When it comes to American cuisine, there really is nothing finer than a diner – especially a retro one. The USA is filled with colorful vintage joints with long counters, cozy booths, jukeboxes, and other retro touches, taking customers back to the 1950s when diners were at their peak. We've found the best diner in every state, where you can soak up the retro atmosphere and tuck in to some classic American food and drink.
Our selections are based on genuine user reviews, awards and accolades, and the first-hand experience of our team. They're also regularly checked and updated.
Despite opening in 1996, this classic diner has a distinctly retro feel that makes it popular with locals and tourists visiting Alabama’s Gulf Coast. The food is full of Southern flavor – think po’ boys, grilled shrimp, fried okra, and turnip greens – but there are also perennial diner favorites, such as cheeseburgers, apple pie, and this spot's specialty: banana split.
This family-run diner opened in 2006 but the shiny chrome fittings, long bar, booth seating, and classic soundtrack featuring the likes of James Brown make you feel like you've stepped back in time to the 1950s. Customers rate the friendly service and delicious classic diner meals, with highlights including the house-made Reuben sandwich and loaded mac 'n' cheese.
Inside a classic Googie (read: Space Age) building dating back to 1964, Arizona’s Welcome Diner is the grooviest restaurant around. The Southern-inspired brunch menu includes a noteworthy range of biscuit dishes, including biscuit eggs Benedict, meanwhile the dinner menu has modern additions such as a jackfruit torta and fried green tomato sandwich. The diner is due to reopen in July 2023, after a temporary closure. There's also a sister restaurant in Garfield.
We love a theme and this diner's is simple: the color purple. The venues are fashioned on the classic 1950s model, with a retro soda fountain and plenty of neon, and there are now five locations (three in Little Rock, one in Hot Springs, and one in Conway). They all serve diner food, including burgers, hot dogs, and toasted sandwiches, plus signature purple shakes and desserts.
Opened in 1958, this famed Inglewood diner is known for its preserved Googie architecture, with an irregular-shaped roof, distinctive neon sign and retro interior. Typical dishes abound, including chicken wings, pancakes, French toast, hash browns, and eggs. But it’s the house specialty of fried chicken and waffles that really gets people talking.
Pete's Kitchen has stood on the corner of Colfax and Race Street in Denver since 1942. Check out its fluorescent sign, black leather booths, and vintage wall art, all reflective of a decade gone by. Then feast on Greek-influenced diner dishes. The Greek salad with feta cheese, hot chili peppers, olives, dolmades (stuffed vine leaves) and pita, and the Gyros Melt, a toasted gyro meat sandwich with cucumber sauce and fries, are popular orders. It's open 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays.
Touted as the longest stainless-steel diner in the country, Olympia Diner started life in Massachusetts before being transported to Newington in 1954. It has table jukeboxes, booths, and bar stools, and has been the location for various films and photoshoots. When it comes to the food, diners can expect solid, no-frills cooking. Chocolate-chip pancake stacks and cheese omelets sit alongside American Italian classics such as spaghetti with meatballs and meatloaf with gravy.
Lucky’s is a small but perfectly formed family-friendly diner with a vintage feel. It serves, as you would hope, decent coffee, as well as hearty all-day breakfasts, sandwiches, burgers, and desserts. The star dishes are the French toast with bacon, the huevos rancheros, and the fluffy banana or blueberry pancakes.
'Cooked in sight… must be right' is this diner’s motto, and has been since 1950. Fortunately, even after being restored, the decor, like its tagline, stayed true to its retro roots. The menu is traditional diner fare, with a few contemporary upgrades – think goats' cheese omelets, fresh juices, and acai bowls. The crab cakes, on a toasted English muffin with poached eggs and hollandaise sauce, feature frequently in rave reviews.
A short drive northwest of central Atlanta is the Marietta Diner, a neon palace that you may have spotted on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Not only does it look fabulous inside and out, it's open 24 hours a day, serving timeless breakfast dishes as well as sandwiches, burgers, and, owing to the proprietor’s background, a variety of popular Greek meals. Check out the spinach pie, moussaka and pastitsio (a macaroni, beef and béchamel bake).
This retro joint in the Aloha State not only pays homage to the 1950s diner, it pays homage to the whole era. The walls are adorned with memorabilia (there’s also a shop) and dishes are named after iconic celebrities, characters, movies, TV shows, and songs, taking inspiration from icons from Elvis Presley to Mickey Mouse. All-beef Hound Dogs, 1/3lb (151g) Bopper Burgers, beer, and milkshakes fill the menu.
