Always solid here - inside bar also - pool table - great live music - local dive - good vibe oread more

I'm gonna be very honest with you. The only reason why they're getting three stars is for a…read moreBartendar. I think her name was Alex not sure who told her how to serve drinks but at any rate my first Bartendar (Wu Tang Clan tank top) curly hair with glasses was freaking amazing freakin rocked..full pour definitely worth the money, an extremely hospitable. Atmosphere was exceptional and the vibe was good, but then I went for another round of drinks after getting amazing service and good pours.. and then there was Alex. I didn't even get a full pour when she freehanded then she pulled out the measuring cup (after I observed the micro shot I got told her to make it a double) and she didn't even fill the measuring cup up, kindda was like "whatever"so I literally got (1) drink and paid for a double. I'll be back for sure because my BFF loves karaoke and this is my first time here so first impressions are lasting. The guys at the pop up food were so hospitable and very nice as well. I'll go the other way when I see Alex- yikes!

Great place to come eat a bite, drink a bear, and sing a karaoke song!…read more I came here with some friends on a week night. It was pretty empty and had two nice pool tables. There's a food guy in the back that serves Japanese food (pretty good!). The karaoke sound system is pretty janky but functional and the DJ is very nice.

Boy, this place takes me back. Way back. Way, way, way back. When I was a puppyish sophomore still…read moretrying to figure out my major, I remember coming here with my similarly awkward dorm mates for what would be the beginning of a lifetime of cocktail debauchery. I remember when it had a tiki vibe, and we shared a ridiculously potent concoction called the Borneo Fogcutter. I don't remember much after I passed out. Good times. Now it's a hundred years later, and it was my first time back. Seriously. I probably thought how could they could top the Borneo Fogcutter? They don't try. The tiki decor has clearly been long gone, and it's just a standard brick-laden bar with a more East Coast vibe and extra space for tables, banquettes, and a pool table. None of the extra space was being used when Jamie W and I paid a visit, though the bar itself was fairly packed. The bartender was friendly and made a solid $11 Rum Punch since we were in the mood for something tropical given my checkered past here (Photo 5). On a subsequent visit, we took advantage of Happy Hour and went with the $6 Tequila Sunrises which had a surprising kick (Photo 8). DRINKS - 4 stars...no Borneo Fogcutters but their drinks have punch AMBIANCE - 3 stars...showing its age SERVICE - 3.5 stars...bartenders are different each visit TOTAL - 4 stars...Spats has matured and so have I (hypothetically) RELATED - Exploring Berkeley? Here's my collection of places I've tried and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2CbVh8u

This is a nice size Billards room the service is pretty laid-back. Real easy to talk to pretty cool…read more& fast

-We wanted to have a work happy hour here for a party of about 15 people and I saw on their website…read morethat you need to make a reservation for larger parties. I made a reservation on yelp for 5 people (the maximum yelp will allow) since they weren't open for me to call and give our accurate number. -I called the day before our event and spoke with someone over the phone. I gave my name and the updated amount of people and he said we were all set. I received two confirmation emails for my reservation. -I received a phone call the day of my reservation asking for me to confirm (again) and a text. The text said to either confirm by calling or texting that number. I confirmed through text pretty immediately. -4 of us arrived at 3:30pm, the place was locked and closed. I called the number that called me earlier and no one picked up. When someone did answer, he said they would send someone over to help us. Someone from the cannabis spot came over and told me that I didn't confirm and that they were closed. After me being adamant that I did confirm, he reluctantly opened the doors. It was dead silent in there, the guy seemed irritated with us and then told us they would only have beers and shots. We left and had our happy hour at Honor Bar and they accomodated us and treated us like we weren't a nuisance. -All in all, it was a bad experience and the staff (at least the one person who talked to us) seemed annoyed by our presence and appeared to want me to be apologetic for their mistake. We were just a group of teachers ready to spend some money and decompress. Terrible customer service.

Great service! Food was delicious, especially the loaded tots. I really appreciated the innovative…read moreflavors and sauces. The decor is cool and the bar itself is full of good vibes. Definitely a good place to hang out with friends.

Shattuck is full of fun bars to slip into, Tipsea being one of them. I've been here twice, and this…read morewas the first time trying snacks while here besides cocktails. Looking for an in-between spot (a sip and bite before dinner), we cozied up to the bar here for a quick cocktail and bar food snack. We ordered onion rings that came with the choice of a variety of sauces including Tikka Sauce, Siracha Mango, Sweet Chili, Korean BBQ, Hot Honey, and more. Both the cocktails and snacks came timely, and we enjoyed conversation and community chatting with other locals/tourists visiting Berkeley for a short time. The vibes are right in Tipsea and I dig the nautical ambiance/theme/play on words. Worthy of a stop through; street parking on Shattuck/paid garages nearby, but ride-share sometimes easiest for these locations. NA options available and full menu including burgers, a fried chicken sando, seafood options, other bar snacks including Navi's and loaded tots, and dessert.

