Awesome friendly place. Great place to watch a game and hang with some good people. Friendly staff, and good drinks at a reasonable price

Amazing drinks and amazing staff! Great setting inside with tons of fun bar games definitely a staple in alameda!

We bad a big group bday party at Swell. Neat local bar! Chris the owner was so accommodating & let us bring our own food. Staff were so friendly & chill. We had a great time & group enjoyed the draft options. Must try if you're looking for a lowkey, chill & friendly atmosphere bar in Alameda. read more

Wow wow wow! I came here to celebrate my friend's bday party with her friends. Everything was good until the bartender ruined it. She insulted my best friend and her FAMILY. She was insulting other people and going around yelling at people. And the worst part is, She even made our precious bday girl cry because of her disgusting attitude. She needs to be reprimanded and she needs to learn her lesson. I know this bartender and I've had issues with her in the past and I swallowed it with a grain of salt. But because of what happened today, I have 0 respect for this person. Ill never ever go to a bar where she is working, period. read more

I like the upgrade. It feels more open and there is more space to move around. There is One extra dart board and easier access to outside. They have darts to borrow at the bar. When we arrived a situation had gone down and everyone left in the place was tense. We left after one round since the recap of what happened earlier took a turn. Not sure I'm looking forward to going back. Service was good it was the folks in the bar that seemed like they should have been cut off. They do not serve food but there is a convenience store next Door if you need snacks. read more

Swell Bar - Darts on Tuesday - Bars Near Me - Alameda, California

An intimate bar with bar seating and a couple of table/booth seats. Super friendly bartender that even made a pretty good Margarita drink. There are a couple of side benches outside in the back in the patio area. Friendly patrons. read more

Swell Bar - Their ceiling! - Bars Near Me - Alameda, California

See all

Cool cozy bar!.. had a great time , specially when crystal , that gorgeous girl making drinks for me. I would definitely recommend this place... and hang with crystal again! read more

The Swell Bar is a dive bar. Its patrons are local regulars. Parking is horrible so that's the deal killer. There is nothing special going on in the Swell Bar worth the hunt for parking in this residential area where everyone parks on the street. You haven't miss anything if you never go in. read more

Great local bar in Alameda. Good soot for a small private event. Ownership is very nice.

Definitely a cute neighborhood divey bar and that's why we love it! I always bump into people I've seen before and everyone is super sweet. Drinks are good, not too expensive and strong and you can bring outside food if you'd like. They usually have some kind of celebration as well, someone's birthday, a little party. It's cute and I'm glad it's in my neighborhood! read more

Swell Bar - Bars Near Me - Alameda, California

I popped in somewhat recently and loved the vibe! Crystal, the bartender, was super welcoming and attentive even with how busy it was in there. Great drinks and a cute lil nautical theme. Karaoke was hella fun! Definitely will be back! read more

This was my first time going to this bar and I was really looking forward to it because I have heard really good things about the ambiance and the drinks but unfortunately it took a turn when I was serviced my a really rude white lady, she was really unprofessional seeming as if she did not want to be there... she made a few smart comments that were really unnecessary, I had to walk away because there's no way this is the kind of service you get in a place you're In to have fun. IF YOU HAVE A NEGATIVE SPIRIT PLEASE DONT WORK FOR PLACES LIKE THIS! read more

Gabe, the owner, has created much more than a bar. He includes art nights, karaoke, wellness nights and great DJ's. I love to dance and have found a wonderful safe bar to enjoy. Oh sports too!! read more

Swell Bar - Saturday night at Swell with fabulous DJ! - Bars Near Me - Alameda, California

pleasant place to hang out and welcoming. good service from the bartenders and drinks

I really like the Swell Bar. I went there a few weeks ago with my partner and his brother. We got a warm welcome and had a couple rounds of cocktails. I like that they have a darts section and an outdoor area. That's super nice. The space overall is nice, but the bar area was full so we sat at a high table in the middle of the bar. What's neat is this is really a neighborhood bar - one which I wish I had next to my house! It's not on Park Street - so you have to choose to go there or live nearby, which I like. I'd probably go 5 stars with a few more visits - want to try out the darts and come in the daytime to try the outdoor area. Overall though, worth a stop if you are in the neighborhood. read more

