SO happy the Punchdown has resurrected in a new & improved location! This is where I learned to love natural wines, and all the funky flavors, uncommon colors, and surprisingly gentler hangovers they produce (natural is the way to go, yo). The owners, DC & Lisa, are beyond passionate about bringing the most unique, boutique, small production, natural wines from around the world to Oakland -- every time we drink here we are blown away by the crazy stuff we discover. Each wine comes with a story. Also love how casual & unpretentious the vibe is, and how much you can learn from chatting with the servers. You can sip some pricey esoteric stuff, or go with the $5 happy hour white/red/rose of the day, or the "broke ass" flight (3 wines for $9!). You don't have to be a high roller or wine snob to appreciate the menu here... tons of variety. We joined the wine club, which gives us an excuse to drink 2 bottles per month here, corkage-free. They're even baby friendly! Thank goodness, because mama needs her wine. East Bay wine bar perfection. And they have food, too! read more

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I've been meaning to review The Punchdown for weeks, as it's gotten to the point where any excuse is a good excuse to stop by for a glass and a nibble. My gf and I love this bar for its warm, intimate ambiance that feels cultivated without being contrived. I particularly appreciate the hanging "sculptures," which are really just wine grape vines. The customer service is always fabulous, and the food is simple and fresh. Happy hour (12:00-18:00) is definitely the way to go, as a glass during peak hours will set you back about $15. But who am I kidding? We come anyway. P.S. Try the mulled wine. It's piping hot, sweet, and spicy (but not overly cloying). read more

New favorite wine bar! Enough said. Well maybe not... Let me explain. Awesome wines: they offer a fair array of wines, but the common thread is that they are all natural wines. No sulfites added! This is so important if you are sensitive to sulfites, but like to drink lots of wine, like me. I was happy to see a sparkling Gamay on the list and made sure that was my first glass. I followed that up by doing a comparative tasting of all of the gamays offered. Amazing people: Not only did I drink tasty wines, I also got an education on the wines, winemakers and the area where the grapes are grown. DC was so personable, laid back, yet passionate, and knowledgeable. I love Loire Valley wines, which they feature a prominent amount of here. Fun fact: DC originally wanted to name the Punchdown "Loire Bar" instead... So yeah, he's a little passionate about the Loire ;) His expansive knowledge comes from first hand experience of time spent in the Loire meeting and working with natural winemakers. He even pulled books for me to pour over while I sipped my wine. Attractive ambiance: the set up with the long bar and high ceilings lends a sense of open approachability and airiness. There are tables in both the front and back of the space, along with lots of bar seating. There is a temperature controlled cellar for bottles to go which breaks up the space and makes the back part of the bar a little more intimate. Overall, I can see hanging out on sunny afternoons or for after dinner drinks. It's a nice place to chill with the friendliest of folks. Stop by, try some natural wine, and enjoy. Life is too short to drink bad wine. read more

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The wine here is eccentric. You can order "orange" wine from the Jurassic era. Oh: and it's amazing. The ambience is great and the cheese was so good it made me regret every day I have lived before tasting it. read more

The Punchdown - Amazing cheeseboard at a great value. - Wine Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

WHAT A STEAL! Have been here a few times - right when it first opened a few years ago and then revisited again this past weekend. Still great. The happy hour deal (weekends too!) at the Punchdown cannot be beat. $6 for House Red, White, Rose -- hooray. A great place to grab a glass or few of wine with friends and get a snack too if you need. Outside seating is nice for warmer days but the ambiance of the inside is perfect for a cozy drink on foggy summer (and winter days). read more

Thank you to the management team at Punchdown for being in contact with me to figure out a billing issue. They were super responsive and kind. Btw, great Rose- the "Babushka" I highly recommend:) Cheers! read more

I go on bumble dates here a lot. Pretty decent drinks but if some horrible date happens if be fine never going again because could be one of a hundred other bars in the bay area. Real nice bartenders, one time I spilled a drink all over the bar (was clumsy not drunk) and they were really kind about it. read more

I know pretty much nothing about wine, but I thought this was a really cute wine bar with an interesting wine selection. I tried one of the three orange wines they offered, which was okay, and the pinot noir, which I loved. Meanwhile, my friend tried the "I'm a broke ass" flight, and only liked one of the wines (to be fair, she chose the cheapest flight option). As for the food, the grilled goat cheese, honey, & apple sandwich is fantastic, and I highly recommend it. However, I would pass on ordering the charcuterie board. Of the two meats included on the board, one was insanely spicy while the other tasted like really salty rubber. Overall, I really liked this wine bar and would definitely return to try more of their wines. The place is kind of small, and there appears to only be one bartender (which means service may be a little slow). However, the bartender is very friendly and informative. read more

