Whether you're after homely Italian joints that still make pasta like nonna, old-school taverns that have served beer and bites for centuries, or saloon-style restaurants with plenty of Old West spirit, America has its fair share of historic places to eat, and we've picked the best.
Click or scroll through our round-up of the oldest restaurant in every state, where you can find a generous side of history with your meal.
Our selections are based on genuine user reviews, awards and accolades, and the first-hand experience of our team. They're also regularly checked and updated.
In some cases, a state's oldest restaurant may not be highly recommended – here, we've picked the oldest and most historic place in each state that's worth seeking out and still serves great food.
Birmingham has earned itself the moniker ‘Dining Table of the South,’ and the suburb of Bessemer has some stellar eating spots, too. Make time for The Bright Star, which is tipped as the oldest family-run restaurant in Alabama. It deals in down-home Southern cooking, from fried catfish to gumbo, plus steaks and Gulf seafood. The warm atmosphere is praised by diners, too.
Skagway Inn has been serving weary travelers since the late 19th century. There you'll find Olivia's Bistro, which serves a small menu of top-notch Alaskan seafood and other local delicacies using the vegetables and herbs grown in its own garden. Top choices include halibut or shrimp gnocchi, salmon Caesar salad and garden veggie flatbread.
The history of this stunning bar-turned-restaurant stretches right back to 1877, when Prescott's Whiskey Row – a historic street then known for its many saloons – was in its heyday. The Palace was sadly destroyed in a fire that engulfed the street in the 19th century but was rebuilt in 1900 and still thrives today. Prop up the ornate wooden bar and feast on everything from blackened salmon to chicken dinners or check out one of their regular whiskey-pairing menus while listening to live music.
One of the Natural State's standout historic eating spots, the down-to-earth White House Cafe has been running since 1907. That means it's well-versed in dishing up a big menu of comfort food, from Mexican-style enchiladas to burgers and fries. The spot also wins points for its generous portions and friendly vibe.
Tadich Grill has come a long way in its lengthy history. It began life in 1849, when a trio of Croatian immigrants founded a coffee stand on San Francisco's Long Wharf. In the nearly two centuries that have followed, the humble stand has changed shape and location many times and has been a full-service restaurant at 240 California Street since 1967. It serves more than 75 entrees made from scratch including seafood curry, pot roast, and Dalmatian stew with lobster, clams, scallops, and a side of grilled bread (pictured).
Stepping into the Buckhorn Exchange's taxidermy-stuffed dining room is a bit like stepping back into the Old West – it was opened in 1893 by Henry H. 'Shorty Scout' Zietz, an eccentric figure from the era and a friend of the famous William 'Buffalo Bill' Cody. Now, the quirky spot draws in tourists rather than ranchers and miners, and impresses them with a menu featuring buffalo steak, Rocky Mountain oysters (bull testicles), and rattlesnake.
This is not just the most historic restaurant in Connecticut, but one of the oldest continuously operated inns in the entire country. That makes the charming Griswold Inn well worth a visit, and the historic vibe comes through in the string of quaint dining rooms, featuring old steamship pictures and dark wooden paneling. The restaurant menu features traditional dishes such as fried chicken and roast prime of rib, while the wine bar serves a selection of tapas and artisan cheeses.
While Kelly's Logan House is first and foremost an Irish bar – the oldest in the state, and the oldest family-operated one in the States, no less – it's the food that keeps the punters pouring in. The menu is built on classic American comfort food, with dishes from 'pig mac' – creamy mac 'n' cheese with pulled pork and bourbon barbecue sauce – to fish tacos, salmon Caesar salad (pictured), and Philly cheesesteak. The drinks deals are worth sticking around for, too.
