The Ruby Room

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.

2.3 mi•Temescal, North Oakland

The bat and the awesome bartender!

Cheese in the trap

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Banana hammock

The Avenue

4.0(221 reviews)

Great place to hang out with other people! Also it's right near Mac Arthur Bart which is…read moreinteresting. Haven't been here since 2023, but there might be a way of going back to this bar. I heard about this place in 2010. The drinks are sorta affordable and good.

Bartender decided to be incredibly rude and insulting in response to a simple mixup of leaving my…read moreID at home (despite being obviously of age and having a PDF of my DL accessible to show). Unfortunately discovered it was not in my phone case when sitting down at the bar. Was gruffly told to leave and that I couldn't be in the room, as if I'm a nuisance and with zero humanity. I understand having and following rules around IDs, but you can do so in a way that isn't unwelcoming and rude to guests. I will not be returning, not giving this disrespectful establishment any more of my business. Good luck!

0.8 mi•Jack London Square

Outdoor area at the back of the bar.

Bar ceiling

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Bathroom entry nicely labeled

Merchant's Saloon

4.1(248 reviews)

Love this place to pre game or end the night haha the bartender are very generous with their…read morepouring. The vibe is different every time.

This is an old time dive bar. It is one of the oldest bars in Oakland but draws an eclectic group…read moreof customers from all walks of life.

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Pool table too!

Wolfhound

4.3(76 reviews)

2.8 mi•North Oakland

This place is so special! The bartenders give Incredible…read moreservice and there is such a friendly vibe from everyone who knows what's up. Every person in the world would be happy to have a wolfhound in their life. I've been to a lot of bars and this one is remarkable.

Great dive bar. Good service, good prices. Cool old school…read morevibe. 1000% better than Merchants

Back room with pool & pinball

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Space Lounge Oakland

4.9(7 reviews)

0.5 mi•Uptown

Date: 2/22/2025. Time: 4:00 PM. 63°. Sunny…read more I was supposed to be at 1701, but they are not opened yet. Thus, I met my friend next door at Space Lounge for drinks. Usually I don't imbibe. I am not much of drinking the Henny. All their cocktails have exactly that. The only one that looked appealing to me was the expresso martini. The service could be a little more attentive. My friend and I were the only two people in the lounge at the time. We sat and waited for somebody to come by to ask what would I like to drink. It did not happen; thus, my friend had to go the bar and purchase the expresso martini. The expresso martini was smooth and mellow. The only time I had the Henny was years ago at a Chinese wedding banquet. I added some to the shark fin soup, which enhanced the flavor of the soup. Yes, I enjoyed the expresso martini. The atmosphere of the lounge is one of sophistication and upscale. Comfortable seating all around. Nice place to hang out, do some chillaxin' with friends. Rating: 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.

Super chill spot with hella cool people! Wandered in here with a friend while waiting for a concert…read moreat Fox. So we had a few drinks and chatted it up with Rick. He's super knowledgeable AND passionate about his craft, plus an overall fun person to hangout with. We heard that this spot isn't getting much love these days and just wanna say it's totally worth the visit! You get excellent service, people who love what they do, community and also some bomb a** lumpia if you show up when the lumpia ladies are taking orders! Come thru!

Was feeling fancy , they knew what was going on ! Champagne was amazing ! Vibes on vibes baby . Oakland shows the most love

Great hospitality! Drinks were on point

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19th Street Station

4.5(63 reviews)

0.4 mi•Uptown

I feel like a lot of my recent reviews have consisted on "how have I not known this is here", and…read morewelp, here's another one! I truly had no idea 19th Street Station (bar, not Bart) was and has been located on 19th street for quite some time...say what! The things you learn.. Filled with tons of Oakland artifacts and odes to all the Oakland sports teams (I know, tear shed), this spot is truly a unique gem and not so much off-the-beaten-path...but maybe more so a "if ya know, ya know" local hang bar. Upon entering, it felt like you could cozy up to the bar and truly chat about anything with other locals. Such a nice feeling and something truly amiss with other bars and sports bars these days. Service was quick, and the people were so kind. I think the bartender may have been the owner, and seemed so happy to be there sharing stories of the neighborhood. If/when I'm back in the area, I will for sure be on the lookout and come thru. Street parking available. Looks like you can bring your own food in with a new hot dog spot next door (Winky Dinky Dogs).

Love this bar. Roy is a delight and stepping into the bar feels like a bit of a time capsule of the…read moreMidwest mixed with California. Can bring your own food, food is often offered, people are nice, sportsball on the screens but it's no obligation to pay attention. Can't say how happy I am that I found this place.

