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.

This is seriously the dive bar to end all dives. There are tiled gutters on the floor along the bar which my friend - in earnest - told me are used for urinating and to avoid having to get up and go to the bathroom. Yuck. Merchants is located down near Jack London Square right in the middle of the wholesale produce business district (ie, merchants) - so the whole area is full of diesel fumes and the streets are oily and covered with random bits of lettuces. Sometimes you might see stacks and stacks of different kinds of produce in big boxes and crates on pallets -- like a jungle of harvested & packed veg -- on your way into the bar. Beers are cheap, so is the entertainment. You're not going there for your health - drink up! read more

I love dive bars. When you walk in you catch a whiff of stale beer, tequila and urinal cakes. Half drank tall boys cover the counter. A mix of young and old, barflies, blue collars and hipsters run amok in here. The porcelain spit gutter under the bar looks like it's a pee trough. Might have to try it out sometime. Merchant's Saloon has character and characters. Come by for a drink, or not, leaving more for me. read more

Merchant's Saloon - Pee trough - Dive Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

They have $2.00 beers. The beer was so shitty I forget what it even was, but it was $2.00. I give this place five stars because it embodies everything a dive bar should be. If you're looking for a place that's well lit, smells good, has exceptional service... go elsewhere. If you want the grungy dive bar experience, come here. It'll be worth it. read more

This place confused me. I wasn't sure what to think when the crowd looked like they were either punk rockers or bikers from Hells Angels. But then you heard metal spewing from inside the club and you are thinking WTF? None the less, I didn't let this deter me. Neither did the looks I got. Brown chick in a metal bar? whaaaaaaaaat? Blasphemy! lol Anyhow, I thought it seemed pretty cool for a dive bar. It was pretty big with a bar in the middle. The bartenders seemed to be taking orders from both sides so that was a plus. The acoustics weren't bad. Maybe the venue size was a reason, I'm not sure. Either way, I might stop on by this place again if I am ever in the area. It's not to shabby for a dive bar. read more

Merchant's Saloon - Dive Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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We were recommended this place after the pub we were at was closing down for the night. She did warn us it was suuuuper divey but they poured strong. I said yup!! That's my place!! I was not prepared for what I walked into.. and I mean it was awesome! Great ambiance although could have been cleaner. The seating area by the pool table had a bunch of liquid on it, forgotten food bags and other shit. The bathroom could have been cleaner but other than that, my friend and I had a good time! The bouncer was funny, bartender was nice. Got to see all the tweekers come and pretend they weren't high. It was a good time and the skeeviest of dive bars I e Ben to yet! read more

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Take a trip back in time where every day feels a little like Halloween. This bar is a trip. Never too crowded. Perfect dive bar vibes & fun bar staff. read more

Disappointing went in to get a drink sat at the bar with my boyfriend for 10mins asked one bartender if i could get to shots. He says thats your guy. Points to another bartender further down. NEVER GOT SERVED Left Seemed like a cool little spot. read more

Aweful service and very inconsiderate bartender. I forgot my license wasn't going to drink at all and just had water. She told my boyfriend that I needed a license to even be inside and this was after he bought a beer and a shot. So to not have me wait outside too long he cancelled the order. She said, "that's not how things work" and charged him anyway. He left without touching his beer. I know it's my bad for forgetting my license, but damn don't charge for a beer when we aren't allowed to be there. read more

Love Merchants's, but right now it's too cute I want the Old one at least put the stripper pole outside

This bar has everything. I can't remember the bar tenders name but everything else about her and this bar was unforgettable. We showed up on Sunday just after the last Raiders game in Oakland so we obviously needed a drink. The Mesmerizing service and solid drinks caused us to stay till last Call. Thanks Merchant's. read more

Came here a couple of nights ago, and I'd forgotten I'd been there before. I love the black lights and decor. They actually have more than one bathroom, even though they aren't clean. Staff was nice. Also liked the fact that you can choose music through your phone to connect to the jukebox. read more

