Saturday I went out to have a drink with my man and my total was $26. I did NOT leave a tip on the…read morereceipt because I gave a cash tip instead. The next day I get a notification that my transaction was UPDATED and $4 more was added. I called and asked to speak to a manager, of course one wasn't available. The bartender said he was the one working that night, but suddenly he "doesn't handle transactions". He said a manager would call me back and nobody ever did. So now I'm returning in person because that charge was NOT authorized. I don't care how little the amount is. You do NOT add money to someone's card without their permission. That is wrong and shady. If you come here, WATCH YOUR BANK STATEMENTS and KEEP YOUR RECEIPTS because clearly they feel comfortable adding extra charges after you leave.

Tap Haus is a solid spot if you're looking for a beer in downtown Berkeley. They've got a good…read moreselection of beers that are fairly priced, and the bartenders are always friendly and easy to talk to. They've also got billiards. Nothing too fancy, but that's kind of the charm. I've been here multiple times and I'll be back I'm sure!

You are driving down San Pablo Avenue in Albany, not going anywhere in particular -- San Pablo is…read morethe kind of road you take when the freeway feels like too much commitment, four lanes of auto body shops and taquerias and nail salons stretching from Richmond to Oakland, the East Bay's long commercial backbone -- and somewhere around Solano Avenue you see a sign that says Club Mallard. You take your foot off the gas. Club Mallard. You need to know. The interior is dark and warm and full of dead birds. Mounted, taxidermied, presiding over the room with the glassy authority of creatures who didn't expect to end up in a bar in Albany but have made their peace with it. The effect is somewhere between hunting lodge and natural history museum after hours, and it shouldn't work on San Pablo Avenue but it does, completely, the way any sufficiently committed aesthetic decision will eventually override its context. I've been once. Midweek happy hour. This is the most honest way to evaluate a bar -- no weekend crowd to inflate the energy, no event to justify the turnout, just the place and whoever shows up on a Tuesday because they want to be there. The happy hour is good. The bartender was gregarious and present and seemed to actually like the job, which sounds like a low bar until you've spent enough time on the other side of it. The regulars were friendly in the East Bay way, which is to say they talked to us without needing anything from us, offered opinions on what to drink, and went back to their conversations. There's an outdoor space for when you want sky. I've driven past since and seen it packed. I was glad. You root for a place like Club Mallard the way you root for any small enterprise that decided to be something specific in a landscape of sameness, and then just held the line.

I've been coming here since about 2019. Not sure how I stumbled upon it, but it was with friends…read moreand it's been our go to bar ever since. It also happens to be somewhat of a meeting point when I'm in Oakland and another friend is in Berkeley. When I was in downtown Oakland it was only 14 minutes away. What a time. I like this bar because the drinks are good, it's affordable, all ages come here and the vibe is nice. There is a pool table downstairs and about two or three upstairs along with a mini bar. The fire place is currently keeping the bar cozy downstairs. So, I've liked Cosmopolitans for some time now and Mallard's has a Mandarin Cosmo. It is so good - it reminds me of an Orange Hi-C.

Local iconic cocktail bar with a standout whiskey and mezcal collection. Always enjoy the warm…read moreambience and impeccable service available here. We hosted my wife's 40th Birthday party at Acme for 40+ guests and worked directly with Jennifer (owner) to plan the whole thing. Jennifer did an absolutely knockout job ensuring the party had the best variety of tasty finger foods (including platters of fresh oysters from Monterey Fish Market with champagne to start), a hosted bar with specialty cocktails (Terence's drinks are always ), and incredible staff to keep my wife - and all our guests - incredibly happy. We were able to reserve a cute patio area with private bar and a private large room for our guests. I cannot wait for the next opportunity to host an event here again!

I'm not sure whether it was the bartender who assisted me that evening, but unfortunately the…read morecustomer service I experienced was very disappointing. I tried to start a friendly conversation and ask a few questions about the drinks, however the responses I received were very brief and limited to only the drink names, which made the interaction feel unwelcoming. I also noticed that we were the only Latino guests there at the time, and throughout our visit we felt largely ignored. As a result, the overall atmosphere did not feel comfortable or inclusive to us. Based on this experience, I did not feel welcomed at this bar in Berkeley and would not recommend it. Even though we live only a few minutes away, it didn't feel like a place worth returning to or spending our time and money at.

