New England is home to some of the United States' oldest restaurants, many originating in colonial times. These establishments, spanning from Rhode Island to Vermont, provide diners with historic settings and menus featuring local ingredients. Recent updates, such as a 2024 reopening, keep these venues relevant for modern visitors.
The White Horse Tavern in Newport, Rhode Island, holds the distinction of being the nation's oldest restaurant, opening in 1673 as a meeting place for the colony's General Assembly. It now offers sophisticated dishes from local farms and waters, paired with a Wine Spectator-awarded wine list. Dinner service runs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. weekends, with reservations advised two to four weeks ahead at 26 Marlborough Street.
In Sudbury, Massachusetts, The Wayside Inn began operations in 1716, serving classic New England fare in rooms dating to the 1700s, some preserved from Henry Ford's ownership in the 1920s. Lunch is available 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with dinner until 7:30 p.m. weekdays and 7 p.m. Sundays. Light options start at 11:30 a.m. in the original bar; online reservations are optional at 72 Wayside Inn Road.
Connecticut's 1754 House in Woodbury, formerly the Curtis House, combines a formal dining room with the Flat Five Blues Tavern for American comfort foods and craft cocktails like the Maple-Bacon Old Fashioned. The tavern operates 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesdays to Saturdays, while the dining room serves from 4 p.m. Tuesdays to Thursdays and 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekends at 506 Main Street South.
New Hampshire's Inn at Hancock, established in 1789, reopened in late 2024 after 2022 renovations, introducing sustainable menus in three spaces: a prix fixe restaurant, casual tavern with jazz, and lounge with raw bar. Hours include brunch weekends and dinners daily at 33 Main Street, with online booking.
Vermont's Ye Olde Tavern in Manchester, opened as the Stagecoach Inn in 1790, evokes colonial times with fireplaces and entrees like cider-smothered chicken. Dinner is served 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays to Mondays; phone reservations suggested at 5183 Main Street.