One of the Best Dive Bars in the Bay Area! Honest. Who can knock a strong $4.00 drink & great people? Fun crowd from bikers to Intel Lectuals. Bartenders Simon & Tina helped me get the correct size hoodie, the 1st I've ever bought in a bar! I think I once bought a bar tee shirt however am not sure! Joejay at the door was also cool. Nice beard. The saloon was busy ss hell. Felt bad asking for an exchange for the correct size having tried it on. However the 1st given me was too small. Simon even made me a Gim Kimlet Err, Gin Gimlet! Fancy schmancy. Or is that shamanzy? Very cool bar if you want to see the "Real Oakland." read more

Merchant's Saloon - Dive Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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Went here for the first time a couple weeks ago with friends. It has such a fun and divey vibe. I like dark, divey biker bars for some reason, and this is a pretty good one. Lots of cool and creepy memorabilia and decor to look at while you sip on a cocktail or, in my case, get a can of Oly. Fun place, chill, quite spacious. read more

This is the dive bar of all dive bars in Jack London square. It's a decent sized establishment located in a relatively inconspicuous place. Like you could seriously walk past it and not realize it's a bar. When we were doing the pub crawl for my birthday, I should have listed this one at the bottom because we weren't exactly ready for this super divey place. It's dark with two sides of bar seating. I don't believe it's exactly a horseshoe but I can't remember off of the top of my head. There's plenty of seating and oddly enough, a booth with a stripper pole. Now said booth is located next to the restroom which smelled like a rest stop. Hey dive bar, what's up. The bartender was friendly and it wasn't horrible but it's a dive bar. I can't exactly give it five stars when it fits that bill. read more

This place is ok. If you want cheap beer and a good laugh it does the job. Expect the odd dirt ball every now and then to cross your path, as it seems that everyone who goes here (including myself) had some sort of drug addiction at one point or another. The female bartenders are sexy, some even in the way that ( I wouldn't look at you twice on the street) but after a few too many, i'd jump your bones all night. Anyway, it's a safe place as there is always people here who won't let anyone be treated badly by another, even if they abuse themselves with too many drinks. read more

This is my favorite bar. Period. I've been coming here for over 20 years. The bar's interior has changed a couple of times over the years, but the vibe remains the same. I love the dank. I love the "trough" at the bar. I love the dead animals on the wall. I love that I have to battle forklifts just to park my car. I love that they just don't give a shit (in a good way). The staff rocks. I've met everyone from the Alameda County District Attorney to Shock G of Digital Underground. C'mon! How ya gonna beat that? You're not. read more

Super cool place, super cool staff. Marshall D can suck & eat a bag of dicks. Oakland bar staffs don't take your entitled

To be (dive), or not to be (dive), that is the question - then again, have you ever seen a dog walk past you, and nonchalantly drop a deuce next to the pool table at your local bar? No? Well i did, and it was AWESOME. Dive bars are so trendy these days that i don't even like to use the term anymore. What happened to the good'ole days of bar fights, stabbings and toothless lot-lizards (truckers will get this) hanging out at the local watering hole? I don' t know, but in 2010, your typical "dive" is frequented by trust-fund hipsters and polo wearing college students; not necessarily the kind of people you would want to pick a fight with with, right?....yeah. Anyway, i must digress, because this bar, Merchants, is what i would call a "dive" in the truest sense of the word, without worrying about using a term that has pretty much become ironic since the hipster invasion. To get to this bar, you'll have to come to Oakland first - bam! - that alone eliminates thousands of people from the equation. Secondly, you'll have to drive, walk or bike through a gauntlet of neatly stacked produce pallets and forklifts buzzing back and forth from stack to stack, across the street and sometimes in circular patterns - all of which will have you wondering if they're just doing that to fuck with you :-) The bar is nestled on the corner of two streets that act as a staging grounds for tons of produce - the front door is a simple heavy-duty screen door, and stepping though the doorway is akin to the first time Luke Skywalker stepped foot inside the famous Cantina on Tattoine. The bartender there was the coolest - she let me keep drinking my liquor even after i discovered that i had no cash on me, and only a temporary debit card that i couldn't use at the bar. I eventually got cash from a nearby ATM, and came back to continue drinking, and play a few games of pool in the back room that looks like a garage studio used by the filthiest, grimiest and most hard-core musicians in the universe. There's a large mural on one wall in the pool room, graffiti writing over nearly every square inch of the walls, and old-school machines in one corner. read more

