Great old school classy bar with fine liquor offerings in jazzy clean upscale setting. Very cool and great for a date!

First time coming here. Ended up hitting up this spot after a networking event across the street. Enjoyed the nice relaxed atmosphere. Bar tender was tentative and pleasant. Loved the decor. read more

I'm sad to write this review. I've had this place bookmarked for a while, and was looking for the perfect date night to check it out. Tonight was the night, but it was anything but perfect. The ambiance, music, and the service of this place were top notch!! No disappointment in those areas at all. I wish I could say the same for the drinks. For $12 each, the cocktails were weak and super sweet. Ordered the Mosaic and never tasted a touch of the Mezcal. Had a couple highballs and tasted more soda than anything. We ended up switching to beer. I like this place but not sure I would come again for the cocktails, maybe just the music and the beer :-/ read more

It's a very grown and handsome bar. I checked this place out a month ago. I'd love to come back here next time and possibly meet a couple of friends to catch up. read more

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Don't get wrong, I'm a fan of numerous bars in Oakland with the indoor outdoor seating, pop-up bites, lively happy hour. The young lovely work force winding down after a long day. Love it! But this place. With its grown up decor, drinks and ambiance is a refreshing find. Sipping delicious cocktails under a huge picture of my idol Nina Simone, the rich tones and plush decor, the jazz music, it is a great place to unwind and catch up with good friends and reflect on all things good. One thing to note. There are no food or snacks available or allowed. My friend came with three cupcakes to celebrate and the server told us that he's going to ask us to put it away. He was very nice about it and let us finish my half eaten cup cake so I wasn't offended. But don't make the same mistake! I will definitely stop by again. But will eat first. read more

Love the ambiance and the music. Great place for a pre dinner warm up. Friendly staff.

Awesome bar, tasty drinks! Only wish I'd found it earlier. Servers are great and very friendly. Spacious and didn't get too loud. For sure plan to come back! read more

One of my favorite places downtown. Great music and sound system. Drinks are top notch. Sometimes servers need the look to come over but I really can't complain. read more

We've been wanting to check out this bar but were greeted by the hostess with disrespect, hostility and rudeness. Turns out, the hostess was the owner, which is even more appalling. What a way to push new customers away. We'll never set foot in this place again. read more

Am I in a swanky jazz lounge? This place is a so cool. You enter and are transported to another world. Japanese whiskey, snazzy decor, and pictures of legendary jazz artists on the walls. Great date spot if you want to have a classic and fun time. As someone in their 30s, I walked in and commented to my friend - ah, so refreshing. No drunk kids or sticky surfaces. Perfect. read more

Pros: - That vinyl collection is actually pretty hot + Music is good. - Owner was actually pretty cool and isn't a bad DJ. - They have all my favorite Ryes + a great selection of beer. Cons: - When people complain about gentrification in Oakland, this is it Chief. - Staff did a good job making me feel like I wasn't wanted. - Example 1: When we entered they started by saying they were full. I responded with "Alright, I'll go to Van Cleef..." to which they said "No no it's cool, we'll make room". I get trying to seem exclusive, but you're 3/3 using that same line on me. Stop PLAYIN - Example 2: Hostess came over multiple times to ask us to move / leave when the bar was MAD empty for a Friday Happy Hour @ 7:30pm. - They make a fuss about groups of people larger than 3 or 4. If you are trying to have a nice drink with some co-workers, be ready to tell the weird one to kick rocks. Final Thoughts: - I'd probably still go to this place cause it's a stone throw away. Even then, not sure how much I want an experience where the staff is constantly involved. read more

Issa vibe, for sure. Very cool space, very boozy yet sophisticated drinks, friendly staff, and great music. It wasn't what I was expecting but it something different and chill. There's not a lot of seating but it's a great spot to go with one or two friends and actually be able to have a conversation. It could be a good spot for a date and def perfect for a lil nightcap. Very attractive staff, super friendly, and seemed like a great spot for the educated drinker, specifically if you have a heart on for Japanese whiskey. read more

Oakland ripped the culture and relevance from the heart of SF *years* ago, and now it's setting up shop in Uptown. This addition is absolutely bonkers brilliant, and its curious that the Tokyo stylized audiophile listening rooms haven't taken off here, yet. The notion of going out with friends to talk and catch up, only to be pounded into the ground by music being so loud you can't hear, and lose your voice.... well that's not very sophisticated, is it? A space like this is desperately needed, and I'm thrilled about the addition. It's location makes it perfect to visit while at a concert or at dinner, while still being a brilliant place to head with no other plans in mind. So happy for the crew that put this together... it's a welcome idea, and perfectly timed. And, because this is about jazz, I *JUST* realized very few people know that Side A of Kind of Blue was at the wrong speed for 30+ years. LOL GREAT story here: https://www.stereophile.com/thefifthelement/206fifth/ read more

