Super chill, casual bar with great vibes!…read more Came here on a Monday evening, and the place had a good amount of people hanging out. Loved that there were lots of seating-bar seating, high tops, and cushioned booths in the back. Good music (D'Angelo, Fugees, Tupac...) which was at a perfect volume, so nobody was yelling! The string lights made for a warm, very comfortable vibe. Our martinis were perfectly chilled and delicious. There's a self serve water dispenser next to the bar, which is always nice. No food, so don't come hungry. They have a cute DJ booth, and looks like they have occasional DJ sets that are posted on their IG-Might be fun to check out! Really glad that we stopped by this place, and will definitely be back. Great way to close off a 3 day weekend!

Friendly bartender, mellow crowd, nice to be able to sit outside on a warm summer evening.read more

Very catty in a good way. Totally fun vibes. Very clever theme. A neighborhood bar with very…read moredelicious drinks. Nice selection of books and chill bartenders with craft. Cozy but spacious inside with a long bar and a bunch of tables. Casual patio outside. Cat stuff on every wall at every level. Go. Drink. Enjoy the Cat House altar of booze and felines behind the bar.

Stopped in to try a drink because I'd read that this was one of the best bars in Oakland. I tried…read morean old fashioned and it was pretty good. I enjoyed the open air seating area in the back and the overall vibe was good. I went solo, struck up conversation with strangers, and enjoyed my drink.

Cool, messy and full of charm. I loved this little bar and wish it were closer to home for me. We…read moresampled a few of their house cocktails and they were pretty darn good, just served a little sloppily. We joked they might toss the glasses to us if we got a second round. Definately worth checking out if you're in the area. It's a short walk to many other bars and restaurants in the area. Service was efficient and friendly.

O M G! I LOOOOOVE this bar. It has such character and their cocktail menu is next level! Right…read morein beautiful downtown area of Oakland. It's a must see if you're in the neighborhood. I mean who doesn't love and smile when you receive a drink with an adorable mini duck. Technically the margaritas do not automatically come with a cute mini duck but they obliged since I asked and my face lit up when I saw my finished cocktail. I had 2 and they were delish. The bar mgr. Damon is THE best. Super friendly and helpful even with dinner recommendations. And the music was rockin' on this particular evening. They were playing yacht rock. Nothing like a beautiful duck drink while listening to Michael McDonald. The patrons were friendly and the colors and decor was the coolest. Check them out!

I had no idea this place had been around for over 10 years. It's kind of tucked away and easy to…read moremiss since the entrance doesn't really stand out. That said, once you're inside, it's a great little bar with a lot of character and a really welcoming vibe. We got there shortly after they opened on a Saturday afternoon, and it didn't take long for the place to fill up. We grabbed seats at the bar, and Eric was our bartender... he was fantastic. Super friendly, made everyone feel welcome, and somehow managed to keep the energy up and still give great service even as things got busy. You could tell he loves his job. We had a few beers and ordered the grilled chicken sandwich, chicken tenders, and the parmesan fries. Everything came out hot and tasted great, especially the fries. Definitely planning to come back in the evening next time to experience the full vibe. This feels like one of those spots that really comes alive at night.

We were looking for a sports bar where we could watch the NCAA basketball tournament, specifically…read morethe UIUC vs. University of Houston for final four game, and found this place near to my workplace! They offer a lot of beer selelctions from local breweries, with a solid food menu. The ambiance was nice too.

The ambiance is super sexy. It's open seating so we chose to sit upstairs overlooking the…read morerestaurant. I love how well-dressed and grown everyone was. It reminded me of being out during the 2010s when downtown was poppin'. Food and drinks did not disappoint: catfish bao (crunchy and flavorful), spare ribs (soft and moist), lamb chops (rich and cooked to perfection). My fave drink was the spicy margarita. We also tried the key pie bread pudding for dessert which was super rich. Took forever to come to us because they got really busy. But honestly, not mad because I am happy for them. Overall the visit was lovely. We hope this business continues in Oakland!

This is a such a gem in Oakland! I was able to pop in after an in office work day and I'm glad I…read moredid. This vibe is topical oasis, vey date night. We during happy hour and. had the collard greens dip, ban catfish, fries and margaritas. Everything was 10 except the ban bun but the fish was perfect. The staff was friendly and attentive, food came out fast . I hope it stays around for a good while.

This place is great! The drinks are delicious and very affordable. Service can be a little slow at…read moretimes but that's completely understandable since it's usually packed. Making drinks for a crowd takes time and the staff always does their best. The people who come here are super friendly which adds to the welcoming, cozy vibe of the place. It's the kind of spot where you instantly feel comfortable. If you love a good martini this is definitely a place you should check out.

