Would it surprise you to know the oldest Italian restaurant in California is located in San Francisco? Fior d’Italia opened in 1886. The restaurant’s name means, “flower of Italy”. Over the decades, the restaurant has changed ownership and even briefly closed for about 6 months in 2012. Despite the brief changes and closing, customers keep coming back for the excellent food, atmosphere, and service.

Ristorante Fior d’Italia not only has the distinction of being the oldest Italian restaurant in California; it’s also the oldest Italian restaurant in the United States. Pretty impressive considering all of the Italian restaurants on the east coast, which was developed much earlier than California. Fior d’Italia can attribute its success and longevity to several factors: its quality food, consistency, and location in San Francisco.