No exaggeration - I had the best cocktail of my life here. I ordered a strawberry lavender gimlet and oh my. It was such a layered drink. I'm usually a two drink gal but I only needed one this day because I enjoyed sipping on this so much. I went during the day so it was pretty empty but the vibe was still right. They played good music and the bartender was friendly. I'll definitely be back. read more

See all

I came here like 12 years ago and felt it had a lot of potential but still had some room for improvement, mainly around drink selections. I just went here over the weekend and now can say the place is great! The cocktail menu is pretty diverse (I had a sour which I enjoyed) and I like the wide assortment of beers (they also offer pitchers, which you don't find often outside of sports bars, which this isn't). It has plenty of space inside and some outdoor seating. What really made it fun for me was that even though it was quite busy inside, you could still sit at the bar and have a normal tone of conversation, even with the music and other conversations in the bar going on. Not sure how they pulled that off, but it was really cool. The parking is tight; a lot of it is either 15 minute or 2 hours; and some is designated for the restaurant/liquor store nearby. However, if you're patient enough, you should be able to find free street parking. There's an extremely limited food menu but they do offer BYOF (bring your own food), even though there's not much around to pick up on your way in (obviously DoorDash will offer more opportunities). It's a pretty classy place, so I think would be great for a night out with friends or even a date. I'll certainly be back to try the other libations. read more

This is my favorite local bar! Not only do they make bomb drinks. They have a variety of craft beers, ales, IPAS my favorites have been the sours they have. I love sours and they're hard to find at local bars and if they don't have one I usually still find a bear I like! Very friendly service chill and inviting. I love that it's lowkey here and they have first come first serve seating booths. read more

See all

DAMN! I love THE DOOLITTLE! If you're from the Midwest, you'll love it too! We affectionately call it "The Michigan Bar". I ordered drinks and told the bartender I'd be right back to pick them up to which he replied "Nope. You're our guests, I'll bring them to you!" Good people! Don't miss their Hot Toddies! So good! I'd drive out of my way just to go there to have one! read more

The Doolittle - The bar at THE DOOLITTLE. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Castro Valley, California

This place is legit. Jake the bartender provided an excellent experience. The atmosphere is nice and the drinks were good. Highly recommend.

We were in the area looking for a bar to stop into grab a drink. Came in shortly after they opened and was greeted by Jacob. He was incredibly sweet and conversational which we loved! We sat outside to have a drink and chat, throughout the time we were there, he came out to check on us to make sure everything was all good. When we went back inside to order, its like he read our minds and knew what was next. We were beyond impressed with the professionalism and feeling comfortable all around. We highly recommend and will stop by again. Thank you so much for the hospitality! read more

The Doolittle - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Castro Valley, California

This past weekend, we held a surprise party for approximately 65 of our closest friends at The Doolittle. Even though we are from a neighboring city (Danville), I chose this venue because I got to work directly with the bar owner - Joe. Joe was incredibly helpful in helping me plan. He was always open to suggestions and really made an effort to accommodate my guests and our wishes. We had a seven piece band in his beautiful bar and everyone had a fantastic time! I cannot stress how happy my guests were. And how surprise my sister was for her 50th birthday. All this was possible because of Joe and the Doolittle. I am indebted to them greatly. Thank you, Joe! David and I will see you again soon! :-) read more

I love coming here! I liked it. There is a younger crowd and the bartenders know you when you come in. Coming in for the music nights is always awesome and I tried trivia once but I am not that witty :) one of my favorite local bars in town! read more

Love the Doolittle. Remodeled about 10 years ago and has a very good and friendly crowd of people. Recent Thursday karaoke visit was enjoyable. This bar has a great crowd of people. Nobody rowdy and nobody who can't handle their alcohol. I would say people are about 30 years old on average - its not really the place 21 year olds come for their first drink. Remodeled about 10 years ago and it still looks great. If the last time you were here was long long ago you need to see the place. Wooden siding gives it a warm atmosphere - its almost like your in a cabin. You will be blown away with how they did so much with such a small space. This is a very cozy bar. Very friendly. I love the tiny outdoor covered patio. Its great for smoking and the tall fence between the parking lot and the building makes for a comfortable space to be. If you need a place a little more quiet to talk this is your best bet. Karaoke was impressive. There was such talent singing all the songs from mostly 20 years ago. Sappy love songs and other favorite hits. Voices were very very good. I can't tell you how many paid cover bands I listen to that are horrible. Tonight (Friday) I was at the Elevate Lounge and the (paid) singer was horrible. Horrible, horrible. I suppose thats what sparks me to write this right here right now. If your in the Hayward San Leandro area don't hesitate to come here an extra mile. read more

