The staff is sweet and they have a large selection of mocktails. They do table orders, meaning a cute bartender comes to your table to take your order! And the big low table with the couches is a nice nook. I'm a fan of their inside, which has a large selection of great books (I think I spotted a few classics). Cool place to hang out and chill. read more

One of the coolest hidden gems in Oakland. It's like a speakeasy bookstore. Or maybe that's exactly what this is. Someone get me a book on writing. Amazing find! They have a bunch of chairs, chess boards, tons of books....oh and a hidden room You heard me right! Time for the Dr. Who spoilers...if you want to see the hidden room, look for the Hamlet book and pull on it. Voila...hidden room. This place makes online seem...well....not as exciting as holding and reading a real book in a hidden spot with alcoholic drinks! read more

Clio’s - Bookstores Near Me - Oakland, California

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I have waited to write this review, but I'm seeing that other bipoc customers have had similar experiences. 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 read more

what a vibe! we came in on a friday night at 8PM and there was still a good amount of seating for two people. they had couch seating, bar seating, and we were lucky enough to get a table. seated immediately and decided to go with their house cocktails! but we learned we are not old fashioned and negroni people... the space itself was very cool, great for a date night or girls catch up spot. would come back again! read more

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I mean, a cool multilevel bookstore-- mostly underground-- with couches and tall tables for two, easy chairs, and nooks and crannies galore. They serve drinks and small bites. There are author events in a back space. The selection of books is pretty great. It is a great place to meet a friend or turn up for some quiet time in a great setting. read more

Clio’s - Bookstores Near Me - Oakland, California

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It's a no. The no screen policy applies to phones, not just Laptops and tablets. Very selective in how they approach about their policies. Been several times to get a feel for the business. Was once told that the books were only for sale and not for reading in the building. Saw several others getting books off the shelves and reading them. This place has gentrification written all over it. read more

I love clio's! The people that work there are always so sweet and kind. I haven't been in a while, but I recommend it to anyone that's looking for a nice space to hang out in Oakland. Hope to go again soon! read more

Da Mystery of chessboxin' aka Wu-Tang Clan harmony in my head Clio's Bookstore and Bar in Oakland is the best thing since bread became sliced. My beloved lives in Oakland. We did a walk around Lake Merritt. Got some Ethiopian cuisine and stumbled upon this diamond of a place. My beloved ordered a cocktail and enjoyed it. I played chess with a former chess master who was a professional traveling chess master in the day. It was an honor to play with him. You can learn a lot in five minutes. Nice Satsang with him. Heaps of books on various subjects here. All are used and all for sale. I picked up a diamond book aka vintage travel guide from India circa 1981 by Lonely Planet. I spent over three years in India over three years, eight Winters, and nine trips. I wrote three DIY aka self published memoirs of my time in India so was nice to compare and contrast places in India in this book for have traveled extensively all over India. Friendly folks here. Friendly staff. Chess. Books. Bar. Food to follow soon. Would be awesome if they offered some vegan options. This is a gem in the Bay Area. Highly recommended! We will be back and often. See you there. read more

Clio’s - a bookcase full of books - Bookstores Near Me - Oakland, California

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I love this place! Very charming and friendly. I think it's Sunday nights that they have a live guitarist-- particularly sweet then.

Books + drinks + relaxing atmosphere = My perfect combination for a venue such as this. The bartender was a joy to speak with. I ordered their Manhattan, one of three cocktails listed on their $10 menu. Other than being served premixed (I had to dock a star off for that alone) and with ice by default, I enjoyed it and would order it again (neat next time). I also got a chance to speak with one of the managers about hosting book clubs. Again, it was a friendly experience all around. After they provided the email address for the general manager (for book club reservations), I took my drink and walked around the place, poking at their vast book collection and taking in the warm, peaceful atmosphere they've cultivated. I definitely look forward to returning in the near future - likely with friends in tow! read more

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Love this bar! Small, simple menu and a great vibe for hanging out with friends or going on a date!!

I love the space, but I do feel rushed everytime I visit. Additionally, I wish they had more non-alcoholic options! Also-- they are strict about the no screens policy. So not the spot to come if you want to take cute selfies with the besties! read more

Clio’s - Bookstores Near Me - Oakland, California

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An absolutely needed gem of a place in the area and bay. What a great great concept the to wish was implemented more!! Such cozy cute vibes inside, open until 11 pm to lounge around and drink (or not), and so inviting. Randomly found this whilst walking by the lake and so happy to have read more

Cool place to visit. We had the Marcona almonds, olives and tin fish. All great bites. The tequila we ordered was very good. But the cocktails felt watery. Maybe too much ice. Don't know. Definitely will come back! The library collection is well curated and put together. read more

This place is such a vibe. Super chill, you can grab a drink and read a book. Very cozy and relaxing place. Pretty decent drink selection too. They have plenty of sitting area. Parking is a bit difficult since it's by the Lake. Overall, def check it out if you're in the area. read more

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Unique place full of books and people who love them. Oh and beer wine cocktails and snacks.

