Today was our first time coming to Kip's and glad we did since Pappy's was having an event. Got here during happy hour and they had really great deals. Ended up getting two fish bowls, few shots and beer. Came here before it got super busy. Was poppin later at night. We came here on a Friday and Corona was giving out free beer and also giveaways. I would definitely come back here again if I was in the area. Fun, cheap spot in Berkeley to get drunk or have one drink. Or two?! Parking could be difficult if you don't like parking in the expensive parking garage right across from Pips. Bathroom smells really bad but what were you expecting for a bar? Also! Check in and buy a drink because you get free tots. Yes I said it, free! read more

In Berkeley, its 2017, and a Kips' bouncer is literally using the N word (to one of my gal friend). To be honest I have been a regular at Kips and have continuously brought friends there, but tonight was def the last night. I know it was unfortunate that the bouncer broke into a fight with us (after using the N word to my friend and said he can't be a racist because he's a Mexican ?!???!), and I normally would assumed it is his own problem. But the manager (I think) and everyone else who work at the bar at that time sided with that bouncer and refused to even apologize to us. And they shit on me when I was trying to make peace and solve the problem, saying that I was drunk and should stepped out (I wasn't even close). You would not thought that racism is real until you or your friends are the victim! read more

A Berkeley institution. More of a club now than a restaurant but a great place to people watch and have a cold beer.

They now have a reasonably priced Brunch meal on Sunday so we can kick back and watch the games with a happy hour that runs all day. Its a place that is less crowded and you can enjoy your meal, a drink and the game with a good mixture of older and younger people. The bartenders are friendly and attentive without the annoying distractions. For those that think its the old "dive bar" it is changing and credit needs to be given to the son "Wilson " for trying to turn it around. For now to me its the best kept secret on Sunday for a meal, a drink, and the game. read more

Came here once after Thalassa because the wait at the pool hall was super long. Drinks were decently priced. They have one pool table and a small dance floor. Not too busy with people but it wasn't completely dead. Half of the place looks like a hang out for frat boys drink and hang out but the other corner is dark and more grungy lounge/dance floor area. Second time I came here it was super packed like you were at a club. Super packed and you had to shove your way through. No room to move. I felt like I was being herded like cattle. So stuffy and hot. Couldn't stay had to leave. read more

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So random going in here last Friday night after the Deadulus show at UC Berkeley. My friend and I went to scour a bar and we past by Kip's where we saw a bunch of people on the street next to Kip's. We thought that if we couldn't find any other bars, we would double back to Kip's and it happened to be that we didn't find any other bars around so we ended going back to Kip's We went up some stairs, seeing that Kip's was located on the second floor and once inside, we saw that this place was crowded. Kip's is pretty small from what I saw. They have to places to seat, a pool table, small dance floor, and a bar area. Ordering drinking took a while seeing that there is only one bar but they Kip's did have 5-6 bartenders trying to help everyone out. The bartender that helped me out through out the night was really nice and was also cute. Kip's made our night because I saw that they had a little menu of their drink specials and a pitcher of PBR was only $7. So my friend and I had a pitcher each that night. A shot of Jameson was $6 from my calculation of buying 2 shots and a pitcher of PBR that came up to $20. We were so pumped up for the prices at Kip's To make it easier: Pro's -cheap drinks Con's: -Crowded I would definitely come back to Kip's for the price's on the drinks and the cool people that I was able to talk to there. read more

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So I had heard a lot about Kip's when I first moved to Berkeley. Now I made the mistake of coming here before I was completely trashed...and I have to say you need to be trashed to enjoy this place. If you come here sober, game over. It is just an overall weird environment, but is affordable so yay! I also tried a fishbowl and they were pretty expensive ($35). It was beyond sweet and I had definitely had stronger elsewhere. Would I come again? 100% But it would be the last stop of my night rather than halfway through it. read more

Never knew a bar and grill would charge at the door. Every other places don't even do it but this one does and then all of a sudden tonight they were saying it $10 instead of five like what the fuck. I feel like they're scamming people just to hang out at a sports bar. It's already bad enough people pay for alcohol in there. Bunch of rip off ass business. read more

