They have beer there. It's a bar. What else is there to say? It's a dive. Downtown eureka where all the bums hang out. It is also a bit of a gritty place. The first year I lived in eureka around 2008 there was a shooting right outside between some mongrels and hells angels...... Not a place I would frequent if given a choice.
Review Source:Epic? Like the Titanic sinking, like an Ebola plague, as epic as a clearcut. The Shanty, once upon a time, was a nice little bar. The hipsters here are the bloated snooty kind; theyre dumb, ignorant, stupid. Theyre not even smart drunks; the "women" look like meth addled saquatches. Ive been to dive bars all over the country---this is a hipster bar pretending to be a dive bar: weak drinks, attitude from bartenders who don't know their worth(a few dollars), the smell of living breathing sewer. Don't go here, go to the Logger Bar, the Alibi in Arcata, anywhere but here. Once upon a time , the Shanty may have been a nice "bad" place, now it's awful, all around, like a junkie with pneumonia and gout.
Update, look at all the positive reviews and ask yourself: Do I really want to be in a bar with smarmy bartenders? It takes alot for me to feel like I hate a bartender, but the ones here make it easy, they have the arrogance of a gulag guard, the rent-a-cop mentality of "I can destroy your life", and they will. Â From the look they give you, is it because Im in better shape, smarter, better dressed, well mannered, more worldly?And, all the above, all it takes is to wear clean clothes, have been to one foreign land, say Thank you and Bam! They despise you. Whats cool at the Shanty : looking homeless, snarling, smelling, living in the 90's, forever, ad absurdum. The lingo here, a mix of rap, white trash, Bukowski, Natural Born Killers. Speaking of killers, the people who frequent this hole seem to be the type that collect mass murderer playing cards, try hard to wear thrift store clothes, easily hate everyone and everything that isn't broken down, torn apart, smelly and angry. Don't know, don't care, this place needs a team of cleaners, a massive 30 gallon bowl of Valium punch and a horde of Mongols to torture the wan smiles off the workers here. The people who come here? Theyre dead already. Anyone who thinks this is "cool" is a cretin, a child, a junkie or dolt.Stay home, drink your vodka---that smell? Its yours, revel in it, you can recognize it...at the Shanty? There are millions of smells and stenches that will coil around you and sodomize your nostrils---never before has a non fishermans bar smelled like rotten pudenda and semen. But, the Shanty does!Stay home, your nose is precious.
Awesome drinks, EPIC bartenders, fabulous bric-a-brac decor...plus me and the hubby LoOOOOove the portable stage they just built.  (MORE SHOWS PLEASE!) Winner of The North Coast Journal's Best Bar, three years in a row <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.northcoastjournal.com%2Fnews%2F2012%2F09%2F20%2Fbest-bar-2012%2F&s=745fd5198e20a376c301b0f1a3eaa475f83a896dbf68e01398c5cf1e2c85550e" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.northcoastjou…</a>  Dog friendly! Sorry, but if you don't like the Shanty, than you jest might be a hopeless square.
Review Source: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" - Â where as themed drinks were absolutely normal price, and all other drinks were just $1 more than usual. Totally felt exploited.
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. This guy in our group is over-served pretty much all the time, as if the bar tenders don't care because he's a regular. He's an angry person and this is not a good. After a bad breakup, my room-mate found him on the side of the road down the street from here, and on her birthday some weird guy feigned a handshake, and instead grabbed her hand and tried to put her fingers in his mouth. Â The bar is also in the bad part of old town, so you sometimes get that crowd hanging around because they might have the money for one or two drinks and think that makes it okay to loiter until after last call.
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.
I should just start shouting terms like "Roofie-Colada" at the top of my lungs when I order. Maybe that would work.
This place always has those people that work way way way to hard to be "different" its annoying, it's dirty and slow and the jukebox has alternative music from the 90's, ugh. The ping pong table and pool table are about ready to just collapse from being outside for 50 years, lame. Go to Steve and Dave's it's way better. Drinks are strong but its not worth the dirty feeling you have when you leave, plus the gaggle of homeless druggies you have to dodge coming and going isn't fun!
Review Source:<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fpamelafosterspeakerwriter.wordpress.com%2F&s=eee76cd2d8d850f2ca26d505f1b665994fb673d80e12432fea8100ed888b636d" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://pamelafosterspeak…</a>
The Shanty is the inspiration for Victor and Davids (known locally as VD's) in the novel Bigfoot Blues.
I used to like the Shanty - it's a dive, of course, but the drinks are cheap and strong and the indoor/outdoor seating options are pretty sweet. Last night, however, I was sitting at the bar finishing my drink after last call when a bartender literally took it out of my hand. I held on to it for a second and he just kept yanking until he pulled it out of my fingers! Then a second bartender came around the bar and attempted to force my boyfriend out of his chair. He wasn't even drunk - he was our DD - and he politely said, "We're leaving, but you need to stop putting your hands on me." The bartender said, "I'll believe you're leaving as soon as you get out of here." And proceeded to stare us down from inches away as we put on our coats and left. When I said, "We're leaving. There is no reason to be so rude." all I got was an icy stare. Jerks!
(I feel the need to specify that my friends and I were not excessively drunk and we had been tipping well the entire night. It was 1:45 am on the dot - it wasn't like we had been sitting there for an hour after last call - and we weren't being obnoxious in any way, just chatting and finishing our drinks. I've never been treated like that in a bar in my life. Needless to say I will not be returning to the Shanty anytime soon.)
