Secret societies & outlaws on the lam must appreciate, & even admire, the blackened depths of the Ruby Room. When I walked into this abyssal cave on the dark side of the Moon, the waning outside light of dusk seemed blindingly bright in comparison. Though I am violating the 1st rule of Fight Club by reporting this, I was here because of John Z.'s invitation. A gathering had been planned. An assemblage, of sorts, of parties who will remain unnamed (oops, except for John Z.), all coming together for 1 purpose, 1 cause... Hey, let's hang out & have a couple drinks before heading over to the nearby Oakland Restaurant Week Kick-Off Party YEE. Sounded cool. I was in. So, a few of us members of the not-so-secret society that is East Bay Yelp Elites showed up & did precisely that. The staff & few other patrons there had a hipster vibe, but the bar itself could've been your father's favorite watering hole. Or rather, your grandfather's favorite watering hole according to Eric B. (oops, again with the names, keeping secrets not my forte). The Ruby Room served our purpose of Pre-YEE launchpad quite well. I had a couple Happy Hour beers (Racer 5) & we all managed to stay out of trouble despite Markus N. being a member of our cadre that evening (not that Markus N. is a trouble-maker, no really, & oh yeah, oops, no names named). The Ruby Room is a very cool & very, very dark dive bar that is a great place for secret societies, outlaws on the lam & even Yelp Elites to get together & toss back a few drinks while getting ready for their next move, diabolical or otherwise. read more

It's a cool looking place... old school mid century style with a cool stone face wall behind the bar, the tables, chairs, lamps and the smoking room (?) And of course the red lighting... awesome soul dj playing it was like stepping back Into some 2960s go go bar... thing is, they clearly haven't cleaned the tap lines or maybe even the whole bar since Lyndon Johnson was President... the place smells like someone ate a 3 pound block of welfare cheese and puked it up all over the floor... seriously it's unbearable to the point that I wonder why the health department hasn't stepped in... also, one bartender on a Saturday night? Just a few little things and make this place so much better. read more

Yes! It CAN get darker than this. But not much. I mean if you have a candle in a closet how much illumination do you really get? You get the Ruby Room. And hot damn. Everyone looks amazing.! Fellow Yelpers.. do you like dive bars? Or just a bar with a hot Tennder who can make any drink you throw at 'em. Even makes you a JD&C without calling you stupid? If u do then you will love The Ruby Room. They have a great product ( oh yeah!).. made perfectly (of course), at the right price (thank u!), and they treat you right (that's dive bar 101) Been here too many times now to count. Each time I love it more than the last! read more

The Ruby Room - Seems simple enough.. {see next pic} - Dive Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

The ultimate Dive Bar. $5.00 for a Pabst Blue Ribbon AND a shot of Jameson. You can't beat that. Pool tables in the back. Could use a better DJ sometimes but I guess I don't fit the natural demographic. I would like a little more hip hop and r&b more dancing tunes so to say. read more

We walked in, and my friend Ruben whispered "I love it here" like we were in church or something. Oh holy Ruby Room. One of the best dive funk bars of all time. The first half of the night was pure Motown then the dj switched to punk and then back to soul. I had a couple Jack & Cokes, crazy strong and super cheap. No one batted an eye when I decided to become a WWF champion. And that's why I love Ruby Room. read more

Claire is the bomb bartender!! She will take the time out to make you the drink of your dreams (as long as she is not swamped!). Its great bartenders, that can make or break a place and Claire really goes the extra mile! Before I came here i had (mistakenly) passed judgment on this place, based solely on some mediocre reviews. I came here reluctantly at the request of the BF. I can now say that I was wrong. Love it here! So divey and at the same time a secret mixologist haven, I am almost afraid to tell anyone. Like that secret bar you don't want to be ruined by the mainstream. Yeah it's dark and yeah it's smokey in the back, if that's not your thing save yourself some grief and head elsewhere. Really great crowd and a great selection of cocktails. Seriously, Claire is a stellar bartender, this is my new go-to bar when I can't get to H&D. read more