Swell Bar - The bar! - Bars Near Me - Alameda, California

Great neighborhood bar, friendly responsible bartender with the best conversation, and honestly for a little neighborhood dive bar they not only have your usual beer and a shot combo(happy hour is a plus) but the bartenders can also make bomb cocktails. if your on this side of the island stop by you won't be disappointed! read more

Had a chance to stop in- when you need to relax Swell is chill! Came in on a Thursday- Alicia and Gabe made us feel right at home! It's a local version of Cheers come on in and join the crew! read more

Small, cozy local pub with outdoor seating. Service is excellent and the drinks are good.

Nice Friendly Service, Chill, great service Good prices, Definitely coming back for a couple of drinks, Trevor has a good vibe!! read more

Swell Bar - Bars Near Me - Alameda, California

So for a place that gives off dive bar vibes it has the cleanest bathroom I have ever seen at a bar ever

Shiz. Wholesomeness. Good vibes. Good people. Don't mess with the...um....you'll see her. Most definitely a bar you want to go to after a long freaking day. Thank you for making my first night a special one. -r.eugene (gold heart, gold heart LOL) read more

Swell Bar - r.e.m. zZz - Bars Near Me - Alameda, California

Bartenders learned my name first night and continue to catch up with me. They have real dart board, good music, and good crowds throughout the week. I bring dates here a couple times a month and always have a good time. Do it. read more

Great vibe. Loved the employees and atmosphere. Has the COOLEST CLOUD CEILING. loved it

It is a cozy place with Friendly local crowd. Great bar tenders, nice dart board setup for practice.. cheers

Is there no feedback from the owners or bar staff to acknowledge the poor service and disregard for clientele or is this just an exclusive and segregated space now? read more

Love the bartender Crystal!!! Very fun chill ocean vibes! Great drinks and people too

Love this place. They make everyone feel welcome. Did I mention the blonde bartender is very hot? Well she is. read more

Swell Bar - Ready for some football. - Bars Near Me - Alameda, California

This is our little neighborhood dive and we've been coming for years for football, trivia or DJ night. You get to know the faces of locals and see them around town and you get to know the bartenders. I'd like to address the negative review about the bartender being rude.. 1) if you've been to Swell before, you know she isn't rude..she looks out for all the patrons, no matter who they are. 2) have you ever dealt with drunk people in a raucous setting? I'm thinking not. Bartenders are grown up baby sitters. It's their job to not only serve, but make sure people behave and make sure everyone is comfortable...they have thick skins and aren't easy to push around. 3) it's summer. And warm sometimes. If one person is cold put the damn jacket on so everyone can enjoy themselves-open the window! You shouldn't have to be asked several times.. Alameda is a small island and this woman is one of the best bartenders on it...she makes going to Swell fun, makes the best Bloody Marys in town and if you feel unwelcome, you're probably being a donkey. PS-smoking will kill you. read more

This little bar is awesome. It has a surfer theme and is tucked away from Alameda's main drag. The bartender is attentive and the drinks aren't too expensive. My friend was DJing here so I came out to support her. I was surprised at the chill vibe here. They have cider too so that makes me happy. It's one of the few drinks I actually enjoy. They also have different theme nights so depending on when you stop in, music can be hit or miss. I will definitely be back, especially if I'm in the area. read more

One of my favorite watering holes! Good music with themed DJ's on the weekend, trivia nights and sports in the tele when wanted or asked. The bartenders are fun, make good drinks with their own little twists and are always there to give you a laugh. Great beer selection on tap and it's always cold.. Guinness! Darts are there to have fun with if desired, don't be shy, make sure to ask for the darts or where to sign up in order to play if there is a line. Everyone is friendly and there is always conversation to be had. read more

Swell bar rocks!! I never knew how friendly my neighborhood bar was untill I actually took the time to stop in and have a drink, refreshingly different yet not too in the abyss on familiarity, perfect. Under some new management, Gabe is super laid back, knowledgeable on spirits and pairings, and is super cool for also adding all these cool extra curricular activities like dart night and little music get togethers, gives me a reason to get out of the house plus always a blast! Keep it up swell! read more

