Acme is so freaking amazing, I don't even know where to start. The whiskey selection is brilliant and extensive, sure to delight anyone from the most discerning connoisseur to the most casual novice. Their mezcals are nothing to sniff at either. The staff are every bit as warm and welcoming as they are knowledgeable and proud of their craft. They elevate what could be merely a small, cozy neighborhood bar (which on the one hand, it is) to a proper destination for all walks of life. I've met pro sports players, small business owners, students, and my neighbors in my regular weekend nightcaps. I'm a little nervous to spill the beans on what a gem this place is, but they deserve every possible ounce of success and every penny of your business. Just go and check them out. No other bar I've been to anywhere comes close as a repeat destination. read more

I heard this is famous for whiskey so I was not expecting any other drink to be great which is fine! My friend got the Old fashioned ($10) and she liked it. 6/10. I got a glass of wine ($8) and it was ok ok 4/10. The bartender however was not the most helpful when my friend asked for a drink recommendation. Seemed like you have to know what you want here. The interior is ok and they have a small outdoor space too which was nice. We sat there. Im sure its better suited for some people but was not my thing! I do recommend it to whiskey lovers. read more

Wow. $17.50 for a Manhattan the size of a thimble. On the plus side, I was stone cold sober when I had to drive home.

I was on the hunt to find a little watering hole in my area that I could just sit down and relax in. A place where I didn't feel threatened and could have something nice and refreshing. Acme Bar & Company is that place. Everyone who has worked there has been honest, and cool. And the majority of the patrons are as well. All the regulars are sweethearts, and they have a non-alcholic drink I absolutely feel in love with. When I have had a stressful day, or just want to sit back and enjoy a sip of something amazing I get their gingerbeer, ice, with a few dashes of angostura bitters on the top (not mixed in.) It's spicy, sweet, a little herby and the flavor changes as I drink it. After a few sips the nice tang of the bitters turns into a spicy kick of the ginger beer. After I've sipped on it for a bit the ice melts and leaves a nice sweet mellow flavor in my mouth. It's the perfect drink. It haunts my dreams. Seriously I had a dream about it once. Was having a nightmare where I was being hunted by assassins so I diched them, sat down, ordered the drink, and the dream stopped sucking. It was like some kind of 90's actions movie, but heck it tasted just as good as the real thing. It's a good place to make your watering hole. Jerks need not apply please. read more

You don't see many Covid-19 post so let me be the first (or 7th). They're selling bottles at a pretty decent price (picked up Larceny for 30 Bucks Kettle for 25 ) and two bottles worth of Pineapple Daquiri goodness (12 drinks in total). If you're like me and are sick of making crappy cocktails in your kitchen then this is your saving grace. The daiquiris were phenomenal and they got me litty in my livingroom. Like most businesses nowadays they are using their strength and know how to continue serving the community; keeping masks and social distancing at 100. I'll legit be back tommorow to try the Mai-Tais read more

Acme Bar & Company - 2 Pinapple Daiquiris Large held by my very excited hubby. - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

don't get me started about the bathrooms. AMAZING need I say more? Very nice environment

I held my wedding rehearsal dinner at Acme. Jennifer was my point of contact and her customer service was impeccable! She was always helpful and friendly. She put together charcuterie and hummus/veggie spreads and accommodated my request for seafood and vegan paella from La Marcha across the street. La Marcha doesn't even make a vegan paella in the restaurant itself! She also got us mini cupcakes from James and the Giant Cupcake which were so tasty. The drinks were great, including two specialty mixed drinks (one alcoholic, one non-alcoholic), beer, and prosecco. The back patio was adorable with colorful furniture, bistro lighting, and plenty of heat lamps and fire pits. I can't recommend Acme and Jennifer enough! read more

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Omg! This place is SOOO great!!! I mistakenly thought it was the ACME bread place. Service and drinks are fantastic! They have a great outdoor patio and the most wonderful seasonal holiday decor (see photos) I was intrigued by the Sangrita de Mezcalena.....oh buddy! It was really really good. It was a shot of tequila with this shot of super fresh, home made chaser that goes better than anything I've had with tequila. MUST TRY! Ok, I'm definitely coming back. read more

