Named for the Bay Area born-and-raised author of The Call of the Wild and White Fang, Jack London Square is a slice of history in Oakland—and it's having a thoroughly modern moment.
Once home base for seafarers and fraught with the public houses that kept their spirits up, the waterfront was reimagined as a tourist attraction in the 1970s. Today, the area melds memories of the many eras gone by, with retro coffee shops sharing sidewalk space with sparkling new condos, industrial warehouses, and art galleries. The waterfront is speckled with ferries and sailboats, and an array of cool bars, music venues, and restaurants—ranging from grab-and-go to upscale—draws urbanites from around the Bay Area.
Jack London Square may be all grown up, but we still catch the spirit of rowdy old sailors in the air, partying into the wee hours of the night. Here's where to eat, drink, and have a good time in the 'hood.
Fun Stuff to Do in Jack London Square
Jack London Square literally has something for everyone.
Sporting types can go stand-up paddle boarding or kayaking in the estuary with rentals from California Canoe & Kayak(409 Water St.), or set sail with Captain Kirk's San Francisco Sailing, which offers charters from Jack London Square (as well as Pier 40 and Sausalito). // Choose between bocce ball, 18 bowling lanes, or enough arcade games to delight any kid at heart at Plank (98 Broadway), and pair them with a decidedly adult spiked lemonade or riff on a Moscow mule. // Studios Eleven(560 2nd St.) is home to, you guessed it, 11 artist spaces and regularly opens its doors for Open Studios and Art Murmur events. // On the first and third Sundays of every month, check out The Buck(11am to 4pm) to browse through a whirlwind of vendors selling everything from jewelry to unique clothing. And even better - The Buck runs concurrently with the Farmer's Market (10am to 3pm at Webster St. and Embarcadero West), where you can shop for fresh local produce and baked goods every Sunday. If you can't make it on a Sunday, Second Saturday(11am to 5pm) brings together nearly 60 vendors, local entrepreneurs, and business owners for a block party complete with shopping, live music, and food. // Take a ride around the bay on the U.S.S. Potomac(540 Water St.), aka FDR's "Floating White House." You can also take a tour while it's berthed. // Peek inside Jack London's log cabin, which was relocated here from Alaska. // For a hardcore metal show, head to the Oakland Metro Operahouse(522 2nd St.), which also hosts the underground spectacle that is the wildly popular monthly Hoodslam, where underground wrestlers battle in a makeshift ring for Spandex-clad glory. // If shopping is more your speed, find the perfect gift—local art, fashion, candles, cutting boards and more—at Oakland Supply(427 Water St.). // Score a killer antique at Something to Sell About(380 4th St), a hidden gem for estate shopping. // Narrative(560 2nd St.) stocks vintage treasures, from midcentury furniture to artsy decor. // And, stick with us here, it may be one of the best places to try your hand at the motorized scooters slowly invading the Bay Area, with an abundance of the suckers available and plenty of car-free space to get your bearings (and only semi-judgmental glares from pedestrians).
