Hello Stranger is THAT spot in Oakland. The DJ? Fire. The music? Had me forgetting I had bills due. The vibe? Safe, fun, and full of people who just wanna have a good time. Drinks are on point whether you're into cocktails, mocktails, or just pretending your Sprite is fancy champagne, they've got you. The staff is hella nice too like the kind of people you don't mind bumping into when you're three songs deep on the dance floor. Plus, the brick walls and whole setup make it feel like you stepped into a cool hidden gem instead of just another bar. Honestly, it's the kind of place you show up "just for one" and end up shutting down the night. 10/10 would lose my voice here again. read more

Hello Stranger has a convenient location with a small but decent-sized bar and dance floor. The DJ was okay, nothing special, but fine for a casual night out. Unfortunately, that's all I can really comment on because three of us sat at the bar for about 15 minutes and, even though there was no one else there, the bartender never approached us. We ended up leaving without ordering anything. It was disappointing, especially given how empty the place was. Based on this experience, I don't plan to return. The lack of attention and service made it clear why the bar wasn't busy. read more

Be very cautious of this lounge. I was charged double for the cover fee when they charged my friend a lesser price. Luckily I was able to catch it. I've heard this is a common occurrence here. read more

This place feels like a money grab, which sucks because I actually like the venue. I went on Sunday and was charged $20 to get in. I was there for about an hour and a half before going outside to smoke. When I tried to get back in, they said it would be a $10 charge because the cover I paid earlier had ended. Nowhere on the event flyer mentioned anything about this, and I feel like they rip off their customers with hidden or surprise charges. I'll be going back, but from now on, I'll make sure to ask about pricing so I don't get ripped off again. read more

nahhh don't eeeen go. creepy uncs , over priced tickets and some rude staff on the security. (The girls) How yall gon charge people on their birthday ? Weird behavior read more

It was my birthday yesterday and I was planning on coming here to celebrate until I get to the door, handed the lady at the front door my 20$ cover fee, and to my surprise, looks me in my eyes not but just a second later, and tells me I did not just hand her 20$. I planned on buying multiple drinks for me and my party, and none of that was even possible because of the interaction I had up front. read more

Hello Stranger is a cool spot if you're looking for something to do in the area. When we went, it was a cover ($22); however, my friend stated there usually isn't one. I'm guessing it depends on the day. Once inside, it's very tight and cramped. There was only one bartender so getting a drink was difficult. The bartender also wasn't the best. They had a DJ and a dance floor, so the vibes were cool. read more

Hello Stranger - Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

One of the funnest bars in the bay! The staff and service is always exceptional. The drinks are delicious and atmosphere is amazing. One of my fave bartender is Patrick, always makes me feel like a regular. read more

Sweet bar located perfectly between 19th street bart, fox theater, and so many other bars! We went in for a quick drink before a show at fox, it was probably around 7:30 pm on a Thursday and relatively empty. The bartender was checking IDs and vaccination cards upon guests entering. She was quick, knowledgeable, and super friendly! I opted for the rodeo disco and my boyfriend tried the tropical old-fashioned off the menu. Both were tasty and strong! Their drink menu is so creative and fun! I love when bars stick with a theme, way more fun than my typical gin and tonic. Drinks were reasonably priced for the area, ranging from $11 - $15. They also have shot & half a beer combos! I went in early so it might not be a completely accurate representation of this spot but the music was a fun vibe, the bartender was great, it wasn't overly packed, and no cover charge. I would definitely come back before a show! read more

See all

Cute location, parking downtown is rough but if you're lucky you'll get street parking. There's a lot nearby but it can cost from $10+. Ride-share might be a great alternative - The drinks were really good especially the seasonal hottie hot cider. - The bartenders were cool and helpful. read more

Hello Stranger - Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

Hi wow Carlos was so great! He made our night! It was so great! He gave the best recommendations! Every drink he recommended was phenomenal!

The people who go this bar, esp men at this bar do not keep their hands to themselves. I have gone to bars w just my friends that are girls and been fine. but at this one men touched my hair or face uncalled for while I was walking to the bathroom, one man went as far as to hug my friend just to feel her up. After the bar closed three men followed us for two blocks on our way to our car. There's no level of safety here, the crowd definitely feels entitled enough to make you feel unsafe, I don't recommend for any women tbh. On top of that my friend and I stood at the bar for two hours straight to order some drinks but every single one of the bartenders ignored us. After the first hour I thought maybe they just didn't realize we wanted drinks so I would look a bartender in the eyes and try to make it obvious thay we wanted drinks without being rude but they would attend to the people to the left or right of us until we'd be the only ones left at the bar. And still we'd be ignored while being the only ones there. This happened until the bar closed for last call. Truly one of the worst experiences I've had going out read more

