50 Best Beer Bars near Berkeley

“Such a terrific little bar! Top notch, small batch beers from talented local brewers. Something for everyone: IPAs, pales, pilsners, saisons, sours, and (often) my favorite Belgian beer styles. Casual, friendly vibe. A great place to go with friends, on date night, or solo (laptops fine). Can bring in food, games, or your dogs. Hoi Polloi is a real gem.“

“$8 per person gives you access to over 800 boardgames! You aren't able to leave and come back, but luckily they have food and drinks (including beer) if you get a hankering for something! The staff was friendly and the pizza was good. My husband's beer ended up getting a bug in it and they so kindly replaced it! We will be coming back.
P.S. free parking on the street after 6pm“

“It’s the best Restaurant in town came with Family and we had a great time! Food was great and drinks 🍹 we all loved the dessert as well! Just amazing service and food! My Favorite for sure! 2914 College Ave Berkeley Ca“

“OG Burger on Solano is absolutely worth the stop. I asked the gentleman behind the counter what he would order for himself, and he recommended the double bulgogi burger. I told him to make it the way he would for himself, and it came out dialed in.

What stood out is that it was not a standard American smashburger. Instead of the usual profile, it leaned into Korean fusion flavors. The bulgogi added a deep, savory sweetness that worked perfectly with the crispy smashed patties. It felt intentional and different in a good way.

He gave me a light sauce on the side that paired extremely well. I did not catch the name, but it had a vinaigrette style tang that balanced the richness of the meat and brought everything together.

I also ordered the loaded fries, and they were just as strong. As far as smashburger spots go, this one separates itself by doing something different and doing it well. I would definitely have it again.“

“Staff is always on point. Good food. Always comes out promptly.“

“ton katsu rice bowl: amazing!!!
spam rice bowl: not good.
kimchi fried rice: pretty good
beef kimbap: good
japchae: not good, too oily and soggy
beef bulgogi: good
pork belly: good
dumplings/potstickers: good!
corndogs: decent

croffles: not really that good
mochinuts: very yummy
drinks: all very yummy, my favorites are ube and horchata“

“Ronald and John keep Tap Haus on point. Always professional, but still laid-back and approachable. They create a safe vibe while keeping the energy fun. Definitely the kind of guys who make the night run smooth without ever forcing it. Solid crew, solid spot.“

“Friendly and they had the eagles 🦅 game on . Great environment“

“Intimate and cozy bar with an excellent wine and beer selection. The interior is gorgeous but small, dominated by the bar. The walls look like they’re made of green velvet but it’s actually concrete. The service was friendly, and they made to sure to keep our glasses full. The food is from Ernest, which was a treat. The bread is from Rize Up Bakery and highly recommended with the wine.“

“A put bull was allowed to attack our dog tonight, they were sitting at the bar by the door. Our dog is well-behaved and well-trained and was attacked walking out of the restaurant. I appreciate places being dog friendly but plz be safe. The food and drinks are great but this ruined the evening.“

“The best beer bar and bottle shop in Oakland; a draft room and chill setting for the famed Capitola
brewery; offering bottles and cans of the freshest beer, with analogous verisons of your favorites
with fresh ingredients, and a brewmasters touch. They’re also Hella queer and trans friendly, and you could belly your wheelchair up to the bar! (Like me, see you there ♿️!!)“

“I love this brewery! It is so refreshing to go somewhere that doesn't just have 20 IPAs. The vibes are chill but fun, the upstairs with its games is great, and the owner is super nice and accommodating. He was passing out free samples of their new beer. There are food trucks on the weekend as well as regular events.

Having been to almost all of the breweries in the Bay, I'd rate the overall quality S tier. Most of the competition is boring and frankly not great. This place and Tenma have been the most impressive of the East Bay establishments I've tried.

If you're in the area and looking for a place to hang out for a little bit and grab a beer or two you can't go wrong. Highly recommended!“

“I liked the chicken quesadilla. The cheese fries were also the best fries I’ve ever had in my life. One of the best halal Mexican spots I’ve been to in the bay.. maybe even the best. I went on a Friday afternoon and the parking situation wasn’t so bad.“

“No pics but it’s a great “dive.” The dishes are very original and flavorful. I had the spicy chicken sandwich and a friend had the fish tacos. Sounds unoriginal, but the flavors are what make it special. We didn’t even order sides and were very satisfied with the portions. They also have a great variety of brews to choose from to go with the meal. I’m definitely going back. The atmosphere is great, even if it gets crowded, it wouldn’t feel like it. There’s good spacing between tables unlike a lot of places in San Francisco. The decor is slightly rustic and good atmospheric Latin music in the background, not too loud at all.“

“Over in San Francisco from Perth Australia and popped in for a couple of beers, awesome spot and great beers, staff were super friendly and even grabbed some merch, get yourselves over and support these guys and have a cracking pint or four“

“Came in on a Saturday morning and stayed for a few hours. Really quiet and enjoyed the ambiance, only a few people coming in and out. Coffee and service was wonderful, just a bit pricey.

My two concerns are, first, cleanliness; windowsills are dirty of spider webs and dead bugs. Looks like they've been there for a LONG time. Second, plants haven't been watered in a long time too.