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If you're brave enough, there is an ominous vat of blackness in the corner of the bar that says "Ruby Room Special Vintage". Upon first glance, I recognized the evil in that vat and made the sign of the cross. Closer inspection revealed that this vintage is composed of an ever changing combination of 23 spirits. My guess is that 23 is the minimum, and there were countless dregs in there. I talked two people into this two dollar headache, one of these brave people was my lady. Oops, my bad. I had a sip, it tasted like coffee liqueur and mint. It was like cough syrup and coffee. I didn't regret the sip, but she regretted the shot later in the morning. There is a smoking "patio" here if you're into that. I don't know if it qualifies as a patio, since it's indoors and has open walls. Might as well smoke a cig belly up to the bar. Fun place, nice pours. read more

The Ruby Room - Ruby Room Special Vat - Dive Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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Solid dive bar! Stepping in, you're greeted by the warm glow of the dim red lights that have overtaken the entire bar. The crowd is mixed and there's something for everyone. I happened to be there on a Wednesday night, AKA country night, and was surprisingly greeted by some folks wearing cowboy hats and taking $1 whiskey shots every time Johnny Cash belted his tunes. The ambiance is dark, relaxed, and cave-like. There's a decent amount of seating for everyone and plenty of standing room. Happy Hour prices also can't be beat and last until 9pm! I'll definitely be back with a bigger crowd! read more

This is my favorite bar in my hood. I like the darkness, sometimes ok music, cute bartenders and the fact that you can smoke in here. It has the nicest bathroom around town too! read more

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I haven't been here in what seems like mirages ago.. I always came here a bit sauced but powdered and enjoyed my time. It's somewhat of a drunken maze to find somewhere to stay in a red light blur but that's what I think is the beauty and experience of this bar. The music ranges from old school hip hop to dancing down the narrow hall kind of funk. I'll be back.. read more

Favorite dive bar forever. STICKY RED DOOM. This place bleeds oakland. Djs are always super chill and will take requests;always good music-never top 40. (Except wednesday is country-yikes) Smoking room-hell yes. Tiny dance floor where you'll either meet your new best friend or your one night stand for the evening ;) Also the bartenders can make prohibition cocktails. Let your eyes adjust, try not to trip down that one hallway, and you'll have an amazing night. read more

LOVESIT! Came here last night for a friend's birthday get-together. Of course, I checked out trusty Yelp first and the main impression I got was "DARK." Well yes, yeah, dark for sure. Not complaining. It's possible I have the worst allergies ever and smoke always aggravates me, so I was a bit apprehensive about this place in the beginning. But I ended in the midst of quite a few smokers and didn't find myself coughing or tearing up even once. Win. Cheap drinks, unique atmosphere, pretty sweet DJ picks, solid people...you can't go wrong here. read more

I've been to this fine establishnent on two occations & both times have been a lot of fun. Fairly well intoxicated on both visits = the drinks are stiff. Lots of regulars,from the retired senior citizens to some head bangers. Remember to bring your welding goggles,as its soo freaking dark you cant see when exiting(even when its night time)( read more

If you like dive-y bars it's a good place. Ordering the same type of drinks non happy hr is cheaper than the lake chalets but there is a nice staff and there are pool tables. All and all.. decent place.. read more

$4 drinks, dark atmosphere, and occasional dancing. This place is one of my favorite dive bars in Oakland. They have a DJ, they have a place where you can smoke, they have a pool table, and they even perform bar flair tricks. The place is dark illuminated by a a few red lights giving the place an eerie, yet intimate atmosphere (it worked really nicely with their Halloween decorations). The perfect place to end a night of fun. read more

Everytime I go I'm pretty sure it's gotten even darker inside and EVERY SINGLE TIME I lose something. I'm pretty sure there's a black hole somewhere in back that is causing it to become progressively darker and sucks away your possessions. If you go, bring spelunking gear. read more

I've been going to Ruby for years and it finally feels safe again! The dance floor is back to normal! I'm happy to see the changes!

