If you've heard people recommend the greyhounds here- listen to them and order it your next time here! Vodka + grapefruit juice, with a generous thick wedge of grapefruit to go on your cocktail. Never really thought of myself as a fan of grapefruit because they're bitter, but every time I come here the grapefruit is sweet and the drinks are strong but delicious! I've tried ordering greyhounds at other bars, but haven't found a place that makes it quite like here. The only downsides are that the tables aren't cleaned too often so they're usually sticky/wet from previous spilled drinks and there's only one bathroom so be prepared to wait longer than usual! However, still a good place to get drinks on the weekend. read more

Cafe Van Kleef - Inside - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Oakland, California

Very fun dive bar. As suggested, I ordered their greyhound. It's intriguing to see them squeeze it right in front of you. Seems like everyone at this bar drinks it. When I was there it was a Saturday night and they had a live band. There is no dance floor, but some moving room by tables so people can dance if they wanted too. I like that there are tables right by where the band plays, it makes it more enjoyable to sip on a drink and listen to music. The decor is unlike anything I've seen, it's unique and it makes the vibe much more fun. read more

FRESHLY SQUEEZE GRAPEFRUIT JUICE!! Perfect for Greyhounds and probably the best in town because it doesn't come from a can. Narrow bar area, quirky and weird decorations, occasional live bands and barely enough room to dance or move around. But great for a first stop on your night out in town! read more

The bouncer (David Thuillier) chocked out my friend who has been a long time customer. She was chock-holded until she passed out outside on the streets. My friend was no being violent, she was simply on roller skates. I've been here several times.. This place will remain wack af until the bouncer is fired. read more

YELP 100 CHALLENGE 2018 - 87/100. Wow, that year flew by! I always thought I'd come back sooner! But better late than never, eh?! Hubbers made arrangements to meet with family for dinner. Since we both found ourselves with about an hour to kill before the meet, he and I decided to meet here first for one thing one thing only: GREYHOUNDS. And they were just as good as the last time. Maybe even better! Family came around early as well, so we all decided to kick it for a couple more before heading to dinner. Did I mention service was excellent? Yep! I plan not to wait too long for the next visit. Will be back first chance I get! read more

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I don't even like grapefruit, but when I come here .... I do. The music is always random as hell and the crowd is typically a mixed bag -- but that fresh grapefruit keeps me coming back. Also the bartenders stay crazy friendly and efficient even when the people get overwhelming. 10/10 read more

The tech boom brought a wave of Irish sports bars and cheese people but this place has been here since the beginning. A lot of the crowd has gotten more jock-y and cheeey though but enough cool people come to keep it rad. I miss the days when everyone came here by bike . read more

We stopped in after having a few drinks at a neighboring bar just to have a drink and see what the inside was like. Definitely didn't disappoint! They're know for their Greyhound drink which is just vodka and freshly squeezed grapefruit juice accompanied by a grapefruit wedge. You can get a single or double. It was pretty busy but the bartender got to us quickly despite the crowd. The drinks are delicious and refreshing. We were here on a Saturday night so there was also live music. It was pretty busy but we were still able to snag a few seats. Definitely recommend stopping in if you're passing by! read more

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Talk about a knick knack patty wack! This place has all KINDS of artsy stuff going on! Colorful lights and loads of interesting art and knick knacks surround this entire bar. It's a true beauty! I could just sit there all day and stare at that bar for entertainment. And if that's not enough, the live music should definitely catch and keep your attention. I came here on a busy Friday night with a group of friends and had an amazing time! The bar gets packed and people are constantly trying to squeeze through, so if you can bare with it, you will be in for a fun night. There are booths and a few tables near the back of the bar, and a standing table opposite the bar for people who want to stand but still have a place to set their drinks and purses on. They also have hangers underneath the bar to hang your purses and coats, love it! I'm not into grapefruit and I like my cocktails sweet... so, when I heard about this Greyhound craze, initially I wasn't too excited about it. Well, that was BEFORE I tried it! Daaaamn, that Greyhound is SO GOOD! It's so FRESH! They had me eating the actual grapefruit and I don't even like grapefruit! Can you believe that? But, what makes this the best Greyhound is that they use fresh Grapefruit juice... they actually have a lady at the bar just squeezing all of the juice out of the grapefruits. Whaaaat? That is true dedication right there! And at $8 a pop, it is totally worth it! The crowd is pretty mixed but more on the hipster-ish side. Everyone including the bartenders are super friendly here! I actually met a few people and we all hung out and went to the next bar together. Very cool! This bar is located on the Telegraph strip, so it's street parking or paid lots. It's super close to the 19th street bart station which is super convenient. If you like Greyhounds and interesting art, this place is a must try if you are in the Oakland area! read more

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Niko was our bartender and he made us perfect drinks. The greyhound drinks here are delicious. Fresh grapefruit juice. But I couldn't complain about any of our drinks, they were all delicious. The music they played was good and they have a great band. Overall the vibe here is cool. read more

