Shared a $50 fish bowl between two people on a Friday night and did not remember most of the night! Thanks Kip's! The only thing I was sad about is that it seems like they don't do the cool light up cubes in the fish bowl anymore. :( read more

Kip's - Fish bowl - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

Originally came for the fish bowl and decided to stay a bit longer. The cocktails here were so good -- I forgot the names but the two fruity ones (strawberry and mango?) were some of the best I've had. It was a bit dead when we first arrived around 11, but got more lively by the time we left. There's open space for dancing and lots of tables available. Classic spot to hit up. read more

Kip's - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

Zero Star - Rude Bar Manager Ruined Our Night Bottom line: Chico is the type of manager who drives customers away. If you're looking for a place to dance and unwind, skip Kip's--unless you want your night ruined by a power-tripping bar manager who clearly doesn't care about hospitality. We went to Kip's in Berkeley last night, excited for a fun night out. Unfortunately, the bar manager, Chico, was incredibly rude from the start. I asked if he could make a skinny drink (low sugar), and instead of being helpful, he just pointed at the menu and said, "That's all we have." We ordered their $50 Fish Bowl to share between the three of us. The place was nearly empty around 11pm, so we hit the dance floor. While we were dancing, my partner went back to our table and saw Chico clearing away our half-full drink, grabbing it by the rim with his bare hands. When my partner said we weren't done, Chico rudely insisted it wasn't his drink--just because he hadn't been there when we ordered. We asked for a replacement (for health reasons, at the very least), and Chico got defensive and nasty. He reluctantly offered two drinks instead. While making them, he poured vodka and said, "Vodka, right?" I said no, we wanted tequila. He angrily dumped the drink and kept treating us like we were a problem, not customers. Chico's attitude was unprofessional and completely out of line. . read more

The bouncer (short Mexican dude) on Saturday night 5/2 an Sunday morning 5/3 was letting in high schoolers but denied me and my friend from entering even though we are both 22. He said the reason was because our IDs were fake which they clearly weren't and then when we brought his boss downstairs he said it was because we were "talking crazy" to him. There were several witnesses who can deny all of this, he was on a power trip and was not going to let us in no matter what even though he knew he was in the wrong. We talked his supervisor who said he knew we were right but he could not control the bouncer because he claimed that the bouncer was in charge of all security for the night and refused his request to let us in. The supervisor checked our IDs and confirmed that we were 21, but the bouncer still wouldn't let us in even after letting all of our friends in read more

I had an ok time last time I was there. Hope to come back soon. This place is good for chips and finger foods that's what I had it was okay but mostly it was the atmosphere I enjoyed read more

It used to be great.. Now just a dive bar that opens at night.. No Pizza !! Not actually Kips as 69 years of Cal students know it.. Hopefully it comes back after the building is demolished.. read more

Good fishbowls and good vibes overall. They have taco tuesday as well, with a $30 margarita fishbowl and $2 tacos. The inside is spacious and actually quite nice which is surprising for a college spot. read more

Kip's - Fish bowl - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

We had a couple drinks and they're pretty cheap, but the place felt empty and no one really was dancing to the music. The bartender was friendly but they don't try to serve you even when they see, they just tell the person near you even though they might be busy doing something else. read more

Honestly not as bad as I thought it would be. Came on a Saturday night with friends. I'm a recent college grad. Make sure to get in before 10:30 bc there is an outrageous $20 cover fee cash only. I bypassed that by signing there list on their instagram bio link and getting there around 10pm. I parked on the street and it was free :) Music was fine pretty standard college party vibe, lowkey people seemed veryyy young here Lmaoo do they accept fakes or sum ? And BARTENDERS ARE SOOOO SLOWWWW. Like ummm even when it was quiet in the bar. Drinks were weak AF TOO. So maybe pregame before. read more