2.6 mi•North Oakland, Rockridge

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Phone

Kingfish Pub & Cafe

4.1(148 reviews)

Isabel is an amazing bartender she makes amazing drinks and is a great teacher to her coworkers !…read moreSo friendly and personable. 10 out of 10 highly recommend!

First time here Street parking only…read more Front bar is small but back bar is bigger and has a better vibe There are several TVs showing the football game Lots of tables Bar is well stocked Prices are reasonable, my margarita was OK Hard on ok, low key weak But whatever I drank it lol Dogs allowed No drama Patrons are 40 plus and older

1.2 mi•Grand Lake, Lower Hills

Inside

Back bar area/restrooms

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Back bar

The Alley

4.1(484 reviews)

The Alley is a popular dive bar and nightclub in Carlsbad known for its lively, atmosphere,…read moreaffordable drinks and diverse crowd. It features DJs, a packed dance floor, and events like karaoke and live bands, attracting locals and visitors looking for a fun, no-frills night out with a wide range of music. Had no idea what to expect but had a blast. You just dance the night away with people you don't know. What a vibe.

I visited The Alley for their famous piano bar and sing-along. The atmosphere was definitely lively…read moreand the place was packed, but the experience was a bit of a mixed bag. It was pretty frustrating at the start. Starting with the parking situation, couldn't find parking anywhere but what do you expect from San Francisco... When we got inside it was super busy and we couldn't find a place to sit, and no one really stepped in to help us. After wandering around for about 15 minutes, we finally snagged a spot at a long shared table. Luckily, a bench table right next to the piano opened up shortly after and we jumped on it. I ended up facing the opposite direction, so I didn't have much of a view, but at least my sister and girlfriend got a front-row seat to the show! The drinks were just mediocre, and it took about 5-10 minutes for them to arrive. For the price and the wait, I was hoping for something a bit better. Why it's a 3-star review: Despite the rough start, there were three things that really saved the night: The theme is awesome. There is so much detail on the walls; you can tell a lot of work went into the decorations. Our waiter was great. Even though the place was slammed, he checked on us constantly to see how we were doing and if we needed another round. The piano player was the highlight. He really knew how to hype up the crowd and his skills were top-notch. Overall, a cool spot for the history and the music, but the seating and drink wait can be a challenge. Glad the girls got to see the show, as they are more interested in piano bars than I am.

0.8 mi•Jack London Square

Awesome place

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Facing the piano area

Heinold's First And Last Chance Saloon

4.3(630 reviews)

Heinold's is the oldest bar in Oakland and it's slanted inside! It even caught on fire one time,…read morebut obviously still standing. My friends and I stopped by for a drink after bowling and I'm so glad we did. I tried the mai tai and it was the best mai tai I've ever had. It tasted like a spiked capri sun and was very delicious and refreshing. They have outdoor seating so the vibes are chill. Get a drink, relax, and treat yoself :)

It was mid afternoon on a Monday, and I was unemployed and wandering around the area, visiting some…read morelandmarks. And day drinking. Heinold's looks really out of place, but really it's all the modern buildings nearby that are discrepant for a waterfront. The building is famously tilted, and the interior is tiny and stuffed with uniforms, signs, bottles, hats, and ceiling graffiti. I was focused on the tan AfrikaCorps jacket for some reason. I sat at the bar, and there were three other people at a table. I had two of the $12 special cocktails, including the Bittersweet Good Rye. I asked about the St George's NOLA coffee liqeuer, and the bartender offered a separate taste. I'm not sure how often I'd come here, since I have other reason to be in the area. But I'm glad to know it's there.

Interior

Bittersweet Good-Rye

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Inside - the bar

Room 389

4.2(515 reviews)

0.7 mi

Super chill, casual bar with great vibes!…read more Came here on a Monday evening, and the place had a good amount of people hanging out. Loved that there were lots of seating-bar seating, high tops, and cushioned booths in the back. Good music (D'Angelo, Fugees, Tupac...) which was at a perfect volume, so nobody was yelling! The string lights made for a warm, very comfortable vibe. Our martinis were perfectly chilled and delicious. There's a self serve water dispenser next to the bar, which is always nice. No food, so don't come hungry. They have a cute DJ booth, and looks like they have occasional DJ sets that are posted on their IG-Might be fun to check out! Really glad that we stopped by this place, and will definitely be back. Great way to close off a 3 day weekend!

It's been several years since I've visited this bar, and I'm happy to say it still has charming…read morebartenders and satisfying drinks. I tried the Golden Lion, it was small but mighty with a lovely flavor profile. The dj was doing his big one with the records and there was a steady flow of people entering the bar. I think if not for the rain the place would have been packed, and that's crazy for a Sunday evening.