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.

List of the oldest restaurants in the United States Year of openingAge (years)RestaurantOpened byCityStateGPSClaim to fameSources1673White Horse TavernWilliam Mayes, Sr.NewportRhode IslandOldest restaurant in America (non-continuous)1681King George II InnSamuel CliftBristolPennsylvaniaOldest continuously operated inn in America and oldest restaurant/bar in Pennsylvania1686The Wayside InnDavid Howe as "Howe's Tavern"SudburyMassachusettsTitular 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.Historic Homes and Genealogical memoirs of Early New England pg 281–283 publ 1909 by Ellery Bicknell Crane1706Ye Olde Centerton InnunknownPittsgroveNew JerseyOne of the oldest restaurants in NJ1716Concord's Colonial InnunknownConcordMassachusettsOne of the Inn's original buildings was used as a storehouse for arms and provisions during the Battles of Lexington and Concord1719Spring House TavernunknownSpring HousePennsylvaniaAmerican soldiers were stationed here during 17781728The Red Fox Inn & TavernJoseph ChinnMiddleburgVirginiaOldest continuously operating inn and tavern in Virginia1737Stage House TavernJohn SuttonScotch PlainsNew JerseyOriginally called the Stage House Inn. It's rumored that Gen. George Washington enjoyed a pint or two there.1742Black Horse Tavern & PubEbenezer ByramMendhamNew JerseyStarted out as just an Inn1743The Clinton HouseunknownClintonNew Jersey1743282The Blue Bell InnunknownBlue BellPennsylvaniaOriginally known as the White Horse Inn, George Washington and his troops are said to have frequented the inn during the Battle of Germantown. 1745Rocky Hill InnHarrison familyRocky HillNew Jersey1754The '76 HouseCasparus MabieTappanNew YorkOldest restaurant in New York state.The '76 House, Retrieved August 8, 20211762Fraunces TavernSamuel FrauncesNew York CityNew YorkOldest standing structure in Manhattan1775The Horse You Came in On SaloonunknownBaltimoreMarylandOldest continuously operating saloon in the United States1776The Griswold InnSala GriswoldEssexConnecticutOldest Inn in America1779Old Talbott TavernGeorge TalbottBardstownKentuckyOldest western stagecoach stop still in operation1780The Cranbury InnunknownCranburyNew JerseyBuilt in 1750 and 1765 as a place to eat, drink, get horses and rest.1780Warren TavernEliphelet NewellCharlestownMassachusetts1783The Milleridge InnMary WilletsJerichoNew YorkStarted by Quakers; quartered soldiers during the American Revolution; house became inn in 17831785Gadsby's TavernJohn WiseAlexandriaVirginia(second tavern on site built 1785, enlarged in 1792, first tavern on site Mason's Ordinary opened in 1749)Historic Confederation/Federalist Period tavern & ballroom1795Bell in Hand TavernJimmy WilsonBostonMassachusettsOldest continuously operating tavern in US (except for Prohibition)1803The Golden LambJonas SeamanLebanonOhioOldest continuously operated inn and restaurant in Ohio1826Union Oyster HouseHawes AtwoodBostonMassachusettsOldest continuously operated restaurant in America1831New Hudson InnUnknownNew HudsonMichiganOldest business in Michigan1834J. Huston TavernJoseph Huston, Sr.Arrow RockMissouriOldest continuously serving restaurant west of the Mississippi River1838Arnold's Bar and GrillSusan FawcettCincinnatiOhioOldest continuously operating bar in Ohio1840Antoine'sAntoine AlciatoreNew OrleansLouisianaOldest family-run restaurant in America1848La MallorquinaAntonio Vidal LlinásSan JuanPuerto RicoClaims to be first restaurant in Puerto Rico1849Tadich GrillNikola BudrovichFrano KostaAntonio GasparichSan FranciscoCalifornia(moved here in 1967)Oldest continuously running restaurant in California1852(August 23)Breitbach's Country Diningfounder unknownBalltownIowaOldest restaurant in Iowa1854McSorley's Old Ale HouseJohn McSorleyNew York CityNew YorkOldest 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 19701856Old Ebbitt GrillWilliam EbbittWashingtonDistrict of Columbia(moved here in 1983)Oldest saloon in Washington1856Tujague's RestaurantGuillaume TujagueNew OrleansLouisiana2nd oldest restaurant in New Orleanshttp://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/eat-drink/tujague-s-second-oldest-restaurant-in-new-orleans-will-relocate/article_398f739c-eb78-11e9-9c89-3f7664acb637.html1857Gluek's Restaurant & BarGottlieb GluekMinneapolisMinnesotaOldest continuously operated business in Minneapolis1860McGillin's Olde Ale HouseCatherine McGillinWilliam McGillinPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaOldest bar in Philadelphia1861 The Old Clam Housefounder unknownSan FranciscoCaliforniaBegan as a bar in 1891. Became a restaurant in 1940.1864Pete's Tavernfounder unknownNew York CityNew YorkOldest continuously operated bar in New York City1866Scholz GartenAugust ScholzAustin, TexasTexasOldest restaurant in Texas1867Sam's Grill & Seafood RestaurantMichael Bolan MoraghanSan FranciscoCaliforniaOriginally an oyster stall1870Claudio's TavernManuel ClaudioGreenportNew YorkOldest restaurant continuously owned by the same family (until 2018)1870Original Oyster HouseHugh LynnPittsburghPennsylvaniaOldest bar and restaurant in Pittsburgh1870Weidmann'sFelix WeidmannMeridianMississippiOldest restaurant in Mississippi1879Huber'sHuberPortlandOregonOldest restaurant in Oregon1885Tivoli Bar and GrillAngelo and Giovanni "John" Della MaggioraSan DiegoCaliforniaOldest bar/restaurant in San Diego 1885Keens SteakhouseAlbert KeenNew York CityNew YorkOnly remaining business of what was the Herald Square Theater District1886Fior d'ItaliaAngelo Del MonteSan FranciscoCaliforniaThe 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."About Us"1887Browne's Irish Market & DeliEd and Mary FlavinKansas CityMissouriOldest retail business in Kansas City1887Peter Luger Steak HousePeter LugerBrooklynNew YorkNew York's top-ratedZagat steakhouse1888Katz's DelicatessenMorris IcelandHyman IcelandNew York CityNew York(moved here in 1970)New York's oldest deli1893(November 17)Buckhorn ExchangeHenry ZietzDenverColoradoFirst liquor license in Colorado1893Commander's PalaceEmile CommanderNew OrleansLouisianaOldest continuously operated restaurant in Uptown New Orleans1898Louis' LunchLouis LassenNew HavenConnecticutone of the oldest hamburger restaurants1895The BerghoffHerman BerghoffChicagoIllinoisGerman restaurant1896Rao'sRaosNew York CityNew YorkItalian restaurant

Closures Samuel Cole opened Cole's Inn 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, years ago.

Buckman Tavern was built years ago in 1710 by Benjamin Muzzey (1657–1735). His license was granted 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.

Boston landmark Durgin-Park was founded years ago in 1874, and closed its doors on January 12, 2019, after operating for approximately 145 years.

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

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

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

See also Tavern Inn

References