Do not leave your Tab open at Kips. In 2013, I left my tab open at Kips and left my credit card there overnight. The next day, I recovered my credit card and later looked at my statement to realize that Kips had charged me over $100. I went to discuss the situation with the manager and was told there was nothing they could do. I must have spent over $100 worth of food/drinks the previous night. I filed a report with my credit card company and was reimbursed. Since then I have not gone back to KIPS. To this day, I still get angry at the bar for stealing from me. read more

JOSHUA is my fucking man. I came in 5 minutes before the kitchen closed and he provided the best service. He brought out my food quickly, helped me order the best drinks and was sure to provide my whole group QUICK drinks! I really appreciated the fun atmosphere and good drinks. Coming back next time I'm in town! read more

Kip's - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

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One of my go to bars in berkeley for sports or to kill time while we wait for our seating at other restaurants. The place is spacious and there are plenty of TVs and games. During happy hour, the well drinks are only $4! Be sure to check in on yelp to receive a free order of tater tots!! read more

Coming into the bar, there was the bouncer Max at the top of the stairs. I found it SO humorous that he had a fake pair of handcuffs and a fake badge with what looks like a Halloween costume "bulletproof" vest on. It was hilarious, especially since I did four years in the military. Anyways getting past that, the bartender with long hair was so strange. I mean he came in and overtook our conversation, which was strange. But I must say, Max did hook up my phone so that I could play my choice of music. I know that was really nice because he didn't have to do that. They played it for a couple songs then give me my phone back. There was some overly aggressive guys tossing around females in the bar and no one did anything about it. May or may not return. read more

Kip's - Nice selection - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

This place is always ridiculously overcrowded on Friday and Saturday nights but I love it. Everyone in Berkeley tryna get turnt after a tough week lol. Don't come here if you're sensitive to humidity and sticky floors in the dance area (and if you are, then why are you coming here, anyway?) Pro tip: go to Pappy's earlier in the night, buy some cheap vodka cranberries and jello shots for yourself to get tipsy or drunk for $10-15, dance for a bit in the downstairs area, then make your way to Kips. The DJs here are always, alwayyyyyyssss superior to the ones at Pappy's and it gets so damn turnt here the whole night until closing. So many good memories in this joint. If you see me there, let me buy you a drink. Five stars for my baby. read more

Max was the coolest guy here! He's a security guard here, but he came on his day off to help. We couldn't figure out how to get the pool table to work (since it's coin operated and the balls sometimes get stuck), and he came up to us to help. Shoutout Max and Kips for a dope karaoke night! read more

Walked up the stairs and into the bar. Wow what a cool looking bar i thought to myself. Immediately after this I was berated by the bartender for thinking about what drink I wanted to order. It's almost as if he wanted to personally ruin my day. I thought maybe this was one of those bars were they bag on you in good fun but I quickly realized this bartender was out for tears! No tip! read more

Kips is bomb. Its always been free since i turned 21 but that was almost 4 years ago. I still attend and its still free. Alot.of the college people go there now and other people because pappys grill and bar is charging at the door....I believe $10. Which i dont think is a smart move. Should have kept it at $5. Anyway the drinks there are lightweigh cheap and there are ins ans outs. Sometimes it gets busy in there and the atmosphere is lightweight rachet.....just how i like it I know security and they are NEVER ASSHOLES. They are all sweet guys read more

I first went to Kips back in the late '70's after turning 21 - it was a cool college hangout with decent pizza. Me and the fam stopped in a couple of weeks ago at lunch and what a change. No pizza, limited menu, but at least tots. The hamburger I ordered tasted like it was re-heated. The nachos looked like it had fake cheese on them. I'm only giving 1 star due to the friendly service and the beer selection. read more

It was a cute divie bar. We had a really cutie patootie waitress with that any belly button. We had a cosmo fish bowl. It was pretty good and then we did this with Our mouths. read more

Kip's - We tied cherry stems in to knots. - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

I want to give a major shout out and kudos to Max as well as our amazing bartenders!! Excellent service, they kept my best friend and myself in good company when we sang for karaoke night They greatly contributed to an awesome 21st birthday for me with my best friend taking me here I was given a great suggestion for a first drink and a lovely birthday recognition Great ambiance, music choice and mood lighting for an enjoyable night read more

