Wine: 5/5 Service: 5/5…read more Ambiance: 5/5 I've been meaning to come here for a loooonnng time, but life in the South Bay has kept me away. Today, I decided to go visit some of my fav spots in Oak-town, and like Ordinaire, some spots I've been longing to explore. I'm a fan of natural wine and they have an excellent selection, arguably the Bay's best selection of natural wines. Plus, they offer a tasting flight so you can explore new wines. Bradford and his team are extremely knowledgeable and they'll steer you in the right direction. The atmosphere is just what you'd hope for in Oak... Laid back with a bit of flavor. When I arrived a few folx were hanging out in the tables on the sidewalk and there were couple more inside. Plenty of seating, a fun neighborhood to explore, so what are you waiting for? Seriously, my WFH days may involve a commute to Ordinaire in the near future!

Me? A Wino? But, of course! I totally had to try out some delicious wine over at Ordinaire and im…read morealready itching to go back. Arrived on a whim at around 7pm and the place was definitely the spot to be. Not too many folks outside, but there were tons of people in their outside "patio" I chatted up the bartender for a sec before snagging one of the funky wines. So delicious. I'm a natural wine fan so, my pick was perfect for me. I went, sipped, and sat for about 45 minutes; soaking up the last bits of daylight while spying on folks nearby. Such a nice afternoon activity and Ordinaire was the perfect backdrop.

Relaxing and grounding…read more Stepped out for a girls' night after realizing we'd been so busy, we hadn't linked in 2 months! I'm the early bird in the crew, so I slid in solo around 7pm to peep the scene. Turns out, our reunion coincided with Vinyl Bar's 1-year anniversary! I was immediately greeted by a fellow patron, which helped this awkward girl feel at home. I was delighted to celebrate a Black woman's success in an industry where there can be so many barriers to entry. I studied the menu and found a range of vintners and styles across different price ranges. It'd be easy for most folks to find something to enjoy. The light bites lacked flair. I got the vibe they're only there if you need to "put a little something on your stomach" between sips. The sound system is beautiful and clearly built for deep listeners. I felt surrounded by the acoustics, with the perfect balance of bass and treble. You feel grounded at Vinyl. It's the kind of place that makes it easy to slow down and actually be present. I'm secretly trying to become a regular here :)

Vinyls and Wine? Sign me up! I had a great time hanging out at Vinyl Wine Bar!…read more Came here on a bit if whim after leaving work and was pleasantly surprised. Came here via Lyft which dropped me off in front of the brewery nearby. For context, this place is nestled in a work/live complex that features a few other restaurants. Depending on where you land, it can be a little tricky to find, but I managed and headed right in. Upon arrival, I was greeted by the lovely Bella who was incredibly kind and sweet. She made my time there wonderful! We gabbed, she gave me wonderful recommendations of food and drink around Alameda + she was so knowledgable about all of the wine in the bar. After a little bit of wine, I opted for one of the cheese plates. Truly great value! A few yummy cheeses of different varieties for around 25 bucks. It featured nuts, jam, and a giant pile of sliced bread. This was dinner and honestly could have easily been shared between myself and another person. I also tried the Vermouth spritz! I'm a huge fan of sweet Vermouth on ice, so this was a fun twist on one of my favorites. Perfect little Monday afternoon spent with Miss Bella at Vinyl wine bar! Incredible service, great food, and amazing wine! I will definitely be putting them in my wine bar rotation!

If you've ever been to Les Deux Magots in St. Germain, this is the spot to check out, hang out,…read moresip, while snacking on something freshly made in front of you. The ambiance will get you first, the attention to detail say's a lot about the love put into La Loulou. The service is fabulous, they will remember your last drink. I'm a quirky 'orderer' and they remembered the nuance of how I like my drink. Also, don't forget to checkout the bathroom. Merci!!!

I visited La Loulou several months ago and wanted to give it some time before writing a review…read more After recently having a wonderful experience at another wine bar, I realized the difference in hospitality was too significant not to mention. I really wanted to like this place. I'd walked by several times and loved the interior design, and the videos on Instagram made it seem like such a great spot. I stopped in one evening by myself, ordered a glass of wine and the warm olives (which were delicious), and was looking forward to a relaxing night. Unfortunately, the service was the biggest disappointment. The restaurant was packed, and the atmosphere felt more concerned with maintaining an image than making guests feel welcome. I understand some restaurants embrace a more reserved European style of service, but this came across as cold and pretentious rather than intentional hospitality. As a solo diner especially, I didn't feel acknowledged or valued as a guest. It also didn't help that the dining room had a noticeable body odor smell that took away from the experience. On a positive note, the bathroom was clean and beautifully designed. I originally thought this would become my go-to place to grab a glass of wine while waiting for a table at the ramen spot next door, but unfortunately that wasn't the case. Reading through other reviews, it seems I'm not the only one who had this impression. Oakland's charm has always been its people. You can open a French-inspired wine bar, but hospitality translates into every language. If you're going to bring a Parisian aesthetic to Oakland, don't mistake indifference for sophistication. Guests should leave feeling welcomed, not judged.