Received a Yelp notification as a hot new spot to try out and was excited as this spot specializes in spinning jazz records in an audiophile system. Was told to by the doorman to check in with the hostess and add our names to the list as they were at capacity. The hostess was very gracious and allowed us to hangout at the bar and a few seats quickly became available. The drink menu is pretty cool with many of the selections named after jazz tunes or album titles. Being a Herbie Hancock fan I selected the very tasty Empyrean Isles cocktail, which is named after Herbie's killer BN album. What a cool hangout space, I will definitely be back as I live in the neighborhood and can appreciate the presentation and concept ! read more

INCREDIBLE! Such a great ambiance and vibe to it. This will Definitely be one of our regular bar/lounges to come to. Great date night spot. The vibe is dim and the music is chill jazz blues just goooood tunes! The owners are suuuuper sweet and the staff was wonderful. I loved every minute of our time there! read more

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A beautiful cocktail lounge in downtown Oakland. Went here on a Saturday night around 9pm and surprisingly there was a table available for a party of 6! The bar itself has such a nice ambiance, beautiful decorations, and an upscale atmosphere.It's definitely not a place that's too loud or where it gets too rowdy, but it still has a very fun and upbeat vibe. There was ample space between tables and overall it seemed that the lounge was thoughtfully designed. It's a great place for a date or to go out for drinks with a few friends. The drink menu had a variety of Asian-inspired cocktails and Japanese whiskeys. There was definitely something for everyone's taste. We got two rounds of drinks so that we could try most of the cocktail list and there was not one drink that was well-made and well-balanced. The service was great, with them allowing us to take our time. Also, for a bar with this ambiance, the drinks were very reasonably priced with most cocktails being about $12. Overall, our group enjoyed this bar and would definitely be returning. read more

Bar Shiru - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

The analogue gods smile upon Uptown Oakland. Do you like jazz? Do you like vinyl? Do you like reasonably priced drinks? Do you enjoy well tuned acoustics? Do you like impeccable ambiance, decor, and vibes? Then don't ever come here - they are in soft opening and I already got turned away! This place is a mecca. An analogue hi-fi bar where they spin records cover to cover, and serve Japanese highballs. This has to be the best bar in the bay area. The etiquette, the "rules," the attitude - its phenomenal. They don't even have signage! this place is painfully minimal and terminally chill. I want to go here every night. read more

My wife and I came in Friday night during their soft opening and found a nice couch to relax on, the ambiance is awesome here, really great acoustics and finally a lively bar with proper sound deadening material tastefully applied on the walls. This is great place to grab a drink and actually be able to talk. Great selection of jazz playing with art pepper currently on rotation on the record player in the DJ booth. The cocktails were decent but I'm sure they will improve as they work thru the kinks. There is a upper mezzanine that will be open soon. The interior design in on point and nails the Japanese HiFi Bar aesthetic. The wall of vinyl is great touch and I love the tightly knit two-top tables below the wall. It has a great vibe and we will definitely be back. read more

Bar Shiru - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Could the service be any worse? Each pretentious one more incompetent the next If you want to be ignored Go Daniel - no email contact on your website - and how do you propose I contact you ? I came last Sunday - I sat by myself I waited and waited The white guy is a effing jerk and is sooo out of place Black gal nice abs sweet but slowwww maybe brand new and Japanese guy good but indifferent read more

Great experience! I've been here several times and enjoyed it each time. Very unique concept and an awesome way to experience and discover music. Amazing option of whiskey's and feel like their cocktails are new and different from the standard fair we find at a majority of East Bay bars. It's also just a really beautiful set up, with all the records on the back wall It's exciting to have a place like this open up in Oakland. read more

Nice bar lounge complete with good vibes and music. Enjoyed a relaxing Sunday early evening here. Bonus points for it being walking distance to my place. read more

