Sticky tables, punk rock, beer, what more do you need? The shanty is fun. Good priced beer and fun clientele. Someone was always willing to strike a conversation or play some pinball. The music is great. Every time I've been, the bearded fella was manning the music. Good punk and hardcore playing, now that's the vibe I need. There's one regular who's over the top and will speak with you whether you want or not. That's part of the fun. I felt comfortable as a queer person here. Best bar in eureka hands down. read more

The Shanty - Drink convo and the bar - Bars Near Me - Eureka, California

Rarely leave reviews or go to bars these days. Shanty was my go to 6 years ago and recently visited. Was pleased to see (leave names out starts with M bald older gentleman) bartender who was just starting when last visiting almost 5 years prior. I always enjoyed talking to him but things have changed in the years mostly due to insane amount of bartender drama within the business itself which Is all available to read on Reddit. So after trying to have a conversation only to be ignored multiple times kind of pissed me off so just tipped like 15% when I normally do 30% or 50% and left a note. To which I was planning on apologizing but before could even say anything said smart ass comment about me leaving a note about him ignoring me and refused any kind of service. Cool place and environment but bartenders are easily most emotional employees at a bar I have ever experienced in my life and like I said all the drama is on Reddit. Sals is another great LGBTQ option if you rather not be involved in drama or making friends with bartenders. read more

Actually was recommended this place by a beer tender at Lost Coast, and I'm glad she told me about The Shanty! An eclectic dive with regulars who will have you feeling like you yourself are a regular. Called and asked if they are dog friendly, and was told "we are dog friendly if your dog is friendly" my kinda place! Artsy, and a little out there. Fun, and laid back. Fancy cocktails or dive appropriate drinks. If I lived closer this would be my regular hang. Thanks for making my birthday special, Shanty! read more

The Shanty - Bars Near Me - Eureka, California

Love the "Art",Dave O? amazing collection! Plus the Bloody Mary's are so good. Stopped in at 13:00 on a Saturday and it was quiet except for three lovelies sipping some suds. A Great place to waste a bit of time. Try the Guinness on tap. Super fresh and Ian can pull a pint better than a leprechaun! read more

The Shanty - DaveO's amazing art. Guys definitely twisted. - Bars Near Me - Eureka, California

The guava margarita was yummy and quite strong, only 6$ is a deal to me. The female bartender was nice and inviting, male bartender seemed a little fed up, both normal workers (no rudeness). I loved the vibes of the bar, I was only in town for the weekend for school and I went by myself. read more

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Yuck. This isn't a dive bar it's scary! We have been all over the Nation & world. One of the only places we walked out of.

Came to Eureka for a quick weekend trip. This was the absolute best bar in time. Mike is an awesome bartender. Loved the spacious back patio as well. read more

Excellent place to take shelter from the heavy rain. Friendly staff, occasional shows, great back patio, punky and overall welcoming vibe about the place. Plus they have frozen burritos for $3. Hand microwaved locally of course! read more

Aside the fact that I'm a huge Mr. Bungle/Faith No More fan (Eureka is the birthplace of frontman Mike Patton), I'm always looking for the locals hang. I couldn't of asked for a more perfect spot. At first glance, the spot looked creepy from the outside, but immediately upon entering the bar and talking to the bartender (and his witty demeanor), I knew I was in for an awesome night. The locals immediately appreciated my curiously for the city by way of Mike Patton and I quickly met 2 locals that went to school with them. Score! This, of course, led to many other whisky ridden conversations and laughs. People here are just down to meet new people. Hard to believe this is in California as it easily could've passed for a small town in Oregon. The "weirdness" of Eureka was experienced, and I'm glad it was right at this very spot. read more

The Shanty - If the highway beer signs could talk... - Bars Near Me - Eureka, California

