Stopped into Freehouse recently and had such a great experience that I felt it deserved a review. This place really captures the Berkeley vibe. Lively but still comfortable enough to actually relax and enjoy your time. The space itself is beautiful with a great indoor bar setup and a patio that's perfect for hanging out with friends or grabbing drinks after work or class near UC Berkeley. The food menu is solid gastropub style with burgers, sandwiches, shareable plates, and plenty of options that pair well with their beer and cocktail selection. Everything felt fresh and well executed, and the overall atmosphere made it easy to stay longer than planned. What really made the visit stand out though was Joey working behind the bar. He took genuinely great care of me throughout the night. Service was attentive, drinks were consistently well made, and he created a welcoming, easygoing experience that you don't always find at busy Berkeley bars. He checked in at the right moments, made great recommendations, and clearly knows how to run a bar while still making guests feel like regulars. It's rare when service elevates an already good spot into a memorable experience, but that's exactly what happened here. If you're looking for a good bar in Berkeley with strong cocktails, friendly service, and a fun but relaxed atmosphere, Freehouse is definitely worth stopping into. I'll absolutely be back and would happily grab a seat at Joey's bar again. read more

The food is very poor quality. The soft pretzel was a stale microwaved from frozen sad pretzel. I got served literally 3 small chicken tenders that looked like they also came from a frozen packet. Service is just ok. Ambiance is great though, which is why this place gets 3 stars. read more

I rarely leave negative reviews, but this experience was too uncomfortable to ignore. My friend and I (two young women) were at a table with a pitcher of beer and I went to the bar to ask for a glass. The bartender, Joey, stared at me like I was crazy before asking for my ID -- which is completely fine -- but his demeanor was immediately hostile. Because of how rude the interaction was, my friend calmly asked if we had done something to upset the staff. His became more aggressive and told my friend "I won't serve you!" For the rest of the night, he made faces at us, smiling and waving sarcastically from behind the bar. At the end of the night, when we tried to speak to another bartender about what happened, Joey aggressively yelled across the bar, "Do you have something to say to me?" It was intimidating and completely inappropriate. As we were leaving, he continued glaring and making hostile faces. The other bartenders were kind and professional, and encouraged us to leave a review. Unfortunately, the manager was dismissive. This was openly aggressive behavior that bordered on harassment. We did nothing to warrant it, and it made us uncomfortable for the rest of the night. Completely unacceptable. Update: in a new review, Joey and/or his friends call me and my friend out by name and blatantly lie about the situation. Everyone in our party readily provided IDs when asked; we are all 27+ researchers. Joey did not ask for my ID initially when I asked for a glass, he first made hostile faces at me and just stared at us. It was bizarre and creepy behaviour and he is now attempting to intimidate us. read more

Freehouse is an OK place that could be amazing! It has a unique and intersting history with its 1928 building that used to house a Presbyterian Ministry wherein they pay homage to the Free Speech Movement of the early 1960's. I thought the bar area looked interesting because of that! It was busy when we arrived for dinner before a concert but we were seated at a table right away in the courtyard by a very friendly and efficient server. We ordered a couple beers while we looked over the menu. My husband ended up choosing their Blue and Gold Burger (with a veggie Beyond Burger patty) which came with a not very generous serving of fries while I had their Vegan Chili. We shared our meals and agreed they could have tasted much better. The blue cheese in the burger helped to elevate the flavor but otherwise it was just ok. My chili was a disappointment. It was pretty flavorless. It really could use a side of salsa and/or the option of adding shredded cheese. But our server was great and the ambiance was cool! read more

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I come here pretty often and have never had an issue with the food/beverages or service. Last night one of the bartenders, Joey, was being rude to me and two other folks in our group. I asked Joey politely if I could get a glass for the pitchers we ordered and was rude about handing me a glass, I had my ID ready but Joey didn't ask for it. I understand if you had a bad day so I didn't think much of it. However, Joey took it upon themselves to be belligerent and rude to two other people in my group. Freehouse is usually great, but I feel bad for folks who have to interact with Joey when he's outwardly rude to customers. read more