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Checked this place out for the first time and loved the vibes! We did make a reservation and would highly recommend making one. This is such a cute place with chill and cozy vibes. The music they had was nice and just relaxing. We ordered 3 different drinks: Cool Eyes, Night Hawk, and the Japanese Whiskey flight. The cool eyes was a refreshing and minty drink that's vodka based. The night hawk is also vodka based, but seems to be the opposite of cool eyes as it has a sort of spice to it. The Japanese whiskey flight was delicious. I had never tried Japanese whiskey and was not sure how I would react to its taste, but all 3 whiskies were quite tasty. The staff was very nice and great with their recommendations, but they are receiving 4 stars because they would take a while to ask us if we wanted another drink. The place was not too crowded and yet we found ourselves with a finished drink, but nobody that would take our next drink order. With this said I would still recommend this place for anyone to check out! read more

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Really cool, new upscale bar right next to Cafe Van Kleef. Found it last weekend by accident when walking by-- thankfully the windows were opened so you could tell it was a bar, as it's not very clearly marked. Interesting cocktail menu with lots of good options, although a bit pricey ($12-14). I was particularly happy to see Sequoia Sake on the menu, which is a personal favorite. My only issue is that it's a mostly seated bar that still serves drinks at the small bar counter, so it gets super crowded. I think that if they add in more chairs or start to max out at a certain capacity it will feel much more comfortable, rather than feeling squeezed in. Overall, highly recommend at least checking it out! read more

I was wondering what was different about this bar, besides the design, layout, lounge areas with mid century furniture; it was the sound. Even tough it was packed, you could carry on a conversation and not have to shout or lean in to hear. The drinks were very good, service good, decor, music, everything was just right. This place has a touch laid back sophistication that I appreciate. read more

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Finally got a chance to go back to Bar-Shiru last night. Listening to Miles Davis and John Coltrane while sipping delicious cocktails. It was an absolutely wonderful evening. This was classified as a Bar-Shiru experience that required advance reservations and deposit applied to the bill with a two drink minimum. No problem. The only downside is 90 minutes goes by very fast. I look forward to more evenings of music listening and cocktail sipping. Staff observed COVID-19 safety protocols. And guests were required to wear masks except while drinking. Looked like all guests complied as requested. read more

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Bar Shiru is a wonderful place! They put so much care into operating this business and it shows! A gorgeous space and delicious drinks.

Cool concept, good music, and a really sleek interior. What's not to love? Here's my takeaways: -The line to get in on a Friday is a wait. I checked in and was told it could be up to 30 minutes of a wait. Fine, I told them, I'll go next door to Cafe Van Kleef and come back when I get texted my table is ready (I was told you also get a few minutes grace period if you don't walk in as soon as you get notified your table is ready, which is nice). I didn't get great reception at Van Kleef, so I walked back to Shiru about 30 minutes later to make sure I didn't miss a text. Unfortunately, I was told a table wasn't ready yet, but I could wait on the side for one to open. About five minutes later, they bused one and I got to sit. So expect at least 30-40 minutes of wait time. The bar looks like it's open seating though. There's a second floor, but it seems to be for employees only--maybe it'll be a private party room later. Also, there's a cool couch area that seems to offer a bit more space, as you're at a small table in the main sitting area. At least the seats are really comfortable, even if the space is tight. And the music via record player is really nice. -I just wasn't blown away by the drinks, unfortunately. I expected some with a bit more flair or panache, based on the interior and concept, but was sort of let down. Japanese whiskey was in many of the drinks, which I liked, but the other ingredients weren't as high end as other bars in the area. Perhaps that's the intent, so maybe my expectations were a little high. The New Pal is really boozy, as its just whiskey, vermouth and gran classico, some type of bitter. I wanted something with a little less kick on round 2 so I ordered a bartender's choice, where I asked the staff to create me something with a sweeter, less spirit-forward spin. I basically got back something that tasted like a Manhattan, and I think that's how it was described to me too, a variation on a Manhattan. I forget the ingredients, but I was hoping for something more like a Gold Rush: bourbon, honey and lemon. I guess I should have specified those ingredients upfront instead of leaving it open-ended. While I can't stress enough how cool it is inside, I just don't know if I'd be in a huge rush back if I wanted a good cocktail, as there is a plethora of establishments in the immediate area I've frequented that satisfy my palate. read more

