Honestly, this is one of the better bars in Oakland. They have decently priced drinks, good djs, a lot of space to dance and mingle, and an entire back patio with a photobooth. I think the back patio might be more spacious than inside. It's a great usage of space with plenty of space heaters and plenty of seats and tables. The security and staff are pretty typical for what you come across bars, but, overall, I had a great time and experience! There's also a ton of seating room inside and doesn't feel too crowded or compact. Definitely will be coming back! read more

I visited a few weeks ago for the first time, and unfortunately, my experience started off on a negative note. After arriving, one security guard checked my ID and directed me inside. As I was walking in, I briefly stopped after recognizing someone I knew. At that point, another security guard began yelling at me and then grabbed me forcefully to move me along. I understand that security staff have a job to do and need to keep entrances and walkways clear. However, the way the situation was handled felt completely unnecessary. I was not causing a disturbance, and there was no reason for physical contact. Being grabbed so aggressively was uncomfortable and unprofessional. I hope management addresses this issue and speaks with the security staff about appropriate ways to interact with guests. First impressions matter, and this interaction immediately impacted my experience. read more

This is a very cozy and intimate space. My friend and I ventured into 51 & Tel while waiting on our reservation next door at Pizzaiolo. We only stayed for about 15 mins, but we had a wonderful time. The bartender Danny was very hospitable and made me a very yummy tasting mocktail called Like The Sun that had Aplos Arise, Lyre's Italian Orange, passionfruit, lime. He said that they had an event going on that night and suggested that we try to attend if we had time. We did not attend the event, however I can only imagine that the event was successful. They have a patio, great lighting, a dj booth, and great drinks. I also found out that the bar is in relation to Asmara which is the Ethiopian restaurant next door. Asmara has been there for 40 years. Please check this bar out if you're in the Temescal region. Update: I stopped in during Happy Hour and had a slushie cocktail called Kiwi To My Heart. It was delicious. I enjoyed the patio area this time around with the nice weather. read more

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Walking into 51 & Tel, the vibe was vibin'. It's hip and trendy with a cute dog-friendly patio. Chill, diverse crowd that Frisco has lost. Great 90s R&B and Hip Hop playlist. And, the intoxicating smell from Sonny's BBQ had me salivating. Opening in September 2024, 51 & Tel is a cocktail bar from the sons of Asmara (Ethiopian resto) next door. I found 51 & Tel on Yelp while looking for a pre-dinner drank place. I'm not familiar with the bar scene in The Town but I'm surprised they have so little reviews. M E N U Craft signature cocktails are $14-$17. Beer and shot for $10. Mocktails are $13. HH specials on Friday, 5 pm - 7 pm. Rotating food pop-ups from other local businesses (the plates from Sonny's BBQ looked bomb but were going to dinner afterwards). Ethiopian food from Asmara next door is also available. CC's only. No cash accepted. D R I N K S * Golden Girl: Vodka w/ lemongrass, hay liqueur, aloe, lemon, orange, oregano ($16) Refreshing and stiff with citrusy flavors, not too sweet. Fav of the two cocktails I tried. I think Blanche would approve. * Fuego: Tequila w/ mezcal, watermelon, italicus, habanero, citrus, mint ($15) Nice twist on a margarita, the sweetness of the watermelon balances the kick from habanero. * Fortaleza Blanco on the rock ($18) I was happy to see them carry my go-to tequila since there's a significant shortage. S E R V I C E Welcoming, friendly bartenders. A M B I A N C E Gorgeous murals inside and out in the patio with a mix of high tops and regular tables. There's TVs inside for watching the game. Clean restrooms. P A R K I N G Metered street parking. We took a risk and parked at the plaza across the street. Overall, we enjoyed our time at 51 & Tel and if I lived closer, this would be my weekly go-to! read more

51 & Tel - Golden Girl: Vodka w/ lemongrass, hay liqueur, aloe, lemon, orange ($16) + Fuego: Tequila w/ mezcal, watermelon, italicus, habanero ($15) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Excellent cocktails Loved the back patio vibes with the Italian lights and outside heaters made it a very cute date night spot Best thing about this place is the security guard :) Thanks! read more

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One of my favorite cocktail bars in Oakland! They have an amazing menu from well curated cocktails for anyone to beer & a shot deal. Bartenders are attentive and fast. IThey also have a nice outdoor area, and usually have some heat lamps on in the winter which is a nice cozy vibe. They sometimes have rotating pop-ups in the back with food, but do wish they had some more food and snack options and it would make this place even better! read more

