Union Oyster House

Union Oyster House opened on 7 October 1826 as the Atwood and Bacon Oyster House and is often described as America's oldest restaurant. It celebrated its 200th anniversary in March 2026, and in August 2026 it was sold to the Fertitta family of Texas. The building itself is older still: a Georgian brick structure completed around 1716 and now a National Historic Landmark within the Blackstone Block, a historic district in downtown Boston.

The history is part of the meal. In the 1770s the printer Isaiah Thomas published his newspaper, the Massachusetts Spy, from the upper floor, and the future French king Louis Philippe lived upstairs while in exile in 1796. The semicircular oyster bar installed in 1826 is still where it has always been, as are the old wooden stalls, and the statesman Daniel Webster was a famously enthusiastic regular. The restaurant also tells the story, more legend than fact, that the toothpick was introduced to America here.

The menu is traditional New England seafood, with oysters shucked at the bar the obvious first order. Separate lunch, dinner and dessert menus are posted on the website, along with a menu for the Union Bar. Treat this as a place to eat classic dishes in a historic setting rather than somewhere for inventive cooking, and order simply. The oyster bar is the most atmospheric seat if you are dining alone or as a pair.

Reservations can be made online, which is worthwhile in summer and at weekends when the Freedom Trail crowds are out. Private function rooms are available for groups. The building is more than 300 years old, so anyone with limited mobility should contact the restaurant before visiting to ask about access. Allow about an hour and a half for a relaxed meal.

If you want to sit at the historic oyster bar, mention it when booking or ask on arrival, as those seats are limited.

Union Street is a few minutes' walk from Faneuil Hall Marketplace and the Freedom Trail, so Union Oyster House fits easily into a day of downtown sightseeing. It suits first-time visitors, history enthusiasts and families who want a sit-down meal with a story behind it. The website has directions and parking information for those arriving by car.