If you're looking for a spot with zero judgement, a place you can just chill relax and enjoy a whiskey after a long day at work go here. There's bars around the area within walking distance if you wanna bar hop too. The bartender Brie is hilarious and the manager David will take care of you. read more

I love the ruby room. They Always play good music, from funk to Motown to old school hip hop and r&b. Fresh grapefruit juice in their paloma's and they dont skimp on the size of the drinks! Cute dance floor for those who want to shake something and a cutty smoke room in the back where you can hear the music from the dj and shoot some pool. Definitely one of my go to starting spots for going out in oakland. read more

really cool bartender most people here seemed to be regulars, but it's not sketchy or uninviting plenty of seating great drinks. you can get a pimm's cup here! read more

It's okay bar to be honest it wasn't so good or too bad either maybe because I went during weekdays that's why. But the crowd was huge and they played old R&B songs which was okay for certain kinda people. This bar have pool tables inside and small dance floor where you can get sweaty or cold tehhh.. anyways this place is cool for casual hangout. read more

The Ruby Room is the darkest bar in the free world. Who are you talking to? Could be Olivier Martinez, could be Boss Hogg... you don't know, 'cause you can't see them. I went here in the daytime recently (because I am THIS close to being involuntarily checked in to St. Helena Health Center) and the eye adjustment from outside to in was crazy -- like blacking out almost. Or like going in that tunnel thing at the Exploratorium. If that tunnel thing smelled like stale smoke and had a few red spotlights pointed at a wall of liquor bottles. Seriously, that's the only thing you can see in there. Stage lit hooch. So there's no doubt as to the star of this show. Considering how dark it is, it's pretty clean in there. I think. Nice crowd, good bartenders. And the drinks were strong like bear. Word to the wise: the women's bathroom door PUSHES in. More than a fire code violation, this trick feature had me standing there about to girly rain my pants and wondering what ungodly things were going on in there for what seemed like an eternity... until a 510 mama took pity on me and showed me the ropes. To the MAN who hung this door: real funny, ass clown. read more

The Ruby Room is by far the darkest bar I've ever been to. It's so dark in there that your eye's never really get used to it. I thought I saw people smoking in the back room when I was looking for the bathroom but I'm not sure, I suppose you could do whatever you want back there and no one would know. read more

...and Shelly thought this would be a low turn out/intimate DYL due to it being on Black Friday :P. The place is three blocks from Lake Merritt Bart, but I'm told its equidistant from 12th St. Bart which is a safer walk. First impression: The place is dark. Like seriously dark...close the cellar door and call me Donnie Darko dark. But as DYLers move in herds, it wasn't hard finding the fun bunch in the corner seats. A little too dark for my taste but... This little divey bar is decked out in red everything, or was it the red lighting that gave everything that hue? Anyway, it was a cool interior that reminds me of my dive bars in the Tenderloin. Lasting impression: The Tokyo Teas and the Adios MoFo's ($10 each). As I rub my temples and drink my water this morning, I know; Ruby Room has left me w/ a lasting impression. Heavy handed doesn't give our great bartender enough credit, the lead handed bartender got me full on trashed. Ice was the only mixer in those drinks. Two Tokyo Teas and one AMF were enough to send me to the pool table worried that I would lose. Eyes crossing/closing and all, I staggered to the table. Pool tables: The sharks at Ruby Room circled at the smell of my intoxicated blood. I hesitantly put in my quarters and played my damdest. Luckily I pulled out all the dirty tricks (aka strategy), played safety, pushed when I needed too etc. I didn't even call any of my opponents' faults. So I got out of there 2:0...praiseing my lucky stars. It was a great night and I'm glad I made it out. Now off with you, go to Ruby Room....I guarantee you won't be seeing red. :) read more