The Shanty is a pretty fun spot. A lot of bars in Eureka attract an older crowd, and it is one of the few where you'll find a higher number of 20-somethings. The drinks are pretty good, but it can become pretty close quarters on the weekends. There is also a good-sized outdoor area with ping pong tables, etc.
Review Source:Besides the "unwashed men's bathroom" smell that permeated the indoor area (that apparently no one else but I noticed) it was alright.
Divey setting- check
Tons of holiday crap all over the walls and ceiling- check
Decently priced drinks - check
Pool tables- 1 indoor and 2 outdoor. (Yes, outdoor)
Ping pong table- 1 outdoor
Seating- tons indoor and outdoor
Outdoor covering in case of rain- plenty
Chill place for a chill time- check
Oh The Shanty...what a dive, what a dive. At first glance this place is worse than it actually is...but the bartenders are friendly and the drinks are good. They have an outdoor area with pool tables (as well as a pool table inside). The place definitely needs to be gutted and cleaned, but what can you expect from a Eureka dive bar?
Review Source: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.
hella bummed...
so i've been hearing for years how my grandmother used to go here when she was young and how jazzy it is and all.
then i hear from my brother that they have a ping pong table!!
i go in.....get a feel for it...
it smells, the floor is uneven
the bartender is hatin on my license because its expired due to the fact that my current license was stolen. tells me i gotta go because its not valid...wtf so my age isnt valid? you can tell that its a real license but just because its expired....my age is invalid? what a hatin ass muhfuka! I come 300 miles in hopes to experience some history and you wont even let me in tha back to see tha damn ping pong table?!?!
hater. oooooo i was livid!
Ah, The Shanty. This is a really wonderful bar. They have all kinds of nightly specials, I'm pretty sure there's one every day of the week except for weekends. The bartenders are all very friendly and talkative, willing to make your drinks to your exact specifications (especially the Bloody Marys! 3.50$ on sundays!) The crowd is usually very fun and playfully rowdy, nothing too crazy (mostly). The jukebox has a wonderful eclectic collection of tunes, especially for its age. Ping pong and pool tables outside, and some nice seating under heated lamps for the colder nights. Another important factor here is the very tolerant, open-mindedness of both the employees and the patrons. A sign above the door reads "Leave your intolerance outside" (or something to that effect) and this rule is followed. People are not ostracized or called out for sexual orientation, gender identity, race, or much of anything else, which is a very important quality for a place in an area as diverse as Humboldt County.
Only issue: floor is kinda dirty, and the men's bathroom is always a mess. Nothing to gross (usually) but never all the way clean'. Oh well, you can't have it all, I guess.
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. Â 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..
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!
One of the great bars in Humboldt County that I miss. The owner used to get really annoyed with me because every time I came around, about once a year, I would totally beat her high score on the Q-Bert arcade game. The drinks are mixed by professionals and the jukebox has great tunes.
Review Source:***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.
The first few times we went to the Shanty, I said never again because I ended up with a headache the next morning... Being one of the few places we found in Eureka that stayed open later than 9PM, it was easy to stroll in there and order a drink.. after another, and another... It was never super-crowded, and people would rotate from their seats to retire to the outside for ping pong or for a smoke break, so we'd be able to saddle up at the bar... The crowd was pretty chill, the drinks weren't pricey, the jukebox was belting out some good tunes..
The thing that I'm disappointed about is that I experienced it too late: the bloody marys are awesome here! Â I should have headed over here on those headache mornings for a fix and a great taste.
I see how this place could be a lot of fun with the right people.
What's great about dive bars? Â No one gives a shit who you are or what you look like. Â Everyone is there to get drunk. Â And, if you're drunkometer happens to sync up with someone else's, you might just get laid.
So, let's recap:
Pool table in an area too small to play....check.
Pinball based off TV or movie.....check
Cheap strong drinks....check
Dogs.....check
Cheeze Whiz...check
Christmas in July, complete with Christmas music....check
and my favorite...
$1.75 Pints.....check
That's alot of checks in the "ROCK AND ROLL" column for The Shanty. Â I'd probably have marked it higher if I didn't go by myself, and/or could have stayed for more than one beer.
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. Â
The clientele ranges from the young to the working class old but it works. Â The bartenders and staff are friendly and the decor is amusing. Â There are light up penguins outside, Christmas lights and various other random pieces of lore. Â The tables are large and you can fit your whole crew and actually manage to hear each other speak. Â 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. Â 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.
A decent bar but crowded with a bunch of people that don't talk to you (and really, that you don't want to talk with). Â Definitely a dive - cheap and dirty. Â If there were other options I would probably go for them but it seems like this was it in Eureka. Â If it weren't for the patio I would have hated it there... the bartenders were nice though and that is worth at least 3 stars.
Review Source: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.
This place always gave me the creeps. It's in a shady area of Eureka.. oh wait.. Eureka is just plain scary in general. *shivers* If you like creepy places then head here.. if you like a good time head elsewhere.. a good place to people watch though.. ahh...there is a purpose to this place
Review Source:When you're in Eureka, the Shanty is pretty much the spot. Â It's got everything a great bar needs--dark lighting, an eclectic mix of surly, aged characters with young, intersting kids, an outdoor patio, kitschy wall art and cheap, cheap alcohol. Â You gotta love the Shanty, and hey, maybe a brawl will break out between it's patron's and the scary patrons of the scary place down the street. Â Shit, gotta love Eurtweeka for that matter.
Review Source:
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,916 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
