Hello Stranger isn't easily seen on a driveby nor without an address. during nonoperating hours, frontage is hidden behind a rolled out link fence. when operational, only a standing Royal Crown sign notes it's existence. chalk it up to being in a sketchy part of downtown that comes to life when the sun sets. offerings: cocktails, wines, draft beers, combos. drink: cider (brut, 7) 6%? amber beer (7) 4.9% -both tart on draught: -small selection of artisan liquor -djs in the house fridays, saturdays -2nd floor upstairs near entrance, back room, bar area, limited table seating,many distinct seating areas, -entry limited when "capacity" is reached. -decor: dark wood with mysterious whimsical ambience -playlist inspirational, uplifting, unboring.....moving, unobtrusive read more

Well, Hello Stranger! I noticed you a couple weeks ago with your hidden front view; I see you were trynna hide from me. But how could I have missed you? You're so sexy! Your décor is so attractive upon walkin' in. The ambiance is like no other! It was such a pleasure meeting you the other night. With your appealing name and sexy décor, how could I not approach you?! I was so turned on by your drinks that I think I may be addicted; addicted to you or the drinks? Sheesh, I don't know. I think a little bit of both! I'm still lusting over your eponymous 'Hello Stranger' cocktail drink featuring brandy and passion fruit, or how about that drink that you lite up on the bar table? Um, hum. I was peepin' you real hard! It was surely a drink to remember. You make me want to love all over you; UmM, UmM, UMM! Lemme' just say last night was amazing with you! Honestly, you're the type of place I could bring a date to. You know I love those panty-dropping lounges! Baybee, you GOT IT! You would definitely just WOW them away with how attractive you are. Your drinks = DELICIOUS! (Check!) Your décor= GORGEOUS (Check!) Your bartenders = INCREDIBLE! (Check!) What more could I ask for? You compliment Oakland so well! Let's not forgot your hidden upstairs area above the bar. Or, the dance floor with your slamming DJ that plays all the jams! Damn, you are everything I dreamed of. Where have you been all my life? Well, wherever you been, I'm not letting you go NOWHERE! Please tell me you are here to stay Stranger because you have just been certified as my #1 addiction! I have confidence that you will make it boo! Everyone's going to be crushin' all over you once the word is out that you made it in town. Just remember, you will also have a special place in my heart! Yours truly, Porsche Chanel! read more

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Rye is absolutely awesome! She was super attentive and was super aware and made sure I was safe as far as being approached by creeps! She is a bartender but she made me feel super safe and took care of me for the night! Give this girl a raise !! Please and thank you! Thank you so much Rye! Ive never felt safer at a bar . read more

Hello Stranger!!! Seriously that is actually one of my favorite lines, but this place is super cute and worth a visit. Right off 19th street bart, the space could be described as retro with an Oakland twist (the drinks also have a nod to the past). My cohort was already sitting at the bar, which is super spacious and as it is in the flow of air from outside was refreshing on a warm day in June. I opted for the Impala (cause i like the car) and i love greyhounds. It was a fresh spin on it as it used sparkling vodka and was light and refreshing for a warm day. My cohort got the Fixie which was a beer and a shot. He liked it, but wants to try the Oaksterdam or Boom Box next time. Since it is the area of other bars and restaurants: Drexl, Make Westing, Camber, Shinmai, etc...this will be a local stomping ground soon. read more

This is a beautiful-funky-all-ages-all-races bar with an amazing selection of spirits and... Robin, a talented, quirky, cool af bartender with a gift for matching your flavor profile, upon request (when it's not too busy). read more

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We were here for a private event. The Hello Stranger cocktail was out-of-this-world delicious! The service was extraordinary! It's conveniently located on Broadway in uptown Oakland near the 19 St. BART Station. It's a cozy and casual, perfect for a drink after work or a night out with friends! read more

Hello Stranger has partnered with Kingston 11 (another local restaurant) to provide food for outside dining. The food selection is small, but tasty. Chicken, shrimp or tofu served over rice. We had the shrimp and it was good. I wish the menu was bigger! The tables are set up on the sidewalk and you can order drinks from the bar they've set up at the entrance or with your waitress. If you'd like to get a seat, please arrive by 9. By the time we were leaving, there was a long line to get a seat. It's not a huge space, so seating is limited. This establishment is literally right on Broadway, so expect cars and busses to be driving by as you eat. read more

