Local iconic cocktail bar with a standout whiskey and mezcal collection. Always enjoy the warm ambience and impeccable service available here. We hosted my wife's 40th Birthday party at Acme for 40+ guests and worked directly with Jennifer (owner) to plan the whole thing. Jennifer did an absolutely knockout job ensuring the party had the best variety of tasty finger foods (including platters of fresh oysters from Monterey Fish Market with champagne to start), a hosted bar with specialty cocktails (Terence's drinks are always ), and incredible staff to keep my wife - and all our guests - incredibly happy. We were able to reserve a cute patio area with private bar and a private large room for our guests. I cannot wait for the next opportunity to host an event here again! read more

I'm not sure whether it was the bartender who assisted me that evening, but unfortunately the customer service I experienced was very disappointing. I tried to start a friendly conversation and ask a few questions about the drinks, however the responses I received were very brief and limited to only the drink names, which made the interaction feel unwelcoming. I also noticed that we were the only Latino guests there at the time, and throughout our visit we felt largely ignored. As a result, the overall atmosphere did not feel comfortable or inclusive to us. Based on this experience, I did not feel welcomed at this bar in Berkeley and would not recommend it. Even though we live only a few minutes away, it didn't feel like a place worth returning to or spending our time and money at. read more

Question: Is Acme a bourbon bar or a whiskey bar? I have an unconventional answer because I like the vibes here and have discovered it's actually an "everything good" bar. I love the outstanding Mezcal list. On Tuesdays (some? all? I dunno) they have a martini and caviar menu. Ten bucks get you an excellent house martinis and a healthy mound of caviar on a potato chip. Happy hour feature $6 well drinks (1 mixer) or $10 cocktails (multi-mixer shaken or stirred). Great bartenders here, especially Anaís! read more

Came here for a stop by. Great place to have a good quality drink before going to a concert. Many exclusive bourbon and scotch options if you're into that. read more

Acme Bar & Company - Michters toasted barrel - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

Cozy spot to try a WIDE variety of Whiskey. Three of us went and ordered two flights. This worked out perfect. We had enough for each of us to taste all 8 samples without feeling like we had too much since we were already full from dinner and walking home. The bourbon flight was our favorite. Very smooth. The Tour of Scotland was good but you need to like your whiskey with more bite for this flight. The last one really burns, lol. Very nice ambiance, if it wasn't so late we would have hung out longer. The only thing I would have preferred is if someone came over and explained the whiskeys, like when you do a wine tasting. I've heard they do this but it didn't happen the night I went. read more

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Cute bar with friendly staff and good drinks. I really enjoyed the sangria drink special. read more

Acme Bar & Company - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

Really impressed with this bar! They have 4 different rooms perfect for large gatherings! Right when you walk in you see the bar with a few tables then the outdoor area in between the private room and side lounge with games to play! Happy hour is everyday 3pm to 6pm and you can reserve area with up to 20 guests for free! They also have a few drinks with little characters which I really love since I don't see that often! Highly recommend this bar for a good time for any occasion! read more

Acme Bar & Company - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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ACME Bar in its entirety and the always cool staff are so very much underrated. Just like El Patio across the street. Berkeley gems definitely worth exploring for the friendly spirited. Especially those adventurous Cal attendees with enough courage and curiosity to dare venture beyond Shattuck. read more

Acme Bar & Company - Great vibes - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

We hosted a large milestone birthday at Acme Bar and Co and I can't say enough about it. The team was so amazing and kind and easy to work with in the planning phase. Our guests loved the venue - the flow from the main bar to back patio to back building is great and creates 3 distinct and intimate feeling zones. The day of bar tender staff were great. Cocktails superb. We created a dance floor inside at the end and it was nothing short of perfect. 10/10 -- highly recommend this place for any party or event rental! read more

One of the best bars in Berkeley and Terence is the best bartender around. Master of the vibe!

Just went for drinks. Bar has a good selection/variety. Nice ambiance. Good for catching up with old friends.

