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    Sand Bar

    4.5 (92 reviews)
    ModerateCocktail Bars
    Closed Closed
    Updated 3 months ago

    Sand Bar Photos

    Business Info

    SAND BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Intimate
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Sand Bar

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    Gorilla milk slushie
    Jude D.

    Been wanting to go here for a minute for the vibes, so what's better than on a cold night. Yes, the floor really is covered in sand and the whole place is decorated like a beach. Also the gorilla milk slushie with coffee liquor was delicious.

    Richard R.

    Always great times here. Good drinks and service. Fun atmosphere - they got sad on the floor. Lol Large selection of rums and all the bartenders seem knowledgeable. They have DJs that come in often. .

    Cute interior
    Mariana D.

    I love the theme here--the sand on the floor, bright colors, and eclectic interior really make it feel like a tropical escape. It's friendly to all people, with a welcoming, laid-back vibe. Why It's a Vibe * Great for parents! The outdoor seating is perfect for those of us rolling through with toddlers and big strollers. * Rum Punch is solid! Nothing too fancy, just a good, decent rum punch that hits the spot. * The staff is cool & vibey. Super friendly and relaxed, which adds to the fun atmosphere. If you're looking for a casual, beachy escape in Oakland with great drinks and a welcoming crowd, Sandbar is a must-visit!

    Melinda E.

    This is such a cool and eclectic bar with actual sand on the ground! The service was great and the price point of the drinks were excellent. The music was my favorite part!

    Blood Orange Margarita
    Jerri K.

    Stumbled upon the Sand Bar and it was GREAT! Awesome energy; great vibe; and Black-owned!! Shout out to my bartender Christine for a great time. Can't wait to come back.

    Bar area
    Tara L.

    We were just walking around finding another place to go and found this bar. Definitely feels like you're a beachside bar on vacation and it took me a few seconds to realize there was actual sand lol. The place was pretty big would a lot of seating and the bartenders were really nice. The music playing was great and when the DJ started he kept the good vibes going. I would definitely go back. I don't believe they have food options.

    Jack R.

    Let me tell you about a Christmas place for adults. It's here. Like Ken said, "I just Beach." You can Beach here as you walk on real sand sipping the adult drink of your choice. They have separate rooms for you, your friends, etc and even a photo booth at $6.50 a sheet. Friendly bartender, fun decor. They have spiked hot cider and hot chocolate as well as your standard well drinks. Great place to celebrate you completing or not completing your Christmas shopping and talk about how fast this year has flow by.

    Menu
    Priscilla W.

    This was the best beach in Oakland! Anytime you need to get away, the Sand Bar is the destination. I came in and was greeted by the DJ playing reggae and instantly noticed the sand. Most of the floors are covered in sand like your on the beach. We were greeted by the bartenders who gave up great recommendations. They dont have a kitchen but you can order food to their location. Don't forget to take a picture at the photo booth. Great bar and will definitely go back soon

    Passion Agressive
    Mali B.

    This place is definitely a vibe all they're missing is food I definitely recommend coming here to catch a good vibe the music was great,the drinks were good super affordable,and the atmosphere is so cool it gives summer vibes during any season and I loved that ! Parking isn't to complicated on weekdays it's more so complicated on weekends where you may have to park a block or two away they are not kid friendly as far as I know! The drink prices range around $12-$16 super affordable

    Montage of images from Sand Bar
    Ed U.

    I don't think Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello drank alcohol in their beach movies probably because they would've been carded and turned away for pretending to be teenaged surfers. But if they tippled, this beach-style club would be where they'd come to meet Gidget and Moondoggie but only if Dick Dale and the Del Tones were playing watusi rock n' roll on the bandstand. But hey, this ain't Malibu. It's Oakland, Uptown on Broadway, probably the last place where you'd hear "Surf's Up!" But here it is replete with sand scattered on the floor and a casual decor along the lines of the "Gilligan's Isle" set. Jamie W. and I decided to drop by since we had been seeking out local tiki bars - and this was the closest we could get beyond Kona Club (review: https://bit.ly/3fkElTV). We did go tropical with our first round even though parasols weren't included. Jamie went for the $9 Mai Tai, while I ordered the $10 Passive Aggressive, an appropriately named combination of vodka, passionfruit, lemon, tangerine, strawberry, and guava (photo: https://bit.ly/3YFvXjB). Both were potent and got us in the mood for one of their house specialties. We decided to give the Gorilla Milk a try, $19 Doubles no less (photo: https://bit.ly/3WxTrW0). They bill it as a dairy-free slushie consisting of Captain Morgan white rum, Bailey's Almande, Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur, creme de banana, and crème de cacao. It definitely had a sneaky kick under its creamy milkshake facade, so much so we ended up in the phone booth. Don't ask. COCKTAILS - 4 stars...Frankie and Annette would've approved, especially that Gorilla Milk AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...maybe a little more sand...and a guest appearance from the Big Kahuna? SERVICE - 3 stars...bartender was busy TOTAL - 4 stars..."Surf's Up!" RELATED - Looking for a tiki or beach bar? Here's a collection of places I've tried and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3SpoS3c

    Jocelyn R.