It’s hard not to fall for Dixie’s charm with its checkered floors, neon signage, grey and red booths, and table jukeboxes. Service is fast and friendly, and the food is top notch. Choose from build-your-own omelets, a range of fresh soups, skillets, and burgers. The just-made malt milkshakes will make your mouth water too.
Inspired by mid-century diners, Dove’s in Chicago’s Wicker Park shows retro design and contemporary cuisine are a perfect marriage. The wood paneling, brown tile floor, counter stools, and soundtrack of Chicago soul and blues conjure a distinctly vintage vibe, while the menu mixes modern Tex-Mex and diner food. Expect fried chicken and mac 'n' cheese alongside pozole rojo (a Mexican pork stew), tacos, chili relleno (battered, stuffed peppers), and mezcal cocktails that pack a punch.
This family-run cute retro diner has been featured on the Food Network and keeps customers coming back for more. Initially a grocery store, the South Side Soda Shop first opened in 1910 before becoming a diner in the 1940s. With decor full of nostalgia, it's also home to an award-winning chili and lemon meringue pie.
This comfy all-day venue has a vintage look, a warm atmosphere and a commendable relationship with local food producers. The Bluebird Huevos, featuring smoked pork green chili on Parmesan polenta and eggs over easy, comes highly recomended, plus there's a wide menu of sandwiches, burgers, omelets, appetizers, and entrees.
Known for its signature Spanish Burger (a steak burger with a secret sauce) and its apple pie, Bobo’s has been around since 1948. It’s only small, and half the custom comes from carhops, but it’s worth grabbing a stool at the counter to enjoy the old-school atmosphere, friendly service, and thoroughly decent diner food.
The oldest restaurant in Frankfort, and Kentucky's best-kept secret until it featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Rick’s White Light Diner was established in 1929. Little more than a shack – albeit an intimate, memorabilia-filled one – it oozes character and serves some of the best Cajun food in Kentucky. Menu items include alligator and scallop po’ boys, fried chicken sandwiches, garlic home fries, and beignets.
This cute, kitschy diner has a lived-in look and a menu of both classic American diner food and Southern-style Creole cuisine. Dishes are inventively named, such as the Re-Population Combo (all they served after hurricane Katrina) – two eggs, grits or hashbrowns, bacon or sausage,and toast or biscuit – and the Crabby Wife, with crab balls, scrambled eggs. and crawfish etouffee. There's a good range of veggie dishes available too, including sweet potato pancakes and the Garden Slammer, with hash browns, vegan bacon, and tofu scramble.
The Pine Tree State is not short of retro dining cars, but A1 Diner, built in 1946, is up there with the most charming. With its pastel yellow exterior, checkered floor, tiled walls, blue vinyl booths and bar stools, neon clock, and floral print tablecloths, it’s cheery and nostalgic. The food is suitably eclectic too, with fish tacos, and a BLT with scallops among popular choices.
Cindy’s modest diner used to be a general store and service station, and that old-timey vibe is still there ns abundance. The diner serves comforting home-cooked meals such as chicken and dumplings, sausage gravy over biscuits, and cod fishcakes with veg, in a laid-back setting. Its customers rave about the quality of the food and the portion sizes.
Believed to be one of America’s oldest diners still in operation, Casey’s 10-stool dining car has been serving customers since 1922, though it began life as a horse-drawn wagon. It has a long wooden bar, classic diner stools, retro floor tiles, and a bun steamer that pre-dates the restaurant. People come to experience a slice of history and to try Casey’s famous steamed hot dogs; get yours 'all around', with relish, onions and mustard.
Run by two brothers and their wives, The Grand Diner is all about the 50s style decor, with pink-and-blue leather booths and vintage posters alongside a classic diner menu. The all-day breakfast options include omelets, French toast and the Country Skillet (three eggs, American fries, sausage, onion, green peppers, Cheddar cheese, and sausage gravy). There's also a list of sandwiches, hot dogs, burgers, and salads.
This diner is so full of 1950s nostalgia it's simply named 50's Grill. With the standard booth seating, neon sign, and jukebox, the diner also features an area decked out to look like a house of the time, and members of staff wear retro uniforms. Customers love the atmosphere and friendly service, with favorite menu choices including chicken pot pie and meatloaf.
Although Brent’s has had a few facelifts since it opened as a pharmacy in 1946, it has remained true to its roots and the duck egg blue soda fountain and bar stools are still in their original locations. This is one cool, classy diner, and it's little wonder that it starred as a location in Hollywood movie The Help. The burgers and patty melts (a beef patty with onions, Cheddar, and Texas toast) are loved by customers.
