These inspiring food stores have outlasted monarchies, wars and financial crashes to become today's most historic foodie destinations. Whether it's a sprawling food hall in a luxury department store or a family-owned delicatessen that's operated on the same street for decades, these are the world's most iconic food stores with inspiring stories, jaw-dropping architecture and the most amazing food.
Click or scroll through our gallery to discover the world's most historic food stores, counting down to the oldest of all.
Our selections are based on the date each food store was established. They're also regularly checked and updated.
Gene’s is one of Chicago’s most storied delis, selling over 40 types of smoked sausages, fresh and cured meats, and what it claims is the best chicken soup in the city. The deli was founded in 1972 by two Polish brothers, John and Gene Luszcz, specialising in homemade smoked sausage and other Polish delicacies. Today it’s run by Gene’s son and daughter, and it stocks fresh produce and imported European specialities across two floors.
Established in 1955, Aziz Delicatesse is a stalwart of Beirut's food scene; it survived the chaos of the 15-year Lebanese Civil War, as well as the multiple financial crashes that have afflicted the Middle Eastern country. This family-owned business was forced to close its flagship store in the central neighbourhood of Kantari due to political events, but in 1975 a new store was opened in Zalka, a village six miles (9.8km) east of the city. The Kantari shop eventually reopened in 2001, and both sites are still flourishing today, offering Italian balsamic vinegars, French mustards, Spanish tuna and more.
Abe Lebewohl opened 2nd Ave Deli in 1954 as a small 10-seat luncheonette on East 10th Street in New York. He put his heart and soul into the joint, and the citizens of New York loved him for it. Tragically, though, Lebewohl was killed in 1996 – and while his family took over operations of his deli, it was forced to close in 2006. Thankfully, Lebewohl's nephews, Josh and Jeremy, eventually stepped in and reopened 2nd Ave Deli at East 33rd Street, and it's even expanded to a second location since.
Gastronome No.1 only opened in 2008, but the 1950s-style grocery store – located in Russia’s historic department store, GUM – is a successor to the original Soviet shop that traded between 1953 and 1990. The new store’s impressive marble columns, stylised signs and vintage-style staff uniforms are a nod to its predecessor. A wide selection of classic Soviet products such as shproti (canned fish similar to sardines), birch juice and confectionery sit alongside international gourmet food products including cakes, pastries, chocolates and cheeses.
Londoners, chefs and restaurateurs all adore Lina Stores. The green-tiled shop is home to piles of authentic Italian produce – from lavishly wrapped panettone to cured meats suspended above the counter. But the highlight here is the fresh handmade pasta the shop has been making and selling since it opened its doors in 1944 on Brewer Street. Its signature spinach and ricotta ravioli has been a part of its pasta display ever since. These days, Lina has three delis and eight restaurants across the capital.
If it wasn't obvious from the name, Aliani Casa del Parmigiano in Venice is a cheesemonger specialising in Italian cheeses. It was founded in 1936 as the literal 'House of Parmesan', but it expanded its offerings to include olive oil and cold cuts in the 1960s. Today, the store has a reputation for greatness among locals and tourists, and it's still run by the Aliani family.
The Re Store was one of Perth’s first continental food stores when it opened in 1936. After selling fruit and vegetables from a stand in Northbridge, founder John Re used his wife’s wedding ring as security to buy a proper store. Over 80 years later, the business (which now has a second site in Leederville) is still selling everything from loaded continental rolls to fresh pasta that's made in house. It played a huge part in bringing together the multicultural cuisines of Western Australia, and it even gave rise to a still-operating coffee brand, Braziliano.
Established in 1934, this Edinburgh favourite, located on Elm Row, is Scotland’s oldest Italian delicatessen. Started by two Italian families, Valvona & Crolla sells Italian and Scottish delicacies, including a speciality spicy Fonteluma sausage made using a centuries-old recipe. Customers will also find an abundance of cheeses, cured meats, olive oils and pasta varieties behind its glorious front doors. In recent years, the deli has added a gift room and bookshop, which converts into a 70-seat theatre for the annual Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
This deli and grocery store has been at the same location at West 80th Street on NYC's Broadway since 1934. Opened by Louis and Lillian Zabar, it's a gourmet emporium of cured meats, cheeses, coffee, teas, baked goods, smoked fish, fancy jams and confectionery. Zabar’s contribution to the city's food culture is wide reaching, and the store claims to have introduced New Yorkers to Brie in the 1960s. Today, the Zabar family still operates the business, welcoming 40,000 customers to the store each week.
