I think under different circumstances (such as: a sunny, warm afternoon w/ a group of friends, sitting at one of the outdoor tables), I'd give this place 5 stars. But... -it's cash-only -the chair I sat in was smelly. Can't give 5 stars for a smelly chair. Otherwise, very cool little joint. Lots of tabacco paraphenalia to look at. Nice people. Cozy places to sit. Good selection of beers. Why oh why was my chair smelly? Me don't want to know. read more

Pub feels like a more eclectic version of my grandmother's old cottage but with a little more tobacco and booze. If you don't mind some background chatter (alternatively, if you welcome it, this is a great place for eavesdropping) then Pub is a wonderful place to read or write or perform other offline tasks. If you want to impress your friends with this unusual setting for a pint, or bond with an old local man over how to roll a cigar, this is the place to go. Note: I haven't done the latter but I intend to. I think that if I started going here regularly, I might find reasons to get irritated with this place as it appears some yelpers have; but even the best of friends can become aggravating if you hang out with them for too long. Don't forget to bring cash and snacks. read more

Ahhh, the pub. Schmidt's Pub. The ONLY place I have come across which feels like a real PUB.... No I'm not talking about the stereotypical 'Union Jacks on the wall, world cup on the TV' type of place. The Pub does not try to emulate it's British counterparts. Nor is it a 'bar' type place where people go get loaded. (Although that can occur). As someone described earlier, it's more akin to a cafe. It is a social place. Strangers and friends meet. Good conversation. Barkeeps with personality. Good drinks (no hard alcohol). Old comfy chairs. Fireplace. Board games. Patios. Fine tobaccos. And a great back room. That's what a pub should be...the 'other place' where you interact with people outside of work and home. Schmidt's Pub is that place. read more

The best place to hang out, drink and smoke, period. Comfortable, non-snobby, and real. If I was still drinkin' like I used to, I'd be here every night. Nowadays, I go poke my nose in once a week or so -- just to say hi to some friends. It's also a great place to chill out, meet new people, and 'get local'. Esp when my housemates have gone to sleep and I'm trying to be quiet around the house -- I live on the same block. DOH! I'm very happy to be near this wonderful place -- and I love the staff. :) read more

The Pub is a great spot to hang out, talk, drink wine, beer, sherry & port, coffee, tea or soda and smoke. I mean outdoors, outdoors... Hmmm... Great folks to chat with & discover the meaning of life or perhaps the meaning of wife? Well, some meaning... I met some interesting people, both young (well, 18 plus) & old. Pleasant argument (discussion!) along with the ability for me to smoke a cigar or two. Ya' gotta' check it out... read more

I went to Berkeley to visit someone and she brought me here with her roommate. She described the building as being sort of like a subdued, airy bungalow, and I think this description is apt: creaky wooden floor, worn upholstery on the couches, a fireplace, antique bric-a-brac on the walls and coffee tables, and unadorned windows which admit ample natural light. We played Scrabble while thumbing through an issue of Playboy magazine from the 1980s and drinking coffee. My friend got free soup. The barista was a cute hippie type. This seems like the perfect place to spend a lazy afternoon with friends. Be warned that it smells like pipe smoke. read more

Hands down, the single best spot in the San Francisco Bay Area. It even edges out Port Costa. Beer, cigarettes, close to Gordo's, outdoor, indoor, chill, conversationally stimulating this place is the bee's knees. That said, my fiancee recently confided in me that she hates it. F'ing shocker. Which only means it doesn't cater to those who need to be entertained, you sort of have to bring your own. I think conversation works the best, though we have had an hours long something of Trivial Pursuit. But, if you like a quite beer, the gentle musk of dusty books and enjoy being reminded of worn leather...hey, forget about it. Excellent, excellent, excellent! read more

My local, having been born and lived in the UK as an adult I can say this place exceeds most London pubs which have now for the most part sold out to big conglomerates. The Pub on Solano is a one if a kind place not to be missed. read more

Super cute pub in a house setting. Nice place to relax after work alone or with a group. Nice "beertender". Drinks: cold bottled beer or on tap. No hard liquor. Coffee. Tobacky stuff: make/fill your own cigarettes and cigars. Wide choice of loose tobacco Snackage: cookies, chips, biscotti for your coffee sruff and other goodies. Scenery: it's literally a house so there are a couple rooms to sit in. "Living room" with big soft chairs and fire place (probably one of the more popular seating areas, gets taken very fast). There are also other tables and chairs in the living room. Front and back patio seating. There's a separate small room for seating which is attached to the back of house patio seating. Lots of friendly locals & laid back. read more