I'm leaving this review as a recent performers Kips. I DJed a private event here and had a pretty bad experience. Upon arrival, there was nobody around to assist me with connecting my equipment to their sound. The one person who seemed to be in charge up and left when there were some difficulties saying "I don't know" and storming away, leaving me to scramble through their audio equipment and cables (all of which was extremely dirty and sticky) to figure out how to make THEIR sound system work. It was extremely chaotic. The inside was hot, sweaty with 0 ventilation and 1 fan. The cherry on top was the employee who came backstage to flirt with a couple of guests I brought with me, making sexual jokes and being completely inappropriate towards all of us. He made us all very uncomfortable and we had to ask him multiple times to leave us alone. The same unhelpful staff from earlier proceeded to shut the event down early, harshly cutting all power and corrupting my USB files by doing so. This was by far one of the worst experiences I've ever had and I hope to never set foot in a place like this again. read more

Would definitely recommend their Taco Tuesdays, when they have $2 tacos and $30 margarita fishbowls. You'd probably want at least 3 people to finish a fishbowl. The dance floor's music ranges a lot, mostly pop of course, but I think you can check their Instagram for the music theme that day. They also do no cover on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Sundays, and karaoke on Wednesdays and Sundays. Definitely want to try them. The only con at Kips is that on the busier weekend nights, there tends to be creepy men standing in the sides of the dance floor and just... watching. Kinda strange. read more

Beware of scams that this place is conducting!!! To summarize why I believe this place is attempting to scam people: I came here and ordered two drinks - one for myself and one for my partner. The bartender proceeded to make three drinks instead of two, and when I told him that I only wanted two, the bartender yelled at me very dramatically and insisted that I pay for all three. When I refused, he yelled at me more and then told me that I am just drunk and don't know what I asked for. Now that most certainly isn't true, as I hadn't even had a single drink yet. Not very sure how I could've been drunk if I hadn't even had a drink? He then continued screaming and called over a security guard, who ordered my partner and I to leave. I didn't even do anything at this point - we just calmly walked out and left, as they continued yelling at us and ordered us to never return. I can assure you that nothing I ever did warranted any of this behavior. Warning if you go here: the bartender that did this to me was an older gentlemen that wears glasses. Definitely watch out for him if you do go. I don't want to read too deeply into it, but I really can't think of any explanation for the way that I was treated by the staff here, except to say that it was homophobia. Also, the actual bar itself really just isn't that good. I don't know if they're trying to save money on AC expenses, but it's incredibly humid and stifling hot up there. Combine that with a space that clearly is not maintained, cared for, or cleaned ever, AND a ridiculously high cover to enter?! Be my guest if you want to go. Just know that all of the employees here - security and bartenders alike are all incredibly rude and hostile towards people and are also openly attempting to scam customers, in my opinion. read more

Kip's is a classic college drinking spot, and I always have a good time when I come here. If you're looking to party, pre-game, or even post-game after an event, Kips is a great time to drink and spend time with your friends. Sure, it has its occasional frat bros... but that is just part of the college town experience! It's a great time and the bartenders are usually friendly enough. I get why some folks who visit Kip's leave sub-par reviews, although I do believe part of the disappointment may be in the expectations coming in. If you're looking for high-end service or an immaculately clean bar, this may not be your spot. If, on the other hand, you're looking to let loose and have drinks in a fun environment, find your way over to Kip's. read more

Went here on a Friday night and I wasn't to crowded on the dance floor which was a good thing . DJ played really good music . I ordered some bites to eat which was totchos and deviled eggs both were good . I would definitely be back to party . Security was very friendly as well read more

Kip's - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

They're alright, like you're probably going to stop by if you're hitting bars in the Telegraph area on a weekend night, but the cover fee is kinda wild and the experience is mediocre. There's a dance floor which is cool, lil of a creepy crowd sometimes. My main reason for a review though is to warn that the Fishbowl is NOT gluten free!!! I did not see this noted or marked anywhere in the establishment nor in any reviews and my weekend was ruined :( It would be very inclusive and cool of them to add the little gluten free symbols to things on their menu (and on the rotating screen of drinks etc) so this doesn't happen to more people. read more

