9 Oldest Restaurants in San Francisco
San Francisco is a young city full of mystery and history. It holds tight to its history and pays homage to some of its restaurants. This oldest restaurant in San Francisco have survived through wars, floods, catastrophes, and more. They have remained true to their origins, satisfying customers and attracting visitors worldwide.
If you want to experience San Francisco’s rich culinary past, have a meal in one of these historic restaurants that leave you wanting more.
9. St Francis Fountain
Year founded:1918
Location: 24th Street at York, San Francisco
Cuisine: Diner
Opening Hours: Monday — Friday: 9 AM — 2 PM
Saturday — Sunday: 9 AM — 3 PM
Source: St Francis Fountain
St. Francis Fountain’s opened in 1918 as a family-oriented brunch spot and a candy store by Greek immigrant James Christakes. It is San Francisco’s oldest ice cream parlor and one of the favorite old-school diners.
Besides classic fountain drinks like milkshakes and sodas, sundaes, pies, brownies, and banana splits are to die for! Various vegan and vegetarian and non-vegetarian options are available, including the famous SF Reuben sandwich and Devil burger with marinated seitan. Meat lovers can go for Patty’s Meltdown, an old-school cheeseburger on rye bread.
Do you know?
There is a section inside the restaurant dedicated to selling nostalgic candies and pop-culture trading cards.
8. Garden Court
Year founded:1909
Location: New Montgomery St., San Francisco
Cuisine: Fine dining
Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 6:30 AM-10:30 AM, 11:30 AM-2 PM, 5:30 PM-10PM,
Sun 7 AM-10 AM, 2 PM-5 PM, 5:30 PM-10PM
Source: Garden Court
Garden Court is one of the city’s most gorgeous dining rooms inside the Palace Hotel opened in 1909 amidst much fanfare. The restaurant oozes luxury and charm with beautiful crystal chandeliers, gilded archways, vaulted ceilings, and a drop-dead gorgeous glass dome.
The restaurant is open throughout the week, serving breakfast, lunch, brunch, and afternoon tea on weekends. Everyone can savor innovative intercontinental cuisines with a bottle of champagne for company. Afternoons are incomplete without the mouth-watering signature tea, scones and sandwiches.
Come, and experience royalty with a classic touch at Palace Hotel.
Do you know?
The most beloved Signature Tea at Palace Hotel comes with an elegant menu and mouth-watering array of desserts perfect with every cup.
Source: Signature Tea
7. Swan Oyster Depot
Year founded:1903
Location: Polk Street, San Francisco
Cuisine: Seafood
Opening Hours: Monday — Saturday: 10.30 AM — 5.30 PM
Source: Trip Advisor
Swan Oyster Depot was established in 1906 by the Laustens and is the most famous seafood eatery and cultural landmark. The menu and seats have remained unchanged for a long time, and its hour-long wait lines testify to its delicious fare. Mr. Laustens chose Swan because the Swan is the national bird of Denmark.
Though the Laustens opened the Swan depot, the Sancimino family, who bought the joint in 1948, made Swan a popular dining destination. Celebrity chefs and critics are this restaurant’s regular diners and vocal reviewers.
Do you know?
The long Italian marble counter and the 18 stools have been there since the shop reopened.
6. Cold Spring Tavern
Year founded: 1868
Location: Cold Spring Canyon, Santa Barbara
Cuisine: American and wild game
Opening Hours: Monday: 11:30 AM — 3:30 PM
Tuesday and Wednesday: CLOSED
Thursday: 11:30 AM — 3:30 PM
Friday: 11:30 AM — 8:00 PM
Saturday: 11:30 AM — 8:00 PM
Sunday: 11:30 AM — 5:00 PM
The Cold Spring Tavern was established in 1868 as a stagecoach stop. Back then, it was a horse changeover and meals break station. Famous for its tri-tip sandwich and horseradish sauce, it also serves wild game, rabbit, and venison. It is presently owned and operated by the Ovington family since 1941.
Did You Know?
This historical tavern has always been in the path of forest fires, valiantly surviving about eight significant fires over the years.
Source: Wikimedia Commons via Eugene Kim
5. Fior d’Italia
Year founded: 1868
Location: San Remo Hotel, North Beach, San Francisco
Cuisine: Italian
Opening Hours: Monday — Sunday: 11:30 AM — 9:00 PM
Source: Open Table for fior-d-italia-san-Francisco
Fior d’Italia is the oldest Italian restaurant in the United States, established by Angelo Del Monte and Armido “Papa” Marianetti in 1886, serving packed crowds to date. Unfortunately, due to various calamities, the Fior d’Italia operated out of different locations over the years and now stands tall at the historical San Remo Hotel since 2005.