This should be a 5 star bar due to the space and design and the shelf booze. The problem here is the bartenders and the service and I was there at 4pm when no one was there which is the prime time to learn and appreciate what is actually supposed to happen here. 1. The bartender was completely dismissive with our request which was simply to taste and take a photo of the bottle with the pour. 2. She had NO idea what we were even ordering or even where it was on the shelf. Even though we kept telling her it was the farthest to the left middle shelf 4th bottle from the right. Clearly no knowledge of what she was pouring nor appreciation for it. 3. I'm assuming the owners spent a LOT of money here for the location and the design. Please invest in the bar program. The only way you will make money is by hiring engaging and skilled bartenders who know what they are doing, what you have, and bring back customers. Thanks and I WANT YOU TO SUCCEED OAKLAND NEEDS YOU.Don't fail because you don't want to pay people who know what they are doing in the bar realm. Consumers want an experience beyond vinyl jazz. read more

A friend and I checked this bar out on a Tuesday afternoon right at opening time. (They opened 30 min later that day.) The bar was basically empty and we were greeted by the owner who got a bartender started on our drinks. They were very tasty, but for me, the real treats were the decor and music. Mid-century, comfy furniture accented the space well, and the musical collection is fantastic! I spent quite a few minutes staring at the vinyl collection on the wall. It's varied and quite large and is the joint effort of the owner and his wife. They have phenomenal taste. I'm excited to return with more friends and sit and enjoy the tunes, sips, and calm space. I just KNOW they're going to get really popular, but the owner assured me and my friend that they'll do whatever they can to intentionally maintain the culture of the space. I hope the waitlist option works well. Tip: Be careful when looking for the door! I walked past it almost twice. It's RIGHT beside Cafe Van Kleef. read more

Chill bar staff, warm LP focused space, creative and unique menu with a mind for Japanese whiskies, great bar selection, bartenders can make anything you want and will make it to spec. Sam in particular stands out as a talent and a warm spirit. Thank you for the many great nights. read more

Great vibe and great sound system! Vinyl is on the menu along with great cocktails, friendly staff and an amazing analog sound system. Records were constantly being rotated to provide some wonderful background music to a very chill atmosphere. If you are looking for a relaxing space to enjoy a drink...this is a great option. Cheers Shiru! read more

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Cute atmosphere, great drinks, and a very cool audio setup. You will probably have a wait to get in on weekends but it is worth it.

wow, very chill japanese themed bar with good service. upscale and chic. a great place to talk over a drink.

This place is so cool. If you are a music lover you should come check it out. The space is beautiful and the vibe is just right. Things I liked: The vinyl selection and tunes The chill vibe and good drinks The beautiful bar and good service read more

Love this place!! The atmosphere is intimate and I love the jazz. The selection of cocktails and whiskeys is enough to please the most discerning palate. read more

I've been wanting to come here for so long and I'm glad I did! I loved the whole vibe and the drinks were fantastic.

Let's talk about their ridiculous seating policy. "We can't seat you unless your whole party is here"... my party was TWO people. I can understand if we're talking 4+ people, but I'm capable of ordering for me and someone else in the meantime..? So, while I'm being given this run around at the outside door, on a cold and windy night, a couple appear next to me, proceed to get carded and state they're meeting their friends who are already INSIDE?! Hold on WHAT? You SAT their party when they weren't ALL THERE??! Doorman... your "host" is making u look like a fool. Absolutely ludicrous. And now you're losing money. So "try hard". Get over yourself, this is Oakland. read more

I've been here twice, and enjoyed both experiences. Things to love: - cocktails are amazing, high quality, not loaded with sugar. Lots of focus on whiskey (but good selection if that's not your thing) - it's quiet. Like, almost speakeasy quiet. Perfect for a romantic date - it's spacious. They don't pack people in like some of the other bars on the street. Probably to keep the noise down and maintain ambiance. - music fit for audiophiles: They exclusively play records on one of the most impressive sound systems I've ever seen. Not too loud, not too quiet. What could be better: - pricey - As mentioned- good for a romantic/serious date. Not ideal for a group or casual drink read more

This spot is awe-inspiring, right upon arrival! Vinyl records encompass the walls and above the bar which menu consists of creative & yummy cocktails. Sounds stream, namely of jazz and vibes from the global soul diaspora, played through the space; The consistent music is made audibly comfortable to speak to the people next to you. Intimate yet expansive with high vaulted ceilings make for a truly elevated experience :) A true gem of the Bay Area in the heart of downtown Oakland. Kudos to the visionaries and creatives behind this vinyl record lounge. read more

This is, hands down, the best bar in Oakland. The bartenders are cool, the hosts are cool, the security is hella cool. The drinks are a clinic in precision and flavor. The vibe is Oakland . It's all vinyl all day and it's side A to side B and then to the next. read more

Bar Shiru - Sazerac - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California