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The vibe was great and music but the owner was rude asf and security for no reason.. Yall need to work on your customer service asap because it's definitely trash.. This was my first time going and it will be my last time too.. Smfh read more

Small quaint bar. When I went they didn't appear to have any drink special, but it did have a few interesting names for some of the drinks such as boom box. There was a platform for a DJ, but there was not any music playing when we went. I definitely plan to check it out on a weekend. read more

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Live the decor of this bar in the heart of uptown. It feels like you're waking the red carpet through the entrance. We came by on a Tuesday evening so it was pretty low key and the vibe was chill. The old school hip hop playlist serving as a soundtrack for the evening had me asking Siri "What song is this?" a time or two. Oscar, took good care of us making sure our cups were never empty. The have Rose, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Cab on tap, yes on tap but it's not your moms boxed wine. If wine isn't your thing, their menu of mixed drinks are a plenty, the most unique being the Oaksterdam with hints of OG Kush cannabis which is hella Bay, and not far behind is the Boom Box which they set on fire giving the coconut a toasty taste. read more

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I went there on Sunday.They charged 20$ cover and I was ok with this even though there was no show or event.Then at 08:30pm they kicked people out and said they need to clean place for 30 minutes.I waited outside and then I tried to come back and show them mark on wrist what I paid before.They didn't let me in and said that I have to pay again 20$ because it's different event.I said I didn't leave on my will and there no event whatsoever.They still kept asking for 20$ and then called security.Such a bs.DONT GO THERE! read more

This is a review for 8/16 (Thursday night) for the only male bartender that night. At first, I thought he just hated me and was extremely rude, but than saw 4 girls return their drinks (half full) and also told me what an asshole he was. I work in the service industry and you need to leave your personal shit at home and not bring it to work dude. He was extremely rude and yelled at us if we didn't know exactly what we wanted. I asked for a specific brand and didn't get it, but was definitely charged premium price. He obviously hated his job and people that night and I just want to tell him - FUCK YOU. If you can't be professional at work, stay your ass home. read more

Ladies DO NOT GO HERE!!!!!!! Me and my friend were drugged here last night by a bartender. I was completely incoherent and erratic from 2 shots of patron reposado.. the bouncers laugh if you tell them you are in danger. There are multiple stories of women feeling drugged while leaving here. People tend to leave this club SLOPPY drunk all the time. Ladies PLEASE STAY AWAY!!!!!!!!! read more

Great place to hangout with friends. Make sure to arrive early before it's prime time in order to get it. Bottle service is also offered. Check it out read more

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This is my favorite bar. But aside from that my favorite bartender is Alyssa ... she makes the best drinks and she's hella nice. I don't even leave reviews like that lol read more

Lovely cocktails. Great vibe. Incredible service by all staff - super friendly. And they hooked my dog up with a large container of water. read more

Hello Stranger - Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

To used to think this was a great bar. I had a really good time the music was nice but I ended up getting very sick and caught sepsis. It was either the person who cute fruits for their drinks had dirty hands or they don't sanitize their cups very well. I ended up hospitalized for 1 week! I will never go back to have drinks here ever again!! read more

This bar is definitely where it's at on a Friday or Saturday night. Each time I've come here, it's always been a great time. Bottle service is a little bit expensive, but expected. The servers are really chill and the music is poppin! This will forever be my go to spot in Oakland because of the vibes and the solid drinks. I highly recommend getting the cranberry juice as a chaser because it tastes organic and seriously hides the taste of any alcohol you're drinking with it, especially vodka. read more

Hello Stranger - General overview - Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

If I could leave negative stars for this review I would. The bouncers are so blatantly rude and have ZERO respect for women. Please do not go here with your girls you will not feel welcomed or safe read more

We came here with a large group of friends on a Friday night at around 10pm. The line was pretty long, took about 15 minutes to get inside. It's a $20 cover which feels a little steep. Once we got inside, it was packed to the point that it was a little difficult to move. I know to be expected but I think they could have done crowd control more effectively. The speciality drinks were delicious and priced well. Music was so fun and overall atmosphere was great. We ended up getting bottle service because of how packed the dance floor was, compared to other places the bottle service was doable split amongst us. It came out to around $500 for 2 bottles. If you're with a big group and you want space, I'd definitely recommend bottle service. read more