The Doolittle - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Joe, warm welcome..co worker and I needed to catch up and need a drink. Street parking. Parking lot is shared with liquor store and two other businesses super small we work next-door so we just left our cars there and walked over. read more

The Doolittle - 805 and bloody Mary - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Ronnie is the man! Always making my friends and I feel welcomed when we walk through the door. He has the best personality and always friendly. 10/10 the reason we come back. Thank you ! Lemon drops and dirty martini's read more

So this my 2nd time here and I can definitely say it's going down up in here the music is playing old school. New school all types of different music that's awesome the crowd is vibing to the music. Btw the drink is soooooo damn good it's definitely something different the drink of choice was a Chipotle Paloma ,, the bartender Jacob is amazing he's yon point with his drink choice..... I'll definitely be back and tell all of my friends about this tuck spot read more

The Doolittle - Chipotle Paloma ‍ - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Love the vibe. Friendly customer service. Awesome craft beer selection. Love the decor

The drinks are delicious, but Jake makes this place golden. Like, seriously! We walked in and were greeted instantly. We weren't completely ready so we told him he could help the people who walked in behind us. After taking care of them, he came back to us and asked if we had any questions. We placed our orders and he suggested I try my Hennessy sour with egg whites. I was very hesitant and he reassured me it would be delicious or he'd remake it. THREE ROUNDS LATER. I think I'll be requesting that egg whites be added going forward. It was soooo freakin' good. When the bar wasn't too busy Jake would come check on us to see if we wanted another round-- he's singlehandedly responsible for us drinking as much as we did and we appreciate it. The Doolittle is a small little bar located at the end of a shopping plaza. Parking is available, but it's limited. They have an outside dining tent that holds about 6 high tables and about 6 booths in the inside. They play some pretty good tunes, but not so loud that you can't hear your party talking. Plus. Most bars fail at that. Another thing, I was extremely surprised at how clean and well kept the restroom was. Gold star for that. Great service. Nice atmosphere. And the drinks are reasonably priced too. I think we spend $80 for three rounds. Easy tab close out too. I'll definitely return. read more

The Doolittle - Hennessy sour - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Cute, quaint place. Drinks are delicious. Attended an after work social at Doolittle. I will be back!

A hidden gem! Great drinks, quiet and comfortable to get some work done if needed, and friendly baristas. They don't serve any hot food, only some pre wrapped pastries and snacks, but they do allow you to bring your own food or order deliveries. And of course free wifi =] read more

See all

It's okay. I wasn't a fan. the area was nice, nice restaurants service was nice. Food was salty... but it isn't bad. it just wasn't my vibe.

townie little castro valley bar. Very loud but everything else is great- friendly bartenders, good cocktails and a large beer menu. From the outside it looks quite divey but it's pretty nice inside. No complaints and it's open late! Good place to keep in mind. read more

My cuzin loves this spot it's close to home local older crowd nice vibes drinks were good too

Always a good time! You can bring in food and there's a restaurant next door you can always order from. Bartenders are always super friendly. Come by for a drink, watch a game, trivia on Wednesdays too! read more

Okay, I read Avelina's review and I am disappointed but take it with a grain of salt. Who walks into a bar sometime after 1:00 am and thinks the bar is not winding down and preparing to close? At that time of night bar staff are usually dealing with people who are settled in and are reluctant to leave. When someone comes in after 1:00 am and orders 3 shots it's a red flag at any bar. Should bar staff been more professional and used better judgement dealing with paying customers while going through their closing routine ?Absolutely. This is a bad mark for the bar that needs corrective training. None of us are perfect. But it is not something that outweighs all the good things Doolittle's provides as a local pub. read more

This place is great! Did a mom night out there and we had a blast. Bartenders were super nice! No weird men bothered us group of moms. Will definitely be back! Ambience is great! O'. Not sure when they did the remodel but it looks and feels great. We had to clear our own table when we got there but we sat outside so maybe they didn't see it. read more

Besides the bar at night they also sell coffee and lattes in the day, it's called Brewlittle. I have been going here for coffee for a few weeks now. They have better coffee quality than Starbucks down the street lol. The staff is super nice and friendly. I usually bring my pitbull with me into the bar/coffee shop and everyone is very welcoming and my dog lovesss the staff there. They have a small outdoor seating that's right in the shade so it's perfect to sit and chill there on hot days read more

