Proudly sitting on Main Street in historic West Brookfield, Massachusetts, Ye Olde Tavern has served food and drink to travelers for 260 years. Ye Olde Tavern is considered one of the oldest taverns in the United States and has maintained a colonial charm while offering a modern dinner menu and bar scene to locals and visitors alike.
History
In 1760, a young David Hitchcock built a two-story tavern in the town of Brookfield, Massachusetts (which was originally settled as part of the Quaboag Plantation). Known then as Hitchcock’s Tavern, it was situated along the Olde Bay Road that stretched from Albany, New York to Boston, which made it a key stop for colonists who traversed the common stagecoach route. During the American Revolution, Hitchcock proved to be an ardent patriot who was appointed as a captain by Governor John Hancock.
Following the war, Hitchcock’s Tavern continued to serve Americans that traveled through the Massachusetts backcountry. The tavern offered food, drink and much needed lodging for many a weary traveler. It was during the earliest years of this nation that the tavern welcomed its most distinguished and interesting visitors. It is believed that Daniel Shays stayed at the tavern before he led the historic event now known as “Shay’s Rebellion.”
The most famous visitor was the first American president, George Washington. Confirmed by the diary of Washington, he visited and dined at the tavern on October 22, 1789 (this was during his presidential tour of the New England states). Years later on November 27, 1796, John Adams mentioned his stay at the tavern in a letter to his wife, Abigail. Then in 1824, it is believed that the famed general and frenchman Marquis de Lafayette stayed at the tavern during his last visit to the United States.
Over the years it became known as the West Brookfield House and by 1906, was dubbed Ye Olde Tavern (which its been called ever since). While it has changed owners over the years, the tavern has maintained its colonial facade. In the early 2010s, a renovation took place to restore the 1760s decor in portions of the interior while general updates took place in other parts of the building. Today, the tavern is a favorite haunt for locals to grab a beer and its Great Room is often reserved for wedding receptions and other large catered events.
Interesting Facts
- The fireplace in the tavern is the original structure and material
- In 1804, Jerome Bonaparte (the youngest brother of Napoleon Bonaparte I) and his young bride Elizabeth Patterson were said to have stopped at the tavern during their honeymoon
- The tavern is now known for its delicious wood-fired brick oven pizza
Our Visit & Recommendations
Ye Olde Tavern (7 East Main Street, West Brookfield, MA 01585) has been a mainstay in the historic town of West Brookfield for 260 years. The tavern is closed on Monday and Tuesday, opens at 3pm on Wednesday and opens at 1130am Thursday – Sunday.
We stopped in the charming town of West Brookfield on a Saturday to explore and for an early dinner and some drinks at Ye Olde Tavern. West Brookfield was incorporated in 1848 after splitting off from the town of Brookfield (the area was first settled around 1665). The large white tavern dominates East Main Street amidst the quaint downtown and offers a variety of pub fare and drinks- we couldn’t wait to see the tavern that George Washington himself had dined at!
Of note, there is a small parking lot behind the tavern and the entrance to the restaurant and pub is also in the back of the building (as seen below).
When we first entered I was actually a bit disappointed by what we saw. The dining room and pub were decorated with modern decor and the bar area (although well stocked) had no colonial or tavern feel.
Despite the initial disappointment with the ambiance, we were promptly seated and experienced excellent service throughout our visit. We tried out their famous brick oven pizza which was outstanding (well worth stopping in for!). As a few locals at the bar played keno and watched a hockey game on the television, I decided to walk around and see what else the tavern had to offer (it was not very busy when we went).
I meandered towards the front of the tavern, which at the time was not being used. I entered the Great Room and began to get the colonial vibe. Recently renovated, the Great Room is a large open room (with an incredible fireplace) that can be rented for wedding receptions and other catered events.
I continued past the entrance hall (by the front door that is used for major events) and entered a front room that is decorated in colonial-era furnishings, including an old tavern sign and picture of George Washington. It was in this room that they believe Washington dined in October 1789 and it maintains the tavern charm that I was looking for (known as the Washington Room). This was what I expected when visiting and was glad to see that despite the more modern dining and bar area, the tavern has restored a great portion of the original building to its colonial beginnings.
Overall, we had a wonderful visit to Ye Olde Tavern. It has a delicious and varied menu, a full bar and plenty of space to relax or host large events. If you are expecting a fully restored colonial tavern, you will be disappointed by the modern pub and dining area; however, be sure to check out the renovated front rooms that hearken back to the days of Washington’s visit. At any rate, the great food, Wednesday night trivia and wonderful service are worth the visit!