This all-American diner provides the ultimate nostalgic 1950s experience. Opened in 1957, the red-and-white striped eatery offers curbside service, delivering customers crisp yet juicy cheeseburgers, curly fries, onion rings, and cherry-topped milkshakes straight to their front seats. Go on the right day and you could also catch a vintage car show.
This pink lakeside diner specializes in home-style cooking, and claims to have the biggest gluten-free menu in the Northwest. On the menu at Betty's Diner you'll find classic diner meals such as burgers, sandwiches, and all-day breakfasts. Customers rate the friendly service and love the retro decor, with prints of Marilyn Monroe on the walls and movie memorabilia dotted around the space.
With its neon signage, red booths, and black-and-white pictures on the walls, Mel’s Diner is so packed with retro charm, you'd never guess it opened in 2011. The prefabricated diner, which quickly became a Fremont hotspot for truckers and locals, only took two months to be assembled. It's open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with customers raving about the chicken fried steak and homemade pies.
This friendly diner in the center of Las Vegas will take you straight back to the 1970s. It has purple booths, the walls are adorned with funky ornaments, flowers, and doilies, and there are business cards stuck to the tables. But the real winner is the food. The place is famous for its house-made chicken pot pie and chicken and dumplings, with other menu highlights including pork chop with eggs, and chocolate waffles with ice cream. Lou's also sells house-made jellies and regularly hosts classic car shows.
Another 24-hour diner, the Red Arrow has been around since 1922 and has three more outposts, but the Manchester location is the original. It has kept its vintage look, with red brick walls, red paint, and a tall, red neon sign. The inside is much the same; expect booths, red bar stools, and walls cluttered with red neon and vintage memorabilia. The specialty here is pork pie with gravy.
This steel-fronted diner has been keeping customers happy since 1942, and is one of the most recognizable in New Jersey. The mammoth menu provides the customary diner food, including delicious meatloaf and tasty chicken and waffles. There's also a large selection of excellent fresh seafood dishes, such as buttery, crab-stuffed shrimp, and grilled scallops.
This roadside diner, which is housed in a former gas station and garage, is one of the best places to fuel up along Route 66. Converted into a 1950s-style diner in 1987, it’s as kitsch and glossy as a movie set, and offers daily blue-plate specials. The restaurant’s trademark dish is the Pile Up, a heap of pan-fried potatoes, bacon, two eggs, Cheddar, and green chili sauce.
There are countless diners in the Big Apple, many of which could be regarded as iconic. However, Square is refreshingly unpretentious. The TriBeCa landmark is a classic train car diner with wood paneling, believed to date back to the 1940s and run by the same family for the last 40 years. Spanish omelets, breakfast steak, pancakes, and endless coffee are the highlights.
Customers love this drive-thru diner thanks to its daily-changing menu of classics such as chicken and dumplings, cheeseburger sliders, fried chicken club sandwich, and spicy shrimp wrap. Al's Diner has a decidedly retro vibe with red leather booth seating and a black-and-white tiled floor, with satisfied customers calling it an 'old-fashioned diner with excellent service'.
Kroll’s has four 1950s-style venues in Minot, Bismarck, Fargo, and Mandan, which are well known throughout North Dakota. Its USP is that it serves German specialties alongside American diner food, so it’s possible to order knoephla soup (creamy dumpling soup) and cabbage rolls (cooked cabbage leaf parcels with a meat filling), or country fried steak with sausage gravy.
Ohio has a great choice of diners, but if you close your eyes and picture a quintessential 1950s spot, something like roadside Diner 23 is likely what you’ll imagine. The owners of this family-friendly venue are renowned for their hospitality and the home-cooked food is reasonably priced. Breakfasts, such as sausage links and waffles, are especially good, as are the roast beef sandwiches with gravy.
This celebrated diner is located a half-hour drive south of Oklahoma City. Although it opened in the early 1990s, it’s a nostalgic tribute to old-school diners and appeared on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. The food is Tex-Mex and the Tamale Breakfast – grilled tamales with eggs, chili con carne, cheese, and fries – gets repeated praise, as does the Eggarito, an egg burrito smothered in tomato sauce.
Established in 1937, Jim Dandy Drive-In is one of the oldest drive-ins in Oregon, growing from the days when carhops served customers through car windows following illegal drag races. Nowadays very much a law-abiding outlet, the diner boasts a cozy and colorful dining room, complete with leather booths and vintage advertising. Diners love the juicy burgers and huge, real ice cream milkshakes in flavors such as lavender.