Mitsukoski (the 'Harrods of Japan') started out as a kimono store in 1673 before it was converted into Japan's first department store in 1904. Ginza Mitsukoshi opened in 1930 – and the food hall, located in the flagship store in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, is considered one of the finest around. Here, shoppers can purchase carefully prepared sushi, high-end chocolates, elaborate cakes, Kyoto-style pickles and upmarket varieties of traditional Japanese ingredients. The Hakone Akatsuki-an soba shop, where customers can see how soba noodles are made, is a must-visit.
A far cry from the hip burger joints typical of the modern-day German capital, Rogacki (pronounced Ro-gatz-ki) offers a glimpse into Berlin's past. The business was established in 1928 as an eel and fish smokehouse before it relocated to its current location in Charlottenburg in 1935. Now run by Dietmar Rogacki, the grandson of the original owners, the iconic deli stocks more than 70 types of fresh and smoked fish, as well as cheese, game, poultry and bread.
One of the world’s most spectacular food halls, La Grande Épicerie is a landmark of Parisian gastronomy. A part of the historic Le Bon Marché department store, it first opened in 1923 in Rive Gauche, but today it’s located at the corner of the Rue de Sèvres. It offers over 30,000 products in 17 different departments, and lovers of fine food can find French madeleines, Spanish hams, British shortbread, Italian antipasti and even American marshmallow creme among the displays. There’s also an impressive spice section and a foie gras 'island', as well as whole departments devoted solely to butter and truffles.
A slice of Italy in California, Genova Bakery has been a constant in the city of Stockton since 1918, when Angelo Rolleri, originally from Genoa, opened the business with two partners. Today the shop is under the ownership of Tim Canevari, who started working in the bakery during high school. In 2004 he took over as owner, and he's continued to evolve the bakery’s legacy. Milk rolls, sourdough, French bread, ciabatta and Dutch crunch rolls are all baked on site, just as they were in 1918. Genova also sells authentic Italian staples alongside its freshly baked loaves.
The exterior of this shop might appear to have been built recently, but this grocery store has been a fixture in Casper, Wyoming for over a century. Since it was established during the oil boom in 1918, Grant Street Grocery & Market has had many different owners, and it was revitalised in 2016 by a small group of Casper residents. They updated the store in 2017 to add a commercial kitchen, expand the butchery department and fill out the coffee shop.
Located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Russ & Daughters has been offering traditional Jewish food since 1914. The landmark shop still occupies the same spot and has now entered its fourth generation of ownership. It got its name in 1935, when founder Joel Russ made his daughters full partners – a move that reportedly saw it become the first business in America to have '& Daughters' in its name. Customers travel from far and wide to visit the shop and sample everything from pastrami-cured salmon to breads like bialys and babkas. Russ & Daughters also has three other locations in New York.
Selling Jewish food on the Upper West Side of Manhattan since 1908, the Barney Greengrass store was the first place to introduce smoked and cured fish, such as sturgeon, to the city. Over a century later, the business is run by Barney’s grandson, but the legend of 'The Sturgeon King' is still known today. Gaining a lot of celebrity attention over the decades, the deli is particularly famous for having shipped an order of smoked fish to President Roosevelt in 1939.
Short for Kaufhaus des Westens, meaning Department Store of the West, KaDeWe – established in 1907 – is believed to be one of the largest department stores in Europe. The food hall (taking up the entirety of the sixth and seventh floors) has more than two football fields' worth of space dedicated to fresh produce and groceries. KaDeWe is especially known for its huge selection of sausages, sourced from each region of Germany. After filling up on currywurst, finish with a trip to the room devoted entirely to chocolate truffles.
The founder of this old-fashioned grocery store is said to have created the famous muffuletta sandwich. Salvatore Lupo opened Central Grocery & Deli in 1906 and, three generations later, his descendants are still running the business, located on Decatur Street in the middle of New Orleans’ French Quarter. The deli still sells its signature muffuletta sandwich, made with ham, salami, mortadella, provolone and Swiss cheese – not forgetting a layer of the deli’s own Italian olive salad.