Been here a few times after banquet events and it's always a good experience with pitchers of beer and a casual environment. Their food is a little on the pricier end, but they have some solid options that taste good in spite of the cost. Went here with some friends for a drink. Saw they had a taco special for 2 tacos and a beer for $13 which isn't the cheapest, but booze and food was something I couldn't pass up. The chicken one was more flavorful than the beef one I got, but I wasn't expecting gourmet tacos and was still happy with what I ordered. Had trouble deciding on the beer & the bartender was nice to let me sample a few. Settled on their rice lager since I wasn't the biggest fan on IPAs. Fire alarm for pulled mid eating and I had to leave, but eventually everything got sorted out and we went back to their outdoor patio. Wouldn't go here alone, but it's a nice place for friends & groups read more

Freehouse - Tacos - Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

Honestly pleasantly surprised by this place! I actually heard about it at the very beginning of college 4 years ago, but never ended up coming. On the last day of classes 4 years later though, my friends and I decided to come here for a late dinner and potentially drinks. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, and we got a table outside. You seat yourselves, and then a waiter / waitress comes to take your order. We got the brussels sprouts to share and I got the bbq chicken wings. The wings themselves were fine, nothing special to them but nothing really bad either. However, the brussels sprouts were soo good. I think they first fried them, and then coated them in a delicious sweet and savory sauce that made them so addicting. I think I could've just eaten that as my entree alone :) We didn't end up getting drinks, but I did really like the vibe here! read more

Freehouse - Chicken wings - Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Major dark academia vibes! But I wouldn't expect anything less than a pub right across the street from the Cal campus. Definitely a great place to meet up with friends for a quick bite and drink. I'm absolutely in love with the vibe in there. There's a long tables, small tables for two and a fireplace. Whether you're with a large group, a date or need to unwind solo, there's a spot for you. Service here is phenomenal. Our server was very knowledgeable about the different brews they had on tap and was able to recommend something that tickled the pallet of each person in our group. I honestly felt like he went above and beyond and despite the very busy evening, he was able to check in on us and keep the drinks flowing. The food here is honestly pretty basic, I wouldn't say its terrible but it's nothing to write home about. However, I'm still giving this place 5 stars because of the aesthetic, extensive tap selection and amazing service. I would definitely come back here, I would just eat beforehand. read more

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I came to Freehouse a number of times for department-related events in my time attending UC Berkeley from 2015 to 2019. Be it a celebratory meal or a stop on a pub crawl, I enjoyed my visits. Some of my colleagues gave it a bit of a hard time because they said it was no fun when busy. Fortunately, the times I visited, it was not busy and getting food and/or drinks was straightforward and did not have much of a wait. read more

I've had a great time every time I've come to free house, but I think that's a better reflection of my company than this establishment. Here's why: Pros: - happy hour 3-6 wooo - great draft beer selections - IPAs, sours, ciders, and lagers always on tap - great Brussels sprouts ($4 during happy hour!!) - lots of fries options (garlic, sweet potato, plain) - many seating options indoors and outdoors Cons: - service can be slow, even when it's not very busy - portions can be small - disappointing nachos and bland fries (not even salted) 3.5/5 for being a good place for happy hour that's not too far from campus, but room for improvement with some of the food and the service. I'll still be back! :) read more

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Freehouse isn't free and there's no freedom in USA these days. You will be caught in Korea's trap. hahah.. I got a pretzel and I have to pay them back soon in a week. Thanks Abraham and sorry about it really but my college didn't bank on their business plan. It's their fault. read more

Freehouse - Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

Nice patio area with heater in back. Convenient location and reasonable drink prices! Great place to catch up with friends or a business lunch. read more

Came here for dinner and fell in love with the food! I ordered the blue and gold burger and substituted fries with tators tots, oh my god SOOOOO good. Tator tot fricken Heaven. Abe was the bartender and recommended a gin and elderberry cocktail. Very refreshing! He was very knowledgeable on the drinks. The employee Liz was hyping me up on my outfit and she has just earned a new regular! I will definitely be bringing my friends. read more

