The Oldest Bar in America Has Been Open for Over 350 Years

Many of us often find ourselves grappling with the question of which bar to visit. With approximately 65,000 bars, taverns, and nightclubs in the United States, it can often be incredibly overwhelming to choose one place, and even more so when you're visiting a different city and don't want to miss out on what may be the best place to go.

To narrow down the options, you can implement criteria, starting with historical establishments, those taverns that have seen their fair share of visitors from decades, and even centuries ago, that make you feel as if you've stepped back in time. Many of these venues have even been in business since before the United States was a country. These locales were part of American society, serving not only as alehouses or taverns but also as meeting places and banquet halls. These places welcomed weary travelers with a warm meal and possibly a room for the night.

Several colonial-era taverns have managed to persevere, remaining open since their inception, surviving many of the pitfalls that have shuttered newer bars and making it to a world vastly different from when they originally opened their doors. Many modern cocktail bars and pubs have arrived on the scene, offering a different perspective to grabbing a drink but there is something about an old bar that feels homey. Knowing that you are eating or drinking in the same spot where some of the country's historical greats, like George Washington, spent time can be an exciting experience. (For another exciting experience, you can tune in to Discovery's Shark Week where John Cena is hosting.)

To determine the most historic bars in America, 24/7 Tempo consulted lists of longstanding watering holes on websites including Oldest.org, Beer Info, and The Coolist. To be considered for inclusion here, a bar or tavern has to have been in the same location from the time it first served alcohol, although continuous operation is not required. Determining a founding date for these places is rarely easy and often depends on the claims of the establishment.

Whenever possible, in addition to the sources named above, we consulted state historical societies in an attempt to verify those claims. In each bar's description, the date listed is when we believe the establishment first served liquor on its premises. The most historic bars in America are taverns constructed in the eastern region of the country, where tavern-loving colonists and other early settlers, often from England, first set up shop. (For venerable drinking establishments in other parts of the country, click here for the oldest bar in every state.)

• Date founded: 1822
• Location: Odessa, Delaware

Founded as Cantwell's Bridge Hotel and Tavern by businessman William Polk, this beautiful Federal-style tavern was purchased by the Ashby Hospitality Group in 2011 and beautifully restored to have cozy fireplaces and plenty of old-world charm. The large menu has raw bar items, pizzas, sandwiches, and local-inspired specialties, in addition to a wide array of cocktails and local beers.

• Date founded: early 1800s
• Location: Natchez waterfront in Mississippi

Formerly a thriving cotton port, Under-the-Hill Saloon originally catered to grifters, cut-throats, and other unsavory types. It is now a homey bar with brick walls, cold beer, and great Mississippi River views from the front porch.

• Date founded: 1801
• Location: Freeport, Maine

Originally built as a private home in 1779, it was converted to a tavern two years later and served as a meeting place for commissioners from the Province of Maine, where they signed papers to declare independence from Massachusetts and today is known as "the birthplace of Maine." New ownership took over in 1981, and it was restored to how it might have looked when first constructed. It is now one of the best places in the state for a traditional Maine lobster dinner.

• Date founded: 1795
• Location: Boston, Massachusetts

The Bell in Hand Tavern was opened by the former town crier after he retired (hence the name). Located near historic Faneuil Hall since it opened, Bell in Hand Tavern first attracted printers, politicians, and sailors. Today it is a beloved hangout for locals and tourists alike. It is filled with Colonial-era charm and is a great place for beer and bar food.

• Date founded: 1790
• Location: Manchester, Vermont

Originally called the Stagecoach Inn, Ye Olde Tavern catered to the famed Green Mountain Boys and is older than the state of Vermont itself. It was painstakingly restored in the 1970s and was added to the Vermont Register of Historic Places in 2020. It still looks very much as it might have 200 years ago, and it is a great place for a candle-lit dinner of New England specialties like Yankee pot roast and scrod.

