Tap Haus is one of my favorite bars Southside. A bright light on the bleakness that is the Southside bar scene. Kip's? No thanks, don't want to lose my shoes to their sticky dance floor and terrible service. Pappy's? It's a sports bar, it's perfectly acceptable. You go here for food/drink specials and to yell at the Warriors/Giants. Free House? Do I look like a grad student? Henry's? Do I look 50? (Raleigh's gets a pass. Raleigh's is cool.) Tap Haus is youthful and fun, but sliiiiiiightly grown up without being stodgy. Super spacious, with lots of seating and big bathrooms. Huge menu of beers on tap, and some fun soju cocktails too. (No liquor or liquor mixed drinks though.) Perfect for an upperclassman who's looking to chill and "grab a beer" on a weeknight. This is not the place to throw back 4 tequila shots and stumble onto the dancefloor before crying in the bathroom and puking outside on the sidewalk. This is where you drink a boot full of beer and then play giant checkers or Jenga. Tap Haus turns into a bit of a Greek life zoo on Friday and Saturday. So uh, if the sight of a Patagonia fleece appalls or enthralls you, either way now you know. On quieter nights the super friendly and knowledgeable bartenders will spend time helping you sample their beers and wines (did you know they have wine on tap?). All of the bartenders I've talked to over the years are really chill and helpful. None of the "wave cash in their face or they only serve cute girls first" BS some other bars do. Long story short: Come here, it's chill brah. read more

This is always my go to spot before watching a football game at the stadium. It's got a great atmosphere and tons of room for groups of people to grab a couple drinks. They have a ton of pool tables and some games to play while you drink which is great. This place definitely picks up later at night so if you want to play pool get here earlier if you can. My only knock on this place is the German beer selection used to be a lot better than it is now. The used to have a better assortment of authentic German beers than they do now. read more

Tap Haus - 1L beer - Pool Halls Near Me - Berkeley, California

Came here and had a great experience with Ronan! That man is the shit! Also had great beer recommendations!

Been here 2 times.... It's usually pretty packed by the time we go. Me and my friend came to the conclusion that this is the kinda bar you go to when you come with a big group of friends. They have jenga, connect four, and pool tables but it's kinda hard to start playing since there's always a ton of people I feel like you have to get here early. As for the crowd I feel like it's pretty low key, I've never really talked to anyone that didn't come in my group. If your looking to meet friends and new people this probably isn't the place, but if you go with a group I think it is fun. Plus the boot of beer they have is only $15 and it's pretty big!!! Beers are good, that's all I really drink so it's perfect for me. I'd probably be back, but it wouldn't be my go to spot read more

Tap Haus - Pool Halls Near Me - Berkeley, California

This is an outstanding bar. The staff are very friendly, and very attentive. Even on busy nights I can tell they try their best to give people a good experience. They have a great selection of beers (their imports list took a hit due to Covid but hopefully they can get their German imports back more consistently) and the bartenders really seem to know their stuff! I also loved the decor; lots of underwater themed vibes on the top floor, and a German beer tavern on the bottom floor. It's like two completely different bars, each with a unique vibe. They also have no shortage of pool tables that are in GREAT condition, which is a fun time even for a casual player such as myself. Great service, and a must-visit when in Berkeley! read more

Elizabeth is SO SWEET AND SO NICE, she also makes the best drinks (aka the Moscow mules, it made the Berkeley reunion the best of the best!! read more

Ever think of what a soju mule might taste like, or a soju mojito, what a bout if a kombucha was super alcoholic, you can here. This bar was in an interesting spot in Berkeley that made me think of a basement with all the steps you go down to enter. Once inside the place is cute with many pool tables and a giant Jenga game. There's a lot of seating and the bartenders although very busy are also very friendly. About the soju mule, it was incredibly smooth. I liked it so much I got another. The kombucha beer/concoction was incredible and I highly recommend it. Overall I think it's a great bar, I only wish they had more everybody friendly music playing (at the time they had rap music blaring) and had a full bar (which when my husband asked they said is still in process) read more

Tap Haus - Soju mule - Pool Halls Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

Always a fun time here, friends and I come by to play pool and drinks! Bartenders are friendly & atmosphere is usually really fun! Also, if you love bad bunny, ask for my boy Dre! Dre always takes care of our songs request and has always been very attentive to us, even on busy nights. Need more folks like him! read more

Love it! Pool tables on both floors, relaxing atmosphere. German Tap house vibe downstairs, aquatic themed upstairs. Full bar on both. Amazing staff!! read more

