The Oldest Restaurants in Boston
Boston's longest-serving food and drink institutions, sorted by founding year. When a business has changed what it serves, we say so.
20 Boston institutions worth knowing
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Serving since 1826 200 years
Union Oyster House
Known for Raw oysters · Clam chowder
Eat oysters and chowder at a bar that has been open since 1826.
Visitor destination See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1903 123 years
Santarpio's Pizza
Known for Cheese pizza · Grilled lamb skewers · Homemade sausage
Thin-crust pizza and grilled lamb from an East Boston family business that has been going since 1903.
Founded as a bakery in 1903.
Locals + visitors See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1909 117 years
J.J. Foley's Cafe
Known for Fish & chips · Guinness
The same family has run this Irish pub on the same South End corner since 1909.
Neighborhood regulars See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1925 101 years
James Hook & Co.
Known for Lobster rolls · Clam chowder
Order a lobster roll past the live-lobster tanks at a waterfront family lobster business dating from 1925.
See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1926 100 years
Bova's Bakery
Known for Florentine cannoli · Rice balls · Rocky road brownies
A family bakery open 24 hours, at the corner of Salem and Prince since 1932.
Neighborhood regulars See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1926 100 years
Regina Pizzeria Thacher Street
The North End's original pizzeria, still at its Thacher Street address since 1926.
Visitor destination See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1929 97 years
Caffè Vittoria
Espresso or a late drink in a Hanover Street café whose original interior dates from 1929.
Locals + visitors See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1930 96 years
Modern Pastry
Known for Cannoli (filled to order) · Tiramisu cake
Made-to-order cannoli from a Hanover Street bakery owned by the Picariello family for about 90 years.
Locals + visitors See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1931 95 years
Cantina Italiana
A sit-down Italian dinner on Hanover Street at a restaurant serving since 1931.
Locals + visitors See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1937 89 years
Pleasant Cafe
Known for Thin-crust pizza · Yankee pot roast · Grapenut pudding
Thin-crust pizza and weekly roast dinners under a 1949 neon sign, at the same Roslindale address since 1933.
Neighborhood regulars See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1946 80 years
Mike's Pastry Hanover Street
Known for Cannoli · Lobster tails
The North End's most famous cannoli, from the pastry shop Michael Mercogliano opened in 1946.
Visitor destination See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1947 79 years
South Street Diner
Known for Eggs Benedict · Boston cream pancakes
Boston's all-night diner: a 1947 dining car open 24 hours, seven days a week.
Neighborhood regulars See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1947 79 years
Wally's Cafe Jazz Club
Known for Live jazz every night · Early-evening jam sessions
Hear live jazz at a family-run club that has been booking musicians since 1947.
Visitor destination See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1951 75 years
Kelly's Roast Beef Revere Beach
Known for Roast beef sandwich · Fried clams
The walk-up Revere Beach stand credited with inventing the North Shore roast beef sandwich.
Locals + visitors See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1951 75 years
Sullivan's Castle Island
Known for Hot dogs · Lobster rolls · Crinkle-cut fries
Hot dogs, lobster rolls and fries by the water at Castle Island, from the same family since 1951.
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Serving since 1964 62 years
Eire Pub
The Adams Village pub where Ronald Reagan stopped for a beer in 1983, still run by the family that opened it in 1964.
See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1964 62 years
Tony's Clam Shop
Known for Ipswich fried clams · Lobster roll · Homemade onion rings
Fried clams and lobster rolls on Wollaston Beach, from a family-owned clam shop open since 1964.
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Serving since 1966 60 years
Pinocchio's Pizza & Subs
Known for Sicilian pizza · Steak subs
Square Sicilian slices in Harvard Square, made since 1966 and run by the same family since 1983.
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Serving since 1969 57 years
The Plough and Stars
A small Cambridge Irish bar, open since 1969, with live music most nights and a place in local literary history.
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Serving since 1971 55 years
Armando's Pizza & Subs
Known for Thin-crust pizza · Sicilian pizza · Subs
A cash-only West Cambridge pizza and sub shop, run by Armando Paolo's family since he opened it in 1971.
Neighborhood regulars See why it's a classic