White Horse Tavern

The first position on the list of the oldest restaurants in America is The White Horse Tavern. It is thought to be the oldest tavern in the United States, having been built before 1673. In Newport, Rhode Island, it sits on the corner of Farewell and Marlborough streets. It is also regarded as the world's tenth-oldest restaurant still in operation. Because of its size, the White Horse Tavern served as a gathering venue for the Colony's General Assembly, Criminal Court, and City Council.

The Van Bueren family of Newport donated money to renovate the White Horse Tavern in 1952 when it was in bad shape and on the verge of being demolished. The White Horse Tavern was just purchased by its ninth owner in 2014. They offer the freshest fish, clams, and lobsters straight from Narragansett Bay, as well as recently-picked produce, artisan cheese, honey, prime cuts of beef, and the highest quality chops and poultry from local farms, just as previous generations have done. They're happy to be a part of Rhode Island's thriving food culture, which has helped the White Horse Tavern become a New England favorite.

Year established: 1673

Location: Newport, Rhode Island

Cuisine type: traditional American

Phone: 401 849 3600

Website: whitehorsenewport.com