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. 🤓“

“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 !“

“Had a fantastic lunch here last week. Paul was an amazing host and it was truly humbling to be graced by an E-list celebrity ;)

I got especially excited when I learned the kitchen is fully gluten-free. Everything we ordered was a banger, their food (and drinks!) absolutely delivered.

We’ll definitely be back for dinner next time we’re in town, and we can’t wait to try his wife’s restaurant (Jaji) too.

Thank you to the whole team at Parche + Paul, for sharing your culinary magic (and personality) with us.“

“Enjoy the atmosphere and the tasty food !“

“The decor was festive and abundant in the best way possible, and the cocktails looked unique and curiosity-piquing. I narrowed my choices down to a Cafe Sua Daddy and the Soy Sauce Old Fashioned.

I love a savory drink and the sweet caffeinated espresso martini-esque drink had a thick blanket of just-salty-enough foam reminiscent of the salt cream that tops a boba drink. The Soy Sauce Old Fashioned catapulted me back to my childhood, eating slabs of tofu drenched in shoyu at my grandma's house. I loved the custom soy bottle presentation, it was just strong enough to tolerate being poured over a large rock while maintaining its flavor.

My partner had the Umami Tots and Mapo Tofu. I couldn't resist the siren song of some crispy potatoes dunked in chili oil cream, but managed to hold myself back on the tofu- even though it smelled amazing.

Can't wait to return and try the new seasonal drinks, along with more snacks.“

“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.“

“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.“

“Drinks are good. Classic Greyhound (w/mid vodka) was perfection.
The true STAR is this bartender (white guy with glasses and a short beard).
He is the only employee (besides the door person) working at this bar. Serving, bussing, being amazing. On a Saturday night, at 10:30pm. The efficiency, the professionalism and politeness, and then the drinks are delicious!
Give this man a raise… or at least a fat bonus for the work he is putting in tonight.“

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

“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!“

“The ambiance is A1. Really appreciate the change of pace and the attention to detail/aesthetic. As far as food and drinks we did the wings and lamb which was pretty good and the fries (elite) and broccolini.

Drinks were tasty as well.

Will be back!“

“all of the above and then some!“

“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.“

“Roses is is a great choice if you are looking for a really special restaurant for a private party. Great food and great atmosphere. Try the Japanese Old Fashion cocktail.“

“VERY nice bar tucked off in Albany, inside is a wooded theme fireplace, candle lit tables with umbrellas outback on the patio. They have games like checkers, pool etc,. Super low-key but very chill-romantic vibe. I enjoyed myself and will be back again.“

“My first visit to Berkeley City Club for afternoon tea at Julia's and I am smitten! Gorgeous room in a gorgeous building designed by Julia Morgan. Easily accessible by a short walk from Downtown Berkeley BART. The tea sandwiches and sweets were filling and my Earl Grey tea was wonderfully robust. I would love to return to Julia's for another dining experience. I'll be doing my research to see if they do any holiday themed menus/events.“

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

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

“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...“

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

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“A great place to go work when you have a lot to get done. More outside spots than inside so its better on a sunny day. Its open late which is great. Never issues with the wifi bht limited charging spots.
Drinks are very yummy.
No designated parking so you will have to drive around for a spot.“

“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.“

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

“I came in last Friday while trying to explore bars in Oakland, and think I may have found my favorite bar of the area.

The atmosphere is dark, comfortable, subdued- perfect for lounging and conversation. The service is friendly and professional. I can't speak to the quality of the music and listening equipment, as I didn't interact with that on my visit, but I have heard it is excellent. What really made me love this place, though, was the quality and creativity of the cocktails.

When I go out for drinks, above all, I like to try new things. The drinks on offer at Bar Shiru were this and more: unexpected twists on classic recipes and fantastic original creations. Ingredients I never though could work together were paired incredibly well, with a delicious balance I didn't think possible. My favorite was a variation on a manhattan, with dry vermouth and fernet among the components--and I could taste the best notes of all of these ingredients together in a wonderfully smooth and unique finish. The bartending staff who developed these drinks are exceptional. I only regret that I couldn't try the whole menu--all of which looked fantastic--which means I'll just have to come back.

