TeWith approximately 65,000 bars, taverns, and nightclubs in the United States, it may seem as if there is an endless supply of establishments to choose from when you want to go out and grab a drink. While some areas may have more than others, it can still be an overwhelming selection of places.
One way to narrow it down can be by sticking with those places filled with history, the bars that have seen a fair share of patrons from decades, and even centuries, ago that make you feel as if you’ve stepped back in time. Many of these establishments 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.
While the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered many commercial establishments, many colonial-era taverns are still here, succeeding in a world vastly different from when they first opened. 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 forefathers spent time can be an exciting experience.
To determine some of the oldest bars in the United States, 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 establishments themselves. 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.
Although the country has many historical areas, the oldest bars in the United States 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.)
Cantwell’s Tavern
- Founding date: 1822
This Odessa, Delaware locale was 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.
Under-the-Hill Saloon
- Founding date: early 1800s
Located on the 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.
Jameson Tavern
- Founding date: 1801
The Jameson Tavern in Freeport, Maine was originally built as a private home in 1779 but was converted to a tavern two years later. The tavern 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.
Bell in Hand Tavern
- Founding date: 1795
The Bell in Hand Tavern was opened by the former town crier after he retired (hence the name). Located near Boston’s 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 it filled with Colonial-era charm and is a great place for beer and bar food in the heart of historic Boston.
Ye Olde Tavern
- Founding date: 1790
Originally called the Stagecoach Inn, Ye Olde Tavern in Manchester, Vermont 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.
The Hancock Inn
- Founding date: 1789
New Hampshire’s oldest continuously operating inn, the Hancock located in Hancock has been welcoming locals and travelers since 1789. Warm and cozy, it’s home to a bar, restaurant, and a 14-room inn. It 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 the Spring of 2024.
Warren Tavern
- Founding date: 1780
This legendary tavern located just outside Boston in Charleston 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.
The Old Talbott Tavern
- Founding date: 1779
The oldest Western stagecoach stop in America is the Old Talbott Tavern in Bardstown, Kentucky which served as a welcoming haven for pioneers during the country’s earliest days. The building is reminiscent of old Warwickshire inns in England and is filled with legendary tales, some of which are about Andrew Jackson warming up by the fire, Abraham Lincoln staying there as a child, and King Louis Phillippe who is said to have stayed there. There are even bullet holes in the walls reportedly left by Jesse James.
Today, it’s home to one of America’s best bourbon bars and a popular restaurant and offers six well-appointed guest rooms.
The Tavern
- Founding date: 1779
One of America’s oldest buildings west of the Blue Ridge Mountains is The Tavern in Abingdon, Virginia. It was built as a drinking place and stagecoach stop and has hosted such notables as Henry Clay, Andrew Jackson, and Pierre L’Enfant (who designed Washington, D.C.) and also served as a hospital for wounded Confederate and Union soldiers during the Civil War.
The Tavern was fully restored in 1984 and is now a local fine dining destination.
The Barnsboro Inn
- Founding date: 1776
Originally built as a log cabin in 1720 on the highest ground in the area by John Budd, the Barnsboro Inn located in Sewell, New Jersey, has seen many additions in the years since but the original log cabin remains intact. In 1776 the home was converted into a tavern, which it has remained ever since.
Today it is a popular bar and restaurant, known for its burgers, bar food, and local beer.
Tap Room in the Griswold Inn
- Founding date: 1776
The Griswold Inn in Essex, Connecticut is one of the oldest continuously operated inns in the country. This upscale destination for dining and lodging (there are 33 guest rooms, each unique)has a tap room that was constructed as a schoolhouse in 1735 and later moved into its current position by a team of oxen. One of the most beautiful and historic barrooms in America, “the Gris” is known for its clam chowder and house-made sausages.
The Horse You Came in on Tavern
- Founding date: 1775
Known by locals as “The Horse,” this tavern in Fells Point claims to be the country’s oldest continually operated saloon. It is the only bar in Maryland to have existed before, during, and after Prohibition – and is also said to have been Edgar Allan Poe’s last stop before his mysterious death in 1849. Today, it’s a warm and inviting old bar and popular live music venue.
Jean Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop
- Founding date: 1775
Jean Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop is situated at the quiet end of Bourbon Street, occupying a building that was constructed around 1722 and is said to have been used by legendary privateer Jean Lafitte as a New Orleans base of operations (although that hasn’t been verified) before becoming a tavern.
Today it’s a dark, cozy bar that’s best known for strong, sugary drinks like the grape-flavored, Everclear-spiked Purple Drank.
Fraunces Tavern
- Founding date: 1762
Located in Manhattan’s Financial District, the Colonial-era Fraunces Tavern is New York’s oldest tavern and is most famously where George Washington bid farewell to his officers after the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783.
Interestingly, the land where the tavern sits was once water until it was landfilled in the lat 17th century. The current building is a reconstruction (nobody is quite sure exactly what it originally looked like), but it’s home to a lovely restaurant, a couple of beautiful bars, and a museum.
The Old ’76 House (André’s Prison)
- Founding date: 1755
Many places claim to be the oldest restaurant or bar in America and the Old ’76 House (André’s Prison) in Tappan, New York, is no different. It is alleged to have been built in 1688, although reports have it being built as a public inn in 1755. In addition to being used as a meeting place for patriots, The Old ’76 House was famously used as a prison for Major John André, a British spy who assisted Benedict Arnold in his plan to turn West Point over to the British.
George Washington and just about every other luminary of the Revolution dined there, and nowadays it’s a popular tavern, private event space, and live music venue.
The Pirate’s House
- Founding date: 1753
A true Savannah landmark a 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.
Middleton Tavern
- Founding date: 1750
Annapolis’ famous Middleton Tavern has been hosting guests since 1750. 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.
New Boston Inn
- Founding date: 1737
Founded as a stagecoach stop in Sandisfield, Massachusetts, the New Boston is Berkshire County’s oldest inn. The inn 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.
The Red Fox Inn & Tavern
- Founding date: 1728
Built at the halfway point between Alexandria and the frontier town of Winchester, Virginia, between Bull Run and the Blue Ridge mountains, the Red Fox Inn & Tavern in Middleburg has an impressive list of guests through the years. From George Washington, John F. Kennedy, and Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis to Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, 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.
King George II Inn
- Founding date: 1681
Believed to be the oldest continually operated inn in the United States, King George II in Bristol 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.
White Horse Tavern
- Founding date: 1673
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 in Newport occupies a building originally constructed in 1652 for use as a two-room home and 21 years later was enlarged into a tavern when it was purchased by William Mayes, Sr. It has remained a tavern ever since.
It 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.