The world is dotted with historic restaurants that have hosted famous diners and acted as community hubs as well. As cultural touchstones, these restaurants have preserved and passed down signature recipes and traditions through generations. Witnessing history, they have passed the test of time and are still standing strong as evolved time capsules. Here are a few gems of the world’s oldest and most historic restaurants.
The Old House 1147 (Maesteg, Wales)
Opened in 1147, this 12th-century pub once served authentic pies with potatoes and peas. In recent years, in its charming stone building, The Old House 1147 hosted luminaries such as Elizabeth Taylor, David Bowie, and Richard Burton. After a thorough renovation, it reopened in 2019, as a restaurant and wedding venue. The current menu features more diverse dishes like mac-n-cheese, Massaman curry, and Welsh rarebit, alongside classic pies.
Honke Owariya (Kyoto, Japan)
One of the oldest restaurants in entire Japan, Honke Owariya opened in 1465 as a confectionary shop, inside a simple wooden building in Kyoto. Now, this 16th-generation family-run soba shop is widely known for its signature soba mochi. Another specialty dish, cold soba, comes in a divine broth prepared from fresh Kyoto spring water and includes shitake mushrooms, shrimp tempura, shredded omelet, Japanese leeks, and nori.
Rules Restaurant (London, England)
Opened in 1798, Rules Restaurant is the oldest among all the historic restaurants in London. Once, this Edwardian-era establishment was frequented by figures like HG Wells, Laurence Olivier, Charles Dickens, and many others. The restaurant today serves diners classic English cuisines like smoked eel, signature steak, kidney pie, whole-roasted grouse, braised venison, and other delicious game dishes.
St. Peter Stiftskulinarium (Salzburg, Austria)
The oldest one on the list, this restaurant opened in 803 AD. Located inside St. Peter’s Abbey in Salzburg, a 7th-century Benedictine monastery, this establishment is dubbed the oldest restaurant in Europe and also one of the world’s oldest! The patron list of St. Peter Stiftskulinarium includes names like Christopher Columbus and W.A. Mozart! In 2003, this 11-dining room restaurant celebrated its 1200th anniversary!
Union Oyster House (Boston, Massachusetts)
Opened in 1826, the Union Oyster House is a historic site in Boston as a part of the American Freedom Trail. Located at a stone-throw distance from the famous Faneuil Hall, this red-bricked restaurant no doubt specializes in oysters, but also offers delicious clam chowder, fish-n-chips, and lobster rolls.
Ten World-Famous Museums Offering Virtual Tours Full of Wonder
Have you always wanted to visit the British Museum, but never seem to have had the opportunity to? With modern technology, you can realize your dream without ever leaving your house.
Nowadays, numerous world-famous exhibition venues offer virtual tours of their galleries. Here are ten museums that you can visit online.
Uffizi Gallery, Florence
Wander the halls of the Uffizi Gallery and see the art collection of the Medici family for yourself. The museum is housed in a 16th-century building, which was designed by Giorgio Vasari for Cosimo I de’ Medici and is an artwork of its own.
Guggenheim Museum, New York
Art aficionados from all over the world travel to New York to visit the Guggenheim. You can do that from your home through Google’s Street View. Take a virtual stroll on the museum’s famous spiral staircase and discover works of art from renowned artists.
British Museum, London
One of the most famous museums in the world, the British Museum offers people the possibility to visit the Great Court and see Egyptian Mummies, the Rosetta Stone, and many more mind-blowing artifacts.
Musée d’Orsay, Paris
Get a peek at the works of Monet, Gauguin, Manet, and other famous artists by taking a virtual of the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, France.
National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
This museum offers two virtual tours through Google. One allows people to discover the work of Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, while the other gives access to an exhibit of American fashion from 1740 to 1895.
MASP, São Paulo
It is excepted that Brazil’s first modern museum would offer a virtual tour of its galleries. Make sure to explore and discover the wonders of MASP.
Pergamon Museum, Berlin
Home to the Pergamon Altar, the Ishtar Gate of Babylon, and many more ancient artifacts, this is a virtual tour that everyone should take.
National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul
Use Google’s virtual tour to wander through six floors of amazing artwork housed in one of Asian’s most visited museums.
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
Dedicated to famous painter Vincent van Gogh, this museum has the largest collection of Van Gogh artwork and personal artifacts. Any art enthusiast would truly enjoy a virtual tour of this outstanding gallery.
National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City
This museum offers 23 exhibit rooms, which display ancient artifacts from the country’s pre-Hispanic era. It is truly a tour worth your time.
These virtual tours will enable you to see wonders and fight the boredom that you may be experiencing while you are confined at home. Enjoy them!