This is always a go to place after class. Nice mix of people. Food is pretty good and drink prices are okay for the area. Would definitely recommend. read more

A group of a wedding party came here after seeing the Botanical Gardens (group of about 12). Since some of the 12 had come from various parts of the country, not everyone knew they had to be fully vaccinated from Covid with cards to prove it to eat here. Luckily, they did let us go to their outside dining area to be served. Service was slow, one person had to leave for an appointment (that was an hour after we had arrived) without getting their food. Another of the group ate it instead. The menu looked nice, but the meals were small, the taste was average, the best part was the beer. Overall, an ok choice, but nothing to make it excel. read more

Came for lunch during the work week. Got a seat fairly quickly. Ordered fried chicken sandwich with fries and brussel sprouts. Tasted it good. Fun college pub ambience. Service is limited yet they're friendly. read more

The ambiance was good, but the food was pretty expensive for the portion sizes. Service was prompt. read more

Freehouse - Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

Always a great time coming here for meals with good friends. The food is fairly priced, and it is always a hit. I LOVE the interior, as it gives a gothic, collegiate vibe. I also love the outdoor seating area in the back and the game rooms on side. My personal tip is to come on a warmer night with friends, so you can eat either in the back or the front patio next to the fireplace. Although I wasn't a fan of brussel sprouts before, this place changed my mind on that with their roasted brussel sprout sides (absolutely delicious). Service is always stellar, and this is definitely one of my favorite gems of Berkeley. read more

Freehouse - Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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The tacos were small but delicious. The beer was good. The waitress was charming and attentive. I've never been so cold in a restaurant in my life. I'll come back in the spring. read more

Just want to call out the iron cookie dessert for being a fake. That was nothing more than a pre-packaged Costco-style large cookie, microwaved, tossed into a skillet, and given a scoop of ice cream on top. The cookie was smaller than the skillet so it looked pretty sad sitting in a skillet it hadn't even been baked in. The fish tacos were a single fish stick in a tortilla (with good slaw and aioli) but still, one fish stick. The place gets two stars for the ambiance , kind service, and delicious tater tots. read more

Ordered one beer after a long day of school today, just one. And the service I got was the worst I have ever experienced in my life. Some background, I'm a college student with literally negative money thanks to student loans. Anyways, I order my one beer and rounded up to the nearest dollar as my tip. Enjoyed my beer then came back for another on 15 mins later, there was a little bit of a line and some lady was sitting at her table while the bartender was trying to get her attention to give her the drink she ordered. I ran the drink over to her as a nice gesture. When I come back to order my second and final drink the female-appearing bartender exclaimed to the whole bar,"AND WE'RE NOT SERVING YOU ANYMORE BECAUSE YOU ONLY TIPPED 28 CENTS!" I've worked in the restaurant industry for 5 years and that is plain and simple not how you treat guests that come into your restaurant. Never been more embarrassed. I'm blown away that this person treated me like this after they didn't give me any service. I wasn't dining in ( or offered a menu) , I didn't get waters (or refills) , I didn't get a recommendation or told the specials. I tipped proportionally to the service I got, helped them out by running a drink for them, and Instead of a thanks I got embarrassed I front of my friends and everyone else at the bar. I'll never be coming back. read more

Free House deserves 4-stars! This is one of our go-to bar after classes on thursday nights. There is ample space for hanging out (you can sit inside or outside), and delicious sweet potato and garlic fries. There is a nice fireplace outside in front, and heat lamps with tables outside in the back. Red IPA is a great choice. Only thing that sometimes can be a bit frustrating is slow bartenders. We often come with a big group and it can take a while to get everyone's drinks because there is often just one bartender at night. read more

