Where does this silly (but fun) cliche come from? I couldn't find a definitive answer online.
The value of the tavern as a place where characters can meet, find new adventure hooks, and spend gold is obvious. And there are no shortage of inspiring taverns & inns in fantasy fiction.
Did multiple gamers independently start using inns & taverns as a launching pad in the early days of D&D? Or maybe Gary Gygax or Dave Arneson were in the habit of dropping their players into taverns and it caught on as a narrative device?
Best Answer
The Comeback Inn played a prominent role in Dave Arneson's Blackmoor campaign:
It was also set up as a gateway between Blackmoor and other worlds, further facilitating adventures. As other answers have mentioned, the concept of an inn as an information and transactional hub was well established long before RPGs were created, but given the importance of Blackmoor it's likely the Comeback Inn strengthened the role of the inn in fantasy RPGs.