The Russian department store that's home to this famous food hall was designed by architect Gabriel Baranovskii and completed in 1903. Thanks to its striking Neo-Baroque style, hand-painted ceilings, stained glass windows and Art Nouveau architecture, the historic food hall is considered one of the most beautiful grocery stores in the world. Located in the very centre of the city on Nevsky Prospekt, the emporium offers shoppers premium Russian products, as well as restaurants and a coffee shop.
Part gallery, part food store, this Barcelona delicatessen is on the Modernisme Route (an itinerary that takes you through the city's finest architecture) thanks to its modernist storefront, which still features its original 19th-century signs, as well as an advertising poster created by Catalan artist Ramon Casas. The shop’s interior, meanwhile, retains the mahogany furniture, clock and counter that were present when the store opened in 1898. It's a culinary temple of delicacies from Catalonia and beyond, and visitors can expect to find artisan cheeses, Iberian hams, and smoked and canned fish here.
William Martyn opened his eponymous grocer's store in Muswell Hill, London in 1897. Incredibly, William Martyn owns and operates the store today; the store has been passed down through the Martyn family for four generations (the original William Martyn was the current owner's great-grandfather). Stepping through the front doors of this place is like stepping back in time, and the store is still beloved for its freshly roasted coffee, speciality teas, dried and evaporated fruits, and nuts and preserves.
Molinari Delicatessen is one of the oldest delis in the United States, but San Francisco's residents know it better for its Italian combo sandwiches and Sicilian arancini. The shop was established in 1896 by P.G. Molinari in the city's North Beach neighbourhood, and to this day, customers swing by for cheeses, marinated delicacies and an award-winning own-brand salami, which is also sold whole and sliced via mail order.
Sahadi’s has been bringing the flavours of the Middle East to New York since 1895. The current store, on Atlantic Avenue, has been Sahadi's home since 1948. It's a beloved Brooklyn spot where shoppers can buy ancient grains such as farro and freekeh, freshly roasted nuts, dried fruits, and ground and whole spices in bulk. Freshly baked Afghan and Syrian breads occupy the bakery section, while the deli counter sells tabbouleh, kibbeh, kebabs and the Lebanese shop’s now-legendary hummus. The store has two other locations around the city.
Manteigaria Silva has been supplying Serra da Estrela cheese, a wide array of dry-cured hams, and its own signature bacalhau (sea salt–cured cod) to the people of Lisbon since 1890. It's one of the oldest shops in Portugal’s capital – and it's the only one that's retained its original name, Manteigaria, which means 'butter shop'.
This traditional grocery store in the northern Italian town of Morbegno was established in 1883, and it still has the original 19th-century sign on its shopfront. A food connoisseur's paradise, the shop is crammed with Italian delights including handmade pasta, polenta, cheese and local cured meats. Beneath the store are two cellars that hold a huge selection of cured meats and cheeses – including bitto, an aged Alpine cheese that's made with cows' and goats’ milk and aged for up to a decade.
Known as a temple of Italian gastronomy, Peck is a Milanese institution selling cheeses, chocolates, pralines, gelato, seafood, pâté, balsamics and much more. The story of Peck began in 1883, when Franz Peck, a salumi maker from Prague, opened a workshop for German-style cured and smoked meats, hoping to turn it into a successful deli. Over a century later, it's become one of the most renowned Italian food companies in the world.
Fraschio 'Frank' Napoleon Fossati opened his eponymous deli in 1882, making this historic institution the oldest delicatessen in Texas. The building (and owners) have changed since Fossati's time, of course, but Fossati's is still serving mouthwatering soups and sandwiches – including a popular chicken salad melt. Perhaps most appealing for foodies, though, is the collection of rare cookbooks in the joint's back room.
In the late 19th century, Virginie Eugenie Charbonnel was known for crafting exquisite chocolate in Paris, and Minnie Walker was famous in London for her gift boxes. So, after the pair met, it was only natural that they created Charbonnel et Walker – a food store showcasing high-quality chocolates in the finest gift boxes. The first store opened in London's Bond Street in 1875, and the brand grew (and grew) from there. It now has six standalone stores in the UK, but the chocolates are available everywhere.