DO NOT COME HERE !!! The people who work here are RUDE AF . Terrible hospitality! the bathrooms are dirty , the entire place smelled like wet dogs . We came here for drinks after our work holiday party and were treated poorly . I've been a waitress for over a decade & I take customer service very seriously. You should want people to come back to your establishment because they loved it , but instead here I am writing a review about how much I hated my experience here . read more

Even during a power outage you get the best from Camille! Knocking out cocktails like it ain't no thang! read more

Acme Bar & Company - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

Incredible whiskey selection and knowledge. The noise level was high even before it got crowded. The crowd was fun and service good.

THE best bar in Berkeley. Not just Poet's Corner or West Berkeley either...ALL of Berkeley. My home away from home. Camille and Anais bring it every night they're on and if you're lucky you'll be treated to some of Anais' awesome dancing behind the bar when a righteous song comes on. Camille is a true old-school bartender with a cool, modern, fashionable and totally East Bay industry look who'll lend you her empathetic ear while she's quick to sling you a slug of rye. And let's not forget about Terrance and Damon, who have forgotten more about music than I'll probably ever know and who are always up for a conversation or pointed discussion on who the best artists in music are while they get your drinks to you at a fast and furious pace. I'm constantly asking Terrence - or "T" (as he says you can call him): "Who is this??!" whenever a cool song comes on the AMI jukebox I've never heard of before, which is how I discovered the Ting-Tings. Their new manager, Damon, is a welcome addition to the crew and it's great to swap crazy concert stories with him all night long while all the girlies fawn over how awesome and nice he is - which is true. They all have really great taste in music and have the regulars coming in from North Oakland and Emeryville, Richmond, El Cerrito and Albany. They don't serve food here, because they are a whiskey bar proper (well, they do have snacks u can buy, like chips), but you can of course bring some in and eat while watching their TV on mute which is usually tuned to the Warriors when they're on or some other game with the odd weird TV series thrown in or the Oscars when they were on a few weeks ago. They treat you like family here while maintaining the highest standards of professionalism. The owner, Jen, has really done a nice job keeping the place stocked with the finest whiskeys the Western Hemisphere has to offer and they also have great beers on tap. Tonight was her and my buddy Ian's birthday and they actually had a nice little charcuterie spread on the wall counter-space available for the occasion, which they usually only do for tastings. As Terrence said to me tonight, "This place is driven by regulars." He couldn't be more right. And you know if the locals and even not-so-locals swear by this place and become regulars you know it has to be good. Especially when it is THE industry hangout after all of the alcohol-serving restaurants shutter for the night. I've met so many acquaintances and friends here over the past few years and I meet someone new & cool almost every time I come here and have the beginnings of a beautiful friendship. And you will too - with this place. I guarantee it. read more

It doesn't look like much from the outside but the inside is amazing! Low lighting and awesome bar tenders. This is a great chill out spot without having loud music. They have tables inside and outdoor as well. They have a private room that you can also rent out that looks gorgeous! It's walking distance from me and I come here off and on when I want to get out of the house. The bar tenders suggest drinks too which makes their service even better! read more

Super cute place! They have an outdoor area with fire pits and numerous heaters so you don't get too cold. They also hold private events here which is nice. The staff are friendly and follow vaccine mandates. They allow outside food too and they're located by some great eateries! It's a win-win situation. Parking was easy as we came on a weekday evening. It's street parking on San Pablo, though, so it's a busy street. I'm definitely coming back and enjoying their outdoor seating. And will recommend for private events. read more

Acme Bar & Company - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

ACME never lets me down 1 Female owned 2. Amazing bourbon-based and whiskey drinks 3. Outdoor Heated patio 4. Great service 5, most importantly - I love their new specialty cocktails and walk up window that started during COVID in 2020.... well mixed, well flavored, and sometimes you just want to do a quick drive by, get a cocktail and go home or wherever . My fave is the Spring flower (vodka , strawberries etc) read more

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Pros: The craft coctails are great, the bartenders are friendly, they have dog rescue fundraising drink specials. The patio is bright and sunny, dogs are welcome. They just expanded the size of the private party room, it's a really nice space. Women-owned, etc, etc. It's one of my go to places. Cons: The bathroom entrance is a little awkward. They don't serve food although they do allow you to bring food in. read more