The Merchant's Saloon is as divey and sleazy as any sailor's bar, and I say that as an absolute compliment. I've spent many a night in Jack London Square but rarely have I enjoyed the drinks and company more than here. Great bars like this have a sort of intrinsic personality. It's not trying to be anything it isn't. Walking in, you'll first notice a long horseshoe bar, plenty of dusty and dated paraphernalia on the walls and a blaring jukebox. Your attention will quickly be drawn to the gutter that basically looks like a mens urinal trough that runs under the bar. Order a cheap, stiff drink, a beer in a can or a round of shots and you've pretty much set the atmosphere for the next many hours. I came in with friends after a gathering down the block and we couldn't get enough of the place. Between the friendly bartender, the colorful characters around us and the great selection on the jukebox, I was in dive bar heaven. if you want a more eloquent experience, go to any number of upscale, overpriced bars and restaraunts closer to the water. If you want a taste of blue collar Oakland, come here instead. read more

I've been going to this dive for about 9 years off and on... always held a special place in my heart. Sadly, it's taken a weird turn. Merchants use to be where you'd go to hang around with punks and merchant seaman... shameless daytime drinking and a grungy nighttime crowd. Now it's too often a cold, stressful kind of atmosphere. A lot of strange drama involving people getting put down or kicked out for little to no reason at all. I've too often seen the bartenders and door people be unprovoked yet abusive to customers. It totally goes against the spirit of the place. There's one bartender in particular, (Sharty I think her name is) who is an expert at making people feel unwelcome and uncomfortable. When she's working I make sure to leave and/or warn my friends away from coming by. She's clearly looking down her nose at her customers (friends of the bar in my opinion), often making abusive and condescending comments to them. She's sure to ruin your good time. I wish I could give this place the love it use to deserve but sadly... I think they aren't working with a full deck these days. I'll update this review if I think things improve... but until then you should take my advice and have a drink at a place where you're actually made to feel welcome. read more

1 Star for the 7am start time. 1 Star for stiff, cheap drinks made 1 Star for coin op pool tables, brass (stripper) pole, and comfy corner black light lit seating. And 1 Star for not having to get up from the bar to take a piss if you're a dude. Yes Ladies and Gents, that is a urinal running the length of the bar. It's been there since Merchant's inception. Merchant's originally catered to Sea Merchants and those boys could drink, but apparently couldn't use a normal restroom. The old urinal is no longer in use (at least it's not supposed to be), men now piss on the floor in the bathroom instead of on the floor in front of the bar. High five for progress! ;-) Merchants is a great dive bar. The kinda place where a mullet is still explained as "all serious up front, and a party in the back" (actual explanation for hair cut over heard in conversation between two rocker/biker dudes). For the most part the clientele fits the image of the bar but it is also a popular hang out for the servers and bartenders from Kincaid's and other Jack London square employees. And boy do those kids know how to party! read more

On Sunday, September 7, 2008, I had the best bloody mary of my life. Thanks, Tickles, for suggesting it but stop spreading rumors about me to bartenders, please. The delicious drink was made completely from scratch. No mixes here. I recall the juicing of either limes or lemons, worcester sauce, wasabi, horseradish and shakes of various spices but there was more I don't remember. When all was said and done, it was spicy, refreshing and filling. Some guy at the bar told me that the bartender also makes an amazing cucumber margarita and that sometimes, he brings a juicer in and makes special drinks with whatever fresh fruit he has. What makes this place even better is that it's a complete dive and the bartender does not look like someone who would be into juicers. I love surprises. The front room has the bar, the back room has 2 pool tables and graffitti covered walls, some of it art, some of it not really. There was only one other female in the bar when I came in but I thought it was fine. I think it may be one of those places where I would take someone to test them out. If they can handle the location and the bloody mary, then they might be able to handle me. Just kidding, that would be dumb. read more