Very cute and popular cocktail bar! My last visit was during the Temescal Street Fair. I also noticed that they have a really cute outdoor patio in the back. I've only been earlier in the day so I haven't experienced the DJ's yet! Drinks are delicious! The bartenders take a lot of care making you drinks! I had a bourbon smash with cherries and it was perfectly sweet and tart! Cute spot to start or end your night! read more

This was our last stop during our Xmas pajama bar crawl This spot is a vibe No drama Decor is cool Nice music Bartenders are friendly Would definitely come back here again read more

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This is such a cute bar with great drinks! In particular I loved the Ethiopian wine and frozen happy hour drink read more

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Amaaaazing Saturday night vibes! The decorations inside and outside in the patio were stunning! The bartenders were so happy and made the drinks at a nice pace even though it was packed... the ambiance was so chill. I really appreciated how safe I felt because of the active security guards checking in and keeping the vibes stable. Parking was easy. I'm definitely making this my new spot. Get here early though! ~ Nice to meet you, Ben! read more

If you are a guy, dont show up anything after 11, lines are long and they let girls get cut the line. WHICH IS NO PROBLEM! Its only an issue when they let those who look like they just rolled out of bed in sweatsuits and flip flops in before those waiting in line for almost an hour. read more

A fun bar with interesting and delicious drinks. We had a fun night and enjoyed both the outdoor and indoor space and most importantly, great cocktails. read more

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This cocktail lounge strikes the perfect balance between upscale and inviting. The vibe is classy without feeling pretentious, and you feel safe and taken care of from the moment you walk in. The drinks are top tier, especially the espresso martini, which is smooth, rich, and perfectly balanced. It's usually packed, but in a good way, the kind of crowd that brings energy and makes the night feel alive without being chaotic. If you're looking for a go to spot for great cocktails and a lively, polished nightlife scene, this is it. read more

This is my favorite bar in Oakland. I usually get an espresso martini. The bartenders are fast. The djs are always great. Fun place to dance. Perfect for girls night out! I love the back patio area as it has heaters, lots of seating + tables and a photo booth. Staff is respectful and attentive. read more

Chill bar with cozy ambient lighting and music. Great place to hang out with friends or for a date if you're in temescal read more

51 & Tel - Interior - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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The security at the door is terrible. They say you have to be on a guest list to get in but we were on the guest list still couldn't get in. Then the next thing is we have to have pants or jeans so we got that. Still the wouldn't let us in. We just ended going to Torch where the don't discriminate against Oaklands black community which is what 51 & Tel does sadly. It was fun at first but not it's just not the same. I feel bad that they have to make up all these rules just to keep the real Oakland out of there smh. I wouldn't recommend this place at all when I went the drinks were okay but the guy at the door is always super rude. They need to figure it out with him at the door cause we'll never come here again and definitely will let others know this is not a good spot anymore it's a shame. read more

There were 7 of us and 3 dogs at 3pm on a Saturday when they first opened. Clean large space. We sat in the patio and ordered drinks at the bar. Drinks were well made and my husband was thrilled that his matched the shirt he was wearing. Few parties came in after us including one other with a dog. read more

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I went to 51 & Tel at 11pm on a Friday night. Walking in, the DJ was playing some afrobeats and the energy was high. The atmosphere for bar was a bit dark and moody in the best way possible. We tried the two innovative cocktails - one had kiwi and the other had passion fruit. Both were really tasty! I would come back here again the next opportunity. A good spot for a girls night or a date. read more

51 & Tel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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It wasn't ok, I feel like I was personally racially targeted because I was the only one who was asked if I paid my tab, even though I paid with a tip, and was at the end of the bar. Do better to your black customers, especially as a black bartender. read more

Great Vibes, Great Drinks, Peach Bellini 10/10. I will say they should invest into some music in thr outside patio. Bar Tenders are very attentive! read more

Excellent cocktails & service, I had a damn good whiskey sour from here & I'm very particular about my drinks. Good music / DJ inside - nice patio in the back. Great for fun or a date. read more

We stopped by this spot around midnight, and it was packed! After about 30 minutes, the crowd thinned out a bit, making it a little easier to move around. Despite the rush, our bartender was excellent--super attentive and skilled. I ordered the High Peak with rum and a Hennessy shot with a Coke back, and both drinks were made to perfection. They also have a nice back patio with heat lamps, which is a great touch for chilling outside. The overall vibe is definitely on point. My only complaint? The music. It leans more toward house and pop rather than hip-hop or R&B, which isn't really my preference. That said, now that I know what to expect, I'd still come back for the great service, strong drinks, and a solid atmosphere! read more

Trendy Gen Z and alpha night spot. Dj keeps the beat alive. Original craft cocktails, some familiar and some yummy originals.