I ordered takeout from Kips the other night and it was just very average. I got a grilled cheese sandwich and tater tots. The grilled cheese was very underwhelming.. Not cooked well enough and had way too much cheese. The tater tots were not as crispy as I had hoped. Probably won't order food from here ever again, but it wasn't terrible. It was just food. Nothing special about it. read more

Kips be lit! Security there is the best lalo max chin gus. Best spot in Berkeley good environment and food is good 2. The music is good and it feels safe when you are in there. Really enjoy every night I spend at kips. Try the chicken wings too hella good read more

"My hamburger was so delicious, it tasted like COW!!!!!!" -my good friend, name disclosed... Day later: "wow, i cant go clubbing, i have diarrhea" --------------------------------- Note to self, dont eat hamburgers at kips... On the other hand, I LOVE KIPS, thats if you define love as stumbling up the stairs on Two Dollar Tuesdays, or ending Thursday nights with a liquid cocaine when the bartender shouts "last call!!!!!" With only a few other bars around campus (henrys, raleighs, blakes, bears lair [beer only], Kips is a standard place to see all your friends and end the night on a good note, as in being drunk. See you all on Thurs!! read more

I have never had a problem here, like my friend Jasmin said in her last review about grilled cheese, I do have to agree -- they used to be cheesy and buttery but now they are dry and need all kinds of help. However, I usually get a burger or the philly cheese steak sandwich and have never been dissapointed. their fries are on hit -- really really good. I wouldn't say its the best, but its not bad. its A-ok. read more

Shady place with bartenders who fake tips on your receipts. I would avoid coming here to avoid credit card fraud. Came here for my friends 21st birthday and it was quite disappointing. we got a fishbowl (blue, vodka based) and it tasted more like sweet water than anything else. I've had way stronger fish bowls, so I felt like I was paying for water. What's worse is that the bartender charged me tip on my credit card even though I tipped well in cash, and specifically wrote that on my receipt. That's shady and credit card fraud. The floors are sticky as well, but the music is good and it's always lit here. It's a college bar with really dirty toilets. I wouldn't come back here because of the shady bartenders and the super diluted drinks. read more

Kip's is most bizarre place I have ever slung back a drink in. This is not just a bar. There is a Chinese restaurant on the ground floor complete with minature ice cream parlor. Oh, wait, you don't like Chinese food? Don't worry, they also cook up the American classics too. The menu is so extensive that you have to order by number at the bar upstairs. Yes, I'd like a #6589 please. Now let's chat about the bar, shall we. It's certainly a dive. Tables from the kitchens of 80s housewives in Ohio have all found their way here to be coated in a noxious blue. This is not a color you would want to eat off unless you were five and eating out a dinosaur-shaped plate piled high with macaroni and cheese. Eat here, I sadly have. I filled my belly with plentiful amounts of food for under 7 dollars, but at what cost? At what cost?! Sorry, I forgot that chairs. They are awful. And presumably three of them have been a central figure in Berkeley's own 18 and pregnant. The bathrooms are revolting in that way where you feel dirtier after you have left. This is the bar you never want to get ill in because those knee stains will never come off. Some of the drinks are cheap, but none are very good. I have yet to feel like I get a good deal here, but others allege they have stayed out of poverty and sobriety solely because of Kip's. Cheers to that! The clientele ranges from grotty football watchers. You know the type that can bench press a lot, but still look obese. And their girlfriends. Then you get in the later hours, the crowds of pretty white people. The girls who think their snug dress makes them worth more than the next girl. The boys who think that every girl in the bar wants their D for no other reason than because he actually is self-conscious about said D. So why three stars? Because who wouldn't want to briefly experience this shit. And then run home and take a shower. 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

THIS IS NOT A RESTAURANT. This is a place that keeps food stocked so that drunk frat guys will be less likely to puke on the floor. Everyone in this bar is about 6'45" and is either on a team or "Greek." So there's a certain pack mentality you can feel. Case in point: I was dancing with my friend one night and - apparently - I bumped into some woman (it's very close quarters on the dance floor). I didn't notice this but I guess it was enough impetus for her boyfriend to tell my gay friend that he'd better "learn to control his woman." Anyway, we eventually got bullied into leaving because one of their mean-looking friends was built like a frickin' fridge. It was a pretty awful night. But there's dancing and cheap, bad beers. Not many places to dance in berkekey so i guess thats why i've gone back. But don't ever wait in line, this place is dirty, cramped, and too tall. read more

