OMG, I can't believe I hadn't reviewed one of my favorite bars on the planet. Bar Shiru quickly became an Oakland legend within months of opening. It's the kind of place you want to share with your favorite friends. And sure enough my favorite friends all enjoyed meeting me here so much that it became their favorite place too. One of my buddies just calls it his living room now. Shirin and Daniel are the real deal. They were impressed and inspired by the bustling jazz cafes and hi-fi bars of Tokyo. He's a DJ. She is one of the few female music promoters in the Bay Area. Together they make one bad azz couple. What to expect. A stylish scene. Downtown loft vibes. Large-scale black and white photos of jazz royalty above the wall of bottles behind the bar. A wall-sized display of albums comprise the back wall. High-quality audio. As in audiophile heaven. Often jazz, sometimes neo-soul or Latin. Often a guest curator/DJ. Always vinyl. Always tasty and tasteful. Through their patient audio balancing of a series of top-flight speakers, Bar Shirin offers the perfect musical environment. You and your table can converse at a normal level, but the music just is loud enough so you could focus on it over all the other conversations if you'd like. A perfect audio environment is like that, no shouting necessary. It is a bar, so you're probably interested in hearing about the drinks. Bar Shiru offers an incredibly high-quality cocktail program featuring top-shelf whisky AND whiskey. Happy hour until 7 on weeknights. The unique and tasteful cocktails include my fave, Green Eyes - vodka, lime, cucumber shrub, elder flower liqueur, and mint gomme. Exquisite. They know what to do with gin, mezcal, rum and tequila too. So it's obviously not just a whiskey bar. Although, if you need some whiskey education, get a flight and they will hook you up. read more

Bar Shiru - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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Very beautiful and relaxed vibes at Shiru. I haven't tried any food items here but their cocktail selection is great. The service is overall excellent and the staff is super friendly and welcoming. Highly recommend this place if you're in the area. read more

Visited before a show at the Fox theater and immediately as you walk in you are teleported to an amazing vibe and ambiance. A real gem in Oakland. Simple decorations set a classy vibe with a wall of records taking up an entire wall in which the music playing inside the bar is strictly from those records. The security person at the door was incredibly polite when we arrived and the staff inside was great as well. We were sent to the standing room only area as it was full and we were completely fine with standing but were promptly seated as a table opened up without us asking. The drinks were excellent, unique, and flavorful. read more

Tries too hard to appear cool and exclusive, often coming across as pretentious. Needs to relax and focus on being a welcoming and friendly bar environment. read more

This place is a gem if you go before it gets busy. Visited twice on a Saturday on a recent trip to Oakland. 1st time - we were first in the place, enjoyed great cocktails stirred just for us, the place was quiet and not packed, a Robert Glasper record was playing. 2nd time - after the night crowd already arrived, had decent pre-batched cocktails (not a complaint....just an observation), place wasn't LOUD but it was for sure noisy and 100% full, couldn't tell you what record was playing. Before the night rush, this place is absolutely amazing and I loved every minute of it. During the night rush, a compromise is inevitable and this felt a bit more like any other nice bar. I would 100% go back here - just not on a Saturday night when having too many humans inevitably ruins something great. read more

A romantic jazz bar with liquor forward cocktails that is still pleasant to sip on. Drinks were top tier as we got the mystic bounce and green eyes. You could hardly taste the whiskey in the mystic bounce and instead it tasted like a espresso drink, think of the old money rich aunt version of what you would normally get at a Starbucks reserve. For green eyes I was impressed by how healthy it tasted ? The vodka was so smooth it tasted like I was drinking a juice cleanse but a yummy one. Service was fast though they didn't explain the menu we thought they did a good job at addressing our questions when we had them and checking in on our drinks. read more

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

This bar features that kind of stereo system that is rarely found in people's homes. It's tubes and high-end vinyl gear. They also have an excellent collection of LPs. Many bars are so loud you couldn't hear what they were playing anyway, so the quality of the sound is not a focus. Not so here. They attract a quiet crowd, and the sound is excellent. As are the craft cocktails, mock tails, and "near tails". While it's right on Telegraph, It's not the easiest place to find, especially at night. The address 1611 Telegraph seems to go into the lobby of an office building. You're in the right place. Just go outside go to your left and back in that door. There is some signage, but it's very small and subtle. No big parties here, maximum of 6 per group. read more