WOW! The new upstairs is nice! After finally getting a chance to go explore the newly renovated upstairs of Tap Haus, I'm quite impressed. We went on the thursday of dead week at Cal, though, so I'm not surprised that we didn't encounter many people, ha! Nonetheless, it was a fun little dinner and drink get together. I didn't know that they had sangria on the menu here, but we ordered it and it was very good! Not too sweet, which is a sangria pet peeve of mine! They make it with soju, which I guess is permissible since I'm pretty sure they don't have a full liquor license. Also, the snacks were great! We ordered the fries, which were scrumptious! They were made with garlic, truffle oil and parmesan and served with a great little dipping sauce. I'm not sure what was in it, but it was DELICIOUS! We also ordered the nachos, which, I'm sad to say, weren't amazing. The only reason is because they didn't have guacamole or meat. The chips, however, were great! Nice and thick and quite salty, which I LOVE in a tortilla chip. I'm not sure if they're made in-house or not, but I wouldn't be surprised if they were. The ambiance is great in the new section, as with the downstairs level, which used to be Laval's pizza back in the day. Pool tables, giant Jenga and conect four all over, which make it a great time if you're looking for a chill night with friends as opposed to a Kip's-y dancing night! I had a great time and I'll definitely be back to check out the place again one a more hoppin' night! read more

See all

friendly bartenders, reasonably priced drinks and lots of fun. Elizabeth is the best bartender i've ever met! love love love. live laugh blackout read more

This place has beers, pool tables, pinball machines, TVs, and Jumbo Connect Four!! I love how they have plenty of other activities to do while you're drinking and catching up with friends. On top of that, they serve a pitcher of beer in a german beer boot! They have a great selection of beer and cider, and their bartenders are helpful and nice. The place can get crowded on the weekends, so come early if you want a chance to play on the pool tables. The only issues I have with this place is that they play their music loudly, and the street parking is a pain. Besides that, I would consider coming here again. read more

See all

I just popped into Tap Haus because I remembered they used to have some food options (I've been out of the area for awhile) and my wife's in-laws were visiting. Thought it might be a good options for some food and beer. When I walked in the lady behind the bar, in her twenties with brown hair past her shoulders comes up to me immediately and starts with one of the most unwelcoming attitudes I've had in awhile with, "I don't even know if we can have you in here", " I don't even know what the law is" she was referring to my 3 year old daughter. They didn't serve food so it didn't even matter, but the fact that she didn't even attempt to see if she could accommodate us (place was dead by the way) and couldn't even be nice about it, and apparently either didn't go the the required ABC course to serve alcohol or couldn't even remember that if the person in the bar is obviously under 21 there is no problem for them to be there. ( I ran a bar for 10 years) I thought was pretty atrocious. She's horrible, tap haus is usually pretty cool. Whoever was working around 3 on Thursday may 26th, needs training on how to talk to customers, what the laws are in California, and her establishments rules on underage persons. read more

This place is the worst bar I've ever been to! The staff is so rude. I was denied access for no reason and when I asked why all I got was "you know what you did." I was so confused and wondering if he had the wrong person. Then when I asked to speak to a manager he said that anyone who knew me would not be let in for no reason. Still confused I asked for a manager and the bouncer said he was which he was probably lying about. I was so overcome with emotion and could only think they were discriminatory towards women. It was so sad and rude I will never go back! Anyone out of state should also not go because they think real ids are fake and broke my friends in half. She could no longer fly back to see her family when her grandma was extremely sick and in hospice. They ruined her time with her grandmother. The cops were called and the identified the ids as real and when telling the bouncer they still replied you cannot come in. Why are the employees of tap haus so evil. When you're running a business you shouldn't treat your customers like this. I feel so disrespected and sad for my friend. read more

The best bar in Berkeley. My go-to every time. I went yesterday and the bar tenders couldn't be nicer. It was super packed and I got served reasonably quickly and they made my Manhattan perfectly. I love this place read more

Took a decent amount of time for drinks/ pool to be ready. The pizza is great though.

The best bar in the Bay Area!!! I've been coming here for like at 3 months ago and I love how Kaylah atended us every time we came!!! she's amazingggg!! love her! read more

cool place for young whippersnappers. drinks kinda ass lowkey. also they kicked us out lol

My friends and I came from out from Reno for a business trip. We spent 10 days in Berkeley and had to stop the search for the best bar on day 6 when we found the Taphouse! Issac might be the best bartender I've ever met (no disrespect to Reno) IN MY LIFE! Andre and Kaylah did nothing but set the rest of our 4 days in Berkeley up by giving the best placed to do, but really nothing they recommend compared to the Taphouse. BEST BAR IN BERKLEY! read more

I went to this bar just to grab a beer before a dinner reservation and we ended up staying there the whole night. What a fun place! We ended up getting delicious drinks and playing pool all night! The bar tenders were friendly and fast. The environment is lovely - Hawaiian vibes for some reason considering the German name. 10/10 would recommend to anyone looking to have a good time! read more

The best bar fri'm the Bay Area! I loved Kaylah's attention!

