This bar is a staple of the Oakland bar scene. It sits near the Temescal Neighbourhood and has been there for a zillion years. It's a classic dive bar and the clientele is true. Working class Oakland. The drinks are affordable and the service is decent, the ambience is OK but nothing spectacular. Be careful when parking in the neighborhood because lots of cars have recently been broken into. read more

First time here Street parking only Front bar is small but back bar is bigger and has a better vibe There are several TVs showing the football game Lots of tables Bar is well stocked Prices are reasonable, my margarita was OK Hard on ok, low key weak But whatever I drank it lol Dogs allowed No drama Patrons are 40 plus and older read more

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We came here for the World Cup soccer game with a large group and had a blast! The drinks and environment is second to none, we will definitely be coming back. The service was friendly and fast! read more

Came here for a first time setting was cool, until we got met with a very rude bartender. There were no greetings, no hi hey hello or nothing (the bar was not packed). I did not leave a tip, the bartender was very rude and stuck up acting like he owned the whole place very bad hospitality did not make you feel welcomed! Then we went to sit down and I kid you not the bartender came over and took my drink away from me for not leaving a tip. I am a tipper, I work in then service industry. But he was very rude and very stuck up will never be back here again. We talked to the "manager" he said " I'm not gonna lie I'll have his back" like okay sir he just took our drinks and was very rude. I've never experienced this it was really crazy, and very unprofessional. Bad vibes here. It was a Caucasian male with dirty blonde almost brown hair. The money was "refunded" then it was taken again. Very shady. This should be a zero star. read more

Isabel is an amazing bartender she makes amazing drinks and is a great teacher to her coworkers ! So friendly and personable. 10 out of 10 highly recommend! read more

You would think being a bouncer means you like hanging out and being friendly, but it's quite the opposite. Yes the drinks are decently priced, but you will be harassed by staff, aka the bouncer. Being a college bar and attracting college students does not excuse any form of harassment, especially when everyone is an adult, not a child. Choose twice before spending your money here, and know if you aren't white, you will be yelled at for the slightest drunken mistake, for instance being on the other size of the line border outside to smoke a cigarette because of the obviously overcrowded uncontrolled amount of people outside. The staff here chooses who to pick on which is extremely unprofessional. Working in the service industry myself, I would never speak to a paying customer as is. read more

Chill dive bar. Ran into everyone from HS. It feels like college again except it's mostly UC Berkeley kids lol. They offer free popcorn. Their bartenders get busy but it was fun read more

I wish I could give a lower score. Our bartender (white girl blonde hair) was super rude and overall blatantly disrespectful. We didn't tip her because of how she was treating us. I'm a bartender and I am very generous with my tip when I feel welcomed. After doing so, she confronted me and my friends of why we didn't tip her because according to her, "she gave us a generous amount and deserves a tip". Tip isn't guaranteed especially when our server is projecting and obviously unhappy. I have been in the industry for over 10 years and I have never seen someone with so much entitlement. I thought I was the customer? She told us she will stop serving us because she didn't get a tip. Loss of business over her pettiness. I have it all on video and I wish I could post it here. Owners, please reflect on who you have serving because it was quite disgusting to encounter. I'm sorry she's so unhappy. read more

place was already great but ever since October 9th shit has been next level / never been cleaner / cooler / flosser. 10/10 would for sure recommend. read more

Kingfish Pub & Cafe - Dive Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

I came here for a friend's birthday party and I'll admit that I was a bit put off by the entrance appearance at first. When you walk in, it looks a bit dingier, but once you get to the outdoor patio and bar, the place looks really nice. We came in December, so Kingfish had even decorated and put lots of holiday lights up that made the ambience even better. The patio does a really great job of making you feel like you're inside while being outside because of the way that it's built. The service was super quick and friendly, and I tried the Paloma ($8) with tequila, grapefruit juice, squirt, lime juice and salt. The drinks were good, but pretty strong. My friend reserved the PRU (party room upstairs), which even has your own bathroom, skeeball, and a balcony with a fire pit outside. It seems like you can reserve that room for $200 for the whole night, which is a pretty good deal, and there's even the option to bring in your own food. I was impressed by the place and had lots of fun! read more

Kingfish Pub & Cafe - Paloma ($8): tequila, grapefruit juice, squirt, lime juice and salt - Dive Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

the bar is fine but the service is horrible. bouncer is abrasive. I understand that it's a college scene but if I'm spending my own money I expect some decency. read more