The Punchdown - Charcuterie board, grilled goat cheese & honey & apple sandwich, Pinot noir, Broke ass flight, orange wine - Wine Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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I love The Punchdown with all of my heart. I came back from a trip to Paris obsessed with natural wines (specifically Orange wine), and stumbled across the Punchdown when looking for natural wine bars in the bay area. They have a comprehensive list of flights to get you exposure to a ton of different wines, which I highly recommend, since everything is so unique. It almost seems like a waste to come here and just order by the glass. For maximum pleasure, sign up for their wine club. 2 bottles a month for approx 60 bucks. If you're feeling peckish, the pain d'epi they serve alongside their cheese board or tinned fish is good enough to eat plain. I particularly enjoyed some of the sardines they have available. read more

There's not much to say other than that I love this place! Friendly staff and Happy Hour until 6 pm: house white/rose/red/sangria are all just $5 per glass!!! Great food prices too! I got the burrata plate ($10): a giant plop of melt-in-your-mouth burrata in olive oil with salt/pepper + a warm, crunchy Acme baguette on the side. How can you not love burrata? Highly recommend: so delicious, I could eat it forever. This is also the first place I've ever seen with "orange" wines on their menu. I tried a glass of the Georgas Family "Savatiano" (from Athens) at the bartender's recommendation, and it was an interesting taste I haven't had before and don't know how to describe. He explained orange wines are just white wines but they're made like a red wine, fermented with the grape skin on. Overall, great experience. read more

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Great unique wine selection. They have happy hour until 6pm. We can get good house wine for $5 per glass of wine. I like the atmosphere as well. read more

LOVED this place. Really laid back vibe at this wine bar in Oakland. Was looking for a chill bar to host an informal business meeting in Oakland and a quick search on Yelp led me here...and very glad it did. Evidently, this place does a brisk business for Happy Hour but it's pretty quiet in mid-afternoon when we arrived. We had a late lunch and thoroughly enjoyed the wine selection and the small plates. We sampled the meats, olives, marrow bone (which is exactly that: half a foot long bone brought to the table). Everything was delicious...including the fresh baked baguette. All that being said, the food isn't the primary reason why people come here and the good news is that the wine selection is extensive and well priced. I sampled a few of their reds and whites by the glass. On top of all, the service that we had was fantastic! The ambience is unique: the Punchdown has the feel of a European coffee house with a bar. We sat in the back for our meeting and it gave us just enough privacy and quiet that we were looking for. Worthy of 6 stars! Would definitely return on my next visit to the Oakland area. read more

So I came in here with my best friend high af and we decided to get something called the "ancient times" or something like that because they give you a small clay bowl to drink out of. We also picked the one menu option where u get 3 wines in black glasses and u gotta guess them. But my friend and I don't know shit about wine and we also hate it so that was fun lol. The Wines we had tasted like smoke, ash, peaches, ketchup and mustard. Overall, good time though and the server guy was nice and pretty enthusiastic. He was real juiced we were up to the "challenge" but it was soon evident we were wine connoisseur posers. read more

I can't get enough of this place! The Punchdown is my go-to spot for happy hour, date night, or a pre-dinner snack in Uptown. The wine is average/ok in terms of taste, but you can't complain with these prices. Try the Oakland Rent Relief flight ($10 for 3 wines). It's surprisingly not bad. The sangria is very fruity but strong, and is super refreshing on a warm day. House wines (white, red, rose) and sangria are only $5 during happy hour. The bone marrow and burrata plate are my favorite menu items and I order them every time I come here. The grilled goat cheese sandwich is also tasty but I recommend sharing it because it's quite creamy/rich. Like the wine, love the food, love the service here. read more

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Another feather in the ever expanding Oakland cap, Punchdown lays out some serious natural wines in a clean,cozy setting buzzing with wine lovers of every cloth. This place really has it going on , at least when I stopped in at 6pm during the week. They have bargain house wines along with fine selections you won't be seeing at BevMo or your local corner shop. If you really like what you sample , you can buy there as well from the retail space right opposite the bar. Manicured pieces of gnarley vines are deftly mounted to the walls as decor. Communal tables and a long bar makes for easy meet and greets. There is an active kitchen cranking out appetizers , but I cannot comment ...yet. I'll be back. This is a must visit for serious wine lovers who want an alternative to the large conventionally produced vintners. read more