We've always gone to Acme for a neighborhood nightcap so when it came time to throw a milestone birthday party I could think of no better place. Jennifer was amazing and so flexible! She embraced the sparkle theme by throwing edible glitter in the punch bowls. I wanted a taco bar and oysters, and that's what I got. All my guests were raving about the space (back room + patio). Highly recommend for any private event! read more

Acme Bar & Company - Party beverages - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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LOVE this place. The cocktails are the S**T! Super tasty, filling and some real mixology going on. This place makes you feel okay with paying the high price for a Bay Area cocktail. My favorites are the spring flowers and elder scrolls. Yes they're a little fruity but trust me you'll still get the bees buzzing. I've never tried them, but my wife LOVES their daiquiris. I don't know because of COVID, but one year my wife threw a birthday party for me in the back. It was for 40+ and just the perfect place to host a party. read more

Acme Bar & Company - Spring Flowers Cocktail to go - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

A fun simple bar with hundreds of whiskeys. Great service. Very little food. In fact, I asked what food they had, and the bartender said chips and salsa and then said they had no chips and salsa. They do have Ritz crackers potato chips and pimento cheese. So, it's all about the drinks, which is not bad. There are drink specials during happy hour, and you'll find almost every type of alcohol here and very creative and talented bartenders that can create drinks for you. A fun crowd here also. read more

Around six months before we got married in Berkeley in August, we started reaching out to possible welcome party venues for the night before the big day. We wanted to find a place that would allow for outside food at a reasonable cost, provides quality drinks for a fair price, and has a nice access-controlled event space on premises. As someone who has run a number of large events previously, I know well that this task can be somewhere between tough and impossible. The minute one uses the term "wedding" to any vendor, costs can go way up. Or venues can charge exorbitant fees for space reservations, or have minimum spends that are crazy. And, honestly, it is really hard to simply find venues that allow for outside food. So we started the search, and emailed venues throughout the East Bay area (Oakland, Berkeley, Emeryville, Albany, Alameda), At first, the only possible venues I could find were craft brewing establishments. The one with the best location for us charged a lot for space reservation, and for a space that was not access controlled, and without our own dedicated bar. So, in effect, we would be paying thousands for a craft beer spot to a few "reserved" signs on some random tables for us. Suffice to say, we were starting to get discouraged. Then, after another internet search, I found a listing for Acme Bar in west Berkeley. Having never been there before (it has been a few years since I have lived in the East Bay), I asked around and realized that it's a pretty cool bar with good service and great drinks. We checked in out in person, and was pretty impressed with the available event space. But our greatest surprise was when we actually emailed Acme, and got to know the owner of the bar. She must have had a previous life as an event planner or something, cause she was amazing. The prices she quoted were quite fair, and she helped identify possible outside food vendors that met our needs. She helped arrange special drinks for our event, which ended up being really tasty. The beer selection we ended up having was top notch as well, as was the wine selection. We arranged for our own dedicated space on a Friday evening, with our own bar. She helped identify our needs for us, and went out of her way - along with her great staff - to ensure we had a great event. Some of my friends are quite experienced with events, and others are pretty hard to please, and everyone had a great time. The price quoted was on target, and there were absolutely no surprises, price-wise. I have never been more satisfied with a venue, or had a better event for the price. Working with Acme was, in two words, both fair and fun. We highly recommend working with them - you will not be disappointed. read more

Fun backyard patio, epic selection of smokey bevies. This spot is made for mezcal and whiskey afficianodos (or those wanting to work their way there)! They have a floor-to-ceiling bar stocked with a great variety of local and imported spirits. Came here to celebrate a friend's birthday and ended up doing a whiskey tasting along with sampling a few of their house cocktails. Their cocktails were just OK, but would definitely return to sample more of their whiskey flights! I enjoyed comparing the flavors, aromas and smokiness of the local whiskeys in their cozy back patio. The beauty of this bar is in the shared exploration of their many libations. Definitely on the pricier side, so probably will only be returning for special occasions. read more

Acme Bar & Company - Local whiskey tasting ($20) - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I always appreciate coming here and try different cocktails and sit outside. This time I tried the California Old Fashioned. Very smooth and tasty. See you next time! read more