So this is my kind of place...feels like home,but better! Cash only, just so you know ahead of time. I am actually sitting here at this very moment and yeah its pretty cool. Wifi, beer, wine and tobacco what else do you read more

This place is a cross between a living room and a bar; a much cleaner version of my old fraternity. Very comfortable place where the locals hang out. read more

The Rainteee tobacco and the Sticky Beak Syrah wine are so choice read more

Schmidt's Pub - Tobacco Shops Near Me - Albany, California

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When someone told me this used to be an antique store, it all made sense. The decor is trashy and kitch. In the front room there are colored christmas tree lights haphazardly strung along the walls, plates above the windows, and this weird sculpture that my friends thought was a real stuffed dog. It seemed like there was older well dressed men in the front and a more colorful crowd in the back. The first person I met had an dyed-black emo haircut and his roots were growing out, he seemed to be very informed about the pub, and went on to tell me that he worked for some online survey scam that charged people's credit cards every month for an IQ test the took once. WTF? He also said, "This place isn't exactly legit", I asked if he meant they didn't have a business license or license to sell tobacco, and what not, and he said something like I dunno, they haven't been around for very long... This place doesn't offer anything you couldn't buy for less and do at your own house, whats the point? read more

I love this place. Its like I'm hanging out at someones house, except they have no bloody wifi. Still it gets 4 stars because it is great in that place. Counters full of pipes, tobacco (not that I smoke, its just fun to look at), good drinks, a fireplace, outdoor seating, and its just overall cozy. They have a wall full of games you can play, but only one deck of cards. So if you wanted to play Egyptian Rat Screw, or Canasta (which I was super in the mood to play) bring your own decks. Maybe even donate a deck or two so that poor saps like me can play a game of pickup War while I'm there. If you see me there, COME AT ME BRO I WILL THROW DOWN ACE AFTER ACE! read more

I love the Pub! It really is a little bit of Cheers, and they are pretty accepting for the not-quite-regulars. If you're looking to chat someone up, you can always find some conversation, from the bartender/barista/tobacco pusher if nobody else! Anyways, apparently the pub had a close call, but according to the news article: http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_9042459 Albany wrote in an exception to the smoking ban for patios of drinking establishments that serve food. Good thing they sell cookies there! read more

Like a 3 star review, balance is required: Good Bad Nice tobacco selection I don't smoke Great clientele They could bathe more Good beer selection Limited taps Outdoor seating Surrounded in Plywood Its just so Berkeley Its just so Berkeley That's the way it goes. I go here and will keep on going. I just know what I want out a pub, and this is easily 80% of it. read more

They have Taboo AND apples to apples?! I almost want to give the Pub one star so that fewer people will go and I'll be guaranteed to get one of the easy chairs by the fireplace. read more

Remember when restaurants and shops were named simply according to their services, when random and stylishly obscure adjectives didn't confuse you about was offered there? Neither could I--until I found Pub. It's so good it's almost laughable: just how successfully Pub is--well, a pub. To harken the ancients, there's a kind of knowledge that looks at pubs insofar as they are pubs, and thus what belongs to pubness and what constitutes pubness. Pub has such knowledge. A great selection of drinks. A single bartender who assumes a friendly, calmly state and neglects all portentousness when informing you about drinks or tobaccos. Time and space for relaxation--friends, a quiet date with people or books. Board games, chess, a fireplace. Come to talk about everything or nothing at all. The only tasteful music echoed through the house is conversation. It's a rare find, these places that are simple, clear, honest, and loyal to their name. This place ain't like a pub, it is truly a pub. Welcome to the pubness of pubs. read more

This place is great! I don't smoke, but I don't mind the smell of good tobacco. The vibe here is super chill - it really is like being in someone's living room. I found everyone - both staff and customers - to be very friendly, and I greatly enjoyed the belgian white ale from the tap (the name of which escapes me at the moment). This is an excellent alternative to a "regular" bar, and a great place if you're looking for a low key kind of night. note: cash only, 21+ only. read more

The Pub Great place to relax For Coffee and Beer Good Guniess Pour Reminds me of college days great place to converse with friends or coffe beer or smoke very comfortable read more

This pub is a gem in a charming neighborhood. It has a delightful community of regulars. It has been family-owned since its inception in 1979. It has a fireplace, books, board games, and great patios both in front and back. You can bring food in, which is awesome because it's near a lot of cool restaurants. It's a great place to come for a date, or even by yourself if you bring a book. I came this afternoon and had a glass of the Huge Bear chardonnay. And my, was it refreshing! Will definitely order again. They have a great selection of beer and tobacco as well. read more

