50 Best Cocktail Bars near Orinda

“Deliciousness for value and warmth for atmosphere. The host is always welcoming and service accommodating. New favorite place for life. 🤓“

“Lovely place with a great space.“

“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 was perfect. Spicy and tasty and salty and everything you want for enjoying with a cocktail. The drinks were all unique and tropical and delicious and I wish I could have tried them all. The ambiance and the staff were just awesome. Thank you!“

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

“Final date night before flight home tomorrow. Sausage plate. The British bangers are super flavorful and juicy, goes great with the spicy mustard sauce! The bratwurst is perfect with the kraut and horseradish. The smoked bison is a bit on the dry and spicy side. Reminds me of a Slim Jim. I wish I tasted more bison, but it's still good. The herbed goat cheese and lavash bread is to die for! The herbs are perfectly balanced with the cheese and spreads so easily on the bread!All paired perfectly with Zin-phomaniac red wine!“

“A unique place that offers a fun respite from the usual watering hole. The signature here is to serve drinks with a freshly squeezed grapefruit twist. There is also an engaging I-spy game utilizing the rich decor inside that guests can play for a chance to win a prize. The service was very friendly and we all had a great time!“

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

“The food was absolutely delicious, beautifully presented and the portions were generous. Our waiter Hans was superb, attentive, never rushed us and added to the enjoyment of our experience at Julia's restaurant. Also the glass of red wine we ordered was a generous pour.“

“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.“

“Retro classy neighborhood bar with fun regulars and great music!!!😎👍👍“

“Not a huge fan of the seating layout. I sat on the left side to avoid the loud chatter of people but that meant being on a hard bench with uninteresting decor. Empanadas were wonderful, the ceviche with coconut milk was a pleasant surprise. I wanted to try the arepa but it seemed like the portion was tiny. The chicharron was very flavorful!“

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

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“Top notch drinks and personalities behind the bar, we will back. My only regret is that I waited this long to go there.“

“Super cute place. Come as you are kind of bar. There are food vendors, gaming activities, pool, darts, wonderful people that are super chill. Legend says if you're there on a Monday there's There 2 islanders that cook amazing food...The only thing is that they show up randomly. They will post on the Second 2 None Facebook 5 hours before showing up. If you want to be there when they cook best to like this page so you can get the latest updates and last minute events and after parties.. PS. mention Alice or Ichigo referred you to the Bartender so they know. Also real men wear miniskirts if you can do that, kilts count too...“

“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.“

“I have been here about 3 times now. The bar tenders are friendly, and the general vibe is welcoming. Every time I have gone, I have enjoyed the music choices. There are 2 floors with a bar on each floor and a very nice patio. They have pool tables on both levels as well. My favorite part of the venue is the big stone fireplace. It's a cool feature.“

“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.“

“As the namesake implies, it's just your average blue collar type 'corner' bar, and that's part of the charm. Not trendy, not bougie, great modern jukebox with priority streaming of your favorite songs, for a slight fee of course. Would you have ever imagined that one day your childhood jukebox experiences that forged statements like "ugh, who put this one on? they probably already left and now we have to listen to this cr@p before our song" and to further shape our complaint into creative criticisms to "one day manifest our desired wishes for the day we could override and be played next"... Well friends that day had come! Ok, it's been around a while now but I don't go out very often so it's new news to me and you know what Gary Gnew said? " No gnews, is good gnews, this is Gary Gnew, goodnight". The peeps are mellow, the drafts are cold, they have a decent billiard table with a sign up board (formerly this was a couple quarters shoved under the lip on the table) and it's only $1.00 a game and there isn't some hot shot hogging the table making themselves feel good by running the table against people just trying to have a good time.“

“The cocktails are innovative and have so much depth. Ambiance is on point, there's so much seating and good music. There's a few logistical things they have to work out, for example it was very unclear as to whether we had to be seated or seat ourselves, and wasn't sure if there was table service in the evenings, but they're new and I'm sure they'll figure it out. Love a Black owned business!“

“Low key, relaxed vibe, cool tunes, best drinks. And a stellar taco truck in the parking lot. Very friendly staff. 5 stars all day, every day.“