• Date founded: 1789
• Location: Hancock, New Hampshire

The state's oldest continuously operating inn, the Hancock has been welcoming locals and travelers since 1789. Warm and cozy, it's home to a bar, restaurant, and a 14-room inn and was sold by owners Marcia and Jarvis Coffin to a Boston-based investor group in April 2022. The Hancock Inn has been temporarily closed since then for renovations but is scheduled to re-open in 2024.

• Date founded: 1780
• Location: Charleston, Massachusetts

This legendary tavern famously counted George Washington and Paul Revere as regulars. One of the first buildings constructed after Charlestown was sacked by the British, the tavern hasn't changed much since then and remains a favorite among locals for its Colonial ambiance, cold beer, and burgers.

• Date founded: 1779
• Location: Bardstown, Kentucky

• Date founded: 1779
• Location: Abingdon, Virginia

• Date founded: 1776
• Location: Sewell, New Jersey

• Date founded: 1776
• Location: Essex, Connecticut

• Date founded: 1775
• Location: Baltimore, Maryland

• Date founded: 1775
• Location: New Orleans, Louisiana

• Date founded: 1762
• Location: New York City, New York

• Date founded: 1755
• Location: Tappan, New York

• Date founded: 1753
• Location: Savannah, Georgia

One block from the Savannah River, the Pirate's House opened as an inn for seafarers and soon became a popular hangout for pirates and working sailors alike. After falling into disrepair during World War II, it was restored in the early 1950s and is today a major tourist destination with a full-service Southern restaurant, bar, and event space.

• Date founded: 1750
• Location: Annapolis, Maryland

Established by owner Samuel Horatio Middleton, it is one of the oldest continuously operating taverns in the country. Patrons have included George Washington, Ben Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson as well as various members of the Continental Congress. It served as an important stopping place for travelers who were waiting for the ferry to cross the bay, and also once had an elegant garden.

It was restored in the 1970s and expanded in the 1980s, and is today one of the city's best spots for fresh Chesapeake seafood.

• Date founded: 1737
• Location: Sandisfield, Massachusetts

Founded as a stagecoach stop, the New Boston is Berkshire County's oldest inn and is said to have been the training location for Revolutionary War soldiers. The original barroom is a pub to this day, and there's also an inn with a full restaurant, a "Gentleman's Parlor," and seven guest rooms. They even claim to have a resident ghost named Harriet who they tout as a friendly spirit.

• Date founded: 1728
• Location: Middleburg, Virginia

Built at the halfway point between Alexandria and the frontier town of Winchester, between Bull Run and the Blue Ridge mountains, the Red Fox Inn & Tavern has an impressive list of guests through the years. From George Washington and John F. Kennedy to Elizabeth Taylor and Tom Cruise, this tavern has an impressive history. The inn & tavern once served as a Confederate headquarters and hospital during the Civil War.

Today it is a charming and elegant retreat with five guest rooms, an upscale tavern, and a cozy pub managed by the husband and wife team of Jonathan Engle and Matilda Reuter.

• Date founded: 1681
• Location: Bristol, Pennsylvania

Believed to be the oldest continually operated inn in the United States, King George II was established as a stopping point on the road between New York and Philadelphia. Overlooking the Delaware River, the inn was renamed the Fountain House after the Revolutionary War and was a popular resort in the 1800s. The original name was restored in the 1940s and is currently a popular bar and restaurant.

• Date founded: 1673
• Location: Newport, Rhode Island

This National Historic Landmark is believed to be the oldest tavern in America and is the 10th oldest in the world. The White Horse Tavern occupies a building originally constructed in 1652 for use as a two-room home and enlarged to house a tavern when it was purchased by William Mayes, Sr. in 1673. It has remained a tavern ever since.

It also served as a meeting house for the Rhode Island General Assembly, and it quartered British troops taking part in the occupation of Newport during the Revolutionary War. It was restored in the 1950s after years of neglect, and today the red-painted building is a warm and inviting bar and restaurant with an elegant Colonial-inspired atmosphere.