The Oldest Restaurants in San Francisco
San Francisco's longest-serving food and drink institutions, sorted by founding year. When a business has changed what it serves, we say so.
15 San Francisco institutions worth knowing
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Serving since 1849 177 years
Tadich Grill
Known for Seafood cioppino · Hangtown fry · Pan-fried sand dabs
Cioppino and charcoal-grilled fish at a restaurant that traces its start to an 1849 coffee stand, run by the Buich family for more than 90 years.
Locals + visitors See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1867 159 years
Sam's Grill
Known for Sand dabs · Rex sole · Celery Victor
Sand dabs, rex sole and private booths at a Financial District seafood house that opened in 1867.
Locals + visitors See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1886 140 years
Fior d'Italia
Known for Veal scaloppine · Linguine with clams · Osso buco
Veal scaloppine and linguine with clams at an Italian restaurant opened in 1886, now in the San Remo Hotel.
Neighborhood regulars See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1893 133 years
Schroeder's
Known for Bratwurst
Bratwurst and boot-glass beers in a Bavarian-style beer hall that has served downtown San Francisco since 1893.
Neighborhood regulars See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1908 118 years
John's Grill
Known for Sam Spade's Lamb Chops · Jack LaLanne Salad
Sam Spade's lamb chops at the Union Square grill that opened in 1908 and appears in Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon.
Locals + visitors See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1911 115 years
Liguria Bakery
Known for Focaccia (rosemary garlic · black olive · mushroom)
Focaccia baked in an antique brick oven by the Soracco family since 1911, sold until it runs out.
Locals + visitors See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1916 110 years
The Buena Vista Cafe
Known for Irish coffee
The Fisherman's Wharf bar where Irish coffee was first made in America, in 1952, and still poured by the thousands.
Visitor destination See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1935 91 years
Tommaso's Ristorante Italiano
Known for Wood-fired pizza · Calzone
Pizza from a wood-fired brick oven on Kearny Street that has been burning since the restaurant opened as Lupo's in 1935.
See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1937 89 years
Original Joe's North Beach
Known for Spicy rigatoni · Charbroiled hamburger on a baguette
Italian-American classics and counter seats carried over from the Tenderloin original, now facing Washington Square in North Beach.
Locals + visitors See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1938 88 years
Sears Fine Food
Known for 18 Swedish pancakes
Plates of 18 small Swedish pancakes on Powell Street, from a family recipe the restaurant has served since 1938.
Visitor destination See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1947 79 years
Tommy's Joynt
Known for Pastrami sandwich · Buffalo stew · Turkey dinner
Sliced-to-order pastrami, turkey and buffalo stew at a counter-service hofbrau on Geary since 1947.
Neighborhood regulars See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1948 78 years
Vesuvio Cafe
Known for Bohemian Coffee
A two-floor North Beach bar across Jack Kerouac Alley from City Lights, a Beat Generation haunt since 1948.
Locals + visitors See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1949 77 years
House of Prime Rib
Known for Prime rib carved tableside · Yorkshire pudding · Creamed spinach
Prime rib carved tableside from rolling carts, with Yorkshire pudding and creamed spinach, on Van Ness since 1949.
Locals + visitors See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1953 73 years
Mitchell's Ice Cream
Known for Mango · Ube · Macapuno
Mango, ube and macapuno ice cream, made in the shop by the family that opened it in 1953.
See why it's a classic
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Serving since 1956 70 years
Caffe Trieste North Beach
Known for Espresso
Espresso at the Vallejo Street café the Giotta family opened in 1956, a gathering place for Beat writers.
Locals + visitors See why it's a classic
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