The Oldest Restaurant in Every State: Photos

Location: Scottsboro, Alabama

This old-fashioned restaurant dates back to 1869. Whether you sit in a booth or right at the soda fountain, you’ll feel like you’ve gone back in time at Payne’s Sandwich Shop and Soda Fountain.

Classic menu items include chicken melts and ice cream sundaes.

Location: Skagway, Alaska

Olivia’s Bistro, located at the Historic Skagway Inn in southeast Alaska, dates back to 1897. The charming inn specializes in local seafood, offering dishes such as smoked salmon puff pastry and elk meatballs.

Location: Prescott, Arizona

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. 

Location: Oark, Arkansas

The Oark General Store has been a popular 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 burgers.

Location: San Francisco, California

Tadich Grill serves classic San Francisco cuisine, featuring seafood cioppino and a variety of fish dishes. The restaurant first opened in 1849, and has been in the same family since the late 1920s, SFist reported.

Location: Denver, Colorado

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

Location: Essex, Connecticut

In addition to providing lodging, The Griswold Inn 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, which features puff pastry and Dijon mustard. 

Location: Wilmington, Delaware

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 over 150 years, according to the restaurant’s website.

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

Location: Tampa, Florida

Columbia Restaurant was founded by Cuban immigrants in 1905. Their original menu specialties included Cuban coffee and sandwiches, and the menu has since evolved.

Customers love the devil crab croquettes and other samplings from the restaurant’s tapas menu. 

Location: Thomasville, Georgia

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

The restaurant’s menu has maintained a distinctly Greek influence over the years, thanks to its many Greek owners. 

Location: Captain Cook, Hawaii (the Big Island)

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

Since its founding, the restaurant has served family-style pork chops.

Location: Kingston, Idaho

Located in a rustic wooden building, the Snake Pit has seen its fair share of change over the course of its nearly 145-year history.

Since the restaurant opened in 1880, it has undergone several name changes and ownership transitions, as reported by the North Idaho Business Journal, although it remains a popular destination for travelers visiting the Coeur d’Alene National Forest. 

Location: Long Grove, Illinois

The Village Tavern has been a local favorite since 1847. Visitors can still rely on the restaurant for comfort food, featuring items like onion rings and a Reuben sandwich.

Location: Haubstadt, Indiana

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 menu of American comfort foods, including homemade pies. 

Location: Balltown, Iowa

Breitbach’s Country Dining takes family dining seriously. 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.

Location: Council Grove, Kansas

Hays House was founded by Seth Hays, the great-grandson of explorer Daniel Boone, in 1857.

From then on, the establishment was a popular restaurant and trading post for the local area. Customers will still get a historic feel when they walk through the doors. 

Location: Bardstown, Kentucky

The Old Talbott Tavern has offered food and shelter to travelers since the late 1700s (it was built in 1779). According to the tavern’s website, it was particularly popular among people traveling west by stagecoach — even pioneer and explorer Daniel Boone reportedly stopped there 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.”

Location: New Orleans, Louisiana

Antoine’s Restaurant, established in 1840, has evolved into one of New Orleans’ most popular brunch destinations.

In addition to specials like oysters Rockefeller and lamb chops with port demi-glace, the historic restaurant provides a luxurious atmosphere perfect for anyone looking to explore the Big Easy. 

Location: Biddeford, Maine

Palace Diner may be small, but it is entirely worth the cramped quarters. The restaurant, housed in a former train dining car, has been in operation since 1927. 

Visitors flock to the unique restaurant for classic diner breakfast, fried chicken sandwich, and other diner specialties in a vintage atmosphere.

Location: Annapolis, Maryland

Nothing says Maryland cuisine quite like seafood, and Middleton Tavern has it down to an art. Located in the quaint marina city of Annapolis, Middleton Tavern has been open since 1750.

The restaurant serves traditional Maryland fare, including crab cakes and mussels, as well as a variety of other American and seafood favorites.

Location: Charlestown, Massachusetts

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.”

Location: Metamora, Michigan

The White Horse Inn began serving customers in 1850 and has been providing cozy getaways during even the coldest Michigan winters ever since.

Classic menu items include ribeye steak and fish fry.

Location: Mantorville, Minnesota

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

History still plays a significant role in the restaurant’s operation, as 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. 

Location: Meridian, Mississippi

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

According to the restaurant’s website, staff still put a jar of peanut butter and crackers on every table, a tradition they’ve been practicing since the butter shortages of World War II. 

Location: Arrow Rock, Missouri

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 originated as a family home that later began offering food and lodging to travelers in the area. The restaurant remains renowned for its warm hospitality.

Location: Butte, Montana

The Pekin Noodle Parlor was founded by immigrants in 1911 and takes pride in being one of the first Chinese-American restaurants in the US. 

