Had an amazing experience at Tallboy!…read more Sat at the bar on a sunny weekend and immediately loved the vibes. Bartenders were friendly and seemed to know a lot of the regulars. Can't quite describe it but it didn't feel like an SF bar, felt more open and like a community watering whole. On to the food and drinks. I'm vegetarian so was so excited to try the dogs - which are vegan. And I may be biased but you cannot tell that you're missing out on anything with all the flavor packed combos. The bun was fluffy and soft and you have multiple fun themed options to choose from. My partner and I ended up getting the deli dog and truffle meltdown. Deli was perfect - classic mix of spice and crunch with the spicy brown mustard and giardiniera peppers. And the truffle meltdown was so savory and decadent - totally different flavor profiles from each dog! We were only going to grab one drink but the menu was so inventive we ended up getting two. I ordered the banana hammock (which comes with a fire show) and espresso martini slushee which was is up there with the frozen Irish coffees I've had in New Orleans. Man writing this has my mouth watering... definitely coming back for more dogs, drinks, and vibes!

I've heard all the hype about Tallboy, so I had to check it out myself…read more I do think it lived up to some of the hype, but I think they could've used their space better. It is a unique layout to a bar, and probably better concept for earlier hours, when it isn't as crowded during the night. It can fill up really quickly, since the area to order a drink, dance, and mingle is narrow, since the bar is literally in the middle of the room. Some of the staff can be extremely nice and kind, and there are some who you can tell are fed up, upset, and don't have the best attitude. I get it, though. It's a cool bar to check out or be the first stop of the night. The djs they have always turn up. Good luck getting a drink under 15 minutes though!

I've gone four times and each time it's been soooo hard to pick a responsible number of cocktails…read more They have so much variety and a lot of unconventional combos; the staff is very good about helping guide you to something that matches your preferences, but everything I've tried there was really good. The bites are generally really good too, though I wasn't a huge fan of the chili cucumbers. Try the Tomato Beef cocktail-- it's really yummy! The Li Hing Ramos is a good go-to if you like egg white drinks, and the seasonal milk punch has always been good. The ambiance is very cool, not bright inside, but bright colors, very hip. Great date night spot.

Viridian, you stole the show this month! This was my first time coming back to Viridian after about…read morea decade, and we were not disappointed. Such a beautiful interior space vibrant in celebration for AAPI Heritage month, and a super fun cocktail menu that was the perfect post-meal moment (both photo-worthy and tastebuds approved). We also noticed they have a cool food menu too filled with yummy and innovative dishes like Cheesy Char Siu Tots, Szechuan Salt & Pepper Wings, Korean Fried Mapo Tofu, BBQ Char Siu Ribs, and more. They also have nice swag ~ we took home a hat that resembled a Kirkland hat that spelled out "Oakland Viridian" (IYKYK). Drink-wise we ordered the Soy Sauce Old Fashioned and the Café Sua Daddy, which essentially is an espresso martini with a fun twist with black sesame and an egg cream foam. Both drinks were outstanding and presentation was beyond..I wished we could have stayed for round two, but duty calls! Ride-share and or BART suggested in this area, it's just a bit congested downtown to park. Service was fun, prices fair for the whole experience. Loved it!

The driiiiinkkksss omg. So yummy. The bartender paid such great attention to detail when making our…read moredrinks for happy hour. These were the best mixed cocktails ive had in a really long time. The wings were cooked to perfection and service was good. Im for sure going back for happy hour!

Black owned restaurants! I had a chance to check out NOSSO last night when I met my family, my…read moresiblings there for appetizers and drinks. I was able to park right out front. I walked in to ample seating on the ground level. I was able to scan and see the menus and quickly able to get an order in and included chicken wings without the sauce. Oxtail sliders and brussels sprouts. They had a DJ go on the club was busy but the service was excellent. They bought our food out and the drinks and everything was good. I had to say this was in place with a nice vibe in downtown Oakland. I would recommend NOSSO if you're looking to go out no fuss great food and drinks nice bartenders and a great DJ !

Drinks here are smooth and delicious! We ordered a flight to Oaxaca, suffering bastard, whiskey…read morejack, and a passionfruit drink that the bartender made on the fly for mex Everything was so good! No notes here- loved suffering bastard (more refreshing, ginger forward), and the whiskey jack (smooth, complex), the flight to Oaxaca was spicy and delicious too. Will definitely be back- recommend others to try!