I deeply appreciate the staff here, they handle a lot and do it with grace while serving great drinks. The outdoor space is big and airy, the space is both spacious and cozy--there's games and many TVs for sports watchin and free popcorn! The bartenders and bouncers are such pros: on the crowded college student nights, they are absolute pros and saints navigating those crowds. read more

Great local pub. It was the 4th of July and a lot of places were closed, but not Kingfish Pub! Came in for a few beers before heading to a family BBQ. They have a lot of great local beers on tap and a variety of canned and bottled beers. The inside bar is on an old Berkely basketball court. If you head into the back you pass a shuffle board and enter into a great courtyard. The bar in the back is also stocked and there are plenty of TVs to watch the game. You feel like you are inside, but are actually outside and it's great. This place is always popping on the weekends. So next time you are looking for a place to meet old friends or are trying to make new friends, keep Kingfish Pub in mind. read more

Kingfish Pub & Cafe - Sunday funday! - Dive Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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The bouncer here is so unreasonably rude for no reason. My friend was singled out and told to "shut up and go the f*** home" because she had a drink outside (which is allowed) she was just at past a certain line that she didn't know about--she was mid apologizing while moving inside like he asked and he said that. Another time, my friend lost his phone and asked the bartender if they had one turned in, he was yelled at for asking: "if you don't see a phone on the f***ing shelf we don't have it" he asked someone else and they kicked him out for asking again. The drinks are cheap the bar itself is fine but some of the employees are so mean for no reason. read more

A super divey dive bar. No frills interior but a nice covered outdoor patio in the back. Drinks are cheap with a wide selection of beers on tap. There's free self serve popcorn that unfortunately smells better than it tastes. It was a bit stale. There is a big shuffleboard table in the back. read more

Kingfish Pub & Cafe - a bowl of popcorn and a pint of beer - Dive Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

I forgot to close my tab, they charged me almost double to close out my tab and then I go back a few days later and they lost my card. Not sure why they keep the cards knowing they aren't being returned. They had like a box filled with peoples cards. It's a huge inconvenience to replace them. Expensive lesson learned, I'm never keeping my tabs open anymore. read more

Yelp is full of words about annoyances and imperfections but this is the best bar in America. I'm older than you and I've been everywhere. This is the best bar in America. It would be the best bar in the world except Amsterdam is pretty amazing. read more

Kingfish Pub & Cafe - Love this place! - Dive Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

A bartender here treated me like a rude problem customer for absolutely no reason and I don't want to come here anymore. (I was here the evening of January 6, 2024 ordering at the outside bar. I do not feel like naming the bartender) I had ordered a gin and tonic with no issue. Ordering my next drink, I said "could I have a fernet?" and she responded "you didn't say the magic word!" I was a bit confused, thought maybe she was joking about fernet being a common drink among bartenders, but ultimately realized she was demanding that I say the word "please" along with my order. I was really caught off guard but played along, and joked to my friends that the bartender had "made me say please" for my drink. I ordered a drink afterwards, saying "please" this time, still basically viewing it as a joke... because I was still pretty confused by a bartender demanding that of a customer. For my final drink I said "could I have a Corona?" and she gave me a look and a hand gesture that indicated she was waiting for something. I said something like "Really? I'm not enjoying this any more" and she said "I just need people to respect me when they order." I said "asking 'could I have [a drink]' is not disrespectful,'" and she felt compelled to explain to me that "intent is different from impact" when it comes to respecting others. I asked her what impact she thought she was having on me, which she shockingly did not feel obligated to respond to. At this point I just wanted to close my tab because she had made me extremely uncomfortable. I get flack from my friends all the time for apologizing too much in all kinds of social circumstances, and I am not interested in going to businesses where the staff are going to treat me like trash even though I'm an extremely polite person. read more

Come here for great drinks and even better interactions with the bartenders. Each time I've even here Ive been treated to great random stories from other patrons. The fresh popped popcorn is missed but we'll... Covid =) read more

Kingfish Pub & Cafe - Christmas time decorations - Dive Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Inconsiderate owners of the people living in the neighborhood. My neighbor that lives below the back balcony is selling his house right now, 517 53rd. Drunk people laughing and talking loud, the same people that would not tolerate this kind of behavior in their own neighborhoods. The balcony looks straight into the backyard and bedroom windows of the house. It doesn't matter if it's Friday or Saturday, some people have to wake up early to go to work. They have plenty of space inside but rather hang out on the balcony like they are at their house. read more

