The Oldest Restaurant in Every State, From Historic Taverns to Diners

ALASKA: The Historic Skagway Inn, Skagway

Olivia’s Bistro at the Historic Skagway Inn in southeast Alaska dates back to 1897. The charming inn specializes in local seafood with dishes like smoked salmon puff pastry and Alaskan halibut cakes.

ARIZONA: The Palace Restaurant and Saloon, Prescott

This frontier saloon has served locals and tourists alike since the 1870s.

The Palace Restaurant and Saloon serves lunch, dinner, and drinks in an authentic rustic fashion. History buffs also love the Western-themed dinner theater. 

ARKANSAS: Oark General Store, Oark

The Oark General Store has been the perfect roadside stop since it opened in 1890. Today, the store still sells gasoline and groceries, but it is also famous for its daily breakfast and delicious pies. 

CALIFORNIA: Tadich Grill, San Francisco

Tadich Grill serves classic San Francisco cuisine, including seafood cioppino and various types of fish.

The restaurant first opened in 1849, and it’s been in the same family since the late 1920s. 

COLORADO: The Buckhorn Exchange, Denver

First opened in 1893, the Buckhorn Exchange is one of the oldest steakhouses in the US. Guests may come for the delicious menu, but they stay for the unique décor, which includes a large collection of taxidermied animals. 

CONNECTICUT: The Griswold Inn, Essex

In addition to providing lodging, the Griswold Inn also offers a charming restaurant and taproom.

The inn has been operating since 1776 in the small Connecticut town of Essex. Popular menu items include clam chowder and the 1776 sausage sampler with braised red cabbage, sautéed spinach, and Revolutionary Ale mustard.

DELAWARE: Kelly’s Logan House, Wilmington

Aside from being the oldest restaurant in Delaware, Kelly’s Logan House has also been the go-to spot for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Wilmington for 150 years.

The Irish bar and restaurant specializes in comforting pub food, including everything from grilled cheese sandwiches to pork nachos. 

FLORIDA: Columbia Restaurant, Tampa

Columbia Restaurant in Tampa, Florida, was founded by Cuban immigrants in 1905. Their original menu specialties included Cuban coffee and sandwiches, and the menu evolved from there.

Today, customers love the devil crab croquettes and other samplings from the restaurant’s tapas menu. 

GEORGIA: The Plaza Restaurant & Oyster Bar, Thomasville

The Plaza Restaurant & Oyster Bar has been serving families for over 100 years in southwestern Georgia.

The restaurant’s menu has maintained a Greek influence over the years from its many Greek owners. 

HAWAII: Manago Hotel Restaurant, Captain Cook

The restaurant at the Manago Hotel in Captain Cook dates back to 1917, years before Hawaii officially became a state. 

Since its founding, the restaurant has served family-style pork chops, making it the perfect dinner spot for both locals and tourists. 

IDAHO: The Snake Pit, Kingston

Located in a rustic wooden building, the Snake Pit has seen its fair share of change over the course of its nearly 140-year history.

Since the restaurant opened in 1880, it has gone through several different names and owners, although it is still a hub for travelers visiting the Coeur d’Alene National Forest. 

ILLINOIS: The Village Tavern, Long Grove

The Village Tavern in Long Grove, Illinois, has been a local favorite since 1847. Visitors can still count on the restaurant for comfort food with items like potato skins and a Reuben sandwich.

INDIANA: The Log Inn, Haubstadt

The Log Inn prides itself on the fact that President Abraham Lincoln once visited the restaurant in 1844. Aside from a helpful dose of history, the restaurant is also known for its delicious menu of American comfort foods, including homemade pies. 

IOWA: Breitbach’s Country Dining, Balltown

Breitbach’s Country Dining means business when it comes to family dining. The restaurant has been in the same family for six generations.

The Breitbachs also take their food very seriously. Their deep-fried pork tenderloin has even earned a spot on the Iowa Pork Association’s Pork Tenderloin Trail.

KANSAS: Hays House 1857, Council Grove

Hays House was founded by explorer Daniel Boone’s great-grandson, Seth Hays, in 1857. From then on, the establishment was a popular restaurant as well as a trading post for the local area. Customers today will still get a historic feel when they walk through the doors. 

KENTUCKY: The Old Talbott Tavern, Bardstown

The Old Talbott Tavern has offered food and shelter to travelers since the late 1700s (it was built in 1779). It was particularly popular among people traveling west by stagecoach — even pioneer and explorer Daniel Boone stopped at the tavern during his travels.

On its website, the tavern claims to have a long history of “ghost encounters” and “has always been known for the ghostly stories told by the locals and some guests.”

LOUISIANA: Antoine’s Restaurant, New Orleans

Antoine’s Restaurant opened in 1840, and it has evolved into one of New Orleans’ hottest brunch spots.

In addition to specials like eggs Benedict and coq au vin blanc, the historic restaurant provides a luxurious atmosphere perfect for anyone looking to explore the Big Easy. 

MAINE: The Palace Diner, Biddeford

The Palace Diner in Biddeford, Maine, may be small, although it is entirely worth the cramped quarters. The restaurant, housed in an old train dining car, has been operating since 1927. 

Visitors flock to the unique restaurant for classic diner breakfast specialties in a vintage atmosphere.

MASSACHUSETTS: Warren Tavern, Charlestown

Massachusetts is filled with early American history, and the Warren Tavern in Charlestown is no exception. The restaurant has been in operation since 1780, and the historic presence remains strong.

Even the menu has a historic flair, including a burger called the “Sons of Liberty Burger.”

