The 14 Most Iconic Historic Restaurants In California
California’s dining scene isn’t just about trendy new spots – it’s also home to restaurants that have been serving hungry customers for over a century!
These historic eateries have witnessed the Gold Rush, survived earthquakes, and served everyone from Hollywood stars to regular folks looking for a good meal.
Let’s explore 14 restaurants that have stood the test of time and continue to serve delicious food with a side of California history.
1. The Old Clam House – Bayshore Boulevard’s Survivor
Surviving both the 1906 earthquake and Prohibition, The Old Clam House has been serving seafood since 1861. Every meal begins with a shot glass of warm clam juice – a tradition dating back to its earliest days.
Originally situated on the shoreline before landfill pushed the bay farther away, this restaurant was once surrounded by water. The original bar remains intact, bearing the scars and stories of generations of San Franciscans who’ve gathered here.
Famous for its iron skillet-roasted shellfish and clam bake cioppino, The Old Clam House represents a bygone era when the neighborhood was filled with docks and fishermen rather than industrial buildings.
2. Cliff House – Ocean View Dining Since Lincoln
Perched dramatically on the edge of the continent, Cliff House has been rebuilt multiple times since 1863 after fires and explosions threatened its existence. Presidents, movie stars, and ordinary San Franciscans have all gazed out at the Pacific Ocean while dining here.
Mark Twain once complained about the high prices, while Teddy Roosevelt enjoyed hearty meals within these walls. The restaurant has transformed from a rugged roadhouse to an elegant Victorian mansion and finally to its current sleek, modern design.
Though temporarily closed and awaiting new management, Cliff House remains an iconic landmark where diners can watch sunset over the Sutro Baths ruins while enjoying seafood classics.
3. Tadich Grill – San Francisco’s Gold Rush Legacy
Born during the Gold Rush in 1849, Tadich Grill claims the title of California’s oldest restaurant. Miners once swapped tales of striking it rich while enjoying fresh seafood at this San Francisco landmark.
The white-jacketed waiters navigate the narrow restaurant with practiced precision, serving classic dishes like cioppino and petrale sole that haven’t changed in generations. Many families have been coming here for decades.
The mahogany bar and brass fixtures transport diners to another era, while the no-reservations policy keeps things democratic – everyone from tourists to tech billionaires waits their turn for a taste of history.
4. Sam’s Grill & Seafood – Financial District Time Capsule
Step through Sam’s unassuming entrance and journey back to 1867 San Francisco. The private booths with curtains that patrons can close for privacy are a relic from another era – originally designed for businessmen making deals over lunch.
Oysters Rockefeller, sand dabs, and petrale sole are prepared with minimal fuss, letting the quality of the seafood shine. The Financial District institution still maintains handwritten checks and a cash register that predates most modern technology.
Many of the waiters have worked here for decades, serving generations of the same families who return for the comforting consistency. Sam’s represents old San Francisco, before tech booms and tourist traps changed the city’s character.
5. Cold Spring Tavern – Stagecoach Stop Turned Biker Haven
Hidden in the San Marcos Pass near Santa Barbara, Cold Spring Tavern began as a crucial stagecoach stop in 1868. Weary travelers would rest here after the treacherous mountain journey, warming themselves by the same stone fireplaces that remain today.
Weekend motorcycle gatherings have become tradition, with tri-tip sandwiches served from outdoor grills while live bands play. The rustic log cabin structures and hunting lodge atmosphere transport visitors to California’s frontier days.
Famously haunted according to local lore, the tavern’s walls could tell tales of frontier adventures, unexpected romance, and dramatic showdowns. Modern diners enjoy venison, rabbit, and other game meats rarely found on contemporary menus.
6. Saugus Cafe – Railroad Stop With Presidential History
Legend has it that President Theodore Roosevelt dined at Saugus Cafe during a 1903 Western tour, putting this Santa Clarita eatery on the map. Founded in 1886 to serve Southern Pacific Railroad passengers, it’s now surrounded by suburban sprawl instead of dusty frontier.
Hollywood discovered the cafe in the 1920s, using it as a filming location for countless Westerns. John Wayne and Clark Gable were regulars, often stopping by between shoots in nearby Vasquez Rocks.
The breakfast menu hasn’t changed much in a century – massive pancakes, country-fried steak, and eggs any style remain favorites. Old-timers claim the counter stools have supported the weight of everyone from local legends to astronauts.
7. The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern – Stagecoach Legacy in Wine Country
Felix Mattei built this Los Olivos tavern in 1886 as a stagecoach stop along the busy route between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Travelers would spend the night here before continuing their dusty journey through California’s central coast.
Recently renovated into a luxury hotel property, the tavern maintains its historic charm while serving farm-to-table cuisine that would astonish its original patrons. The old water tower still stands watch over the property, a reminder of its frontier beginnings.
During Prohibition, a secret room beneath the dining area served as a speakeasy for locals and travelers in the know. Today, the restaurant honors this history with craft cocktails named after stagecoach routes and local historical figures.
