Have you ever wondered what it would be like to dine in a place that has been serving food for centuries? To taste the dishes that have been passed down from generation to generation, and to experience the history and culture of different countries through their cuisine? If so, you might want to visit some of the oldest restaurants in the world, where you can enjoy not only delicious food, but also a unique atmosphere and a sense of tradition.
In this article, we will introduce you to 10 of the oldest restaurants in the world, where they are located, what type of food they sell, why they have been able to operate so long, and what’s special about them. The list is in order from the youngest, founded in 1725, to the oldest which dates all the way back to the year 803.
Sobrino de Botín (Spain)
Sobrino de Botín is a Spanish restaurant that has been serving customers in Madrid, Spain since 1725. It is the oldest restaurant in Spain, and one of the oldest in Europe. The restaurant specializes in Castilian cuisine, which is based on roasted meats, stews, soups, and breads. Some of the dishes that you can try are cochinillo asado (roast suckling pig), cordero asado (roast lamb), sopa de ajo (garlic soup), and flan de huevo (egg custard). The restaurant also has a wine cellar that offers a selection of Spanish wines.
Sobrino de Botín has been able to operate for so long because it has been a landmark of Madrid’s gastronomy and culture. It was founded by Frenchman Jean Botin and his wife, and was later inherited by their nephew, Candido Remis, who changed the name to Sobrino de Botín. The restaurant has also been a favorite of many artists and writers over the years, such as Francisco de Goya (who worked as a dishwasher at the restaurant), Ernest Hemingway (who mentioned the restaurant in his novel The Sun Also Rises), and Benito Pérez Galdós (who wrote about the restaurant in his novel Fortunata y Jacinta).
Honke Owariya (Japan)
Honke Owariya is a restaurant that has been serving soba noodles in Kyoto, Japan since 1465. Soba is a type of thin noodle made from buckwheat flour, and it is one of the most popular dishes in Japanese cuisine. Honke Owariya is famous for its handmade soba noodles, which are prepared fresh every day using traditional methods. The restaurant also offers various toppings and sauces for the noodles, such as mushrooms, egg, shrimp tempura, nori, leeks, and daikon. You can also try other dishes such as rice bowls, sushi, and desserts.
Honke Owariya has been able to operate for so long because it has maintained its high quality and authenticity throughout the years. It has also adapted to the changing times and tastes of its customers, while preserving its original recipes and techniques. The restaurant is located in a historic building that was once a confectionery shop for the imperial court. The interior is decorated with antique furniture and artworks, creating a cozy and elegant atmosphere.
Zum Franziskaner (Sweden)
Zum Franziskaner is a restaurant and beer hall that has been serving customers in Stockholm, Sweden since 1421. It is the oldest restaurant in Sweden, and one of the oldest in Europe. The restaurant serves traditional Swedish cuisine, such as köttbullar (meatballs), gravlax (cured salmon), and smörgåsbord (a buffet of cold and hot dishes). The beer hall offers a variety of beers from Swedish and German craft breweries, as well as wines and spirits.
Zum Franziskaner has been able to operate for so long because it has been a popular meeting place for Stockholm’s society and culture. It was founded by German monks who brought their brewing skills to Sweden. It was also frequented by King Gustav Vasa, who led the Swedish War of Liberation against Denmark in the 16th century. The restaurant has also witnessed many historical events and changes over the years, such as the Stockholm Bloodbath, the Great Fire of Stockholm, the Swedish Empire, and the Industrial Revolution.
Hotel Gasthof Löwen (Liechtenstein)
Hotel Gasthof Löwen is a hotel and restaurant that has been operating in Vaduz, Liechtenstein since 1380. It is the oldest hotel in the country, and one of the oldest in Europe. The restaurant serves traditional Liechtenstein cuisine, which is influenced by Swiss, Austrian, and German cuisines. Some of the specialties include käsknöpfle (cheese dumplings), rösti (potato pancakes), schnitzel (breaded veal cutlets), and zürcher geschnetzeltes (veal strips in cream sauce). The restaurant also has a wine cellar that offers a selection of local and international wines.
