This Boston Seafood House Has Served Future Kings, Presidents & Literary Giants Since 1826 — It’s a Must Try

Ye Olde Union Oyster House, Boston

In 1826, a tiny Boston restaurant started serving oysters. It hasn’t stopped since.

The Union Oyster House has fed everyone from JFK to Daniel Webster, outlasted 40 presidents, and somehow still serves the same creamy chowder that made it famous nearly 200 years ago.

Here are some interesting facts about this beloved institution.

The Building Was Already a Century Old Before Serving Its First Oyster

Built around 1704, it started as Hopestill Capen’s dress goods business with the colorful name “At the Sign of the Cornfields.”

Boston’s waterfront once reached right to the back door, so ships could deliver European fabrics directly to the shop.

American Revolution History Happened Within These Walls

From 1771 to 1775, patriot printer Isaiah Thomas published his anti-British newspaper “The Massachusetts Spy” from the second floor before fleeing Boston during the Revolution.

During the war, the wives of founding fathers Adams, Hancock, and Quincy gathered in the former dress shop to sew clothes for colonial soldiers.

After that, the building became headquarters for Ebenezer Hancock, who worked as Deputy Paymaster for the Continental Army (and yes, he was related to John Hancock).

A Future King of France Lived in Exile Upstairs

The then-future King Louis Philippe I of France lived on the second floor during his exile in the late 1790s.

To pay his bills, the displaced royal taught French lessons to Boston’s merchants and society ladies.

He eventually returned to France and ruled as the country’s last king from 1830 to 1848.

Daniel Webster Downed 36 Oysters and 6 Brandies Daily at the Bar

Famous statesman Daniel Webster wasn’t exactly counting calories when he visited.

This political heavyweight came to the oyster bar almost daily, where he’d methodically put away six plates of oysters (six per plate) along with six tall glasses of brandy and water.

As Secretary of State under three presidents, Webster made the semicircular oyster bar his unofficial office.

JFK Had a Regular Booth You Can Reserve Today

President John F. Kennedy loved his privacy at booth #18 upstairs, where he’d spread out his newspaper and enjoy his favorite lobster stew.

After his assassination, the restaurant dedicated his preferred spot as “The Kennedy Booth,” adding a commemorative plaque with his portrait.

The Kennedy family as a whole frequently dined here, typically asking for seating on the second floor.

America’s First Wooden Toothpicks Made Their Debut at This Restaurant

Around 1890, enterprising businessman Charles Forster of Maine introduced the first wooden toothpicks to Americans at Union Oyster House after importing them from South America.

Before this innovation, Americans used goose quills to remove food from their teeth, which frequently broke during use.

Forster got creative with his marketing – he hired Harvard students to dine here and loudly ask for toothpicks after their meals, creating artificial demand.

Rose Carey Became America’s First Waitress Here in 1920

When Rose Carey started working at Union Oyster House in 1920, she broke the gender barrier in American restaurants, where servers had previously been exclusively male.

Her picture hangs near the stairway to the second floor, marking this important milestone in service industry history.

The Original 1826 Oyster Bar Remains Intact in Its Original Spot

This U-shaped oak bar near the entrance is the only surviving feature of its kind in the country.

There, you can watch expert shuckers prep fresh oysters right before your eyes, just as they’ve done since before the Civil War.

Presidents From Coolidge to Obama Have Eaten at This Historic Restaurant

Beyond JFK, numerous American presidents have dined here over the decades.

Calvin Coolidge, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama all stopped by for meals, with Obama reportedly ordering ten containers of clam chowder to go.

Traditional New England Recipes Have Been Served Here for Generations

You’ll find regional classics like homemade crab cakes, broiled Boston scrod, award-winning clam chowder, traditional Boston baked beans, and plenty of fresh oysters.

Their signature “Shore Dinner” remains a feast starting with clam chowder and steamers, followed by fresh lobster from their own lobster pools, accompanied by native corn and red potatoes.

For dessert, choose between traditional options like hot Indian pudding (molasses-sweetened cornmeal) or Boston Cream Pie to complete your historical dining experience.

Every Sunday, they continue their tradition of serving complimentary Boston baked beans to diners.

If you want to recreate these historical recipes at home, their cookbook is available in the gift shop with detailed instructions for preparing the restaurant’s most popular dishes.

The Restaurant Opened During America’s Great Oyster Craze of the 1800s

During the 19th century, oysters became wildly popular nationwide, with oyster houses popping up in towns everywhere.

Back then, oysters were abundant in American coastal waters, making them affordable for both working-class and wealthy diners.

This Place Doubles as a Living Museum of Culinary History

The walls display historic paintings, old newspaper clippings, and fascinating memorabilia that tell Boston’s story through the centuries.

You can view an original menu hanging on the wall, showing historical prices and dining preferences from long ago.

In 2021, the World Culinary Awards named it North America’s Best Landmark Restaurant, beating out other historic establishments like Katz’s Delicatessen in New York.

The restaurant operates Sunday-Thursday from 11am-9:30pm and Friday-Saturday from 11am-10pm, welcoming history buffs and food lovers alike.