I can alwasy count on Hello Stranger for a good night out with my girls ! The music is always good, the crowd is FUNNNNN! and the bartenders do a really good job getting yummy drinks out quick! Once I rented out the private loft upstarirs for my birthday once! Best party ever ! read more

*this was a few long months ago* I threw up here before and the bartender told my boyfriend at the time, "Yo, you need to get her out of here" and that's all I remembered that night....loooooooolllllll Other than that night, I love the ambiance here. It's chill and the people here are friendly. The bartender Min and nice and wicked cool and well as this other bartender, I don't remember his name. But do you guys like it when the bartender remembers you? There's an upstairs sitting area but that's only opened when it's super cracking. read more

Hello stranger is a landmark of Downtown Oakland. The crowd is always a vibe, bartenders are fun, and even security are chill as long as you're not sus. I've been a repeat customer here and don't see myself changing that any time soon! read more

No cover charge, 10 minute waiting time, and vibrant dance floor. Hello Stranger, I am glad we met this past weekend. It has been ages since I have hit the dance floor other than the one in my empty apartment. Definitely a poppin' place on a Saturday night, the cozy space from the long narrow passage of the bar to the small box of a dance floor gave me that "stuck on BART at 5pm on your way back from San Fran" crowded feeling. Obviously, you cannot dance on the BART (depends); also, nobody was trippin' about an accidental bump and everyone understood the point of drinking at the bar and not the dance floor. I came out of this experience wet from sweat, not from someone's errant cocktail. On the dance floor, I saw a little bit of everybody, tall, small, brown, down, black, in fact-- very inclusive and dance-crazy. The music made everyone and anyone get the groovin'. Warning: If you don't like dancing, then do not come here just to be a wallflower. Next time, I will bring my dancing shoes. read more

Loved the vibe but service was horrible. We were a 45yr plus group celebrating my sisters birthday. It was crowded with barely anywhere to stand. My sister was tapped on the shoulder with someone telling her "move I'm security". My sister asked if security wanted her to take one step back(cause clearly everyone else was going around up the stairs) or move completely. The security said "yes step back because I'm security ". So she stepped back and I came to ask what was going on. Well I guess you can't ask questions in this place. Security girl that was on the stairs, with a tattoo on her neck, was rude and clearly used her position to pull a power move and kicked us all out. I'm guessing because we asked a question or because it was personal???? Not sure but if you plan on going to this place for a good time because if you are beware. If you don't fit the crowd or ask a question you might get kicked out lol. read more

Came here on a Saturday around 5:15pm and it was still filled with people. As soon as I walked in, the bartender said hi and acknowledge us. Got served immediately and the bartender was super quick. The drinks were very pretty and good as well. The menu is located on the wall and seemed kinda limited but it was perfect for me because I got the drink I wanted. Definitely will be back! read more

Hello new favorite bar in Oakland. It was pretty packed on Friday and there was a $10 cover fee but it was worth it. The DJs were playing great music (top 40, old rap, raggae, and other genres mixed in between). It crowded inside but not packed like sardines. You have to be a little patient but you can get a drink at the front. There's a small bar in the back that's less busy. That black guy with glasses (sorry I forgot your name) who was bartending at the back was cool. Thanks for the friendly conversation and strong mixed drink. read more

Went there for the first time, got bottle service with a group of friends. Not only was there no actual service (we had to go up to the bar itself, no one came around for refills), but they decided to add a 30% tip to my credit card on top of their ridiculous price of $250 for a shit bottle of tequila. read more

Tei was my bottle girl on a Saturday night. Service was AMAZING !! Very personnel. Attention to detail. Will def be back !