Hotel Gasthof Löwen has been able to operate for so long because it has been owned by the same family for over 600 years. The current owners are the 23rd generation of the Schädler family, who have preserved the hotel’s historic charm and hospitality. The hotel has 29 rooms that are furnished with modern amenities and antique pieces. The hotel also has a garden terrace that overlooks the Vaduz Castle and the Alps.
The Sheep Heid Inn (Scotland)
The Sheep Heid Inn is a pub and restaurant that has been serving customers in Edinburgh, Scotland since 1360. It is the oldest pub in Scotland, and one of the oldest in Britain. The pub offers a variety of drinks, such as beers, ciders, whiskies, gins, and cocktails. The restaurant serves classic British pub food, such as steak pie, fish and chips, burgers, and roast beef. You can also enjoy some Scottish dishes, such as haggis (sheep’s stomach stuffed with oatmeal and spices), neeps (turnips), and tatties (potatoes).
The Sheep Heid Inn has been able to operate for so long because it has been a popular spot for locals and visitors alike. It has also attracted many famous patrons over the years, such as King James VI of Scotland (who reportedly gifted the pub with a ram’s head), Queen Victoria (who visited the pub in 1842), Robert Louis Stevenson (who mentioned the pub in his novel Kidnapped), and Sir Walter Scott (who wrote about the pub in his poem Marmion).
The pub is located in a historic building that dates back to the 16th century. The interior features wooden beams, stone walls, fireplaces, and memorabilia. The pub also has a skittle alley (a type of bowling game) that is believed to be the oldest in Scotland.
La Couronne (France)
La Couronne is a restaurant that has been serving French cuisine in Rouen, France since 1345. It is the oldest restaurant in France, and one of the oldest in Europe. The restaurant specializes in Norman cuisine, which is based on the products of the region, such as butter, cream, cheese, apples, cider, and calvados (apple brandy). Some of the dishes that you can try are duck à l’orange (duck with orange sauce), sole meunière (sole with butter and lemon), and tarte tatin (upside-down apple tart). The restaurant also has a cheese cart that offers a variety of local cheeses.
La Couronne has been able to operate for so long because it has been a landmark of Rouen’s gastronomy and culture. It has also hosted many notable guests over the years, such as King Henry IV of France (who celebrated his victory at the Battle of Ivry at the restaurant in 1590), Joan of Arc (who was imprisoned near the restaurant before her execution in 1431), and Julia Child (who had her first meal in France at the restaurant in 1948).
The restaurant is located in a medieval building that has been renovated several times over the centuries. The interior is decorated with antique furniture, paintings, tapestries, and chandeliers, creating a refined and elegant atmosphere.
Piwnica Świdnicka (Poland)
Piwnica Świdnicka is a restaurant and beer hall that has been serving customers in Wrocław, Poland since 1273. It is the oldest restaurant in Poland, and one of the oldest in Europe. The restaurant serves traditional Polish cuisine, such as pierogi (dumplings), bigos (cabbage stew), żurek (sour rye soup), and kotlet schabowy (breaded pork cutlet). The beer hall offers a variety of beers from local breweries, as well as wines and spirits.
Piwnica Świdnicka has been able to operate for so long because it has been a part of Wrocław’s history and culture. It has also witnessed many events and changes over the years, such as the Mongol invasion, the Protestant Reformation, the Napoleonic Wars, the World Wars, and the fall of communism. The restaurant has also welcomed many famous guests over the years, such as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (who visited the restaurant in 1790), Ludwig van Beethoven (who composed his Symphony No. 3 at the restaurant in 1802), and Pope John Paul II (who blessed the restaurant in 1997).
The restaurant is located in the basement of the Town Hall, which is a Gothic-Renaissance building that dates back to the 13th century. The interior features vaulted ceilings, wooden tables, benches, and barrels, creating a cozy and rustic atmosphere.