Came here on a Saturday night with a group of about 8 people. Pretty low crowd for a Saturday night, but no worries meant we got fast drinks and got a lot of space to hang out, listen to music and even talk among ourselves. Overall like the vibe, beer was cold and had fun. read more

Even if you've been to the Tap Haus before, you need to come back. First of all, it's grown way past the Rathskellar-style German Bier Haus. Now they have a full bar. Craft cocktails! Its evolving quickly. But the menu is amazing. Nick is transforming the menu. My husband and I tried the vegi pickle plate (yes, simple, but an amazing tasting plate with house-made pickles) and a 1/2 pound burger that blew our mind. Yes, it's big. But the char on the thing gives off a scent that hits you before you even take a bite. Yum!!!! And then the bite itself. Wow! This is the best burger we've had in 10 years. Can't wait to come back and try the tri-tip. And for vegans there's a portabella mushroom burger. And a grilled vegi plate. Another thing on my list. And more is coming on board. The idea is fresh and seasonal. Hubby and I had such a special time tonight for not much money. Thank you Nick, Haley, Doug (owner) and so many other wonderful staff for such a special neighborhood treat. Really nice atmosphere too.... read more

This was the honey's choice in a bar space to hang out and meet up with Bill B. on our Berkeley visit. It's a bit hard to find if you've never been here before, seeing as there was a ton of construction going on next door and it's underground so you have to walk down a flight of steps to find Tap Haus. The largest drawback for me was the chill, the second being their kitchen didn't open until 5pm - which wasn't really listed anywhere. But we had a great time and a great amount of space to sit down and play board games until about 5:30, when the bar started really filling up. I wish the space has been a bit more clean (read oil spill of some kind near the bar) but all in all I'd come back - and next time hopefully try their food! read more

Had a great time when I visited and grabbed drinks with a couple of friends. Bartenders were cool and genuinely cared about what they were serving. A lot of the problematic staff from the other reviews are now gone. Every interaction I had with the staff was positive Would recommend grabbing some drinks here! read more

There is a $10 minimum on drink orders if you're paying with debit or credit. The bartender failed to mention that there was a minimum. There should be more signs posted about the minimum on top of the counters and walls. The bartender would automatically close out my tab without asking me. I'd asked for a beer, and he'll come back with a beer and a receipt. 3 beers ended up costing $30 instead of $21. The friends I went with had it happen to them too that night. The multiple pool tables and the crowd are okay. The bar workers need to provide better customer service. When I called the establishment, tap haus said there is a sign by the cash register. The sign was half the size of a regular 8' x 11' paper. My group wasn't close to the register when we ordered. The lack of visible large signs of the card minimum is a deceptive tactic. read more

I had a great time with friends but it's very crowded! It's nice that they have pool tables for rent too!

Great spot - great beer and they have a great pretzel... Just a fun spot to meet friends and really, solid beer list! Good for large groups too. read more

This is a nice place to hang out, kill a few beers, and have a bite to eat. You can watch movies at the bar or play fun games like giant connect four and jenga. Lucky for Cal students, Tap Haus is sandwiched between campus and a lot of student housing so the Golden Bears can grab a cold one on the way to and from classes. read more

Tap Haus - Pool Halls Near Me - Berkeley, California

Every since Thalassa closed down i've been looking for the next go to bar! Below Seniores and right next to Jaguar Karaoke this place is my new fave bar near campus. It's a huge space with huge connect 4, jenga, shuffleboard, and pool. They have boots here so you can get DAS BOOT. They have a decent selection on tap and the bartenders are friendly and attentive. It's not too busy but on a weekend you should get there early if you want to get a table or play pool. If you're not one of the first lucky ones you leave your ID at the bar and then get a sensor to let you know when a table's available. I really enjoyed the ambiance here since they have a ton of tea lights and it's not too dim. It's definitely cleaner than other bars in the area too which is a plus. read more

It's got games, it's good beer, and it's got plenty of space! My friend had a birthday get-together here several weeks ago and it was the perfect location--lots of little activities to keep everyone entertained and giant boots of beer to keep everyone pleasantly buzzed as well. I didn't stay very long so I can't give it my 100% 5-star endorsement, but if another person has a get-together here I'll definitely be back! read more

