We Love this venue! Awsome DJ set-up and event space! They host private events here too!Thx for the tour…can’t wait for the next gig here!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lyssa O.
Back in the day, this place was always a blast and full of people. Now, it's a shell of its old self. The "much needed facelift" destroyed the character of the WH. Drinks are small and overpriced and covers are crazy. These pics are from a recent Friday night at 11 pm and it's hard to believe this is the same place I used to be shoulder to shoulder with people. I've been a few times since the change in ownership, and I tried to be positive and supportive, but it's just not it anymore. Sad to cross this place off my list of bars to frequent or recommend.
Clover Lee
fun spot to dance and drink. they've got a big dance floor with a spot to hang your coat, good DJ, and a nice pool
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Waqqas A.
The new owner turned this down-to-earth dive bar and historic queer club into a gentrified space for who can pay more. From the overpriced covers and drinks, to the disastrous remodeling, we are left searching for the spirit of old White Horse. The new management removed most of the smoking room (where we used to socialize), and now became full of "reserved" tables where you could be asked to leave at 9 PM for a private party! So it's true that greed and classism ruin everything. Can the new owner listen to the old patrons and repair the damage to maintain much of the White Horse lost identity and warm energy!? I honestly don't know! But to start, bring back the iconic Red Walls and the Smoking Room. Also avoid hiring young inexperienced bartenders with "I hate it here" attitude. Bring back the old friendly ones who were full of energy and stories. The old experienced staff were a big part of the White Horse magic. We miss them dearly. Lastly, bring back the reasonable prices for covers and drinks. Get rid of reserved areas and private parties. That's not what the White Horse is about. Let's all of us in! All these changes were not necessary. It has been over a year and we still can't adjust. P.S. The metal horse makes me feel that I'm in a car dealership.
Chanel Alston
The bartender was good...it's just they didn't start on time . It was so cold my body started to hurt that I had to go home because the place was so cold.Kid-friendliness: NOT FOR KIDS!!!Wheelchair accessibility: I guess so far as if you just coming in. I couldn't tell you of the place is wheelchair accessible I wasn't there that long.
Atmosphere: 3
Service: 2
Jess Peña
Great mixologist's friendly and fun staff. Always seems to be something going on. Tuesday karaoke was a blast ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
E H.
It's a dive, not a vibe. Same tired DJs over and over. The main reason I am giving a 1 star review is the price gouging during a pride event. $50 at the door (and the price not indicated on their Instagram even in the hours leading up to the event). But $10 in advance. All because a B list celebrity was there. Sadly, the White Horse did not care that several folks left the line and decided not to enter because of the major upcharge. Guess what? I just went to a much sexier queer spot in LA with good DJs and the cost was $15. Oh, and there were actual A list celebrities there. Never going back to White Horse.
Anthea Williams
Danced the night away, cheap drinks and epic
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Shane S.
Me and my uncle went to get some quite alright vegan tacos down the block. No dine in here. Only take out. We don't live in this hood. What to do? We rolled up to the White Horse Bar. I spent a month in White Horse in the Yukon in northern Canada near Alaska doing a yoga intensive. The Yukon is where Jack London lived who wrote White Fang. There is Jack London square is in Oakland. Connect the dots. Everything is connected. Tendrel happens. Me and my uncle are both teetotalers aka we don't drink. We come to White Horse to enjoy vegan tacos and are grateful for staff here to let that happen. We loved the vibe here. My uncle got a ginger ale and got the pineapple juice. I didn't like the juice that much and only drank a third of it. First third like Neal Cassady's memoir. City Lights San Francisco. Legacy. Vibe here was amazing. Friendly folks. 49ers game on. We won against the Packers. My brother is in Wisconsin with sister in law and my nephew. Our team beat their team yet football is just a game. Game of life. We live it. A birthday party was happening. Vegan eats and vegan delights yet that was their party and we already have our vegan eats from next door that was quite alright aka four out of five stars. This bar is a five star for the vibe. My uncle played college basketball and I played high school basketball. We will come back again for vegan tacos and watch the Dubs on the tele would give this place bonus stars for that if Yelp allowed it. Peace.
Dennis X.