Bar Shiru - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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Went to bar shiru last night for the first time. My friend and I arrived around 7:30. The drinks and vibe were great. Unfortunately, as we were two drinks in around 10pm we were told it was last call for us. The staff person then abruptly told us we had about twenty minutes left and would have to leave due to needing the table. He shared that there is a two hour limit which he DID NOT share when my friend arrived. This staff person was not friendly in how they shared with us and we were pretty offended. We proceeded to continue sipping our drinks as my friend was not close to being done. We actually ended up being able to stay as whoever was waiting seemed to be seated elsewhere. However, none of the staff actually tended to us the remainder of our time and didn't ask if we wanted another drink. I really am hesitant to return to this bar based on how we were treated. It's too bad because I love the music and the vibe. read more

The service here left something to be desired. When I came in and sat down the waiter didn't explain the menu to us (which I heard is something that they have done for others). I felt this was important bc their menu was unorthodox, had a lot of rules, and contained information that didn't pertain to just the drinks offered. The second red flag was that the waiter took the menu while I was reading it. Not in an aggressive way but in a lack of social cues way. The waiter left his shift in the middle of serving us without saying anything or handing off to a new person and we sat there chatting until we realized 30 mins had passed without anyone checking in. This place has a lot of rules (see menu). It also has a lot of potential, perhaps under different management. So many amazing vinyls from various artists on display but none of that music was on the playlist. Make a reservation! read more

Bar Shiru - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

I have to give credit to my husband for finding Bar Shiru. We've been coming here for a few years and I always feel super hip, like I've been transported to a trendy little well-kept secret. Bar Shiru is a straight up cocktail bar, which is very on brand for me. Their cocktail menu is different and interesting with a Japanese flair. I usually order from the menu to try something new and let the mixologists do their thing. The bar is doubles as a vinyl "listening bar." What that means is that you get to listen to smooth jazz tunes as you sip your hand-crafted libation. All around, this makes for a pretty fantastic pre- or post-dinner destination. read more

Beautiful decor and ambience. Music and company is amazing, but sadly sitting at the bar feeling the bar tender having a bad day. Hearing him with angry sighs. Obviously agitated. And unenthusiastic explanation of cocktails made me not usually go to a bar have even less of an interest go to a bar: and ended up ordering tea. I hope he has a better day: but will not recommend this place if you want a lovely bar experience read more

It's giving sexy... sultry... jazzy. Hell, it's just straight GIVIIIING bay-beh! Bar Shiru is vibes.com and I ain't mad about it at ALL. Shoutout to the homie who put me onto this place. We came here for late night drinks and left with good feelings. If you don't already know, this place is all the rave! We found that out when we tried to drop in around 10 pm on a Friday night. The wait was crazy long. Ended up doing a little bar hop down the street for a few hours and returned around midnight. And lo and behold; a few magical seats at the bar awaited us. You know what it is. That Friday night get down. We were basically at the point of unwinding for the night, and this place was the PERFECT spot for it. Not only are the vibes amazing here, but the decor and ambience are like whoa!!! I mean... the whole damn place was glowing. The bar, the artwork, the ceiling lights. So purdy!!! Loved, loved, loved the black and white portraits of legendary jazz artists on the wall above the bar. Also really loved the colorful album displays on the back wall of the main dining room. You can tell that a lot of thought went into designing this place. And the music! If you like Jazz... hell, even if you don't like Jazz; you will love it. Their music selection is so damn soothing. It's just something about the relaxing and high vibrational mood that this place puts you in. It's the best-est! So chill and fun. The drinks are pure art. The craftwork of the cocktails are top tier. Beautifully executed and extremely tasty. Well thought out and unique. Even if you don't check out their special concoctions, the classics are made well here too. Before we knew it, closing time had crept up on us. I was so bummed and wished that we had made a reservation (do yourself a favor and make them if you can). But even the short amount of time that we spent here has me craving for more. So glad that I was exposed to this little local phenomenon. Until next time. read more

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They get one star for the ambience. Otherwise, the entire experience was appalling. Waitress couldn't be bothered to with us for a full 20 mins after we sat down and then, didn't listen and made it our fault she heard the wrong thing. She kept insisting all their drinks are "batched," even when that made no sense for the drinks we were ordering. My gin martini, extra dry, a little dirty came as a vodka martini, extra wet, with a twist and the guy dropping it off acted like I was at fault for not specifying what kind of garnish I wanted when olives are standard?!? Suffice it to say, completely undrinkable to me, given what I normally order. My take? DON'T BOTHER. Spend your money elsewhere where the staff will actually care to get it right and do their best if there's a mistake or mishap instead of acting like they can do no wrong. If you do bother? Order a beer. At least they can't mess that up and blame it on you, the patron who is paying the bill. read more