Acme Bar & Company - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

Love that there's always something fun to discover. Recently I was in Berkeley and had a drink at Acme Bar and Company. I know the current world state makes adventures like this rare but this place almost seems like a hidden secret that all the locals know about. They have a beautiful colorful alley patio and a rustic one with a bar in the back. The have great spacing to comply with the outdoor enjoyment for covid. They also have a temperature reader. That was pretty awesome in itself. I've never been scanned like that before. We had a bottle of their Pineapple Daquiri which I've seen others rave about and I'm following suit. It was AMAZING! We also had a couple shots and some beer from the bar. So pick your poison and enjoy the laid back vibes in the patio of this local gem. Until next time. Cheers! read more

You know, there's days where you just want to spend time with your friends, maybe celebrate a birthday or two, and have some drinks at a nice bar. Sounds like a nice night right? Well apparently you can't have one of those nights at this bar. Your bartenders ruined my friend's birthdays with awful and inconsiderate service, condescending attitudes towards our group, and extremely slow service. Even when my friend wanted to cancel her drink that she ordered due to being ignored after a long period of time, the bartender rolled her eyes with disgust. Will never go here again and will guarantee that anyone I know, won't go here either. I hope this review will shine the light on such a terrible bar. read more

Favorite local spot for a drink with friends. Bar area is fun. Beautiful outdoor patio area and separate space away from the bar if you're looking for something quieter as well. read more

We love this place! Great drinks and atmosphere. It is usually a really quiet and laid back environment. You can usually walk right up to the bar and order without having to push past big groups like at a lot of bars. Also much more affordable than a lot of bars in the area. They have great lighting and decorations that they do around Christmas that are super cozy. They also have an outdoor patio for warm weather. All of the bartenders have been really nice. If you are looking for a calm laid back bar this is definitely the place for you! We will keep coming back for a long time. read more

Cool neighborhood bar that has wonderfully crafted cocktails. I am not a big whiskey fan, but when in Rome... I had the juice box and one of the ingredients is Apple juice made to order. Basically, it tasted like a grown up apple juice box-perfectly named drink. The bartender took his time making the cocktails, so it took awhile to give our order (it was a one man show). Totally worth the wait and he gave our drinks the attention they deserved. Was there on a weekday and there was an enjoyable amount of people in the bar. They also have a photo booth in the back. If there is someone in your life that loves whiskey, take them here! read more

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Hubby said let's go check this place out. I love it when he spontaneously wants to go somewhere. We had a whiskey flight. Our favorites were Glenbergie and Linkwood, enjoyed the music and the bartenders expertise. The outdoor seating is great for a sunny day. read more

Acme Bar & Company - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

After going to Acme time and time again I can say it's a wonderful place for a shot and a beer, when I had Sundays off I'd usually go for the Bloody Mary which they refer to as the 'Meatshake' it's always adorned with something tasty to snack on and if you don't like meat no worries. The selection of spirits is amazing and you can order a flight if you're curious about tasting more than one. I've always had a great time here and it's always great to come back and have a couple. read more

This bar has a CRAZY selection of whiskey and mezcal! My boyfriend and I came in for a few drinks one afternoon and the bartender was very friendly and inviting. The bar also allows dogs so expect to see a few pups in here! I ordered a few watermelon margaritas that came with fresh watermelon juice (they had a pretty big juicer out and a whole watermelon on the counter so I know it's definitely fresh!). These margaritas were the perfect pick-me-up for a nice warm day in Berkeley. My boyfriend tried one of the over 50 mezcals they offered that the bartender suggested - Bozal. It's a must-try! It's probably one of the smoothest mezcals we've ever tasted. Next time you're in the mood for some day drinking that may or may not lead into the night (due to the crazy selection) Acme bar is your go to! read more