The people bitching this place are most definitely high maintenance and whiny. This is a fun dive bar with a funky interior. Low key vibe where you can hang out with friends. The bartender I had was super sweet and helpful. I stopped in for a couple of beers, while waiting for a dinner reservation around the corner. I will definitely return, when I'm back in town. read more

They are pet friendly and I had my service animal and my friend pet picot Roman and popcorn read more

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A dive bar with patio out back. I only go for drinks and the company, which is most convivial. Last time, someone had a baby goat for petting. Another time I encountered a miniature horse, Popcorn, a service animal. Those are exotics. The folks are friendly and welcoming. The bar service is fine. A pool table. No food. read more

Found this place wandering around. Came in from the alley not sure what to expect. Great drinks and good staff/service. Wasn't sure we would fit in but by the end super friendly and fit in well. Wish we lived here we'd be back for sure! read more

I love the Shanty! The $3.50 Bloody Sunday was such a blast! The bloody marys are a far cry from what you normally get at many bars, here they have the whole deal- celery salt, horseradish, garlic juice, a pickled asparagus, bean, and olive... They allow dogs to come in here when it's not too busy and being from Vegas I thought "how refreshing, a place that isn't anti-pets! I love it!" This bar has great music selection on the juke box and has a really laid back atmosphere. Todd is our favorite bar tender here. Ping pong table in the back is always fun! read more

The Shanty - chili brought in by lovely lady for game day - Bars Near Me - Eureka, California

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Down to earth dive bar. Friendly staff, excellent selection, and reasonable prices. Cheers!

Gotta love this place. They always have creative drink specials and highlight locally made products. There is local artwork and fun memorabilia adorning the walls. They have a spacious outdoor area AND a delicious food truck out front. A great local watering hole. read more

This is a laid back, dive bar with friendly people. I had a fun time here.

Smells of depression, cigarettes, and urine. A true alcoholic's bar. Not quite hipster (clientele isn't very bright), not quite a true dive bar. 1 star for trying, though. read more

It is Burger Week here in Humboldt, my friend and I went in search of the rather intriguing offering at something called The Shanty Food Trailer. After a bit of poking around we found it, tucked away in the corner of the parking lot adjacent to a bar hight, you guessed it, The Shanty. It being a little chilly out we were planning on taking our burgers to go but, wait, maybe we can carry them into the bar and have a beer whilst munching. As we approached the window we found that the Shanty was out of the special Burger Week burger, but there were other burgers available. That said, the chalkboard informed me that the day's special was a pulled pork sandwich, with candied bacon no less. Hey, works for me, and very well. A nice woman named Stacy took our order, and when I asked if we could take our comestibles into the bar. Indeed, Stacy even offered to bring our order in when ready. So, we go inside to a room where the conversation was lively, but there were no knuckleheads being loud and obnoxious. The Shanty was full without being crowded, and there were two seats together at the far end of the bar. Pleasantly funky, the decor had a homemade vibe. Some pictures and handmade signs thoughtfully arranged on the walls, an assemblage of, if memory serves, parasols festooned with string lights suspended above, the whole giving off a sort of Chinese lantern in Paris vibe. Behind the bar were several handmade signs, including one offering mango margaritas. Well, I do not drink in bars often, and I rarely imbibe mixed drinks, but I was intrigued. Let me tell you, bartender Kelley makes a GREAT margarita. So great, in fact, that I was very grateful for the delicious sandwich and vast pile of fries before me, the consumption of which fortified me such that I could have a second margarita without fear of drunkenness. The pulled pork was tastier than that made by the local BBQ purveyor I frequent, and the candied bacon just put it over the top. The other patrons were very friendly and outgoing, without being intrusive. Whilst preparing to leave I was chatting with Stacy who, it turns out, is the manager, telling her how thoroughly we were enjoying the establishment, a rather observant fellow at the other end of the bar spoke my name. When he had my attention he suggested that, since I clearly liked the joint, that I post a review. So here we are. As previously mentioned, I do not drink in bars much, and I rarely drink cocktails. Nevertheless, I shall return to the Shanty, check the chalkboard for specials, and quaff mango margaritas whilst chowing down on something substantial and yummy. Did I mention that Kelley makes a GREAT mango margarita? Highly recommended. read more

