I was in Oakland for a concert and wanted to grab a drink after so we decided to check out Town Bar…read moreand Lounge. I have to say this is one of the prettiest bars I've ever been to! The lighting of the bar is amazing. I sat there mesmerized by the colors and organization of the bottles. The disco balls are also beautifully lit and fun to watch. There was a DJ when I went playing amazing music. The bartenders were friendly and attentive. I highly recommend checking out Town Bar!

Cool bar in the old I-Magnum building! Celebrating a friend's 65th birthday! Cute decor, good…read moreDj, lots of good looking gay men everywhere! The drinks were pricey but well put together! Cute bartender serving drinks. I would definitely come back - for a good time if I want to listen to music have fun and not be bothered by men! Happy Birthday Kenny!

Viridian, you stole the show this month! This was my first time coming back to Viridian after about…read morea decade, and we were not disappointed. Such a beautiful interior space vibrant in celebration for AAPI Heritage month, and a super fun cocktail menu that was the perfect post-meal moment (both photo-worthy and tastebuds approved). We also noticed they have a cool food menu too filled with yummy and innovative dishes like Cheesy Char Siu Tots, Szechuan Salt & Pepper Wings, Korean Fried Mapo Tofu, BBQ Char Siu Ribs, and more. They also have nice swag ~ we took home a hat that resembled a Kirkland hat that spelled out "Oakland Viridian" (IYKYK). Drink-wise we ordered the Soy Sauce Old Fashioned and the Café Sua Daddy, which essentially is an espresso martini with a fun twist with black sesame and an egg cream foam. Both drinks were outstanding and presentation was beyond..I wished we could have stayed for round two, but duty calls! Ride-share and or BART suggested in this area, it's just a bit congested downtown to park. Service was fun, prices fair for the whole experience. Loved it!

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.

I came here with a group of friends for a night out in the East Bay. We hit up this bar for a round…read moreof slushies after pregame at my friend's apartment. I got the Blue Hawaiian, a yummy classic, and it did not disappoint. Despite the cold front over the Bay Area this weekend, I instantly felt as if I'd teleported to Hawai'i. Service is pretty quick here, but they do have a minimum credit charge of $10. It's pretty easy to reach though if you order a cocktail or slushie.

I am writing to express extreme disappointment regarding my recent visit to your establishment…read more Despite traveling two hours and having an urgent need for the restroom, I was denied access by a staff member on a motorcycle, even after offering payment. This unacceptable refusal forced me into a deeply humiliating situation, having to relieve myself publicly. As an African-American patron, I found this experience profoundly disheartening and discriminatory. Based on this incident, I strongly advise against visiting this location

Date: 2/22/2025. Time: 4:00 PM. 63°. Sunny…read more I was supposed to be at 1701, but they are not opened yet. Thus, I met my friend next door at Space Lounge for drinks. Usually I don't imbibe. I am not much of drinking the Henny. All their cocktails have exactly that. The only one that looked appealing to me was the expresso martini. The service could be a little more attentive. My friend and I were the only two people in the lounge at the time. We sat and waited for somebody to come by to ask what would I like to drink. It did not happen; thus, my friend had to go the bar and purchase the expresso martini. The expresso martini was smooth and mellow. The only time I had the Henny was years ago at a Chinese wedding banquet. I added some to the shark fin soup, which enhanced the flavor of the soup. Yes, I enjoyed the expresso martini. The atmosphere of the lounge is one of sophistication and upscale. Comfortable seating all around. Nice place to hang out, do some chillaxin' with friends. Rating: 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.

Super chill spot with hella cool people! Wandered in here with a friend while waiting for a concert…read moreat Fox. So we had a few drinks and chatted it up with Rick. He's super knowledgeable AND passionate about his craft, plus an overall fun person to hangout with. We heard that this spot isn't getting much love these days and just wanna say it's totally worth the visit! You get excellent service, people who love what they do, community and also some bomb a** lumpia if you show up when the lumpia ladies are taking orders! Come thru!

