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Union Oyster House, Boston, MA

Union Oyster House

4.5
4.5
8726 Reviews
$30 and under
Seafood

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 121 times today

About this restaurant

  • Charming
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
The Union Oyster House, located on the Freedom Trail, near Faneuil Hall, enjoys the unique distinction of being America's oldest restaurant. This Boston fixture, housed in a building dating back to Pre-Revolutionary days, started serving food in 1826 and has continued ever since with the stalls and oyster bar, where Daniel Webster was a constant customer, in their original positions.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Area
    Faneuil Hall
  • Parking details
    Parcel #7 Garage: Not clearly labeled (sorry). If the Union Oyster House is on your right, the brick building STRAIGHT AHEAD OF YOU is the garage. Drive towards it, make a quick left (Hanover St.) right (Congress St.) and right again (Sudbury St.) The fee after validation is 3.$ for 3 hours
  • Public transit
    Two options: Take the Blue or Green Line to Government Center. Walk down the stairs along the side of City Hall and cross Congress Street. We are across the street. Note we are across from the New England Holocaust Memorial. Or, take the Orange or Green Line to Haymarket,left on Congress,left on Hanover,right on Union.
  • Additional
    Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeaway, Wheelchair Access

Private dining

What 8,726 people are saying

Union Oyster House reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.4Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.1Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Union Oyster House offers a historic dining experience in Boston, renowned for its "rich history and charm." Diners appreciate the "excellent service" and New England cuisine, particularly the clam chowder and oysters. While some find it "pricey," many visitors highlight the unique atmosphere and recommend it as a "must-visit" spot.

8,726 Reviews
  1. Stephanie

    Greater Boston11 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It was super busy due to St. Patrick’s Day weekend, but delicious as usual!

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  2. Megan

    Washington DC10 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We arrived early and seated earlier than our reservation. Service was excellent, food was tasty and atmosphere was perfect for a long day of siteseeing.

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  3. Matthew

    Greater Boston4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful service and great history! Great selection of food !

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  4. Carol VIP

    Chicago15 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    For us great ambience and history overcame overpriced and uneven food. Very good crab cakes and corn bread. Clam chowder was good but served lukewarm. Caesar salad must have been under a heat lamp. Baked beans were good but I can buy a can at the grocery store. The small bathrooms need more frequent attendance. We enjoyed our visit but will try somewhere else next time.

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  5. Cristina

    Greater Boston1 review

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our friend Nabil S., who frequently tours here, recommended Union Oyster House. It was the best recommendation we could've asked for! There is so much history, a great location, amazing food, and wonderful staff! Our waitress, Esme, was an absolute delight.

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  6. OpenTable Diner

    New York City5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Stephanie was our server, we had the Kennedy Booth. She was great, the food was great and we had a wonderful meal.

    Is this helpful?

  7. kara

    New York City5 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The staff was lovely. Super friendly and attentive. That’s the only reason to go. I’d suggest the bar for drinks and a snack. Not worth it for dinner. It’s wildly expensive for what you’re getting. No frills dishes. $20 for 6 oysters that weren’t great and gritty. Plastic containers thrown on top with horseradish and cocktail sauce. For the price, you could go to much better places where the food is much better, and fresher. Bathrooms are pretty gross. It made me a bit concerned for overall cleanliness.

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  8. OpenTable Diner

    Tampa4 reviews

    2.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    I expected it to be touristy and was still disappointed. Service was really bad and food was bland. Wife and I had clam chowder and oysters appetizers. The chowder was lukewarm and the oysters were really thin. We decided to leave and get dinner somewhere else.

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  9. Mathew Anthony

    San Francisco6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 7 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent food and our server was such a delight! Navigating the area is a pain but parking is plentiful. The ambiance was cozy with a lot of historical knick knacks to look at. The clam chowder is a must and the seafood is so fresh! Will absolutely come again!

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  10. OpenTable Diner

    London4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 7 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing food and service, as an Italian with a passion for seafood I had very high standards and being able to try New England staples such as clam chowder and other dishes such as fried oyster was an amazing experience. Also I want to thank my server as he was amazing and exactly what I consider to an example of great serving.

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FAQs

Union Oyster House offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (617) 227-2750.

Union Oyster House is rated 4.5 stars by 8726 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 121 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Union Oyster House

41 Union St, Boston, MA 02108

Additional information

  • Area
    Faneuil Hall
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Thu, Sun 11:00–21:00 Fri, Sat 11:00–22:00
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Seafood
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Parcel #7 Garage: Not clearly labeled (sorry). If the Union Oyster House is on your right, the brick building STRAIGHT AHEAD OF YOU is the garage. Drive towards it, make a quick left (Hanover St.) right (Congress St.) and right again (Sudbury St.) The fee after validation is 3.$ for 3 hours
  • Public transit
    Two options: Take the Blue or Green Line to Government Center. Walk down the stairs along the side of City Hall and cross Congress Street. We are across the street. Note we are across from the New England Holocaust Memorial. Or, take the Orange or Green Line to Haymarket,left on Congress,left on Hanover,right on Union.
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeaway, Wheelchair Access
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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