Acme Bar & Company - Watermelon margarita - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

Great atmosphere, loves the bartender. The drinks were great!! Sad I didn't get to hear the song I payed $1 for, we waited and waited for about an hour and it still didn't play :( read more

This bar is a museum of whisky. Carefully curated. They focus on American spirits. If you are a fan of Michter's, eyes, or any other bourbon. This place is your jam. I want to bring some snacks next time. No food is served. (Other than potato chips/nuts). I have had some serious unicorns here...Michter's 25 rye, Michter's Celebration, and Yamazaki Sherry Cask. read more

Girlfriends, sometimes we have to put up with our boyfriends' strange addictions: video games, golfing, South Park, whitey-tightey underwear, cooking with duck fat, keeping the car unreasonably clean, and in my case, craving "picklebacks" all the time. Since his first visit to Acme, my BF has developed a bizarre obsession with picklebacks. Yes, there are worse things he could be hooked on, but the whole concept of whiskey, pickle juice and beer (together) is not really my cup of whiskey-pickle tea. Finally, he dragged me along to Acme, promising I'd love it. It was Superbowl Sunday and everyone was chummy like family. The owner was sitting right next to us, and when I inquired about her impressive wine list, featuring all half-bottles (for ultimate freshness), she said "I only serve wines that I like to drink." I don't think there are many whiskey bar owners with that same appreciation for quality wine. We've been back a handful of times because the boyfriend can always think of excuses for a pickleback (ie: "It's sunny out!" or "water just won't quench my thirst today") Each time we go, I like Acme better. The patrons and bartenders are some of the friendliest people, and we're always treated like regulars even though we feel like Acme amateurs compared to the real regulars. Adam remembers my drink preferences and always asks me how work is going, what we've been up to, etc. The kind of small talk you don't find at many bars these days. On a recent Sunday afternoon, we went in for their famous "meatshakes", aka their exquisitely spicy Bloody Mary with a skewer of tri-tip as the garnish. While we sat at the bar, we watched Adam make fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice for a greyhound. I usually just have a split of Cava, but after witnessing the making of the greyhound, I know what my new drink will be. It's a cozy bar and can get crowded on the weekends during Soul Saturdays, when the DJ spins vinyl from the 50s/ 60s (love!) The ambiance is pretty standard, but the welcoming vibe makes up for any lacking decor. You can bring your own food, which adds to the at-home feel. Go and make yourself part of the Acme family! read more

Acme Bar & Company - Meatshake Sundays! with extra side of bloody mix (because we love it that much) and my green juice from across the street. - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

Man, Acme, what the fuck happened to you? I mean, really. When I visited you before, you were the sort of bar that I go crazy for. You were dark-walled, your juke played punk rock, there was a topless mermaid on your bathroom door (chi-chis!!), people who looked like they belonged at a hot rod show were amongst your clientele--yet you still had a pretty decent selection of draft beers, a lot of bottled options, an immense variety of hard liquors, from all parts of the shelf spectrum, AND reasonable prices. Not much has changed where it counts, I guess. The bartenders are cute and friendly, the draft and bottled beer selections are the same, ditto liquor and prices. And there's Fernet and Jameson on tap! I don't know if that was offered before, but how fancy, right? Good show, Acme. Good show. Alas, where is my mermaid? WHERE IS SHE? Oh, she's UNDER the BORING brown paint that now covers the bathroom door? FOR SHAME. I don't mind places upping their game, but when doing so takes the character from the place--the sign, for instance, looks like it's for a gathering hall or something, not the awesome hip dive this place once was--I can't get behind it. The walls are a light greyish now, which really makes the whole place feel more airy--but I DON'T WANT AIRY FROM A BAR! And I heard Lady Gaga on the jukebox. Don't get me wrong: I love me some Gaga. But really, Acme? Really? I thought we had something serious, but now I know you just played me. You're still a cool bar, Acme, and I will still visit (in fact, I'd even give you 4 stars if I had previously given you 5...but I didn't, so I won't, though I'd say you're a solid 3.5), but you've just lost the cool factor. You do score points for the Christmas ornaments dangling from the ceiling panels. They're pretty and a nice touch. But...still. I liked you the way you were, baby. I wish you hadn't felt the need to change. read more