Ivy Room is happening Planet Booty is having Booty Camp for…read more4 nights Lani owner, is very wise

I continue to love the Ivy room. Bartenders make the best drinks and they aren't overpriced…read more Doorman is always really accommodating and friendly, and the bands are fantastic.

Great place to come eat a bite, drink a bear, and sing a karaoke song!…read more I came here with some friends on a week night. It was pretty empty and had two nice pool tables. There's a food guy in the back that serves Japanese food (pretty good!). The karaoke sound system is pretty janky but functional and the DJ is very nice.

Boy, this place takes me back. Way back. Way, way, way back. When I was a puppyish sophomore still…read moretrying to figure out my major, I remember coming here with my similarly awkward dorm mates for what would be the beginning of a lifetime of cocktail debauchery. I remember when it had a tiki vibe, and we shared a ridiculously potent concoction called the Borneo Fogcutter. I don't remember much after I passed out. Good times. Now it's a hundred years later, and it was my first time back. Seriously. I probably thought how could they could top the Borneo Fogcutter? They don't try. The tiki decor has clearly been long gone, and it's just a standard brick-laden bar with a more East Coast vibe and extra space for tables, banquettes, and a pool table. None of the extra space was being used when Jamie W and I paid a visit, though the bar itself was fairly packed. The bartender was friendly and made a solid $11 Rum Punch since we were in the mood for something tropical given my checkered past here (Photo 5). On a subsequent visit, we took advantage of Happy Hour and went with the $6 Tequila Sunrises which had a surprising kick (Photo 8). DRINKS - 4 stars...no Borneo Fogcutters but their drinks have punch AMBIANCE - 3 stars...showing its age SERVICE - 3.5 stars...bartenders are different each visit TOTAL - 4 stars...Spats has matured and so have I (hypothetically) RELATED - Exploring Berkeley? Here's my collection of places I've tried and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2CbVh8u

I had no idea Beta Lounge existed off of Durant Ave. and what a cool space and place off-the-beaten…read morepath! We heard this building has been many different iterations over the years, but happy to have found this spot in Berkeley for a fun happy hour with friends. We enjoyed the wine flight (choice of 4 wines), each with a nice pour, and shared the spinach dip with chips. We also enjoyed an espresso martini to cap off the evening. The staff were super friendly, and the lounge was filled with what seemed like regulars. The lounge couches were super comfy and it was an overall very relaxing yet intimate experience. I would definitely come back again with a group, or even stop by for a date night. Parking is a bit tough in this area, but there is street parking (if lucky enough to find it) and garages nearby.

Yelp lead me here as I was looking for a happy hour spot to go to…read more This is a nice bar/lounge area that has a good happy hour menu . Most items on the happy hour menu are $9 each Inside is nicely decorated with indoor/outdoor seating available and pet friendly Bartender and server were friendly, atmosphere is chill, zero drama Parking is street parking only

Love Missouri Lounge! It's got that divey feel - great outdoor space with a guy on the grill…read more Bartenders are nice and the crowd is chill -

The "gimme chopped cheese sandwich was absolutely delicious!! And the Bloody Mary washed it all…read moredown fabulously. The hospitality was awesome! A DJ!!!! And doggy friendly!! I'll be back

This place was such a great find! From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere felt clean, cozy,…read moreand welcoming. The booths with soft pillows made it extra comfortable, and multiple staff members greeted us right away and made sure we felt taken care of throughout our visit. We decided to try the bottomless mimosas, and even though we're from out of state where they're usually cheaper, we normally don't get them but it was 100% worth it. We were a little hesitant at first, but we're so glad we went for it--the flavors were amazing and kept coming at a great pace. The food really impressed us too. Everything came out hot, fresh, and full of flavor. The Korean spicy syrup was a standout--so unique and absolutely delicious. (Spicy pork bowl & waffle and Korean kfc was amazing!!! Portions were generous for the price, which made the whole experience feel like a great value. Overall, we were really impressed. Great service from all employees!! great food, and a super comfortable vibe. This is definitely going to be our go-to breakfast spot from now on!

