17 Best Beer Bars in Oakland

“Nivea took care of me while dining in the Montclair location. The food was excellent, rivaling in-n-out, truly. Nivea was kind, attentive and very professional. Her service with a smile would draw me back time after time. And did I mention the smash burgers are number one.I would overall recommend this place to anyone looking for a friendly and welcoming environment.“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“Great local brewery with spectacular beer. Loved the tasting, the history lesson about the brewery and learning more about the craft. The New Oakland Glow (Pilsner) and the Sleeping Car Giants (Baltic Porter) are our favorites. For now ….“

“One of the state’s top ten breweries, and an option that flies in style, under the radar. Sante Adairius’s Oakland Arbor is a confident, quietly ambitious outpost that brings the Capitola-based brewer’s precision and ethos to the East Bay without losing the neighborhood feel. Housed in the former Trappist space, the Arbor respects its roots—original brick, polished wood, calm lighting—while projecting its own identity: more focused, less cluttered, and centered on the beer. The taplist is broad but purposeful. Signature saisons like Bernice remain touchstones, but the Oakland team expands the range with rustic lagers (Surge Capacity), unfined West Coast IPAs (New Brighten), and delicate low-ABV offerings (A Small Rest). Barrel-aged specials—like the layered, contemplative Bedside Manner—debut here and routinely impress. No filler. Even when they chase style trends, execution stays tight. Prices reflect the ambition ($9–$12 pours…) but the quality holds. Staff are attentive without performance. A small kitchen offers savory snacks, but beer is the point.“

“Really lovely spot perfect for snacks or full dinner. We love the service - kind and helpful, but with a light touch (non invasive!) - and have had great experiences every time. The location is convenient for getting to a second spot or to the city. Highly recommend!!!“

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

“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.“

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

“This place is fantastic! Great staff! Yoni made excellent beer recommendations and it was fun to chat about all things art and photography in Oakland. The Good Hop has an excellent array of beer on tap as well as a massive bottle and can selection. One of my favorite places in Oakland!“

“The best bar in Oakland. Hands down! They will make you anything you can imagine. They have the best mixologists in town. There is no other cocktail bar where you can order literally any drink and they can make it for you. I ordered an “amaro cocktail” and they gave me something that tasted like limoncello but is WAY better than limoncello. 10/10 we come here every week.“

“The lady running this place is amazing and really sweet! She cooked a delicious Ethiopian dinner for the 8 of us by herself. It took a bit, but it was well worth the wait because every dish was so good and the bread was light, spongy, and plentiful. Please give her your business!“

“Good vibes! Will definitely be back!!“

“Two pitchers is really great. It’s a little loud and lively and they seem to have trivia, but it’s such a cool vibe, it’s in a fun part of town and there’s great indoor and outdoor seating. It’s great for big groups or small and even if it’s packed there’s seating. The beer, wine and fun drink category is soooo big how can you not be happy getting a drink here. If you get hungry walk over to the courtyard and grab a burger at lovely’s.“

“Very solid Brazilian fare, good beer selection, wonderful service people“