You need to know what you are looking for when you go to Kip's. As an adult, military veteran and former student at Cal, I loved this place. It is truly a dive with a decent view of the street (it's upstairs), pool and karaoke. The bar food is bar food - if you want something upscale to impress your date, this is not for you - we're talking about nachos, wings... you know, a dive! Pervs? Maybe - this is a DIVE. I have never been touched inappropriately, nor have any of my friends. Then again, we are all vets, so... Also, one toilet per gender, so you might be waiting. At least it's a red light in the bathroom. read more

Came here on a Friday night! This bar is a nice bar with friendly staff. They have reasonable priced drinks. They have this huge fishbowl looking drink that you can just put straws in and share with everyone. The crowd doesn't start coming until 11:00pm. This is bar serves food to about 11pm. They serve hamburgers, fries, and nachos. They also have a dance floor and a pool table in the back. They also have big screen TV by the bar and by the pool table area where you can watch the game. Parking is across the street in the parking lot because it can get pretty busy so parking is a challenge. Parking in the garage is $4. So not too bad. Overall, a friendly place to hang out at Berkeley, especially if you are the younger crowd. read more

See all

If you like your privates snipped off, by all means frequent this place. I approached two beautiful women, had a few words with them, and let them go when they were no longer interested in conversing with me. I walked to the dance area to move my body and relieve stress from the work week, and then Chico's (Chico is the bartender) body guard, Marcus, approached me and told me I had to leave. Marcus told me that Chico asked that I leave the premises. When I asked why, Marcus had no real answer. You can make your own speculative answers. Regardless, if you approach women respectfully because you are heterosexual and would like to date women, then do not go to this bar. You will be kicked out of the premises. Warm Regards, A.Z.G. read more

Horrible. We came here to celebrate my friends 21ST birthday and they wouldn't let him in because he's a guy. They thought his REAL ID was fake and we called the cops. The cops came and they verifyed that it was a real ID, but they still wouldn't let us in and refused service. If you want to have a good night in Berkeley, go to taphouse or Ralieghs because Kips WILL take your real ID and snap it in half because they let in too many highschoolers and don't know what a real ID looks like. read more

Okay, like there is fun and there is "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" whatever that means. That is what "Kip's" is, that long word. This is a fun place and worth all the hype and praise I've heard from people that visit Downtown Berkeley. "Kip's" seems like the best bars and lounges have to offer all rolled into one. You got the "Tiki Bar", "Dive Bar", "Beer Garden" and "Lounge". I feel that's what makes the vibe here so good, something for everyone. Allow me to tell you why this place is great for Downtown Berkeley and the College Crowd. Thursday July 26, 2018 Location: Kip's Berkeley, Can People: 2 Adults Story: As I mentioned in my 2 previous reviews (read them) I was on a mission to explore life and new things, and to boldly go where "Yelpers" have gone before. I was with a homie of mine and Downtown Berkeley was the destination. Going with the flow and "Yelp Reviews" of course. We made our way hoping to find something fun to do. Let's just say "Kip's" was stop №2 Service/Hospitality: The service was pretty good, it really started to pick up fast and that didn't change the staff. They seemed well versed at handling a rush, very timely and we'll mannered. I would have to say service was pretty good, even from the bouncers outside. Definitely a good first impression, I was satisfied. Drinks/Cleanliness: I didn't want to overdue it as I did have to work the next day and had already had a drink or two at "Pappy's" just before. So....I started off with a "Flight" $8.00, honestly their beer/ale selection was pretty basic compared to most places. But the fact I could get this offering at a cool price.....I decided to get another one. Their "flight" was four 4oz beers/ale. I choose my beer selections based from tart to heavy. I later had a "Gin and Juice" $6.00, Hendrick's for my gin and orange juice for my..juice. A great pour that wasn't too heavy handed and drinkable. The "Fish Bowl" $35.00 I didn't try but will attempt one day when I don't have to work the next day..with friends of course. I did use the restroom and surprisenly it was clean, boys restrooms sometimes are horrible, this one wasn't. Pretty cool "Kip's" pretty cool. Overall: I liked "Kip's" and I recommend it. Based off my experience, they have everything this I really look for when I go to a bar. They have a dj here Thursday - Saturday and a dancefloor area they also have ample seating for those that just want to chillout and have a few drinks and talk to friends or what not. Prefect for the college student, the prices here are pretty decent and also it's right in the midst of everything happening in Downtown Berkeley. If you haven't gone, I say go. But make sure you have that ride share app ready to take you home. read more

