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
editSamuel 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
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ Madeline Bilis (2016-03-03). "TBT: When the First Bar in America Opened in Boston". Boston Magazine. Retrieved 2022-01-22.
- ^ Orrison, Rob (25 October 2022). "Buckman Tavern". battlefields.org. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
- ^ Choe, Jonathan (January 3, 2019). "Historic Boston Restaurant to Serve Last Customer". NECN.com. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ Citara, Bill (November 22, 1998). "Jack's Is Back". SFGATE. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
- ^ Unknown (February 5, 2012). "San Francisco Landmarks". Retrieved 2024-10-05.
- ^ Hurwitz, Marc (June 9, 2018). "Jacob Wirth Restaurant in Boston's Theater District Closed After Fire in Building". BostonRestaurants.blogspot.com. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ Stendahl, Max (August 21, 2018). "Jacob Wirth, billed as Boston's second-oldest restaurant, is being sued for eviction". BizJournals.com. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ "Best Burgers that Go Beyond the Beef". Seattle Magazine. 2011-12-06. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
- ^ Guarente, Gabe (2020-07-13). "One of the Oldest Bars In Seattle Is Closing Permanently After 132 Years [UPDATED]". Eater Seattle. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Top 10 oldest restaurants in America". Fox News. November 21, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ Jefferys, David (August 3, 2017). "An Evening at the Oldest Bar in America". CNTraveler.com. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ "America's Oldest Tavern". WhiteHorseNewport.com. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Ashraf, Syjil (May 2, 2012). "America's Oldest Restaurants". The Daily Meal. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ Historic Homes and Genealogical memoirs of Early New England pg 281-283 publ 1909 by Ellery Bicknell Crane
- ^ a b c d Aprill, Meg (2021-08-06). "Here Are The 10 Oldest Restaurants in NJ". New Jersey Digest Magazine. Retrieved 2021-10-12.
- ^ "History of Concord's Colonial Inn". Retrieved 2021-11-03.
- ^ "The Red Fox Inn & Tavern - Our Story". The Red Fox Inn & Tavern. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
- ^ "Dating back nearly 300 years, these are the oldest restaurants in Central Jersey". Courier News. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
- ^ a b c d Makin, Bob. "Central Jersey's 10 oldest restaurants offer fine food served with region's rich history". MyCentralJersey.com. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
- ^ "New Jersey's Oldest Restaurant Is Still Kicking After Nearly 300 Years". New Jersey Monthly. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
- ^ "About". Rocky Hill Inn. 2020-05-18. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
- ^ "Fraunces Tavern". FrauncesTavern.com. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ "Fraunces Tavern Museum". Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ "The Griswold Inn (1776)". HistoricBuildingSCT.com. 4 February 2010. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ Libov, Charlotte (September 21, 1986). "Two Ancient Inns Claim to be the Oldest". New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ "The Story Behind One of New Jersey's Oldest Restaurants". New Jersey Monthly. 2019-10-28. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
- ^ "Historic Restaurant | Cranbury, NJ | The Cranbury Inn". www.thecranburyinn.com. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
- ^ "Warren Tavern". Retrieved 2024-02-29.
- ^ a b "Historic Boston Bars". Retrieved 2024-02-29.
- ^ "Gadsby's Tavern" (PDF). HABS #VA-100 HABS VA 7 Alex 19. May 6, 1941. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
- ^ "History of the Golden Lambt". Archived from the original on 3 April 2007.
- ^ "Union Oyster House". National Park Service. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ "New Hudson Inn represents Michigan on a distinguished businesses list". Deadline Detroit.
- ^ "Dining". 28 January 2011.
- ^ "In Arrow Rock, the Old Tavern Tradition Lives on • Missouri Life Magazine". 8 April 2019.