Strong drinks and you can bring in take out? What is not to like? In fact studies show that if you are anti Acme your fun function is broke af. read more

I walked into this bar and I immediately liked the ambiance. The place was somewhat crowded but there were two seats at the bar open. My date and I sat at the bar and waited while our bartender carried on a lengthy conversation with a few people at the end of the bar. Eventually we got our drinks. I had a Manhattan and my guy had a whiskey on the rocks. I was interested in learning more about the 100 whiskey's they offered but the bartender was more interested in anything else but us. The Manhattan was ok, nothing special. This bar is forgettable at best. The worst came about 5 minutes after last call, when the bartender started berating patrons. I mean this guy was yelling. It was laughable and bizarre but also pretty offensive. The female bartender was yelling at a female patron. The bouncer was cussing and yelling at a group of mild mannered professionals. The customer service was horrible. The drinks were lackluster. Yelpers, go somewhere else, you deserve better. read more

I used to live in the East Bay and to be honest when I moved back to the city, I rarely cross the bridge anymore. It had been quite awhile since I been to the Acme bar, almost long enough to not recognize the place at all. The new interior makes the place look nice, it's still a low key place for drinks - but it's not that dirty divey place I used to know. Bartenders were good and made me some nice bourbon Manhattans that were priced well. It's good to come back around to the East Bay and find good solid spots to hang out, play a game of pool and catch a drink with friends. read more

This place is awesome! Theres a huge selection of liquors and the bartenders were very friendly and gave great service. I never had to ask or wait for another drink. Also met the owner and she was so kind and knowledgeable and very proud of her establishment (rightly so) I don't post often about places but my friends and I had such a positive experience that I wanted to share it and next time I'm in Berkeley I will definitely be back! read more

Before this time, the last time I stepped foot in this dive bar was back in 2003. It was poorly lit, smelled like crap because of all the people smoking inside, and full of townie dregs. Last week a friend of mine drags me down there for a friend's birthday telling me that since then they have new management and it's changed for the better. And she's right, they fixed the lighting. All the other things are still there and that's cool (it wouldn't be Acme any other way), but eventually some of it's shit starts to rub me wrong. I'm not sure whether it was being ignored for 10 minutes by the bartender with the tattoo of a deceased Karl Marx on her left arm only to then be passed over for a local who wasn't there nearly as long for drink orders, or they way she tapped on the $15 min charge sign after opening my tab, that started it. But, it seemed to help get the greasy hipster ball of filth rolling. Because soon after, I am polite advised by a friend that I need to dumb down language here. (Apparently over three syllables is showing off now.) I don't and here's why. I am not going to a place to let the place dictate how I act. I am not Keanu Reeves trying infiltrate a gang of skydiving bank robbers, okay? I am just trying to have a drink, not be the new cool kid on the block. And then, I offer to buy a local a drink because it's his birthday. Well, this guy takes my offer and orders $20 bucks worth of shots. Now, I don't usually don't let people step on my kindness, but this guys happened to be a 6'6, 280 something, ex-con and hell.. it was his birthday. It wasn't all bad though, they have one of the most impressive dive bar uni-bathrooms, I've ever seen in this area. The walls are adorn with bright watercolor tattoo paintings that looks as though inspired by a shirtless Yakuza. (See pics.) But all the tattoo paints in the world ain't enough pleasure for me to leave old Karl Marx an Fing tip. read more