My go to bar for sure ! Gotta love hello and It's literally like a box of chocolates , you never know what you're gonna get . Call me bias but the fine ass security Cardo ooh weeee , he's the best , too bad he's taken . love the ambiance too . read more

Bartender was nice, and so was the bouncer. The party was outside, though. Have to return at a later time! read more

Being from out of town it's been hard to find a place that I really rock with but this place... baby it's the truth! Drinks be nice and strong, DJ always playing a vibe and even the door people have great energy! This is my go to play when I wanna pop out and Taylor is the best!!! Sometimes I just go for her! Most visit when you're in Oakland! read more

Strongly recommend bottle service for larger groups the club is fairly small. Great mix of music and VIP is very spacious. Bottle service girl was very nice and didn't rush our bottle like other places do. It was a little warm upstairs but what club isn't. Over all a good experience lots of fun. read more

Hello Stranger - View from the VIP upstairs - Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

It is Super Bowl Sunday, 2022, and we are watching the big game here at Hello Stranger. We got in for free (usually a $20 fee you get in). My partner did a search online for a free place to watch the Super Bowl--and he nabbed us 2 free tickets in at Hello Stranger. Honestly, I didn't know what to expect. It is located in downtown Oakland. This bar is a hopping spot. Lots of Oaklanders dancing, drinking, and watching the game. The sound of the TV is off, and the DJ is playing tunes that people are having fun dancing to. Actually, we have been here for a few hours, and a 2nd DJ is playing tunes. At around 6 pm, someone came to our table and gave me a long stem rose. He was handing them out to women. Fun place to go for a drink or to, or watch a Super Bowl Game, or dance. Fun place to go! TIP: the music is LOUD!!! Be advised to bring earplugs. read more

See all

Great drinks and even better ambiance. Visited on a Saturday night. Loved the DJ. play that funky music! read more

One of my favorite go to bars in downtown Oakland! Weekends are always lit, especially at night. The live Djs never disappoint and give off the whole vibe. It does get really packed at times, so if you're really trying to have a good time then I advise grabbing a section. There are a couple areas downstairs, but personally I love the VIP section upstairs where you get the whole view of the bar and the space that comes with it. Service always A1 and they always have a good selection of alcohol. Unfortunately, no food is served there so make sure you eat before or after hand! (Shout out to New Gold Medal) read more

Hello Stranger - Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

Went out for some weekend fun with a full party of 9. Carlos and Bailey were fantastic servers and did a smooth job. The atmosphere was lively, and the music was on point. I'll definitely be back. read more

Hello Stranger - Saturday night - Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Super fun bar in downtown Oakland! One of my favorite spots. It's very popular so drinks are a little pricey and there is always a cover charge. Even on a Sunday $10! But the vibe is so fun and the music is bumping, even on Sunday lol. They played old R &B with a dance beat remix and it had us all up and dancing. I love the small second floor overlooking downtown. It's a great spot to have an intimate private party. read more

See all

3 words: They. Have. ABSINTHE!!!!!!!!! I pretty much never expect bars to carry absinthe, but I still ask because you never know when a bartender will say yes. Came here for a company happy hour after a couple of years of passing by here and never stepping in but wondering what it's like to be inside and get a drink. They're kind of low-key swanky, especially with these pretty black-framed goth mirrors outside the entrance of the bar. The bartenders were very busy with drinks and were very attentive to me and my coworkers. When I asked one bartender if I could get a drink, she said, "Of course darling, what can I get you?" "Do you have absinthe?" "Yes, we have absinthe. St George." It took me a moment to register that I had heard her correctly. Yes, I felt lucky!!! I usually get absinthe with a sugar cube on a slotted spoon, but since I'm trying to cut back on sugar, I asked, "Could I have absinthe with ice and a side of water? No sugar." When the bartender went to get my drink, my coworkers who saw me order were in awe that absinthe is my go-to drink. They even asked me to show them how I prepare it once the bartender brought it to me! It's not every day you meet someone who can stomach absinthe, and it was a great icebreaker with several coworkers when they asked me what I got. The fact that they serve absinthe here has certainly skyrocketed Hello Stranger to my top favorite bars, which is a pretty non-existent list, since I usually don't like bars. It was also hella cool to watch the bartenders light certain drinks on fire with blowtorches. Just docking off one star because of all the Halloween decorations they could have been creative with, they just HAD to decorate the whole bar with giant spiders and spiderwebs. They could have had skulls, skeletons, bats, jack-o'lanterns, but no, someone had the bright idea of declaring, "Let's just have giant spiders everywhere." I'm pretty much Ron Weasley when it comes to spiders. Remember that scene with Aragog in the Harry Potter: Chamber of Secrets movie adaptation? Or Shelob from Lord of the Rings: Return of the King? Because eff that shite. Absinthe made up for the lame Halloween decorations though. I'm sure I will be back, and I'm very happy to see Hello Stranger in downtown Oakland. read more