We came as a party of 8. They have a hidden speakeasy tucked away in the back behind a bookcase…read moredoor, which was such a cool touch! A standout feature is their self-pour beer system. They have a variety of different beer flavors available through dispensers where you simply tap your card and pour as much or as little as you'd like while keeping track of the total $$. Our group shared one card and asked for four cups so everyone could sample different beers, which made it a really fun tasting experience. It's a great way to try multiple options without committing to a full pint of something you're unsure about. For food, we ordered the pizza, chicken tikka masala, naan, and tamarind chili black ribs. The ribs in particular had a nice balance of sweet and tangy flavors. However, the portions felt small for the price point, which was the biggest drawback of the meal. While the food was good, it didn't quite match the value of the drinks and atmosphere. Tap in lounge is a solid place to grab drinks and hang with friends. Just be prepared for food portions that are a bit smaller than expected for what you're paying.

We stopped into Tap In Lounge and it ended up being one of the more unexpected spots of the night…read more The location feels a bit random, and once inside it only gets more interesting. There is a hidden, speakeasy style door that leads to the restrooms and bar taps tucked in the back, which adds to the overall experience. We stuck with cocktails, and they were strong and alcohol forward. We tried the Sipping Into Darkness and the Cane and Cacao, both well made with bold flavors. These are not light, overly sweet drinks, and may not be for everyone. Overall, a unique spot that stands out for its concept, but not necessarily somewhere I would go out of my way to return to.

First this place is a five star dive bar! Love the service I got from Wavy Dre! His service and…read morehospitality was completely genuine! My first time in Berkeley and will be back... TOMORROW :) Thank you! -Bjaxxx

Saturday I went out to have a drink with my man and my total was $26. I did NOT leave a tip on the…read morereceipt because I gave a cash tip instead. The next day I get a notification that my transaction was UPDATED and $4 more was added. I called and asked to speak to a manager, of course one wasn't available. The bartender said he was the one working that night, but suddenly he "doesn't handle transactions". He said a manager would call me back and nobody ever did. So now I'm returning in person because that charge was NOT authorized. I don't care how little the amount is. You do NOT add money to someone's card without their permission. That is wrong and shady. If you come here, WATCH YOUR BANK STATEMENTS and KEEP YOUR RECEIPTS because clearly they feel comfortable adding extra charges after you leave.

Our second bar of the night! Stopped by Club Mallard after Blue Rabbit Bar for something more…read morespacious so our group could all be together. This was very nice; it was very spacious and offers outdoor patio with tiki vibes! Our group was able to snag the outdoor patio upstairs! Other people were free to also hang out in the patio too, but because we got there early and our group was big, we were able to put the tables together and it really just felt like we were the only ones there; very intimate. There is a pool table and a bar on the second floor, so you don't have to go back downstairs. The staff were very friendly and helpful. They provided great customer service and came by to our table to pick up empty glasses. There was an incident that happened where a man was taking pictures of people in the bar and he came outside to the patio and started taking photos of our group, which we felt very uncomfortable about. We alerted staff and they were able to handle the situation and came back to check on us. They don't serve food here, but they do allow you to bring food from other places! That was very convenient because we were already comfortable and didn't want to leave to go somewhere else. Tacos El Autlense is a 5 min walk away and it's one of my fave places to get tacos; that's where we got our food at! I literally had it the night before too hahaha, but I wasn't complaining! This place was so cute; the music, the ambiance, the service... a whole vibe!!! I would definitely come back.

Sexy cabin themed bar for the win!…read more Relaxed and fun spot with lots of spaces to explore. Pool, the bar and a bamboo themed patio on the ground floor, and then an upstairs too for a more intimate vibe. Drinks seem above average quality, but I just stuck with Guinness (poured quite well). Street parking.

The Break Room in Berkeley is a great spot if you're looking to play some pool and hang out with…read morefriends. The vibes are relaxed, there are plenty of pool tables, great service and everything is well-maintained, no warped tables or damaged sticks, which is honestly huge. Tables are a good size, there's plenty of space even with a group, and it's easy to settle in for a while. They also have a full bar and food, which makes it a solid go to for a casual night out. Definitely a fun place to bring a few people and just enjoy the night.

If you enjoy low-energy open mic drivel hosted by Berkeley's biggest energy vampire, Tuesday nights…read moreat the Breakroom are for you. Be sure to bring something to distract yourself from the cringe comedy this place promotes. The host, with his strong "Ned Schneebly" vibe, seemed a little too comfortable extending his arm straight out in front when giving the light to cut sets. It gave off some serious 1940s Deutschland energy. Thumbs down. Stick to pickling, pal.