These ancient restaurants have not only survived the test of time but continue to delight diners with their historical significance, cultural heritage, and mouthwatering culinary creations.
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The Brazen Head (Ireland)
The Brazen Head is a pub and restaurant that has been serving customers in Dublin, Ireland since 1198. It is the oldest pub in Ireland, and one of the oldest in Europe. The pub offers a variety of drinks, such as beers, ciders, whiskies, gins, and cocktails. The restaurant serves Irish pub food, such as bangers and mash (sausages and mashed potatoes), Irish stew (lamb stew with potatoes and carrots), and bacon and cabbage (boiled bacon with cabbage and parsley sauce). You can also enjoy some live music and entertainment at the pub, such as traditional Irish music sessions, storytelling nights, and comedy shows.
The Brazen Head has been able to operate for so long because it has been a hub of social activity and cultural expression for Dubliners and visitors alike. It has also been a meeting place for many influential figures over the years, such as James Joyce (who mentioned the pub in his novel Ulysses), Jonathan Swift (who wrote about the pub in his essay A Modest Proposal), Brendan Behan (who frequented the pub as a writer and rebel), and Michael Collins (who used the pub as a hideout during the Irish War of Independence).
The pub is located in a building that dates back to the 18th century. The interior features stone walls, wooden floors, fireplaces, and memorabilia. The pub also has several rooms that are named after famous patrons or events
Ma Yu Ching’s Bucket Chicken House (China)
Ma Yu Ching’s Bucket Chicken House is a restaurant that has been serving chicken dishes in Kaifeng, China since 1153. It is the oldest restaurant in China, and one of the oldest in Asia. The restaurant is famous for its bucket chicken, which is a whole chicken marinated in a secret sauce and cooked in a clay pot. The chicken is tender, juicy, and flavorful, and is served with steamed buns and pickled vegetables. The restaurant also offers other dishes such as noodles, dumplings, and soups.
Ma Yu Ching’s Bucket Chicken House has been able to operate for so long because it has been passed down from generation to generation within the Ma family. The original founder, Ma Yu Ching, was a merchant who sold bucket chicken in Nanjing during the Song dynasty. He later moved back to his hometown of Kaifeng and opened his own restaurant. The restaurant has survived wars, famines, floods, and revolutions, and has maintained its quality and reputation throughout the centuries. The restaurant was named as an intangible cultural heritage of Henan province in 2007.
St. Peter Stiftskulinarium (Austria)
St. Peter Stiftskulinarium is a restaurant and beer hall that has been operating in Salzburg, Austria since 803. It is the oldest restaurant in Austria, and one of the oldest in Europe. The restaurant serves traditional Austrian cuisine, such as wiener schnitzel (breaded veal cutlets), tafelspitz (boiled beef with horseradish sauce), and apfelstrudel (apple strudel). The beer hall offers a variety of beers from local breweries, as well as wines and spirits.
St. Peter Stiftskulinarium has been able to operate for so long because it has been a part of Salzburg’s history and culture. It is located within the walls of St. Peter’s Abbey, a Benedictine monastery that dates back to the 7th century. The restaurant was mentioned by Alcuin of York, a scholar who served Emperor Charlemagne and Bishop Arno of Salzburg, in a poem written in 803. The restaurant has also hosted many famous guests over the years, such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (who composed his Symphony No. 3 at the restaurant in 1802), Ludwig van Beethoven (who visited the restaurant in 1825), and Bill Clinton (who dined at the restaurant in 1994).
These iconic restaurants are far more than just places to satisfy hunger pangs; they are portals to the past, gateways to distant lands, and keepers of culinary traditions. They are reminders that food is not merely sustenance, but a celebration of history, culture, and the joy of coming together to share a meal. So, step into these time capsules with an empty stomach and an open heart, and let the flavors of the past transport you to another place and time. Bon appétit!