See all

I have been wanting to go to this bar for awhile now. Someone had told me that it was one of their favorite bars in the East Bay to go to, and I can understand why! The music was great - lots of hip hop and rap music to vibe and dance to with a sprinkle of some nice slow R&B. This place honestly felt like a mini club. We only came for drinks this time around and ordered a couple shots and margaritas for all of us. Drinks were pretty standard! Only wish that this place was a bit bigger. It's a pretty small space, and I went on a Saturday night - the entire place was packed, and I found it difficult to get around. On the way to the bathroom, my drink spilled all over my shirt because of how many people there were in such a little venue. Minus the spill, what really made my experience other than the great music was the lovely bartender! I didn't catch her name, but she had such great energy and it radiated off of her to all of the customers near the bar. There were times during the night where they bartenders would ring a bell and pour free shots into people's mouths! She was dancing on the bar top and honestly looked so lively - I appreciated her energy and so did everyone around her. I'd like to come again, but not too sure when because the bar was extremely packed. My advice for people who are thinking about coming here is to consider getting bottle service. There's a room isolated towards the end of the bar and also a loft upstairs that are reserved spots for those services! There are a few spots outside as well. I am positive that you will have a better experience if you choose to do so. read more

See all

Stopped by to check out the bar and can say it's nice. Didn't see many happy hour specials but there is plenty of room for large groups, the staff was very friendly. A big plus is the upstairs space. I'm sure it can be rented out for private parties. Unsure if they allow outside food, didn't see anyone eating, but drinks and food go together nicely. read more

A friend got bottle service (mezcal!) for his birthday. Staff and servers were attentive, friendly, and helpful all while setting polite boundaries with potentially surly patrons. Great people watching and festive music. Thankfully not insanely crowded. Bringing earplugs is a pro move. read more

Great music. Great crowd. It has all the right aesthetics. The buff tight shirt-wearing bartender/ security guy groped my wife as he walked by her on the dance floor right in front of me. Classy move!!! I really appreciated the respect. read more

Warning. Dear Yelp community, I am writing this email to warn anyone who is considering going to Hello Stranger Bar in Oakland, CA. My experience at this establishment was nothing short of traumatic, and I feel obligated to share my experience with others to prevent them from experiencing what I went through. On a recent night out, I visited Hello Stranger and while I was there, a woman accused me of taking pictures/videos of the crowd dancing at the club. Despite no warnings posted in the premises, the owner or management allowed for security to immediately escalate and physically eject me from their premises in an abusive way. As a result of my ejection, two patrons physically assaulted me, and I was sucker punched in the face. But his week attempted did nothing to me but infuriate me further. To make matters worse, this opportunistic patron claims he was grabbing my ass as I was being escorted out, and when I confronted him about it, he assaulted me physically. It is appalling to think that this behavior is allowed to occur at Hello Stranger Bar. Furthermore, the security guards refused to moderate or explain the photography policy and inappropriately escalated the encounter by putting their hands on me. They also refused to give me their badge number or last name. The head of security, Miguel, was combative, dismissive, and rudely threatened me with expulsion and physical harm. I want to urge anyone considering visiting Hello Stranger Bar to think twice before doing so as their security policies are dangerous and the staff fails to take responsibility for their actions. I am considering legal action and request that the bar's management provide their policy on escorting people out and report their security to the proper authorities in the state of CA who license security guards. Please take my experience as a warning and avoid Hello Stranger for your own safety. Sincerely, Javier read more

Awesome new spot to get your cocktails, shots, good company after work, weekend vibes on, etc. It is currently one of my after work "forget your troubles, come on get happy" spots with my coworker. Hello Stranger is located next to the 19th St. Bart entrance on Broadway and is a 5 min walk from my building. We usually sit at the bar and chill with the bartenders as they recommend some good cocktails. I asked for some whiskey recommendations and awesome Hasani, hooked me up with Russell's and Angel's Envy- two separate drinks. A bit on the stronger side, but interesting. Coworker went with pineapple vodkas. Vibe was a bit on the slower end on a Tuesday but we had a good time. I love looking at the bar wall with all of the liquor and warm amber lighting - almost mesmerizing in a way and suddenly the "Amber is the color of your energy" song pops in my head. But that's neither here or there. Will be back! read more

See all

We were ready to go to a bar for the first time in a year and SIT INSIDE! Such a novelty! Anyway, Alisa and Carlos made us feel like we were their favorite regulars. They were both so welcoming and friendly and then the drinks? I had 4. So basically I drank half their menu. They were all delicious. There was social distancing and masks everywhere though you didn't have to wear your mask once you were seated. I felt completely safe and also absolutely buzzed by the time we left. I am so happy that Hello Stranger survived the pandemic and I can't wait to go back for more triple fist drinking. read more