This place waters down their liquor to about 50% which means they started at 0 stars. The food was pretty good. I had Brussels sprouts that were tasty. They had vegan options for my friend. The garlic fries tasted like they were frozen for a year, undercooked, then piled chopped garlic on them. When I ate them I made a face like I had eaten a cockroach. 1 star for food. Our waitress, while sweet and attentive, was quite possibly the worst waitress I've ever had. She didn't remember any orders, and had absolutely no idea what was on the menu or at the bar. I gave her a star for good attitude. I get that they are literally across the street from campus but being in the Bay Area I had higher expectations. read more

Popped in and sat at a bar top table. The service was great. The chicken tenders were good. The pretzel was a bit dry. The spot was cool in decor and seemed to be a nice spot for grad students and professors. We will be back! read more

We had dinner here before a show at the Greek Theater and really enjoyed it! Service and food were great. Wasn't too crowded at about 5:45 PM on a Thursday. Our server, Kyle, was incredibly friendly and attentive. The food came out so quickly and was delicious! We had a grilled cheese, chicken tenders, herb & parm tater tots, and Brussel sprouts. The ambience inside is really nice. They even had a fireplace with a fire burning which added a cozy touch. I'd definitely come back here next time I'm in Berkeley. read more

My colleagues and I decided to eat here and to my surprise it was a good experience. Service was a bit slow (which is why I took a star away), but man their guacamole bacon burger was probably the best burger I have ever eaten. I'm very serious. The way they constructed that burger was (chef kiss) outstanding. They didn't put a lot of guacamole like some places do, but enough to make you enjoy the bites you take. Just outstanding. read more

Freehouse - Bacon guacamole burger. Best. Ever. - Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

The interior/exterior is very quaint and beautiful, but the actual food/drink is average. The food/drink isn't great, but it's not bad. It does the trick. I got the chicken tenders and they were ok, and the garlic fries were too, but I would've preferred if the garlic fries were tossed in the garlic, rather than just being dumped on top. I also got a lemon drop and it was ok, it was a bit too sour. The kombucha is also not good, but not bad. I'd say you're best off ordering beer here! Seems to be their best thing. read more

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The location and the ambiance are great. The staff is nice. It's always fun to come here. Maybe because they're guaranteed steady clientele from UCB across the street, they take it for granted they don't have to try at all with the food. It's never been great, and the menu has been limited for a long time, but in past visits even during Covid the food was decent--even pretty good, for what it was. This time, the food was near-tasteless. For nearly $20, the kale salad was dull and the added salmon was dry and overcooked. Our server was sweet but kept interrupting, and when we had barely begun eating tried to get us to pay so she could close out. I sympathize, but it's not cool to interrupt with the bill two minutes after the food arrives. So it's still a lovely setting, but seemed run-down today, and I'm not eager to return any time soon. read more

I really like this spot! Super close to campus for a drink at night. There is an outdoor-esque area that is nice for hanging out. The interior is very spacious and makes for a great place to hang with some classmates. The drinks are also reasonably priced, so that's a plus as well. read more

Such disappointing food here, but we did enjoy the setting. We came here based on a pretty good Yelp average and proximity to the Greek in Berkeley. The setting is beautiful. An old lounge with history, a fireplace, some leather couches, and pool table. Very collegiate feeling, yet fairly desolate for a Saturday night. It really felt like a New York club, a nod to the Algonquin Round table, a bit dated and past its prime, but still charming in a slightly frayed, unraveling way. If it weren't for the below average bar food, and we are talking a disappointingly uncreative menu comprised of sandwiches, burgers and fried items, this place might have been a find. We ordered a half-middling hot pastrami sandwich and a large bar pretzel with congealed yet still watery white cheddar cheese sauce. Not memorable foodwise. Well, at least not in a good way. I do like the ambiance here and the location. It has real potential as a destination if they can come up with a better menu. For now, I'd skip the food and focus on their impressive line up of local beer on tap. read more

If you rated this place a 3, you didn't eat the vegan burger because if you did, there's no way you could give Free House any less than a 5! This is one of the best vegan burgers I've ever had. The beet burger was crispy yet juicy and dressed just right. The burger was very good sized and a great value for the price. One of us had regular fries and the other had sweet potato fries and they were both excellent. Our service was great! The server was friendly and on point the whole service. read more

Great Cocktails, Beer's awesome atmosphere across from the Berkeley University. They got two patios at front also outside outback. read more

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Service and food were great. Atmosphere is Berkeley eclectic, with photos and decor showing off historic moments of UC and Berkeley's past.

