Jack London Square

Noted American author Jack London (1876~1916) spent much of his boyhood around the waterfront area that is now known as Jack London Square. This site, which once served Oakland as the heart of its port operations, is still one of the city's most easily identified landmarks. It continues to function as an active marina and ferry dock, even though its focus has shifted from being a major seaport to serving as a modern commercial zone for residents and visitors to "Dine-Shop-Play-Stay."

Fronting the Oakland Estuary leading to San Francisco Bay, Jack London Square covers all the blocks between Second Street and the water's edge between the Landing and Cay Street. It includes the shops along Embarcadero Street, including three covered parking garages, the Regal Cinemas Jack London Stadium 9 cinema, Miss Pearl Jam's House for live comedy, and the Pavilion with its Broadway Stage, as well as the Waterfront Hotel. The Port of Oakland has its headquarters here, the historic USS Potomac (FDR's former yacht) is moored nearby for narrated history cruises, and Jack London's Yukon cabin has been reconstructed on the premises, too.

A dozen restaurants are located within Jack London Square, offering Italian, Mexican, Japanese, and American cuisines, with considerable emphasis on seafood. The Pacific Coast Farmer's Market is held on Water Street, between Franklin and Harrison, every Sunday from 9am to 2pm and a permanent public market is currently under construction.