Love this iconic pub on Telegraph to have a drink, watch the game, or chill with friends. Awesome bar and staff too! Came here last night to have a drink with my bf and friend while we waited for our reservations at Fob Kitchen. It was pretty full on a Friday night and the vibe was cool. We were in whiskey moods so we got a variety - ended up liking the Irish mists. I think they serve Casper's hot dogs sometimes but they also welcome bringing food in. There is an indoor bar and a patio with shuffleboard. Will be back! read more

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Never thought I would be giving a divey bar a 5 star review, but here we are. Went to Kingfish for the first time recently and had the best experience ever. Our Bartender Louis was amazing. He was so friendly, made great drinks, and just made it such a fun relaxed environment. I hope all traffic lights are green for him and his pillow is cold on both sides. My friends and I will definitely be back specifically because of Louis and how much fun we had for our first visit. read more

Basically the same place it's always been! The drinks are always cheap and it impossible to understand when there's going to a crowd.

This is one of my go to places when friends are visting from out of town Super unique bar with excellent outdoor patio as well as friendly staff and free popcorn read more

Kingfish Pub & Cafe - Outdoor patio with sports always on - Dive Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

To the left of the building , towards the back, you'll find a staff member manning the entrance to ID and take temperatures. This person keeps count of the people in the outdoor patio and if they're at full capacity, you can wait in line and they'll serve you drinks while you wait. The outdoor area bar has a clear barrier between bartenders and patrons. There's TVs fixed to walls around the space. There's socially distanced spaced seats at the bar as well as tables and chairs throughout the patio. Dirty tables get cleared and sprayed clean. It was a chill spot that followed covid guidelines so you can go out and feel safe. read more

Kingfish Pub & Cafe - people sitting at the bar - Dive Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

My friends and I rented out the private room for a joint birthday party, and it was awesome! The service was great, the room was all ready for us when we arrived and we just bought a couple of beer pitchers so people didn't have to keep going to downstairs for drinks. We had a great time, we will definitely be back! read more

I don't know how I never reviewed this place since I've been coming here for years but it's one of my favorite bars in the bay area. It's still wild to me that they picked up the whole building from Claremont Ave and moved it to Telegraph and that it's only improved from it. I also went to their 100 year anniversary party and that was a total blast. Here's to 200. read more

Covid focused, clean and socially distant! Just this weekend (August 9) the back patio opens at 12pm and is an awesome place to grab a drink and also (safely) a little summer sun. This adorable bar has taken precautions that make you feel safe and comfortable- while still offering up delicious libations. The friendly staff is fully masked/ gloved, and the tables and bar stools are spaced. The glass that protects the bar is super clean. They take your temperature digitally before allowed entry and masks are required. Hand sanitizer aplenty, as well as signs and floor markings reminding you to stay distant. They also have to- go cocktails, and a mini convenience store with pantry essentials and cleaning supplies. read more

Kingfish Pub & Cafe - Socially distant patio with spaced seating. - Dive Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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The exterior is unassuming, but the inside calls for a fun time! I am so glad one of my friends pointed out Kingfish to me- it's such a laid back, high energy bar where I can root for my Cal team along with other fans and knock back some quite affordable drinks with friends. Did I mention the free all-you-can-eat popcorn they have?! The drinks here are super fairly priced, which is awesome when your team is up (or down). The vibe of the place is just FUN, and there are a bunch of eateries should you continue your party after the pub/bar! Outside food can be brought in- but no outside drinks. Enjoy the old Cal gym hardwood floor as well when you walk in and save any ticket stubs to put up! read more

You cannot get more of a dive bar like this unless you stop by your friends in-house bar that they never tend to because they're too busy going out to real bars. If you haven't been to dive bars, just know you go there for the simple things in life. Like strictly beer in the yellow color range and a shot. Or shuffleboard. Or encouraged graffiti of both pen and sticker variety. Honestly, it's not my type of bar (more of a finicky, picky beer person myself, but that's a personal problem). However, Kingfish does what dive bars do and Kingfish does it really fantastically and simple. Looking to socialize? Look no further than this seemingly tiny house on Telegraph. read more

Kingfish has a nice indoor and outdoor layout with a good size patio area in back plus a bar in both areas (outside bar not always open). I still can't believe they moved the whole building down the street when it's original location was slated for condos! I was happy 'cause you can't have enough dive bars, right? And truth be told it's pretty tame as far as dives go, as the patrons are a mix of cranky old guys boozing at the bar and younger kids (all 21+, of course!) playing shuffleboard. Plenty of booze and a mix of local and big-brew beers on tap (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/kingfish-pub-and-cafe-oakland-2?select=qujE4Jx62f7dl5NbHV4Fug) plus a few Non-Artisinal cocktails specials (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/kingfish-pub-and-cafe-oakland-2?select=JjongDU46Z51QRIxbX3p6g) plus the requisite cheap beer & well shot combos (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/kingfish-pub-and-cafe-oakland-2?select=PBvbsOhV149YBoKSUqwsmA). There's Free Popcorn so you can maximize your drinking time and don't have to leave for food ;-) Have some Nitro Cold Brew for the road (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/kingfish-pub-and-cafe-oakland-2?select=T_paPqgpRUhWyEgKXwZ_QQ) read more

