Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon
Best Historic Saloon in Oakland · CA
The crooked little bar where Jack London studied
Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon has poured drinks on the Oakland waterfront since 1884, a tiny, tilting shack built from the timbers of an old whaling ship. Its floor slopes from the 1906 earthquake, gaslights still hiss, and a young Jack London studied and drank here — the bar figures in 'The Call of the Wild' and 'The Sea-Wolf.'
A designated National Literary Landmark on Jack London Square, Heinold's is a genuine 19th-century saloon frozen in time — quite possibly the most history packed into the smallest bar in California.
Every award, on the record.
Each Centurion Award is its own dated annual record, and staying current means clearing the bar again each new year. Open a year for the full citation and verification details.
2025 Centurion Award
Best Historic Saloon in Oakland Oakland, CA · Awarded under the 2025 evaluation View the 2025 award →Awards run one calendar year and renew only if the business clears the bar again. Selection is by published criteria, never for sale.
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This page is the standing record for Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon (2025). It was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record; the business did not have to apply for it to appear. It wasn’t voted on or sponsored, and selection is not for sale. Owners can claim the listing or ask us to remove it. For hours, bookings, and live reviews, go straight to the business itself.
This page was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record; the business did not have to apply for it to appear. Own this business? Claim the listing to manage it, or ask us to remove it.
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