My besties and I love this late night treat after dining n the area (a lot!). Cat House is a fun Oakland find. It is quirky, and unpretentious. The kind of bar where you walk in for one drink and somehow end up staying all night. Ugh read more

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Stopped in to try a drink because I'd read that this was one of the best bars in Oakland. I tried an old fashioned and it was pretty good. I enjoyed the open air seating area in the back and the overall vibe was good. I went solo, struck up conversation with strangers, and enjoyed my drink. read more

I popped in on a random weeknight. From the bouncer to the bartender, everyone had a warm, friendly vibe. I ordered a drink at the bar and admired all the cat decor lol. There's also a small/intimate back patio. This seems like a good spot to catch up with a small group of friends or go on a date! read more

The Cat House - Menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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Very catty in a good way. Totally fun vibes. Very clever theme. A neighborhood bar with very delicious drinks. Nice selection of books and chill bartenders with craft. Cozy but spacious inside with a long bar and a bunch of tables. Casual patio outside. Cat stuff on every wall at every level. Go. Drink. Enjoy the Cat House altar of booze and felines behind the bar. read more

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Very disappointed with the overall service. I'm still trying to process what happened to my friends and me during our visit. We arrived shortly before closing, and the person checking IDs told us we still had enough time to come in and order a drink. Our group, made up of people of color, walked in, and immediately behind us came a group of three white women. Two of my friends and I went straight to the bar to order drinks. The two bartenders, who were both white men, ignored us even though we had arrived at the bar first. Instead, they greeted the group of three white women who had come in after us, chatted with them, took their drink orders, and served them. As soon as the women received their drinks, we asked if we could place our order. We were then told the bar was closed and that we were too late to be served. Watching two white bartenders serve a group of three white women who arrived after us while refusing to serve our group of people of color was deeply upsetting. I can't say for certain what motivated the different treatment, but it left us questioning whether race played a role. Regardless of the reason, the inconsistent service was unacceptable and made us feel unwelcome. I hope management takes this experience seriously and ensures that all customers are treated fairly and respectfully. This is Oakland California, do better! read more

By far one of the coolest bars I've ever been to! You walk into this charming, gothic cat themed venue, with lots of seating. It's a great place to catch up with friends on one of the love seats or back tables lining the walls. And the drinks were great; I ordered the Let that Man Go (a mango, coconut milk, rum concoction) which honestly tastes like a piña colada but a little richer with the mango. The Dream Doll was very fruity and refreshing. I also ordered a house-made salted lavender vanilla soda which was one of the best lavender drinks I've ever had! The menu really is an added experience, but the car-themed medieval paintings and sculptures make it that more fun. read more

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Went here on a Monday evening! Had a great time. The bartender was wonderful. There were goofy board games like Operation and a fun photo booth too! Drinks were yummy. Really cool interior. Neat chandeliers, furniture and decor. read more

The Cat House - Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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Wow, this bar felt quite hidden away from the world behind gray doors despite being on a busy commercial stretch of Lakeshore. There was a cat sign, but Jamie W. and I kept missing it as we strolled back and forth just before it opened at 4PM. When we finally entered, it was a stylish space but overly so with vintage accents producing the requisite chill atmosphere. Let me be honest though. We came for the craft cocktails we saw on their website, and Keenan was the cool bartender who was there to make them for us. I tried the $14 Dear Irene, a blended Pina Colada riff with gin, coconut, ginger, mint, cane, and lime. A lovely libation. Jamie had the $14 Blue Meanie which had a more tantalizing tropical taste. It had a nice kick consisting of eight-year-old Haitian & Banana Rum, Giffard Coconut, lime, and blue curaçao (photo: https://yelp.to/1sYcUkcK94). So satisfying that we had another round. I went with the $14 E&E, a vibrant mix of tequila, mezcal, lime, cilantro, pineapple, and jalapeño over rocks. It was like a short margarita. Jamie tried the $14 Mata Hari, which sounds more mysterious than it was. It left out tequila and mixed mezcal, amaro nardini, lime, and tamarind syrup into a saucy, south-of-the-border libation (photo: https://yelp.to/0thoXAbwXW). While Dear Irene was the definitive standout, all the cocktails provided a nice symphony of compatible flavors. Otherwise I was just drunk. Either way, it made for a satisfying visit at this hidden hideaway close to Lake Merritt. COCKTAILS - 4 stars..,well tested libations with the Dear Irene a standout AMBIANCE - 4 stars...stylish, vintage space with a large enough bar at an inconspicuous address SERVICE - 4 stars...Keenan is a very helpful bartender TOTAL - 4 stars...a chill hangout on Lakeshore RELATED - Exploring Oakland? Here's a collection of places I've patronized and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2ObVcpQ read more