A classic. Cheap beer, free popcorn, timely service, and a cool vibe. Never been in such an interesting, cavernous spot.

Very affordable and strong drinks and good atmosphere. I would recommend. The back has more room read more

Kingfish Pub & Cafe - Menu - Dive Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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Kingfish Pub is a total testament to the saying "Never judge a book by its' cover". From the outside, it appears to be a tiny warn down old bar on the side of the street. But once you enter, you'll notice how lively and spacious it is. It's a super duper dive with not one... but two bars, a shuffleboard, jukebox, and a nice open deck located in the back. Some friends and I stopped here on our bar hopping run and really had an amazing time! The front bar is smaller and low lit with a very low ceiling, while the back bar is super spacious and open with several TV's and a lighted back deck. The outdoor deck is big enough to accommodate large groups. We all hung out on the deck which was perfect for the warm spring evening. The drinks are nothing super special, but they are affordable and they don't skimp on the alcohol here. They have a few specialties drinks that they serve here but otherwise, it's your average full service bar. The bartenders are cool but super busy as this place can get packed on weekends and nights. We took some tequila shots and I had a whiskey sour and a painkiller, which was one of their specialities. I haven't yet come here for happy hour, but I hear that it's legit. Despite the "Cafe" reference, there is no food served here other than popcorn (I think?). This bar has been around for many years, and I think that at one point they did used to serve food. However, there are plenty of food options available in this area. This is the perfect place to catch a game if you can get here early enough to beat the crowd. Parking options are limited, but there is street parking as well as the Walgreens and old Genova parking lot. I would totally recommend Kingfish to anyone who is looking to have a chill time with friends! read more

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a great bar for a fun time. kingfish does what bars should do - serves good drinks and facilitates a good time. there's some real bargains in the drinks specials and even the regular priced are very reasonable. staff are friendly - with a helpful doorman who keeps an eye on things without being overbearing. the atmosphere is good for meeting with friends, starting a night out or ending a night. music + shuffleboard + lighting = good vibes. kingfish isn't going to blow your mind but it's a reliable and unfussy option in the east bay read more

Kingfish Pub & Cafe - nice English memento - Dive Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

hella heads, fein fein fein!! fein! FEIN FEIN FEIN!!! wish the hockey jersey wasn't over $100 - in this economy????? bffr.

My favorite sports bar! Check it out on Telegraph in Oakland, Ca. Great and friendly service. Love this place. read more

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The perfect place to chill and grab a solid adult beverage with friends, or strangers or stranger's dogs. Such good awesome fur boy and girls. This place is so clutch that I came here two times in one weekend. I can wholeheartedly say that it's a good time in the day and the night. 10/10 - Would Highly Recommended! read more

Dive bar, how I love thee. Let me count the ways that I do: 1) They picked up the bar and placed it across the street in tact. This legendary bar is still legendary. 2) Free delicious and fresh popcorn. 3) The Cal Berkeley basketball court floor. 4) 2 free shuffleboard tables. One inside and one outside. Lines are long, but it's shuffleboard. 5) Ample outdoor seating with an outdoor bar. This closes a bit earlier than the bar itself. 6) Free popcorn. 7) Really friendly patrons and staff. I made friends, y'all. We hugged it out. 8) Free popcorn. Kingfish is a score. It's history, it's legendary dive status, it's memories, it's popcorn and now me, as a lifetime fan. Your jukebox is too expensive and your beer list is definitely not of a craft varietal (i.e. consists of budlight, guinness, pbr and lagunitas) but it's ok, no one's perfect. Come here to satisfy your dive bar needs; leave your high end cocktail dreams at another spot. read more

Kingfish Pub & Cafe - Dive Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Kingfish P&C doesn't look like much from the outside. But once you go inside it's a nice dive bar with outside area. Plus that they have a popcorn machine next to the entrance. But with a name like Pub and Cafe I was hoping for food to order. I did see other people bring in food from outside though. I only had a few beers but they have a decent selection. Street parking only. read more