As the oldest operating gay bar in the country, it must be doing something right to still be thriving! The vibes here are typically good and chill. There's a pool table, dance floor, and outdoor patio. The bartenders all come with sass and humor. Last time I came here was with a friend after brunch on a Sunday, and we were able to enjoy some nice cocktails while watching football. There are 4 screens conveniently located around the bar. There are also two gender-neutral, multi-stall bathrooms. This isn't like...a Port Bar. It's relatively more dive-y and mellow, so if that's what you're looking for, slide thru!
I wish I could give less than 1 star. I never leave negative reviews but this was seriously the worst bar experience I’ve had. I was enjoying dancing, despite the cover charge and empty dance floor. But the bartender was so incredibly rude. Dismissive, gaslighting and deeply disrespectful. People at the bar tried to pick a fight with me for literally just looking in their direction. I was just tying to have a fun night out and it was entirely ruined by this place.
Ruby V.
Loved this bar so much!! The vibes were definitely where they needed to be, they have a dance floor and a dj, it wasn't too full the night we went but everyone was still dancing& having fun. Drinks were pretty good, regular price I believe.
Jesse N.
New owners absolutely wrecked this place. When it was a dive bar, I'd come with friends multiple times a week. But since they fired all the old staff and remodeled, the drinks are weak, the music sucks, the trans girls are gone, the lights are obscene... The renovation seems mostly to have involved turning the whole bar into a big, empty, badly lit room with no good places to sit and sports on the tv. Worst of all, they charge a steep cover every chance they get and make you wait in line for hours: not because there's anything interesting happening inside (hilariously, it's nearly always empty when you actually get in). Maybe the new owners think we'll share their fantasy that the bar they've ruined is worth waiting for. It's a real tragedy. I miss popping in for a couple drinks with my friends and my community and meeting new people. I genuinely can't believe the gay bar is the worst night out in town.
Guilherme Henrique
Extremely abusive entry prices....
Trent H
had 2 drinks and left to get some jack in the box, came back to them saying that we had to pay a $20 cover fee and that we were informed that if we left without getting a wristband that we had to pay (we were not). Wouldn’t let us in even though the bartender clearly recognized us as prior patrons. Told us that it would be a “lit” night and the $20 would be worth it. Then my friend who was still inside walked out not knowing the cover fee situation and they wouldn’t let him in either. we left immediately
We Love this venue! Awsome DJ set-up and event space! They host private events here too!Thx for the tour…can’t wait for the next gig here!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Back in the day, this place was always a blast and full of people. Now, it's a shell of its old self. The "much needed facelift" destroyed the character of the WH. Drinks are small and overpriced and covers are crazy. These pics are from a recent Friday night at 11 pm and it's hard to believe this is the same place I used to be shoulder to shoulder with people. I've been a few times since the change in ownership, and I tried to be positive and supportive, but it's just not it anymore. Sad to cross this place off my list of bars to frequent or recommend.
fun spot to dance and drink. they've got a big dance floor with a spot to hang your coat, good DJ, and a nice pool
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
The new owner turned this down-to-earth dive bar and historic queer club into a gentrified space for who can pay more. From the overpriced covers and drinks, to the disastrous remodeling, we are left searching for the spirit of old White Horse. The new management removed most of the smoking room (where we used to socialize), and now became full of "reserved" tables where you could be asked to leave at 9 PM for a private party! So it's true that greed and classism ruin everything. Can the new owner listen to the old patrons and repair the damage to maintain much of the White Horse lost identity and warm energy!? I honestly don't know! But to start, bring back the iconic Red Walls and the Smoking Room. Also avoid hiring young inexperienced bartenders with "I hate it here" attitude. Bring back the old friendly ones who were full of energy and stories. The old experienced staff were a big part of the White Horse magic. We miss them dearly. Lastly, bring back the reasonable prices for covers and drinks. Get rid of reserved areas and private parties. That's not what the White Horse is about. Let's all of us in! All these changes were not necessary. It has been over a year and we still can't adjust. P.S. The metal horse makes me feel that I'm in a car dealership.
The bartender was good...it's just they didn't start on time . It was so cold my body started to hurt that I had to go home because the place was so cold.Kid-friendliness: NOT FOR KIDS!!!Wheelchair accessibility: I guess so far as if you just coming in. I couldn't tell you of the place is wheelchair accessible I wasn't there that long.
