Step into the Old Clam House, San Francisco’s oldest eatery since 1861, where you can savor delicious seafood classics in a charming nautical setting.
"The Old Clam House has been around since 1861, and once you step inside, it still feels like this Bayview restaurant’s opening day. There’s an old Western saloon feel with stained glass windows, dangling lantern lights, and dark wooden booths. And after all these years, they still serve some of the best chowder in the city. It’s a little thinner than other chowders on this list, but nails its creamy-to-tangy ratio. Get it in a bread bowl, give it a few minutes to cool (if you can resist), and eat." - julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez
"This Bayview seafood spot has been operating in its original location longer than any other restaurant in SF. (It opened in 1861 and has stayed put ever since.) Every meal starts with a shot of complimentary hot clam juice, which primes you for all the sautéed shellfish, seafood pastas, creamy chowders, and other solid fish-forward specials to come. Between the fish-themed silverware, the vodka-infused clam shooters, and the hanging nets, there's no mistaking The Old Clam House for any other place in the city." - julia chen 1, patrick wong, lani conway
"A meal at The Old Clam House starts with a shot of complimentary hot clam juice. It’ll prime you for all the sautéed shellfish, seafood pastas, creamy chowders, and other perfectly solid fish-forward specials you’ll consume at this Bayview seafood classic. The salty drink is a fitting start to dinner at the city’s oldest running restaurant in the same location (established in 1861), which heavily leans into the nautical theme. Oversized fish mounts, hanging fishing nets, and ocean-inspired photos and knickknacks might make you feel like you’re on a grand ship ready for an equally grand voyage. If not, the fish-themed silverware and vodka-infused clam shooters sure will. photo credit: Melissa Zink photo credit: Melissa Zink Food Rundown photo credit: Melissa Zink Clam Chowder A solid bowl of clam chowder that’s not too thin or too thick. You can (and should) get it in a snug little bread bowl, because clam chowder is just more fun to eat in edible basin-form. Crab Cakes These are perfectly decent crab cakes that have a bit of crunch. They’re a worthy follow-up to that free clam shot you may or may not enjoy. photo credit: Melissa Zink Clams And Friends Spaghetti topped with a medley of clams, calamari, and mussels. It's garlicky, light on the tomato sauce, and the most fitting seafood dish to enjoy between martini sips." - Lani Conway
"San Franciscans nearly lost this more-a-century-old institution during the pandemic, but now the Old Clam House is back and serving boatloads of fresh seafood on Bayshore Drive. The restaurant, which was founded in 1861, has now fallen into the same hands that own North Beach’s Mona Lisa restaurant and they’ve smartly left the classic alone, for the most part, keeping all of the familiar favorites on the menu. You’ll never go wrong with a bowl of clam chowder and a fishwich." - Dianne de Guzman, Paolo Bicchieri
"A meal at The Old Clam House starts with a shot of complimentary hot clam juice. It’ll prime you for all the sautéed shellfish, seafood pastas, creamy chowders, and other perfectly solid fish-forward specials you’ll consume at this Bayview seafood classic. The salty drink is a fitting start to dinner at the city’s oldest running restaurant in the same location (established in 1861), which heavily leans into the nautical theme. Oversized fish mounts, hanging fishing nets, and ocean-inspired photos and knickknacks might make you feel like you’re on a grand ship ready for an equally grand voyage. If not, the fish-themed silverware and vodka-infused clam shooters sure will. " - lani conway, julia chen 1