This groovy place is definitely interested in making it easy and enjoyable to go out during COVID. I mean, you know. Back patio is filled with porch heaters and tables, friendly and hardworking staff and a food truck right around the corner. The Greyhound was made with fresh grapefruit juice and the Cajun fries from the truck were hot, fresh and yummy-delivered right to the table! read more

***Hipster alert! Hipster alert! Warning, warning!*** Seriously, this place is home to more fur-hooded bomber jackets, Doc Martens and 'ironic' Buddy Holly glasses than a retro clothing boutique. Five stars for the rad ping-pong table and couches in the patio smoking lounge, killer jukebox and 22 oz. cans of PBR for $1.50. read more

My buddy Shaun-o said this was his favorite bar in Eureka and said I'd love the place too. Damn that boy knows me too well! The decor was great with old beer signs, random inflated animals hanging in the rafters, drink-specials signs that were created by local artists, two pool tables (one outdoor too!), and a ping-pong table to boot. Good mix of locals milling around (old, young, hip, chillin' locals) and great beers on tap. We stayed for a few pints and took it all in for a Friday afternoon. The bathroom was a bit gnarly but other than that, I loved this bar and I'll be back for more. read more

The Shanty - Bloody Mary Sunday - Bars Near Me - Eureka, California

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This is a great little dive bar!!! We bothered the bartender Mike Jackson waaaay to long. It has a cool little patio, 1 pinball machine and a few pool tables. You can order food to deliver to the bar and hang with some locals while you drink. Thanks read more

The Shanty - Bars Near Me - Eureka, California

Best bar in humboldt, hands down. Good amount of outdoor space, good pricing, lots of indoor seating (for the size). Only docked a star because they can't seem to figure out a decent "theme" (y'all need to just let this be a dive tiki bar, stop painting over good graffiti) which makes the place look more sloppy than unique often. And the bartenders are all over the place on how they treat customers, even the same customers day to day. Still, when I'm in town, this is my go to. read more

This is a Humboldt treasure. My Aunt tells stories of sneaking in there in the mid 1940's. The atmosphere is always welcoming to those of us that like drinks mixed to perfection. An Old Fashion night cap was a 10. A must see, classy, "dive bar." read more

I stopped in here after seeing the high rating on Yelp. I was somewhat disappointed though. I first parked right across the street, I was happy to have my vehicle visible from the door of the bar. However, before I got off and headed to the bar, I noticed the building about 10 feet from my vehicle, the building right across the street from the bar. The door to this building, which was vacant at the time, opened slowly. Just inside the doorway, slumped on the ground inside was a man in the process of injecting heroine. He closed door, and I decided to move my vehicle to the parking lot adjacent to the bar. Now I told myself I wouldn't let that influence my opinion of this bar, but I mention it just to advise readers of the goings on in the area surrounding the bar. The bar itself seemed roomy enough, lots of clutter decore on the walls, rather dark inside. Typical hole-in-the-wall type look. I sat down, and observed that it seems to serve its group of regulars. I waited, along w my uncle, for several minutes, but the bartender never even acknowledged us. We didn't even get a greeting upon entering. Mind you, the bar is small and there were about 4 or 5 patrons at the time. After not being helped, and not being impressed or interested by anything else going on in the bar, I decided it would be better to seek out another venue. Hopefully some of you will have better luck than I did. read more

Great bar, great bartenders! The food truck makes the best burgers too, I eat one every time I go to the bar to have a shot and a beer. You won't find a better bar, the drink prices are cheap and the drinks are strong. Best bang for your buck! Great music playing every time I go, fun vibe. read more

Was in Old Town Eureka perusing Vintage clothing shops & antique stores the other day & saw the sign "Shanty"... Was right up my alley. Came in for a beer Mike was bartending & after answering a few questions from this newcomer, I felt right at home. Went out back to check out the (ping-pong included patio) , and got to speak to a local about the old days of bartending. Crazy & cool drink specials at great prices. No-frills, but cozy & friendly. Nice ;) read more

The Shanty - Sign next to ladies restroom~ The Shanty - Bars Near Me - Eureka, California

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Perfect spot to stop in after a long day of driving. Friendly staff and great outdoor space to just relax.