This place is a great neighborhood bar. everyone is friendly. Bartender knew some fun trivia, great conversation. Place has darts and a ring game. It also has an outside area. I saw many dogs visit on leash! ...amazing! read more

New to alameda finally found a bar to come and enjoy a beer, good environment to be around and it's has everything I need. Bartender is great and overall I will make this my go to bar. read more

I really do want to like this place, but my experiences there have been pretty sub-par. I've been there three times. The first two were unremarkable, and my most recent visit was pretty aggravating. I like the bar decor, and the BBQ guy, Greg is awesome. I wish he were the bartender. Unfortunately, we were served by a blonde woman that seemed either drunk, or just really, really bad at bar-tending. The bar has never been full of people, and my visit today was no different, but it took FOREVER to get a drink. The bartender seemed more interested in chatting with her friends than welcoming new patrons, as pretty much everything she did favored those she knew already. She served an entire group of people that walked in after I had been waiting for over 5 minutes while she chatted, before getting to me. On top of being last on her list of priorities, she was kind of rude. She told my friend that is 30 that he looked 17. If she meant it as a compliment, it failed, because she certainly didn't make him feel very good. I was willing to give it a shot (thus my three visits), but it is just like any other Alameda dive. As soon as the interior ages a bit, it will be indistinguishable from The Lemon Tree, John Patrick's, or the Shamrock -- a neighborhood watering hole full of aging alcoholics and completely repulsive bartenders. Service is something too many Alameda bars have no interest in; Welcome Swell to the club. I'll continue heading to Forbidden Island (across the street from Swell), and Lost Weekend to get my kicks. read more

swell is a Swell Bar. flatscreen: old movies & sports or ? venue: various themed nights....rock on weekends. on draught:: -literally sat next to a dog(yorkshire terrier) who gave me a smell test and went back to sleep(guess i passed). -happy hours are rare (11 a.m.-1 on what day?) -guinness (4), almost perfect, gin & tonic (3) in a sierra nevada glass. my guess normal pricing. -place revamped, doesn't look like a construction zone anymores -patio opened in back where smoking is ok. -attentive bartender (who likes tips) and friendly patrons. -parking not that difficult. -a few microbrews and very reasonable (cheap) pricing for alameda. read more

This is my type of chill place where I can drink and be a part of things if I choose. Nothing fancy but it's cool inside and out back. They got BBQ sometimes. I've had good interactions with the staff and with the other patrons here . . . very good(wink, wink, nudge nudge) I don't know if people should come from far and wide to check this bar out but if you're in the hood than this is the place read more

Cool place to chill. Not many women here my age (28) but that's okay. Roommate loves to come here to play darts and I enjoy coming here too! read more

Swell Bar - Darts!!! - Bars Near Me - Alameda, California

Rounding up from 3.5 stars. This is a pretty good place to watch football on sundays. All sorts of fans from different teams here, Donna the bartender is good fun, and they usually have some sort of free food and a build your own Bloody Mary station. Good times. At other times, other bartenders can be inexperienced, and the crowd can be a bit cliquish, like a lot of other places on the Island... The pours are pretty good, shots come in shot glasses, so nothing special. There is some street parking, but the bar is located right where Lincoln curves, so hard to see who's coming down the street - do yourself a favor and DON'T get in your car after leaving here late at night, walk home or get a cab.... read more

This is a great neighborhood bar, generally I'll pop in on nights when I've been at forbidden island and it's a little too rowdy for my tastes. Always have some good jams playing and the drinks are affordable and stiff. read more

A great little bar! A good place to go after work, early evening or late night. weekends can be fun with some old movies on TV or football on Sundays complete with a food spread of some kind usually cooked by one of the patrons who volunteer. The back patio is simply awesome, Period. Drinko Bingo on Monday nights is a lot of fun as are the Friday and Saturday night DJ's. The special events are way cool. Nice vibe from this place, the regulars are warm and welcoming. All the bars in Alameda should be this.... well... swell read more