Came here on the recommendations of friends while visiting. It's a cute bar and the drinks are really great. I ordered the rum punch and it was a quality cocktail. My friend wasn't sure what to order, gave the bartender ideas of what she liked, and asked for a suggestion. He made her the lavender martini that was to die for. We ordered two or three more. Such a classic and pretty drink. I thought the prices were reasonable. From Kentucky, I felt that they had a decent selection of bourbons. Their cocktail menu had many options and it did have a selection of liquor as well. Beer on tap and in bottles - it appears they rotate which is cool if you're always trying to broaden your beer horizons. The bar itself is a little small but it is also in a strip mall if I remember correctly. We went on a Friday and it was crowded. I got the vibe a lot of the individuals are regulars. I guess the decor is supposed to be western themed. The women's restroom looked like it was decorated by Chip and Joanna Gaines. We wanted to go somewhere we could hang out and drink and talk without yelling over music and/or other people. We sat at the bar and could comfortably hear one another. I had a good time and would come back. read more

The Doolittle - Rum Punch and Lavender Martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Nice little honky tonk in Castro Valley. Good selection of beer on tap. Friendly service. Parking lot. Liquor store next door.

Very cute dive. Staff was super friendly and drinks were affordable, if not amazing.

I don't know why people keep calling this place a dive bar. I've been there half a dozen times now (always during the day), so my review is based on my limited exposure. That said, when I think "dive" I think small, dimly lit, with a bar that hasn't been dusted since Carter was in office, and regulars who stare at you like they don't understand why someone new would be walking in the door. The Doolittle is not that. I think what makes people call it divey is that it's a place where you can walk in, order a drink, and not feel like you have to be anything other than yourself. It's just a bar where you can enjoy a drink. Nothing pretentious, but also nothing depressing. The day regulars are friendly and welcoming, not hunched-over-the-bar types. It feels like a place where you could make friends if you wanted. The clientele is diverse in all ways. There isn't just one kind of person who frequents this establishment, which is so refreshing! I've always gone alone, and have never been made to feel uncomfortable at all. The day bartender is amiable, and makes a solid vodka martini. He's helped me pick some great beers, too. The interior is lit well enough to read the menu, the bar is clean and uncluttered, the decor is...well, there's decor for one. It's not buzzing neon beer signs, it's got an actual aesthetic. I wouldn't call it Western so much as an unobtrusive rustic vibe. Like, there aren't cowboy boots or steer heads on the wall. There are some TV's playing sports, but they don't drown out conversation, nor is the game the reason everyone's there. The bathroom is clean. The booths are clean. The tables are clean. They have free wifi. I've seen a dog there, so maybe dog friendly? There's a lot to like about The Doolittle. Five stars, recommend! read more

Service is friendly. This is an awesome spot to get together with your friends to share memories and make new ones. I will be back. Ambiance is nice and not so loud that you can't hear your friends. read more

not fair to call this a dive bar because it's definitely got a great vibe, comfortable places to sit, super friendly service. great beers on tap. from the outside it looks kinda dive-y but it's really nice. my friend lives close by and has been talking this up for a while, and now I know why. I suspect I'll be coming by pretty frequently now read more

11/10 for the service and staff. Last Wednesday after closing, one of the staff was super nice and upon request, gave us some water for me and my friends. Very thankful for that guy! read more

Had a churro late, the barista Britnie made it to perfection. Thank you for starting my day off right!! I'll be back.

Yummy cocktails, great service and a really cute little spot! They even allow dogs. Although I wouldn't recommend bringing them in later at night when it gets louder. Super fun! read more

Nifty little place to pop in for a drink. At first I didn't know it was a canoe. Honestly, at first glance I thought the shelves were just slanted for some reason. Upon closer inspection and a few more drinks, yup it's totally a canoe. The bartender was attentive and friendly, and lots of locals seem to pop into the place. There isn't food native to the bar itself but you can also order food from the place next door and bring it in apparently. Whether this extends to food in general I'm not sure. read more

The Doolittle - The front - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Castro Valley, California