Frankenstein's Dive Bar! Was in Oakland, hanging out with my friends who live in the area and they suggested the Saloon. A few blocks walk and we walk into one of the diviest, mismatched bars in the Bay Area. Awesome! When you walk in, the places looks like a hodgepodge of different dive bars thrown together in a tornado. You have parts that look like a city dive bar, port dive bar, biker dive bar, strip club and a few other things. There are animal heads, a random staircase that starts at the counter top, a piano, two booths straight out of a strip club, a photo booth, a pool table, and no idea what is on the second floor. We started straight at the entrance, sat at the bar and got our first round of drinks. My whiskey and coke was $3.50! HOLY CRAP I thought GPS was cheap! I'm pretty sure our first round was only $11.50. However we quickly learned why this section was empty as the bikers came in - and by that I mean first their exhaust came in as they drove on the sidewalk. We moved to the inside section. The clientele was a fascinating mix of locals, people out on dates, people pre-gaming, bikers, and more, but everyone is super chill - was checking out the infamous "don't drive home sign" when someone on a few more drinks than me came up at the same time. He offered me the head, but I told him I was just reading the sign. I also read the hilarious front door sign. As we left, a Cuban food truck was outside. I checked out the menu and was happy to see Cubano and media noche, but I'll be damned if I'm paying $9 for a Cuban sandwich. Also the lack of croquettas (I miss them so much) ultimately turned me off. But definitely worthwhile if a bit more ripped than I was. I really want to move to this neighborhood. read more

Holy Crap, since the last time I wrote this review, and within I guess the last 6 months, they have really tried to gussy up the place- including accents of corrugated metal, a different behind the bar look, changing up the room in the back that used to be way more full of graffiti and crazy and gutter punk looking. The patrons and bartender are cool, I sat with some working Joe's and DAMN the drinks they pour are large and strong. My shot practically came in a tumbler. Then after I got buzzed I sat with my friend in the booth area that still rocks with the black light astrology art. That area also has the stripper pole, so all is well. I still like this spot, but I sort of miss it's 'former' dive-yness- I ask you, are dive bars in Oakland becoming extinct? Frankly I think Merchant's is even becoming a tad too clean cut. Many bars people think of as dive bars I don't. I'm trashy like that. Or maybe I just like a bar to be a BAR once in a while. read more

Super fan just created here. I might start a website and send creepy love notes. I can finally wear my kitten lover crew neck sweatshirt and headgear because I finally found a place I can be myself and stop trying to be something I'm not. Just don't wear open toed shoes here. I'm not sure what the floor is made of, but the walls are fucking pretty. This part of town will scare off your parents and tourists, but the bartenders have your back! My friends thought it would be funny to hide my purse for a few minutes. I walked out of the bathroom only to find an empty hook under the bar where my bag was hanging. The bartender saw me turn ghost white and said, "missing something"? I said, "my purse." He walked out around the bar and hurried outside to see if anyone had taken it. He abandoned his regulars to have the back of a total stranger, who I wouldn't even give a shit about had I known me. He came back in and shrugged his shoulders, while I glanced over at my laughing friends. What a bunch of assholes. read more

I LOVE DIVE BARS! A lot. This place was as good as it gets. The drinks were strong, the bartenders were rough, and the clientele was amazing. They have a great beer selection and a full bar. The only thing was that the "manager" gave me a little attitude when I questioned why 2 beers and 2 7n7's were $18 before and then she charged me $20? She pulled the "I'm the manager" card whatever the heck that means? They have a stripper pole AND a pool table. The music was great and even though the "managers" attitude, it is still a great dive bar. And yes DMX was played. If you expect fi fi drinks and luxury, I would not come here. read more

Hipsters galore! This place is surprising! Many questions run through my head while I'm here: - Why is it in an area with all grocery warehouses? - Why is it so hip? - How did they turn this dump into a street art, rave-lighted, pub/lounge? - Who is this awesome DJ? - Why is that awesome old trucker looking man so extremely rad on the stripper pole? - When can I play on the pool table? - Where did that girl with the scene hair get her dress?? Yea, I'm super not hipster-like. I'm like Alice in Wonderland here (that plus too many beers, heh). Everything was strange and wonderful! Problem is, I wouldn't just walk into the pub by myself or with my usual groups of friends. It only feels right when I'm following the white rabbit, in this case, a friend/regular at the bar. read more

