Best Historic Saloon in Oakland · Oakland, CA
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.
Each Centurion Award is a dated record tied to one year’s evaluation — earned annually, never carried over. Open a year for the full citation and verification details.
Awards run one calendar year and renew only if the business clears the bar again. Selection is by published criteria, never for sale.
Visit Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon
This page is the standing record for Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon (2025). It was not bought, voted on, or sponsored — only winners are published, and an award that stops holding up is revoked, not quietly removed. For hours, bookings, and live reviews, go straight to the business itself.
If you’ve put in the years, you may already clear the bar. Evaluation is free, private, and never for sale.