Cute cocktail/vinyl bar with super chill vibes. The atmosphere is cozy and perfect for relaxing…read morewith a drink while listening to good music. The cocktails were delicious and well-made, though a little on the pricey side. The staff were very friendly and welcoming. Definitely a great spot for date night or a casual night out with friends!

A definite must visit music themed, whiskey and cocktail bar in Oakland. They have speakers for…read moresale (I believe) and cool cocktails. A friend and I came here on a Saturday night and there was about a 30 minute wait, but we were allowed to order drinks while waiting. There is very intimate lighting, lots of people on dates here, and they do not take song requests!

Super chill, casual bar with great vibes!…read more Came here on a Monday evening, and the place had a good amount of people hanging out. Loved that there were lots of seating-bar seating, high tops, and cushioned booths in the back. Good music (D'Angelo, Fugees, Tupac...) which was at a perfect volume, so nobody was yelling! The string lights made for a warm, very comfortable vibe. Our martinis were perfectly chilled and delicious. There's a self serve water dispenser next to the bar, which is always nice. No food, so don't come hungry. They have a cute DJ booth, and looks like they have occasional DJ sets that are posted on their IG-Might be fun to check out! Really glad that we stopped by this place, and will definitely be back. Great way to close off a 3 day weekend!

Best bar in the area by far. Relaxed fun vibe. Friendly crowd. All the bartenders are great and pro…read moremixologists.

Me and a group of friends went to Au last night and the food was great, the service was amazing we…read morehad Shaw as our waiter and he provided the day's specials and recommendations. The Bar tender Moira I hope I got that right was also great she definitely knows how to make a good drink. Oh and we got to meet the Chef! He was kind and welcoming we had great conversations with all the staff we interacted with! So I can say over all the food was great the service was amazing and I would definitely recommend them and looks like we may be stopping by again this week to try other items. We had the 3-way combo Fish, Oysters, Prawns and Mac & Cheese and Collards. Photo below is my friends plate because I forgot to take a photo

A nice, energetic, yet comfortable Sunday afternoon spent with Dad. He recommended AU, so there we…read morewent! Great service, attitude, and food! We had some of their chix wings & garlic bread as appetizers, followed by blackened shrimp with garlic noodles & collard greens and chili fried shrimp with garlic noodles & green beans. Every single item was delicious. Served piping hot as well. Can't wait to go again! Thank you, AU staff.

Forbidden Island is one of those rare neighborhood gems that somehow manages to feel both special…read moreand effortlessly welcoming. It's a longtime local favorite of mine and my go-to spot for meeting up with friends--equal parts escape and comfort. The cocktail menu is impressively deep, full of beautifully crafted, fancy tiki drinks that practically beg to be explored, and so far every single one I've tried has been delicious (dangerously so). Inside, the bar nails the classic tiki vibe--warm, immersive, and transportive--while the outdoor patio offers a lovely, relaxed option with plenty of extra seating on warm days. It's the kind of place where you can linger, laugh, and lose track of time. The staff deserve a special shout-out: genuinely friendly, attentive, and accommodating, which only adds to the overall experience. A quick pro tip: if you're planning to stop by during popular after-work hours, definitely make a reservation--it fills up for good reason. The food menu is on the smaller side, but the bites are tasty and thoughtfully done, perfect for sharing alongside a round (or two) of cocktails. All in all, Forbidden Island is a standout spot that keeps me coming back again and again.

4++ Tiki bar that feels like it's been around for a long time, located in Alameda…read more As soon as you walk in, the place feels a little diver, and I mean that with utmost praise. It feels comfortable and if you're regular here feels like you're just going to something familiar. There's a backyard area with seating as well. I came here with my brother and my sister-in-law for a drink after having dinner in the area. The people were friendly and helpful. We ordered a few of the tiki drinks. I got the banana hammock, lol. It was tasty and refreshing. Overall, great spot, and I hope to return in the near future. Parking on the street wasn't too hard to find. We parked about a block away in the residential area.