Cute atmosphere with a fantastic staff. Bartenders are wonderful and the food and drinks were great. Finding a grilled cheese in the city under $10 is a steal. I'd strongly recommend this bar to anyone in the area. read more

North Light - Grilled cheese and tomato soup. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

A super cute little cocktail / bar scene! They have happy hour available Monday through Friday 4-6pm. The tots are to die for and I got the watermelon margarita which had a great spicy kick to it (this is a seasonal drink!). They have a super cute outdoor patio which has a covering if it rains! Pro tip they take reservations! read more

North Light - Tots & spicy watermelon margarita! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Day time review. What a great local spot to get some work done. :: Note: at night, lap tops down.:: The inside is on the smaller side, with a bookstore to boot, but the outdoor patio is so cute and well done (heaters included). On a Thursday afternoon, space wasn't an issue to sprawl out and get some work done with the free wifi. Not too many non-alcoholic options, they do have cold brew and nitro. No espresso drinks and whole and almond milk only. The coffee was fine, the $6 shakenado was good, but teeny for the price. They do have a ton of cocktail options with wine and beer. Foodwise, during lunch consisted of a meaty ham sandwich, some flatbread options, poached eggs and a salad. I went with the meaty sandwich and it was solid. Thick cuts of ham, salami and some tapenade on olive oil encrusted crusty bread. $11 was a little pricey with no side, but it was fine. Overall, a solid spot for a drink, for sure. I'll work from here whenever opportunity arrises and probably shoot for a glass of wine or cocktail vs the coffee and food option. read more

North Light - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Perfect date spot. Excellent service. Delicious food and drink. Happy to see more businesses open later. I'll be back for the espresso martini and that chocolate lava cake. read more

Super cute cafe by day and it turns into a bar/restaurant around 6:00pm. It doesn't feel like a cafe but it is laptop friendly (before 6pm) and there are outlets. There is a really eye catching bookshelf when you first walk in - it sets the atmosphere very well. I think there's a patio out back as well. Not a big alcohol person but Tasteful Nudes the alcohol taste wasn't that strong and actually pretty refreshing. Didn't really like Honest Mistake though because of the ginger taste. read more

North Light - Tasteful Nudes (pink) Honest Mistake (orange) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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I've been coming to Northlight since they opened. Den and his staff are my most beloved restraint staff in Oakland. Their presence in temescal is warm and fuzzy and welcome. They not only support my need to detox my liver with delicious NA drinks, but give me a reason to delight my taste buds with their well thought out cocktails. The food is consistently amazing and this is my favorite place to go to finish out work during happy hour and treat myself to dinner. Highly recommend, all the time. read more

North Light - Cocktail: Disco Nap - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

My friend told me about this cute bar with a bookshelf. We got in, but all tables inside were taken but we were able to get a table in the back patio. I thought it would be fine thinking there would be space heaters unfortunately I think there were only heaters on one side and we were sitting on the opposite side. Decided it would have to be the drinks to keep us warm. Cocktails: Salers Delight Spice Runner Baby grand Sangria Fresca Food: Umami tots - I ordered this thinking it was vegetarian friendly not realizing the bonito is made of tuna... it's very umami flavored and it was just too much for me to finish on my own since my friend couldn't eat it. Definitely get to share. The service was friendly it took a little bit to grab the check. I'd recommend that they put the QR code's on the tables somewhere they were on the wall so if you're not the one by the wall it's a lil bit of a hassle. Overall the place was really cute and very much a date spot my friend and I caught several first dates when we were there. read more

North Light - Umami Tots - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Drinks: Blue Lagoon and Spice Runner were both so esthetically pleasing and well balanced to be enjoyed on the front patio. They also have a back patio, which was full but would imagine for the ambiance to be solid. As for food, the Beets & Ricotta was as scrumptious as it looked - a plate of food art to fill our souls. We lastly shared Jalisco Dip - a play on birria but with a sandwich and flavorful consommé with the Umami tots. Still drooling over it all and can't wait to be back next time to try the other goodies! read more