The Ruby Room is a solid dive bar. I'm so glad to have finally checked it out after many months of passing it by on the way back to work from Lake Merritt. Stopped in here with Dalane and Markus for a quick drink before hitting up the Oakland Art Murmur (held every first Friday of the month). With all of my recent Oaktown Yelps, I'm really starting to 'Hella love Oakland!" Anywho, back to The Ruby Room, it appears to have all of the characteristics that I envision for a dive: 1) Little signage - There's nothing on the awning, and the only thing I saw was a small standing sign just outside the front door. 2) Dark Interior (walls, booths, tables, chairs). Awwyah, I like it dark :) Honestly, the only lights are from the red candleholders on the tables or the lights behind the bar. I loved that I couldn't see where I was stepping, and got lost going to the Ladies Room. Thankfully, a regular was kind enough to point me in the right direction. If I was uber intoxicated, I could see how disorienting and adventurous finding the bathroom would be. 3) Friendly Locals - At the time we arrived, there were 2 other patrons, and within minutes, we found out that they were locals and regulars. They were super nice and incredibly down to earth, and more importantly, happy to yap it up with us, Ruby Room newbies. 4) Friendly Bartender - Super nice and chill bartender (whose name escapes me). He was awesome, and answered the inquiring minds "who wanted to know" (eg., What did he put on his arm? - A nicotine patch; Does he drink while tending? - No) 5) Drinks - Hella Cheap! Decent hard alcohol selection along with several beers on tap. Not only are the drinks cheap, but also the pouring seems quite generous. I believe that the friendly bartender gave a lil' extra to my Vodka Tonic and to M's Grey Goose on the rocks with a twist. Thank you, sir! 6) Smoky - Even though, I didn't see anyone smoking cigs, I could smell it, and didn't bother me one bit. 7) Music - Metal and hard rock was playing. Since we were there uber early, the nightly DJ hadn't arrived. One of the regulars mentioned that it's totally bumpin' and with ginormous crowds after 11:30pm. Cheers to this dive bar gem! Of course, I'll return to The Ruby Room (and stay way longer than a mere round of drinks). I'm so diggin' the dark and drinks! read more

Fun dive bar here, very dim and cool they have separate rooms for hanging out. I enjoy the atmosphere and ambiance on that kind of night. Cool spot to check out and grab a drink if you are in the area. read more

Talk about entering the Red Light District... The lighting, what minuscule amount there is, is all in red, definitely creating a sultry mood. (Which some people I noticed were taking advantage of...) On the plus side, everyone looks better in such conditions, so your odds of leaving alone fall precipitously. The bartender, Melissa, was awesome. (Disclaimer: We got a Yelp discount of $1 on well drinks for the inaugural East Bay DYL happy hour.) She was quick and friendly in responding to all our orders. More important than pouring our drinks strong (which she did) she poured them well-proportioned (like she herself) so they also tasted really good. Despite being the only bartender, she still came back and cleared our tables of empties at least 3 times. The bouncer and later bartender were also responsive about shutting down the guy who started lighting up cigarettes in the back, which I really appreciated. The men's restroom looks like it was "painted" using nothing more than a couple red paint-bombs, and given the broken angle of the door, that wouldn't surprise me. Still, it was clean, well-stocked, and in otherwise good condition. Unlike most bars I've been in, Ruby Room kept their music to a very reasonable level. I could carry on a conversation without shouting, yet could enjoy the music without straining if a good song came on. And when someone cranked it up, Melissa was very cool about adjusting the speakers so they weren't blaring right into our group. The great staff, atmosphere, and 4 block proximity to Lake Merritt BART make this a great bar to visit again. Just remember to eat your carrots beforehand or bring a seeing-eye cat! TRIVIA: Rubies are geologically the same as sapphires, being the same mineral (corundum). Trade in rubies has been tracked back as far as 100 BCE along China's North Silk Road. Today, roughly 90% of rubies are mined in Myanmar (Burma), prompting many jewelers and governments, including First Lady Laura Bush, to call for a boycott. read more