The Punchdown - DC your friendly wine steward and partner @ Punchdown - Wine Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Looking for a low-key wine bar that is BART accessible? Look no further. My friend and I checked out The Punchdown for HH on our way home from the City. It's half a block from 19th Street BART and we were seated at prime people-watching window seats. We each ordered two glasses of the House Red, which were discounted during HH (even better!) and ended up with two orders of delicious burrata. We had a fabulous time drinking, chatting, and eating. I will say that the other snack options did not really excite me and if you're interested in more food, you may want to look into other options. It was perfect for what we were in the mood for. read more

Got the La Clarine Farms rose and Methode Sauvage Sauvignon Blanc. Both delicious! Good vibes. read more

The Punchdown - Wine Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Great! Love the menu. Wonderful service! Central location too, Thank you so much for a great time!

Came here before a show at the Fox Theater on a week day. It was a quick walk away so it made it appealing. Super easy to get in and the place was pretty full. The food was good but nothing special. I enjoyed the goat cheese apple sandwich. The wine was pretty expensive we thought and there wasn't a ton of local wineries offered. I would say more French wine than anything. I'd probably give this place a better review since it was pretty cute but our server was so inattentive that we literally had to ask him twice for the check and then go up to the bar and ask him while he was looking at his phone (looked like Facebook). Wasn't stoked about that. While we had a good time I don't think I'll be back since it's not really in my neighborhood. read more

Best collection of organic wine. Try, just try, finding a better chicken liver pâté - you won't. Don't know anything about wine? Who cares, just ask the owners, D.C. and Lisa or any of the other folks on the team, they'll recommend one. Also, don't forget to join the "wine of the month" club. WINO FOREVER read more

live laugh love, punch down!! great spot for drinks and light eats before a show at the fox! ambiance was 12/10

This is a very cute spot, with a very nice selection of wines- I had no idea they were natural or organic wines when I first went in, and luckily the prices don't reflect the fact that they are! The rent control flight is the best deal, very generous pours, and a taste of their menu. The food is also really good, kinda pricey, and not a huge selection- but what they do have is solid. read more

There is only one word that can define this place - Classy. It's small, charming, and has a romantic vibe. It felt weird going alone but the staff were very nice and said that I could stay for as long as I wish. I ordered the Blind Flight and the Charcuterie board. The Blind Flight is chosen by the sommelier. If contains 3 different wines for you to taste. The man that helped me provided so much details about each wine. He picked a good set, it was very fruity, dark, and rich. The charcuterie board was largely portioned but amazing. The saltiness of the meat balanced well with each of the wines I tasted. I'm almost positive that this side will go great with any wine you taste. I had a real crappy morning and was very stressed with other issues. Going to this gem helped me momentarily forget my problems and reminded me to relax. This place is very charming and welcoming. It's a must to visit when in Uptown Oakland. Thank you. read more

Sean recommended this while we were at the Chicago Hyatt and he was right- it s awesome! So nice to see what I call "clean wine". read more

The Punchdown - Wine Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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What a find! A friend of mine was coming to the Easy Bay from San Francisco for drinks, so I searched for wine spots in Oakland. The Punchdown is just a minutes walk from 19th st station, so super practical if you're traveling into Oakland by bart. We grabbed seats near the window because we were in a people watching kind of mood. I love that they have all sorts of seating types: bar, window, tables for two, table for groups, communal tables... The staff was super nice and the wine list was extensive. I was hoping to find a malbec on the list, but in its absence decided to go for a few glasses of prosecco instead. We also shared a meat and cracker board, and they surprisingly had gluten free crackers! Between the location and atmosphere, the friendly staff and selection of wines, I'll definitely go back. read more

The Punchdown - Wine Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

The Punchdown was cute. Had been meaning to come here for sometime. Didn't really get a chance to really feel out the space because was meeting up with a friend. But for the short time spent there, it's a nice place to do some reading, catch up with a friend or just have a glass of wine with your significant other... ...also the staff do not hoover, they let you be in your wine sipping bubble Cheers! read more

This has become one of my favorite places to go to in downtown Oakland area for interesting wine. The ambiance is nice and chill, and I've enjoyed their wine selection. The wines are natural and come from a variety of different places, and since I'm still learning about drinking wine, they have wines I otherwise wouldn't get to taste. There are a variety of flights, or you can try different wines in different amounts too. Also, the food is quite good - I especially like the sandwiches. read more

Love this place, they always give us great recommendations on wine. We love it so much, we joined their wine club!