MINNESOTA: Hubbel House, Mantorville

The Hubbel House has been serving customers since 1854, five years before Minnesota was officially granted statehood.

History still plays an important role in the restaurant’s operation, since some of its dining rooms are named after famous historical figures. In addition to enjoying a variety of meat-focused comfort dishes, customers can also explore historical documents and artifacts while at the restaurant. 

MISSISSIPPI: Weidmann’s, Meridian

Weidmann’s restaurant in Meridian, Mississippi, was founded by an immigrant from Switzerland in 1870. Since then, the restaurant has been a staple in the local community.

Staying true to its history, the restaurant still sets every table with a jar of peanut butter and crackers, a tradition they’ve been practicing since the butter shortages of World War II. 

MISSOURI: J Huston Tavern, Arrow Rock

If you’re looking for a classic meal of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and, of course, a biscuit, look no further than the J Huston Tavern.

Founded in 1834, the tavern began as a family home that eventually started offering food and lodging for travelers in the area. The restaurant is still known for its warm hospitality.

NEW HAMPSHIRE: The Hancock Inn, Hancock

The Hancock Inn is a bed and breakfast with classic New England charm. The historic inn has been open since 1789. While it’s temporarily closed, according to the inn’s website, it will reopen in the summer of 2023.

The inn’s restaurant, The Fox Tavern, serves classic dishes with a gourmet twist, like Irish vegetable stew with herb dumplings and roast pork loin.

NEW MEXICO: El Farol, Santa Fe

This historic restaurant and bar in Santa Fe, New Mexico, dates back to 1835. 

Today, El Farol specializes in tapas, steaks, and paella. Before the pandemic, customers could even enjoy entertainment from musicians and Flamenco dancers. 

NEW YORK: The ’76 House, Tappan

The ’76 House, which was established in 1686, holds a special place in American history since the restaurant bore witness to crucial moments of the Revolutionary War. 

According to the restaurant’s website, the ’76 House acted as a prison for Major John Andre, a spy who worked alongside the famous traitor Benedict Arnold, until he was executed.

NORTH CAROLINA: Carolina Coffee Shop, Chapel Hill

Located in the charming college town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the Carolina Coffee Shop has been a local institution for almost 100 years. 

While it’s labeled a coffee shop, the establishment also serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and even has a thriving bar scene. 

OKLAHOMA: Cattlemen’s Steakhouse, Oklahoma City

When it first opened in 1910, Cattlemen’s Steakhouse was most popular among ranchers, cowboys, and cattle haulers.

Over 100 years later, customers still enjoy hearty meals from the classic restaurant that has served famous clientele, from President George H.W. Bush to Reba McEntire. 

OREGON: Hubers Cafe, Portland

Hubers Cafe first opened in Portland in 1879, although the restaurant has been serving customers at its current location since 1910.

In its early days, the historic restaurant was known for its tradition of serving free turkey sandwiches and coleslaw to patrons who bought drinks.

Today, you’ll have to pay for your turkey sandwich, but the classic dish is still a restaurant specialty. 

PENNSYLVANIA: Dobbin House Tavern, Gettysburg

While other restaurants may have opened their doors as boarding houses or inns, the Dobbin House Tavern is the oldest continuously operating restaurant in Pennsylvania.

Dobbin House Tavern in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, officially became the oldest restaurant in the state after two other historic restaurants — The Stockyard Inn and the Revere Tavern — permanently closed their doors in recent years. 

RHODE ISLAND: The White Horse Tavern, Newport

The White Horse Tavern is not only the oldest restaurant in Rhode Island, it is also one of the oldest in the entire country.

Dating all the way back to 1673, the historic restaurant, housed in a red barn, is filled with history. According to the restaurant’s website, The White Horse Tavern is also acknowledged as the 10th oldest continuously operating restaurant in the world.

The restaurant stays true to its roots, maintaining a menu that focuses on local products like honey, cheese, and seafood. 

SOUTH DAKOTA: Legends Steakhouse, Deadwood

Located in the Franklin Hotel in Deadwood, South Dakota, Legends Steakhouse lives up to its name. The hotel and restaurant, which date back to 1903, have hosted President Theodore Roosevelt and other important historical figures.

Today, the restaurant serves top-notch steaks with rustic charm. 

TENNESSEE: Varallo’s, Nashville

Varallo’s is one of the few remaining “chili parlors” in the US, serving lunch customers with only the best local chili.

The old-school, 120-year-old restaurant is still going strong with its three varieties of chili: classic, spaghetti, and tamale.

TEXAS: The Stagecoach Inn, Salado

When it opened up shop in 1852, the Stagecoach Inn was, as its name suggests, a popular stop for traveling stagecoaches.

Today, the historic inn has honored its history with its classic, cozy southwestern design. The restaurant is known for its traditional menu, which includes specialties such as a fried green tomato BLT and chicken fried steak. 

VERMONT: Ye Olde Tavern, Manchester

As its name suggests, Ye Olde Tavern in Manchester, Vermont, has a lengthy history, dating back to 1790.

The historic restaurant is perfect for a cozy meal at any time of year and specializes in New England cuisine like lobster bisque and traditional pot roast. 

WISCONSIN: Red Circle Inn & Bistro, Nashotah

Located in a stately home that opened in 1848, The Red Circle Inn & Bistro is a cozy escape in Nashotah, Wisconsin. 

Among the historic restaurant’s menu items are gulf shrimp and pork tenderloin, beef wellington, and three onion soup au gratin. The restaurant is temporarily closed for improvements; its website says it is slated to reopen in the spring of 2023.