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My favourite hangout in Oakland by far. Fun ambience and friendly service and you can enjoy catching up with friends without being pressured to leave, as long as you like. No food but you can bring in whatever you want, like my favourite rico Rico taco from next door. Great cocktails and good bartender. Highly recommended for a good time. read more

Great drinks! Hot prowl - very well balanced and smooth mix of Manhattan and old fashioned E&E - hits the spot with mezcal, tequila, pineapple, lime and cilantro. Savory refreshing feeling Pop up gumbo - pretty good! $20 per cup of interested , has shrimp and crab and sausage Bartender and pop up Chef were very nice Antique vibes from the venue, music was old school and good! Overall would recommend to come here to start your night! read more

The Cat House - Hot Prowl ( bourbon) and E&E (tequila mezcal) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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Very eclectic spot to get drinks in Oakland. Their cocktail list is very creative and we we very pleased with our selections! They're are very serious about their drinks and clearly take pride in their craft. They also have a good list of local beers on tap. We focused on trying their cocktails though. They don't provide food, but allow you to bring outside food in. They have a few different seating options, from spots at the bar, to old school wood tables and chairs, to antique couches. Very cool, dark atmosphere! The cat art was a nice touch! FYI, there is a bouncer outside checking IDs and letting people in, so no one under 21 is allowed in. read more

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Avoid if you're a Black woman. I went on my birthday and had some old lady with her own free will and unprovoked say "we use to owe you" we were shocked that she said it and told the bartender because the lady kept saying that was her daughter (it wasn't her daughter BTW) and when we told her she just shrugged and had the facial expression of "well it's true". We got the hell out of there and went somewhere else. This happened months ago and I kept debating on whether or not I was going to submit this. Wouldn't go again and would not recommend if you're apart of the 92%. read more

Little hole in the wall bar in a cool area. There are plenty of places to eat around here, including Dumpling Hours (which is amazing)! Great service too! read more

Very cool and cozy bar. The bartenders are friendly and make the best tasting drinks. Lots of fun cocktail options on their menu! Lots of seating and not too crowded. The decorations include lots of cats and other little details to look at. Great place to spend time with friends. read more

Super cute bay kinda hidden away. I'd walked past it a million times and just happened to notice it the other night. Had a delicious hot toddie and my friend had a beer called death and taxes. Really enjoyed the drinks and overall ambience of the space read more

The Cat House - Hot toddie - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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Love this place soooo much, love the decor , the music the play , the people who hang around here and live the drinks mixed just right. The cocktails are spot on , the beers are perfect. Love this place. read more

The Cat House - The bar - live the decor - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

The bartenders were very cool cats. They answered questions and, despite the waves of customers, were able to keep up with the swirling tides. They had jokes, too. Shots were cheap -- $8/fernet. Tried one of the specialty cocktails. Cannot recall the name (yeah, it was a good night). Final call? Last call? Final hour? Time to stop drinking, old man? Whatever called, the drink was not cloyingly sweet. Made with Chartreuse, among other components, it also had a dried cherry and was served in a martini glass. Foggy recesses of my mind be damned. Cool place. The bar itself had a great vibe. There were tables to my left, and "Hunnies on my right." Will return. Check it out. -- workingman's gourmand read more