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Driving down San Pablo - I saw a tent sign boasting of 100+ different whiskeys - I was intrigued. 15 minutes later while flipping through a copy of East Bay magazine, I see an ad for Acme. I check yelp, I text to my sister - she responds with "right now? ". It was 1:00 in the afternoon ... the right time for whiskey, but alas we had other plans. Flash forward to 9:30 that Sunday night and while I expected a near empty bar - the place was packed! A chalkboard wall of so many whiskey's you'll feel buzzed just reading them. I ordered a flight of 3 - Baby Hudson, Yamazaki and Rare Eagle. 3 whiskey's to prove to me that I'm not a fan of whiskey ... although some I dislike less than others. The other 3 connoisseurs appreciated it all much more so I'm certain we'll be back. I like this place so much, I'll even drink whiskey just to come here again. Luckily, they have other stuff too! Staff is awesomely nice. read more

Cute outside area and they welcome dogs to come join the party. The staff is super nice and they have a rotating menu of speciality cocktails. The muled apple cider with whiskey sitting by the fire outside is a must for this time of year. read more

What's not to love: - a bazillion varieties of scotch, bourbon, rye, tequila, gins, vodka, rum and absinthe. all listed on blackboards lining the wall. - flights of 3 ranging from $9-$25 - perfectly concocted cocktails - bloody marys that constitute a meal, complete with pickled string beans. topped with carne asada on sundays = "meatshake" ($6) - great music, often favoring Biggie as the nights go on - sassy bartenders that keep order in the house - a variety of food trucks parked outside, or bring in your own food - excellent beer prices - Happy hour M-F, 4-7pm: $3 selected drafts. - photobooth - mixed crowd of working adults, minimal Cal students. - .....and....drumroll.....Jameson on tap! WHAT?! credit cards accepted. read more

Acme Bar & Company - Flight night! - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

2nd stop on our night out with our friend Paul! We walked from Longbranch Saloon and parked ourselves here for another drink. Well, the boys had another drink, but I decided to take a break and wait until we get to our third stop. As there were not many people yet at the bar at that time, they took a while talking to the bartender about their extensive whiskey selection. I saw that they were looking at a binder with pages of the bar's whiskey collection. You can't tell from looking at the bar, but they have at least 100 different bottles of whiskeys, and over 600 different bottles of spirits. Pretty impressive! The boys ended up getting a glass of mezcal served neat in an old-fashioned glass. They came back to the table, and let me taste their mezcal. It has a smoky and very earthy taste, but it was very smooth. It's not my kind of drink, but the hubby and Paul really enjoyed it. Too bad they don't serve food here! We would have stayed longer, but we needed more food with our drink. A small plastic stand on the table advertised Handlebar which is their sister restaurant/bar and just around the corner on University! Problem solved! The boys finished their mezcal and we left for our third stop of the night! We'll definitely be back here. It's really a chill place with very friendly bartenders! read more

We were looking for someplace warm on the way out of The City. Acme is pretty easy to get to from the freeway. We got there a lil before they opened at 3 and the bartender made it clear, we were not welcome until 3. Suffice it to say, a few lonely souls joined in, but the energy was just not there. We finished our drinks and hit the road without hesitation. Not the warmth we were looking for. read more

A is for Acme I used to live on the same block as Acme and would meet up with friends, online dates, or just by myself because I loved the atmosphere--laid back and underground cool. The drinks are good and very affordable. Great for small groups. Acme has a diverse cast of characters--from hot MBAs from UC Berkeley to old biker looking guys. Ok, I'm obsessed. Acme is also a hop-skip away from Lane Splitter in case you get the munchies after you end your night. Or even better, catch Everett-Jones BBQ down the street. Overall, cozy bar with great drinks. Heard it's also great during game days. Check it out! read more

This place has an incredible range of whiskies! Not to mention they use the finest quality ingredients for their cocktails, best dark cherries! Although clearly their whisky selection takes the stage they also have at least over 30 different Tequilas and decent variety of Mezcal too. As well as a small selection of Brazilian Cachaça & Peruvian Pisco. Tasting flights are available of your favorite spirit. I hear the Bloody Mary's are suppose to be excellent too read more

