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Boathouse

4.3 (47 reviews)
InexpensiveBars
Open 10:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)

Boathouse Photos

Business Info

BOATHOUSE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Loud
Divey
Casual
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Boathouse

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Reviews With Photos

Maurice R.

During my Alameda Restaurant Week coverage, I captured some highlights at Boathouse that showcase its character. It has a total maritime theme - it's the dive bar you want to love. This place is the epitome of sailor types, frequented by people who own boats or live on boats, and looks like a dockworker haven. Despite the rough-and-ready appearance, they serve good food with a great beer selection. It gets busy on weekend nights, creating a fun vibe that draws in both locals and visitors.

Have eaten ceviche
Terry T.

This is a great dog-friendly dive bar with wonderful food. There are tables outside. There are a few parking spots in the lot in front. I suppose this is a throwback to the days when this was a bait shop. We ate outside, the interior looks small. My friends had chips and salsa, a grilled cheese sandwich with pickles, and a slider. They had beers. The doggie had a beef patty and water. I had the ceviche and a glass of red wine. It was perfect, this dish often has too much vinegar, and this one did not. I would like to go back and try some of the other food. I really enjoyed the meal and the location. I hope to stop here again.

Carol C.

Date: 6/17/2022 Times: 6:00 PM 65° Sunny I haven't been to this dive bar for almost six years. At that time, the event was a reunion for those of us who attended two high schools in Oakland. The owner was a high school classmate of my oldest sister. I also knew the owner all the way back when we attended the same elementary school. After the bad experience and treatment that my husband and I received, we never went back to any of reunions. Being berated and scolded through an email from the organizer of the reunion, which resulted in my feelings being hurt, I chose not to have anything to do with them. I found out just recently that this dive bar has a new owner. My husband and I were going to stop in yesterday after the Golden State Warriors win in the NBA final. It was also our 33rd wedding anniversary. We imagined the bar would be crowded and decided we will visit a day later. Earlier this evening, we checked out Boathouse. What a way to celebrate an NBA Finals win and our 33rd wedding anniversary but show up at a dive bar. Hey, there is nothing wrong with that. We met two nice people, Kim and Pep. Definitely, this visit was much better. The ambiance is much nicer and cleaner than before. Kurt, the bartender, is friendly and pleasant. I told him about the bad experience that my husband and I encountered. He reassured me the bad experience was not going to happen. Lighting at the bar is better. There are two flat screen TV's mounted on the wall. Giants are playing against the Pirates. Score 2-0, Giants. Good. Eats: Spicy tuna panini for husband; ceviche tostada, chicken taco with onion and cilantro and pork taco with mango salsa. I enjoyed my meal even though I could not finish it. Leftovers for a late night snack. Ceviche was quite good with freshly squeezed lime juice, chicken taco was a tad salty and pork taco with mango salsa was delicious. Return visit? Yes, for the ceviche and pork taco.

Brisket sliders.

Stopped and had a local beer and pretzels. Friend got sliders. Apparently they have great sandwiches and soups to pair with a variety of local brews. And my frie da say the hot dog is like a fancy Costco frank.

Meatball Sub

Cool environment, had a meatball sub that tasted AMAZING! Denise, the bartender, was so nice and made sure we were all taken care of. Definitely recommend checking this place out. I'm from out of town and stumbled by it on a neighborhood walk, it did not disappoint. Tons of local beers and a variety of tap options-- stop by and check it out!

Gardening and beer.

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2 months ago

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7 months ago

Love the staff, food, and people who go to the Boathouse. The vibe is chill, friendly, and awesome.

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1 year ago

Fun spot for a drink and some food! Was really surprised they had food. Drove by a bunch of times and glad we finally went in.

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8 months ago

Overpriced. Also I think they sell alcohol to minors. Ambience seemed weird & creepy. Service was meh.

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10 months ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

Love the Boathouse! Undercover cool spot ! Super dog friendly. Lots of amazing dog lovers at this spot !

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2 years ago

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3 years ago

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

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2 years ago

One my favorite bars in all of the Bay area. The bartenders are the best and the food is good too

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3 years ago

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8 years ago

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9 years ago

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4 years ago

Boo, bought a 7 dollar can of beer and it was skunked. Called the place and the guy basically told me tough cookies

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8 years ago

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Ask the Community - Boathouse

Review Highlights - Boathouse

Eats: Spicy tuna panini for husband; ceviche tostada, chicken taco with onion and cilantro and pork taco with mango salsa.