The menu features delectable pasta, seafood, steaks, Osso Bucco, Risotto Funghi. The menu is vegan and gluten-free. Visitors can enjoy happy hours between 4–6 PM every day. Private dining is available from 6 to 9 PM daily. Live jazz every Wednesday from 6–9 PM and Sunday afternoon from 2:30–5:30 PM.
Did you know?
The Fior has operated out of North Beach in six locations and a tent!
4. Sam’s Grill & Seafood Restaurant
Year founded: 1867
Location: Financial District of San Francisco
Cuisine: Seafood
Opening Hours: Monday — Friday: 11 AM — 9 PM;
Saturday and Sunday: Closed
Source: Sam’s Grill & Seafood Restaurant
Sam’s Grill & Seafood was established in 1867 by Michael Ben Moraghan. By 1890, it became one of the top seafood restaurants. In 1922, Samuel Zenovich bought the restaurant Samuel Zenovich Restaurant. After Zenovich died in 1937, the restaurant was renamed Sam’s Grill & Seafood Restaurant.
The restaurant serves traditional San Francisco cuisine and cocktails, focusing on locally sourced ingredients and sustainable seafood in a rustic, old-school setting.
Did You Know?
Sam’s Grill & Seafood is the fifth-oldest restaurant in the US, opened in 1867, and is currently owned by a former employee, Peter Quartaroli, and a group of loyal patrons.
3. The Old Clam House
Year founded:1861
Location: Bayshore Blvd, San Francisco
Cuisine: Seafood
Opening Hours: All Days: 11:30 AM — 10 PM
Source: The Old Clam House
The Old Clam House opened in 1861 and has been in the same spot. The restaurant was constructed on the waterfront south of Islais Creek and was initially called The Oakdale Bar & Clam House.
The restaurant serves quality seafood like Clams Linguine, whole crabs, fresh fish, and spirits. It has survived many city transformations, including the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906.
Did you know?
San Francisco’s oldest restaurant in San Francisco has been in the same location since 1861.
Source: The Old Clam House
2. Old Ship Saloon
Year founded:1851
Location: 298 Pacific Ave, San Francisco
Cuisine: Pub and Bar
Opening Hours: Monday — Saturday: 9:00 AM — 8:00 PM
Source: Old Ship Saloon
Get in touch with the sailor in you at Old Ship Saloon, one of the oldest bars in San Francisco. The Old Ship Saloon was opened in 1851 and is presently run by brothers Eric and Marc Passetti after changing ownership by many. The bar is a three-masted ship that arrived in San Fransisco in 1849, and the hull was used as a bar for a few hears before dismantling. The bar still serves a bustling neighborhood with packed patrons for its bar food classics. Food classics include burgers, soups, beers, fries, hearty salads, and more.
The bar is with exposed brick and refurbished wood interiors. You can expect a packed bar during lunchtime and plenty of San Fransisco unique spirits during sporting events.
Do you know?
Old Ship Saloon is one of the last remaining historic watering holes. The bar is made from the ship’s timbers that sunk beneath the reclaimed land. The story of this ship is hard to miss at the main door.
Credit: Mulle at FourSquare
1. Tadich Grill
Year founded:1849
Location: Financial District neighborhood of San Francisco
Cuisine: Seafood
Opening Hours: Monday — Friday: 11 AM — 9 PM; Saturday: 11:30 AM — 9:30 PM; Sunday: Closed
Source: Sarah Stierch at Wikimedia Commons
Tadich Grill opened in 1849, one year before California became a state during the gold rush in California. Tadich Grill is San Francisco’s oldest restaurant and also 3rd oldest restaurant in the United States.
It was opened initially as a coffee stand by Nokola Budrovich, Frano Kosta, and Antonia Gasparich, Croatian immigrants. It changed over many years and got its final location in the Financial district in 1967. It became a full-service restaurant servicing seafood when former employee John Tadich bought it in 1887.
The menu focuses on seafood, stew, and casserole. The ingredients are locally sourced, and a must-have dish on the menu is Tadich Grill’s cioppino, a seafood stew.
Did you know?
It is the 1st US restaurant to grill seafood over mesquite charcoal, a cooking method famous in Croatia.
Have you been to any of the restaurants above? No! Then, what are you waiting for? It’s time to hit the road and eat at all these unique places that shaped San Francisco’s cuisine into what it is today. If you think we are missing any on this list, please let us know your favorites in the comments below. Until then, CIAO!