Acme Bar & Company - California Old Fashioned - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

Recently hosted my partner's 30th birthday here. From beginning to end, Jennifer was extremely accommodating. She worked with me to figure out which of her several party packages would work best for me -- she truly offers something for every price range! Once we hammered out the basic details, Jennifer made sure to capture the smaller ones too. For example, the party I hosted was a surprise party. She asked me to share a photo of the guest of honor, to ensure that none of the staff accidentally ruined the surprise when we walked in. The music, drinks, staff, and atmosphere were all great. Loved the back patio as some extra space to grab some air. Since we came during the holiday season, the bar was beautifully decorated with ornaments and lights, which made everything feel so fun and festive. Overall, can't rate this place highly enough. Thank you, Jennifer and Acme staff! read more

Stay away if you're Mexican!!! The bartender (Obei?) was f*ckin rude from the moment I entered the door. I gave them the benefit of the doubt in case they were having a bad day, but after telling me I was next in line for taking my order he proceeded to ignore me while he took the drink of five other patrons during a non-crowded night. When I finally got their attention and calmly asked why they were ignoring me, they immediately escalated telling me to f*ck off and to get the f*ck out of their bar. I went to the back to get my other POC friends and Obei started yelling at me again to f*ck off again along with some of his other friends sitting along the bar. I don't really care one way or another, but I'm never giving my money to such a shit establishment ever again. read more

I have literally been wanting to come here for 4 or 5 years, since I moved to the Bay Area. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Bloody Marys, and I heard Acme has some of the best. It took me forever to visit because I don't have a car, and it's not located next to a BART station. I brought my husky puppy to meet a friend one day. I realized that Acme opens pretty late, so we hung out at a nearby park. When we headed in, we were greeted warmly, I ordered my Bloody Mary, then we took a seat on the beautiful patio out back. Secretly, my favorite part about Acme is that it's dog-friendly. I probably wouldn't come here otherwise. Also there's a private space in the back of the patio, which I assume is for parties. The décor and greenery put Acme between dive-y and upscale which I love. Now for the main attraction. I asked for my Bloody Mary to be spicy, and the bartender delivered. For my next round, they put a little more spice... it was so good. And pretty boozy. So worth the wait after all these years. In the few hours we were there, I saw some regulars come here with their dogs to enjoy a beverage while reading. Others came with their friends and were similarly fascinated by the outdoor patio aesthetics. All in all, it felt like home. read more

Acme Bar & Company - Patio Area - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I will say this place for alot better post Covid. They have a great selection of top shelf and the ambiance is great. I will say the evenings tend to be a bit or miss with what crowd you get. Our friends put on post punk music then rock and the crowd is as more hip hop and made a lot of comments about the taste in music. And the music they played was loud and hard to sit and talk to our big group with. But overall not bad. read more

After reading your response, I feel 100% better having decided to refuse supporting your business any longer. I am perfectly happy and unbothered knowing the truth is on my side. Everything you wrote is unequivocally a lie and is beyond incomprehensible. I didn't interject myself into any conversation. Any respectful patron has the right to speak up when they are being addressed in a disrespectful manner. You clearly didn't read my message because you are trying to quote me on things I never wrote. The prick you are defending that actually caused the entire commotion-- that loudly and repeatedly said was the owner-- is perhaps your son or a family member because he sure acted like he owned the place, or else, along with his posse, he would have stayed with me to talk to the cops. Good riddance read more

Terrible experience. Bartender was unnecessarily aggressive with someone when I was there and the vibe was so unfriendly. We ended up at mallard club where some other patrons also said they had hopped because of bad vibes. Drinks are good, but beware the creeps who work here. read more

Best Negroni ever! Tanqueray, Campari and Vya vermouth. It must have been the vermouth as the other two ingredients are standard. read more

Acme Bar & Company - Acme make the best Negroni! - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Acme bar was a great atmosphere for a few drinks. Some friends and I stopped here before dinner and it was awesome. The jukebox was bumping great tunes and the local flight was delicious! I really liked #1 the mosswood. I recommend coming here if you want a wide selection of whiskeys or just a delicious drink in a good atmosphere. read more

