Like any good historic bar, the Hays House Restaurant and Tavern has many a claim to fame: the oldest continuously opened bar and restaurant west of the Mississippi, the oldest restaurant and one of the oldest structures in Kansas. While the validity of these remain up for debate, the importance of this 1857 bar and restaurant for the Council Grove, Kansas, community is undeniable.

Opened as a restaurant and trading post by Seth Hays—Daniel Boone’s great-grandson—Hays House also let rooms that served as a barber shop and a U.S. post office. On some occasions, the space was converted for religious services or theatrical performances.

This two-story, “pancake to prime rib” joint sits on the Santa Fe Trail and counts wood wainscoting, a large stone fireplace, and original pine siding among its most distinctive features. Following a kitchen fire in 2011, some 25 citizens, led by Council Grove resident Tim Tyner, came together to purchase this historic bar and restaurant and restore it to its former glory.

With the help of a Heritage Trust Fund Grant from the Kansas Historical Society and a Community Development Block Grant, Tyner and the Hays House owners secured funding to restore the facade of the National Register Historic Landmark to its 1903 iteration.

Today, the main bar remains on the second floor while the original tavern bar sits in the cellar space that is rented for special events. Before sitting down to enjoy options like homemade pies and the favorite fried chicken, guests are encouraged to try any of the beers and wine available as well as classic cocktails like a Rusty Nail or a gin and tonic.

Location: 112 W Main St, Council Grove, KS 66846

Hours: Closed Monday; Tuesday-Thursday, 6a.m. - 8p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 6 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Sunday, 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.

You’re having: A Kansas-grown Tallgrass beer before you take a free, self-guided tour of the historic spot.

Best Yelp Review: “It’s worth the stop and worth the time to enjoy the town, Daniel Boone would be proud.” –Thomas M.