Customers can choose from a wide variety of Chinese dishes as well as classic American sandwiches at this hybrid restaurant.

Location: Columbus, Nebraska

Glur’s Tavern has remained true to its historic roots, which date back to 1876. Now, the restaurant is a family favorite known for its burgers, but in its early days, the tavern was frequented by the old Western hero Buffalo Bill.

Location: Winnemucca, Nevada

The Martin Hotel is a unique eatery that has been open since 1898, specializing in Basque dishes.

The restaurant continues to serve up dishes like pork loin simmered with garlic and pimentos.

Location: Hancock, New Hampshire

The Hancock Inn is a bed and breakfast with classic New England charm. The historic inn has been open since 1789.

The inn’s restaurant serves classic dishes, including steak frites, grilled short ribs, and salmon.

Location: Mendham, New Jersey

The Black Horse Tavern and Pub prides itself on having been in business for over 270 years.

Originally a stagecoach house in the mid-1700s, the restaurant now specializes in American comfort food.

Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico

El Farol is a historic restaurant and bar, dating back to 1835, that specializes in tapas, steaks, and paella. 

Location: Tappan, New York

The ’76 House, established in 1686, holds a special place in American history, as 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.

Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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

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

Location: Bismarck, North Dakota

Peacock Alley is a classic American-style bar and grill that opened in 1933 in the historic Paterson Hotel, just as Prohibition ended in the US.

Location: Lebanon, Ohio

In addition to being the state’s oldest restaurant, the Golden Lamb is also the oldest hotel in Ohio.

The establishment first opened in 1803. Its on-site restaurant is known for its signature turkey dinner with sage sausage and apple dressing, seasonal vegetables, cranberry chutney, and mashed potatoes.

Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

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

Over 100 years later, customers continue to enjoy hearty meals from the classic restaurant that has served a notable clientele, including President George H.W. Bush and Reba McEntire. 

Location: Portland, Oregon

Huber’s 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 renowned for its tradition of serving complimentary turkey sandwiches and coleslaw to patrons who purchased drinks.

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

Location: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

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

Dobbin House Tavern has officially become the oldest restaurant in the state, following the permanent closure of two other historic restaurants — The Stockyard Inn and the Revere Tavern — in recent years. 

Location: Newport, Rhode Island

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

The historic restaurant, housed in a red barn, dates back to 1673 and 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 remains true to its roots, offering a menu that features local products such as honey, cheese, and seafood. 

Location: Charleston, South Carolina

According to its website, Henry’s On The Market “was the only place to be in Charleston” from 1932 to 1960.

While the restaurant has undergone various transformations over the years, it has also become a popular spot for live music, featuring a rooftop bar and dance lounge.

Location: Deadwood, South Dakota

Located in the Franklin Hotel, 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.

Location: Nashville, Tennessee

Varallo’s is one of the few remaining “chili parlors” in the US. The 120-year-old, old-school restaurant is still going strong, offering three varieties of chili: classic, spaghetti, and tamale.

Location: Salado, Texas

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

The historic inn has honored its history with its classic, cozy southwestern design.

Location: Kamas, Utah

This classic convenience store and restaurant combination is perfect for those seeking a quintessential American dining experience.

From bacon cheeseburgers to milkshakes, Hi-Mountain in Kamas, Utah — which opened as a confectionery in the early 1900s — is a local go-to for comfort food in an old-school setting. 

Location: Manchester, Vermont

As its name suggests, Ye Olde Tavern boasts a rich history dating back to 1790.

The historic restaurant specializes in New England cuisine, such as lobster bisque and traditional pot roast. 

Location: Middleburg, Virginia

Located in a charming stone building in Middleburg, The Red Fox Tavern dates back to 1728.

The restaurant now welcomes both locals and travelers who enjoy comforting dishes, such as rack of lamb and seared sea scallops.

Location: Bellingham, Washington

Since 1886, the Horseshoe Cafe has been a local favorite. From chicken and waffles to burgers, this restaurant has been serving up comfort food for over 130 years. 

Location: Parkersburg, West Virginia

The North End Tavern & Brewery has been in business since 1899. In addition to serving pub food, this restaurant also serves beer from its very own brewery.

Location: Nashotah, Wisconsin

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

Among the historic restaurant’s menu items are chicken Marsala, beef strogonoff, and braised pork shank. 

Location: Hartville, Wyoming

The name of this restaurant reveals a great deal about its extensive history in Wyoming. Since it first opened in 1862, Miners and Stockmen’s Steakhouse & Spirits has been a local favorite. 

Today, locals and travelers still enjoy the rustic bar and classic menu.

Editor’s note: Madeleine Diamond contributed to an earlier version of this story.