Best Oldest Restaurants in Philadelphia, PA
Looking for oldest Restaurants in Philadelphia? Below you'll find 10 local options with their address, phone number, website and opening hours, plus practical advice on choosing the right one.
What they do: Historic restaurants and taverns that have been serving the city for generations.
This guide lists 10 oldest Restaurants in and around Philadelphia, spread across 5 ZIP codes. 10 have a phone number you can call directly from this page, 10 link to their own website, 10 are open on weekends. Listings are organized so you can compare them at a glance and contact them directly.
Top 10 Oldest Restaurants in Philadelphia
Listings are shown in no paid order: no business can pay to appear or to rank higher on this page.
1 McGillin's Olde Ale House
- Address 1310 Drury St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
- Phone (215) 735-5562
- Website mcgillins.com
Opening hours
| Mon | 11 AM-2 AM |
|---|---|
| Tue | 11 AM-2 AM |
| Wed | 11 AM-2 AM |
| Thu | 11 AM-2 AM |
| Fri | 11 AM-2 AM |
| Sat | 11 AM-2 AM |
| Sun | 11 AM-2 AM |
2 The Olde Bar
- Address 125 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
- Phone (215) 253-3777
- Website theoldebar.com
Opening hours
| Mon | 4-10 PM |
|---|---|
| Tue | 4-10 PM |
| Wed | 4-10 PM |
| Thu | 4-10 PM |
| Fri | 4-10 PM |
| Sat | 12-10 PM |
| Sun | 12-10 PM |
3 Giuseppe & Sons
- Address 1523 Sansom St, Philadelphia, PA 19102
- Phone (215) 399-9199
- Website giuseppesons.com
Opening hours
| Mon | 4-10 PM |
|---|---|
| Tue | 4-10 PM |
| Wed | 4-10 PM |
| Thu | 4-10 PM |
| Fri | 4-11 PM |
| Sat | 4-11 PM |
| Sun | 4-10 PM |
4 Race Street Cafe
- Address 208 Race St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
- Phone (215) 627-6181
- Website racestreetcafe.net
Opening hours
| Mon | 11:30 AM-10 PM |
|---|---|
| Tue | 11:30 AM-10 PM |
| Wed | 11:30 AM-10 PM |
| Thu | 11:30 AM-10 PM |
| Fri | 11:30 AM-11 PM |
| Sat | 10:30 AM-11 PM |
| Sun | 10:30 AM-10 PM |
5 Fork
- Address 306 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
- Phone (215) 625-9425
- Website forkrestaurant.com
Opening hours
| Mon | 11:30 AM-10 PM |
|---|---|
| Tue | 11:30 AM-10 PM |
| Wed | 11:30 AM-10 PM |
| Thu | 11:30 AM-10 PM |
| Fri | 11:30 AM-11 PM |
| Sat | 10:30 AM-11 PM |
| Sun | 10:30 AM-10 PM |
6 The Plough & the Stars
- Address 123 Chestnut Street Entrance on, N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
- Phone (215) 733-0300
- Website ploughstars.com
Opening hours
| Mon | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tue | 11 AM-9 PM |
| Wed | 11 AM-9 PM |
| Thu | 11 AM-9 PM |
| Fri | 11 AM-10 PM |
| Sat | 11 AM-10 PM |
| Sun | 11 AM-9 PM |
7 National Mechanics Bar and Restaurant
- Address 22 S 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
- Phone (215) 701-4883
- Website nationalmechanics.com
Opening hours
| Mon | 12 PM-2 AM |
|---|---|
| Tue | 12 PM-2 AM |
| Wed | 12 PM-2 AM |
| Thu | 12 PM-2 AM |
| Fri | 12 PM-2 AM |
| Sat | 11:30 AM-2 AM |
| Sun | 11:30 AM-2 AM |
8 The Dandelion
- Address 124 S 18th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
- Phone (215) 558-2500
- Website thedandelionpub.com
Opening hours
| Mon | 12 PM-12 AM |
|---|---|
| Tue | 12 PM-1 AM |
| Wed | 12 PM-1 AM |
| Thu | 12 PM-1 AM |
| Fri | 12 PM-2 AM |
| Sat | 10 AM-2 AM |
| Sun | 10 AM-12 AM |
9 Red Owl Tavern
- Address 433 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
- Phone (215) 923-2267
- Website redowltavern.com
Opening hours
| Mon | 11:30 AM-11 PM |
|---|---|
| Tue | 11:30 AM-11 PM |
| Wed | 11:30 AM-11 PM |
| Thu | 11:30 AM-11 PM |
| Fri | 11:30 AM-12 AM |
| Sat | 10 AM-12 AM |
| Sun | 10 AM-10 PM |
10 Dante & Luigi's
- Address 762 S 10th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
- Phone (215) 922-9501
- Website danteandluigis.com
Opening hours
| Mon | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tue | 4-9:30 PM |
| Wed | 4-9:30 PM |
| Thu | 4-9:30 PM |
| Fri | 4-10:30 PM |
| Sat | 4-10:30 PM |
| Sun | 4-9:30 PM |
How to choose oldest Restaurants in Philadelphia
- Check hours and whether you need a reservation, especially on Friday and Saturday nights.
