50 Best Cocktail Bars in Oakland

“Some of the most high-quality and innovative cocktails I’ve seen in the bay. Service in general was great. William is brilliant, friendly, and not shy about nerding out with guests about his cocktails and spirits. He made the experience one to remember, and one to hopefully repeat soon. Thank you.“

“Enjoy the atmosphere and the tasty food !“

“Spent my 42nd birthday here by my self. The atmosphere is amazing. The walls are covered from floor to ceiling in knick knacks that will keep your eyes searching the walls for a long time. The Bartender (Shy) was AMAZING. Kind, sweet and patient. Thanks for a fun birthday!“

“good drinks, good food, friendly service, outdoor dining, i'll be back“

“We brought our friend here to celebrate his birthday because we wanted to gift an experience. We saw you featured on Check Please . . . And you guys WOW’d us beyond our expectations!! Amazing staff! And amazing food . . And yes, amazing cocktails!! Down to the last finishing touches ! We will definitely be back !“

“Food is delicious. Place is very nice. Service is great. Here is everything we tried and our rating:
- Sweet potato gnocchi : very flavorful! The eggplant and hazelnut sauce base is creative! Solid 5/5
- Empanadas: must try. We ended up ordering 2 rounds of these. The frying makes it a little heavy but the taste and the aioli dip are divine. 6/5 …awesome!
- Tumaco ceviche: interesting acidic flavors. The crispy plantain chips were the highlight for us. 3/5 …the acidity wasn’t hitting right but it’s still really good.
- Carpaccio: the sweet tangy sauce makes this really nice. 3.5/5“

“Came in on Sunday afternoon for some drinks and bites. We got the Wagyu and Chicken sliders. Wagyu sliders were 10/10, it was tender and had so much flavor. We thought that the chicken sliders were good, the chicken was fried well and it was juicy, but we thought it lacked a little flavor. Maybe more seasoning on the chicken or make the aioli a bit more flavorful.

Our drinks are Now You Nosso, Smashski, and Melas Beles (in order clockwise from lychee drink). They were all super refreshing and delicious.

If you want great food/drinks, good music, and friendly neighborhood vibes then definitely check out Nosso!“

“The best! I highly recommend you make a visit and enjoy good company.“

“I’m so happy we gave this spot a try! I absolute love the ambiance, service and all of the food was HOT and fresh. The sliders were delicious and made with quality meat, the catfish boa bites were great as well! One thing I look forward to seeing is a creative spin on wings.“

“Large, stylish and spacious. We were a group of seven people and three dogs and could spread out when we first got there Saturday opening at 3 PM in the back patio. A few other parties came after us, but we were just there for one drink so I’m not sure how busy it got afterwards.

We ordered at the bar and they have a full menu of interesting cocktails.

I got the golden girl and it was a great balance, making it way too easy to drink.

Did not try the food, but there was a vegan pop-up in the back patio with the QR codes around the bar to order online.

The restrooms were separated by men and women and are spacious and clean.“

“Always an interesting experience and fun treat. Classic cocktails in a classic atmosphere. Service is on point! Food is innovative yet still comforting and familiar. Never disappointed.“

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“Great service great vibe....a real community bar... They remember everyone and treat everyone with respect... But if you mess up and make patrons uncomfortable.... You are OUT. Always something good on the tvs or juke box, random art pop ups with no pressure...plus you can't beat the prices... Definitely worth the visit“

“4.5 ⭐️ This place is cozy! Afro-futuristic art and vinyl bar in uptown Oakland serving select cocktails with dim lighting and a casual
atmosphere. I tried the Taloma, a tamarind version of a Paloma and it was a great cocktail. Plenty of seating. Check out their socials for upcoming events and DJs. I’ve yet to attend any of their vinyl events since I’ve only come here a few times but I do like their record collection. Good location, near plenty of other bars and dining in the area.“

“Short wait on a Friday night for 7 of us. Really small place but the wait staff and owner very friendly and everyone was very happy with their meal. If I lived here I would go back.“

“Yummy Drinks, good vibes, outside patio...💥🔥💣💨😎“

“Smoker friendly sports bar with the best owner/ operator in the world. Roy treats you like he's hosting you in his own living room, often beginning in delicious homemade tamales to give out to hungry and grateful pateons. This bar is one of the gems of Oakland.“

“The owners are the sweetest people in the world and the loved my Lady Blu thank you so much I had a blast and yes Dee Dee Simon is the truth it was so worth the trip to see her and meet you all. A very friendly place that makes really good drinks Tory from Vegas“

“Really nice speak easy giving 60s to 80s vibes mirrors everywhere. It’s one way in one way out leather seating wooden tables. I recommend it for business professionals looking to go out or a group of friends that don’t want to be bothered. Either way I will be back they do not serve food therefore they got a low food rating. But there isn’t a array of alcohol. Can’t give you a good sense of service considering there’s only five people here but that may be a good thing.“

