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.

Forbidden Island is a usual pitstop for us after the Antique Fair in Alameda. The drinks are solid…read moreand the interior decor is fun, but fall short of its neighbors in the surrounding area. It's got a hybrid dive bar with dollar bills on the ceiling, mixed with Tiki. I have tried the Grog, Rum Barrel, and Sunday Special, all of which were solid, but not out of this world.

Service - 5 Ambiance - 5…read moreFood - I did not try. A great place to visit and hang out. Excellent beers on tap with plenty of space to relax and enjoy. The staff was friendly, fun, and very attentive. Fantastic job transforming the space into something vibrant and flourishing. Cheers!

Great brewery! Live,…read moreso if you don't like people, don't go when it's busy. Otherwise a great spot for a meet up. Good for pets. Kids are welcomed but it's not a spot for kids. Chill vibes! The food looked good. The adult beverages were on point. Service was good. Not a GREAT place to watch a game, but a good option.

Went here for a post girls soccer game at Alameda Point Soccer Field. Love the outdoor biergarten,…read moreperfect for the team and parents to bond. The tables were covered with shade sails which was perfect considering it was a warm and sunny day. Pleanty of choices of beer on tap and the food selection wasn't that bad either. A little on the pricey side, but that the Bay Area for ya. Will come back if we're in the area again.

Tried the beer flight here and really enjoyed it--especially the sours, which were all super tasty…read more That said, the experience was a bit mixed. When we asked if we could taste a beer before ordering, the barista responded with "that's the point of a beer flight," which came off a bit harsh and left a slightly bitter taste in my mouth. On the positive side, the ambiance is great. There's plenty of space to sit and hang out, and it's both kid- and dog-friendly, which is a big plus. There are also lots of clean restrooms and plenty of parking, making it an easy and comfortable spot to spend time. Overall, good drinks and a nice space--just wish the service felt a bit more welcoming.

Having had Faction beers for many years, we've always wanted to get over to the brewery and check…read moreit out - and finally we had the chance. Wonderful place. Amazing view outside. We had the dogs so we had to sit outside (dogs are not allowed inside the venue) and it was packed but we managed to share a table with a single person. Dogs loved it. We had some great beers. Area is also great because of the distance of the three breweries right there. I put Bay Area or even Northern California breweries up against any region in the US. I firmly believe we have the best breweries quality-wise of anywhere. They had the flea market going while we were here which was kind of funny to me because most of the sellers had the same thing but it's nice to have and this is a perfect place for it. Parking was kind of crowded but that's to be expected with a popular place like this. Definitely one of the best physical breweries to go to in the Bay Area and great beer here.

Honestly didn't know what to expect from this brewery but was excited for the view of the city…read more The location honestly is perfect with it being a little hidden so it wasn't overly busy. They have some great beer options as well as have (had) an area with some food that smelled great (just came from breakfast so didn't eat). Definitely would go back to try the food.

Came here for a Prince party a few months ago and had a great time. It's small, but has great art…read moreand a fun vibe. They were packed, and even though they were swamped, the bartenders still offered great service, very friendly. The drinks were good too, unfortunately I waited too long to write the review and don't remember their names, but both were flavorful. I enjoyed myself and would come again.

Alameda is safe, quiet, yuppy, tech bro loaded, and PG 13 community...it's great that there is a…read moreplace like Fireside Lounge to exist here to add little nightlife to an otherwise dull city. Bartenders are all nice and hard working. I did not try any food, but the alcohol is shockingly cheap for San Francisco Bay Area prices!!! Thank Gawd! I got an $8 expresso martini made with Absolut, two cans of PBR, and a can of Guinness...,my entire bar tab ended up being only $19.50! It was Punk Rock night this recent Friday. $10 Cover Charge got you a Punk Rock show featuring 4 different bands of different talent levels. Good times!

Good spot to hangout before dinner service at Saltbreaker. We got the smash burger and the chopped…read morecheese. The smash burger was a good burger but the patties weren't what I would call "smashed" style. Still tasted great and loved the bun. The chopped cheese was also good but I wish there were more peppers and onions. Overall it was a good spot to eat and hang out, if not a tad pricey.