After a delicious dinner at Farmhouse Kitchen, my friend took me to Cat House. Street parking around here seems like a challenge no matter what time of day, but we managed to find a metered spot on the same block. We claimed two barstools on the side of the bar, though I love all of the comfy seating options available. The cocktails were really good! They rotate often, and you can see the current featured menu on their website. They're as picturesque as all the bar décor... By the way it's pretty obvious why their name is Cat House. I don't recall exactly what cocktails I got, but I remember having a great, 5-star type of time. Not exactly the easiest to get to via public transportation (requires a LONG 30+ minute walk) but totally worth the car ride if you can get over here! read more

The Cat House - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

What a great neighborhood gem! I've lived two minutes from this spot for 6 years and somehow haven't really seen it until now (#kids). The beautiful signage out front helped lure us in for take-home drink orders. We ordered: Mata Hari: Mezcal, tamarind, lime, and other magic. Nice and smoky! Dear Irene: Gin, ginger, coconut, lime, and mint: strong, delicious, and sweet but not cloyingly so! We will be back! Makes for a super fun night at home and the drinks were ordered and ready in just a couple of minutes. read more

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I wish my house looked like the inside of this bar. The atmosphere is amazing. It feels like you're transported back in time. Calming colors & beautiful, vintage decor greets you as soon as walk through the door. The bartenders were attentive and polite & the drinks were so very creative and quite tasty. This is the perfect place for a romantic night with a partner or just catching up with an old friend. Great location, parking is a breeze. read more

The Cat House is a cute bar with funky decor (haaay, old piano), kind staff, and solid drinks (shoutout to the E&E). They're dog-friendly and allow you to bring in food if you want to as well. I rate them four stars because, while I appreciate their outdoor patio, it is a smoker's haven. The many times I've tried to sit out there, it transforms into a cigarette smoke cloud and I'm not feeling that. read more

This place is pretty cool. I had never been here before but had seen it and finally got the chance to go. The vibe is cool, low key, not too loud so you can hold a conversation, food music and the crowd is chill. The cocktails are good and they had a special Halloween cocktail menu. We sat at the bar and the bartender was appropriately engaging, not so much that we couldn't have our own convo, but also asked at the right time if we were ready for another round I'll definitely come back. read more

Wow every cocktail we tried here is amazing. We had 4 of their drinks and would recommend them all. Wish I stumbled upon this place sooner. The vibe is very chill and I love all the cat stuff around. Bartender was nice and service was good. All the cocktails were very well balanced and well worth their price of $13 each. Went on a Sunday night and there were quite a lot of people inside. I can imagine how busy it must get on a Friday or Saturday night. Will be back again soon! read more

The Cat House - High Tide Mai Tai (love the flavors especially the cardamom) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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My friend is a born and raised Oakland native. I have recently moved to the area and walk by this bar often. I was super excited to try it! Super cute inside. We wandered in on a random Tuesday. We were met with disdain at the door by security and by the bartender. Perhaps because it was "Tuesgay"? I understand holding spaces sacred for others. However, again this was a random walk in on our part. Unsure of why we were dealt with as if we shouldn't have been there or were being a bother otherwise. Even so, I have never experienced such treatment while entering other establishments known for being a queer space. Was this the issue? Or was it that the staff was Caucasian and we were not? There were other patrons of color. All in all, we're very unsure of why we received such service. We didn't enter the establishment drunk or obnoxious. I had really high hopes and I'm sad because I spoke with others who have been here on other nights and had a good experience. That being said, be wary if you're a person of color or going on a Tuesday night?? Perhaps this space is not a welcoming space for folks of color as patrons were predominantly not. Lastly, we arrived during a quiet time so this was not an issue of the bar being busy and employees being overwhelmed. read more

This spot is awesome! Came here on a Thursday night for drinks. The staff is very friendly. Cocktails were fantastic. Will be coming back!! read more

The Cat House - a cat sitting on a couch - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

The waitress was super sweet and very good at her craft of making delicious alcoholic beverages. Old school cocktails are what's in order at this hipster and cool spot in Oakland. Security at the door and low key style of bar. No food service. I will definitely go back to sample the other concoctions I did not try last time. read more