“My hometown spot. One of the only local spots I feel comfortable. Thanks!“

“Haven't been here since Pac died...lol. This is a classic spot and I had such a blast. Memories of when I used to be hitting the streets in my clubbing days lol. Older crowd and a lot of bikers but such a vibe. Security was hella cool too“

“Great food and drinks, friendly comrades on staff, great cocktail names, solid leftist propaganda and excellent events. 🖤🔥✨“

“Always a great time! congrats“

“My fiancé and I came here for a rare morning coffee date, a perfect pause in our busy lives as parents. Parking was easy and free just around the corner. We grabbed a sunny table outside, soaking in the morning light and each other’s company, while sipping lattes topped with delightful foam art. Warm, bright, and full of life, the Mother Tongue was inviting and cheerful, with wonderfully friendly staff. It was a lovely, and simple, a great and sweet experience.“

“I'm only giving this bar four stars because it doesn't have the same grit and dive bar feel after the remodel and reopening. And that may not be fair, because it's a great bar. And it's great that it's open again. I love the place“

“I stopped into Soon's before meeting a friend for dinner last night. What a cozy, warm vibe. The bartender Bea introduced herself and asked my name. Showed me the bottles of wine they had available. Six dollars for a nice glass of merlot. Fun music. The patrons were friendly and having a great time. Looking forward to stopping in again soon.“

“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.“

“They're always so nice to me here! Mama loves the craft cocktails and the book curations. We live nearby so it's a favorite neighborhood hang, and we appreciate all the thought that went into the menus.“

“I thought this would be a dime a dozen dive bar type spot, but thankfully I was wrong. It was pretty poppin for a Monday evening, but not enough to where it was overwhelming. The trees are fantastic, and the cocktails were actually good! We even got a nifty NA cocktail as a nightcap. I'll be coming back next time I'm in the area.“

“It was the friendliest salsa scene I've been to in years--Sunday at four to eight. And the food was gorgeous, and the staff super helpful.“

“Just came to this Gem last night and we had SUCH an amazing time! The drinks were 🔥 🔥🔥 Cristine is a true mixologist and totally set the vibe 👌🏼They have cute games you can play like connect 4, card games, Jenga, and a cute Photo Booth. The vibes were everything! The music was a perfect Blend playing reggae, 90’s, and even some bad bunny💃🏼 awesome spot to go to for date night 👌🏼🔥 will definitely be back! You are awesome Cristine!!!“

“I have to share a post from my favorite restaurant the FOB kitchen in Oakland. Chef Janice’s dishes are incredible. Being a queer person it is great to have a fantastic place to dine and feel safe and excepted. If you are in Oakland you have to try it. My favorite is the adobo and halo halo.“

“This is a must visit for anyone in Jack London Square“

“This is my favorite restaurant in Oakland! The food is amazing and so are the cocktails. The vive is is unreal!!!“

“Absolutely delicious, colorful, healthy food! We ordered takeout for dinner tonight and had the chicken and mushrooms, Mela platter, beef tibs and sambusa. The portions were generous and everything was fresh and seasoning was off the chain!!! Try the brownies for dessert - you will not be disappointed!! When in Oakland, order from Mela Bistro 😋❤️😃“

“Omg! this place ess awesome! the chicken & waffles were to die for.. I will be returning.soon!“

“Pleasant environment, friendly people and delicious food❤️“

“Fresh, delicious and great folks“

“The service was wonderful as was the food. We chose to sit outside and they accommodated us well with heating lamps. The owner was quite gracious and checked in with us to make sure we were having a pleasant dining experience. This is on our list of restaurants that offer outdoor dining and tasty food!“

“Been coming here since 1977. Always great food and adult beverages. Best is fried zucchini!!!!“

“Very cozy place with a warm and inviting atmosphere. The hi-fi music setup creates a relaxed vibe without overpowering conversation, and the bar is beautifully done with great drink options.

It’s honestly one of the best spots in Oakland for a date night or meaningful conversation.“

“The Saap Avenue is an amazing place! The curry is so warming and delicious. The people who work here couldn’t be sweeter. The bartender and the bar can’t be beat…so creative. If you want Laotian food and a wonderful cocktail or two, this is your place!“

“meal and the roti for sure will be going back“

“I recommend the Saturday blues jam. Friendly staff, safe location. Nice to find this event.,if you like blues,and we all get them, this is the place Sat eve. with actual real blues musicians.“

“Great food and service, would recommend, love it 😋“

“Very tasty and carefully seasoned. All dishes were perfection“

“I only gave this place 5 stars because Google won't allow me to give them 💯! This is one of the best restaurants in the bay area! If you love spicy soup I highly recommend the numbing spicy chicken soup. My girlfriend and I are regulars, and our favorite dishes are the chicken pho, the numbing spicy soup, and the honey chili chicken wings! 🤤“

“Came here for a V day pre fixed meal. I wanted to try something different and having the pre fixed menu helped me decide. Food was great. Ceviche and Lamb and the tiramisu were delicious. I would like to come again and order from the full menu. Service was fast and pleasant even though they were packed. Waitress was engaging and even laughed at my husbands jokes.“

“Great Food, Great Service“

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