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The Cat House

4.4 (144 reviews)
ModerateCocktail Bars
Open 5:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

The Cat House Photos

THE CAT HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Very loud
Hipster
Casual
Trendy

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Recommended Reviews - The Cat House

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Bar
Lizzie D.

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.

Montage of images from The Cat House
Ed U.

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

Mike M.

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.

Hot Prowl ( bourbon) and E&E (tequila mezcal)
Tina A.

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!

Hot toddie
Jude D.

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

The bar - live the decor
Pat C.

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.

Stefanie C.

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!

Cheers! Loved our take-home drinks
Danielle K.

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.

High Tide Mai Tai (love the flavors especially the cardamom)

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2 years ago

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

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Ask the Community - The Cat House

Do they let you smoke on the back patio?

Yes, but it's a small area, so mota only please

When is happy hour?

4p.m. to 6p.m.

Is there a regular food menu with meals or snacks?

No food or snacks, but they let you bring in food. We usually bring pizza from Arizmendi next door!

Any nights with dj/dancing?

No, they do not have this.

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Review Highlights - The Cat House

The Dear Irene In particular is one of the most delicious refreshing blended cocktails that I've ever had.

Mentioned in 11 reviews

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Lucuma Kitchen and Bar - Flor de Maiz

Lucuma Kitchen and Bar

4.6(244 reviews)
1.3 miUptown
Locally owned & operated
Wheelchair accessible

TLDR: Great colorful vibes and food. Will definitely come again :)…read more Highlights: honestly everything we got was a hit and it was the perfect amount for two people. And everything came out pretty fast. Also compared to the other Peruvian spots I've tried, this is by far my favorite (flavor, portions, and ambiance). Service/ambiance: wonderful on both. It was surprisingly lively on a Monday but it added to our experience. The servers were kind and super attentive. Notes: Ceviche doesn't come with chips so you have to order that separately! They give you a good amount though and I think it's a mix or plantain and potato chips (served warm). Parking was quite easy (just parked down the street). The restaurant is a little small but they have tables and a bar area. They also have a happy hour that ends at 5:30 which I will def be back for!

Lucuma fits all categories of date night, girls night out (GNO) and spacious enough to fit a group…read moreof people comfortably. I've been here twice and have been equally impressed with the food and service. I will definitely return because of their consistency! - Chinito Ceviche Del Mar - has to my favorite that I've tried, it has the perfect balance of savory & citrus notes. It pairs so well with the plantain chips - I would suggest also adding taro chips if they have them available as well. - Leche de Tigre Ceviche Del Mar was definitely on the salty side. The flavor profile was definitely there but the salt was a little overpowering so we didn't finish. The fish was very fresh! - Bistec a la Pobre had great balance of flavor and texture from the beef, egg and plantains. - NA Pisco Sour had all the elements of a perfect cocktail without the alcohol and was not overly sour or sweet. It is a neighborhood gem and perfect spot to catch up over great food and drinks - it is now part of my Oakland Restaurant rotation.

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Lucuma Kitchen and Bar
Lucuma Kitchen and Bar - Papa Rellena

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Viridian

Viridian

4.5(489 reviews)
1.2 miUptown
$$

This place is so cute inside it's definitely a cool almost speakeasy vibe. Came an hour after they…read moreopened and it was already getting pretty busy on a Thursday night. Service was really prompt and friendly. The food was great we ordered all the classics such as the tater tots and the cucumbers, and we also got the salt and pepper wings, and the special mapo tofu. Portions are great and it's definitely a lot of food to share. There are also extensive cocktails on the menu running at $16-$20 each, which is expected for the creativity and expert craftsmanship of each cocktail. They have a large number of cocktails that are special and seasonal, and then their classics on the bottom. I don't think you can go wrong with anything that you try and I love that they have Asian fusion options for the cocktails and savory and sweet. I got one of the seasonal cocktails that was passionfruit forward and it had a nice tart crisp taste that I really enjoyed.

4.5 Stars. My friends and I have been meaning to try…read moreViridian out. We finally got to check out Viridian out for Oakland Restaurant Week 2025. Technically, we got to try it out the week after, but they extended their menu for the week after. We came that Sunday evening. Parking can be a bit of a hassle because it is indeed Downtown Oakland. Your whole party has to get the Restaurant Week Menu. So we all got their: Aperitif Cocktail - Tomato Beef or Purely Passion (Non Alcoholic) I got the Purely Passion. Good, nothing to write home about. Umami Tots This was really good! Very Crispy. Chili Cucumbers This one was actually really good. Szechuan Salt and Pepper Wings Good, but maybe too crispy? Wings are always good but this one didn't stand out for me. Mango Sorbet (They changed this from the Apple Sorbet that day) My favorite of the whole night. I usually don't like sorbet but this one was soft and easy to eat and has like a creamy like texture? Trying this made me want to try their other dessert item. We also ordered 2 add ons - the Hojicha Miso Tiramisu and the Korean Mapo Tofu. Hojicha Miso Tiramisu was OK. It contained too much alcohol for all of us and was bitter. Disappointing. I liked the Mapo Tofu! I liked that it was Crispy and that it came with rice. Drinks wise, my friends also got to try the Tomato Beef and White Rabbit. I don't really drink alcohol so I just sipped a bit. Tomato Beef was too alcoholic for me, couldn't really taste the tomato or the beef, but I could see what White Rabbit was going for. Overall, I'm really impressed by the food. I usually think Bar Food isn't very good, but this blew me away. Drinks are OK.

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Viridian
Viridian
Viridian

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Tallboy - Cheese in the trap

Tallboy

4.4(173 reviews)
1.7 miTemescal, North Oakland
$$

This place is great! The drinks are delicious and very affordable. Service can be a little slow at…read moretimes but that's completely understandable since it's usually packed. Making drinks for a crowd takes time and the staff always does their best. The people who come here are super friendly which adds to the welcoming, cozy vibe of the place. It's the kind of spot where you instantly feel comfortable. If you love a good martini this is definitely a place you should check out.

I'll give it to them, Tallboy is a solid concept with their "tinis & weenies". However, a clever…read moreconcept can carry a place so far. Customer service is a close second to concept. Tallboy's martini menu is well-executed. While I didn't personally try one of the slushies, a friend ordered the espresso martini version and gave it a solid thumbs-up. Unfortunately, the experience falls apart when it comes to food and service. Waiting 30+ minutes for two hot dogs (after paying) is hard to justify. When I checked in with a server, she was curt and dismissive. She was quick to explain there was only one person in the kitchen, with no effort to offer a solution, timeline, or even basic courtesy. I understand staffing issues happen. However, customer service is a close second to concept. How an issue is communicated and addressed is what separates good service from bad. What's more frustrating is that these aren't customer problems to absorb. If the kitchen is understaffed, if tables aren't being cleared in a timely manner at a seat-yourself spot, those are management problems. Guests should not have to choose to leave without the food we paid for. There's a lot of competition out there, and concepts alone aren't enough to bring people back. I genuinely wanted that hot dog. That's probably the most disappointing part of the whole experience. Great drinks, solid ambiance, but the service needs serious attention.

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Tallboy - The bat and the awesome bartender!

The bat and the awesome bartender!

Tallboy - Lion dancing dog

Lion dancing dog

Tallboy - Banana hammock

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The Cat House - cocktailbars - Updated May 2026

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