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

“Great atmosphere and delicious food! Outdoor dining, too!“

“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.“

“Love this place been going for years!“

“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“

“Enjoy the atmosphere and the tasty food !“

“The food was great, the service was excellent, I was very satisfied“

“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“

“Great place to hang out chill little bar“

“Cute little "dive" bar. It's nice and put together. Clean. The bartend (Sherri) was very kind, attentive and and fast. There's a pool table and a online juke box. It wasn't packed but it's Wednesday. Older crowd. Like the 50, 60 plus. They were very nice and friendly as well. I'll be back

Dj Nash Chanel.
(If Sherri sees this, the was made by the tall lady with the good skin) ? thank you for the service“

“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“

“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“

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

“We come here fairly often and really enjoy the food (steak frites, burger, burrata and salads are amazing) and cocktails. Unfortunately every time the thing we lament is the wine selection - neither of us have ever had a wine here we enjoyed, and we’re fairly easy to please with middle of the road options. The dessert menu always seems to focus on a lot of tarts, which isn’t our jam so we never have tried dessert despite many trips here. If they updated their wine menu this place would easily be five stars and my favorite restaurant on the island.“

“Always a great time! congrats“

“So recently I got to experience the soft opening of Bentleys upstairs bar inside of the Market and Main store.Needless to say the place was amazing, from the tasty mixed drinks to the outstanding staff and stylish decor.I will definitely look forward to coming here and enjoying drinks with friends. I recommend this place to anyone looking to experience downtown Martinez!“

“Planned a “Girls Trip” to San Francisco and arriving late in the evening. I knew we’d be hungry and wasn’t sure what would be open and didn’t want fast food. So I pre ordered their “To Go Box” Raquel was absolutely helpful and professional when corresponding to my inquiries. Had it delivered directly to the hotel and it was waiting at the front desk (refrigerated in the back) when we arrived. The hotel staff said this was the best and most beautiful charcuterie box she has ever seen! Oh how we enjoyed it once we were up in our room! Highly recommend and would definitely order from them again when in town!“

“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.“

“Loved the decor and the vibe，great place to hang out with friends.The food was absolutely delicious! The flavors were spot on.If you're in the area, this place is a must-try!“

“Mother Tongue Coffee Roasters is one of those rare finds that feels both approachable and extraordinary at the same time. From the moment you step in, the space carries an artistic, community-focused vibe that immediately sets it apart from your typical coffee shop. It’s warm, welcoming, and filled with the comforting aroma of freshly roasted beans.

What truly makes Mother Tongue shine is their dedication to sourcing and roasting coffee with care. Every cup feels intentional. I tried both their pour-over and a flat white on separate visits, and each drink highlighted the unique flavor profiles of their beans—bright, complex, and beautifully balanced. Their single-origin options are especially impressive, showcasing the diversity of regions and farms they partner with. It’s coffee that not only tastes amazing but also tells a story.

The staff is equally memorable. They’re passionate, approachable, and eager to share their knowledge without being pretentious. Whether you’re a casual coffee drinker or someone who loves diving into the details of origin and process, they make the experience enjoyable and engaging.

Another thing I love about Mother Tongue is their commitment to inclusivity and community. It’s not just about serving coffee—it’s about creating a space where people feel connected and inspired. Between the exceptional drinks, the thoughtful mission, and the friendly atmosphere, Mother Tongue Coffee Roasters is a place you’ll want to return to again and again.“

“Grew up nearby, The Roundup is the oldest bar I remember, could be the oldest bar in Lafayette, or one of at least. Great to see family and friends at this fine establishment“

“Love Lemon Drop! Came here after a long day at work and the bartender Brandon hooked it up with good drinks, music, and vibes. But the star of the show here is the food, there’s a hidden gem in the kitchen. The lemon pepper wings are the best I’ve ever had, and the burger is incredible. This place is an underrated Bay Area staple.“

“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.“

“Amazing food 👍😊great taste and very creative 😉 excellent service! Highly recommended 👍“

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

“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.“

“I've never been to a bar I've liked more. Everything about my experience was top shelf. The service was impeccable - attentive, engaging, and helpful. The listening experience was divine. The interior decor was a perfectly executed intersection of mid-century modern and industrial. What isn't to love? A gem.“

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