The Sunshine State has plenty of historic eating spots, but this Cuban restaurant in the hip city of Tampa is billed as the oldest of them all. It was established in 1903 by Spanish-Cuban immigrant Casimiro Hernandez Sr, who first named the place the Columbia Saloon (the name change happened two years later). Fast-forward over a century and it's still one of the most popular joints in town, known for its belt-busting Cuban sandwiches layered up with salami, roast pork, Swiss cheese, pickle, and mustard.
Plaza Restaurant & Oyster Bar has been delighting the folks of southwestern Georgia for more than a century under various proprietors. The menu features classic meat and seafood dishes such as blackened salmon and aged New York strip, alongside Italian specialties including penne alla vodka and lasagna. The previous Greek owners have influenced the menu too – there's Greek-style chicken with oregano, lemon and pepper, and red snapper with garlic and onion.
You'll find the Manago Hotel on Hawaii's Big Island, and inside sits the oldest operating restaurant in the state. The hotel's dining spot was opened back in 1917 and was recently recognized with a prestigious James Beard award. It started as a humble restaurant and inn established by Japanese immigrants, who served udon and coffee to hungry travelers. Now, the focus is on Hawaiian staples from delicate butterfish to hamburger steaks.
Kingston's beloved Snake Pit has had several different names over the years (including the respectable sounding Enaville Resort), but its identity has remained broadly unchanged since it was opened way back in the 19th century. This spot on the Coeur d’Alene River has played host to railroad workers, loggers, and miners, and now tourists are the top punters. They come in for tried-and-tested favorites like brisket sandwiches, chicken-fried steak, and mac 'n' cheese.
The Village Tavern in Long Grove is proud of its age, having first opened way back in 1847. Customers will notice some charming historic details, including an intricately carved wooden bar and brick fireplaces. Meanwhile, the menu is an exercise in classic Americana: choose between expertly made hamburgers, the signature Reuben, the Tavern's popular fish fry, or a pork schnitzel.
The Log Inn began life as a classic stagecoach stop way back in 1825, and it's rumored that 16th President Abraham Lincoln visited here during a campaign tour in 1844. Presidential history aside, the spot wins fans for its quaint decor – think wooden beams and a gabled, white-washed exterior – and family-style dinners. Feast on succulent chicken, ham or roast beef, alongside mashed potatoes, veggies, hot rolls, and gravy. There's also a menu of sandwiches, salads, and small plates.
Incredibly, this historic restaurant remains in the same family, even though it has been running since 1852. It's now operated by the sixth generation of the Breitbach family and is located at the site of the original venue (which was sadly lost to a gas fire in 2007). The menu is a treat, featuring comforting options like country ham and catfish served with potatoes. The all-you-can-eat buffet is a popular choice, too.
Hays House is a Council Grove landmark. In fact, it was established by the founder of the town itself: Seth Hays, a prominent merchant and great-grandson of frontiersman Daniel Boone in 1857. It's stood the test of time thanks to its historic features including the original bar and a precious crystal collection and tempting menu. Top picks include the country fried steak, fried chicken dinner and the breaded mushrooms.
Quaint Bardstown is best-known for its bourbon production, but it's also a great spot for foodies. One of the top dinner choices is The Talbott Tavern, which has been a Bardstown mainstay since the late 18th century and claims to house the oldest bourbon bar in the world. The architecture is a particular draw – it's a fine example of Flemish bond stonework – and the joint has recently been refurbished. Don't miss the traditional Kentucky hot brown: smoked turkey and ham on toast layered up with mornay sauce, tomatoes, and Cheddar cheese.
If you're looking for a special occasion spot with a generous dose of history, look no further than Antoine's Restaurant. The oldest restaurant in the Big Easy, it was established back in 1840 and is hailed for its fine French Creole food. It's a feast for the eyes – all glittering chandeliers, soaring windows, and intricate crown molding – and the stomach, with a menu featuring everything from seafood gumbo to vegan mushroom bourguignon. Oysters Rockefeller, served on the half-shell and smothered in a rich, creamy sauce and breadcrumbs, was invented here back in the late 19th century.