Acme Bar & Company - Mosswood barrel aged whiskey - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Beware: the prices in the menu are not accurate. Was charged 50% more than the listed price for my drink. When I pointed this out, and they waited for me to point it out, they said that they've had to raise their prices. But then update your menus! Or, at least warn people before they order things! Server was not at all apologetic. They get more than one star only because they have a good selection. read more

I would come to this place every so often for my love of whiskey as they have an excellent collection and also a very good choice of Mezcal. But after my experience on 10/29 and seeing how things get handled on the internet with this establishment I most likely won't return. Aside from receiving bad service from the passive aggressive bartender, who acted as if we didn't belong there. A night of celebration with my friends on MY BIRTHDAY turned into a bad time very fast. I understand she was the only bartender. I understand it was a Tuesday night. But for your employee to be rude to both of my younger siblings and my friends who traveled to come visit me is unacceptable. I tried to wait it out and assume positive intent as I know what it's like to be in the service industry. Everyone was excited just to be together and we wanted to start our night off at a bar that I spoke highly of. But her tone of voice, lack of communication skills and customer service must have been off that night. On top of that the owner, who I have respect for in the bar industry. Had the nerve to snap back at my sibling for leaving a simple short review. I was a returning customer. I always recommended this place to friends and new people in the area. But no longer. read more

Acme Bar & Company - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

This is a response to the "rude group" reply that you told one of my friends. We all have bad days some even trickle down to the evening, but your bartender was definitely having a rough night. Our group was compliant and full of energy because we were celebrating our friends birthday. Calling our whole group rude is just an ignorant statement an owner of anything shouldn't be assuming, especially from their employee. If you can show me in the video where I was being rude I would love to see your "fake" accusations with my own eyes (I'm the one that was wearing a burgundy sweater). I take pride in my patience (I manage a hardware retail store) and I will be damned before someone defames my character ESPECIALLY FROM SOMEONE WHO WAS NOT EVEN PRESENT AT THE TIME. Please feel free to reply with the video proof of me being "rude" Pros : good music, nice outside patio Cons : see above Overall : Go to Mallards and save yourself a headache EDIT : To everyone chiming in with attacks on my group that are defending this bar: 1. Were you there and witnessed it yourself? If not why are you speaking ill of a situation you have no business in talking about? 2. It was not a full bar, like stated in other comments it was a Tuesday night so there should be no need for a 30 min window in which only one shot was poured 3. Don't judge our experience with blinders on because you "love" this bar. Some people have bad days but for the owner to flat out SUGGEST we apologize to a staff member being rude to us either because of our age or other reasons is wrong. read more

I'm glad I found this gem! This place has a cute side and back patio with heating installations on the side & fire pit in the back. It's a very cozy feeling and the drinks were really good. I ordered the wild cat but instead of mezcal I substituted for tequila. Drinks were well made! Definitely will be coming back! Food: they do have a few food options, they are sandwiches but you can also order from a restaurant across the street called La Marcha and they will bring the food over. read more

Acme Bar & Company - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

We came here on a Wednesday late night for a special celebration and the bartender was the coolest, sweetest ever! She had the best music on, welcoming attitude and made really good drinks! Even though there weren't any people she still welcomed us and also celebrated our special day with us with a shot of Mezcal! This experience really made it special for us and we will be back with the large group of friends in the coming weekends! If you are reading this comment, YOU ROCK! Wishing the only very best for you! read more

Drinks are great and the bartenders are so friendly. Nice little hidden gem in Berkeley. They have a cute out door patio

Acme is so freaking amazing, I don't even know where to start. The whiskey selection is brilliant and extensive, sure to delight anyone from the most discerning connoisseur to the most casual novice. Their mezcals are nothing to sniff at either. The staff are every bit as warm and welcoming as they are knowledgeable and proud of their craft. They elevate what could be merely a small, cozy neighborhood bar (which on the one hand, it is) to a proper destination for all walks of life. I've met pro sports players, small business owners, students, and my neighbors in my regular weekend nightcaps. I'm a little nervous to spill the beans on what a gem this place is, but they deserve every possible ounce of success and every penny of your business. Just go and check them out. No other bar I've been to anywhere comes close as a repeat destination. read more