This New Hampshire Restaurant Has Been Serving Dinner Since George Washington Was President

As the new guy in New Hampshire, I spend a lot of time exploring. Not just the mountains, beaches, and back roads, but the places that helped shape the state long before any of us got here.

I'm always curious about the stories behind New Hampshire. The old general stores. Historic downtowns. Covered bridges. The restaurants that have been feeding locals for generations.

That's what led me to one of the oldest dining destinations in the Granite State.

The historic The Hancock Inn first opened in 1789, making it the oldest restaurant and inn in New Hampshire. That's not a typo.

Think about that for a second.

When the doors opened, George Washington had just become America's first president. New Hampshire had only been a state for a little over a year. Travelers arrived by horse and carriage, not SUVs and GPS.

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For more than two centuries, the inn welcomed visitors passing through the Monadnock region on trade routes connecting Boston and Vermont, according to the "Tasting Table."

What I love most about places like this isn't just the food. It's the fact that generations of New Hampshire residents have gathered in the same building for meals, celebrations, conversations, and community.

The Hancock Inn recently reopened after an extensive restoration, blending its colonial roots with updated dining spaces while preserving the history that makes it special.

As someone still learning the Granite State, these are the places I want to find. The places that were here long before us and, hopefully, will still be here long after we're gone.

Have you ever eaten at The Hancock Inn? I'd love to hear what you ordere... and what other historic New Hampshire restaurants should be on my list next.