See all

I only went here in 2011. I thought it was a college bar that had friendly service. It's right down the street from UC Berkeley and by some great restaurants. Might have to check it out again. read more

I took some friends here from out of town and asked the bartender to surprise my guesses. He made the best drinks I ever had...very accurate. Great experience! read more

Kip's - Wet pussy and scuby snack - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

This is where you want to go when you're trying to have a ratchet night out with friends! Weekends get a little wild but Kip's is a good place to socialize. Lots of people from Berkeley, Oakland, and Richmond spend time here so you get a good mix of people to hang around. They have karaoke nights sometimes and that's always entertaining when it comes down to being drunk and building community with strangers, haha. Fish bowls have gotten smaller and pricier over the years, but I recommend trying it at least once. My go to drink is the pineapple express - it's a good choice if you like sweet alcoholic beverages! Another drink I'd recommend is the Scooby Snack - it's like melon juice! read more

Kip's - Pineapple Express - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

DJ seems to have a preference for white people. Bad experience we were there ordering shots and drinks while others weren't but when we asked for songs he ignored us and only put songs for those who weren't ordering anything. We asked multiple times but he ignored. We ended u deciding to leave read more

How is the worst place I've ever ever been to the service. Not only did I pay more than I should for the common drink at this bar they kicked me out before closing time which is scheduled on their website and they were very aggressive and even called the police on us. This establishment is so unprofessional to the point where their ownership needs to reconsider, their business model. As a manager of the business, the customer service here is not acceptable for any establishment in any state of this country. read more

Me and my friends got kicked out for no apparent reason after spending upwards of $150 inside. The security guard came up and told us "either you give us money or you leave." Honestly ridiculous. Insanely wack behavior fuck this place. read more

Can be a really fun place if you don't care about your well being. Definitely a creepy crowd, and the bouncers are included. I've seen bouncers make comments that border on sexual harassment towards women in line and during the search. read more

Service is great and so are the drinks.... Music is good. Crowd is typically thick and the security is amazing, the personable and good vibes only attitude from that fine ass Kwees da Beast keeps ME coming back!! read more

A trip to Kips always brings me back to my college years. Why wouldn't it? This place is situated right next to UC Berkeley. Thursday nights here seem to be the busiest. Though I think the drink specials (including $2.50 well drinks and $2-$3 beers) happens on Mondays and Wednesdays. There is a pool table and a decent area to dance but that's not why I come here. $2.50 alcoholic beverages. Need I say more? The food is actually pretty decent here as well. Consider a combination of greyhounds and buffalo wings. This place always leaves me with a delightful Thursday morning hangover at work. Cheers read more

Kip's - Medium order buffalo wings - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

Quiz night! A+ entertainment The MC makes this place and the bar feels more like some upperclassmen's house but good divey homey vibes all around. Cheap alcohol is a plus. read more

Kip's - Kool Aid Man Punch Bowl - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

Kips is the most turnt place to go, this security guard named kwees da beast, is the dopest security ever, he always checkin in making sure everyone having a good night, up most respect for him and kips, they play great music, great vibes, never any problems!! read more