North Light - Left: Spice Runner + Right: Blue Lagoon - mermaid chillin' in - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Ouch. This was pretty painful and I was trying my hardest to be forgiving. The only thing they have going for them is their cocktails. Their cocktails are delicious. Very tasty. Everything else from the service, to the wait, to the cold food, the tasteless food and the expensive tasteless food was rough. Woof! We were having drinks are Kingfisher and called to check on the wait, they said 15 min. We got there and waited 35min yet they kept saying 5 more min. I watched them seat a 4 topper with 1 party and they held the table for 30 min since the whole party was running late. I also saw another couple try to order for over 20 min, they finally gave up and asked for their check. I watched one of the servers talk on the phone while the host tried to run the tables. I went to the bathroom and while I was waiting in line I noticed food was sitting there for a long time and no one picked it up. I even took a picture. Turns out it was our food and it arrived 10 min after I returned from the bathroom, freezing cold. Jokes on me! Their tachos come with squirt on 'guac' and sour cream. Like whaaaaat? They also brought our entree order out incorrectly, which we ended up politely canceling. Not sure what is going on but I felt like I was being punked as they need to figure out restaurant ops. There was plenty of staff working and it wasn't that busy. I ended ordering Burma Bites as I sat at the table. Maybe try only cocktails or maybe brunch is better or pass until they figure it out? Overall not the Friday night dinner experience we were looking for. read more

North Light - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

I've been here when it was a low-key Temescal wine bar called Marc 49 and didn't even know it closed when I read about its replacement, a modern throwback to the bookstore cafe concept that I miss terribly. Thanks Jeff Bezos. This one has mid-century touches like teal tile, a couple of turntables on the counter, tall wooden bookcases full of locally curated works (photo: http://bit.ly/2I3CIaY), and drawers of vinyl records with each drawer focused on three degrees of separation from legendary artists like Aretha Franklin and The Beatles. What makes the inside space particularly unique is how the books and records complement the cafe and not the other way around. I had just a $3 cup of the House Coffee to go the first time I visited (photo: http://bit.ly/2WPSBFl) and didn't really study what they offer for breakfast, lunch, and even dinner specials like shakshuka and flatiron steak in the evening as they made the brave decision to stay open until midnight. It wasn't until my second visit that I experienced their surprisingly spacious back patio (photo: http://bit.ly/2I3CGzS). Although the Soft Scramble and even the Breakfast Wrap sounded good (both $12), I decided to try their $8 Nana Joe's Granola & Bellwether Fresh Yogurt with Seasonal Fruit. That morning, it was a combination of grapefruit and strawberries (photo: http://bit.ly/2I3Aybk). It was quite tasty in a distinctively fresh way nicely complemented by their coffee. I could imagine easily spending a couple of hours reading a book I bought there or writing the Great American Novel. Let's see...how about "Memoirs of a Geezer"? FOOD - 4 stars...if the granola and yogurt is any indication, I'll certainly be back for other meals AMBIANCE - 5 stars...a pleasing space especially when it's quiet on a Saturday morning SERVICE - 4 stars...very polite and proactive TOTAL - 4 stars...I think I've seen the northern lights RELATED - Trippin' in Temescal? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2I0RAHj read more

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The friendliest staff I have ever encountered at any Bay Area restaurant/bar. This place really does feel like a neighborhood bar and is an essential part of the Temescal community. Strong, delicious cocktails and the outdoor patio is a super chill spot to grab drinks with friends or have a fun night out with your significant other. The indoor decor is IG story worth for sure too, which is always a plus point! read more

North Light - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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North Light is one of those bars that you walk into and you're like "Am I cool enough to be here right now?". There's a certain ambience and vibe that just feels comfortable but cool. The amount of books, music, and good drinks are enough to draw anyone in off the street on a weekend night, but what I love here also is the brunch. I live in the neighborhood and walk over maybe every few weeks (admittedly it's usually in my pajamas, because I'm apparently that kind of person now). The folks here are so friendly and cool at any time of day, and the person in the morning (shaved head, cool tattoos, and femme presenting vibe) has remembered my order for a custom vegan breakfast burrito the few times I've been in, and it's the small things like that that makes me feel like they really care. So, when you're inevitably asking yourself "am i cool enough to be here right now?" when you enter this bar, I'm here to reassure you, yes, you are. And the staff is always there to make sure you know it, too. read more