Decent food and beer in a historic room (2/5 Green Stars) I've been to the Free House a few times and always find it to be fine. It seems like it needs a little tweaking to make it really work. For a bar next to campus, I think they should lower their beer prices a bit. They have an interesting selection but the mark up seems a bit steep. They used to make a really good black bean burger but replaced it with a veggie patty made mostly from red quinoa and beets ($12, incl fries). It was interesting, but missed the mark for me. Bring back the black bean burger! This used to be the meeting spot for the Free Speech Movement, so take a moment to check out the photos on the walls. I'm also giving them 2/5 Green Stars for social and environmental impact, based on these reasons: * Decent selection of local craft beer * The menu is pretty meat-centered * Almost no info on ingredient sourcing or sustainability. read more

I'm a little biased because my dorm was right above this restaurant when I attended Cal, which made me really excited to finally come back and check this place out. They have a great vibe and an even better location right in the heart of everything and walking distance to venues like the Greek and Memorial Stadium. The food was decent but nothing memorable. I really appreciated how fast everything came out and how friendly our server was so would come back for that and my own personal nostalgia. read more

Great local business in close proximity to Cal. I'm a fan of the kind of vibe they offer: chill, chic, laidback, but still professional. It's kind of fine-casual dining. This place is great for meetups. 1. Our class had an end-of-semester get together here last summer (over handcrafted cocktails) 2. I've conducted mentorship sessions here (over beer and snacks) 3. I've met with our company team for a lunch meeting here (over burgers and appetizers). 4. I've played billiards with my sister and friends here (over beer and snacks). The variety of sammich, burgers, and other pub cuisines that they offer are really simple, but decent, and--I'd say--delicious. Tastes pretty good! But kind of pricey, especially the handcrafted cocktails. The appetizers are in smaller portions, honestly. But the burgers are pretty big, just right for its value. I love that their dining room preserves and showcases its historic feature. Apparently, their building was the hub of protesters back in the days of free speech movement when they could not congregate on campus. Wow. Some parts were renovated for preservation purposes and to look modern ever since. They have a back patio and a front of the house patio, both of which were furnished with heater lamps. I kinda like this place. Would recommend for your next gathering! read more

Cool spot. Only few options available in the area for a drink over lunch. Feel like a historical house sectioned off to sell some booze and food. Only had one staff working, who did a great job, but still caused the wait time for any service to be stretched out too long for my enjoyment of the place...especially when metered parking is around $4 an hour. I'm sure everyone's experience will be different but this was mine. read more

Great service good food covid safe outdoor seating. Food tasted good and great value for amount of food. Will be back. read more

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First time trying this place. Great burger. Ordered it Medium, got it Medium. The Blue and Gold has a great balance of Blue Cheese and Balsamic Onions which does not overpower the flavorful beef. Will definitely try this place again... And just a 5 minute walk from my office. read more

Great beer selection, I personally had already eaten when we arrived but all the food looked quite tasty too. The walk up to the front door is unassuming, and it almost looks as if you would be about the find yourself in the living room of some old gray haired Berkeley lady who had owed the house since '72. The ambience here is awesome, the front opens up to a huge seating area in what looks to be an old ballroom. Comfy couches, quick service, and if you check-in on Yelp you get a coupon for a any, yes ANY $4 craft pint (you don't have to leave a review, this is extra mind you) which seems like in steal in downtown Berkeley. Great spot to spend and afternoon or evening, and also the perfect location to grab a quick bite and drink before an event at the Greek Theatre. read more

Freehouse - Bar at Free House! - Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California