 37.80905; -85.46750 Oldest western stagecoach stop still in operation
1780 244 The Cranbury Inn unknown Cranbury New Jersey 40°18′28″N 74°31′04″W / 40.3078249°N 74.5178106°W / 40.3078249; -74.5178106 Built in 1750 and 1765 as a place to eat, drink, get horses and rest. [26][19][27][15]
1780 244 Warren Tavern Eliphelet Newell Charlestown Massachusetts 42°22′27″N 71°03′48″W / 42.3741169°N 71.0633136°W / 42.3741169; -71.0633136 [28][29]
1783 241 The Milleridge Inn Mary Willets Jericho New York 40.791607669553045, -73.5377810359943 Started by Quakers; quartered soldiers during the American Revolution; house became inn in 1783 [30]
1785 239 Gadsby's Tavern John Wise Alexandria Virginia 38°48′20″N 77°02′37″W / 38.8056197°N 77.043648°W / 38.8056197; -77.043648
(second tavern on site built 1785, enlarged in 1792, first tavern on site Mason's Ordinary opened in 1749) 		Historic Confederation/Federalist Period tavern & ballroom [31]
1795 229 Bell in Hand Tavern Jimmy Wilson Boston Massachusetts 42°21′41″N 71°03′25″W / 42.3614873°N 71.0570777°W / 42.3614873; -71.0570777
 Oldest continuously operating tavern in US (except for Prohibition) [29]
1803 221 The Golden Lamb Jonas Seaman Lebanon Ohio 39°26′01″N 84°12′30″W / 39.433611°N 84.208333°W / 39.433611; -84.208333 Oldest continuously operated inn and restaurant in Ohio [32]
1826 198 Union Oyster House Hawes Atwood Boston Massachusetts 42°21′41″N 71°03′25″W / 42.3612904°N 71.0569038°W / 42.3612904; -71.0569038 Oldest continuously operated restaurant in America [10][33][13]
1831 193 New Hudson Inn Unknown New Hudson Michigan 42°30′42″N 83°36′53″W / 42.5116556°N 83.6148471°W / 42.5116556; -83.6148471 Oldest business in Michigan [34]
1834 190 J. Huston Tavern Joseph Huston, Sr. Arrow Rock Missouri 39°04′12″N 92°56′42″W / 39.0699503°N 92.9450889°W / 39.0699503; -92.9450889 Oldest continuously serving restaurant west of the Mississippi River [35][36][37]
1838 186 Arnold's Bar and Grill Susan Fawcett Cincinnati Ohio 39°06′19″N 84°30′36″W / 39.10514°N 84.51011°W / 39.10514; -84.51011 Oldest continuously operating bar in Ohio [38][39]
1840 184 Antoine's Antoine Alciatore New Orleans Louisiana 29°57′24″N 90°03′59″W / 29.9567166°N 90.0664811°W / 29.9567166; -90.0664811 Oldest family-run restaurant in America [10][40][41][13]
1849 175 Tadich Grill Nikola Budrovich
Frano Kosta
Antonio Gasparich 		San Francisco California 37°47′36″N 122°23′58″W / 37.7934198°N 122.399472°W / 37.7934198; -122.399472
(moved here in 1967) 		Oldest continuously running restaurant in San Francisco [10][42][13]
1852
(August 23) 		172 Breitbach's Country Dining founder unknown Balltown Iowa 42°37′38″N 90°49′13″W / 42.627308°N 90.82037°W / 42.627308; -90.82037 Oldest restaurant in Iowa [10][43][13]
1854 170 McSorley's Old Ale House John McSorley New York City New York 40°43′44″N 73°59′23″W / 40.7288135°N 73.9896631°W / 40.7288135; -73.9896631 Oldest Irish saloon in NYC and one of the last of the "Men Only" pubs, admitting women only after legally being forced to do so in 1970 [44]
1856 168 Old Ebbitt Grill William Ebbitt Washington District of Columbia 38°53′53″N 77°02′00″W / 38.898056°N 77.0333288°W / 38.898056; -77.0333288
(moved here in 1983) 		Oldest saloon in Washington [45][13]
1857 167 Gluek's Restaurant & Bar Gottlieb Gluek Minneapolis Minnesota 44°58′46″N 93°16′26″W / 44.9794701°N 93.2739892°W / 44.9794701; -93.2739892 Oldest continuously operated business
in Minneapolis 		[46][13]
1860 164 McGillin's Olde Ale House Catherine McGillin
William McGillin 		Philadelphia Pennsylvania 39°57′01″N 75°09′45″W / 39.9502014°N 75.1625754°W / 39.9502014; -75.1625754 Oldest bar in Philadelphia [10][47][13]
1861 163 The Old Clam House founder unknown San Francisco California 37°44′35″N 122°24′17″W / 37.7430779°N 122.4048487°W / 37.7430779; -122.4048487 Began as a bar in 1891. Became a restaurant in 1940. [48][49]
