Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Cafe Van Kleef

    4.3 (919 reviews)
    Closed Closed

    Cafe Van Kleef Photos

    CAFE VAN KLEEF ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Casual
    Live music

    You might also consider

    More like Cafe Van Kleef

    Recommended Reviews - Cafe Van Kleef

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Gina H.

    Van Kleef is an Oakland classic! If you haven't been, they're known for their fresh grapefruit cocktails! Usually greyhound but they offer it with different liquors. Nice little spot to get your buzz on.

    Bar
    Tracy D.

    Hands down the best greyhounds. Fresh grapefruit juice. We had a double and it was smooth and easy to drink. We enjoyed chilling in this bar. Unique atmosphere and friendly bartender. I'll definitely be back!

    Sophia C.

    This is such a cool dive bar, the decor is unlike anything else I've seen before (super random but super unique) and even the tables look cool! The drinks are cheap as well, ranging from $10-12 for their grapefruit themed drinks which come with an actual large slice of fresh grapefruit! The vibes of Cafe Van Kleef were immaculate and made for a great environment to drink and chat. I'd definitely come back.

    Tiana D.

    A group of friends and I ordered a round of greyhounds late on a Wednesday night. The bar was busy, but not busy enough where it was difficult to get a drink. The bouncer was fun to chat with and our bartender was an angel! The decor in this place is so fun. So many quirky things to look at. The drinks were super delicious! I would absolutely come back here if I'm ever in the area again.

    Interior
    Joanna S.

    We love a local watering hole with a signature drink! I first visited to Cafe Van Kleef years ago to try their Greyhound cocktail. I stopped by last Saturday and the drinks were just as delicious as I remembered. I loved seeing the bartender juice gallons of grapefruit to order. The bar is cool, cult-classic, and divey in feel. Great for dates or friends. It is easily accessible by BART and bus. I would 100% come back again!

    Greyhound Classic
    Reeven S.

    This bar was such a vibe, but it was overly crowded, especially on weekend nights. It's a small place with a few bar stools, but you really have to squeeze in between people to be able to navigate the place and/or order a drink. They do have outdoor seatings, which I believe they are currently renovating to offer more space. Whether it is outdoor or indoor seating, I think this bar is worth a visit! The decors are quite unique and fascinating. Inside is dark but filled with colorful lights which makes a pleasant vibe to chat and drink. They specialize in greyhound drinks - specifically their Greyhound Classic. It is a vodka drink with freshly squeezed grapefruit juice. I really enjoyed this drink especially because it did not taste like alcohol. The sweetness and freshness of the grapefruit juice really elevate this drink.

    This guy was there for sure.
    J C.

    recently had the (dis)pleasure of visiting Cafe Van Kleef, an Oakland-based steam-punk themed bar that serves grapefruit. As a licensed psychedelic shaman, I am no stranger to unusual and eclectic environments, but this place truly tested my limits. From the moment I stepped inside, the smell of burning hair filled my nostrils, causing my eyes to water and my head to spin. As I looked around, I was confronted with a dizzying array of steam-punk gadgets and gizmos, fire-breathing Bhuddas, and animal heads, all flashing and whirring in a cacophony of noise. Despite my initial discomfort, the staff at Cafe Van Kleef were very nice and seemed to be in high spirits (perhaps a little too high, as they seemed quite drunk). They greeted me warmly and offered me a menu, which featured a variety of greyhound cocktails. I decided to give one a try, hoping it would calm my nerves. Unfortunately, the greyhound did little to quell my mounting sense of unease. As I sipped my drink, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched by unseen eyes. And as the night went on, the bar only seemed to grow more frenzied and chaotic, with the staff singing and dancing as they worked. By the time I left Cafe Van Kleef, I was thoroughly frightened and more than ready to return to the safety and sanity of my own home. While the staff may be nice and the greyhounds strong, I would not recommend this steam-punk themed bar to anyone with a sensitive disposition.

    Indoor view
    Meghan H.

    This bar is in the middle of downtown Oakland, and is well known for their Greyhound cocktail! The inside of the bar has an eclectic atmosphere, with an array of art, collectors items, and theatre props. The back wall of the bar looks like a game of "I Spy". Their Greyhound cocktail is absolutely worth the trip. All of the grapefruits are juiced to order, and makes for one of the most refreshing cocktails I have ever had. I highly recommend stopping here if you are in Oakland and trying it our for yourself!

    christmas lights on the ceiling

    See all

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Leah M.
    2
    31
    24

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Amy G.
    0
    16
    17

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 23
    Thanks 0
    Love this 34
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 13
    Thanks 0
    Love this 14
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Abby S.
    3636
    2530
    7144

    15 years ago

    Helpful 11
    Thanks 0
    Love this 11
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 12
    Thanks 0
    Love this 11
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Earl G.
    763
    1319
    5910

    10 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 0
    Love this 10
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Why everyone and their grandma know about them greyhounds? They do slap though.. I could drink them all day lol

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 1
    Love this 9
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    A museum of kitsch. Amazing grapefruit libations. Cafe Van Kleef needs to be on your uptown Oakland bucketlist.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of J M.
    1003
    400
    352

    14 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sofia R.
    833
    1116
    3918

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ray U.
    1870
    884
    708

    13 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Vicky L.
    914
    1201
    1483

    13 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mike V.
    849
    1710
    657

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    18 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Adriana R.
    555
    49
    14

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Luna R.
    1
    159
    15

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 3 of 23

    Cafe Van Kleef Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Cafe Van Kleef

    Planning a Saturday night out, what time does the live music start?

    View All 2 Questions

    Review Highlights - Cafe Van Kleef

    I haven't had a greyhound in over a year since Covid started and boy was it is delicious and strong as I remember!

    Mentioned in 237 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Jazz & Blues 7,465 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Tallboy - Cheese in the trap

    Tallboy

    4.4(173 reviews)
    1.7 miTemescal, North Oakland
    $$

    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.

    Photos
    Tallboy - The bat and the awesome bartender!

    The bat and the awesome bartender!

    Tallboy - Lion dancing dog

    Lion dancing dog

    Tallboy - Banana hammock

    See all

    Banana hammock

    Cafe Van Kleef - jazzandblues - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...