Cool, messy and full of charm. I loved this little bar and wish it were closer to home for me. We…read moresampled a few of their house cocktails and they were pretty darn good, just served a little sloppily. We joked they might toss the glasses to us if we got a second round. Definately worth checking out if you're in the area. It's a short walk to many other bars and restaurants in the area. Service was efficient and friendly.

It looks very nice inside, and you expect the food to be great. Well, Lucuma doesn't disappoint!…read more The food is delicious; everything from the appetizers, to the entrees, to the desserts. The drinks are equally as good. Of course, the meal is made more enjoyable because of the excellent service. I highly recommend Lucuma! I've been here more than once with friends, and next time I'm bringing my family!

We ordered: 1. Chirulín- Peruvian cocktail. Main flavors…read moreare grapefruit and cinammon- sounds bad but was oh so good! Features Pisco Quebranta- a single varietal brandy from the Ica Valley in Peru. Pre-dates the more well known Pisco Sour by centuries. Highly recommend. 2. Causa acevichada- imagine a yellowtail sushi roll and cover it in potato salad. Delicious, but strange- feels like a dish heavily inspired by the huge influx of Japanese immigrants to Peru in the early 1900s. Watch out- those pretty red peppers bite! 3. Pulpo al olivo- the delicate cream sauce, avocado and herbs were heavenly! 4. Ensalada César: good but pales in comparison to the other dishes- basic. 5. Tequeñitos: just ordered for the kiddo, ok but would not recommend. The neat part was the passionfruit sauce that came with. We used it on the next dish... 6. Empanadas: we ordered the sampler and I only tasted the mushroom which was delicious- but I probably wouldn't order again because I inly have so much room in my belly and I want to fill it with seafood! 7. Coliflor: the least impressive dish- I wouldn't recommend- just ok- needed more flavor. 8. Conchitas a la parmesana- echoes of oysters Rockefeller- fabulous- very rich and meaty- served on the half shell-4 to a plate. if I could do this meal over, I would skip the cauliflower, Cesar salad, and empanadas and order 2 more of these, another octopus and more Chirulín ! So good! Go early and street parking will he easy.

Honestly, this is one of the better bars in Oakland. They have decently priced drinks, good djs, a…read morelot of space to dance and mingle, and an entire back patio with a photobooth. I think the back patio might be more spacious than inside. It's a great usage of space with plenty of space heaters and plenty of seats and tables. The security and staff are pretty typical for what you come across bars, but, overall, I had a great time and experience! There's also a ton of seating room inside and doesn't feel too crowded or compact. Definitely will be coming back!

I visited a few weeks ago for the first time, and unfortunately, my experience started off on a…read morenegative note. After arriving, one security guard checked my ID and directed me inside. As I was walking in, I briefly stopped after recognizing someone I knew. At that point, another security guard began yelling at me and then grabbed me forcefully to move me along. I understand that security staff have a job to do and need to keep entrances and walkways clear. However, the way the situation was handled felt completely unnecessary. I was not causing a disturbance, and there was no reason for physical contact. Being grabbed so aggressively was uncomfortable and unprofessional. I hope management addresses this issue and speaks with the security staff about appropriate ways to interact with guests. First impressions matter, and this interaction immediately impacted my experience.

I came here with a group of friends for a night out in the East Bay. We hit up this bar for a round…read moreof slushies after pregame at my friend's apartment. I got the Blue Hawaiian, a yummy classic, and it did not disappoint. Despite the cold front over the Bay Area this weekend, I instantly felt as if I'd teleported to Hawai'i. Service is pretty quick here, but they do have a minimum credit charge of $10. It's pretty easy to reach though if you order a cocktail or slushie.

Came here on a random Wednesday night and though it wasn't as busy as a weekend would be, our…read morefriends and I still had a good time. Bartender was chill and the place is quite spacious - there is seating indoors and a whole outdoor patio with chairs/booths and games like corn hole, connect 4, and giant jenga. The patio area is nice because there are space heaters on the side and it's so pretty with the hanging lights. The drink prices aren't too bad, but I like that they had good flavors for the high noons. Definitely a good spot to check out for a chill night out.

My besties and I love this late night treat after dining n the area (a lot!). Cat House is a fun…read moreOakland find. It is quirky, and unpretentious. The kind of bar where you walk in for one drink and somehow end up staying all night. Ugh

Stopped in to try a drink because I'd read that this was one of the best bars in Oakland. I tried…read morean old fashioned and it was pretty good. I enjoyed the open air seating area in the back and the overall vibe was good. I went solo, struck up conversation with strangers, and enjoyed my drink.