As a first-timer at the Ruby Room, you might feel a little un-cool. Because all those people on the dance floor, in the smoking lounge, and perched at the bar, knew about it before you did. It's a reminder that the most interesting spots aren't always found via PR buzz, but good ol' fashioned word of mouth. Thanks Lara W for the insider invite! Why, with so many bars in Oakland, would you find yourself at the Ruby Room? Perhaps because you want to dance to a DJ spinning everything from reggae to ska to soul (gotta love DJ Miggy Stardust). Maybe you like being able to smoke indoors (there's a glassed in room for the puffers. They prefer you only smoke legal substances). Maybe you appreciate reasonably priced drinks, not dressing-to-impress, people watching, the color red, or squeezing into small spaces. You can do all that, and probably more, at the Ruby Room. Yay to that. read more

after reading a few good Bukowski stories, I dream of landing in a space like this. See sometimes I like riding around in my car like I am joyriding and hiding from the world. I would end up here, walking into the peaceful darkness. The drunk lover rises gets beyond wasted and swims in the abyss of Crown on the rocks, travels through oceans of Hangar, dabbles in the beautiful Fernet, and make out in the midst of the smoke and cheap red lights. I like letting go and having no tension, just letting the drunk lover flow. Ruby Room helps the drunk lover inside of me stay alive. read more

Rude, condescending staff trying hard to be cool. Come across more as entitled kids smoking pot. Dark vibe is kinda cool, but the stuff is just intolerable. read more

It's red & black and cool all over! Upon walking in, I thought I had a problem with my eyesight. It's dark as fuck and they make no apologies about it. In fact, they just tell you to get over yourself and adapt. Wow, I wasn't brought up that way but, OK, I can take tough love.. now anyway. Fuck it, they gave us yelper drink specials so, I adapted with a quickness. They sort of allow smoking inside, just so you know. Kinda bugged, but, eh.. after a few drinks, I managed to get over it... Bartenders here don't measure shit -- and it's why I am drunk-reviewing at this very moment. Cheap drinks, good company...I'll be back! *hiccups* read more

If somehow you were incapable of seeing the color red then everything and everyone here would be in grayscale. The red lights seriously make everything look a shade of red, way more so than at Radio. It was very distracting at first but eventually I got used to it. This place seems to be a hangout for hipsters without attitudes. Everyone seemed friendly and easygoing for the most part. It was nice sitting in a booth for most of the night with friends having drinks and chatting, although sometimes the music was a bit too loud to hear what anyone was saying. Solution: get up and dance. Some of the music wasn't the easiest to dance to but some of it great. $5.50 for a Jack and Coke isn't too bad either, especially since it comes in a pretty sizable glass. I didn't like leaving and smelling like smoke though. read more

I onced walked into this joint w/ my friend "Z" from Mills (white girl) and three other people of color. We stayed and drank then steped outside so we could count to 420. As we walked back in the bar I noticed the the door guy gettin' Z's attention. After we sat down Z came over and said we need to leave. We are all askin' why? She says WE NEED to leave. As we step out side she says that the bartender ask what was up w/ bringing the "the black contingency" in to the bar. He then said that he would kick us out if we didn't leave. Now, I know I lot of people love this place. I have even heard that the management has changed. I really don't know what to think. My girl Mo' ask me to come hang out. It seemed cool. but I still feel weird about going in. Comments??? All names have been changed to protect the friends, fiends, innocent, guilty, stupid, crazy and down right bad. I also reserve the right to miss spell, phonetically spell and use bad grammar where needed. read more

DYL - East Bay edition was here last night and it was a great time!! Took awhile to adjust the eyes to the dark. Then, had to accept they were not covering up a monster roach infestation. However, as the night went on, nothing scrambled over my feet. Melissa, the bartender, was charming and generous with the pour. Well drinks kept coming and all the yelpers were drunk & happy. I really wasn't concerned about everyone else. I would come back here with friends again. It was very laid back and not too loud. If dive bar means great service and cheap drinks then I'm ALL over it!! And THANKS for the yelper drink specials!!! read more