North Light - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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Very cute bar and skilled bartendress. The cocktails and zero proof bevies were so well balanced and gorgeous hues. I love the record jams. read more

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I live in the neighborhood and highly recommend giving this whole in the wall restaurant a try. I loved the vibe and service. I went on Saturday around 2 pm and had the brunch menu to order from. I had two sangrias and the mushroom frittata. My brother had the breakfast burger with a side of tots. The tots were crispy and salty, but tasty and he thought the burger was well made, right size and was happy with his food selection. The sangria was a little sweet and the frittata took a while to arrive at the table. Even though, I enjoyed the back patio and our server kept checking in on us and was friendly. This is a dog friendly space. A couple of the patrons were accompanied by their furry friends. The music selection was also good and made it a chill environment. read more

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Great place to decompress. Thank you to Lukas and River for being kind and providing excellent service :) read more

North Light - Bar area - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Food was great! Our waiter was super nice and friendly and ambiance was chill! We were sitting outside and sharing food with the attached restaurant. They were all cool! The beet appetizer and mushroom burger were great! read more

Books & booze make for one of the cutest hidden gems in Temescal! North Light is not only a great bar with a fantastic back patio, but they also have a small bookstore and liquor shop in the front to peruse! The Blue Lagoon cocktail tasted even better than it looked (with a cute mermaid decoration to boot). The Tachos (tater tot nachos) were not only ingenious, but absolutely delicious and generously doused with guac and corn! Will be back for more, as well as to try their mushroom panini and come for some morning coffee sometime! The back patio is dog-friendly, and the staff are very friendly! read more

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I love North Light. It is a great bar. The staff are normal and super friendly. The drinks are always great and I love that their staff is also good at recommending cocktails for folks that are feeling indecisive. I appreciate that they take reservations and often make some to sit in their back covered patio. I usually try to go out after my kids are in bed, and lots of places stop serving food pretty early. I love that I can meet a friend here and get some delicious food and drinks without getting kicked out at 9:30 pm. I love their burger and tater tots. Their kale Caesar is really good. I've had their falafel too, but don't remember it so fell like it was just okay. read more

Today I went to an absolutely lovely library. The espresso martinis and tater tots gave me a reason to keep it pushing. The ambience and service is absolutely lovely. Our server Al was nothing but nice with the vibes. They strolled to our table in a smexy outfit recommending pumpkin spice add-ons. Where would we be without them? Where would we be without espresso martinis and tator tots? xoxo Gossip Girl read more

Came here on a Saturday evening around 730ish. It was busy so there was a little bit of a wait for a party of two, but we got a great corner seat in the back, on their covered and heated patio. Our server was super helpful when we asked since questions about the drinks. There aren't really mocktails on the menu, but the bartenders made one of the cocktails into a mocktail for me. The price was the same, which seemed a bit steep since $16 without any alcohol is like... what exactly is this mark up for? Still, we enjoyed our drinks. My wife's has a Japanese melon aperatif which was special. The $10 tater tots were absolutely nothing to write home about; sadly overly salty and overpriced. Still, we enjoyed the atmosphere. The bookcase in the front was fun to explore while waiting and they were playing ABBA hits the night we were there. I'd probably come back for drinks (might skip the food) if we were in the area again. read more

Super chill little spot with great drinks + delicious food, open late. I hope they continue to stay open late

This place has become one of our favorite spots for drinks. The Furtive Glance and the Rosa are some of our staple drinks when we come here. Their drinks are smooth and have a nice ratio of liquor and flavor. They have a good amount of food options, they're more like appetizer sized. They have the best tater tots that comes with an aioli sauce. Their staff is friendly and receptive to check in on you. Tip: Having a reservation makes it easier but they do accept walk-ins. read more

Most mediocre restaurant burger I've had in my life. I've made better burgers while camping.