I'll give it to them, Tallboy is a solid concept with their "tinis & weenies". However, a clever…read moreconcept can carry a place so far. Customer service is a close second to concept. Tallboy's martini menu is well-executed. While I didn't personally try one of the slushies, a friend ordered the espresso martini version and gave it a solid thumbs-up. Unfortunately, the experience falls apart when it comes to food and service. Waiting 30+ minutes for two hot dogs (after paying) is hard to justify. When I checked in with a server, she was curt and dismissive. She was quick to explain there was only one person in the kitchen, with no effort to offer a solution, timeline, or even basic courtesy. I understand staffing issues happen. However, customer service is a close second to concept. How an issue is communicated and addressed is what separates good service from bad. What's more frustrating is that these aren't customer problems to absorb. If the kitchen is understaffed, if tables aren't being cleared in a timely manner at a seat-yourself spot, those are management problems. Guests should not have to choose to leave without the food we paid for. There's a lot of competition out there, and concepts alone aren't enough to bring people back. I genuinely wanted that hot dog. That's probably the most disappointing part of the whole experience. Great drinks, solid ambiance, but the service needs serious attention.

Came here while waiting for a table at Mencho and came back to bring my roommates because it's such…read morea cute spot! You order at the bar and get handed your drink(s) right away and are free to sit wherever. Both inside and outside seating available - there's heaters outside. Ordered the flight of three and got to choose what I wanted to try, I felt that the pours were generous. The bathroom, wow, they outdid themselves, love the decor!

The ambiance is beautiful and the wine selection is solid, but unfortunately the service really…read moremissed the mark. We started at the bar and mentioned it was our first visit, but were met with a blank stare, no welcome, no guidance on how things worked. At first, I thought it might have just been that one interaction, but when we ordered a second round with a different server, the same cold and unwelcoming service continued. It's a shame, because the space itself is incredibly charming and inviting. Customer service feels like such an easy fix here, especially given that many other reviews mention the same issue. You'd hope management would take note and make the necessary improvements to match the quality of the setting.

We stumbled across this place during a walk and decided to grab some drinks…read more I liked how the place has a speakeasy vibe. Dim lit atmosphere and enjoyable music. I loved the decor. My favorite is the wall of vinyls. There were stools, chairs, sofas, and tables. The staff were friendly and attentive. They have a nice list of refreshments. Definitely a nice place to relax and have drinks.

What a beautiful place to have a drink! I was super happy with my visit to Bar Shiru…read more First of all, the vibes of this spot are completely immaculate. You definitely feel 10 degrees cooler in here. From the dark moody lighting, tons of vinyl on the wall, beautiful people, everything was stunning. Definitely bring your ID since they will check at the door, once you're inside, you definitely feel like you stepped into your older brother's cool friend secret hideaway. Drinks were great and there was so many to choose from. I can't remember the drink I got but it was served up in a cute glass and was delicious. The DJ was fantastic and played a ton of old and new school hits. I think this qualifies as a "listening bar" so cool. Totally great trip to Bar shiru! I will, without a doubt, be back.

I've been here a couple times, once for a community event and once to have drinks with a new friend…read more- both times did not disappoint! The vibe here is old skool intellectual lounge meets chic cocktail connoisseur. (Although I enjoyed a crisp glass of white wine during my second visit.) The literary selection in each room is vast and interesting. The seating is comfy. The staff are welcoming and fun. Moderately priced, Clio's is a must each month if you can swing it.

I have waited to write this review, but I'm seeing that other bipoc customers have had similar…read moreexperiences. I went to Clio's in the first 6 months of them opening and my partner and I have not been back. When I entered the space, I was excited to try something new- but it started when I went to order tea- I know now that the guy at the bar was the owner- I asked what kind of teas they had and he seemed annoyed at my question- like I was wasting his time. I had to ask again but then asked my partner who is white to deal with the rest of the ordering. We are a queer couple and both felt the vibes were hella off. Lots of white men in the space at that time. I also remember they didn't used to have any books by people of color. They had a "world" section of books though (lol) and throughout the rest of the place, a bunch of stuff written by white men. I feel like the stuff they have up now is a performative attempt to not appear what they actually are. I have not gone back since and don't recommend it

The Holiday Pop-up last year (2024) was very festive/fun for a holiday celebration post Zumba class…read moreat the YMCA around the corner. Will be returning again this year with our class for more holiday merriment!

I came here with a group of friends for a night out in the East Bay. We hit up this bar for a round…read moreof slushies after pregame at my friend's apartment. I got the Blue Hawaiian, a yummy classic, and it did not disappoint. Despite the cold front over the Bay Area this weekend, I instantly felt as if I'd teleported to Hawai'i. Service is pretty quick here, but they do have a minimum credit charge of $10. It's pretty easy to reach though if you order a cocktail or slushie.