Schmidt's Pub - Huge Bear chardonnay! - Tobacco Shops Near Me - Albany, California

I can't believe it took me so long to find this place. It's a cozy house turned pub/tobacconist shop. Lots of vintage bric-a-brac, including a neat collection of old pipes. Old, mismatched furniture. Good music. A small book collection. Some good beer on tap. Smoking porch. read more

If you feel like going out, but really just want to be cozy at home, The Pub is your perfect solution. It is a house-turned-bar with a functional fireplace and plenty of well lit tables (each with their own lamp). The bartender went the extra mile to make me feel welcome and chances are, he will do the same for you when you stop by. read more

JChan, my friend, you really do know what I enjoy! Fresh from my road trip AND a great meal across the way, JC brings me over here. An old home converted into a friendly neighborhood establishment. Smoking, pets, drinks, all allowed on the pretty outside patio tables. I love it already! The other groups kicking it on the patio sounded really fun, and I'm sure had JC and I not been catching up on a million things we would have enjoyed joining in the convos. But the beer was flowing (thanks again JC!), and we happily drank and smoked and reveled all the way til closing time :) CASH ONLY. Pretty server :) Gorgeous little bathrooms! Ugh, I love it here so much :) read more

The reviewers were right about how light and airy the inside seating area is. I can see myself studying here, if I were still a student. I didn't go to the back room, since I am not a smoky-area type of person. However, the smell of unsmoked tobacco in the light and airy inside seating area was just overpowering. I'm just too sensitive for this place. I like that they let us bring in our own food. I don't like that they are cash only. Bartender seemed to be a very quintessentially "lifer" for that place. read more

I went here last Friday and thought it was a very nice and comfortable place. They have a great beer selection and I have to admit I bought a pack of cigs while I was there, too. The front porch was very cozy and smelled of jasmine. I can just imagine sitting there on a warm summer night with my beer, watching people walking by. I'm definitely going to go back again soon. read more

After biking all over Berkeley for a full day while stopping here and there at favorite pizza joints, bars and cafes, a group of 8 or so of us had our second to last stop at The Pub on Solano. It had also started raining mid-afternoon and we were just about soaking. Taking up the comfy chairs by the fireplace, we broke out the games (The Pub has an extensive collection for customers' amusement), drank beer, honey mead, and wine, and also rolled our own cigarettes for a quarter each with a selection of shag from Belgium, Netherlands, England, etc. Even members of our little group who were not usual smokers put up the quarters and joined us outside on the drippy patio. It really is like someone's cozy little living room, rather coffee shop like more than bar, just perfect for bedraggled beer-drinking bicyclists ready for an extended break in an all-day pub excursion. Next part added 4/2008: Not that this bar really needs all the laud, but once again, the bike brigade found itself at the pub this year, and I must say, even crowded to the brim, this place still stood through as a relaxing spot at the end of a day's biking, beer and bar excursion. The tawny port is especially nice with a pure and smooth self-rolled cigarette (the nice men behind the counter won't even show you how to use a roller), just make sure you don't roll your cig with pipe tobacco... although, the cherry cavendish had a delightfully mellow sweetness when I got past the fact that i had to inhale like the big bad wolf just to keep it burning. read more

One of my back-up conversational drinking points of interest, however it is only a back-up because of its proximity to my home (not walkable unless it's warm and I am feeling fit), and because they tend to close on the earlier side. Great beer selection and the staff is really kind and interesting. I think it's cute that they hand wash all the glasses. read more

What a great stop. Visiting my brother on a "bro's weekend", we tried to bro it up and find a good place to chill after dinner. This place came into view on our walk from dinner and was an instant "yes" to swing in for a good set of pre-game smokes and jokes. Walking up the patio ramp to the front door, Pub looks like a house converted into a bar (which in fact it is). There are picnic benches out front with the umbrellas, etc. and as you go through the front door, you can immediately picture a past sofa, tv, piano, and potential house cat which may have been here only a few years prior. Regardless, there are tables strewn about with people playing monopoly, yahtzee, and the occasional arm wrestling for who will buy the next pint (No Sly Stalone por desgracia). Heading back into a parlor room is a friendly 'tender with a list of drinks scratched on the chalkboard behind her. Though were a few good beers on tap with the selection being pretty deece but you can't expect the world in terms of beer kegery in a proclaimed 'tobacco shop'. Nonetheless, we picked up a few beers, and actually got cloves which I missed terribly since the U.S. boycott (beginning roughly Nov 2009). After a few hours, we tore through a handful of beers a piece and prolly split a pack of cloves after all was said and done (in retrospect, we should of bargained for a deal on an entire pack rather than purchasing singles). Very chill crowd, very cozy place, and honestly we could've prolly hung out here all night...if it weren't for our ravenous craving for karaoke (check out my Mel-o-Dee lounge review, outstanding!) Thanks all. Goofs and spoofs..zut pub! read more