Clio's is cool, and about to get cooler. It's been around for six months or so, and consists of a sub-sidewalk level bookstore and bar. A small suite of cocktails cost $10 each, including the mezcal old fashioned I enjoyed. But it's a full bar with wine and beer, so you can get whatever. The bookstore is arranged by era - decades for the last century or so, then distinct periods dating back to antiquity. It's a brilliant arrangement, such that you can't just make a bee-line to whatever topic interests you. You have to search through fiction and non-fiction to find what you want, and hopefully to find what you didn't expect. There are plenty of places to sit, kibbitz, and play chess if you want. The bartender was lovely, chatting with me and the wife this past Sunday. They have events regularly, but you have to look for them at eventbrite, because as of now, there's no website, not even a phone number. This coming Sunday (23-Jun-2024) features Cornel West! Local authors are welcome to bring their books here to sell, which we'll do. No screens allowed, hence the home-made picture I provided, with actual books I purchased there. Coming soon: a functioning kitchen with expanded space. Can't wait to go back! read more

Clio’s - Books I bought there, booze you can find there. - Bookstores Near Me - Oakland, California

Cool spot, not your usual "bar." Bookstore/Bar combo. Seating is limited, but it is a nice untraditional spot to have a drink and relax. The vibe is chill and the crowd is diverse. It is probably hit or miss on the type of people you might see, but there is only one way to fine out! That being said, there were $10 cocktails, $5 drafts, and a excellent selection of Beer, wine, and alcohol. The bar tenders were nice and knew what they were doing. My only selection would be to somehow have more seating. There were a few dogs hanging out as well. Bathroom was clean. There is a chess board if that is your jam. You can also buy a book if that is your jam. read more

I went here for some after-dinner drinks with friends. We had a slightly larger party of 7 but Nessa, the hostess, was very accommodating and arranged enough seats for us, including a comfortable couch. There was a nice mix of alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. My alcohol-free friends enjoyed the mocktails while the rest of us liked the house cocktails. The mezcal old fashioned was delicious and was the group's favorite. We didn't really look at the book selection as we were there to catch up but several individuals who shared the couch with us read books while having a drink. I would definitely come back here again. read more

This place is so desperate for business that they are rude to the customers to basically get a drink or get out. The owner gives you dirty looks --- like he did to the table I was sitting at -- if you sit at the seats too long and I heard some excuse about him being from Brooklyn. Who cares! That's not an excuse for stanky face and kicking people out because of your own stress of your bar not making enough money. Also being a woman of color and knowing he has a problem with bipoc people made it all more reason for me to deliberately stay there just to make him mad. How you gonna be racist in Oakland out of all places?Also he tried to charge me $50 for a book I found on Amazon for $20. Word of advice -- Change your attitude change your life. read more

Such a great spot! Perfect for a date, a hangout with friends, or just some peaceful alone time exploring cool books. Cozy, charming, and full of good vibes. Big thanks to Tim and the whole Clio team! read more

Clio’s - Bookstores Near Me - Oakland, California

i made my first (& last) visit today and bought a book this afternoon, which i regret. the bartender was in a bad mood (or maybe just another california grump who was forced at gunpoint to work in retail). i gave her the book and she took a photo, handed it back to me and said something which i couldn't hear (it was loud inside). i guess in my confusion, i looked at her wrong, because her next comment was "i only have two hands"... clearly. she handed me the card reader and another employee started talking to her, and that was the end of my check out process. i wasn't asked if i needed a bag or even thanked for shopping. instead of shopping at clio's, i should have made another amazon order. i hate supporting local businesses when it means getting treated like shit - especially when the business has an image it likes to portray (political fliers, cliche peace & love slogans, etc.). read more

It was my first time here and I was having a good time until the white bartender added her $14 shot to my bill and I just had to pay it. Didn't ask me beforehand just slapped it onto my bill so just be wary of some sneaky bartenders. Working and drinking on the clock but charging customers for it . Not the best experience! read more

After having dinner next door, I saw people going on and felt nosey enough to follow. Talk about a hidden gem, an impressive selection of books, plenty of seating options and an adorable bar with generous pours all below street level. I think I saw a sign saying all books were $10 but I could be wrong. I feel like this is a lovely place for date night or catching up with a friend. read more

Such a special and fun place! Books, drinks and conversation. This is a unique space to bring friends. We need more spaces like this!

On my stroll to Lake Merrit, I stumbled into this hidden gem. Honestly thought it was an independent bookstore and not much of a bookworm anymore. Upon entering theres a small sitting area where you can glance at the cars going by. Go down the somewhat spiral stairs you see a nice setup of books galore. Then you see the bar area and a little private nook across in which sat where they had Hugh Hefter famous magazine. Rebekah appeared and welcomed us. We opted for the drink that was displayed and olives. Place is nice, cozy and decent drinks. Def come back. Rebekah is awesome too read more

The warm welcoming vibe. Tasty cocktails, beautiful, calm interior. A civilized bar in the Grand Avenue corridor.