Awesome Tokyo inspired bar in Oakland. All the cocktails are delicious. Must try & they have happy hour as well. Cool ambience. read more

Bar Shiru - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Bar Shiru checked all the vibe boxes for me. The music (jazz) was on point. The vibe was chill. The Japanese-inspired interior design was beautiful. The space was also quiet enough where you can have an actual conversation. The entrance was so lowkey I couldn't have found it if I was going alone. If you aren't as lucky as me who had a friend lead the way, look for a black door with a guard sitting out front right next to the Cafe Van Kleef sign. I enjoyed their specialty drinks: - Green Eyes ($14): if you're only getting one drink, let it be this. Easily one of the top 3 best cocktails I've ever had to date. Super refreshing and easy to drink, which can be dangerous ;) - Velvet Mood: I only tried a sip of this and can barely recall the taste, but remember thinking it was not bad. Green Eyes was definitely a better choice. Service was pretty standard. Note that they require reservation for party of 6+, so plan your visit accordingly. Highly recommend checking them out when you're in Oakland! read more

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Came here on a late Saturday night and had to wait 30-45 mins to get in the door. This bar is quite popular so recommend putting your name down, grabbing a drink elsewhere and coming back. Tried their green eyes drink and it was delicious! Refreshing, light, sweet - so good you couldn't taste the alcohol and I had to get a second round. Lovely ambiance and chill vibes. Service was quick and prices were reasonable. Highly recommend for drinks, date night, chill catch up session with friends! Keep in mind they don't serve food so come thirsty but not hungry. read more

Bar Shiru - Green eyes - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Service is good and staff is professional yet each has their own personality and is not robotic. Drinks are wonderful, I've been many times and have not tried a drink I didn't like. Ambiance is S-tier, acoustics are meant for audiophiles, yet drinks are meant for cocktail aficionados. This place is best of both worlds, but there is often a waiting list. Important to remember that good things come to those who wait :) read more

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

Bartenders know what they're doinnn the music is laid back ambiance is vibey definitely a great date spot wether it be your first or 70th drinks are tasty and some nice twists on classics read more

Bar Shiru - Boulevardier riff (forgot the name) and high heel sneakers (almost like a boozy herbal soda) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Great cocktails and a nice ambiance. Will be coming back for sure. Don't remember everything that I had but I tried 3 cocktails and each one was well balanced and executed. Low lighting makes for good date type spot read more

If you're into vinyl bars and cafes then this is up your alley! High ceilings with vinyl records covering the walls. There are some "rules" regarding tables and seating so good to get there early! The drinks were not very balanced which led us to only have 1 drink. However, the bartender did switch it up for my friend and ended up enjoying her drink. As for me, my drinks were just too strong. I will say that for it to be a a build in listening experience, you can't hear the music and there were some dead spots. Overall, would I come back? I'd give it another try. Would I recommend it to a friend? Sure read more

***Overall 3.5 stars*** My partner and I wanted to grab a few drinks and got intrigued by the hi-fi bar concept. Parking was really hard, especially on a weekend night - we finally found a spot after cycling around for 30 minutes. What we ordered the Green Eyes, Velvet Mood and Whisper. The drinks didn't really stand out to us that much, and we thought they were pretty average for the price. Our overall favorite was the Green Eyes since it was pretty smooth and had a refreshing feel. The vibes were there, and the interior gave a cozy feeling. The ambiance was immaculate! Service was not that great, though. It was hard to flag someone down to take an order or ask a question. read more

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One of my new favorite bars in the Bay and definitely my favorite bar in Oakland as of right now. The dimly lit atmosphere with records adorning the dark walls up to their high ceilings gives me the feeling that I've been transported to Tokyo or another swanky glittering metropolis in East Asia. The ambiance was very casual, intimate, yet exciting. The crowd in the lounge varied from young couples, and groups of friends. There were people who were young and old, of every ethnicity, giving you a sense of how welcoming the space is. What won me over was their Mystic Bounce cocktail, featuring an old fashion version of an espresso martini. It is definitely stronger than what I was anticipating, but the drink gets better the more and longer you sip on it, especially as the ice melts and dilutes the strong hard liquor. I also appreciate that the bartenders were very fun to talk with and quite attentive, despite the fully packed bar seats and tables that night. I would love to come back and have a drink again, even if it's just two or three more Mystic Bounces. For someone immunocompromised like myself, I truly appreciate the fact that the bar is still doing vaccine checks at the door along with your IDs even when most bars or establishments have foregone covid precautions. read more