They cancelled the event in the last minute. I tried reaching out the owner to coordinate a visit…read moreand he was very unresponsive and made us anxious and nervous. Towards the end he cancelled the venue location as his staffs had Covid and they couldn't quarantine elsewhere. We totally understand what Covid can do but better communications would have helped us. Do not book this place

This is an unusual little wine tasting bar set inside the beautiful loft home of the owner and…read morewinemaker, Monty P. The two story space is in the artist housing colony out by the I-880 bypass in west Oakland, at the foot of Pine Street, called Pacific Cannery Lofts. The beautiful modern unit had been cleared for a special event, an intimate wine drinking party of about 2 -3 dozen people, starting with an intro art class upstairs led by Art a la Cart. http://www.yelp.com/biz/art-a-la-cart-oakland Early attendees (about a dozen) didn't do paint by the numbers, but a steep above that, learning to draw a scene, mix basic paints, and finish a small 8 x 11 canvas. Later everyone came downstairs to enjoy the delicious nibbles provided by the middle eastern caterer Faz. They were great, with hummus, olives, chicken satay skewers, and other delights. http://www.yelp.com/biz/faz-restaurant-and-bar-oakland The variety of wines were very good, both white and red from Paulson wineries, and the hosts were very engaging and seasoned entertainers. There was a live acoustic band trio called Melodious Monk ( I get confusedly the actual name because I think of the Jazz pioneer pianist, Thelonius Monk, which their name is a play off of). Good times had by all at this nice special wine tasting get together, an intimate event where art, conversation and wine were shared. The event was organized by the beautiful and effervescent event coordinator, Dominique.

My pupper and I took a walk from the Faction record swap event and stumbled upon this gem! If you…read moredrive past the fence, you will find this on the right. Staff was so friendly and helpful, I can't rave enough about them! What got me was the view of San Francisco. Since I needed a break, I decided to go with a glass of their Cab Franc which they use Dry Creek gapes. For me, this hit the right notes. They have a regular food vendor on site and the prices are reasonable. Unfortunately, I wasn't hungry but if I was, I would have definitely ordered. I actually think of going back to this place. I could see being here during the week on a nice day, reading a book or doom scrolling with a glass of wine. There is something so zen about it that it's worth going back. Since I had a dog, I couldn't be inside, but check it out - it's really nice. That's where they make the magic.

We got a little confused getting here. Just make sure to drive all the way down and there's a gate…read moreyou go through where you can park. The view of the city is great if you're outdoors. We tried the 3 flights of wine and all of them were pretty good. Unfortunately, the bees kept coming to us and our wines despite moving to 3 different tables. One of them even fell into my cup of wine! Pam was kind enough to give me a new glass of wine. Scott was very nice and brought water bowls with treats for our dogs. This is a great spot to check out in Alameda. Wines, service and view were great and it's even better that it's dog friendly.

Walked into Redfield on a whim and was so happy with goddesses guiding me in a great direction…read more Upon walking in the shop, there were lots of folks outside and enjoying. I opted to sit at the lovely bar inside. After some peeks at the menu, I snagged a great cider! I was only in for about 30 minutes, but i definitely enjoyed my time here. I'm a big lover of cider, so I'm sure I'll be back very soon!

Cute cider bar in Rockridge. I normally think sweet with ciders but I had no idea ciders could have…read moreso much variety and even be spicy! Enjoyed the guava chile one. There was a hint of spiciness but it was not overpowering. They also have non-alcoholic options their peach-apple spritz. My friend rented it out for a private party. They had charcuterie set out and empanadas available to purchase. Only thing is it's a bit cozy for a large group and felt especially bottlenecked betwen the tables and bar area where the food was being served. Might've helped to move the tables to make more space. They had charcuteries and empanadas to munch on. Loved the variety of ciders! I can totally imagine stopping by and grabbing a drink with a friend here.

This is an incredible wine shop. It's small in comparison to some of the larger stores like K&L,…read morebut they've got some incredible options spanning all price points, countries, and varietals, including a pretty stellar selection of Champagne and sparkling wines. A lot of the labels are from smaller producers, well known for making high quality wines. I've been to many wine shops in/around the Bay Area and I struggle to think of a shop that has as great of a selection as Wine on Piedmont. Additionally, prices are very competitive! In the back of the shop is a small tasting room where you can enjoy wines by the glass from a rotating selection, as well as open bottles purchased from the shop for just a $10 corkage fee. The staff are also incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. We aren't over on Piedmont Ave often, but this shop gives us a reason to stop by the area more often.

The staff are really nice & informative. It's a comfortable atmosphere. Has a large selection of…read morewines. Has wine tasting & by the glass.

"You telling me that wine is better than Pepsi? Huh, no way wine is better than Pepsi." - George…read moreCostanza, Seinfeld da Scene: Yelped them for pre-dinner spot. Kinda hidden on a corner right off University & 5th; make the right onto 6th & scoot around to park on 5th or University. They buzz you in, best to make a res., but seems like walk-ins are ok. Very modern, yet welcoming feel, tables spaced well for intimate encounters and a bar with Hightop seating. da Grub & Libation: I had res. for a buddy & I and belly up to the bar; they offered a table, but we're bar flies by nature. Very diverse wines by the glass & bottle so we had 4 different glasses w/ a modest charcuterie plate. da Service: Excellent, warm, friendly and genuinely so. I look forward to my next visit, whether it's for a contemplative glass in solitude or with the wife on a pre-dinner excursion. Hidden Gem, find them and enjoy!

Hidden almost behind the freeway entrance , is a magical small intimate space. A classy wine lounge…read moreof sorts with attentive and knowledgeable staff and amazing ambiance. Their selections of wine is incredible (and all delicious). Definitely a date night spot!