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    Merchant's Saloon

    4.1 (248 reviews)
    InexpensiveDive Bars
    Open 7:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 2 months ago

    Merchant's Saloon Photos

    Business Info

    MERCHANT'S SALOON ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Divey
    Classy
    Loud
    Juke Box

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    Stefan T.

    Friendly neighborhood bar near Jack London Square. The inside is a visual feast for the eyes compete with pool table and stripper pole. What else could you ask for in a bar? Very nice atmosphere. Dark and cozy with high ceilings and many decorations on the walls to feast your eyes on. Some bumper stickers, a stuffed life like looking rabbit head with horns - and I could go on and on. Service was friendly and prompt and overall a great experience. Drinks are reasonable in price too.

    Pool table too!
    Wanda R.

    Just landed from SFO and the first place I stopped was Merchant always dependable always a cold one and always a cool crowd. Pool table is not bad either. You rock!

    Whiskey!
    Jorge P.

    Found this bar just walking around Jack London Square. Looks a bit intimidating on the outside, but the atmosphere is great on the inside. They got TV for the game, a big bar plenty of seats and a cool vibe, loud music with lots to see inside. The bartender was great. I had a couple of whiskey pours with my friend. They are not shy with the pour, prompt service and overhaul like I said a good vibe.

    Whimsical wall decor
    Dan B.

    Classic Dive Bar vibes. Real people. Stiff drinks. Love this kind of place! Classic Dive Bar vibes. Real people. Stiff drinks. Love this kind of place!

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    3 days ago

    Love this place to pre game or end the night haha the bartender are very generous with their pouring. The vibe is different every time.

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    1 month ago

    This is an old time dive bar. It is one of the oldest bars in Oakland but draws an eclectic group of customers from all walks of life.

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    4 months ago

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    2 years ago

    Issac was super friendly and overall chill bar. It didn't seem like much from the outside but def glad we gave it a chance. Metered parking.

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    9 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Fantastic bar tender, awesome patrons, and they even have an extra motorcycle helmet for people to pick other up at the bar!

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Good music. Good ambiance. Strong drinks at a reasonable price. Who needs to go into the city ?

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    5 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Kenny was a wonderful bartender. He was very attentive and knowledgeable and very kind! He was one of the best bartenders I've ever had :)

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    3 years ago

    One of the few real good dive bars in the Bay. If you don't like dives, avoid. If you do, it's a must.

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    Review Highlights - Merchant's Saloon

    That last has a stripper pole separating the two benches and is not the most unusual decoration in this bar.

    Mentioned in 22 reviews

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    Tallboy - Deli dog

    Tallboy

    4.4(172 reviews)
    2.5 miTemescal, North Oakland
    $$

    This place is great! The drinks are delicious and very affordable. Service can be a little slow at…read moretimes but that's completely understandable since it's usually packed. Making drinks for a crowd takes time and the staff always does their best. The people who come here are super friendly which adds to the welcoming, cozy vibe of the place. It's the kind of spot where you instantly feel comfortable. If you love a good martini this is definitely a place you should check out.

    I'll give it to them, Tallboy is a solid concept with their "tinis & weenies". However, a clever…read moreconcept can carry a place so far. Customer service is a close second to concept. Tallboy's martini menu is well-executed. While I didn't personally try one of the slushies, a friend ordered the espresso martini version and gave it a solid thumbs-up. Unfortunately, the experience falls apart when it comes to food and service. Waiting 30+ minutes for two hot dogs (after paying) is hard to justify. When I checked in with a server, she was curt and dismissive. She was quick to explain there was only one person in the kitchen, with no effort to offer a solution, timeline, or even basic courtesy. I understand staffing issues happen. However, customer service is a close second to concept. How an issue is communicated and addressed is what separates good service from bad. What's more frustrating is that these aren't customer problems to absorb. If the kitchen is understaffed, if tables aren't being cleared in a timely manner at a seat-yourself spot, those are management problems. Guests should not have to choose to leave without the food we paid for. There's a lot of competition out there, and concepts alone aren't enough to bring people back. I genuinely wanted that hot dog. That's probably the most disappointing part of the whole experience. Great drinks, solid ambiance, but the service needs serious attention.