Awesome location with a huge dining hall that serves a bunch of different German and domestic beers. They have a gigantic connect four, shuffleboard, over-sized Jenga and four pool tables for you social drinkers who enjoy playing games. I really enjoyed the décor and atmosphere, but the food menu was hidden in the corner on a wall and I didn't see any actual copies of it anywhere. The one worker who was there seemed absolutely miserable! He was in such a bad mood and brought the whole place down. I didn't even feel comfortable asking for beer suggestions, as his first response to my questions were sarcastic as heck. Cool place, but needs some work on operations. read more

Tap Haus - Pool Halls Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

I played pool and when I tried to return the balls no one would help me so I stood at the bar for 10 mins waiting. I eventually gave up and set the balls down on the counter, they ended up charging me for the entire night and added 20% gratuity. Staff was rude. Do not recommend this place! read more

It's enjoyably relatively empty here so you can play silly drinking games and the staff is really chill about it. Before they had their pool tables available, you could play beer pong there which was a great time. I hope they figure out how to have some beer pong tables in addition to the pool. The fries are quite good too. read more

The bar itself is fine. It's got a fun atmosphere and a cool lodge feel to it. But the staff are so unfriendly. I have been to this bar 3 times and not once left without feeling upset about the way one of the staff members talked to me. Very surprising because I've had nothing but good experiences at the sister bar, Club Mallard. read more

I love getting drinks here! Tap Haus has an upstairs and downstairs bar and TONS of games to play - giant connect 4, giant jenga, pool, and more! The craft beer menu is large and varied (I ordered a sour beer and mango ale last time I came) and the prices are pretty standard. The menu looks tasty as well (lots of bar food) so I'm hoping to ordered some fries or nachos next time I come. Great location to meet with friends in Berkeley! read more

Great people, great place, great beer to top it off. They are beer-istas. The food is good for a German craving, too. Happy St. Patrick's day! read more

See all

The games, setting, beer selection and service make this one of my favorite bars in Berkeley Games: the entire downstairs floor is filled with bar games- a half dozen pool tables, shuffleboard, giant Jenga, giant connect four, and I've seen groups play beer pong on the handful of bar-height tables Setting: There's always good music playing, the space is defined by warm light and dark, varnished wood. Recently they expanded from one to two floors, with another bar and a dozen round tables for sitting upstairs. Beer selection: the have a rotating tap of ~15 beers, lots of classics but also lots of local microbreweries Service: Last time I went in, I wanted to try something new and the bartender, Joe, asked me my preferences in a beer, and paired me with my new favorite, the AC Transit Line 51. I'm very appreciative of his knowledge and willingness to help read more

Came here to play pool on a Tuesday. Enjoyed some really tasty German beers, $12 p/hour pool tables and crispy hot truffle fries. Music could have been better but the bartender did offer to let me choose a new Spotify playlist (she had never heard of Rage Against the Machine) I goofed and forgot my ID (and my pool tab) when I returned the pool balls since my date paid for our beers and I was a little tipsy. I came back on Friday at peak hour to retrieve my ID and they had it in a little file box with my tab in an envelope. Lucky for me the nice bartender who looks like Joseph Gordon-Levitt charged me for the four hours I actually played and not 6 hours which would have been $70+. He's awesome, and I appreciate that none of the barely legal kiddos working bar didn't steal it for a fake ID for their friends. (Cuz that's what I did back in the day!) Only thing, nobody answers the phones, I wanted to ask if my ID was there before I trekked back up Friday night but it ended up being a good excuse to buy a round and watch the A's play. Will return for the pool and beers read more

Tap Haus - Six tables - Pool Halls Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

I haven't really been around campus since I graduated several years ago, so pardon the ignorance.. But I'm pleasantly surprised that this location, which formerly housed a number of failed business including the 2-star-rated (by me) Pepe's pizza, is now occupied by this cool bar/hangout spot. I wish this was here when I was in undergrad! I have to caveat this by saying I came during Christmastime, so campus and South Side were really quiet. So I'm not sure if my experience is the standard one, but in my solitary experience here, the bar was pretty empty, a few groups of people were hanging around some of the games, and a few tables were occupied by groups of young people. From what I recall, there are a number of pool tables (maybe 6?), two giant Connect4 games, an oversized shuffleboard table, and two (or more?) TVs. There were also a number of long wooden bar tables and plenty of barstools to use. Seems like a fun place to come hang out for some drinks and some bar games! They also had some food on the menu but we didn't get anything, so no comment on that. read more

Tap Haus - Christmas decorations (Dec 2015) - Pool Halls Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all