The Shanty is the place to be for cheap happy hour specials...especially during the few weeks of sunshine when you can sit outside in the patio and enjoy the rare warmth. The clientele ranges from the young to the working class old but it works. The bartenders and staff are friendly and the decor is amusing. There are light up penguins outside, Christmas lights and various other random pieces of lore. The tables are large and you can fit your whole crew and actually manage to hear each other speak. I actually found the bathroom amusing - the women's bathroom features a notepad on the wall next to the toilet so you can pen your next great novel. If you can't appreciate that then you have no business in Humboldt to start with. $4 Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout Victorian Pints for Happy Hour is what drew us in...the atmosphere aided by the cheap specials is what makes everyone return. read more

The dive factor made me initially uneasy. Then I met some strangers, we took shots of whiskey together, and the bartenders joined us for a couple. We all shared funny stories. And at the end of the night, my tab came to an absurdly low amount, like $18. I returned to the Shanty another time, thinking, "Surely no random dive bar could be so fun. Must have been an aberration." But I went along and had an equally excellent night yet again. Fun staff, friendly patrons, and free-wheeling back patio parties. read more

Pool, ping pong and $3 draft beers. Great dive bar ambiance and really friendly local crowd. What more do you need? Also, after I put a few bucks in the jukebox the bartender gave me $5 in quarters to keep the tunes going. Nice. read more

This place isnt a five star bar by any means. I have lived in the bay area, and Sacramento area forever. I have been to every major spot and every minor bar all through out CA. This place is cool. But itsnt the greatest. The bartenders always ignore you even when they are looking straight at you and know you want a drink (Im sorry, but money in my hand, and me looking at you as though I want a friggen drink is only a lil obvious). An employee that works there does some killer art pieces. The bathroom is a joke at times (one stall), but you get to write on their wall paper and leave lil notes. Not to mention, they have some of the coolest vending machines (ciggs and condoms). The awesome thing about Eureka is that EVERYONE talks to everyone. So, if you go alone, dont be shy. Youll end up making friends at the bar. All and all, Im giving it four stars because I had a blast with my friends, the drinks could have been stiffer, but the over all feel of the dive bar was cool. Not to mention the drinks are reasonable for being weak. read more

Mediocre at best. The 4 times I've been in here, friends choice, have been straight up annoying. I don't like to pull attitude out but the staff here gives me no choice. If you guys don't like your job maybe look into something you like doing. More customer care would really get you a long way. I've had my go around with this place and I know of more than a few places close by with the same or better atmosphere, except they're more welcoming, and that's where I'll be going. read more

I've lived in Eureka for 2 years now, and this is a great place to go. The drinks are good, with great prices. The staff are super friendly and you NEVER have to wait long to get a refill. They have a good variety of beers most of the time. I love IPA's so am a beer snob. Every time I go I have a great time, mingling with other patrons. Nice bar, bathroom sucks! It's gross most of time they cant help that. Patrons need to learn how to use the facilities. Come on now don't get so drunk you cant piss in the toilets. LOL . See ya.. read more

Pretty swell local dive bar. It's no well-kept secret, and can be a little crowded on the weekends, but that's OK because it makes for excellent people watching as well as providing you ample opportunity to meet new folks. Everyone is pretty friendly, and the bartenders don't cop an attitude. Again, a very local place where a lot of the patrons know each other but aren't icing out any new faces. Patio in the back. Pool table inside, too. The offer food, in the form of microwaved hotdogs and burritos. This aint no fancy establishment that is seeking to elevate your taste buds that way. They want you to drink, socialize, and have fun. To that end, they've created a great spot for those activities. read more

