From the origin of the American hot dog in Coney Island to the invention of the Bloody Mary at Manhattan’s 21 Club, New York is a breeding ground for the American food scene. Dating back to before the Revolutionary War, restaurants in New York City bare the influence of those who graced their interior. As waves of immigration brought new cuisines to the city, new types of restaurants, such as pizzerias and kosher Jewish delis, diversified the food options in the city. Today, a number of eateries remain that have earned the superlative, “the oldest.” Whether one visits Fraunces Tavern to eat at the oldest bar in Manhattan or Economy Candy to snack on candy from the city’s oldest candy store, there is a historic eatery for everyone to enjoy. Here are the oldest eateries in New York by category!
The oldest restaurant and bar in Manhattan is Fraunces Tavern (1762)
Fraunces Tavern, dating back to 1762, is widely considered to be the oldest restaurant in the city. There is some debate as to the actual age of the building itself. While the brick house in the Financial District that would become home to the restaurant dates back to sometime between 1719 and 1722, it has been rebuilt and renovated countless times, causing many to wonder whether it can claim to be as old and authentic as it does.
Nonetheless, what is known is that before Samuel Fraunces opened it for tavern service as the “Sign of Queen Charlotte,” the building was used as a dance school and trading firm. Even General John Lamb sending a cannonball through the tavern’s wall during a scuffle with the British in 1775 did not deter the popular establishment’s business. The year after, the British captured the restaurant and forced the staff to feed their soldiers. When they were finally driven out on November 25t, 1783, General George Clinton held an honorary banquet there for George Washington, whose tooth is now on display in the upstairs museum. Today, its incredible story is documented in the museum that stands just above the restaurant. Next to the numerous landmarks of American history that occurred inside, the fact that the restaurant also serves a great brunch and specializes in fine beer and whiskey is just a bonus. Fraunce’s Tavern is located at 54 Pearl St., New York, New York.
The oldest fine-dining restaurant in New York is Delmonico’s (1827)
Delmonico’s claims to be the first fine dining restaurant in the country. It was opened by the Delmonico brothers in 1837 and gained a reputation as an elite establishment offering private dining rooms and the largest wine cellar in the city to those who could afford it. Delmonico’s credits Charles Ranhofer, its executive chef during the Civil War era, with creating such American classics as baked Alaska, lobster Newburg, chicken a la Keene, and eggs benedict. This last claim has incurred some controversy regarding who was responsible for the birth of the classic brunch dish. The idea, originally meant to cure a hangover, is attributed to both Ranhofer and the Waldorf Astoria chef Oscar Tschirky.
The Delmonico steak, originally meaning whatever the cut of the evening was in the restaurant, is now typically a boneless rib-eye, cut thick and served without brushing, a purist mentality. It is known as a “black and red” steak, or charred on the outside but medium rare on the inside, a difficult combo for chefs to pull off. Delmonico’s is located at 56 Beaver St, New York, New York.
The oldest restaurant and tavern in Queens is Neir’s Tavern (1829)
Neir’s Tavern got its start catering to gamblers at the nearby Union Course horse racing track in Woodhaven, Queens. At its opening in 1829, the tavern was known as the Blue Pump Room, and later as the Old Abbey. Remembered as a rough-and-tumble hangout for the wild crowds that would frequent the races, the eatery specialized in rum. The business’ reputation changed drastically in 1898 when it was purchased by its namesake, Louis Neir, who gave it a makeover as a “social hall,” featuring a ballroom, bowling alley, and rooms for rent. While Neir’s name was forgotten when the place was resold again in 1967 and renamed the Union Course Tavern, it received an overdue remodeling in 2009, and its previous name of Neir’s was restored.
While Neir’s has not retained the kind of name recognition it had a century ago, it has taken on a new identity in film and television. It was used in the 2011 action flick Tower Heist, and has been featured in Goodfellas. It is also a favorite of several starlets: comedian W.C. Fields famously loved the tavern, and it was allegedly the spot of stage and film actress Mae West’s first performance. Neir’s Tavern is located at 87-48 78th St., Queens, New York.
The oldest restaurant on Staten Island is Killmeyer’s Old Bavaria Inn (1855)
Staten Island is the proud yet unlikely possessor of some of New York’s oldest structures, such as this hidden gem: Killmeyer’s Old Bavaria Inn. Located at 4254 Arthur Kill Road on the far side of the Island from Manhattan, Killmeyer’s was part home, part shop before it ever started tavern service, so no one is entirely sure how far it dates back. According to local author Patricia Salmon, part of the building was built in 1845, and its official date refers to its purchase ten years later by tycoon Balthazar Kreischer, who owned a brick company in the same area, of which some parts still remain. The inn got its name in 1859 when it was sold to Nicholas Killmeyer. The ownership would stay in the family for nearly a century longer.
