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- The 16 Oldest Bars In America (From Newest To Oldest)
Summary
- The United States has a long history of bars and taverns, with some establishments standing since before the Revolutionary War.
- Neighborhood bars that become part of the community tend to last longer and become touchstones of the neighborhood.
- The ten oldest bars in the US, including the White Horse Tavern in Newport, Rhode Island, have significant historical importance and continue to serve patrons to this day.
The United States has had a long love affair with bars and taverns. They spring up and drop away constantly, earning reputations for being great bars for sports, meeting people, great beer, or excellent mixology. Neighborhood bars are an especially wonderful place to bend an elbow and catch up on the day's news. The more a part of the community they become, the longer they’re likely to last, becoming a touchstone of a neighborhood.
The ten oldest bars in the US have all been standing since before the Revolutionary War. Even when the US split off from Britain, the British-style taverns and inns survived. Here are the ten oldest bars, from newest to oldest.
UPDATE: 2023/08/17 18:06 EST BY NICHOLAS MAYAMBA
The 16 Oldest Bars In America (From Newest To Oldest)
Taverns, pubs, and bars have been a mainstay in American society since time immemorial. But even as new ones crop up and old ones fizzle out, some establishments have shown they can stand the test of time without losing their charm. This refreshed list adds two more historical taverns that take patrons down memory lane.
16 Jameson Tavern: 1801
Starting out as a private residence in 1779, Jameson Tavern would be turned into a tavern in the second year, serving as an important meeting point for commissioners of Maine. The document declaring Maine's split from Massachusetts is believed to have been signed at the pub, making it a historically significant site.
The tavern's ownership changed hands in 1981, with the new owner restoring it to its initial look. "The Birthplace of Maine" serves as a vital component of the state's history while dishing out the meanest traditional Maine lobster roll.
- Address: 115 Main St, Freeport, ME 04032, United States
15 Fraunces Tavern: 1762
Known by locals as the single oldest bar in New York State and for its massive historical importance, Fraunces Tavern has been a staple of the Big Apple's bars ever since the mid-18th century. Although the bar was founded in 1762, the building's history can be traced back to 1719, when it was first built as a normal house.
In 1783, the tavern was a meeting place for George Washington and his officers when the former president gave his famous Farewell Address before retiring to Mount Vernon. Today, it continues to provide a drink or two to anyone that happens to stumble across its doors. It has also expanded to house several amenities like a dining room and a museum that narrates a small part of the country's rich history.
- Address: 54 Pearl St, New York, NY 10004
14 Reynolds Tavern: 1747
Established in 1747 in the historic capital of Maryland, Reynolds Tavern has seen many days come and go but continues to entertain locals. The proprietor, William Reynolds, earned a living as a dry goods and hatter sales agent and used part of the building to rent rooms and run his hat venture.
Although the Reynold family would operate the tavern until the late 1790s, a new owner took over the establishment, converting it into the city's public library. Later, the Historic Annapolis Foundation assumed the management of the building for the next couple of decades until 2000, when Jill and Andrew Petit restored it to its former glory, renaming it Reynolds.
- Address: 7 Church Cir, Annapolis, MD 21401, United States
Reynolds Tavern continues to operate to date, and besides serving guests good food and refreshing drinks, it harbors a treasure trove of relics worth discovering.
13 New Boston Inn: 1737
Once an 18th-century stagecoach stop and gathering point for all likes of people who wanted to have a minute to catch their breath in the middle of old Sandisfield, the New Boston Inn is famous for being the oldest inn in all of Berkshire County and serving guests and travelers since it opened its doors to the public in 1737.
Sure, it might have gone through a couple of touch-ups here and there over the past centuries, but it still manages to hold the same charm it did all those years ago, offering home-cooked meals for hungry visitors and a wide selection of brews and wines to quench any type of thirst.
- Address: 101 N Main St, Sandisfield, MA 01255
12 White Swan Tavern: 1730
In Chestertown, Maryland, White Swan Tavern has served drinks for almost three hundred years. Today, it’s just a day trip from Baltimore, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This makes it an easy trip for any East Coast history buff, and it is the perfect weekend retreat from any of those hectic cities.
The tavern was consistently operated as a tavern until 1853, then it seems to have fallen into disrepair. In 1978, it was completely restored to its 1793 appearance, using known historic inventories. The original paint color was even reproduced using painstaking historical analysis. It has reopened as a comfortable inn and bar.
- Address: 231 High St, Chestertown, MD 21620
Visitors can also book a stay in the tavern's many rooms, that have been remodeled but still retain all the Victorian charm.
11 Red Fox Inn & Tavern: 1728
This boutique inn and tavern in Middleburg, Virginia, is an idealized testament to a bygone way of life. It is bucolic and peaceful, with a venerated history. Many notable people have spent time at the Red Fox Inn, including President John F. Kennedy, who held a press conference in one of the inn’s rooms. Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis frequently stayed at the inn overnight while foxhunting in the area.
Today, the inn and tavern are on the National Historic Register. In addition to eating and drinking there, guests can stay in one of the historic bedrooms or hold an event.
10 Logan Inn: 1727
Logan Inn has the honor of being one of the oldest taverns in the United States and the oldest continually-operating inn. It’s a staple of Main Street in New Hope, Pennsylvania. The wrap-around patio has been glass-enclosed and features stone walls from the original facade of the building. Original wall paintings complete the historic feeling, but it has been updated with flat-screen TVs.
Today, the bar serves craft cocktails and local beer. There are also newly remodeled rooms where guests can still stay and a spa for guests to enjoy. It’s a romantic getaway for any history lover.