Atmosphere: 3
Service: 2
Great mixologist's friendly and fun staff. Always seems to be something going on. Tuesday karaoke was a blast ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
It's a dive, not a vibe. Same tired DJs over and over. The main reason I am giving a 1 star review is the price gouging during a pride event. $50 at the door (and the price not indicated on their Instagram even in the hours leading up to the event). But $10 in advance. All because a B list celebrity was there. Sadly, the White Horse did not care that several folks left the line and decided not to enter because of the major upcharge. Guess what? I just went to a much sexier queer spot in LA with good DJs and the cost was $15. Oh, and there were actual A list celebrities there. Never going back to White Horse.
Danced the night away, cheap drinks and epic
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Me and my uncle went to get some quite alright vegan tacos down the block. No dine in here. Only take out. We don't live in this hood. What to do? We rolled up to the White Horse Bar. I spent a month in White Horse in the Yukon in northern Canada near Alaska doing a yoga intensive. The Yukon is where Jack London lived who wrote White Fang. There is Jack London square is in Oakland. Connect the dots. Everything is connected. Tendrel happens. Me and my uncle are both teetotalers aka we don't drink. We come to White Horse to enjoy vegan tacos and are grateful for staff here to let that happen. We loved the vibe here. My uncle got a ginger ale and got the pineapple juice. I didn't like the juice that much and only drank a third of it. First third like Neal Cassady's memoir. City Lights San Francisco. Legacy. Vibe here was amazing. Friendly folks. 49ers game on. We won against the Packers. My brother is in Wisconsin with sister in law and my nephew. Our team beat their team yet football is just a game. Game of life. We live it. A birthday party was happening. Vegan eats and vegan delights yet that was their party and we already have our vegan eats from next door that was quite alright aka four out of five stars. This bar is a five star for the vibe. My uncle played college basketball and I played high school basketball. We will come back again for vegan tacos and watch the Dubs on the tele would give this place bonus stars for that if Yelp allowed it. Peace.
As the oldest operating gay bar in the country, it must be doing something right to still be thriving! The vibes here are typically good and chill. There's a pool table, dance floor, and outdoor patio. The bartenders all come with sass and humor. Last time I came here was with a friend after brunch on a Sunday, and we were able to enjoy some nice cocktails while watching football. There are 4 screens conveniently located around the bar. There are also two gender-neutral, multi-stall bathrooms. This isn't like...a Port Bar. It's relatively more dive-y and mellow, so if that's what you're looking for, slide thru!
Restaurantji Recommends
I wish I could give less than 1 star. I never leave negative reviews but this was seriously the worst bar experience I’ve had. I was enjoying dancing, despite the cover charge and empty dance floor. But the bartender was so incredibly rude. Dismissive, gaslighting and deeply disrespectful. People at the bar tried to pick a fight with me for literally just looking in their direction. I was just tying to have a fun night out and it was entirely ruined by this place.
Loved this bar so much!! The vibes were definitely where they needed to be, they have a dance floor and a dj, it wasn't too full the night we went but everyone was still dancing& having fun. Drinks were pretty good, regular price I believe.
New owners absolutely wrecked this place. When it was a dive bar, I'd come with friends multiple times a week. But since they fired all the old staff and remodeled, the drinks are weak, the music sucks, the trans girls are gone, the lights are obscene... The renovation seems mostly to have involved turning the whole bar into a big, empty, badly lit room with no good places to sit and sports on the tv. Worst of all, they charge a steep cover every chance they get and make you wait in line for hours: not because there's anything interesting happening inside (hilariously, it's nearly always empty when you actually get in). Maybe the new owners think we'll share their fantasy that the bar they've ruined is worth waiting for. It's a real tragedy. I miss popping in for a couple drinks with my friends and my community and meeting new people. I genuinely can't believe the gay bar is the worst night out in town.
Extremely abusive entry prices....
had 2 drinks and left to get some jack in the box, came back to them saying that we had to pay a $20 cover fee and that we were informed that if we left without getting a wristband that we had to pay (we were not). Wouldn’t let us in even though the bartender clearly recognized us as prior patrons. Told us that it would be a “lit” night and the $20 would be worth it. Then my friend who was still inside walked out not knowing the cover fee situation and they wouldn’t let him in either. we left immediately
Atmosphere: 1