The second phase of Killmeyer’s history began after World War II when the inn was purchased by Ken Tirado with the intention of restoring its original German character. After making a trip to Munich for some field research, Tirado returned to model Killmeyer’s on a traditional German inn, complete with classic dishes like wienerschnitzel, goulash, and, of course, hearty pints of beer. Liedy’s Shore Inn, a beloved bar on Staten Island, contests Killmeyer’s for the title. Neither owner has given up on the fight.
The oldest continually operating restaurant in New York is Pete’s Tavern (1864)
While Pete’s may not be the oldest restaurant on this list, it is, for good reason, the oldest continually operating restaurant in New York. The atmosphere is nostalgic at its core, with black and white snapshots of the tavern through the years lining the walls. Besides serving delicious “saloon style” eats, its claim to fame is that notable author O. Henry was once a regular.
Pete’s was a favorite spot of the short story writer between 1903 and 1907 when he lived nearby, and one table on the dining floor is still marked as the place where he wrote his masterpiece of misbegotten generosity The Gift of the Magi. Perhaps hoping to tap into O. Henry’s energy, Ludwig Bemelmans also wrote the well-loved children’s book Madeline while sitting in Pete’s. If you’re not inspired by the literary history, you will be by the classic dishes and lengthy cocktail list. Pete’s Tavern is located at 129 East 18th St., New York, New York.
The oldest restaurant in Brooklyn is Peter Luger Steak House (1887)
Peter Luger Steak House, located at 178 Broadway in south Williamsburg, is Brooklyn’s oldest restaurant, and one of the oldest restaurants in all of New York City. The eatery got its reputation from its delectable cuts and no credit card policy. After you finish a signature plate of Peter Luger’s steak and potatoes, the payment options include cash and a “house account,” essentially an in-restaurant payment plan. You might think this would dissuade today’s customers, but the house account lists hold over 90,000 regulars, so you can be sure the food is well worth the cash you’ll have to take out.
Peter Luger opened in 1887 as the modest “Carl Luger’s Café, Billiards and Bowling Alley.” When Carl passed away, the restaurant was auctioned off to Sol Forman, who owned a silverware store across the street and consumed at least two of the cafe’s steaks every single day. The restaurant has been in the same family ever since, and guarantees the finest in steak production, with all meat served USDA prime and dry-aged on-site. There’s another Peter Luger location in Great Neck, but the Williamsburg spot is the original.
The oldest delicatessen in New York is Katz’s Delicatessan (1888)
Anyone who’s been around the Lower East Side has either seen or heard of Katz’s Delicatessen. That’s not to mention its roles in multiple films, most notably When Harry Met Sally, but also Across the Universe, Donnie Brasco, and Enchanted. Silver screen appearances aside, Katz’s still makes what is renowned as the best pastrami sandwich in the city.
Back in 1888, the Jewish-run diner was “Iceland Brothers,” until it merged with the Katz family and became “Iceland and Katz,” and then just “Katz’s” when the latter bought the Icelands out. Its original location on Ludlow was next to the National Theatre, where it gained the business of Yiddish actors on Friday nights because most other nearby Jewish delis were closed for Shabbat. Katz’s look today is due to the influx of money it received from a WWII campaign it launched called “send a salami to your boy in the army,” which was later used in the 1952 film At War with the Army. Its first film role was in the Frank Sinatra film Contract on Cherry Street, and from then on, it’s been the enduring icon of Jewish New York delis and quality sandwiches alike. Katz’s Deli is located at 205 East Houston St., New York, New York.
The oldest pizzeria in New York is Lombardi’s (1905)
When Gennaro Lombardi founded his pizzeria Lombardi’s in 1905, Little Italy, vendors sold their fruits and vegetables on the streets of the neighborhood that residents called “Mulberry Bend.” Today, 117 years after Gennaro Lombardi opened his restaurant at 53 Spring Street, Little Italy is full of trendy and traditional Italian restaurants. Tourists and New York residents alike travel to Lombardi’s, the first pizzeria in the country according to the Pizza Hall of Fame, for quality ingredients that promise quality food.
Although many have tried to disprove Lombardi’s place as the first pizzeria in America, its title has not officially changed. Pizza researcher Peter Regas claims that Filippo Milone established many grocery stores around the time Lombardi’s opened. These grocery stores would later morph into pizza shops. Gennaro Lombardi allegedly adopted one of these grocery stores-turned-pizza shops, making Milone, not Lombardi, the man who established New York-style pizza. None of this research is confirmed and Lombardi’s continues to tell the same origin story on its website. Lombardi’s is now located at 32 Spring St., New York, New York.