Perfect little haven. Whether you want to read, get some work done or hang out with a friend or two, this is a great spot. Anytime I can get a couple of glasses of Prosecco and kick back, without any hassles, I'm a happy woman. They only accept cash. So, take a trip to the ATM before you head to the Pub. read more

Pros Solid Pub joint serving a variety of drafts at a reasonable price Board games Comfy homey vibe Cigars/roll your own cigarettes Right across the street from Bowl'd! Great outdoor patio area as well as in the back and a few tables inside as well Cons Cash Only Overall Thoughts Definitely a place worth visiting if you just need a place to lounge out and have a nice draft with your friends read more

A third place. Golden. Pub is. Wine. Chess. Beer on tap. Wood floors. Tobacco, if you smoke. Old West feeling, very out of place for Solano Avenue. I love Pub. You're lucky if you know about this place. You're even luckier if you take your significant other here for an intimate chat over wine, after a film. read more

What an interesting place! Came here last week with two of my friends for the first time. We all have never been there before, but we've grown up in Albany and have seen it since forever. We had just come from Mallard, which is loud, crowded, but fun. Going to the pub was quite the change in environment. It was quiet, warm, well lit, and had nice people serving us some awesome beer on tap. I'm not a fan of smoking or cigars, but the interior is very comfortable. Great place to chat if you really want to talk to someone over drinks. If they had WiFi I'd just work here instead of at cafes or at home. Great place. read more

Comfortable. I'm from out of town, but in the Berkeley area frequently. I can drop by at the end of the day and enjoy a nice bowl or two in the pipe, or a nice cigar. Conversations all around, and I can join in, or sit and listen. There's always the one or two "Berkeley-types" who think they know more than anybody else, and it's quite entertaining. But in the end, the mix of all types and all backgrounds is what makes the world go around, yes? Staff is always friendly, and the prices for a pint or a glass of wine are just fine. Wonderful place. read more

Are you looking for a place where you can drink/smoke while studying, reading, or just chatting it up with some friends? Welcome to the Pub. Although their food items are limited (cookies and snacks), the Pub has a good selection of beer and espresso drinks. You can sit by the fireplace and cuddle up with your favorite book, or you can hang out with your buddies on the patio with your favorite beer. They have about 7 different kinds of rolling tobacco (you can roll your own for 50 cents), and about the same number of pipe tobacco selection, not to mention a good selection of cigs. What makes this place special also is the clintele. It tends to attract literary and intellectual types, as well as locals who've been going there for awhile now. There's always an opportunity to spark up an interesting conversation. read more

Bitch get out of here. It's fucking horrible. I tried to order Amazon fresh here and they denied me!! Stay away. Weird people. Weird vibes. Who smokes now a days anyway? Save the trees. The techno music way way too loud. Also two dogs and a person dressed as a cat smelled my ass! The regulars just ruin this place. Also one cigarette is $12!! Wtf. I'm just a regular person. Not getting paid $$$!! Beer is $15 for a 6 oz. ridiculous! read more

Love this place! Converted house makes for a great atmosphere and there are always friendly folks around.

What a unique place! You can drink and smoke at the same time! It looks like someones home-- that relaxed. Why bother to go on... nicotine and alcohol are welcome... now just add pot and you will really have a unique experience... what... what's that... oh really... how cool is that! read more

Want to escape the sometimes overbearing PC ness of the world? Want to sit and read the paper with the faint smell of roasted tobacco and a fresh pulled pint in your hands? Well here you go! Good ol' fashioned smoking lounge...circa 2014! read more

This place is just too awesome! You can go in there with your laptop and do some work, or go with a friend or two and spend some quality time together. Walk in, stand in line, order yourself some delicious beer, and put a couple dollars in the roll your own cigarette box. Take a couple ziz-zags, and get going... It's just a great place... loved it! Even the people that work there are as awesome as the establishment. And the people that frequent there; well, you have to be pretty cool to be into a place like this! read more