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    Merritt House

    4.9 (14 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

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    Oakland, Smokin
    Suzi G.

    First visit and the place was empty, which I loved because I didn't feel social. Great bartender. Delicious drinks. The interior is a bit unusual because the space is shared by the wings place and the coffee shop. I prefer Portal for beer, food, ambiance but they don't have a full bar. Baggy's has a full bar but is really packed with people and is good for run of the mill beer and basic liquor drinks. Would definitely come back to Merritt House again for specialty cocktails.

    Drinks -
    Mishelle L.

    do you have chicken wings beside this restaurant so you can get chicken wings, chicken breast sandwiches or whatever food you want is close to a grocery store is close to the lake. Merritt is awesome. It's a nice way to get a ride and get away and the customer service is great. The drinks are greatservice great atmosphere. the music is wonderful. Come on over and over and have a great time over here is wonderful nice spaces everybody to sit down bars, booths, and single tables.

    Paul L.

    Just checked out this place, and it's awesome. The staff are super friendly. The vibe is perfect--cozy and cool, but also spacious. It's a great spot to relax with friends or be on a date. The drinks are fantastic. Every cocktail I tried was spot on. Great addition to the neighborhood. Chill atmosphere.

    Michelle C.

    Nice classy bar by lake Merritt, decor was chic, drinks were both tasty and well presented and if you have late night munchies, you can order chicken wings and fries from Fire Wings next door. My favorite drink was the gin and tonic with plum cocktail . Great place to hang out and catch up with friends!

    Drink and menu
    Keira H.

    My husband and I love this new spot! This side of the lake has been in need of a trendy bar like this. Love their Oakland inspired drinks and the staff are very friendly. There's a wing spot next door and you can bring the food over if you're ordering drinks. Tons of space inside and a great place to bring a group. Be sure to check this place out!

    Oakland Smokin' and Sunfire cocktails

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    4 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    We really enjoyed our time here! The house drinks were unique and well prepared! Excellent addition to the neighborhood

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    Ask the Community - Merritt House

    Review Highlights - Merritt House

    My husband and I love this new spot!

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    Viridian

    Viridian

    4.5(488 reviews)
    1.1 miUptown
    $$

    This place is so cute inside it's definitely a cool almost speakeasy vibe. Came an hour after they…read moreopened and it was already getting pretty busy on a Thursday night. Service was really prompt and friendly. The food was great we ordered all the classics such as the tater tots and the cucumbers, and we also got the salt and pepper wings, and the special mapo tofu. Portions are great and it's definitely a lot of food to share. There are also extensive cocktails on the menu running at $16-$20 each, which is expected for the creativity and expert craftsmanship of each cocktail. They have a large number of cocktails that are special and seasonal, and then their classics on the bottom. I don't think you can go wrong with anything that you try and I love that they have Asian fusion options for the cocktails and savory and sweet. I got one of the seasonal cocktails that was passionfruit forward and it had a nice tart crisp taste that I really enjoyed.

    4.5 Stars. My friends and I have been meaning to try…read moreViridian out. We finally got to check out Viridian out for Oakland Restaurant Week 2025. Technically, we got to try it out the week after, but they extended their menu for the week after. We came that Sunday evening. Parking can be a bit of a hassle because it is indeed Downtown Oakland. Your whole party has to get the Restaurant Week Menu. So we all got their: Aperitif Cocktail - Tomato Beef or Purely Passion (Non Alcoholic) I got the Purely Passion. Good, nothing to write home about. Umami Tots This was really good! Very Crispy. Chili Cucumbers This one was actually really good. Szechuan Salt and Pepper Wings Good, but maybe too crispy? Wings are always good but this one didn't stand out for me. Mango Sorbet (They changed this from the Apple Sorbet that day) My favorite of the whole night. I usually don't like sorbet but this one was soft and easy to eat and has like a creamy like texture? Trying this made me want to try their other dessert item. We also ordered 2 add ons - the Hojicha Miso Tiramisu and the Korean Mapo Tofu. Hojicha Miso Tiramisu was OK. It contained too much alcohol for all of us and was bitter. Disappointing. I liked the Mapo Tofu! I liked that it was Crispy and that it came with rice. Drinks wise, my friends also got to try the Tomato Beef and White Rabbit. I don't really drink alcohol so I just sipped a bit. Tomato Beef was too alcoholic for me, couldn't really taste the tomato or the beef, but I could see what White Rabbit was going for. Overall, I'm really impressed by the food. I usually think Bar Food isn't very good, but this blew me away. Drinks are OK.

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    Viridian
    Viridian
    Viridian

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    Tallboy - Cheese in the trap

    Tallboy

    4.4(173 reviews)
    2.2 miTemescal, North Oakland
    $$

    This place is great! The drinks are delicious and very affordable. Service can be a little slow at…read moretimes but that's completely understandable since it's usually packed. Making drinks for a crowd takes time and the staff always does their best. The people who come here are super friendly which adds to the welcoming, cozy vibe of the place. It's the kind of spot where you instantly feel comfortable. If you love a good martini this is definitely a place you should check out.

    I'll give it to them, Tallboy is a solid concept with their "tinis & weenies". However, a clever…read moreconcept can carry a place so far. Customer service is a close second to concept. Tallboy's martini menu is well-executed. While I didn't personally try one of the slushies, a friend ordered the espresso martini version and gave it a solid thumbs-up. Unfortunately, the experience falls apart when it comes to food and service. Waiting 30+ minutes for two hot dogs (after paying) is hard to justify. When I checked in with a server, she was curt and dismissive. She was quick to explain there was only one person in the kitchen, with no effort to offer a solution, timeline, or even basic courtesy. I understand staffing issues happen. However, customer service is a close second to concept. How an issue is communicated and addressed is what separates good service from bad. What's more frustrating is that these aren't customer problems to absorb. If the kitchen is understaffed, if tables aren't being cleared in a timely manner at a seat-yourself spot, those are management problems. Guests should not have to choose to leave without the food we paid for. There's a lot of competition out there, and concepts alone aren't enough to bring people back. I genuinely wanted that hot dog. That's probably the most disappointing part of the whole experience. Great drinks, solid ambiance, but the service needs serious attention.

    Photos
    Tallboy - The bat and the awesome bartender!

    The bat and the awesome bartender!

    Tallboy - Lion dancing dog

    Lion dancing dog

    Tallboy - Banana hammock

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    Banana hammock

    Merritt House - cocktailbars - Updated May 2026

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