17 Oldest Restaurants Still Operating Today
Many restaurants close during the first year, making the restaurant industry infamously difficult. However, some outstanding restaurants have endured for centuries, not just decades.
These iconic restaurants have maintained their distinctive character while feeding innumerable patrons during pandemics, wars, economic downturns, and cultural changes. These 17 exceptional restaurants have been serving food for longer than any other restaurant on earth.
These places, which range from ancient Asian teahouses to medieval European taverns, offer more than just cuisine; they give you a flavor of history.
St. Peter Stiftskulinarium (803 AD)
Located inside Salzburg, Austria’s St. Peter’s Abbey, the restaurant has been welcoming customers for more than 1,200 years. The restaurant is commonly regarded as the oldest continually operating restaurant in Europe, having opened its doors in 803 AD.
Mozart is said to have eaten here, in the same stone-walled rooms where contemporary tourists can also taste Austrian classics.
Ma Yu Ching’s Bucket Chicken House (1153)
Serving its specialty bucket chicken since the Jin Dynasty, this Kaifeng restaurant is frequently referred to as China’s oldest. Ma Yu Ching, the restaurant’s creator, revolutionized food preservation in medieval China by creating novel cooking methods that extended the shelf life of chicken.
The restaurant has been in the same city for about 900 years, despite dynastic changes, wars, and revolutions.
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Wurtskuchl (Germany)
Snuggled up against the Danube River in Regensburg, this small sausage kitchen has been dishing out bratwurst since 1146. The establishment is small, but the taste is gigantic. Grilled over open charcoal and served with homemade sauerkraut, the sausages attract tourists and locals.
It was once a snack stand for workers building a nearby bridge. Now, it’s a foodie hotspot.
The Old House (Wales)
Built in 1147, this medieval pub in Llangynwyd has seen knights, poets, and maybe even ghosts pass through. It’s one of the oldest pubs in Wales still pulling pints. The stone walls, wooden beams, and cozy fireplace feel like stepping back in time.
Despite its age, it’s still lively, offering Sunday roasts and live music.
The Sheep Heid Inn (Scotland)
Serving food and drinks since 1360, this Edinburgh pub claims royal connections—King James VI reportedly gave it a snuff box made from a ram’s head. It’s famous for its haggis and sticky toffee pudding.
With a vintage bowling alley in the back and a pub dog sometimes lounging at the bar, it blends history and comfort effortlessly. Locals treat it like their second home.
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La Couronne (France)
Opened in 1345, this restaurant in Rouen once hosted Julia Child for her very first French meal. The dining room is full of heavy drapes, wood paneling, and portraits of famous guests.
The menu leans French classic—think duck confit and rich sauces. It’s a taste of French culinary tradition with a heavy dose of old-school charm.
Zum Franziskaner (Sweden)
Founded by German monks in 1421, this Stockholm restaurant is known for hearty Bavarian-style fare. Over the centuries, it’s changed locations a few times, but the spirit remains.
Think sausages, sauerkraut, and massive beer steins. Locals come for comfort food and the warm, cellar-like interior.
Sobrino de Botín (Spain)
Opened in 1725 in Madrid, Botín is recognized by Guinness as the world’s oldest continuously operating restaurant. The original wood-fired oven is still in use.
Their signature dish? Roast suckling pig so tender it falls apart with a spoon.
Ernest Hemingway wrote about it, but you don’t need to be a writer to appreciate the flavor.
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Union Oyster House (USA)
Since 1826, this Boston classic has been serving oysters, clam chowder, and a slice of American history. The curved wooden booths and vintage signs haven’t changed much.
Daniel Webster used to sit at the bar and down dozens of oysters. It’s the oldest restaurant in America still in business, and it still knows how to shuck a mean oyster.
Tavares (Portugal)
Lisbon’s Tavares opened its gilded doors in 1784. It’s one of the few restaurants that feels like dining in a royal ballroom.
With chandeliers, gold-trimmed mirrors, and velvet seats, it’s all about elegance. The menu is Portuguese fine dining, blending seafood and spices.
History never tasted so posh.
Rules (England)
This London institution has been serving traditional British food since 1798. It’s the go-to for steak and kidney pie, game meats, and sticky puddings.
The dining room is rich with red velvet, brass, and paintings of past guests. Charles Dickens once dined here.
Now it’s a favorite of royals, celebs, and anyone who appreciates a proper meal.
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Fraunces Tavern (USA)
Opened in 1762, this New York City tavern once hosted George Washington. Today, it’s part museum, part restaurant.
The menu has evolved, but it still includes colonial-style dishes like pot pies and stews. Wooden beams and brick walls give it that old-world tavern feel.
You half expect someone in a tricorn hat to walk by.
Antica Pesa (Italy)
This Roman favorite started in 1922, which is fairly young compared to others on this list, but it sits in a building that dates back to the 1600s. It’s known for classic Italian fare with a modern twist.
The carbonara is a crowd favorite. Celebrities often drop by, but it never loses that cozy trattoria charm.
Toshoan (Japan)
Established around the 1500s in Kyoto, Toshoan began as a tea house for monks. Over time, it became a full-service restaurant specializing in kaiseki—an elegant multi-course meal.
Every dish is like a quiet conversation between nature and the plate. The space is serene, with tatami mats and paper lanterns setting the mood.
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Griswold Inn (USA)
In continuous operation since 1776, this Connecticut inn is older than the country itself. During the American Revolution, it served as a meeting place for patriots and sailors.
The decor feels like a museum, but the food is pure comfort—clam chowder, pot roast, and warm bread. It’s part inn, part time machine.
Zum Roten Bären (Germany)
Located in Freiburg and dating back to 1311, this inn claims to be the oldest hotel-restaurant combo in Germany. Even the foundations go back to Roman times.
It has a cozy cellar for meals and rooms that creak with every step. Generations have passed through its doors, and the current menu still includes local specialties like schnitzel and potato salad.
Bianyifang (China)
This Beijing restaurant first opened its doors in 1416. It’s all about duck—especially Peking duck. The traditional cooking method uses closed ovens, giving the meat a crispy skin and juicy center.
Over the centuries, it became a favorite among emperors and common folk alike. Now, it’s a tourist destination with deep local roots.
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A Bite From the Past, Still Fresh Today
Each of these restaurants offers more than just food—they offer stories, survival, and a chance to connect with people long gone. Eating at one of these places isn’t just about the meal. It’s about tasting something passed down through time.
These kitchens kept cooking through wars, revolutions, and massive world changes. And somehow, the doors never closed.
They’re living proof that while food trends come and go, good food, warm spaces, and shared meals can last for centuries. The world outside changes fast, but these places stay true to what they do best—feeding people and keeping stories alive.
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