- ^ "Indoor dining and fried chicken are back at J. Huston Tavern after May fire - News - Boonville Daily News - Boonville, MO - Boonville, MO". Archived from the original on 2019-08-20. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
- ^ Restivo, Danny (April 2014). "Arnold's Way". Cincinnati Magazine. Archived from the original on April 8, 2016. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
- ^ Pennebaker, Holly (April 14, 2015). "Thrillist: Cincinnati's oldest bar is Ohio's most iconic". WCPO-TV. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
- ^ "History of Antoine's". Antoines.com. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ "Antoine's, New Orleans' Oldest Restaurant". LouisianaTravel.com. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ "Our Story". TadichGrill.com. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ Hutchinson-Schuster, Heather (January 1, 2017). "Breitbach's Country Dining". JuliensJournal.com. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ "History – McSorley's Old Ale House". Mcsorleysoldalehouse.com. 11 September 2015. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
- ^ "The Oldest Saloon in Washington". Ebbitt.com. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ Brooks, Jay (August 6, 2010). "No More Gluek Beer". brookstonbeerbulletin.com. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ "History". McGillins.com. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ "About The Old Clam House | 299 Bayshore Blvd San Francisco CA, 94124". www.theoldclamhousesf.com. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
- ^ Wilkey, Robin (2012-02-28). "The Old Clam House, San Francisco Restaurant, Turns 150 (PHOTOS)". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
- ^ "The Urban Lens: Visiting Gramercy's Pete's Tavern, where O. Henry penned 'The Gift of the Magi'". 6sqft.com. December 21, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ "About Scholz". scholzgarten.com. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
- ^ "Sam's Grill and Seafood Restaurant". San Francisco Office of Small Business, Legacy Business Program. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ^ Fegan, Mackenzie Chung (10 May 2024). "Best classic San Francisco restaurants". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ^ Gianotti, Peter (March 28, 2018). "Claudio's in Greenport sold to new owners after 148 years". Newsday. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ Shribman, David (April 7, 2022). "The Oldest Restaurant in Pittsburgh Is Steeled Against Change". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
- ^ "Weidemann's Restaurant". Mississippi Encylocpedia. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
- ^ "Huber's". Insider. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
- ^ Sauer, Kelly (9 May 2014). "East Village bar faves". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
- ^ Maher, Mackenzie (23 October 2014). "6 Dive Bars That Have Been Around Longer Than 30 Years". Eater San Diego. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
- ^ "Dive into the Tivoli! – Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation". 25 October 2023.
- ^ "The Survivors: San Diego's Oldest Restaurants and Bars". 22 May 2022.
- ^ "History of Keens". Keens.com. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ "About Us"""Fior d Italia"".
- ^ "The oldest Irish-owned business in America is right here in Kansas City". 16 March 2018.
- ^ "Welcome to Browne's Irish Marketplace, the oldest Irish business in America". The Irish Times.
- ^ "Browne's Irish Market & Deli marks 122nd year - Kansas City Business Journal". Archived from the original on 2009-06-08.
- ^ "Our Story". PeterLuger.com. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ Friedman, Noah (April 1, 2017). "The owner of New York's oldest deli explains how Katz's is able to sell 15,000 pounds of pastrami a week". Business Insider. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ "The unique history of the Buckhorn Exchange". 9News. November 15, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ Andserson, Brett (January 30, 2012). "Commander's Palace: The Times-Picayune covers 175 years of New Orleans history". NOLA.com. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ Cuter, Anne (November 23, 2015). "Famed New Orleans restaurant 'Commander's Palace' discovers century-old secret". WGNO. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ Rogers, Owen (12 May 2015). "Louis' Lunch and the Birth of the Hamburger". ConnecticutHistory.org. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ "History". theberghoff.com. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
- ^ "Our Story". Rao's Restaurant Group. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
- ^ "Is America's oldest Chinese restaurant in a tiny suburb of Sacramento? Historians investigate | California | the Guardian".
- ^ "History"""Chicago Cafe: California's Oldest Chinese Restaurants"". 22 January 2024.
- ^ "History"""Schmidt Haus"".
- ^ "Oldest Chinese restaurant in US, oldest restaurant in Hawaii win James Beard America's Classics awards". Yahoo News. 2023-02-24. Retrieved 2024-02-29.