I am shocked this place has such high ratings. Went here last night and they were doing last call at 9PM, even though their hours are until midnight. The bartender/server said it was because their were events around town... which made no sense and our assumption was they wanted to go to said events. About 45 minutes later they actually turned the light on-- classic restaurant move to get folks moving. The burrata dish was delicious though! Only reason they get 2 starts. Wine was fine. The worst of it was when another customer suddenly fell off one of the high stools and landed flat on his back and the bartender joked "I'll mop him up later" who does that?!? Other guests were more concerned about the man on the ground and helped him up. Definitely won't be going back. read more

Lovely wine bar in Uptown. There is a great selection of wines and flights with diverse wines and fun names. Friendly staff and I love the decor. I can see moving to 5 stars if the food feels like a better value in the future. read more

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This place was a great find. Near the Fox Theater makes it perfect for a before the show casual meal. The wine list is interesting and the food is excellent. We had the burrata which came with warm bread that was delicious on is own. We also had the house salad, and a ham and cheese sandwich. We were very happy with all of it. Our one complaint was that there was only one person working and it was hard for her to get to everyone in a timely manner. She was great under the circumstances, but they lost some business when people left when they weren't getting served. Sunday nights are probably slow and one person can handle it, but since there was a show last night I think they underestimated how busy they would be. read more

It was the first time I've ever seen my wife spit her wine back into the glass. If you're a lover of wines, do NOT go here. The wines are so bad, they must be trying to suck. read more

The first time that I was here the service and the wine with the food I ordered were really good. I knew I was going to come back again. So the second time that I came through I was really disappointed. Not with the food and wine but with the service. I was sitting at the bar and the guy that was attending me with glasses wasn't fully there. His hospitality was off during my visit. I'm not sure if he had stuff going on personally (which I would understand if I knew) but since I don't this review is mainly on the service. I would so come back again and give them the benefit of the doubt for the 5 star experience I've had before. Wish me luck. read more

The Punchdown - The big red flight (I think) - Wine Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

The wine club I'm a part of closed down a couple months ago, and I've been in search for a new place to wind down with a glass of wine. This place was amazing! We came around 4:30 on a Friday and had the house wine & buratta before moving on to one of their tastings. Super affordable and great service! Can't wait to make this my go-to happy hour spot. read more

Order mulled wine today, after getting caught in a chilly shower, on a cold Monday; wine was sweet like someone put a whole bucket of sugar. I know mulled wine; dry, hint of sweetness, herbs and spices: think cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves just like in Christmas markets back in Germany. We sent it back, got the house red (grenache and syrah) and it was waaay off. Didn't say anything since it was happy hour and only $5. It wasn't off like a natty wine off, more like rotten onions. Too bad, always had a good time here, but 2 strikes in one bat is not good. read more

The wine selection on their happy hour menu is great! My favorite was the house rosé, and the cheese platter was amazing! The workers were also very friendly and helpful. read more

I've been here many times and am constantly impressed by the breadth of knowledge that all of the staff have. They cater to my "I'll have whatever you are serving" with a smile, a quick probing question "red or white" and "sparkling?" and a pour. The food is fantastic (especially the cheese board, and the beef cheek sandwich), the wine is out of this world (natural wine is definitely the best kind of wine), the service is impeccable, and the overall experience is what keeps me coming back! Great for groups, great for a date, great for just grabbing a glass, or a bottle to go, on your way home from work. Cheers! read more

I had such a great time at the Punchdown! I was lucky enough to visit on a Thursday when the owners DC and Lisa were behind the bar. They were incredibly courteous and informative in explaining their background and love of natural wine. I'm familiar with natural wine and enjoy it but found their selections to be very fresh. They definitely have the right palette to introduce people to the style and get them to fall in love with it as well! I also had the burrata plate which was excellent with a delicious and generous baguette portion. Will definitely be back every time I catch a show at the Fox Theater, which is just around the block! Or any other excuse I can use to visit Oakland! read more

Am I in love yet? Not quite... but it is getting pretty close. It is was the perfect way to end a Monday night after a long weekend. Great selection, somehow the cheapest wine caught my eye. House Red, syrah with a little bit of spice ($23). Perfect for sharing for 2...maybe 3... ahhh who am I kidding. Only 2. Cheese Plate ($15). Bread was warm, cheese was your standard plate. I recommend happy hour menu. Maybe they were but it was advertised really well. read more

Stopped by on Saturday night after dinner. The bartender was shockingly rude and acted as if we were troubling him to get some wine. Will Never come back. read more