World Culinary Awards Honor Boston’s Union Oyster House

A beloved Boston dining establishment has received a prestigious international award.

The World Culinary Awards, which champion high-caliber dining destinations worldwide, named the Union Oyster House in Boston North America's Best Landmark Restaurant for 2025.

According to Union Oyster House's website, the restaurant bills itself as the oldest continually operating dining establishment in the United States. It traces its origins to 1826, when it was founded as Atwood & Bacon in a building with roots that predate the American Revolution. It's located on the Freedom Trail, near Faneuil Hall.

According to a report by the website Foodie, several famous politicians have frequented the restaurant over the years. They include Sen. Daniel Webster, who reportedly ate plates of oysters by the half-dozen with brandy and water, and JFK, who enjoyed reading his Sunday newspaper there.

“I am deeply honored to receive this award on behalf of the Union Oyster House staff and our faithful patrons,” owner Joe Milano said in a statement shared with MassLive. “We are pleased to have received this award in 2020, 2024, and now in 2025, and are grateful to be considered a legend.”

The Union Oyster House's menu features seafood specialties, including shrimp cocktail, stuffed lobster rolls, calamari, clams, mussels, New England chowder, scrod, salmon, and a market-price catch of the day. A dessert lineup offers treats such as apple cobbler and Boston cream pie.

Union Oyster House is at 41 Union St. in Boston. It is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.