I never go to Kips of my own accord. Tonight I was forced into the establishment yet again for a "Meet & Greet" for an on campus organization I'm applying to join. Every time I go, I always tell myself "Never again!" or at least "Never again will I eat their pizza" and yet, without fail, I have a slice every time because it's free and why the hell not. Tonight, I once more remembered why not. Upon walking in, I realized how much of a hole this place is and how much worse it's gotten since last time I was here. The tables are in disrepair, the back room is dark, the upstairs is dirty and unwelcoming, the state of the bathrooms is horrible, and the pizza is like eating a slice of lukewarm cardboard. Yes, simply put, that's the joy of kips. This is food that I don't even think would taste good drunk. It's just bland, tasteless nothingness. I will assuredly be back for another one of these social situations, and if it improves I will update my rating. But for now, and most likely, for always, kips is 1 star. read more

Meh... Not the worst bar ever. It's more the type of bar let you go to when you're not really sure what a bar is. It's a good first bar, when you really don't know any better and just want cheap beer. The beer is good if you enjoy the eloquent aftertaste of rust. And walking around sort of feels like getting a foot massage. The floor sticks to your shoes like warm liquid gum. The smell is also familiar. But only as familiar as your morning poop. It's also a great atmosphere to go to with friends if you are introverts because it is so loud, and ass to elbows, that conversations are unintelligible. Bad beer, bad atmosphere, sticky floors. Great dive bar! I haven't been since I've gone to Cal, but I'm sure the formula is the same :-) read more

Update again - came back today for a happy hour, still a good beer selection but somehow the wings have gotten even more expensive ($9 for 8 wings) and they were soggy too. I also had a burger which was passable and some soggy fries. Don't bother with food here, get a beer, watch the game and leave before the undergrads show up. Previous update - Came back here recently excited for some wings, only to discover that they have completely ruined the wing deal. It is now $10 for 10 wings and you must order in sets of 10. Going from 50 cent wings so you could have 10 wings and a beer for $10 to this is a tragedy. Won't be coming back here unless they start a real special again. At least they still have a good beer selection, even if the prices have gone up. read more

Ugh, Kip's. I've had such a complicated relationship with this place for the past 8 years. When I was in college, my friends loved this place. Even to this day, I can only think of one reason why: cheapness. It's dingy, dirty, but the drinks are indeed cheap. I went to Berkeley when there was the Bear's Lair, Blakes, and Raleighs. HOW IS THIS PLACE THE LONE SURVIVOR?? If you're here on a weekend night, get ready for sloppy Saturdays. Newly drinking legal college students are ready to pour their humanity all over the barely washed tables. It's a frat bar haven for all the overcompensating alphas of Berkeley. Going to Kip's is like going to the movies. Feel like watching a drama? Then watch the sorority girl cry her tears out. Maybe romantic comedy? Laugh as you watch two wasted early 20's kids drunkenly make out. Or maybe a horror movie instead? Use the bathroom. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll be entertained by the trainwrecks. I originally gave it a 1 star, BUT recently, they have a pretty decent tap with a lot of beer choices, so i'll push it to a 2. One thing I actually give them props for is a decent beer selection. read more

Let me tell you all about the terrible bartender at this bar. I wish I could give zero stars because of this experience. He is a short older Asianish man and he is the worst. He told me his name is something like Chicksof but someone else told me his name was Buna. He was rude when we ordered and clearly didn't care about us. Whatever. I don't care if you're a jerk. But when we give you $20, and you insist that we gave you only $10, you seriously mess up. Pay attention to what you're doing because there is nothing more insulting than being told you're wrong as the customer - especially when you steal my money. It's sad that you managed to ruin my entire experience at this bar, because even though the bathroom looked like a war zone I still could've had a great night. Thanks for being an utter POS, Buna. read more