8. Union Hotel Restaurant – Sonoma County’s Italian Heritage
Family-style Italian dining has been the hallmark of the Union Hotel Restaurant since 1879. Located in the tiny town of Occidental, this Sonoma County institution serves massive portions of minestrone soup, ravioli, and fried chicken that could feed a logging crew.
The building began as a railroad hotel when the North Pacific Coast Railroad connected the redwood forests to San Francisco Bay. Italian immigrant families who settled the area transformed it into a gathering place for their community.
Meals still begin with platters of antipasto and tureen of soup, followed by endless pasta courses. The vintage bar, complete with original spittoons, transports visitors to the days when lumberjacks and railroad workers gathered here after long days of physical labor.
9. Duarte’s Tavern – Artichoke Country Classic
Four generations of the Duarte family have been serving their famous artichoke soup and olallieberry pie in Pescadero since 1894. The recipe hasn’t changed – just like the wooden bar where locals gather to discuss fishing conditions and farming news.
Portuguese immigrant Frank Duarte began with a simple barrel of whiskey and a dream. Today, the James Beard Award-winning tavern attracts foodies from across the country seeking authentic coastal cuisine.
The restaurant’s garden supplies much of its produce, including the artichokes that have become their signature ingredient. In spring, when local fields burst with thistles, Duarte’s artichoke dishes – from simple steamed with aioli to creamy artichoke soup – showcase why this humble vegetable deserves celebration.
10. Swan Oyster Depot – Seafood Counter With a Cult Following
Eighteen marble stools facing a narrow counter constitute the entirety of Swan Oyster Depot’s seating, unchanged since 1903. The Sancimino brothers, who have run this San Francisco institution for generations, crack crab, shuck oysters, and slice sashimi with mesmerizing efficiency.
Lines form before opening, filled with locals and tourists eager to experience what Anthony Bourdain called “a national treasure.” The menu is simple – the freshest seafood served with sourdough bread, butter, and cocktail sauce.
Crab Louis, seafood cocktails, and clam chowder are prepared exactly as they were decades ago. The walls are covered with fading photographs and thank-you notes from celebrity customers, while the sawdust-covered floor speaks to the restaurant’s working-class roots.
11. Cole’s Pacific Electric Buffet – French Dip Originator
The great French dip sandwich debate continues to rage in Los Angeles, with Cole’s (established 1908) claiming to be the birthplace of this beloved creation. According to their story, chef Jack Garlinghouse first dipped a sandwich in jus for a customer with sore gums.
Located in the Pacific Electric Building, Cole’s served railway passengers for decades from what was once the largest railway terminal in the world. The 40-foot mahogany bar survived Prohibition by operating as a speakeasy with access through the women’s restroom.
Recently restored to its former glory, complete with original glass lighting, penny tile floor, and red leather booths, Cole’s now houses a hidden speakeasy called The Varnish in its back room – a nod to its illicit Prohibition activities.
12. Musso & Frank Grill – Hollywood’s Literary Watering Hole
Charlie Chaplin had his own booth at Musso & Frank, where he would race fellow silent film star Douglas Fairbanks down Hollywood Boulevard after martini-fueled lunches. Since 1919, this restaurant has been the gathering place for Tinseltown’s elite and the writers who chronicled their exploits.
F. Scott Fitzgerald corrected proofs of novels at the bar, while Raymond Chandler and Ernest Hemingway argued literature over whiskey. The menu remains steadfastly traditional – perfect martinis, sand dabs, Welsh rarebit, and flannel cakes served by red-jacketed waiters who seem to have worked there forever.
Featured in countless films including “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Musso’s represents old Hollywood glamour in a town constantly chasing the next big thing. The leather booths have witnessed countless deals, breakups, and celebrations.
13. Tam O’Shanter Inn – Walt Disney’s Favorite Haunt
Walt Disney dined at the Tam O’Shanter so regularly that he had a dedicated table (#31) where he sketched early ideas for Disneyland on napkins. Established in 1922 by Lawrence Frank and Walter Van de Kamp (the founders of Lawry’s), this Scottish-themed restaurant brought prime rib to Los Angeles.
The storybook architecture – complete with swooping roof and timbered exterior – influenced Disney’s later designs. Inside, tartan patterns, coats of arms, and a massive stone fireplace transport diners to a Highland castle.
Celebrity caricatures line the walls, showcasing famous patrons from Hollywood’s golden age. The Ale & Sandwich Bar, added in the 1950s, serves British pub fare alongside California’s oldest craft beer selection – a perfect match for the restaurant’s old-world atmosphere.
14. El Cholo Spanish Cafe – Birthplace of LA Mexican Cuisine
Alejandro and Rosa Borquez introduced Los Angeles to enchiladas and tamales in 1923, when they opened the tiny restaurant that would become El Cholo. The original handwritten recipes – passed down through generations – hang framed on the walls of what is now a Southern California institution.
Each dish on the menu lists the year it was introduced, allowing diners to taste the evolution of Mexican-American cuisine. The famous green corn tamales, available only from May to October, create lines around the block when they return each season.
Hollywood embraced El Cholo early – Clark Gable and Loretta Young had their first date here, while Jack Nicholson remains a regular. The restaurant’s success spawned locations across Southern California, but the original Western Avenue spot maintains its timeless charm.