The (likely) oldest restaurant in The Bronx is Mario’s Restaurant (1919)
Arthur Avenue in the Bronx is known for its authentic, old-style, Italian restaurants. Generations of Italian families have given Bronx’s Little Italy a special small-town character. Today, Mario’s Restaurant is owned by Joseph Migliucci, the fourth generation of his family to run the restaurant. The business was originally a pizza shop opened by his great-grandmother, Scolastica Migliucci, and her son, Giuseppe in 1919. No restaurant has claimed the superlative “oldest restaurant in The Bronx,” but Untapped New York believes Mario’s Restaurant has earned the title.
Mario’s Restaurant is a five-generation, family-owned business. What started out as a humble, six-table pizza shop can now serve up to 400 people a day. All of the original menu items are still made fresh daily, according to their traditional recipe, but Migliucci loves to reinvent and add new dishes. Inside the restaurant, the walls are decorated with family memorabilia and photos. Paintings of Italy done by Migliucci’s uncle at least 50 years ago are displayed on either side of the dining room. Much of the interior has been kept the same since the 1940s. Mario’s Restaurant is located at 2342 Arthur Ave., The Bronx, New York.
The oldest ice cream parlor in New York is Eddie’s Sweeet Shop (1925)
Eddie’s Sweet Shop, established in 1925, has been serving its iconic ice cream for nearly a century. Located in Forest Hills, Queens, at 105-29 Metropolitan Ave at 72nd Road, this parlor is accessible by the E, F, R, and M trains. Vito Citrano, one of the current owners of Eddie’s Sweet Shop, does not acknowledge his shop’s superlative, even though no one else has claimed it. He inherited the shop from his father Giuseppe Citrano, who purchased the venue in 1968. When Giuseppe purchased the shop, he wanted to save the vintage feel that the store already harbored in the late 1960s. The wooden and marble interior remains from when Eddie’s Sweet Shop first opened. The refrigerator used in the shop is around 80 years old.
Together, Citrano and his wife, Angelina, now ensure that they serve quality ice cream daily. Vito hand-whips each of the 18 flavors offered to customers using vintage equipment. Employees make their syrups — including flavors such as vanilla, root beer, and cherry — and whipped cream by hand. Other menu items include banana splits, milkshakes, ice cream sodas, and egg creams. Some even speak of a secret menu; however, one has to work to find it.
The oldest family-owned luncheonette in New York is the Lexington Candy Shop Luncheonette (1925)
Stepping across the threshold into The Lexington Candy Shop Luncheonette is truly like stepping onto a 1940s movie set and with good reason, since their last renovation was in 1948. Here, you will find the oldest family-owned luncheonette in New York City. John Philis, the grandson of the original owner, will most likely be there to greet you. Within these walls, tradition is a way of life from the original coffee urns that date back to 1948 to the original Hamilton Beach milkshake mixer from 1940.
The shop was first opened in 1925 as The Lexington Candy Shop, with the chocolate made in the basement. By 1948, they discontinued the candy and concentrated on the shop as strictly a luncheonette, serving milkshakes and butter burgers ever since. The vintage interior has been lovingly preserved down to the smallest details and it’s no surprise to learn that the shop has been featured in numerous movies, commercials, and TV shows including Fading Gigolo, Three Days of the Condor, and The Nanny Diaries. Their customers have included Sir Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Matt Dillon, Tom Brokaw, and Al Roker — just to name a few. The Lexington Candy Shop Luncheonette is located at 1226 Lexington Ave., New York, New York.
The oldest candy store in New York is Economy Candy (1937)
During the Great Depression, demand for shoe and hat repair at a shop on the corner of Rivington and Essex was low. Outside the store though, a small candy pushcart run by the same owners attracted customers craving sweets during the tumultuous era. By 1937, candy bars replaced repair tools in the corner shop now known as Economy Candy. The sweet shop’s name is inspired by the unexpected success of the candy pushcart outside the shoe and hat repair shop.
Now, the shop has more than 2,000 candy items for sale, and on July 30, 2022, Economy Candy turned 85, continuing its title of the oldest candy shop in New York City. As one travels toward the back of the store, candy options vary by section. The front of the store features primarily American candy and novelty items, including tootsie rolls and balloon animal kits. In the middle of the store, Economy Candy has about 100 different types of gummies, including 60 types of Haribo, imported directly from Germany. Towards the back of the store, candy from Japan, Israel, and Mexico sits across a color-sorted candy wall. Playing cards, jump ropes, gum with jokes on it, and placebo pills for various made-up conditions are also among the goods hidden between rows and rows of candy. Economy Candy is located at 108 Rivington St., New York, New York.
Next, check out 12 surprising foods that were invented in New York City!