In Newport’s red colonial building, The White Horse Tavern traces its roots to 1673—serving as the oldest restaurant in Rhode Island and one of the oldest continuously operating restaurants in the United States.
By the time the United States was still only an idea. Newport already had a tavern where locals. sailors. and travelers could sit down. eat. and talk. In 1673. The White Horse Tavern opened in a distinctive red colonial building—and the milestone still shapes the way visitors experience the place today.
The restaurant dates back to 1673. making it the oldest restaurant in Rhode Island and one of the oldest continuously operating restaurants in the United States. It’s also widely recognized as the 10th-oldest operating restaurant in the world. which has helped turn it into a magnet for international visitors looking for a meal with deep roots.
The story begins before that tavern sign ever hung. The property was originally built in 1652 as the home of merchant Francis Brinley. Over time. it became a tavern where people gathered for food. drinks. and conversation—especially during an era when public meeting places were scarce and Newport was one of the busiest ports in the colonies.
That scarcity mattered. According to the restaurant’s website. the tavern operated as a hub for the Colony’s General Assembly. Criminal Court. and City Council. And in the years leading into the Revolutionary War. it left a different kind of mark: British troops and loyalists were quartered there during the British occupation of Newport in the late 1770s.
For all that historical weight, the tavern’s run isn’t a straight line with no interruptions. The building underwent a major restoration beginning in 1954, then reopened as a restaurant in 1957 after several years of closure. That break is part of what separates it from other celebrated survivors of American dining—such as Boston’s Union Oyster House. which has operated continuously since 1826 and is recognized as one of the oldest continuously operating restaurants in the United States.
Today, The White Horse Tavern is recognized as a National Historic Landmark, and many original features remain intact. Thick wooden beams stretch across the ceilings. Fireplaces crackle during colder months. In the dining room, candlelit white-tablecloth tables add to the sense that time slows down there.
An evolving menu carries the same blend of local identity and old-world comfort. The menu highlights products sourced from Rhode Island and the surrounding region, including local seafood, artisanal cheeses, and honey. It also includes classic British dishes such as beef Wellington and Scotch eggs.
Some items come with upscale prices—beef Wellington costs $59—yet the restaurant has received favorable reviews. Guests have praised the “top-notch” service, traditional New England food, and the upscale atmosphere.
Between Revolutionary-era gatherings. a period of British occupation. and a restoration that restarted the building’s restaurant life in 1957. the White Horse Tavern doesn’t just claim history. For visitors to Newport. it offers something rarer than a plaque: a chance to sit down in the same place where people once gathered. and experience that past one meal at a time.
White Horse Tavern Newport Rhode Island 1673 historic restaurant National Historic Landmark beef Wellington Scotch eggs Francis Brinley