Food is AMAZING!!!! Recommend the garlic tots w/ the comeback sauce, and the baroda w/ the reduction balsamic. Ask for Theo... she will take of you. Eddy from Riverside read more

Still love north light ! I've been back several times and can't recommend it enough. They make a mean gimlet :) read more

North Light - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Pro tip: make a reservation! Walk-ins are fine, but you'll be more comfortable if you have a resy. Food This was my first time visiting! My friend and I were seated at the bar and we each ordered one drink. I ordered the Furtive Glance and she ordered New Boo. The drinks were visually appealing and tasted great. The menu is extensive and I love the combination of classics as well as signature drinks. The cocktails felt experimental, and I was very excited to try. I look forward to visiting again, so I can try the other drinks on the menu. Service Given how busy it was and how tight the space is, I was very impressed with Service. Someone served us immediately, and when we got to the bar, our order was taken quickly. We were followed up with consistently as well. I can't speak to the food service, but the bar staff are great! Ambiance The inside space is quite narrow and tight, though they're able to squeeze in a lot of folks and make it work. When you first walk in, you need to wait for staff to come seat you. To the left, there is a tall library wall with a variety of books that I'm sure you can pull down and read while you're sipping on their cocktails. To the right there is a wall of benches and tables for folks who are eating. In the back half of the interior space, there is a long bar with bar seating and 2 to 3 bartenders working there. On the bar you'll see there are multiple vinyl players and what makes Northlight special is that their music is coming from their vinyl collection. In the back, if you turn to the right, you can step out onto their patio space. The seating outside was more spacious and there was a mix of booths and tables however, those were Booked up the day I visited so we sat at the bar. read more

Cute environment with a large covered patio area. Definitely a great place for cocktails and catching up. Small menu but nice beet salad and a umami tots splurge. Helpful staff. read more

North Light - Mezcal and melon liquor cocktail fresh and delicious! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

This business is not open when they say they are. I was never able to get in. It was a Thursday afternoon. I was there at 4 PM, along with 2 other people. Waited until 4 30 PM. Left. By the time I got back to my car, I had a parking ticket for an expired meter! $50! I had gone there to donate, not sell, some antique children's books to their bookstore. I have since donated the books to a store in Los Angeles. This business clearly does not respect it's customers. There was no notice posted about why they were not open. No phone number to call for information. They may make it as a bar,(although there is one a few doors down that was open), but not as a bookstore. Don't waste your time or money (parking ticket!) going there! read more

More of a restaurant than a cocktail lounge. You're seated at a spot and have to wait a while before anything comes to you.

Cocktails are really good! The service is, good and the music is great. I need to go again, and try the food who looks increible. read more

North Light - The expresso martini is really good and the staff is - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Incredible vibes. The warm vinyl music was upbeat and, even on a rainy Friday, the place was packed with funky chill people. This place is super welcoming, meaning you could both flex a unique sense of style, or roll up for a simple cozy evening. Everyone seemed really down to earth. The service was fantastic - particularly our tall graceful host, and our server with cool blue hair. The sangria was amazing. I can't recommend that enough. It is a wonderful date spot but you will definitely want a reservation. The tables are close but the acoustics are good. The patio is very well heated and covered. I'm someone who is cold all the damn time and - even though it was rainy cold and windy - I was happy with long sleeves and pants. read more

I was excited about my reservation here but was underwhelmed by the experience. The food was good, but the menu was very limited and there was some confusion about what the kitchen had and didn't have. If I were rating on food quality alone, I'd rate higher. The space is way too crowded to be comfortable and the service was poor. Our server was not a good communicator and seemed unhappy about his job. With so many other options nearby I won't be returning. read more

The host reached out and acknowledged the miscommunication from their part . Apart from having to leave early because they needed the table for the next party, everything else was great .. we thoroughly enjoyed the food and drinks . I really appreciate Den reaching out with an offer to make up for the last visit . read more