Bar Shiru - Mystic Bounce - better than your typical espresso martini! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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Let me say I had no idea this place existed until someone took me on a date here. It's intimate, the music was immaculate, and the drinks are really tasty. The bartenders are legit mixologists which I really appreciate and so do my tastebuds. The bartenders were very attentive and made sure we had water whenever our glass was almost empty. I would highly recommend this place for a night cap. read more

Bar Shiru - Drink menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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I'm low-key (not so low-key) obsessed with Bar Shiru. Every conversation I had, after returning home to NYC had as a part of it my effusive praise of this gem. On a trip to Bay Area, my uncle brought me here. Everything from the ambiance, to the vibe, to the cocktails, to the music all worked in this perfect harmony. It's the type of place where you go and you instantly get it. You're at peace. A note about the cocktails that they are interesting, delicious, and well thought out. The mocktails are equally so. Too often, mocktails are just fruit juice with bubbles. If you want to come here for the vibe, but don't drink, you're still going to have a great time. I could say more, about how I appreciate their rules (which serve to give everyone a better experience) or the auditory experience (so carefully set up) or how comfortable all their furniture is.... but really you should just go. I only wish there were a similar place in NYC. All the listening rooms here pale in comparison. read more

Sickkkkk listening bar. They got HIFI equipment with beautiful music. Such a classic bar with a twist on their drinks, highly recommend! I found street parking about a block or 2 away and didn't have to pay parking fees! Bar Shiru is a place I would frequent whenever I am in Oakland now. The bar got full really fast and it did take a while to talk to a server or to order more drinks, but the ambiance, drinks, and crisp music was great! It's a listening bar so you can't talk too loud or get rowdy, they might kick you out! read more

The drinks here are really good and the workers are so friendly! We went on a weekend and just happened that it wasn't busy. Great intimate setting for date night. Highly recommend this spot for a nice sit down and sip on some drinks read more

Drinks were good and music volume was nice. We could easily chat with each other and still listen. Unfortunately staff didn't seem to like the customers or even each other. Was a very down perfunctory vibe. read more

very cool vibe for a bar, intimate and chill. came with a party of 5 on a friday night and had to wait for an hour to be seated though. they make everyone in your party order something, even though one of my friends didn't plan on drinking. very very strong cocktails. they also serve wine. most drinks were $15. a good spot for catching up, not much of a party or dancing bar. read more

Bar Shiru - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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We found out about this hi-fi bar through a recent 7x7 article. It is very unassuming from the outside and you could have easily walked by it while on the way to Fox Theater and/or other Uptown bars/restaurants. We went on a Friday night around 6pm ish. The friendly security put us on a waiting list and told us it would be about 45min wait. (There was a Vance Joy concert so maybe that's why they were slammed.) While we waited to be notified to get in we got some Mexican food at a nearby restaurant down the street. Once we were let in, the hostess led us to two bar stools by the window. The interior felt intimate and so chic. I want to stage my future home exactly like Bar Shiru honestly! Anyhow after perusing our menus we put in orders for our drinks. Their drinks definitely put an emphasis on Japanese whisky. I got the cocktail with mint and celery (can't remember the name!) and my husband went with the coffee based cocktails. Both were interesting and complex, making them easy to sip. The music was also very much on point. Unfortunately it did get too loud inside with the volume of other customers chatting. We decided to leave shortly after finishing our delicious drinks. I think I would have enjoyed it more if we had come earlier on a weeknight. While the staff did a great job limiting numbers of customers inside the bar, it was still really loud. Also the bar stools were not too comfortable to sit on after some time. I would still gladly return another time! read more

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Came here on the recommendation of a friend and it definitely lived up to the hype! Cozy intimate bar, great for a date night. If you don't love dark interiors with dim mood lighting, this place might not be for you. The place was quite busy on a Friday night and our group had to wait by the bar for about 20 mins before we got seated. Do recommend making reservations if you are planning on coming here but if you are a smaller party, you might be fine, they have plenty of seating. Drinks were alcohol forward and still enjoyable. Husband enjoyed the Mystic bounce but be warned that this is a strong drink. It was similar to an old fashioned with the addition of espresso. The Green Eyes on the other hand was citrusy, refreshing and easy to drink. Definitely see myself coming back. read more

