Fare at Colonial Williamsburg taverns is downright revolutionary.
Colonial Williamsburg’s historic taverns serve more than meals—they serve history.
At Shields Tavern, the oldest operating tavern site in the Historic Area, guests enjoy hearty colonial fare in a candlelit setting where revolutionaries once gathered. The menu is anchored by fried chicken based on an authentic 18th-century recipe from Dictionarium Domesticum by Nathan Bailey (1736), offering a true taste of the period. And their groaning board? As promised, you’ll need a moment (or two) to recover.
Christiana Campbell’s Tavern, a favorite of George Washington himself, highlights several of his documented favorites. The menu features oysters from local waters, classic spoon bread, and seafood pie, reflecting the tavern’s strong maritime and Chesapeake influence. A staple on the menu—mac ’n’ cheese—is downright decadent.
King’s Arms Tavern offers refined colonial dining with featured dishes such as game pie, prime rib, and traditional peanut soup, presented in an elegant setting befitting one of Williamsburg’s most formal taverns.
At Raleigh Tavern, guests can enjoy classic ham biscuits and the much-coveted ginger cookie, with special batches baked daily in the wood-fired oven—an enduring favorite for generations of visitors.
Each tavern features period-costumed servers and musicians, transporting diners to an era when these very rooms buzzed with talk of independence. It’s living history you can taste—no time machine required. Check the Colonial Williamsburg website for opening times and reservations.
This article originally appeared in the Best of Virginia 2026 issue.