This is the kind of place that I could disappear into, never to be seen again. One day, five years down the road, my old crew will be packed around a table at Cesar or some similar place, sharing a bottle of expensive wine, and one of them will ask... "What happened to that one girl, Jess or Jenn or whatever the hell her name was?" "Oh, I heard that she went to jail for awhile. I think she was addicted to meth or heroin or something." "Yeah, I heard that, too. I know she got kicked out of her place a couple years back. Then she got caught squatting in some old warehouse in Oakland." "Hell, all I know is the last time I talked to her she was rambling about some shitty dive bar in Jack London. That girl clearly had issues." ***** Point being, this bar is the perfect place... if it's the kind of place you've been looking for. read more

My nice Jewish daddy would be horrified to know that his daughter set foot in this diviest of dives. Of course, there are many things about me that would horrify him, so let's be glad he does not read Yelp or my journal. Whisky, pinball with the boys, funny conversation with drunk man who gave me compliments that made me feel dirty. He told me he was a beer taster, which I believed for one second ('cause I believe stuff. Don't worry -- I'm getting over my faith in mankind) until I realized he was drinking a bottle of Bud and this was not a brewery. He made me give him a hug. I figured it wasn't worth the trouble to argue Drunkenness prevails, as well it should, but, even though only buzzed, I liked it. I vow to get falling-down, stinking drunk next time I'm here, as I have some friends who live nearby and can pour me to one of their homes where I will have to trust them not to molest me. Please don't tell my dad. read more

Air Hocky table, stripper pole, dim lighting, dark corners. GREAT dive bar! Nuff said. read more

I wanted to go back to Ruby to pay a visit. But all I got back was "Let's try this place." Whine, ok, whatever. We walk up to the door, a cover charge? Really, seriously? Doorguy: Umm, yeah, we got a band. Us: Oh, we're not going to listen to the band. Doorguy: Ok, cool, go on in. That alone gets them five stars. Vivid wall paintings (see pic,) stripper pole, large booths in the back, cheap drinks, good music. Two rooms, one with the bar proper, the other where the band is situated, The band area totally reminded me of basements back home which had been turned into party rooms, where the parents basically let the kids go wild with spray paint, wall hangings, what-have-you. I think I sat on a plyboard stage-ish kind of thing while watching the band set up, PBR in hand. This is as close as I'll come to being a roadie, so yay! We did take our leave before the band actually started playing, so no, we didn't pull a fast one on the doorguy. read more

Merchant's Saloon - Dive Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

OH MY FREAKIN" BUDDHA!!!! This place totally freakin' ROCKS!!!!! I love palces where you can get three different styles of Pabst Blue ribbon, Budweiser in a bottle OR on tap. A shot of booze at this place would kill a small child. The decor is top notch one hundred year old dive bar... The front of the bar even sports a urinal where old salty dogs would stand and drink and piss all over without even walking to the bathroom. there is this crazy rumor that this place just put in a womens bathroom...Thats good because I like women, maybe they should put some ferns in and have an eighties night, that would really bring the hoochie mamas in. What makes this bar sooo very special is the staph, SUPER sweet and all very HOT. I think about some of them when I stop over at SECRETS adult super store and rub one out. The entertainment level of this place is amazing....TWO pool tables TWO pinballs, TWo Megatouch games and most importantlly THE CLAW!!!! Anyway if this bar was a shiop it would be the Royal norweigieeean cruise ship of dive barsw.... IT totally fuckin rocks. seriously I've been kicked out of there more times than I can count and its a great place to start your day if you happened to spend the night at north county or Oakland jail. I really love this joint....it sucks ass so much it rules.... awesome. Totally Fuckin' awesome. read more

