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.

Year of opening Age (years) Restaurant Opened by City State GPS Claim to fame Sources
1673 353 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) [1][2][3][4]
1686 340 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.[5]
1706 320 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 One of the oldest restaurants in NJ [6]
1714 311 William Penn Inn Robert Evans Lower Gwynedd Pennsylvania 40.20247°N

75.25618°W

 One of the oldest restaurants in Pennsylvania. It was frequented by William Penn and his daughter Letitia. [7]
1716 310 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 [8]
1719 307 Spring House Tavern unknown Spring House Pennsylvania 40°11′07″N 75°13′39″W / 40.18519°N 75.22749°W / 40.18519; -75.22749 American soldiers were stationed here during 1778 [9][10]
1728 298 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 [11]
1737 289 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. [12]
1742 284 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 [13][6][14]
1743 283 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 [13][6]
1743 282 The Blue Bell Inn unknown Blue Bell Pennsylvania 40.15619°N

75.26693°W

 Originally known as the White Horse Inn, George Washington and his troops are said to have frequented the inn during the Battle of Germantown. [15]
1745 281 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 [13][16]
1754 272 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 state. The '76 House, Retrieved August 8, 2021
1762 264 Fraunces Tavern Samuel Fraunces New York City 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 [1][17][18][4]
1775 251 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 250 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 [1][19][20][4]
1779 247 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 246 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. [21][13][22][6]
1780 246 Warren Tavern Eliphelet Newell Charlestown Massachusetts 42°22′27″N 71°03′48″W / 42.3741169°N 71.0633136°W / 42.3741169; -71.0633136 [23][24]
1783 243 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 [25]
1785 241 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 [26]
1795 231 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) [24]
1803 223 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 [27]
1826 200 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 [1][28][4]
1831 195 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 [29]
1834 192 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 [30][31][32]
1838 188 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 [33][34]
1840 186 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 [1][35][36][4]
1848 178 La Mallorquina Antonio Vidal Llinás San Juan Puerto Rico 18°27′55″N 66°06′55″W / 18.46532°N 66.11524°W / 18.46532; -66.11524
 Claims to be first restaurant in Puerto Rico
1849 177 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 California [1][37][4]
1852
(August 23)		 174 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 [1][38][4]
1854 172 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 being legally forced to do so in 1970 [39]
1856 170 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 [40][4]
1856 170 Tujague's Restaurant Guillame Tujague New Orleans Louisiana 29°57′18″N 90°03′54″W / 29.95512°N 90.064888°W / 29.95512; -90.064888 2nd Oldest Restaurant in New Orleans [41]
1857 169 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		 [42][4]
1860 166 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 [1][43][4]
1861 165 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. [44][45]
1864 162 Pete's Tavern founder unknown New York City 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 [46][4]
1866 160 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 [47]
1867 159 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 [48][49]
1870 156 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)		 [50][4]
1870 156 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 [51]
1870 156 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 [52]
1879 147 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 [53]
1885 141 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 [54][55]

[56][57]

1885 141 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 [58][4]
1886 140 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. [59]
1887 139 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 retail business in Kansas City [60][61][62]
1887 139 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		 [63][4]
1888 138 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 [64][4]
1893
(November 17)		 133 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 [1][65][4]
1893 133 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 [66][67][4]
1898 128 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 [1][68][4]
1895 131 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 [69]
1896 130 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 Italian restaurant

Closures

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