Their photo booth wouldn't work and I tried getting a refund but they wouldn't give me one...at least put a sign saying out of order or something before stealing from your customers... TOTAL RIP-OFF!! (This happened 5 mins ago btw and they told me they don't do photo booth refunds...not my fault you're selling a photo booth that doesn't fucking work) read more

Greeted and seated right away. Friendly waiter, fast service. The burgers and tots were delicious but the garlic fries were pretty hard, past Krispy. Nice sports bar to get away from the craziness down below. Would definately recommend! read more

Kip's - Single Western Bacon Cheeseburger w/Garlic Fries - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

We loved the food, the bartender was amazing, and the chef was awesome. It was 2 guys running the whole show before the Cal game and they killed it. Thanks for a great night! read more

I've only been here once but I had so much fun (to be fair it was during undergrad in Berkeley and one of the first times I was finally able to go to a bar & legally drink with friends). I had a fishbowl with my friend and then a pina colada & shot of tequila - don't remember if I liked it but it did it's job haha There was a DJ and it was super crowded but it was fun being able to dance! So if you're into that, then check it out It's also important for me to mention this was all the week before COVID hit & we all quarantined in March 2020 so my memory is foggy but I know I had fun read more

Man oh man, good old Kips. TL;DR: Kip's sucks. There's a ton of reasons why, so I'll just stick with some of the highlights: The whole vibe is trashy and gross, while most drinks are somehow just as expensive as other bars in the area (excluding the specials and the drink wheel.) The bartenders are super inattentive, and if you're a dude, get ready to get passed over multiple times while they serve girls who obviously rolled up after you. The bouncers are probably the rudest and pushiest bouncers at any bar in Berkeley. They close wayyyyyyy before their listed closing time of 2AM (we're talking doors closed before 1:30 and lights on by 1:40), and will make you pound your drink or force you out and pour it out, like damn bruh give me a minute. In general, coming to Kip's means you're paying money to get garbage service from every employee there. I've never had a night here where I left with an impression better than "well, at least that wasn't a huge dumpster fire." One extra star because karaoke and trivia seem to be popular here, and because the $3 drink wheel is kinda fun but it's only available early in the evenings (before 9PM I think?) The beer selection is okay I guess. read more

Kip's is either packed or empty. Either way, I never feel quite comfortable. They have some decent beer options on tap, but mixed drinks are not their strong point. Some of their interesting specials like 20 cent wings end way too early. I don't think too many people wander in for an early dinner. They have karaoke on some nights and a pool table, which prove to be adequate distractions. Their music is also generally OK. By far the most scary thing about Kip's are the bathrooms though. The male toilet doesn't even have a proper stall. The dreggy college bar atmosphere and the just-turned-21 crowd could be the factors turning me off, but perhaps I am simply getting old. Regardless, there are much better options in Berkeley, albeit more limited on south side. read more

Oh gosh-- SUPER crowded, typical college pub. Everyone's standing around with beers, being loud, being obnoxious. It's like going into a frat house. The lines for anything is ridiculously long, whether it is the line to get in, food, drinks, or the bathroom. They do have a dance floor where they play mostly top 40's but any dance floor that is carpeted never really counts IMO. Nice last minute hangout place when you feel like being part of the college douche bag scene. read more

Got a munch on me voucher. tried to use it here for a beer. infor listed says voucher got from 3 p.m. cool with that. come 3, they're not open. some days not open till 5. not hours listed. guess they don't need the biz. read more

Came here for the first time for their Sunday brunch! Chili is so great and friendly, and made sure our bottomless mimosas were always bottomless. We even asked him to increase the champagne to orange juice ratio and he happily agreed. I ordered the huevos rancheros with eggs easy over, and they were so good! They weren't bland and I'll be back to try different items on their menu! I subtracted a star because the bathroom is a little dirty, but understandable because it is a bar. read more

See all