- Address: 10 W Ferry St, New Hope, PA 18938
9 Jessop's Tavern: 1724
Bringing a sense of companionship and camaraderie to a building that's already over 350 years old, Jessop's Tavern has evolved from just a simple tavern and bar to offer a complete dining and catering experience for anyone who wants to give their events an authentic colonial feel of the days of yore. The tavern also hosts several special features throughout the year, giving visitors a truly historical experience ranging from the establishment's feel to the food served.
8 Three Tuns Tavern: 1723
Aerial view of Sunset in Jersey City, New Jersey
Since opening in 1723, Three Tuns Tavern (also sometimes known as the Mill Street Tavern, named for the street it’s on in Mount Holly, New Jersey) has continuously operated as a tavern and inn.
The name “Three Tuns” refers to the tavern’s size. A tun was a measure for liquor, and a tavern was known as a one-tun, two-tun, or three-tun to designate how many people could fit inside. The original brick walls still stand, though they were covered in a coat of stucco at some point. Stagecoaches once stopped in the carriage yard. Supposedly, the building is haunted today.
- Address: 67 Mill St, Mt Holly, NJ 08060
7 Barnsboro Inn: 1720
Found in the small township of Mantua, in New Jersey, Barnsboro Inn is the state's oldest tavern that still stands, serving customers good food, cold drinks, and a warm smile. The establishment mostly serves its customers in an exterior setting, surrounded by dim lighting and live entertainment from the part of local musicians and any customer who might want to show off in between drinks. The inside holds great charm, having received a few remodelings here and there but preserving the same feel from 300 years ago.
- Address: 699 Main St, Sewell, NJ 08080
6 Colt’s Neck Inn: 1717
Standing for over three hundred years, Colt's Neck Inn in Colts Neck, New Jersey, still serves drinks and dinner. Inside, patrons will find photos dating back to 1925. The white clapboard exterior walls still look the same as they do in the old photos.
While customers can’t stay in the Inn anymore, the grill has been winning Best Steakhouse and Best Brunch in Monmouth County, so that’s certainly worth checking out. They also recently remodeled the ballroom, so it can be rented out for weddings and banquets, carrying on the legacy of being a gathering place.
5 Longfellow’s Wayside Inn: 1716
In Sudbury, Massachusetts, Longfellow’s Wayside Inn sits on one of the older commissioned roads in the United States. For a long time, the Inn functioned as a meeting place for historic meetings and galleries, as well as a full Inn and bar under the name “How’s Tavern.” The hall could be rented out for dances and was a common place for people to come together as they passed through Massachusetts. Even Henry David Thoreau traveled through, writing in his journal that he “left our horses at How’s Tavern.”
The bar burned down in 1955 and had to be almost entirely rebuilt. Henry Ford’s family was on the board and financed the rebuilding. Today, it’s listed as a Nationally Significant Historic Landmark. You can still enjoy lunch, dinner, and a drink in the colonial-style dining room.
- Address: 72 Wayside Inn Rd, Sudbury, MA 01776
4 Robert Morris Inn: 1710
Oxford, Maryland sits on the Tred Avon River and the Choptank River and used to be one of Maryland’s largest ports. Even though the shipping industry has moved on, the city remains popular. It’s described as a picture-perfect town, worthy of being on a postcard representing what the colonial US used to look like. The Robert Morris Inn still stands on a peninsula, jutting out into the rivers to overlook where the shipping used to happen.
The bar is named after Robert Morris, a merchant and the father of the Financier of The American Revolution, Robert Morris, Jr. It was originally a private home but was expanded and turned into an inn. Today, entering it feels like stepping back 300 years in time. The historic bedrooms are entirely intact, and the tinder beams, paneled walls, and open fires resemble the original ones.
- Address: 314 N Morris St, Oxford, MD 21654
3 Old Yarmouth Inn: 1696
What began as an inn and stage stop for travelers is now a famous restaurant and bar. The chefs at the Old Yarmouth Inn use fresh, seasonal ingredients to create delicious meals, as has been done in the building since the late 17th century.
Unfortunately, no one can stay in the inn anymore. The building is apparently haunted today, so maybe that’s why no one is allowed to stay overnight. Reportedly, the ghosts are well-mannered though, and even give visitors and workers help when they need it, so they’re no reason to stay away. Stop by, eat, and take a photo at this famous building.
- Address: 223 MA-6A, Yarmouth Port, MA 02675
2 The Broad Axe Tavern: 1681
Ambler, Pennsylvania, is home to several of America’s oldest bars, including the second-oldest standing bar, The Broad Axe Tavern. It’s been standing since 1681, and legend has it that the name comes from axes used to clear the woods around the area. The tavern grew out of an old path where farmers took their grain to mill.
In the 18th century, the tavern grew as the new owner Derrick Van Pelt began horse races along Skippack Road. After it ended, racing fans commiserated about their wins and losses inside the bar. Later, during the Revolutionary War, General George Washington passed by the bar and mentioned it in his diaries and a letter.
Unfortunately, even though the site still stands, the tavern has been permanently closed since the beginning of 2019 after a final attempt to bring it back to life.
1 White Horse Tavern: 1673
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The White Horse Tavern in Newport, Rhode Island, has the unique distinction of being the oldest bar in America. The tavern’s website says that the building the White Horse Tavern is in has actually been around since 1652, making it one of the oldest standing buildings in the United States.
The red clapboard building has a colonial vibe that is instantly recognizable. Inside is a tiny front hall, and fireplaces big enough to stand in are classic features of 17th-century American architecture. It’s a National Historic Landmark, so it’s definitely the best place to take a beer-loving history buff for a night out.
- Address: 26 Marlborough St, Newport, RI 02840