Smells bad. Dirty, disgusting bathroom. Everyone smells like cigarettes...the back patio is gross...ash everywhere. I don't think you are allowed to serve food, and have dogs running around in the same location, but somehow this place gets away with it. Hipsters everywhere, drinking PBR in cans of course. Bartenders are waayyy too cool....worst bartenders in town, unless of course they know you...then you get drinks. This place is just a scene...plain and simple. There are many better places to drink in Eureka. I just 'don't get' this place. read more

The Shanty - Bars Near Me - Eureka, California

Cash only! There is magic in their jukebox, so be warned. Get a Shanty Dog, because it's not organic, and no one cares if you die from eating it, just make sure you kick the bucket outside and off the bar premises. Don't smile at the bartenders. Don't wave money at them. Just go and buy some ping pong balls and take them to the back, and play ping pong with strangers. No one cares what type of beer you get. No one judges your choice of alcohol. Don't fight or get married to anyone you meet. read more

There's a sign right above the entrance that reads something like "Leave your prejudices at the door." That pretty much sums this place up. Most of the people I've met are very accepting, intelligent and witty. Not like your average old town sports bar. The bartenders are cool and serve good drinks. Moderately cheap. Does look a little dirty but it's no Paddy's Pub, right? I like it. The only thing I don't like is the music selection. It's very... dry. To my liking anyway. But there are a few good ones. Anyway the crowd is a wide array of young, elder, black, white, gay, straight,lost and locals. Everyones invited and there's a 99% chance nobody will fight. read more

My friends bring me here all the time because it's their regular spot and most of them will swear by it. I was not a fan of their St. Patricks Day "Specials" - where as traditional Irish drinks were normal price, and all other drinks were raised to $1 more than usual. Totally felt exploited. Bad form. I don't think any other kind of business could get away with that. If you're going to socialize, use the outdoor seating area. It's really nice, decked out with gas heaters, pool tables, lots of open and covered seating, fenced off and accessible only from inside the bar so no old-town shufflers, and plenty of room to move around and talk. Only real con is that since it's outdoors, the entire area allows smoking, and since I don't smoke and have asthma I'm often bothered by other people's fumes. The inside non-smoking seating area is pretty cramped though, and there is a constant traffic jam of people either backed up for drink orders at the bar, or trying to shove past to get to the bathrooms or outdoor seating area. I got elbowed (while seated) pretty frequently. Conversation is pretty impossible indoors most nights - then again, The Shanty is a bar, not a lounge. Control of weirdos is non-existent. Gettin creeped on erry day. This guy in our group was over-served pretty much all the time. Like to the point that he gets massively ill. You'd think the bartenders would, I dono, figure it out after, maybe, a couple years. Then, on a different day, some weird guy feigned a handshake, and instead grabbed my friends' hand and tried to put her fingers in his mouth. (Speaking of, it bears saying that walking up to someone you've never, ever spoken to before - haven't even drank with - and using "wanna go to my place and have sex?" as a pickup line may seem daredevil to certain people, but to most people it's a hilarious novelty of the drive bar and nothing more.) Other than the occasional freak, and compared to any bar in Arcata, especially on the Plaza, The Shanty attracts a pretty chill crowd of people though. The table tops with built in vintage video games are incredibly cool. I do have to give the owners major props for that. It's a unique idea that adds flavor to the room and what's better than drunk Pac Man with friends? As for drinks, believe other Yelpers when they say the drinks are strong for their price range. If you like strong drinks, this place is where you're going to get the most bang for your buck. I'm still getting heckled for refusing to drink my Irish Coffee on St. Patties Day because it was dubbed "Jet Fuel" by my wussy girl self - and I had told the bar tender I'm a wuss before he made it. read more