Du Pain et des Idées opened in 2002, but the bakery itself – located on the corner of Rue Yves Toudic and Rue de Marseille in Paris's 10th Arrondissement – dates back to 1875. It retains a traditional late-19th century aesthetic today, with mirrored walls and ceilings, and romantic, ballroom-like décor. It's not only one of the prettiest boulangeries in Paris, but it's also regarded as one of the best. Under the direction of Christophe Vasseur, the bakery is known for its chocolate and pistachio escargot pastry, fresh apple turnovers and smoky-crusted Pain des Amis bread.
Shoppers like to visit this old-timey grocery store to stoke up feelings of nostalgia as much as they do to restock their provisions. Épicerie J.A. Moisan – established in 1871 on Rue Saint-Jean, Quebec – is regarded as the oldest grocery store in North America. It lives up to that status with its 19th-century shopfront and its antique furnishings, woodwork and interior design. An eclectic selection of Canadian specialities and artisanal products, including coffee beans, teas, spices, charcuterie and regional cheeses, is displayed on worn wooden tables, as well as inside wicker baskets and glass cases,
Families in Lisbon have been visiting Manuel Tavares all their lives, with generation after generation delighting in its quality produce, sold at affordable prices. The store opened in 1860, and staff still wear traditional red aprons to give the impression of a vintage produce shop. Locals say the cheese and chorizo is exceptional, and that customers shouldn't step back onto the street without tasting the joint's dry-cured ham.
Harrods is arguably the most famous luxury store in the world, but its food halls had humble beginnings; Charles Henry Harrod first opened his grocery store in 1849, selling basic goods from a single counter. Today, the Art Deco–inspired food halls of the Knightsbridge branch remain focused on high-end delicacies such as chocolates, oysters and caviar. As part of the shopping experience, customers can even consult with in-house experts.
What does The Oldest Sweet Shop in the World sell? Unsurprisingly, it sells old-school sweets from vintage jars – and it sends customers home with smiles on their faces. Its name might seem boastful, but the store really is the oldest sweet shop in the world, according to Guinness World Records. The shop was established in 1827, and it remains one of the few authentic places to buy traditional sweets.
Lorenzo di Angelo Falorni founded Antica Macelleria Falorni in 1806, but the butchery moved to its location in Greve – where it still plies its trade today – in 1844. Business boomed, and in 1940, the shop took things to another level by specialising in cured meats. The store is still in the hands of the Falorni family today, and it's recognised worldwide for the quality of its cold cuts.
One of Britain’s oldest cheesemongers, Paxton & Whitfield has been selling domestic and foreign cheeses to Londoners from its flagship store on Jermyn Street since 1797. Amazingly, Winston Churchill once observed that 'a gentleman buys his cheese at Paxton & Whitfield' – and the historic shop has been supplying the good stuff to the royal family since 1850, when it was appointed cheesemonger to Queen Victoria. Today, the shop still holds a Royal Warrant; however, non-royals will find a warm welcome here, too.
Parisians take their chocolate very seriously – so, to savour a true taste of sweet history, head to À la Mère de Famille on Rue du Faubourg-Montmartre. It's here that the oldest chocolate shop in Paris still operates under the À la Mère de Famille banner, despite welcoming its first customers in 1761. The beloved brand has changed hands many times since, but the heart of the place remains the same: it's all about exquisite chocolate in exquisite surroundings.
The flagship Piccadilly Fortnum & Mason store in England's capital – with its lavish interior, ornate spiral staircase and signature blue-green colour – is famous for its extensive selection of teas, coffees and biscuits, as well as its wicker hampers. The London institution has witnessed many groundbreaking gastronomic events since it was established in 1707, including the invention of the Scotch egg in 1738. It was also the first shop in Britain to stock Heinz baked beans in 1886.
When R J Balson & Son first opened for business, Henry VIII was on the throne. The high street butcher in the English market town of Bridport, Dorset is believed to be the oldest continually trading family-owned business in the UK. It was established in 1515 by Robert Balson, and since then, 25 generations have stood behind the butcher’s block. The butchery sells high-quality meat, poultry and game, but it's most famous for its handmade sausages, including Tudor Rose Old English sausages, a 500-year-old favourite made with marjoram and thyme.
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Last updated by Luke Paton.