There's nothing quite like a classic dining car – and Palace Diner is one of America's oldest. It was built by the Pollard Company back in the 1920s and is thought to be one of just two still left in the States. You can expect standard but delicious diner food, from breakfast egg plates and French toast to giant sandwiches, all served with a healthy dollop of nostalgia.
The Robert Morris Inn dates back to 1710, when Oxford was Maryland's largest port. Once the home of a prominent merchant, Robert Morris, it evolved into a hotel and restaurant after his death. Now, it's a dining room, tavern, tap room, and hotel, with 14 historic bedrooms boasting slate flag floors, beamed ceilings, and roaring fireplaces. It serves a classic menu with dishes including local wild rockfish and beef tenderloin.
Right off Boston's storied Freedom Trail you'll find the Union Oyster House, a cradle of history in a city indelibly linked to the American Revolution. The spot has been continuously open since 1826, and in that time has played host to important customers such as Daniel Webster, a prominent lawyer and statesman through the 1800s, and JFK. Fun fact: it's also said to be the place where toothpicks were first used. Unsurprisingly, the menu centers on seafood, with options including freshly shucked and fried oysters, clam chowder, and lobster.
Blink and you could miss this quaint spot in Niles, which is recognized as the oldest business in the Great Lakes State. It's well worth taking notice of, though, as there's a solid menu to match the lengthy history. The joint keeps things simple with a roster of sandwiches – Cajun chicken, Reubens, fish filet – and dinners including goulash and fried chicken.
Neumann's has been going strong since 1887. There's more to it than the food – including live music, classic car shows, and a well-stocked bar – but you can't go wrong with dinner here. You can choose from daily specials from the grill, plus a permanent menu featuring pizza, burgers (the NeuBleu, doused in blue cheese and garlic, and topped with fried onions and bacon, is our favorite), and beef tacos.
Swiss-born Felix Weidmann went from cheffing on a transatlantic steam ship to opening this well-loved Mississippi restaurant back in 1870. Now, more than 150 years later, the spot has grown from a tiny location with a bar and a huddle of stools, to a fully-fledged restaurant that's one of the best-loved places for Southern food in the state. Try fried green tomatoes with a spicy cream sauce, loaded crab cakes, or shrimp and grits, and finish off with a slice of pie – both the peanut butter and lemon almond flavors are raved about.
As its name suggests, this atmospheric, historic spot is a tavern first and a restaurant second, but its stellar food has earned it a place on this list. It opened back in 1902 and served as a rest stop for railroad travelers en route from Paradise Valley to Yellowstone National Park. Now, the interior evokes the Old West, with mounted animal heads and paintings of bucolic Western scenes on the walls, while the menu focuses on well-executed steaks, burgers, and breakfasts.
The long and storied history of this classic tavern has earned it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. Opened back in 1876, it's said to have been a haunt for notorious Western figures including William 'Buffalo Bill' Cody. He might be long gone, but the spirit of the Old West lives on in the joint's classic architecture and old-school interiors. Now most people come for the raved-about burgers and the buzzing beer garden.
You can't go wrong with a classic, old-school, mom-and-pop Italian joint, and that's exactly how you'd describe Casale’s Halfway Club, a local treasure in Reno. The interior is gloriously jumbled, with trinkets, neon signs, and framed newspaper articles everywhere, and the menu is as wonderfully down-to-earth and homey as the decor. You'll find all your favorite Italian classics, from spaghetti and meatballs to ravioli and lasagna.
The Three Chimneys Inn dates to 1649 and now houses the ffrost Sawyer Tavern, historic dining rooms, and several boutique hotel rooms. The tavern is a laidback, cozy spot, while the romantic candlelit Maples dining room has sumptuous wood paneling fit for a fine colonial residence. Copper's, with its open hearth, is set in the tavern's original winter kitchen. There's a menu of hearty, traditional New England fare such as pot roast and fried chicken served with mashed potatoes and Maple Bourbon sauce.
