The Oldest Restaurant In Washington’s Capital City Is A Culinary Masterpiece

Originally posted Posted in Washington Dining July 19, 2022 by Jessica Wick

You’ll find quite a few charming old restaurants in our capital city, Olympia… but the Olympia Oyster House holds the title of the oldest. It’s said to be the oldest seafood restaurant in the state—and not only is the location perfect, the food and drinks are to die for.

The Oyster House is located at 320 4th Avenue West, right in the heart of downtown Olympia.

When you're exploring the city, you really can't miss it.

The location for the restaurant is ideal—it sits perched between Percival Landing and the Heritage Park Fountain, overlooking the water.

And on a warm summer day, the outdoor deck is absolutely bustling.

The Oyster House is situated in the same building where The Olympia Oyster Company culled the native Olympia Oysters in 1859.

It went from an oyster shucking plant to a restaurant in 1924, and the rest is history.

It hasn't always been smooth sailing for this place. In fact, it sat empty for a year in the 90s, and it was for sale for what felt like an eternity.

It has been renovated several times since, most recently in late 2018 and early 2019.

Oysters are obviously the star of the show here, and this place knows exactly how to serve them (on the half shell, fried, etc.).

The motto here is perfect: “The oysters you eat today slept last night at Oyster Bay.”

But even if you're not in the mood for oysters, fish & chips, or any kind of seafood, you'll find something tasty here.

The burgers and steaks are especially popular.

You never know when the Oyster House culinary team will throw down on something special.

This is the Captain's Cocktail: Fresh poached prawns, 1/2 King Crab leg, 1/2 Maine Lobster, and Bay shrimp served on a bed of ice with house made cocktail sauce. It was a special last spring.

The Olympia Oyster House is an iconic treasure, and the food is genuinely good.

Luckily, it's open daily for lunch and dinner, so you'll always be able to fit it into your Olympia itinerary.

What’s your favorite thing to order at the Oyster House?

Address: Olympia Oyster House, 320 4th Ave W, Olympia, WA 98501, USA