Hello Stranger - Drinks drinks drinks - Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

This was such a cute bar! There is a lower area and a loft area up the stairs. I think there is also a back room with another bar. DJ is set up next to the bar. For COVID, the bar is not open. You need to stay in your designated area with your party and you can only order drinks through your waiter. The waitstaff was great and very attentive. We never had an empty glass! read more

Hello Stranger - Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Had such a fun time here for my birthday, Jazzmine, Malik and Patrick were SO nice and friendly and just made the whole vibe, thank you guys!!! read more

Hello Stranger - Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Bomb A$$ Lounge in Oakland. My girl and I came here to continue our night of fun since our initial plan of visiting SomaR got switched up. The super long lines that we would have been forced to endure was not the business so we looked on Yelp & stumbled across this little gem! First impression, I was totally feelin' the old school hip hop jams that were playing. The establishment has two levels and I'm going to assume that the upper level was reserved for VIP?? I didn't bother to snoop around since the simple sight of the crowd upstairs made me feel lightweight claustrophobic. Lmao. The dance floor on the main level was jam packed with all walks of life grinding, booty bumping, and just throwing back drinks. There is a full sized bar that was extremely organized, offering wines, bubbly, beers, and whatever hard liquor you were craving for. The night would have continued had the super drunk guy not crept up on us. Lmao. Although he seemed harmless, he obviously had one too many drinks and clearly looked like he was going to blow chunks at any moment. YIKES. Hello Stranger is definitely a good spot to mingle, do some dancing, and relax with a cocktail or two!! Just be prepared to have others in your space and you in theirs!! I would come back in a heartbeat! 5 stars. read more

Hello Stranger - Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

Part lounge and part bar, so you get the best of both worlds. You may relax in the upstairs loft where it feels more private, or downstairs at the bar (with extra seatings in the back area) where it's livelier. The crowd is mixed by age, background, style, you name it - another positive. Show up at 6pm if you prefer a quiet, feels like chilling, hangout HH. Service was quick (2-3 bartenders working at any moment) and we tried almost the entire menu (i.e., avoided the non-alcohol and tequila cocktail). As expected, drinks are inventive such as the Oaksterdam (kush drops), but my favorites were the Boom Box (refreshing) and the stronger Wanderlust. After 10pm the place was full! There was a live DJ (started at 9pm) and the dancefloor in the back was bumping. The constant turnover of people made the waits for seats or drinks bearable (5 bartenders were working by then). Good times and adding to my rotation since should visit Oakland more! read more

See all

Hello Stranger was a cute little spot. We stopped in off a recommendation from a local and it wasn't too bad. The drinks were good and the music was cool, but the crowd was slightly immature. This is a place more so geared towards the college-aged crowd. If you like being packed in and enjoy nonstop dancing then this is the perfect spot for you. Overall, I enjoyed myself but I probably won't go back. read more

This place looks to be brand new. The set up was cool and the bar was visually impressive. There was a dance floor with a decent number of people dancing to cool upbeat music that wasn't too trendy or hardcore. It set a good vibe. The crowd was cool, it didn't seem like egos were too big. Drinks weren't cheap, but weren't overly expensive either. I think you could get some american domestic beer for $5, but check on the pricing or you can just see it when you get there. There is a small little loungy area upstairs where you can look down on to the crowd or look out on to broadway. No cover. The noise level was loud. It's worth a stop in if you are walking by. read more

This place was dope on a Monday night. It's Motown Mondays. Cool vibe. Everyone is just there to have fun. Drinks were yummy. Service was pretty good. Check out zhaldee the dj on Mondays. read more

I went here for my birthday and bought 3 different drinks and they were ALL disgusting. Not sure what kind of liquor they were using but I ordered basic drinks and could not even drink them. I was extremely disappointed. Other than that the vibe was cool and the music was great . read more

Love the music, stayed for the cocktails. Great service, outdoor and minimal indoor seating. They're only open Friday-Sunday 5-10pm at the moment. You do have to order food in order to have a drink, but they have small and regular sizes for options read more

Hello Stranger - Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

Love the vibe. Diverse fun crowd. Went on a Friday. Good ratio of men and women. Drinks: well made. But it's not the easiest to get served. Price: no cover. Drinks 11$ a pop Dj: on the day I went we had a wonderful female dj who played everything from throw back 90s to chicago house to popular favorites / dance music. The dance floor was full. Well done DJ lady! read more

Hello Stranger - Friday night !! - Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Level of energy is head blowing . Had Fantastic time dancing on sat. Night. Dj is amazing!