What a revelation. A place to go where one is surrounded by books and not phones! We went the other (rainy) evening for the first time and enjoyed some well priced cocktails- and a charming environment as well as snacks. My husband and i were hanging out when a nice bearded fellow (manager) popped over and mentioned that there would be a poetry reading starting in a few minutes. We went into the next room and enjoyed the work of the 3 featured poets and ensuing conversation. When we went back out to the bar/bookstore area everyone was so friendly (our Oakland neighbors as well as staff) that we stayed and enjoyed another drink and bought a book. We were so happy to find a welcoming, sweet spot around the lake which will def become a regular hangout. Thank you guys! read more

It is wonderful! Great cocktails, lovely people. Great ambiance! Quiet but great for conversations. Met a friend and loved it!

There is no wheelchair or disabled access to the bar, you must go down a flight of winding stairs to order at the bar, or use the restroom. This bar is in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act which is strange because they are really new and should have been accessible when they opened. read more

Clio’s - Bookstores Near Me - Oakland, California

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Very cozy and intimate location with friendly staff, a nice selection at the bar, and even a secret children's nook! Family friendly, but definitely more for adults to maintain the calm/quiet vibe. read more

I saw this place on TikTok and was excited to try it out. The atmosphere was cozy and inviting. The bartender greeted us when we arrived. She was friendly and made delicious drinks at affordable prices. A nice man in blue working there also reminded us about last call. However, around 11 a man in a gray hat, gray shirt, and dark pants asked me, my sister, and another group to move to the front, saying they were closing. Despite there still being a large group of people inside, he rushed us out to the front, wanting us out (he literally was walking us up the stairs. Totally felt like criminals). I asked him if we could wait for our Lyft, but he said no. As women, we wanted to wait in a safe place since the area can be sketchy at night. Once he got an earful from my sister, he tried backtracking and asked us to come back in. But he had already left a bad taste in our mouths. We felt unfairly targeted (both my sister and I being brown and the pair of guys being men of color) and disrespected, especially since others were allowed to stay and continue enjoying their drinks. My sister was particularly upset by the rude and belittling way we were asked to leave. Despite enjoying our time there initially, this experience has left a bad impression, and I will NOT be recommending this place to my friends. Update: someone just informed me that the man who treated us badly is the owner. I showed her the picture and she confirmed since she informed me about the bar not that long ago. read more

One of my new favorite places. Came here with a friend to play chess and ended up meeting so many new people. The bar is great for fostering conversation. A lot of people seemed to be on dates and it is a very cute date spot. They have a great selection of books organized by time period. There are tables and seating around. They ask to be a screen free place which I love. Bartenders were very nice. Titus was working and was really friendly and sweet. I even got a chess game with him (he's very good). Good drink selection and the house cocktails are reasonable. Will be back! read more

Beautiful queer friendly bookstore bar Café. Nice service and a great selection of books

I was really excited to find a space where I could enjoy a drink and some books with my partner. We sat for about 30 minutes and when we finished our drinks, within 5 minutes, a man cleared the cups. I thanked him for grabbing them. Within 2 minutes of him grabbing them, he asked us if we wanted anything else. Granted we just finished, I said I was okay at the moment. The man said they're getting busy so other people are looking to find seats and enjoy their drinks. We were occupying a small corner of couch with plenty of space left. People were more than welcome to join us. However, I took the hint he wanted us to leave and my partner and I left. The space is small and really intimate. The bartender was nice. I get that they don't have a lot of space and are trying to run a business but kicking out patrons because they aren't tossing back drinks isn't a cool. Not sure if I'll be back. edit: I read other reviews and it's clear what happened to us is a pattern. Disappointing. read more

The bartender was not friendly at all. I regret tipping. Also, my brother's phone accidentally came on, and as he was trying to frantically turn it off, a bartender/worker came over to us and told us that no phones were allowed. My brother was obviously trying to turn off his phone. So, they can speak loudly at the bar, but no phones are allowed? We overheard bar conversations from another room. The drinks were very strong, but disgusting. This "bookstore"/bar won't last. read more

Super cool bar! Met my bookclub girlies here to discuss the latest book we read. Will need to return to & explore the books that are for sale as well! read more

Clio’s - Bookstores Near Me - Oakland, California

Do they ask everyone to buy stuff or leave or is it just the black people? Josh interrupted my business meeting to say we needed to buy something or leave??? And then when I asked him about his approach he said "well we're a business" Was excited to tell my network about this place in oak town but unfortunately we won't be back I'll just create something similar at our whiskey lounge in Pleasanton.... read more

Clio’s - Bookstores Near Me - Oakland, California

Awesome experience and bar. Drinks are reasonable, a perfectly simple menu of house cocktails - very good negroni. Books are organized chronologically and people can get lost in there. read more

I generally don't make reviews but I felt that with tonight's experience it was necessary. The night started off great and the drinks were great. However at the time of closing someone (employee) decided to target my sister and I. He told us that the bar was closing so we needed to leave. The person followed us and made sure we got outside. While the place was full of people!! I have honestly never felt so disrespected in my life in Oakland. Like never!! The place had so many people inside yet this guy was tried so hard to get make sure we left the establishment. What I thought would be a great night turned into one of disappointment. I will never come here again. And I would encourage others not too. They are racist - since they only made sure to kick out the two black and brown people in the bar. read more