Parking is a little tricky but we were able to find a spot right away! We went on a Sunday so it…read morewas really busy around 12-1pm. We put ourselves on the waitlist and the wait was about 30-40mins. I've gotten the Ube latte, and it was pretty yummy but I could barely taste the ube. We waited about 25mins for our food to come out but it was fresh and hot when we've gotten it. It was super yummy! I liked my scrambled bulgogi. It came with potatoes and a slice of toast. Overall I finished my plate! We ordered: Side of Mixed fruits Bulgogi scrambled Tornado Bulgogi Omurice Dirty Ube Latte Hot chocolate (not pictured) The place was really pretty but by the host stand it was very tight. Better to wait outside for your table!

DON'T LET OTHERS SWAY YOU THIS IS DEFINITLY A STRIP CLUB!…read more These other reviews are gaslighting me! I came in and bought some women several drinks and got NOTHING for it, JUST LIKE A REAL STRIP CLUB! Some even offered to take me to VIP and said I'd only be able to look but no touching! The nice thing about this STRIP CLUB is that the rules are so lax you can EAT THE TACO! Name another STRIP CLUB in America that allows that??? Drink prices are reasonable though.

The Hotsy Totsy club was recently featured on Fox News as a strip club - not true. This is…read morehilarious because it is nothing of the sort. It is a nearly 100-year-old dive bar. The drinks here are poured relatively strong. They have an amazing selection of vodkas and whiskeys. But you'll have no problem finding the tequila that you like as well. For those that don't drink, they have several different juices that you can mix in a variety of ways to make your own mocktail. Parking here is ridiculously easy. The parking is relatively safe. If you park more than a block away, you're good walking to your car late at night. The service here is excellent. The bartenders are quirky and have great sense of humor.

Pizzeria da Laura in Berkeley is a fantastic spot for Italian food right in the heart of downtown,…read morejust steps from the university. The location gives it a lively downtown vibe with lots of energy from the surrounding area and nearby students. The reservation and check-in process was very smooth. The staff were incredibly courteous, welcoming, and helpful throughout the visit. I actually arrived about 30 minutes earlier than my reservation time, and they were kind enough to seat us early, which was a really nice touch. One thing I really like about this place is that they update their dishes a few times a year, so every visit can feel a little different and exciting. The menu has great variety, especially when it comes to pizza styles as you can choose from New York, Sicilian, Detroit, and Grandma-style pizzas, and the pricing is very straightforward for all the sizes they serve. The pizza was perfectly cooked and tasted great. They also allow you to customize your pizza by adding or removing ingredients, which makes it very convenient for everyone to choose based on their liking. And they add toppings with open-heart. The pasta was also excellent. We ordered the Peperoncino pasta, and it tasted amazing. The garlic flavor and breadcrumbs were really the highlight and brought out the authentic character of the spaghetti. Another big plus is that they have plenty of vegetarian options, making it easy for different dietary preferences. The portions are generous and the prices are very reasonable for what they serve. Food arrived quickly, and the service from the servers and staff was great throughout the visit. The restaurant also has plenty of space and handles reservations well. The atmosphere is lively with lots of people around and students from the nearby university, which adds to the downtown Berkeley energy. A little more upbeat music could add even more charm to the place. Overall, this is a place I would definitely recommend to anyone visiting Berkeley. It's the kind of restaurant I'd happily come back to again and again.

disappointing…read more ordered a "Sicilian Style" expecting the pastry-thin style of, uh, y'know, Sicily, and got something almost 2" thick; apparently their idea of "Sicilian Style" is more like Cheese Bread. (it's hard to tell from the cartoon depiction on their website, so be forewarned,) furthermore, was told it would be ready in 30 minutes and timed our arrival to be there just before that, only to get a text message 12 minutes after ordering that it was already ready. makes it really hard to plan to pick up your pizza fresh when the staff can't even tell you when it's really going to be ready..