See all

My hometown bar, where both my family and friends go, have lost my service. I'm truly in shock by the behaviors of the bartenders tonight. Me, my friend and her husband walked in around 1:10am. We ordered drinks, and was immediately met with rudeness by bartender Ari. I ordered 2 seltzers with Jake for me and my gf, and her husband ordered 3 shots and a beer. When I explained that I wanted to order the seltzers separate, Ari seemed confused and acted as if it were an inconvenience, and she very rudely says, "well what do you guys want??", as if it were a huge problem that we ordered separately. Now I totally understand bar etiquette and that if it's crowded, to just order all together -- but there were only about 7 people total inside, all of which were already settled with their drinks. Her tone was towards us was extremely unnecessary. My friends husband changed his mind and decided to tip cash. He hands Jake $10 for a $40 bill. My friends husband saw Ari get upset about us crossing off the tip on the receipt (don't know why a bartender would be upset about not receiving a tip after being as rude as she was towards us), and she calls Jake over. My friend's husband then overhears Jake say, "just put something on it". I think this would have been the only negative experience of the night, but it gets worse. At this point, about 5 minutes have passed. We all still had a full drink in our hands. Both Ari and Jake start screaming, "ALRIGHT TIME TO WRAP IT UP, LAST CALL.." We were a bit confused and assumed that meant alcohol was done but that we could still hangout and finish our drinks. But no. They continue to walk around from behind the bar screaming that we all need to get out. At this point, I'm so appalled by their aggressiveness to kick us out. I looked at my phone and it's only 1:26am. I go up to them and tell them how unnecessarily rude they're being. Jake continues to yell in my face and I walk out. Frankly, there was a good chance he was drunk and I wasn't in the mood to deal with it anymore. I truly wish I had recorded how aggressive they were being. Not that I went there very often -- usually I go with family to grab a drink and catch up, or with my friends. I've never had a negative experience in all the times I've been there. Tonight was a dealbreaker. NEVER taking a step back into that bar again. read more

Chill bar to go to and meet the locals. During game time is the only time I have seen this crazy busy other then that it is a chill quite bar. The drinks are great their mascow mule is good worth giving a shot. There beer options are great, if your looking for a mellow night in Castro Valley this place is great to got to and kick back. They also allow you bring food from out side we got McDonald ordered there, there is also pizza spot next door where you can also order from. read more

My friends and I decided to hit this place up on a whim, we don't go to many bars because we get intimidated by the environment but this place was awesome! Very welcoming and warm inside, the drinks were yummy and did the trick I don't remember the bartender name but he was super sweet and quick with our drinks, definitely will be coming back!! read more

It looks a hole in the wall but very nice place to have a cocktail with the girlfriend

Oh dear. What can I say about this place... I've had good and embarrassing memories from this bar..... and I'm not planning on elaborating on it. Lol. I used to live so near to this place that I could just walk my drunk self to and from home to the bar. Haha. It's also crazy that I work (sometimes) right across this bar... So... drinks after work?! Hellz yeah! Jk. I never do that. I wouldn't even dare coming in there with my work clothes. Lol. I've been here a bunch of times and I always have fun and get hella wasted each time. Their bartenders are very friendly and idk, they "care for your well being" (HAHA) I guess? Cos one time I tried to order 2 double bourbon and an IPA for myself just because I didn't wanna go back and order again since I'm 100% sure that I will and the bartender refused to give me 2 doubles and told me to just get 1, finish it and come back again if I want more... That was a bummer but whatevs. (Yup. I did come back for another round like what I already expected) They have trivia game every (was it Tuesday? I'm not sure. I was there but I lost track of the day! Haha) my friend and I joined and we were winning but we had to leave before we even started the 3rd round because, well, it was "time" for us to leave... we already reached our drinks quota. Haha. I forgot what the prize was? More drinks? I'll find out next time I go back. I love that you can order from the restaurant beside the bar and they will deliver it to your table inside the bar! Isn't that neat?! You can enjoy good food and drink your heart out at the same time! There's something about this place that keeps me coming back. I think it's the warm and cozy atmosphere. Their decors are superb! Love the vinyl displays! Oh, and they play good music here so that's a huge plus! Parking is limited but not hard to find one, really. P.S. their dubliner drink is to die for! I usually order that drink. It's so good and just 3 glasses of it will knock me out fosho. Lol read more

See all

Hours of operations don't lend itself to everyone's schedule. No option for entertainment except tv sports. No juke box, darts, pool or darts. Dice? Don't know. Parking is awful. Craft beers, yes, prices too high can't even get a crap bud light for less than 6 bucks, Happy hour special, not even on the menu. Unfortunately not too many options in Castro Valley but this place is lame. If you want to hide out from your girl, this is the place. Nobody's here to tell. Yes more to add. The name says it all "doo little " to keep customers or provide entertainment options. Canoe might have been cool once but not now, totally dated place read more

See all

Came for Mardi Gras the hurricanes were great! They have a great beer and drink selection. The bartenders were really nice and the place was clean. Minus some star for the hard parking, but it was an event so it kind of makes sense. read more