Mentioned in 2 reviews

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Forbidden Island - Full view of the bar at opening time

Forbidden Island

(1.6k reviews)

$$

Forbidden Island is one of those rare neighborhood gems that somehow manages to feel both special…read moreand effortlessly welcoming. It's a longtime local favorite of mine and my go-to spot for meeting up with friends--equal parts escape and comfort. The cocktail menu is impressively deep, full of beautifully crafted, fancy tiki drinks that practically beg to be explored, and so far every single one I've tried has been delicious (dangerously so). Inside, the bar nails the classic tiki vibe--warm, immersive, and transportive--while the outdoor patio offers a lovely, relaxed option with plenty of extra seating on warm days. It's the kind of place where you can linger, laugh, and lose track of time. The staff deserve a special shout-out: genuinely friendly, attentive, and accommodating, which only adds to the overall experience. A quick pro tip: if you're planning to stop by during popular after-work hours, definitely make a reservation--it fills up for good reason. The food menu is on the smaller side, but the bites are tasty and thoughtfully done, perfect for sharing alongside a round (or two) of cocktails. All in all, Forbidden Island is a standout spot that keeps me coming back again and again.

Forbidden Island is a usual pitstop for us after the Antique Fair in Alameda. The drinks are solid…read moreand the interior decor is fun, but fall short of its neighbors in the surrounding area. It's got a hybrid dive bar with dollar bills on the ceiling, mixed with Tiki. I have tried the Grog, Rum Barrel, and Sunday Special, all of which were solid, but not out of this world.

Lemon Drop

Lemon Drop

(195 reviews)

$$

I always enjoy this spot every time i visit! i'm so glad this place is in alameda…read more The happy hour menu is great, from drinks to food. I like the crispiness of the wings with the sauces as well. They actually gave us the wrong order, but we were already eating so they ended up giving us our right order still. The flat bread could be a bit more crispier with the crust. but the flavor was there! Now to the drinks, i very much appreciate their seasonal drinks. I love when a place offers this because it gives the customers something else to look forward going back to. So i can't wait what they have during the holiday season. The ghost rider was such a special drink, i was in flavor heaven. it had matcha, coconut and lychee i think and it was just wow! If you're looking for a place for happy hour, this is it. If you're looking for a late night lounge with music to hang with friends, you've found the spot!

Went to Lemon Drop on a Saturday night for a girls' night out. The decor is really cute and I loved…read morethe ambiance--it has a fun, inviting vibe. We sat outside by the fire pit, which made it even better. The bartender had great energy and was definitely a highlight of the night. There were a few birthday celebrations going on, and he kept the energy up and made it feel lively. We ordered two rounds of the "Man at the Garden." The drink is aesthetically pleasing, but the taste was just okay--nothing special. The servers were nice, but service was a bit slow. We were left unattended long enough for the ice in our second round to melt, which was a little disappointing. We wanted to try another drink, but after waiting so long, we ended up just being ready to leave. Overall, I'd still give Lemon Drop another chance because the vibe and atmosphere were really nice.

Town Tavern - Black Manhatten

Town Tavern

(197 reviews)

$$

Favorite place to grab a drink on the island!…read more I love grabbing a spot by the windows to people watch while sipping on a well made cocktail. If you want to grab a bite, my go-to is the sliders with tater tots.

I stopped by here for happy hour and had a really pleasant experience! They offer $10 classic…read morecocktails and discounts on appetizers like chips and salsa and guac, French fries, nachos, and other bites. I ordered a classic martini with a twist, it wasn't my favorite drink ever but it was made well, just not my usual. After that I ordered a classic margarita which was super good and came with a black salt rim and dehydrated lime. The margarita was super tasty and both drinks were made right away! For food, I ordered the chips and salsa and guac. The guac was very good, it tasted fresh and was a good size portion. The salsa was really good, it was chipotle tasting but had a lime tanginess to it that was unique and refreshing. They were generous with the portion of chips and the chips were thick and crispy and seasoned well with just a little bit of salt. I also ordered the impossible taquitos which came with guac, sour cream, and salsa on top. The presentation was beautiful and the food came out fast but the taste was a bit weird, it wasn't bad but it just tasted like burger meat in a taquito. I really appreciate that they offered a meat alternative but wish it tasted better, like maybe use potatoes instead of fake meat, or use fake chorizo over a burger seasoning. It would also be nice if there was a vegan version not just a vegetarian version. Despite my critiques of the food, I have no critiques for the service and atmosphere! My server was phenomenal and attentive and checked in often! I had a great experience and look forward to coming back but would definitely be more eager to come back if they updated with more vegan options!

Boathouse - bars - Updated May 2026

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