Just to make things clear: Yes, I'm from Indiana. Yes, I'm normally the uptight one in heels delicately drinking my vodka soda. But no, I'm not in a "nursing program" or the "chairman of the babysitter's club" or any of those other statements... Therefore just because you've never seen me drunk, doesn't mean I can't drink. And this point was made last night at the Ruby Room. The bartenders are quick and make strong, cheap drinks. The room is dark enough that no one can tell when your eyes are crossing and the bathroom is large enough for impromptu conferences with your girls that leave your boyfriend wondering if you passed out. This point was amplified this morning when I was wide awake and annoying the heck out of my babysitter who was hoping that my level of drunkenness last night might allow further amusement or at least a bit of vomitting. I'm afraid that until I found other ways to be amusing, he was disappointed read more

My favorite bar in Oakland. I have been here too many times, it didn't help when I lived upstairs. Just be careful who it is you find yourself crushing on, that hot Latin guy you're talking to might actually be a 97 year old manatee, the lighting makes it a little rough to tell... read more

This place smells like a wet dog wearing a diaper. Every surface has a dried up 30-rack of PBR stuck to it. You can't see who your making out with. It's like being inside a stripper's asshole WHILE SHE'S DANCING THE END OF HER SECOND SHIFT. LOVE YOUUU read more

This has to be one of the darkest bars in Oakland. It has a decent amount of space here though which I like and of course, my favourite DJ spins here. I'm not a fan of the smoking but you get kind of used to it after awhile. Lots of cool kids go here. I will go back most likely. read more

I'm blind! I'm blind! I'm- oh never mind, it's just the weird red lighting and black stucco ceilings. I'll be able to see again eventually - the shiny sparkles on the ceiling help. The interior is pretty interesting once your eyes adjust. The stone on the outside of the place continues behind the bar, and the crevices between the stones make perfect resting spots for the random plastic toy animals scattered throughout. A wall of mirrors is on the bar side, and the vinyl red stools give way to vinyl red booths and other seating areas around the corner, as well as a pool table. A small dance floor sits between the bar and the booths, and there's usually a DJ there too. Wells are $4, PBRs are $2.50 or less, and there's about 12 beers on tap. The bartenders are friendly (and cute), and the drinks are fairly strong. The remaining bar staff is friendly and professional, but I did overhear something unfortunate - all I will say is that not everyone who does the Yelp thing sits behind a computer all day, and many (if not most) have been in the service industry at some point in their lives. For what it's worth, this reviewer believes that anyone who uses Yelp as a way to get special treatment from businesses by threatening them is a tool. Overall, a solid and friendly neighborhood joint with an eclectic clientele. Oh, and watch out for perverts (the creepy stranger variety, not my friends). http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-ruby-room-oakland#hrid:kul9-gSNtSPJqeNEOtE0Ng :| read more

Walking in, he says "shut one eye, just trust me." ok, whatever. Walk in. "Okay, open your eye." Woah, wtf. Dark, Dark, Dark. Eyes adjust even after precautions. Still dark. Red lights strategically placed. Awesome. The bar-proper area has a bit more lighting for the bartender's sake, but yeah, dark as F. Saddle up to the bar, well gins please. Through my first and second drink I'd hear this random high-pitched yelping (no pun intended) and everytime it made my anxiety-ridden self jump from my barstool like two feet and come back with a spirited "WTF! " A Regular finally explained that Wednesday was Library Staff Night-- after a day of forced shushhhing they apparently go wild with random screams in a dark, dark bar after a few PBRs. Jesus. Got used to it after gin #3. Made friends with some regulars, had a fabulous time. Didn't want to leave, really. The bartender was awesome, attentive, had a heavy hand. A tour of the men's bathroom introduced me to the largest pile of *toilet biscuits* I'd ever seen, those blue discs that are supposed to ward off unpleasant aromas... I swear, there were like 50 of 'em all piled up in each urinal. Before I was *trusted* by the regulars I was told No Smoking!, but after we made friends I got the wink and was allowed to light up indoors. Must've been a slow night, bc I didn't notice anyone else smoking. The music left me wanting. Lots of Beatles. Umm, LOTs of Beatles. As the night went on, more Joy Division than Beatles, yay, but not enough variety throughout the night. Yes, Ruby, see you soon. read more