Great atmosphere! Gets really packed, but it is lit. The bartenders are attentive and try to get to everyone as quick as they can. Music be bumpin. Loved it! 3/5 because it's lowkey small and super packed in there. read more

51 & Tel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

51st & Tel brings a classy, sophisticated vibe. It's artsy and upscale, but still warm and welcoming -- the kind of place where you can actually have a conversation or let the night take on and the crowd starts filling in and energy gets elevated. The drinks are spot on. Thoughtfully crafted, beautifully presented, and balanced. The outdoor patio is great -- spacious, stylish, and perfect for a chill evening or date night. The interior has that moody, curated feel that invites you to settle in and stay awhile. What really puts it over the top are the people. The owners and bartenders clearly care about what they're building here -- you can feel it in the hospitality and the energy behind the bar. Highly recommend checking it out. Oakland needed a spot like this. read more

Good cocktail place. Their cocktail mezcal, mistadobalina was awesome, not too sweet.

Nice ambiance, good music and service, safe area. Parking limitations, street parking only.

This is my favorite bar in Oakland. It is always good vibes, delicious drink, great ambiance and music. And they also have a cute photo booth in the back patio! 10/10! read more

Everything went well and I cannot wait to be back. Craft cocktails, really good service and a super cute outdoor patio, means I'll be back to this neighborhood spot ASAP! read more

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Last nights Love's Island watch party at 51&Tel was off the planet we are going to be doing it every week , the evening was warm and fit for the projector and drop down screen we have in the back next week we will try and accommodate it for better seating arrangements so that more people can fit comfortably we easily had 200 people pull up last night another a nother 50 stay to finally get in for the after party and the show airing without the sound unless you went on the back patio where it was playing endlessly thank you for trying 51&Tel we had a ball. read more

51 & Tel - Look how beautiful that back patio - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

This is an incredible bar, with talented staff, a beautiful large patio, and an owner who REALLY cares about his customers! Come here for a great time :) I came on First Friday with 3 friends to celebrate one of their birthdays. I'd brought a cake along as a surprise, with candles, and asked the owner if I could light it at the table. He was totally down for it and very friendly. I forgot forks and plates, so I went to Pizza Ponte and asked if they could hook it up, and one of the staff gladly did. Came back to 51 and TEL, asked the owner Jonathan if I could get a virgin shirley temple to go to thank the Pizza Ponte folks, and he gladly arranged this. He even went himself to the back to grab a to-go cup. I was really blown away by this, given it was such a busy night. Tim, Aiden and the rest of the bartenders are incredibly talented and had the bar completely under control despite the crowd. Their service was nonstop, I don't know how they do it, but we never had to wait more than 2 minutes to place an order. And I'd have waited 10 minutes for the quality of drinks they made for us that night. This bar is S tier. I promise you, you'll have a great time, any night of the week. read more

Love this place! The cocktails are excellent and the whole vibe was everything that is good about oakland. The crowd as super diverse in several dimensions and everyone is having a good time read more

Love this new spot! Cool vibes, great cocktail selection, huge outdoor patio (heated!), and they have a DJ on weekends. Thanks to Ben for opening which will definitely become one of our new favorite spots in the neighborhood! read more

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Great ambiance and drinks! The workers are nice. I would totally come back! I went during the Grand opening on a date and we had a great time. read more

The service was fantastic, the bartenders are attentive and check in on you regularly. I enjoyed the trivia night, really grab your attention type. read more

I visited this establishment the first week of opening and was very impressed with the service and drinks. I have made plans to go back soon

This is a hopping night spot and is fairly new. It didn't feel like a pick-up club. The staff was friendly but they could use waitresses. The cost was like other bars, too expensive, but OK for an occasional treat. They have an outdoor back area to sit and it had heaters but I stayed inside. The place currently has a Halloween theme and looked festive. Overall, nice to see a thriving new night spot. read more

Drinks were small for the price and the wait staff were unfriendly. Place was basically empty and the service was pretty slow. Ambiance was uninspired. Was rly looking forward to visiting this place but def won't be going back. read more

This place is everything we love about Oakland. It's down-to-earth, cool, friendly and a diverse crowd. An extra bonus: there were a lot of people but it wasn't so loud that you couldn't have a conversation. I'll definitely be back. read more

Only been open two months and creating a different vibe from most places in Oakland. Super fun and laid back but then great music from the DJs as well. Loved the bartenders and menu but they also have a full bar so I was able to enjoy some classics. Check out the nice patio too! Def will be back read more