This diner on Route 340 just outside of Lancaster is completely 1950s themed. From the retro car parked outside, to the red vinyl furnishings and menu of burgers, fries and sundaes, stepping into DJ's Taste of the 50s is like stepping back in time. Customers also love the 50s background music, the great service, and how great the diner is for families with kids.
This bold blue dining cart in East Greenwich dates back to the 1950s, when it was built by The Worcester Lunch Car Company. Though it has been restored, it retains the original clock, green bar stools, woodwork, and floor tiles. Meanwhile, the stainless-steel hood, wooden booths, and photographs were brought in to fit the retro decor. Head here for brunch – customers rave about the banana-bread French toast.
This family-owned diner has a good old-fashioned menu of award-winning burgers, fries, sweet tea, and mac 'n' cheese, all served up in quaint, retro surroundings. The fun, family-friendly Fillin' Station Diner opened in 2013 and has been popular with customers ever since, thanks to the kids' meals served in carboard models of retro cars and the popular menu of freshly baked desserts.
This vintage diner, with its old-school interior, part-brick, part-stainless steel exterior, and outdoor seating, is the top choice in South Dakota. It’s a proper community spot, known and loved for its poutine, beef stroganoff (braised beef and mushrooms in a creamy sherry sauce with pasta), and jambalaya (made with spicy pork and andouille sausage or blackened chicken, and cream sauce).
Speros Zepatos, a Greek immigrant from Cephalonia, founded Memphis’ oldest restaurant in 1919. Updated by his son Harry in the 1950s, it remains appealingly old school and is now a local landmark and popular location for movie shoots (it featured in The Firm and Walk the Line, to name a few). The French toast, biscuits and gravy, and sweet potato pancakes are said to be divine.
Built in 1954 as a drive-in, this venue has changed hands and names over the years, but has been the Original Market Diner since 1989. It's known for its fast and friendly service, and continues to serve home-style food in hearty Texan-sized portions, with bottomless coffee. The Denver omelet, biscuits and gravy, banana-bread French toast, and homemade pies all get a thumbs up.
This retro diner has been owned and operated by the Sill family since the 1950s. Customers love the retro mom-and-pop vibe, but the food impresses even more. The juicy with a crisp batter chicken fried steak with gravy is the most popular dish on the menu, but customers also rave about the scones with honey butter.
Established in 1925, this diner is as retro as it gets, with its lime-green exterior, neon red Henry’s Diner sign, bright yellow vinyl booths, bar area, and tiled floor. The menu is diner and Greek food, plus a few blasts from the past like root beer float and Vanilla Cream soda. The eggs Benedict, served with home fries, and the French toast are food highlights.
It’s pink, it’s kitsch, it’s on the tourist trail, and you'll either love it or hate it. We're in the first camp when it comes to this head-turning diner. Expect a pink Cadillac parked up out front, plus Elvis Burgers, 8oz double cheeseburgers, and Hound Dogs (1/4lb all-beef hot dogs) on the menu. Its signature All Shook Up Shakes and sundaes are the stuff of diner dreams, too.
Probably the most kitsch spot in Seattle, Luna Park Cafe is a 1950s-style diner that opened in 1989. Here you’ll find a 1958 jukebox and other coin-operated decorations such as Pepe the Dancing Clown, making it a haven for fans of the era. But, while the decor is old school, the food is modern. Expect cauliflower 'buffalo wings', vegan nachos, and milkshakes decorated like cakes.
Dolly’s Diner is the place to go if you’ve got a sweet tooth. It serves classic diner food such as omelets and burgers, but the homemade desserts are the real stars of the show. Visitors can’t get enough of the Butterscotch Lush – butterscotch pudding and whipped cream on a nutty, Graham cracker base. Plus its funky architecture, neon lights, part-steel interiors, bar stools, and booths will have you convinced you’ve gone back to the 1950s.
This lunch dining car (which, thankfully, also serves breakfast) has been open since 1926 and was in the same family until 2001. The current owners have remained faithful to the character of this much-loved establishment, which many will recognize from Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. It serves a mean Garbage Plate – a cooked breakfast of eggs, hash browns, meats, cheese, and vegetables.
If you're passing through Wyoming, head to 1950s-style Johnny J’s – it’s fun, friendly, as stunning as a film in technicolour, and serves all the classic American food you could wish for. Delicious options include the 'broasted' chicken (battered and cooked in a pressure cooker), the burgers, and the homemade pies.