Heinold's First And Last Chance Saloon

It's a unique stop when you're visiting Jack London Square.There's a step down in the bar, supposedly they suffered from an earthquake but was able to keep the business going. It gives the bar a unique slope it stands on. Decorations are cool to look at. Got a cider which has a good sweeter taste for those who aim towards the sweet side. Service is fast, they also give samples if you're not sure what to get. Dog friendly, outdoor seating is available. Snacks are limited with mostly chips.

This seemed like an obligatory stop in Oakland. Who wouldn't want to drink a beer where renowned author Jack London once quaffed drinks?Only problem was, Thúy did not have her ID, and was not allowed in the bar, or even on the very nice patio.So she sat on the outside of the patio, while I drank my beer on the inside of the patio. The bartender explained local law enforcement has been keeping a close eye on things, and no one is taking chances. My theory is that this place is a dive bar, in the finest sense, sitting on prime property. Someone is probably thinking it would be a great location for a Starbucks. I was tempted to go a little less on the stars, but as I was reading a plaque on the building, the bartender came out and handed me a piece of paper. He said the info on the paper is more accurate than the plaque. It was a fun stop to visit this former drinking hole of Jack London, in the middle of Jack London Square.

Came for a drink, stayed for the vibes. Walking into this bar was like stepping into a history book. Such a cool bar with a fun history. It was nice seeing all photos and learning the history of the bar from the bartenders. I really appreciated how they explained the history of the bar, especially the business cards on the ceiling - super cool! We came around 6pm and it was pretty quiet but around 6:30 the crowd started rolling on in. Drinks were decently priced, nice selection of beers. There's limited seating inside and even more limited standing space. There is plenty of seating outside but it was quite cold in the evening and no patio heaters. There were lots of pups hanging with their owners in the outdoor area so really love that it's a dog friendly area! If you happen to be in the area, I highly recommend you check it out. There is no food here just some chip bags. There's some great spots you can get food to go and can eat in the outdoor area.

My 7,200th review takes me to a saloon that's been open since 1884. Yeah, you know it. It's the conspicuously off-kilter, wooden standalone building next to the marina in Jack London Square. It always reminded me of the cabin teetering precariously on the snowy cliff in Charlie Chaplin's "The Gold Rush". I just kept picturing me rolling on the slanted wooden floor and the saloon tipping over into the Oakland Estuary.This time I brought Jamie W with me since he had never been before. It was fairly empty but just as I recalled, it was challenging to sit at the bar since I thought I was going to fall off the stool. There was so much paraphernalia behind the bar that it was hard to concentrate on what to drink here. There were two young men tending the bar, which surprised us as we expected someone more grizzled to match the historic environs.Jamie ordered the $10 Bloody Mary which came with not only a kick but quite a garden of asparagus, green beans, and olives in the tumbler (photo: https://yelp.to/ulBtgeeHhs). I was more conservative and had the $8 Margarita which hit the spot just fine (photo: https://yelp.to/mx16u33Mg8). We didn't have a second round because we didn't want to be a casualty of the uneven floor, even though the original potbellied stove held our interest on a rather chilly late afternoon.DRINKS - 4 stars...solid drinks befitting a landmarkAMBIANCE - 4 stars...certainly threw us back to the Gold Rush daysSERVICE - 4 stars...serious bartender TOTAL - 4 stars...our first and last chanceRELATED - Exploring Oakland? Here's my collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2ObVcpQ

Heinhold's is an Oakland, Bay Area, and literary institution considering Jack London's history with the establishment. And short but sweet, it's probably not going to be for everyone. Despite the stellar location on the Embarcadero in Jack London Square, the area is surrounded by the odd collection of restaurants and businesses that constantly seem to be in flux. Even before the pandemic, businesses came and went and business ventures like the next door structure that was supposed to be Oakland's answer to the SF Ferry Building food court never managed to get funding to finish. When the pandemic wiped out the last few old school eateries along the waterfront, and with the death of Eat Real Fest, the loss of the Sunday organic farmers market, and the rampant car break-ins and crime in the neighborhood, the area can be a ghost town at times. But other than modifying their hours through it all, Heinhold's has remained unchanged over the course of all the decades. It's still got an interior that's comically leaning from settling over the past century. They still card everyone who wants a drink. They still pot the coldest selection of beers on Embarcadero that can be enjoyed on their outside boardwalk deck. And they still have the best vantage for people watching and staring off into space while nursing a beer or cocktail (their bloody Mary's are epic). For those of us who live a couple of blocks away, Heinhold's remains a small bit of continuity and stability in a constantly shifting and uncertain neighborhood. Sure there are shiny new breweries that seem to open every few months in Jack London Square. But sometimes the soul craves some history and quirkiness over "shiny and new." Here's to another century for Heinhold's!

Located in Oakland by the Jack London Square area, this place has been open since 1883. As you walk in, you will immediately notice that this place is tiny. There's also a big slant in the floor as a result from a partial sinking during the 1906 earthquake. there's also a replica of Jack London's cabin right outside built from original logs from his last home. The person here was super friendly when I walked in and the drinks here are super reasonably priced. Yes, it's old, it's tiny, but there's a sort of romanticism about this place that I personally enjoy.I've been here before, but I wanted to stop by and re-visit this place. Also, I wanted to order a B&E Whiskey while drinking in the tiny room at the back table to channel my inner Jack London, haha. This whiskey was made or at least bottled right across the bridge in Alameda. I love these type of places because I'm not a big fan of museums. So for me being able to kind of see a type of history and drink whiskey... well that's like the Shohei Ohtani of sightseeing. Just a cool spot to check out when you're in town or by the area.

This place is a gem. Located in Jack London Square, it's Oaklands oldest bar. Great ambience. Cool staff. Solid drinks. Def check out this piece of history. It's like stepping into a time capsule. I'll be back!

Terrible service, walked in with friends and the two male bartenders looked up, saw us, and ignored us. Mind you, there was two other older men at the bar who already had drinks. The bartenders were just chitchatting with them. When they finally asked what we wanted we questioned on a specific type of tequila and the bartender said nothing and just pointed at the wall with their alcohol. Which we had already seen, we were simply asking to see if they had it under the bar since we noticed more alcohol in that section. We ended up sitting outside since the inside of the bar smelled like old cigarettes and BO. The chairs outside were uncomfortable and small, even our male friends were unable to comfortably fit on the chairs. Too bad the services is so bad, that place could have been a lot better.

Love this bar because of the decor & history! Drink was cheap too. I would go back here!

Everything!No food here just drinks but in a historic venue.Service was quick and staff friendly.