Overall, great experience.“

“Great bar and good food trucks out front“

“really like this place because it's family-friendly and has a variety of food. I like it because they have burritos. I highly recommend it.“

“This place is sooo BOMB!
I mean wicked good!
Staff are awesome.
The food is awesome.
The vibe is awesome.
Always catering to US.
I’m sooo glad this place is still here.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO WORKS HERE!“

“Stopped by twice in the past week. They have around five beers on tap, mostly craft. The craft beers are high quality like Sculpin IPA, and the Elysian Space Dust IPA. They also have several European and other American beers in bottles or cans. Had the New York steak sandwich once, and bacon burger the next time. Both were tasty. Burger was cooked medium rare, as asked. Strong recommendation if you're in the area and want good pub food with a good beer selection.“

“Wonderful experience and everyone is friendly The music is great And drinks are amazing“

“Had a reservation, but a physical problem in late afternoon required cancellation. However there is no telephone number and no way to let restaurant know -- and a default charge of $40.

Apparently this isn't restaurant policy. They contacted us within an hour and refunded the money -- and said they're looking for another reservation service.“

“This is the kind of place I want to see in any city I live in. Harmonic is hands-down one of the best locally owned microbreweries. The owners are long-time SF residents and amazing humans who truly care about their beer, customers, and community. The brews are delicious, creative, and always changing—there’s never a boring pour here. They have decent snacks and seem to regularly have unique food pop-ups. It’s an accessible place whether you’re out alone, or with friends and family. SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES!“

“Awesome and women-owned! Let's bask in the light of this great community of women in the Bay! Love this place!“

“The delightfully friendly staff serve up truly delicious caffeinated concoctions...a wonderful way to start the day.“

“I love the afternoon tea service here! The setting, food and service are all wonderful. Some hotel afternoon tea services in the city are overpriced for the quality but this restaurant offer the perfectly balanced service. I recommend you try the tea called “Nuit à Versailles.” I live 6 blocks away from this restaurant and I will be back soon again.“

“We come by almost every Friday and have lunch at Cato's. The staff is extremely friendly and the service is top notch! It's always rejuvenating to be at Cato's and start our weekend with good food, tasty beverages and a few good laughs with the welcoming folks that work and patronize the Ale House.“

“I love this place. They burgers, fries, cheese curds are amazing but can you please train your cooks to send the fries with the burgers? It’s the second time in a row that I get my burger and then almost have to beg the server to give us the fries 5 min after we got the burgers. People orders fries to eat with their burgers, not afterwards…“

“The ramen tastes very good, the soup base is rich and the noodles taste great“

“Cool tour, and The Rake has an excellent selection of their customers’ beers on tap!“

“Amazing 🤩 Great service and tasty food“

“We came across this place after watching movie in Richmond. They were having some program in their restaurant at that moment so there was not seating available but lady on front desk offered take out, And she also offered us chai on the house. We had veg chowmein and paneer chilly. And it was really good.“

“Great beer selection, friendly staff and sunny warm patio to enjoy it all.“

“I ❤️ these guys chicken catfish💕💕💕“

“Best bartenders, awesome owners, killer sound and all around good times always!“

“My brother loves beer and we get together a couple times a month. We had not been there in years, and this is where I remember them having a great beer selection. They have really done a great job on the remodel and the music is at a level you can talk at! The food was good and the beer was great. I will be back!“

“great location downtown Oakland. price is good. Food is good.“

“fantastic drinks excellent atmosphere and realy cool people“

“Don’t get to Alameda very often, but was pleasantly surprised when I stumbled across Alameda Brewing. Nice, spacious indoor seating area. The brewery stresses community and employs a nautical theme throughout the brewery. Restrooms were clean and the staff helpful.“

“Dropped into this place to grab a few drinks before our show at the Fox theater and highly recommend. Great cocktails, local brews, and knowledgable bartenders. No food but you can bring your own, and the takeout from the thai place just down the street they recommended was amazing.“

“We came upon the recommendation of a chef from Chicago, and were lucky to squeeze in without a reservation on a busy weekend night. Everything was fresh and delightful! We especially loved the scallop vermicelli, small bites and the abundant garlic pea shoots. Above all, the service was outstanding with a welcoming and attentive host, and a kitchen that was willing to kindly make some adjustments for food sensitivities. A lively and comfortable atmosphere. Will return to taste more!“

“Nice place to watch sports“

“The best! Great hospitality; Lalo is a great cook!“

“My go to. Constantly delish for the past 30 years.“

“good food and drinks! Laid back, fun , casual neighborhood bar, New England pub atmosphere,.“

“The Library was a neat speakeasy experience on a bustling Saturday night for our group of 4. Not the best drinks I've had in the city, but the atmosphere was exciting and we didn't have to wait for a spot inside to hangout which was awesome.“

“this place is a lovely spot“

“Love the live music of the Ripplers And Secret Sauce!“

“If you’re looking for a full service bar, with great apps and some good food definitely the spot to check out. Nicole was very attentive and the best part very keen to having lighthearted and enjoyable conversation.A clean bar, with great ingredients and great presentation. I’m definitely glad to have stopped by, thanks Nicole!“

“We were thrilled to be invited to a dinner event host at Trader Vic’s since it’s one of the tiki bar I really waned to try!

The dinner was decent overall. We started with a salad that came with lettuce mix, tomato, artichoke, hearts of palm and Japanese dressing.

For entrees, we had the miso salmon that’s pan seared salmon with chimichurri, grilled bok choy.

We also tried the sliced New York strip loin, which tasted great as well. For dessert, we had the dulce de leche cream brûlée, which tasted great.

After dinner, we went to the bar and ordered a few cocktails. The bartender, David, was very friendly and chill! We tried the original Mai tai, Polu Puffer and Bumbu Hunter.

The one I liked the most was the Bumbu Hunter, it had four kinds of rums with tropical notes and warm spices! I would definitely come back to try more of their drinks! Highly recommended!“