10 of the Oldest Restaurants in California You Can Still Eat in Today

Imagine dining in a restaurant that opened its doors in 1849 — one year before California even became a state. Unbelievably, there are other restaurants still in operation today in the Golden State that first served customers in the latter part of the 19th century.

San Francisco’s Tadich Grill, established in 1849, is believed to be the oldest restaurant in California still in operation and the third-oldest restaurant in the United States. Is it the food, service, ambience, or some combination of the above that has kept customers happy for 175 years?

All of the following California restaurants first opened their doors in the 1800s and continue to serve diners today. If you visit any of them, prepare to have a meal with a heaping side of time warp.

Tadich Grill, San Francisco

Located in San Francisco’s Financial District, the aforementioned Tadich Grill was established in 1849 during the California gold rush as a coffee stand. According to the official Tadich Grill website, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the first closure in the restaurant’s long history.

Some of the customer-rated favorites listed on the Tadich Grill website include the pot roast, Sonoma lamb chops, mesquite broiled salmon, seafood curry, and the restaurant’s signature seafood platter.

Film critic Roger Ebert reportedly wrote about Tadich Grill, “What Casablanca is to the movies… you are to fish.”

Duarte’s Tavern, Pescadero

Duarte’s Tavern opened in 1894 in Pescadero — a tiny town about 14 miles south of Half Moon Bay — and offers American diner cuisine. Run by the fourth generation of the Duarte family, Duarte’s Tavern still boasts pinewood paneling that adds to its rustic charm.

According to the official Duarte’s Tavern website: “Duarte’s Tavern offers American country cooking, spiced by the Portuguese roots of the Duarte family. We cook local fish depending on the week’s catch and a tavern menu of simple dishes, nothing fancy. Almost all of our vegetables and fruits are from the restaurant garden or grown locally.”

Union Hotel Occidental, Occidental

The Union Hotel Occidental has served up Italian cuisine in the small Sonoma County town of Occidental since 1879.

According to the Union Hotel Occidental’s official website, the property offers a dining room complete with red-and-white checkerboard tablecloths, ballroom, café, saloon, and luxury guest houses. The menu includes some of the best pizza in Northern California — although at wine country wallet-whopping prices — as well as the restaurant’s signature minestrone and various pasta dishes.

Sam’s Grill and Seafood, San Francisco

Irish oysterman Michael Bolan Moraghan founded M. B. Moraghan’s in San Francisco in 1867 during the California gold rush. Restaurant owner Sam Zenovich bought M. B. Moraghan’s in 1922 and the name went through several changes before arriving at Sam’s Grill and Seafood.

The official website reads, “Come join us, and take a step back in time to a more civilized era where lunches always begin with a cocktail.” Sam’s menu is known for classics such as Crab Louie, Clams Elizabeth, Lobster Thermidor, and its Ghirardelli chocolate sundae.

The Old Clam House, San Francisco

The Old Clam House is the oldest continuously operated California restaurant still in its original location. Established in 1861 in San Francisco’s Bayview neighborhood, the seafood restaurant reopened in 2022 with new owners.

Today, The Old Clam House prides themselves on serving sustainable, ethically-sourced seafood supplied from local fisherman and other companies.

Fior D’Italia, San Francisco

Fior D’Italia, which translates as the “flower of Italy,” first opened its doors in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco in 1886. According to the restaurant’s official website, the original building burned down in 1893 and the 1906 San Francisco earthquake destroyed its second location. Fior D’Italia’s new home now sits on Mason Street.

Fior D’Italia is know for its Northern Italian cuisine such as gnocchi alla piemontese (potato dumplings in a creamy sauce), risotto, pasta, and various chicken and veal dishes.

Schroeder’s, San Francisco

Founded in 1893 by Henry Schroeder, Schroeder’s has served hearty German cuisine to San Francisco for more than 130 years. The 1906 San Francisco earthquake destroyed Schroeder’s original location, forcing it to relocate to 240 Front Street, where it remains today.

The official website reads: “Famous among downtown male clientele until opening its doors to females in the 1970s, Schroeder’s continues to be known as a destination for drinks and dining in the Financial District.”

Schroeder’s is known for German classics such as bratwurst, sauerkraut, schnitzels, and Appleflap — a Dutch dessert comprised of an apple pastry and vanilla ice cream.

Tivoli Bar and Grill, San Diego

Established in 1881, San Diego’s Tivoli Bar and Grill still displays the original bar on the property. According to the official website, “The original bar, which still graces the premises, was built in Boston and brought to San Diego by ship around Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America, a journey which took three to four months.”

The original cash register, which dates back to the turn of 20th century, and original safe are also on display.

Once a regular spot visited by Wild West lawman Wyatt Earp, Tivoli Bar and Grill remains a popular neighborhood nightspot that serves BBQ comfort food as well as quesadillas and tacos.

Cold Spring Tavern, Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara’s Cold Spring Tavern is an old stagecoach stop that opened in 1868. Although stagecoaches are ancient history, the owners of Cold Spring Tavern try to keep the surroundings as close to the original restaurant as possible — complete with gravel roads surrounded by scenic nature.

The official website reads: “Here you can appreciate the true ambiance of the Old West because, as if by magic, time stands still. Savor our traditional American fare including our famous tri-tip sandwiches, onion rings, and chilis.”

The Original Saugus Cafe, Santa Clarita

The origin of Santa Clarita’s Original Saugus Cafe stretches back to 1886, but the restaurant has resided in its current building since 1952 and underwent a renovation in 1994.

Known for its breakfast and Tex-Mex options, the Original Saugus Cafe is believed to be the first restaurant to ever open in Los Angeles County. Former customers include President Theodore Roosevelt — who reportedly stopped in and ordered a New York steak — as well as Hollywood stars such as Clark Gable, Gary Cooper, John Wayne, Tom Mix, Charlie Chaplin, Doug Fairbanks, and Mary Pickford.