I was so excited to try this place after hearing so many good reviews, but unfortunately had an…read moreextremely disappointing experience. I admittedly arrived around 5:15pm on a Saturday and they close at 6pm, so it was the last hour of service. Nonetheless, the arrival started off good with a server greeting me and my partner before we sat down. We used the QR code to place our order which conveniently had a lot of check box options to customize our orders. I got a smash burger and substituted a vegan beyond patty. According to their menu, the smash burger comes with special sauce, cheese, red onions, bacon, lettuce, mustard, and pickles. I customized mine to have no bacon, no cheese, and no mustard, and for the pickle to be on the side. The smash burger I got was not what I ordered. It was a sad, small burger, with very little sauce and by that I mean practically none, barely any lettuce, and they did not give me red onions or a pickle. I was immediately disappointed when it arrived at my table and my partner insisted we say something because the order was incorrect and it was $28 for the burger and side of fries. We had also ordered drinks which were good but expensive. After my partner talked to a server and cashier, they just said "we will check to see what your order was." The server came back to our table, did not apologize or anything and just said "yeah we looked at your order and this is exactly it." I couldn't believe what they said and took a minute to process before I responded with no it's not, that's the whole point why I said something. I told them there is very little sauce and no onions. I forgot to mention that there was no pickle either, but that was another thing wrong. The server offered to remake it or just bring me out the missing sides. I was annoyed, they were about to close, and at this point I knew I would not be coming back and I was hungry so I accepted them just bringing out sides. They brought out white onions, not red onions, and a side of sauce. Thinking about this whole experience from the service, lack of apology and accountability, mid food, small portions, and overpriced menu, I would not recommend this place to anyone.

This is such a cute little brewery located in Alameda. Great selections of beer, plenty of space to…read moresit. I definitely will be coming here again. We came here early, basically one of the first people there and the bartender was extremely cool. They have a fridge section filled with cans as well that you can buy and they also sell merch! If you are ever in Alameda come check this place out!

I was excited to visit this location having been to their more touristy Pier 39 version…read more This location is tucked away in an area that was a former military base that is being repurposed with breweries, restaurants and lofts - it's weird but fun! They have a large indoor space and a great outdoor patio which is where we enjoyed our IPAs! It was laid back, very chill and great beers and service! Really enjoyed it !!

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

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

I always enjoy this spot every time i visit! i'm so glad this place is in alameda…read more The happy hour menu is great, from drinks to food. I like the crispiness of the wings with the sauces as well. They actually gave us the wrong order, but we were already eating so they ended up giving us our right order still. The flat bread could be a bit more crispier with the crust. but the flavor was there! Now to the drinks, i very much appreciate their seasonal drinks. I love when a place offers this because it gives the customers something else to look forward going back to. So i can't wait what they have during the holiday season. The ghost rider was such a special drink, i was in flavor heaven. it had matcha, coconut and lychee i think and it was just wow! If you're looking for a place for happy hour, this is it. If you're looking for a late night lounge with music to hang with friends, you've found the spot!

Went to Lemon Drop on a Saturday night for a girls' night out. The decor is really cute and I loved…read morethe ambiance--it has a fun, inviting vibe. We sat outside by the fire pit, which made it even better. The bartender had great energy and was definitely a highlight of the night. There were a few birthday celebrations going on, and he kept the energy up and made it feel lively. We ordered two rounds of the "Man at the Garden." The drink is aesthetically pleasing, but the taste was just okay--nothing special. The servers were nice, but service was a bit slow. We were left unattended long enough for the ice in our second round to melt, which was a little disappointing. We wanted to try another drink, but after waiting so long, we ended up just being ready to leave. Overall, I'd still give Lemon Drop another chance because the vibe and atmosphere were really nice.

Friendly staff. Convenient location. Nice outdoor patio in back. Awesome bartenders!…read moreGreat place to hang out or just watch a game.

After a holiday lunch, we stopped here for a drink. It has been a long time since I stopped at a…read moredive bar. I really enjoyed myself. There seemed to be few changes in this type of bar, but many things are just how I remember them The most significant change to me was the jukebox that connects to the internet so you can play any music you want. You can put extra money in and your selection will move to the top of the playlist. What hasn't changed are friendly people. The evening we were there some guy brought his new puppy. The bartender danced, to a song I had selected, with the woman sitting next to me. In the backroom, he put out pies he had bought for the holiday. People were friendly and talked to me. It was a nice way to end the day.