The Restaurant That Has Continuously Operated For More Than 1200 Years, And Other Ancient Eateries

What is the oldest continuously-operating restaurant in the world? That's a complex question due to various factors, but here we include restaurants, cafés, and coffee houses; and include only those where evidence exists that they have operated without significant interruption since their founding. Errors and omissions are certainly possible, but here's a selection of eateries on every continent that have been around for a long, long time. There are many others that have also been around for long periods, but had significant interruptions in their function as an eatery.

St. Peter Stifts Kulinarium in Salzburg, Austria: At least since 803 AD, when it is mentioned in a letter to Charlemagne. It is located within the walls of St. Peter's Abbey, which was built into the Mönchsberg, a mountain in the city's center, in 696. Alas, although it has operated for more than 1200 years, and is the oldest restaurant, the circumstances of war and such have forced it to close for periods of time. Thus, the honor of being the oldest continuously-operating eatery, goes to the following....

Kiva Han in Istanbul, Turkey: Serving coffee since 1475.

Honke Owariya in Kyoto, Japan: Founded as a confectionery shop in 1465, it later became a busy cafe.

La Tour d'Argent in Paris, France: Established in 1582.

Café La Bottega del Caffè in Venice: Founded in 1582.

El M'Rabet Cafe in Tunis, Tunisia: Founded around 1628-1630.

Tahmis Kahvesi in Gaziantep, Turkey: Opened in 1635.

Queen's Lane Coffee House in Oxford, England: Established in 1654.

Caffè Florian in Venice, Italy: Opened in 1720.

Restaurante Sobrino de Botín in Madrid, Spain. Serving customers since 1725.

Café Tomaselli in Salzburg, Austria: Founded in 1700.

The '76 House (Mabie House) in Tappan, New York: Open since the 1700s.

Antico Caffè Greco in Rome, Italy: In business since 1760.

El-Fishawy Cafe in Cairo, Egypt: Opened in 1797.

The Historic Pig and Whistle Inn in Bathurst, South Africa: Established in 1832.

Café Tortoni in Buenos Aires, Argentina: Founded in 1858.

El Gran Vicio in Costa Rica: Operating since 1880.

Hostería de Santo Domingo in Mexico City: Founded in 1860.

Tai Ping Koon Restaurant in Hong Kong: Established in 1860.

Leopold Café and Bar in Mumbai, India: Opened in 1871.

Tek Heng in Bangkok, Thailand: Operating since 1890.

Café La Gran Vía in Bogotá, Colombia: Founded in 1893.

Colombo Confectionery in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Serving since 1894.

Café Liberty in Chile: Opened in 1897.