Here's a great place to start or end your night. The vibe is classy and sophisticated. They play strictly jazz music and the volume is never overbearing. That way, you can have a conversation without needing to yell. There's a time and place for that as well (try the dive bar a few doors down, Chef Keef). The Happy Hour goes until 7pm. Drinks on the HH menu are $10. Try the Highball Vodka, Vesper, and Sazerac. The Sazerac would be my top choice. The highball vodka is worth your while. Nice balance of Vodka and tonic. Love this Whisky Bar! You'll need ID and proof of vaccination to enter, FYI (September 2022). Also, on busier nights they have a host that seats you and they may put a time limit on your table. We were given two hours. read more

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Great spot. Tasty and interesting drinks plus a really cool hi-fi sound system and tons of cool vinyl. This would be a great spot for a date. Real classy. read more

The atmosphere and ambience here is perfect. Cozy vibes with great music and art. Definitely worth checking out. Not mentioning much about the drink as I don't drink alcohol but my friends enjoyed what they ordered and the bar tender was very helpful and polite. read more

Love love love, did I mention love? Best to come early when they open because it will get rowdy, loud and busy really quickly. I came here with a friend when the opened and we had the chance to enjoy Bar Shiru without a mess of people. We sat next to the record player booth and got to watch the waitress switch out the records. The interior design is loyal to the jazz record listening theme. Just reminds me of a typical Haruki Murakami novel with jazz club or bar. Nice date spot or hang out! read more

Bar Shiru - Mojito(?) was citrusy and tangy - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Came here on a Friday night with some friends, there was not a long wait and we were seated immediately. The menu gives you a description of the bar, venue, history, and the overall theme of the place. It is featured as a bar that focuses on audiophiles but that theme kind of gets lost. The interior is dark and sets a mood. It feels really high end with the tall ceilings and concrete surfaces which contrast the van kleef next door. The decorations are really nice with the speakers and record collection and large prints. The drinks were great and they definitely have a standard selection of whiskeys/highballs. I'm a fan of mixed drinks and they were pretty good. The service was nice but the table service can be a little aloof. Prices are cheaper than in sf. Overall the experience was nice and pleasant. Just remember there is a two hour seating limit. read more

Bar Shiru - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Great ambiance, best for smaller groups as they mainly have smaller tables and is on the quieter side. They have a 2 hour seating limit, but will stop by your table and let you know 30 minutes beforehand. Cocktails are reasonably priced for the bay ($12-14) and many feature Japanese whiskey. We got: Whisper not - on the stronger side, great quality whiskey. Can be an acquired taste, but I think it got better as I continued to drink it Actual proof - lighter, more citrusy drink. Beautiful presentation! Toki highball - great drink to start or end on, refreshing read more

Bar Shiru - Actual proof (left) and whisper not (right) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Bar Shiru is a very cozy and intimate bar. Definitely a gem in Oakland! Just be careful because my car got broken into. Sucks but not their fault. read more

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Classy mood, ambiance, love the music listening lounge vibe reminiscent of Japanese listening bars. My brother took my boyfriend and I here over the holidays during a trip home and loved it. Classy cocktails, great little whiskey tasting, and a great find in Oakland with great workers. They really want you to respect the time and space of others, keeping conversations to a low and enjoying the vinyl playing and the conversations to be had. Would love to come back and take more people for an intimate little date night or hang! read more

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Great drinks and super cool vibe. Went there with my wife on a random Saturday. Can't wait to go back

Vibes vibes vibes! The ambience and mood at this bay is on point! There were so many vinyls on the wall with jazz played from the HiFi system. I was throughly impressed by the calm and warm atmosphere. This place is perfect for a unique and tranquil date night! I tried to come here twice. The first time, the estimated wait time was 30 minutes on a Friday so I went to grab a bite to eat, but was called earlier so I didn't go. The second time, the wait was also 30 minutes on a Saturday and I did wait for that amount of time and was able to get a seat. The bar is unassuming from the outside, the "Bar Shiru" sign is easy to miss because it is black. The only indication that this is a bar is the security guard outside. The security guard is such a nice guy as well, always making conversation and making sure things are going smoothly. Shout out to him! What we got: -Green Eyes: this drink was superb and reminds me of a more citrusy midori sour. -Mystic Bounce: This is similar to an old fashioned. I didn't like this very much but my bf enjoyed it. The waiter here was also kind and amazing. He made sure we always got water and drinks. When I left, I forgot my purse but the staff kept it safe for me. 10/10! Please come here and have a good time! The only thing about this place is that it gets too loud to hear the music when there is a full house. I would recommend coming on a weekday to truly listen to the music. read more

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