As the name suggests, fresh shucked local New England oysters are a specialty at America's oldest continuously operated restaurant.

Union Oyster House

Opened in 1826, Boston’s Union Oyster House claims to be America’s oldest continuously operating restaurant, and this August will celebrate its 200th anniversary—a historic first for any eatery in the United States. That distinction alone would be reason to visit this iconic National Historic Landmark, but it is also a really fun place to eat that exemplifies quintessential New England seafood dishes. America’s oldest restaurant has been host to a Who’s Who of famous visitors over the year, including local boy made good, President John F. Kennedy , who would come in on weekends and sit in the same booth while eating and reading the Sunday papers. It won North America’s Best Landmark Restaurant honors from the prestigious World Culinary Awards the past two years running and has managed to remain relevant for twenty decades in a business where “hot” restaurants come and go weekly (New York’s historic Fraunces Tavern is another gem worth visting in 2026, dating to 1762 and having served George Washington, but with a few interuptions in its rich hospitality history).

For nearly a decade I wrote the Great American Bites restaurant column for national newspaper USA Today, profiling many historic spots, places that lay claim to various “firsts” or invented now well-known dishes. But even among this exalted crowd the Union Oyster House, located along Boston's Freedom Trail, stands out in my memory as a favorite, and it’s the rare place that is touristy (there is a gift shop) without being campy or disappointing—it has truly stood the test of time. I recall eating at a restaurant in Normandy whose claim to fame was as the first place Julia Child ever dined when she stepped off the boat in France for the first time, kickstarting her love affair with French cuisine. That tourist trap has thrived on the story for decades but was one of the least satisfying meals I ever ate in France, and I would not go back. Thankfully, the Union Oyster House, despite being able to rest on its laurels if it wanted to, is not that at all, and I’d go back tomorrow.

The large multi-level restaurant is a living breathing Boston museum of sorts, adorned with old murals, newspaper clippings, photos and other historic memorabilia (even stadium seats from Fenway Park). Upon entry you are immediately greeted by an enormous water-filled aerated lobster tank, and beyond this, the historic circular oyster bar counter. This is a great choice if you want to watch the shucking action hands on, as well as for solo diners, but there are also tables and booths, upstairs and down (JFK’s was up), and in good weather, like this summer, outside seating as well. It’s a big, lively, high energy place.

New England produces some of the best oysters in the world, and as the name suggests, crustaceans are a main event here. In addition to fresh shucked oysters and raw bar, signature dishes include local seafood and New England classics like clam chowder, lobster, lobster rolls, broiled crumbed scrod (a real regional dish), Boston baked beans, baked stuffed clams, cornbread and lots of fried seafood platters: clams, oysters, shrimp, fish and chips, oyster and clam rolls, and so on. There is very little that is not seafood, including a basic chicken dish and a burger. It is not the best place in New England for fried seafood, but it’s solidly good, reliable and made fresh, and of course, for dessert, there is Boston Cream Pie. And as a tourist visiting Boston, you simply cannot beat the history and atmosphere.

In addition to JFK, notable visitors have included several other U.S. Presidents, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, as well as royalty, Queen Elizabeth II, Hollywood royalty, Meryl Streep, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Steven Spielberg, and yes, Boston’s own culinary super icon, Julia Child.

Surprisingly, in two centuries of operation, feeding generations of families, the restaurant has had only four family owners, currently the Milanos. Joseph Milano explained that “It’s our responsibility and honor to uphold this piece of American history. For 200 years, we have been creating memories and traditions for visitors across the world. Union Oyster House would not be where it is today without the love and support from our guests.”

In this year of historic Americana, few cities boast as much Colonial history as Boston, home of the Freedom Trail, the USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”), the church where Paul Revere famously hung his “one if by land, two if by sea” lanterns, America’s first public park, the Boston Tea Party, and much more. It’s a great tourist city to visit, especially in summer, and a lunch or dinner at America’s oldest restaurant, the Union Oyster House is a solid stop on such a tour. I also recently wrote here at Forbes about the very special Liberty Hotel, a multi-faceted luxury spot reimagined from a historic and architectural significant prison, with a lot of unusual entertainment and dining and a great place for a leisure stay.