This homely and cozy tavern has been around since 1742, meaning it predates both the Revolutionary War and the American Civil War. Today it remains fittingly rustic, with chintzy wallpaper, exposed beams, and historic paintings – but the food is certainly not dated. Feast on elegantly plated dishes including herb-crusted salmon with carrot purée, scallop linguine, and panzanella salad.
El Farol has been a highlight of Santa Fe's dining scene for more than a century and it still deals in top-notch New Mexico cuisine and Spanish tapas and entrées today. Graze on everything from green chili chicken enchiladas to paella in a simple dining room filled with tan leather and exposed wood. You can also catch a traditional flamenco show three nights a week, plus there's a beautiful patio area in the warmer months.
Having been originally built in 1668, '76 House is one of the oldest restaurants in the country and once served as a meeting spot for patriots around the time of the Revolutionary War. The tavern has been carefully preserved over the centuries and now offers a glorious slice of foodie history, with interiors filled with fireplaces, wooden beams, and crossed swords mounted on the walls. The varied menu has dishes including vegan moussaka, classic chicken cordon bleu, and the house special Caesar salad, prepared tableside.
Quaint Chapel Hill is home to North Carolina's oldest restaurant, a friendly stop that's been running since 1922. The name is deceiving, this is a full-service restaurant that focuses on modern Southern food. If you're here for dinner, sample the brisket mac 'n' cheese or chicken and waffles – or come by for the popular weekend brunch to try corned beef hash and the joint's signature cornflake French toast.
Bismarck locals are extra proud of long-running Peacock Alley, with its old-school interiors and solid, fuss-free menu. Opened in 1933, it was one of the first joints to have a liquor license following Prohibition and now serves dishes ranging from steaks, burgers, and sandwiches to chicken marsala (pictured), Cajun pasta, and jumbo shrimp. The Snicker pie dessert also comes highly recommended.
Opened by New Jersey-born Jonas Seaman back in 1803, the Golden Lamb is a Lebanon mainstay that's played host to some prominent guests over the years. The restaurant and inn has fed and housed big names including politician Mitt Romney, astronaut Neil Armstrong, and writer Charles Dickens. These days the menu contains delicious dishes such as roast turkey dinner, cranberry-glazed seared salmon, and butternut squash lasagna.
If you're in the market for an excellent steak, then head to veteran Cattlemen's Steakhouse in Oklahoma City's historic Stockyards City. The spot opened back in 1910, in order to feed a roster of cowboys and ranch workers, so it's had plenty of practice turning out cooked-to-perfection cuts of meat. Don't fancy steak? There's also fried catfish and Hawaiian chicken on the menu.
A traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings (pictured) is the specialty dish at this down-to-earth Portland stalwart, which has been going strong since 1879. The restaurant has retained its sense of history with meticulously decorated interiors, including stained-glass skylights, dramatic arches, and lots of dark wood. The menu also features plenty of steaks, seafood, and pasta dishes.
Philadelphia has a good roster of traditional taverns and McGillin's has been running since 1860, which it proudly points out is the same year that 16th President Abraham Lincoln was elected. The place is a Philly classic, known for its top-quality food such as fish and chips, shepherd's pie, a crock of chili, and, of course, the traditional Philly cheesesteak.
Holding the title of America's oldest tavern and with a designation as a National Historic Landmark, the White Horse Tavern, which has been running since 1673, is a true New England jewel. Beyond the history, its striking red, flag-hung exterior is enough to bring in the crowds, who find a charming dining room with beams and giant fireplaces once they step inside. When it comes to food, traditional dishes are given modern updates – think lobster bisque with sherry and cream and catch of the day with roasted pineapple salsa.