North Light - Jaguar Shark - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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We came for brunch on a saturday and was seated right away in their cute back patio. *vibe: love the floor to ceiling bookcase with a ladder. Great back patio. *Price point: Decent , considering the current environment in mind - bloody mary, eggs benedict, and breakfast burrito was about $44. *Service: This is where it was a miss for me. The staff is friendly but it took over 40 minutes for our food to arrive, and when we arrived, it was not busy - we were the 3rd party seated outside. About 30 min in, the server apologized and noted there was only 1 kitchen staff today. Perhaps lead with that next time when you take our order? Granted, everyone seated around us received their food as late as us. *Food quality: it was good, despite the wait. Egg was perfectly poached for the benedict; I personally would have preferred a thicker muffin. I liked it and was full. I'll come back, but not anytime soon. The long wait and the late notification was a bit of a turn off. read more

This place has a great atmosphere. Definitely cozy and niche! The food is pretty good with all around Americans style and nice fancy cocktails too! However, in my opinion, the service has been hit or miss.. since they are so popular, they tend to cram a few more seats into their dining area than they probably should allow, making it feel really cramped and awkward seating arrangements. Esp since COVID, I really value the space I am in as well as my personal space. Given the high price of the food and beverages here, I would hope to have a better experience overall. read more

Good food, drinks and services. Great patio with large tables that seat 6 comfortably. Will go back. Street and parking available, just do not leave anything in your car! read more

I love this place, it is such a vibe inside. They have chill music on in the background and there drinks are amazing. I love a good hot toddy and not many places make them well! read more

North Light is an enigma and that's just the way they like at in their new location in Oakland's trendy Temescal District. It feels like an enigma because it's so many things at once, but still different depending on the time of day you go as a customer. It's part bookstore, part cafe, part brunch spot, part dimly lit restaurant, and part local watering hole, it's clearly everything to everyone. At North Light, they have a really fun space with loads of potential thank to all the hard work that co-owners Dan Stone and Lee Smith put into making the business of their dreams. On this night, I came late with two friends one of who is a regular and another who like me was a newcomer. Upon entry, one will notice how dimly lit the interior is during the evening with tables topped with candles to make the mood even more romantic. During the evening, the segue from traditional coffee and lunch shop to romantic venue that specializes in cocktails but still serves food all day long. Although there were a few seats at the bar available, my friend suggested that we sit outside on their newly restored wood patio area complete with heat lamps overhead. When one looks at their cocktail menu, you'll notice that they have fun literary and cinema inspired names like Fox Force Five and Oaxacan Phoenix. Tonight I decided to order their Flowers for Algernon (partly because I loved both the book and movie) which was made with gin, lavender, grapefruit, lemon, and rosewater. It was a sweet and refreshing delight to my evening. One of my fellow diners also wanted to get something to eat as we both were a little hungry and from their All-Day Food menu and she suggested we split their North Light Burger which was a brisket/ chuck blend topped with cheddar cheese, lettuce, onion, tomato, not-so-secret sauce and served on a potato bun and served with a side of mixed greens. When the burger arrived, I was a little surprised how ordinary the burger was, for 11 dollars it was nothing more than what seemed like a frozen patty that was grilled up by the kitchen as compared to what was described on the menu. So that made me rather disappointed that at least with this one menu item, the dish that had a ton of potential of how tasty and bold it could be, was surprisingly so basic. The good news remains that it feels awfully cozy both inside and outside of North Light. They do have a Happy Hour menu which has plenty of potential. You can tell this all-day cafe and bar has ambitious goals of staying open at all hours to offer everything to anyone who passes by and is intrigued with what they are seeing depending on the time of day. One could work or read or just hang out with a beer or glass of wine or a cocktail with various music playing in the background. So at least with the ambiance part, they have succeeded in making their goal a top priority. read more

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Went in on a Sunday night. Took 15 minutes to even be asked for our drink order and 10 min after that to get served. Talk to the girl with blonde hair (the only reason we got served at all.) Great if you're a big group of white men! You'll get top notch service. Everyone else, lots of better bars to go to very nearby. Only go if you're in a group. read more

We ordered their Mac and cheese, umami tots, and burger. We came on a Tuesday evening . There was a table inside available when we got there. Indoor/outdoor seating available. Service was good. Bathrooms available. We didn't grab cocktails this time around but a great spot for an evening catch up session with friends. Everything was tasty. read more

North Light - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California