- Look at the current menu online, since prices and dishes change often.
- Ask about dietary options such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free or halal if you need them.
- Check whether the place is BYOB, which is common in Philadelphia and can save a lot on a night out.
- Look up the latest health inspection results, which the county or city publishes online.
Local tips for Philadelphia
Philadelphia has its own licensing rules that go beyond state law: the city's Department of Licenses and Inspections (L+I) issues contractor licenses, permits and trade licenses, so plumbers, electricians and contractors working in the city need an L+I license on top of any state registration.
SEPTA's subway, trolley and bus network covers most of the city, so check whether a business is near a Market-Frankford or Broad Street Line station if you don't drive. Street parking in Center City is limited and enforced by the Philadelphia Parking Authority.
Philadelphia is in Philadelphia County, and local phone numbers use the 215, 267 and 445 area codes. Popular areas include Center City, Old City, Fishtown, Northern Liberties, South Philly, University City, Manayunk, Chestnut Hill.
Frequently asked questions
Which oldest Restaurants in Philadelphia are open on weekends?
According to their listed hours, these are open on Saturday or Sunday: McGillin's Olde Ale House, The Olde Bar, Giuseppe & Sons, Race Street Cafe, Fork, The Plough & the Stars. Hours can change on holidays, so call before you go.
Which areas of Philadelphia do these oldest Restaurants cover?
The oldest Restaurants on this list are located in ZIP codes 19102, 19103, 19106, 19107, 19147. Many businesses also serve nearby neighborhoods and suburbs, so ask when you call.
What does BYOB mean?
BYOB means 'bring your own bottle.' The restaurant has no liquor license, so you can bring your own wine or beer. Some charge a small corkage fee.
Do I need a reservation?
For popular places on weekends, yes. Many Philadelphia restaurants take reservations online, while casual spots are usually walk-in only.
Where can I check restaurant health inspections in Philadelphia?
Restaurant inspections in Pennsylvania are run by the Department of Agriculture or by local health departments in cities and counties such as Philadelphia and Allegheny County, and results are published online.
More food & drink guides in Philadelphia
- 24-Hour Restaurants
- Afghani Restaurants
- African Restaurants
- Alsatian Restaurants
- American Restaurants
- Arab Restaurants
- Argentinian Restaurants
- Armenian Restaurants
- Art Cafés
- Asian Fusion Restaurants
- Asian Restaurants
- Authentic Japanese Restaurants
- BYOB Restaurants
- Bakeries
- Barbecue Restaurants
- Bars
- Belgian Restaurants
- Biryani Restaurants
- Black-Owned Restaurants
- Box Lunch Restaurants
- Brazilian Restaurants
- Breakfast Restaurants
- Breakfast Restaurants
- Breweries
Information is collected from public sources and may change. Please confirm hours, prices and availability directly with each business. Business owner? Ask us to update your listing.