Divey college bar that succeeded in getting this USC girl plastered when I visited Cal friends. ==DRINKS== Fishbowl: $25 || 5/5 Great price for really tasty alc that's shareable. Easily forgot there was any vodka in there. Got me drunk. ==VIBE== Dark, ratchet place. Sticky floors. Wait time for girls' bathroom felt like hours. Puke and piss around the toilets. Basically, a college bar. Do not expect a spa. ==SERVICE== Negligible. Nobody cleaning any tables or bathrooms. At least bartender succeeded in making the fishbowl. ==YAY/NAY== Yay. Had a great time drinking yummy booze with decent music. Not the classy bar where you expect to meet your future husband. But low price for a conveniently located watering hole. Got schwasted + police didn't show up = success. read more

Kip's - Fishbowl - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

When you think of a crappy college bar, this is the perfect example of it. Its crowded most of the time, the tables are nasty, the crowd is populated by drunk idiots (worse than your average drunk idiot I might add), music selection is not worth mentioning. The drink selection is also terrible. The staff seems to be bipolar, nice at one moment, and then about to rip off your face the next. Scaaaa-rey. Ambiance sucks, the place has a strange scent, the bathroom is nasty (even when rating it on the distinctly unique scale of nasty bar bathrooms). In fact, why don't I skip the rest of this review and just say everything is terrible. There. Review finished. Not as bad as a 1 star, but giving this place 2 stars is a travesty. 1.5 stars. read more

Very grimy, but all-in-all, a Berkeley tradition. Don't come here expecting a world class experience because Kip's dingy atmosphere does attract a different crowd. As a college student on a budget, Kip's is a solid place to grab a quick drink, or celebrate birthdays that happen to fall on a school night // They give complementary BlowJob shots on your 21st! The Fishbowls are fun to share but if you want to get drunk in the fastest and most efficient way possible, I'd recommend the AMF. Also, if you're feeling particularly bored and are in dire need of a drink on a weekday night, they bring out the wheel after 9 PM with a variety of cocktails, well drinks, etc. for only $3 a spin. They're strict with IDs and close relatively earlier than bars in the city. That being said, you get what you pay for. read more

Swung by here today for a quick afternoon beer. They have a decent selection of craft beers. The bartender offered to give me tastes of beers before I made my selection which I always appreciate. Prizes were a bit higher then what I would consider normal (7 dollars for a 12 ounce). Everything also was very sticky, floors/bathroom/counter etc. I know it's a bar, but still...a bit off putting I would come here again at night and could easily see a good time and a good hangover to come the next morning ;) read more

Birthday Fun. I was pretty drunk by this time so I spent most of the time dancing. The music was decent, but it seemed like the "dj" seemed very uninterested in everything. Then I wanted my drink, and they were doing their last call, but somehow they didn't make me a drink. It was kind of messed up. It's quite a small dance floor and there are quite a few creepers. Please don't stare at me. It's kind of weird to be drinking and have people stare at you. Overall, I had a decent time. Maybe I'll go back some other time. read more

Only gotten drinks here once but giving this place a 5-star review because Kip's Tuesday Night Trivia is FIRE thanks to hosts Garima and Claire. What a power duo. Pls go support them! read more

The drinks are okay at this location. Though, the bartenders hand you the drink in a quite messy manner. The wood-finish of the counter makes it hard to see whether it is safe for you to lean on without getting any random moisture absorbed on your clothes. This bar is definitely another "one of those college bars". When I say that, I mean by, you have to squish with others to get from one side to the other. You have to deal with idiots who are definitely too drunk to be in the bar, but security has a hard time noticing. Lastly, this place is full of frat boys. Yeah, just like any other bar, there will be a plentiful amount of guys and girls, however, in this particular location, it seems that everyone is infested with Greek life. Apparently one of the bartenders in Kips gives everyone that represented a Greek letter special treatment in discounted drinks. Heck no, I go to social clubs and bars to socialize, not be down-treated because I don't have affiliations with a Greek-lettered organization or know anyone that is part of one. Yeah, I'll leave it to that. Too "fratty" for me. read more

Ah Kips. Just went there today for the first time in YEARS, (they were the only joint that had the Cal game) and BOY does that place reek. You think I mean figuratively, but I don't. The place SMELLS. I never expected much from that place, but holy crap they need ventilation. Big time. I think I give them an extra star for the half conscious guy on the toilet moaning. Comedy. read more