Pretty nice bar with a live dj and some interesting cocktails. Mainly stick to their cocktails, the beers were just okay (probably better). The bartenders were attentive and helpful though even with people mulling about. They have a cool event space on the second floor so not a bad spot to host a get together. read more

The bartender asked if I wanted to try a "twist" on a classic vodka sour. Not typically one to stray from convention, I offered up a timid, "why not?" I watched her hands at work--graceful, confident, and competent. Before I knew it, she served me the most incredible vodka sour I'd ever tasted. The secret ingredient? Elderflower liqueur. I never did catch the bartender's name, but one thing is certain--I will never forget her. If you're the type of person always looking to up the ante (you know, the kind of person really into flare and dazzling special effects), Hello Stranger will suit you just fine too. I literally saw the bartender light a drink on fire, folks! I'm not your typical 20-something millennial. That is to say, my wildest weekends generally involve trips to coffee shops, exploring public libraries, and ogling pretty little houseplants at my local nursery. In short, "nightlife" isn't my thing. Hello Stranger certainly is though. The music was infectious. I can't recall the specifics of what was playing, but in general I think it was lots of Afrobeats and Latin jams. I danced until I physically couldn't any more, and I had absolutely no regrets. The place was pretty packed, but it didn't bother me at all. The dance floor somehow felt insulated and other worldly. Have you ever experienced that? It felt like everyone on the dance floor was someone I could have known in another life...I wound up actually introducing myself to a few fellow dancers which is VERY unusual for me. There was a lively Mardi Gras pop-up hosted in the lounge at the back of the bar. As you'd expect there were special drink options (anyone else love Hurricanes as much as me?!), and plenty of festive beads and masks to fit the theme. My favorite part was a projector featuring footage of second lines through various parts of the city (did I spot Treme?!) and beautifully bedazzled Mardi Gras Queens. In other words, they captured the true essence of New Orleans in a way that didn't feel cheap and watered down. Long story short, Hello Stranger is the sh!t. It's a magical space that has a little something for everyone. The music is great, the vibes are on point, and the drinks range from straightforward classics to contemporary concoctions with all the bells and whistles. I'll see you there! read more

The Ambiance Is Amazing , I When For My Birthday And Had A Ball In VIP Upstairs .. Drinks Was The Bomb And Ever DJ Is A Vibe ‼

One of my fav bars in the Bay Area! I've been going since they opened about 5 years ago. Always playing good music, and the staff there is great. Drinks are always top notch, especially from Alyssa! Every time I have friends in town I make sure I take them here. read more

I came here on a bar crawl with a buddy and it was just ok. It took a while for the security to check IDs but when we got in it wasn't exactly packed in there. Maybe we came on an off night but it was just a strange vibe. Some younger people not handling their alcohol well and others seemed like refugees from the SF tech bro crowd. The bartenders were busy but professional so I'd give this place another shot at some point. read more

I have not gone bar-hopping for awhile (too busy raising kids), but now that my eldest is 21, I decided to take him bar-hopping in Uptown. This place is visually so beautiful. The bartenders were so friendly and happy. They chatted with us, and even bought out rounds of drinks for my son's 21st BD. Folks gathered around, and also bought him rounds. So much fun, I definitely need to go back and visit with Josh & Jenny. My son sent back with his friends, and they still remembered him. A must if you want to have a cool drink in cool Oakland. read more

Thursday night Thursday night Thursday night Walked in on the HBCU swerve and the rest was history! Had a great time!! read more

Great service , always accommodating the bar has a upstairs and down stairs . Reasonable prices on drinks and specialities . The service is beyond amazing here . read more

At a time when Oakland is going through a lot of changes, Hello Stranger is one of the few newer spots that is clearly catering to those locals who grew up in the Town. It's pretty telling that the first time I went, I ran into at least 7 different people I went to high school with or grew up with. Also, great service, great music and though I don't drink, those who I was with said that the drinks were great. read more

very rude old woman at the door, this was my go to bar fridays or even Motown Mondays and I actually celebrated birthdays with my friend here but I ordered a drink during last call and next thing u know they started shutting down then kicked everyone out while I was waiting on my friend to come out the bathroom and also finishing up my drink the security approaches me very aggressive and disrespectful and other staff surroundEd me aggressively and yelling at me . this was my first drink , idk if they assumed I was drunk or messed up but I don't appreciate the way the staff handled this situation and also I understand they were maybe ready to go home but for some one who come here all the time and that dud not make me feel welcomed and I guess I will have to find a new favourite spot! read more

Randomly came across this bar on a Friday night. They have drink specials, special cocktails, and happy hour until 7 pm. Good seating and open area if you want to dance. I enjoyed the music. A lot of early 2000s. I would go back again. read more

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