This convivial, family-friendly restaurant began life as a fruit store in the 1930s, before then owner Sadie Tronco began cooking homestyle Italian meals. This was mainly to sate the appetites of the many soldiers of Italian descent who were stationed at nearby Fort Jackson and missing their families' home cooking. The restaurant may have changed hands, but it still dishes up comforting Italian dishes such as homemade pizza, creamy pesto seafood served with linguine, and chicken parmigiana.
Tucked inside the Silverado-Franklin Hotel – a Deadwood mainstay since the early 1900s – Legends Steakhouse has fed plenty of famous figures in its long history. Notable past punters include President Theodore Roosevelt, Wild West legend William Frederick 'Buffalo Bill' Cody, and John Wayne. As its name suggests, steak is the star of the menu, but you can also plump for a lobster dinner, shrimp pepper pasta, or roasted chicken.
Established back in 1900, City Café Murfreesboro is the place for some good old-fashioned Southern cooking. While it's moved location over the years, its ethos and atmosphere has changed very little. Nab a table and feast on everything from biscuits and gravy to daily selections of meat and sides (think cornbread, beans, and succulent brisket).
You'll be spoiled for choice when it comes to finding a dinner spot in Texas' hip capital – but, if you'd like a dollop of history with your meal, you can't go wrong with Scholz Garten. Opened by German-born Civil War veteran August Scholz, the joint began life in 1866 as a bar and café above a boarding house. Now it's still a failsafe spot for German-inspired food, with dishes such as currywurst with waffle fries, Bavarian-style pretzels, and sauerkraut balls.
This cheerful restaurant has been welcoming the folks of Utah's Brigham City since 1921, when it first opened as a candy shop and ice cream parlor. The place eventually morphed into a full-service restaurant and it remains so today, dishing up comforting classics such as pot roast, grilled hamburger steak, and club sandwiches (pictured). They all come with a choice of sides, ranging fries to soup and seafood macaroni.
The proprietors of Manchester's Ye Olde Tavern are committed to keeping a slice of historic New England alive, with the restaurant having first been built in 1790. Over the years it served as a meeting spot for some of the region's most important dignitaries, and now it's a hit with tourists and locals alike. The restaurant offers a candlelit dining experience, and the à la carte menu features dishes such as lobster bisque, prime rib of beef, and vegetarian options including quinoa and lentil loaf.
The Red Fox Inn & Tavern was established back in 1728, and the storied spot, which predates the American Revolution and the Civil War, has opened its doors to the likes of JFK and Tom Cruise. There's a set four-course tasting menu featuring dishes such as lamb ragout, seared scallops, and butternut squash ravioli. Beyond the food and the history, its spectacular location in the midst of the mountains adds to the appeal.
Horseshoe Cafe originally opened in 1886, with a view to satisfying the hearty appetites of the many laborers in the industrial area. Back in the day, it also sold hunting and fishing supplies. Now, it focuses on stellar food and drink, with a menu heavy on American classics. Choose from a range of burgers, plus an excellent French dip sandwich, chili dog, or chicken and waffles.
North End Tavern can trace its roots back to 1899, when it was established as a little neighborhood pub. Since then, it's become a local favorite restaurant and brewery with a solid fuss-free menu including a selection of well-made appetizers and sandwiches. Try the signature burger, or plump for German-inspired sandwiches such as fried bologna and smoked liverwurst.
The gabled exterior of the long-running Red Circle Inn looks very inviting indeed, and has been welcoming punters since 1848, when Nashotah was the domain of fur trappers and traders. Now it's a hotspot for tourists, who come by for a mighty dose of historic charm, plus a menu featuring beef stroganoff, New York strip and potatoes, and grilled wild salmon.
As its name suggests, this 19th-century bar and restaurant was originally the stomping ground of miners caught up in the Gold Rush and ranchers working the local land. Today, you still feel like you're stepping into the Old West, given the rough brick and wood exterior, and low-lit interior filled with mounted animal heads. The menu focuses on fine steaks and there's an extensive whiskey list, too.
Now discover the amazing stories behind America's most historic foods
Last updated by Dominique Ayling.