If you want chill bartenders, good vibes, and excellent craft cocktails, swing by.“

“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.“

“One of my favoriteeeee bars! I know if I want to hear good music, I’m coming here. It’s one of those places that truly goes above and beyond to create an experience, not just serve drinks. No matter the occasion—Halloween, Christmas, Love Island watch parties, birthdays, or any other special event—they completely transform the space with themed decorations and even create custom menus to match. You can tell the owners put so much thought and care into every detail, and it really makes every visit feel unique and memorable. The back patio on a summer night is my faveeee ☀“

“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.“

“OMG 😳 The Ceviche (not counting my wife’s handmade ceviche) is the best I have ever tasted, and I’ve tasted a lot of ceviche. It’s soooo good. I had the Mango 🥭 Avocado 🥑 Shrimp 🍤 Ceviche it was like an explosion of flavors in my mouth, I couldn’t stop eating it. Great tacos 🌮 everything was beyond my expectations. I have probably walked by Puesto’s a hundred times but not anymore it will be my restaurant of choice when in Concord you have to try it. Sorry no picture of the Ceviche 😋“

“The cold whipping wind threatened to derail our outdoor dining experience, but thankfully, we live in Alameda and we knew to bring jackets.

With that out of the way, we proceeded to enjoy a leisurely 2 hour dinner where every dish was expertly prepared and plated. The staff were attentive and checked in on us periodically.

We enjoyed the caesar salad with boquerones, the octopus and bay shrimp ceviche with leche de tigre, the duck confit and the the shoestring potatoes. We finished off the meal with a small citron tarte and some coffee.

Would recommend without reservation, but a reservation might get you seated indoors. :)“

“I didn’t know this place existed until I saw some people go inside on a Friday night out. Ordered the Pandan Sazerac and it was delicious. Lovely vanilla-y pandan flavor but not too sweet, paired with smooth buttery whisky. Perfection. Will be coming back“

“Fun and lively place for drinks and light snacks. Drinks were great, and the manager was very friendly. She was vibing and talking to us a lot. It was nice hospitality.

The wings were great! Loved it. It was very juicy and would recommend getting them. The ceasar salad was okay.

Great to come here for happy hour or for a game as they have TVs around.“

“In town for the Cat Power show at the Fox Theater. Came to have a drink. Warm welcome from the friendly bartender. I see the No Kings sign and the rainbow flag. It's $3 cans and a full bar. Divey but cozy. Full of characters, lively buzz but unpretentious. And they play punky/emo music from when I was in college. Great spot.“

“Great Food, Great Service“

“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“

“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!“

“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.“

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

“El Mono is absolutely fantastic. I took one bite and instantly fell in love with the dish I ordered (tallarin Saltado). Matt and the staff are absolutely wonderful and made it feel like a trully welcoming establishment. The truth is that I felt every bite warm my soul and made me feel more at ease. Being able to feel calm and enjoy such an amazing meal is something special, and El Mono is special!! something you have to experience.“

“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.“

“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Double Standard delivers an exceptional dining and bar experience with creative cocktails, flavorful food, and a stylish, energetic atmosphere. Every dish and drink is thoughtfully prepared, well-balanced, and consistently enjoyable.
The vibe is modern, lively, and welcoming—perfect for a night out with friends, a casual date, or simply enjoying great food and drinks in a vibrant setting. It has a unique personality that makes every visit feel special.
The staff is friendly, attentive, and professional, ensuring smooth service and a comfortable experience from start to finish. Their hospitality adds to the overall enjoyment of the venue.
If you’re looking for great cocktails, delicious food, and a fun, upbeat atmosphere, The Double Standard is a fantastic choice. Highly recommended and well deserving of five stars! 🌟🍸✨“

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

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

“Karaoke with KJ Mallory Every Wednesday night from 9pm-1am.“

“Fresh, delicious and great folks“

“Always a great time! congrats“

“This is a great date night spot! Nice presentation of cocktails but definitely preferred the Peaches & cream and Sycamore over the Jane Bond drink. The food was yummy and service was excellent, brought us extra sauces and stayed in tune. Chill vibe but kind of loud music inside, outside seating as well available ($120 for everything pictured including tax + tip)“

“Great place to hang out chill little bar“