    Great vibes and solid pricing! It's a very cute concept and they play good music. I've gone a few times and it's definitely a favorite spot when I'm in the area. Great service!!

    Gorilla milk (double)

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Love this place for the vibe, owner and staff. Amazing drinks and friendly local spot to chill.

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    The vibes are immaculate. 10/10 would go again. Love the photobooth in the back and games

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    3 years ago

    Great atmosphere and friendly staff. I had such a great time on Thursday. The DJ was outstanding.

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    3 years ago

    Good drinking. Good parking love the music. Good vibes. Service was a one. Must go back

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    4 years ago

    This is an absolutely cool new bar. The staff is friendly and the atmosphere is fun and inviting. This is a great new neighborhood bar.

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    5 years ago

    Stumbled across this bar on a bike ride. Definitely a gem in Oakland. Nate was attentive and served great drinks, highly recommended.

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    3 years ago

    I attended a private party and truly enjoyed the atmosphere. Sand on the floor is a nice touch. By the way, the drinks are powerful !!!

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    4 years ago

    The bouncer was so weird we left. He acting like he was joking but he wasn't?????????

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    Ask the Community - Sand Bar

    Do they have a happy hour?

    Yes! Wed - Fri (4pm - 7pm)… Read more

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    Tallboy - Cheese in the trap

    Tallboy

    4.4(173 reviews)
    1.2 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

    Viridian

    Viridian

    4.5(489 reviews)
    0.2 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.

    Photos
    Viridian
    Viridian
    Viridian

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    51 & Tel - Golden Girl: Vodka w/ lemongrass, hay liqueur, aloe, lemon, orange ($16) + Fuego: Tequila w/ mezcal, watermelon, italicus, habanero ($15)

    51 & Tel

    4.4(36 reviews)
    1.6 miTemescal, North Oakland, Rockridge

    This is a very cozy and intimate space. My friend and I ventured into 51 & Tel while waiting on our…read morereservation next door at Pizzaiolo. We only stayed for about 15 mins, but we had a wonderful time. The bartender Danny was very hospitable and made me a very yummy tasting mocktail called Like The Sun that had Aplos Arise, Lyre's Italian Orange, passionfruit, lime. He said that they had an event going on that night and suggested that we try to attend if we had time. We did not attend the event, however I can only imagine that the event was successful. They have a patio, great lighting, a dj booth, and great drinks. I also found out that the bar is in relation to Asmara which is the Ethiopian restaurant next door. Asmara has been there for 40 years. Please check this bar out if you're in the Temescal region. Update: I stopped in during Happy Hour and had a slushie cocktail called Kiwi To My Heart. It was delicious. I enjoyed the patio area this time around with the nice weather.

    Walking into 51 & Tel, the vibe was vibin'…read more It's hip and trendy with a cute dog-friendly patio. Chill, diverse crowd that Frisco has lost. Great 90s R&B and Hip Hop playlist. And, the intoxicating smell from Sonny's BBQ had me salivating. Opening in September 2024, 51 & Tel is a cocktail bar from the sons of Asmara (Ethiopian resto) next door. I found 51 & Tel on Yelp while looking for a pre-dinner drank place. I'm not familiar with the bar scene in The Town but I'm surprised they have so little reviews. M E N U Craft signature cocktails are $14-$17. Beer and shot for $10. Mocktails are $13. HH specials on Friday, 5 pm - 7 pm. Rotating food pop-ups from other local businesses (the plates from Sonny's BBQ looked bomb but were going to dinner afterwards). Ethiopian food from Asmara next door is also available. CC's only. No cash accepted. D R I N K S * Golden Girl: Vodka w/ lemongrass, hay liqueur, aloe, lemon, orange, oregano ($16) Refreshing and stiff with citrusy flavors, not too sweet. Fav of the two cocktails I tried. I think Blanche would approve. * Fuego: Tequila w/ mezcal, watermelon, italicus, habanero, citrus, mint ($15) Nice twist on a margarita, the sweetness of the watermelon balances the kick from habanero. * Fortaleza Blanco on the rock ($18) I was happy to see them carry my go-to tequila since there's a significant shortage. S E R V I C E Welcoming, friendly bartenders. A M B I A N C E Gorgeous murals inside and out in the patio with a mix of high tops and regular tables. There's TVs inside for watching the game. Clean restrooms. P A R K I N G Metered street parking. We took a risk and parked at the plaza across the street. Overall, we enjoyed our time at 51 & Tel and if I lived closer, this would be my weekly go-to!

    Photos
    51 & Tel - People love to come and have a great cocktail  after or  before dinner.

    People love to come and have a great cocktail after or before dinner.

    51 & Tel
    51 & Tel - Frozen Halloween cocktail!

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    Frozen Halloween cocktail!

    Sand Bar - cocktailbars - Updated May 2026

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