Acme Bar & Company - Smells like banana... Tastes like heaven - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Highlights of this place: good happy hour prices and an amazing bloody mary with a meal attached! This place is a great little dive. I first came in about a month ago with a friend during a week day happy hour. We ordered two pints, which were $3 each. What a deal! It was pretty loud and raucous, and seating was a bit hard to find. It seems like a good place to unwind after a long day of work. There's pool and a few televisions. The second time I came here was early afternoon on Super Bowl Sunday. It was relaxed and quiet. My friends and I each ordered a bloody mary. HOLY CRAP! It's $5 and comes complete with a meal! By meal I mean: a HUGE chunk of carne asada, celery, lemon wedge, lime wedge, olives, pickle, pickled carrot, jalapeno, cocktail onion, potato, cucumber or zucchini. This is all held in the drink by 3-5 skewers. I think what would make it a bit better is if they added some bacon. The bloody mary was the best I had in a long time. This place is great! read more

Acme Bar's proper handle includes "and company". one is cognizant of this immediately upon glancing at the bar shelf stocked with over an hundred labels of whiskey, brandy, vodka, etc, etc. over 20 choices in each category. the offerings are discretely written on 2 overhead blackboard across from the stacked liquors. music: heavy metal rock flatscreen: yes pour: st george single malt whiskey (10) -straight shot very smooth. from alameda's finest -very potent. on tap: -just 2 draughts -many bottles available, pbr is the fav (2? 3?) -bartenders plaesant, helpful.... -leaving at 4 stars so i have an excuse to return and upgrade to 5 stars (for variety) -pretty small place. -unsure if pours are priced competively. read more

I've been coming to Berkeley my entire adult life and I never seemed to get a chance to find myself here. It's been Bookmarked on my "To Try" list for a few years now and I'm so glad I finally got a chance to check it out! I walked in on a Friday evening with my friend and right away you get the "everyone already knows everyone" kind of vibe but in a non-intimidating kind of way. Comfortable enough to have regulars and welcoming enough for new faces. I've been a legal drinking age for about 10 years now and I have never walked into a bar with dogs (literal ones, not you mean mean men). I'm sure these dogs were over 21 though because of the whole "dog years" thing so who I am I to judge you for hitting happy hour with your best buds. I love dogs don't get me wrong, but if I was someone who was afraid of them then they would have lost my business. For all you dog haters let me just tell you now, take your chances and maybe when you go there won't be any pups because you must give yourself the time to try these great cocktails! I didn't even get to try their large selection of whisky so I know I'll be back with my neighbor's dog so I can feel like one of the cool kids. Drinks I had: Palmdale- Really enjoyed this refreshing gin drink, could have had another but I was being Dora The Explorer with the menu White Bronco- great drink but bad timing. Mimosa-esque vibes and I felt like I should have saved it for a Sunday brunch. read more

Went here for the very first time today and I was slightly disappointed. I was looking for an amazing bloody mary and I was told that this was the place to go. The overall presentation of the drink was beautiful. Topped with fresh veggies, chorizo, bacon and a few pieces of tri-tip. I asked for my bloody mary spicy and when I went to take the first sip it was overpowered with spices. It was almost too spicy to drink! Also, the bartenders were ridiculously rude. Not friendly whatsoever and it was uncomfortable. Probably won't be coming back here. read more

Acme Bar & Company - Bloody Mary! - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

Super cool, super comfortable and safe place! Drinks are amazing as well as music and atmosphere. I really love this place and will visit it with my friends as soon as possible, lol! read more

Pros: small and divey Drinks Fast and friendly service Cons: street parking read more

This place initially felt intimidating when I walked in during happy hour. It was a dark, divey bar with only men, who were chumming it up with the bartender. I felt like an outsider interrupting a bros' hangout as I waiting patiently to order a drink... But then I took my drink to the patio in the back, and the vibe was much lighter and more welcoming - picnic tables, light music, blue sky. I recommend just heading to the back on a nice day! read more

Good selection of beers and whiskeys. Interesting mixed drinks. Nice open air seating in back. Friendly service.