Love this place! Cool atmosphere, and great cocktail and mocktail options. This is a place I recommend to friends when they need a new place to go. read more

Was staying in the area and needed to kill some time by myself, so I was walking around the neighborhood and popped my head into this spot--was enamored with the space, enjoyed great service from bartender as well as excellent, well priced cocktails, and really just enjoyed the vibe. read more

I'd been meaning to check this place out for a while but the signboard that listed only $13 cocktails made me think that everything at this bar costs about that much. Luckily, this was not true and there was a range of more reasonably priced beers and the like, in addition to the fancy cocktails. That being said, I ordered this bourbon drink called the Coal Miner's Daughter and thought it was a bit too sweet. The space itself is also pretty neat and has a surprisingly cute back patio area. read more

Love how a 100+ year old building is transformed into this super chic vintage kinda bar!! Highly recommend the Coal Miners Daughter with the Cardamom dashes (the cardamom dashes is my edition and it really takes this drink to a whole new level as their cardamom bitters are just brilliant since it's made in house..so even a drop goes a long way!) read more

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Love the back patio. Wish it was bigger. Lots of great employees who go above and beyond. read more

The Cat House - Dear Irene is freakin delicious - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

This place is great! I love the old Victorian atmosphere. The plush couch seats, antique decor, the classic piano, back patio, and awesome drinks! I really enjoyed their cocktail menu. It mainly consists of good Smokey Mezcal with her blends and juice syrups. They're delicious! I loved the Mata Hari which has a nice citrus bite to it. They're cocktails range from $13-$16 which is decent. Their bartenders work quick and super friendly no matter how hectic things can be. I was able to order drinks without complications. This is an excellent bar for after hours. I'm definitely come back! read more

This is such a beautiful bar with a great menu. This was the last stop for a buddy's "bachelor party" pub crawl and it did not disappoint. The staff was great and generous about remaking cocktails, and I appreciate it was the first place I'd visited that checked for vaccination status (when the mandate was just implemented). I'd be happy to make this a regular haunt if I were closer. read more

My favorite bar in Oakland. The ambiance I call country goth, it's black on the interior with faded painted gold embellishments and mounted animal heads on the wall. The bar counter itself is copper and looks gorgeous in the low light. Ceramic cats and skeletons adorn the top shelf behind the bar. Out the back door is an intimate smoking patio that also has outdoor heaters. It's a neighborhood bar where the clientele don't necessarily match the aesthetic, but don't let that turn you off, the company is fantastic. I have had many interesting conversations and made friends here easily. This bar is especially friendly towards LGBTQ people, Tuesgays happens here informally every Tuesday night. The crowd here is pretty mixed but usually queer and trans heavy. Every bartender here is lovely and hospitable. Because the cocktail menu is involved it sometimes can take a moment to get a drink, but that is just life at a busy bar. Happy hour here is nice and usually on the quieter side. They don't serve food but options abound outside. read more

Cons: no cats. Only pictures and light up toy cats. Very sad Pro: great flavorful drinks (may take awhile to get them though) read more

Wandered in for a drink tonight to get out of the rain. We ordered 2 specials, $10 each - a grapefruit gimlet & a Corpse Reviver (gin, orange, some kind of aperitif). Both were served very similarly in style & garnish, both were fairly sweet but well mixed. Nice vibe, friendly service, and an impressive collection of obscure bottles on the shelf to gaze at. read more

It was a cool and chill vibe. The prices were reasonable on the drinks and service was quick. read more

The Cat House - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Fun and charming little bar in Oakland. It's kind of loud, dark and mysterious. It does have a very cool ambiance and the guys know how to make a drink. The prices for beer are a little high, and some of the drinks are over priced in my opinion. Overall it's a great spot that I enjoy but you have to be ready for a $100 tab on 5-6 drinks. read more

Nice neighborhood spot. Drinks are great, but get the E+E (I think that's how you spell it)....I typically end up getting this drink 2-3 times each visit. read more

Cat house is a great neighborhood bar that's definitely worth a visit. Reasonably priced drinks and friendly staff.