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Queen of the dives! This bar is disgusting, cheap, a total throwback and proud of it. If you want an authentic dive-bar experience, this is your spot. If you feel like you want something cleaner or neater there is plenty of that within walking distance of here. This place is all about immersing yourself in the grit and hanging with the critters. So come by and buy a friend a drink ... for next time. read more

They have a tiled trough along the bottom of the bar for you to throw up / piss in so you don't have to interrupt your drinking. I doubt it's de rigeur now though. Once I walked in, they had the prices of the shots written in black marker on each bottle. Hear tell this is where Jack London himself drank, back in the days when sailors and ruffians inhabited the port... and yes I'm aware I used the word "ruffians." Classic! Can't give it more stars, cuz it's not in stumbling distance and it's dangerous to even try... safety counts ya know. All they need now is a peg-legged bartender sporting a patch. read more

So where do you go when you just want to go and drink? Where do you go when you don't want to bothered by anyone? Don't worry about looking good, knowing the right people, or breaking your bank. Merchant's is the place to go.....roll in get a drink, talk to a friend or not... We either start our night off there or finish up the night there and sometimes we hit it a couple of times in a night. Ask for Rosie...great bartender and she will take care of you.... read more

This place is always one of 2 goto dives that I hit when I come to visit. But this visit was different because of the, what I found out later, new bartender that was working. He was being somewhat of a dick right out the gate, when being asked common questions...for e.g. My buddy asked him about the new space up the stairs in back, just being curious to know if there were pinball machines or something for patrons (there was no signage saying staff only, just a unhooked chain) to which he got an answer "there's nothing for YOU!". Turns out it's the office. You know how you have a bartender that thinks they're so cool that they can just act any ole way not remembering who is paying their salary? All I'm sayin is he should've been more of like a buddy rollin with us than being a foe that forgot we pay tips to those that deserve it. When we settled up and were outside having a smoke before heading to the next dive, he came out and was like " hey buddy! Thanks for the dollar tip!...4 guys drinkin and this is a all I get??" yep. read more

Cheap and strongly-poured whiskey, Jackass 3 on the tv, some serious history, and friendly ((despite the badass looks) clientele make this a way more awesome version of Eli's. What made it particularly awesome was when the guy at the end of the bar decided that he was really interested in this one cool-looking bottle of tequila, and since there were only 8 people in the bar, he decided he was buying a round for the bar. Yep. He bought a round. For the bar. HOW AWESOME IS THAT? Of course, then since I'd had both double-shots of whiskey and tequila (oh, and earlier a manhattan. oops) it seemed like a natural movement to start drinking beer. Mmmmm... yeah, the morning was awesome. If by awesome I mean painful. Okay, it was just painful. But the experience at Merchant's was awesome! read more

Another outstanding Oakland dive bar, hidden away between the stalls of a produce market at Jack London square. In the front barroom some old videogames, pinball, everyone here is friendly and down to earth. The back room is a vast, warehouse storeroom with late afternoon light filtering in from windows high overhead, a broken down honky tonk piano, a pool table, a staircase leading nowhere but trouble. If you were filming a movie about two rookie policemen, a society lady who fell on hard times, and a dockworker, you would have to fly the production crew up from LA because there is no way you could make a set look this real if you tried. It's that perfect. And no shot glasses or bottle spouts. If you order a shot of something they pour a highball glass halfway up. read more

Their bathroom means a lot to me. I once did drugs on the toilet stall with a very large battle rapper and a slightly smaller battle rapper. This establishment doesn't condone my actions or encourages it but sometimes I get a little giddy and can't control myself. The next morning I was a little afraid that I might have contracted a rash in my nostrils but, still 8 sheets to the wind from the cheap three finger whiskey shots and free beer backs, I was like fuck it. Also, because of a small wait for the women's bathroom, the two lady friends I was with asked me If I would escort them into the men's bathroom since they couldn't wait any longer and was in full on "pee pee dance" mode. It was the first time I saw their vagina's, right there in that magical merchant's bathroom, and let me tell, god does exist and he is Brazilian. They got cheap drinks, cool as shit bartenders, laid back folks, two pool tables and that damn men's bathroom that, in the right light and completely shit faced, can become a portal to your dreams. Five Stars! read more