FAQ

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Find answers to the most common questions our users ask — from account setup to features and more.
 Whether you're just getting started or you're a returning user looking to explore all the features we offer, this FAQ section is designed to help you at every step.
We identify the oldest bar in a town or city, sometimes neighborhoods. Since we assume our members are looking for a place for a drink, we provide the four closest bars (by zip code), sometimes there is a fair distance between the four closest bars to the searched zip code. We don’t encourage our members to head out for an evening drink with a long drive back.
We started by building a list of cities from around the world. Then we built lists for each state and Canadian province. We researched each bar one-by-one. Our research team used Google, Bing, Chat GPT and other AI search engines. We did not find a comprehensive list of oldest bars. We did find some lists: one was the oldest bar in each state. Some articles/hospitality guides had the oldest bars in a state. Generally, there were ten or fewer bars. And we tried to build a much more comprehensive list. Our research team included about a dozen volunteers. Some were seasoned researchers, most just like to drink. All did their best to be accurate and complete.
Please, please, use Propose Changes on the menu. We will research your input/suggestion. The more detail you can provide, the easier and faster we can update our database to serve our members. Depending on volume, we will get back to you with our results. Please understand, everyone at oldestbarintown.com is a volunteer. We do our best to be responsive.
Please, please, use Challenge Oldest Bar on the menu. The more detail you can provide, the easier and faster we can update our database to serve our members. We want this list to be the most accurate list. If you find an older bar, we’ll use it. Your challenge is warmly welcomed.
Likely one of two reasons. First, we did not research your town yet (larger populations were the focus). In more remote states, provinces, regions, our goal was to find at least ten “old” bars. We are still adding bars. Second, we did research your town and couldn’t find any truly old bar. This is where we hope our members will jump in and get the bar in their town on the list by entering data in Propose Bar. It helps everyone. As a side note, if you want to research other cities, towns or neighborhoods where we don’t have a bar listing, jump in using Propose Bar. Thanks, we will be proud to accept your help.
There are a couple of reasons. We use Google Maps which has a list of zip and postal codes. If Google doesn’t have the zip code you requested, the search result is invalid zip code. Second, if there are not bars within 125 miles, we tell you there are no results that meet your criteria.
You sound like my wife. Right now, the co-founders are acting on their passion for the history and joy of sharing truly unique drinking establishments that have stood the test of time. Facts: 17% of bar/restaurants fail in year one and only 35% continue to a 10th year. We do not ask for donations, were not selling stuff (not yet) and we are not selling ads (not yet). As long as the costs are reasonable and the number of members grows, we’ll try to keep things as they are. That said, what you can do to support the site is spread the word. Ask you friends to sign up, especially people who are going to travel. Because where are you going to get a drink when you are in a new town? How about the oldest bar in town! Thanks.
Let us start by saying the list evolved as did our definition. So we might not be as consistent as we’d like. If a bar said it was dive, we made it a dive. If the bar said it was a pub, we made it a pub. How the bar types itself trumps our work. Here are the definitions for each bar type for those subject to interpretation. Bar/Restaurant – A bar that serves more upscale food // Beach Bar // Beer Garden // Brewery // Brewpub-Brewery that serves food // Cocktail Bar-While it would serve beer, it’s focus is cocktails // Dive // Hotel Bar // Irish Pub // Karaoke Bar // Nightclub-Typically some entertainment, some that serve food // Piano Bar // Pub-Originating from the UK, pubs are public houses that serve a wide range of alcoholic beverages and ,sometimes, traditional British ales. They often have a cozy atmosphere and a menu that includes hearty meals. Pubs are community-focused and provide a space for socializing and camaraderie. // Restaurant/Bar-very upscale. Often requires a reservation for dinner. The bar is secondary. // Rooftop Bar // Saloon-Particularly in the American West, saloons were large establishments with a large reception hall and a more rowdy crowd. They are often associated with a western theme and rustic charm. Saloons are known for their lively atmosphere and entertainment options, such as live music and dancing. // Speakeasy // Sports Bar // Tavern-With roots in ancient times, taverns are versatile establishments that not only serve food and drinks but also provided accommodation for travelers. They often have a more rustic and historical feel, with a menu that includes a variety of spirits, cocktails and wines. Taverns are known for their diverse drink menu and broader range of cuisines // Theme Bar // Whiskey Bar // Wine Bar //
Oldestbarintown.com was created by Neknif & Nesor. There are two co-founders. We have known each other for 50 years. When we travel, we always go for a drink. We face the age-old problem, where we go. Oldestbarintown.com solves that problem. And we thought, if we need a place to go for drink when we travel, perhaps others do to. Cheers! Neknif & Nesor, 5540 Glenrich Drive, Dunwoody, GA, 30338