1864 160 Pete's Tavern founder unknown New York New York (state) 40°38′52″N 73°57′46″W / 40.6478789°N 73.9626685°W / 40.6478789; -73.9626685 Oldest continuously operated bar in New York City [50][13]
1866 158 Scholz Garten August Scholz Austin, Texas Texas 30°16′40″N 97°44′11″W / 30.27778°N 97.73639°W / 30.27778; -97.73639 Oldest restaurant in Texas [51]
1867 157 Sam's Grill & Seafood Restaurant Michael Bolan Moraghan San Francisco California 37°47′27″N 122°24′12″W / 37.7909164°N 122.4034528°W / 37.7909164; -122.4034528 opened during California gold rush [52][53]
1870 154 Claudio's Tavern Manuel Claudio Greenport New York (state) 41°06′07″N 72°21′33″W / 41.1018204°N 72.3590323°W / 41.1018204; -72.3590323 Oldest restaurant continuously owned
by the same family (until 2018) 		[54][13]
1870 154 Original Oyster House Hugh Lynn Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 40°26′27″N 80°00′09″W / 40.440748°N 80.002375°W / 40.440748; -80.002375 Oldest bar and restaurant in Pittsburgh [55]
1870 154 Weidmann's Felix Weidmann Meridian Mississippi 32°21′47″N 88°41′56″W / 32.363020°N 88.699006°W / 32.363020; -88.699006 Oldest restaurant in Mississippi [56]
1879 145 Huber's Huber Portland Oregon 45°31′12″N 122°40′29″W / 45.5200272°N 122.6748297°W / 45.5200272; -122.6748297 Oldest restaurant in Oregon [57]
1885 139 Tivoli Bar and Grill Angelo and Giovanni "John" Della Maggiora San Diego California 32°42′38″N 117°9′32.3″W / 32.71056°N 117.158972°W / 32.71056; -117.158972 Oldest bar/restaurant in San Diego [58][59]

[60][61]

1885 139 Keens Steakhouse Albert Keen New York City New York (state) 40°45′03″N 73°59′11″W / 40.750773°N 73.9864091°W / 40.750773; -73.9864091 Only remaining business of what was the Herald Square Theater District [62][13]
1886 138 Fior d'Italia Angelo Del Monte San Francisco California 37°48′16″N 122°24′49″W / 37.8043304°N 122.413506°W / 37.8043304; -122.413506 The current restaurant at the San Remo Hotel (2237 Mason St.) is the seventh location for the former bordello and eatery, including a tent operation for nearly a year after the 1906 earthquake and fire. [63]
1887 137 Browne's Irish Market & Deli Ed and Mary Flavin Kansas City Missouri 39°04′03″N 94°35′34″W / 39.0676114°N 94.5928806°W / 39.0676114; -94.5928806 Oldest Irish business in North America
Oldest retail business in Kansas City 		[64][65][66]
1887 137 Peter Luger Steak House Peter Luger Brooklyn New York (state) 40°42′36″N 73°57′45″W / 40.7098661°N 73.9625564°W / 40.7098661; -73.9625564 New York's top-rated
Zagat steakhouse 		[67][13]
1888 136 Katz's Delicatessen Morris Iceland
Hyman Iceland 		New York City New York (state) 40°43′20″N 73°59′14″W / 40.7223431°N 73.987353°W / 40.7223431; -73.987353
(moved here in 1970) 		New York's oldest deli [68][13]
1893
(November 17) 		131 Buckhorn Exchange Henry Zietz Denver Colorado 39°43′56″N 105°00′18″W / 39.7322529°N 105.0051124°W / 39.7322529; -105.0051124 First liquor license in Colorado [10][69][13]
1893 131 Commander's Palace Emile Commander New Orleans Louisiana 29°55′44″N 90°05′03″W / 29.928869°N 90.084213°W / 29.928869; -90.084213 Oldest continuously operated restaurant in Uptown New Orleans [70][71][13]
1898 126 Louis' Lunch Louis Lassen New Haven Connecticut 41°18′23″N 72°55′49″W / 41.306370°N 72.930382°W / 41.306370; -72.930382 one of the oldest hamburger restaurants [10][72][13]
1895 129 The Berghoff Herman Berghoff Chicago Illinois 41°52′45.5″N 87°37′42.2″W / 41.879306°N 87.628389°W / 41.879306; -87.628389 German restaurant [73]
1896 128 Rao's Raos New York City New York (state) 40°47′38.16″N 73°56′3.2″W / 40.7939333°N 73.934222°W / 40.7939333; -73.934222 One of the country's oldest family-owned restaurants running in its original location. [74]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
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