    Photos
    Tallboy - The bat and the awesome bartender!

    The bat and the awesome bartender!

    Tallboy - Cheese in the trap

    Cheese in the trap

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    Banana hammock

    Space Lounge Oakland - Live music

    Space Lounge Oakland

    4.9(7 reviews)
    0.8 miUptown

    Date: 2/22/2025. Time: 4:00 PM. 63°. Sunny…read more I was supposed to be at 1701, but they are not opened yet. Thus, I met my friend next door at Space Lounge for drinks. Usually I don't imbibe. I am not much of drinking the Henny. All their cocktails have exactly that. The only one that looked appealing to me was the expresso martini. The service could be a little more attentive. My friend and I were the only two people in the lounge at the time. We sat and waited for somebody to come by to ask what would I like to drink. It did not happen; thus, my friend had to go the bar and purchase the expresso martini. The expresso martini was smooth and mellow. The only time I had the Henny was years ago at a Chinese wedding banquet. I added some to the shark fin soup, which enhanced the flavor of the soup. Yes, I enjoyed the expresso martini. The atmosphere of the lounge is one of sophistication and upscale. Comfortable seating all around. Nice place to hang out, do some chillaxin' with friends. Rating: 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.

    Super chill spot with hella cool people! Wandered in here with a friend while waiting for a concert…read moreat Fox. So we had a few drinks and chatted it up with Rick. He's super knowledgeable AND passionate about his craft, plus an overall fun person to hangout with. We heard that this spot isn't getting much love these days and just wanna say it's totally worth the visit! You get excellent service, people who love what they do, community and also some bomb a** lumpia if you show up when the lumpia ladies are taking orders! Come thru!

    Photos
    Space Lounge Oakland - Was feeling fancy , they knew what was going on ! Champagne was amazing ! Vibes on vibes baby . Oakland shows the most love

    Was feeling fancy , they knew what was going on ! Champagne was amazing ! Vibes on vibes baby . Oakland shows the most love

    Space Lounge Oakland - Great hospitality! Drinks were on point

    Great hospitality! Drinks were on point

    Space Lounge Oakland

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    The Alley

    The Alley

    4.1(484 reviews)
    2.0 miGrand Lake, Lower Hills
    $

    The Alley is a popular dive bar and nightclub in Carlsbad known for its lively, atmosphere,…read moreaffordable drinks and diverse crowd. It features DJs, a packed dance floor, and events like karaoke and live bands, attracting locals and visitors looking for a fun, no-frills night out with a wide range of music. Had no idea what to expect but had a blast. You just dance the night away with people you don't know. What a vibe.

    I visited The Alley for their famous piano bar and sing-along. The atmosphere was definitely lively…read moreand the place was packed, but the experience was a bit of a mixed bag. It was pretty frustrating at the start. Starting with the parking situation, couldn't find parking anywhere but what do you expect from San Francisco... When we got inside it was super busy and we couldn't find a place to sit, and no one really stepped in to help us. After wandering around for about 15 minutes, we finally snagged a spot at a long shared table. Luckily, a bench table right next to the piano opened up shortly after and we jumped on it. I ended up facing the opposite direction, so I didn't have much of a view, but at least my sister and girlfriend got a front-row seat to the show! The drinks were just mediocre, and it took about 5-10 minutes for them to arrive. For the price and the wait, I was hoping for something a bit better. Why it's a 3-star review: Despite the rough start, there were three things that really saved the night: The theme is awesome. There is so much detail on the walls; you can tell a lot of work went into the decorations. Our waiter was great. Even though the place was slammed, he checked on us constantly to see how we were doing and if we needed another round. The piano player was the highlight. He really knew how to hype up the crowd and his skills were top-notch. Overall, a cool spot for the history and the music, but the seating and drink wait can be a challenge. Glad the girls got to see the show, as they are more interested in piano bars than I am.

    Photos
    The Alley - Awesome place

    Awesome place

    The Alley
    The Alley - Facing the piano area

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    Facing the piano area

    Merchant's Saloon - divebars - Updated May 2026

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