If you love good food and intersting stories from the past, then this road trip is totally your thing.
We’re talking about restaurants that have been around for over 100 years—some even longer than California has been a state!
From secret speakeasies to cozy taverns in the woods, these spots have served gold miners, movie stars, presidents, and probably a few wild characters you’ve never heard of.
You’ll find giant steaks, famous sandwiches, and meals so good they’ve stayed the same for generations.
Get ready to eat your way through California’s most legendary restaurants, one bite at a time.
1. Occidental Union Hotel Restaurant – Occidental, Sonoma County
The Occidental Union Hotel Restaurant is a 146-year-old spot in the tiny town of Occidental, tucked between the redwoods and rolling hills of Sonoma County.
It’s famous for its old-school Italian dinners—think giant bowls of spaghetti, garlic bread that could feed a village, and red wine flowing like water.
The place feels like a big family party every night, with long tables, loud laughter, and locals who’ve been coming here for generations.
2. Tadich Grill – San Francisco
Next up is Tadich Grill in downtown San Francisco, which has been serving up delicious seafood since 1849, making it the oldest restaurant in California.
Walk inside and it’s like stepping onto an old-time movie set, with white-jacketed waiters, mahogany booths, and a menu full of San Francisco classics like cioppino and sand dabs.
People come here for the whole experience, from the sizzling seafood platters to the stories shared over stiff martinis at the counter.
3. The Old Clam House – San Francisco
Just a few miles away, The Old Clam House has been holding it down in San Francisco’s Bayview neighborhood since 1861, and yes, it’s exactly as awesome as it sounds.
This place kicks things off with a free cup of hot clam broth, and the menu is stacked with old-school seafood like fried calamari, crab cakes, and clam chowder.
It’s cozy, quirky, and full of charm—like your grandpa’s fishing shack, but with way better food and a full bar.
4. Iron Door Saloon – Groveland (near Yosemite)
Heading toward Yosemite, you’ll hit Groveland and that’s where the Iron Door Saloon comes in, proudly claiming the title of California’s oldest continuously operating saloon since 1896.
The building itself dates back to 1852 and it’s got actual iron doors from the Gold Rush days, dollar bills hanging from the ceiling, and a wild west vibe that hasn’t changed in over a century.
Grab a burger, sip a cold beer, and enjoy live music while imagining miners from the 1800s doing pretty much the same thing.
5. Cold Spring Tavern – Santa Barbara County (near San Marcos Pass)
Tucked into the woods near San Marcos Pass, Cold Spring Tavern looks like a tiny log cabin straight out of the 1800s and that’s because it is.
Built in the 1860s as a stagecoach stop, it’s now a rustic little hideaway serving smoky tri-tip sandwiches, cold local brews, and weekend BBQs that pull in hungry crowds.
Between the crackling fireplaces, old wooden beams, and live blues music, it’s the kind of spot that makes you wanna stay way longer than planned.
6. Musso & Frank Grill – Hollywood, Los Angeles
Ready for some Hollywood glam?
Musso & Frank Grill has been the go-to spot for stars, screenwriters, and serious steak lovers since 1919.
This place oozes old-school cool with red leather booths, tuxedoed waiters, and a menu that hasn’t changed much since Charlie Chaplin was a regular.
Order a perfectly cooked filet mignon, sip a classic martini, and you’ll totally get why this is still the place to seal movie deals.
7. Philippe The Original – Downtown Los Angeles
Just a short drive from Hollywood, Philippe The Original in downtown LA is all about messy, meaty, mouthwatering magic and it’s been that way since 1908.
They claim to have invented the French dip sandwich, and whether or not that’s true, one bite of their juicy roast beef on a dipped roll (with spicy mustard, of course) and you won’t care.
Expect sawdust-covered floors, cafeteria-style setup and no-nonsense counter service.
8. El Adobe de Capistrano – San Juan Capistrano, Orange County
Heading south to San Juan Capistrano, El Adobe de Capistrano serves up classic Mexican dishes in a building that dates all the way back to 1797—yep, it’s older than California itself.
Part of it was once a jail, another part was a courtroom, and then in 1948 it was turned into a restaurant and now it’s all about sizzling fajitas, cheesy enchiladas, and margaritas the size of your head.
Even President Nixon was a regular, which is pretty wild considering you can still sit where he did and snack on chips and salsa like it’s no big deal.
9. Cafe La Maze – National City, San Diego County
The final stop is Cafe La Maze in National City, just outside San Diego, which has been open since the 1940s and claims to be the oldest steakhouse in San Diego.
This place was originally opened by Marcel Lamaze who knew a ton of Hollywood movie stars, including Bing Crosby & Clark Gable who both attended the opening of the restaurant.
Today, it’s all deep red booths, vintage vibes, and is the perfect place to order shrimp cocktail and pretend you’re in a noir film.
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