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I've never had a Greyhound before until I stepped foot at Cafe Van Kleefs. I wasn't sure what to expect as I walked in and saw the odd decor (creepy baby dolls hanging on the ceiling fans, random statues staring at you from the shelves, random skulls everywhere). The weird decor is besides the point because Cafe Van Kleef definitely knows how to make a mean Greyhound. They use fresh squeezed grapefruit, tons of Vodka, and they are STRONG! Be careful how much you order because this drink will definitely creep up on you. Perfect place to visit before heading to Fox Theater for a concert! No bar can make a Greyhound as good as Cafe Van Kleefs. I've been ordering them at other bars but they're just not comparable. read more

As a ton of people have already mentioned, Cafe Van Kleef is known for their Greyhounds! For $8 this drink is a steal because not only does the drink have grapefruit pulp inside of it but they also top it off with a slice of the grapefruit itself (YUM). The place itself has such an eclectic vibe. My friend said the place is usually packed since they have live music, but since it was before the holidays no live music for me :( It's hard for me to describe the decor of the place since the walls were completely covered with various/unique objects such as samurai helmets, funky lights, animal heads, and so much more. The bartenders are attentive and took our drinks right when we walked in the door. The bouncers are dressed with top hats (at least when I went) and the booths and chairs are comfy. Definitely come here to start your night since it does get packed and is a small space. read more

Cafe Van Kleef - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Oakland, California

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Cool bar that plays good music. Bartenders were friendly and fast. Crowd was chill no drama or riff raff. Parking was kinda hard to come by had to park a block away. Nice place to chill and hang out with friends read more

Cafe Van Kleef - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Oakland, California

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Oh what a night! Two greyhounds at the bar with Peter, by Markus N., or ... Travels Through the Looking Glass. You decide. For me it could be either, and I may as well have followed a hurrying hasenpfeffer inside, that's how down-the-rabbit-hole Van Kleef's is. One evening there moons back I went joke for joke with a funny fellow I haven't seen since. I was in my prime; we told for over an hour. Last night with M from Marcellos I found the questioning glance of the lady to my left owed to her looking for college alum. Seems she was the organizer of a reunion and ... no one had come. Sad in a way, until she started laying out her reasoning as to why ladies should never date professional ballplayers. Then quite captivating. Random, and rewarding. At Van Kleef's the specialty is (as you all know already) the freshly squeezed Greyhound. Peter has apparently also invented the Vanhattan and Lord knows what else, but I stick with what will keep the scurvy at bay. Many nights acts fill the small stage to the rear, and the memorabilia of a man's life line the walls. And the ceiling. And pretty much every nook and cranny not occupied by the hip Oaktown uptown scene. Which so beats Chestnut Street, imho. Not that it's relevant here but I'm just going to say it anyway - with the glow of the Greyhound in my belly and brain I ventured to SF for the icing. A little brisket with two of Yelp's finest. That's all. What a lady (a couple of ladies), what a night. read more

Cafe Van Kleef - Scurvy be damned! - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Oakland, California

Wow! Lots going on here for a Thursday night. Drinks are pricey but the grapefruit is so fresh and yummy. The vibe is super laid back. Bouncer is super awesome and really engaged with the people around him which I think is important. Not a lot of seating and small space but on a slow night makes it feel nice and busy! read more

Cafe Van Kleef - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Oakland, California

Ok - Just realized I never reviewed this Oakland institution so here goes. There's a reason why this has a been a popular spot for anyone that's spent any amount of time in Oakland. It has the unique "do-it-my-own-way" vibe to it and you can see it with the decor, patrons, and barkeeps. I've had a mixed bag of experiences here but they've mostly been good. At the end of the day, it mostly depends on when you come and which bartenders are around. The past few years I've come around during the daytime more often than not and I prefer that folks that hang out then. Again, the bartenders are a mixed bag but whatever. If you're new to the East Bay, definitely come here a few times during different times to get the true vibe of the place. read more

Fun atmosphere. Lots a seating. And let me tell you the grapefruits are so sweet. Make sure you order a double greyhound.

Very interesting decor. Not too crowded on a Wednesday night and good place to hang out with friends. Drinks are a bit overpriced

To crowded and too busy. Not enough seating. We went across the street to a better bar with music.

A coworker of mine mentioned this place in Oakland and this was on one of my "to do lists". I am always one for recommendations, so I thought I'd try it out and my oh my was I delighted. A great dive bar where you can appreciate all of the little details they've put into the bar, literally heart and soul. The room is filled with different paintings, figures, and gadgets. I stepped in and was immediately overwhelmed by the mass amount of hangings on the wall, but it was a joy to look at. Their signature drink is the grey hound, where it's grapefruit and almost any liquor. I typically do gin, and my gosh was this a game changer. They freshly squeeze their grape fruit each second it seemed like. Any downtime the liquor-crafts folk were constantly crunching grapefruit. I would highly recommend this grey hound drink to anyone. It's garnished with a 1/3 wedge of grapefruit and it's a large cut. They say they go through 14-15 cases of grape Fruit a day! read more

Cafe Van Kleef - Greyhound - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Oakland, California

My husband and I were here last month, we stopped to try the greyhounds. The bartender served us two doubles, tall and strong. He was fast and courteous. I loved the ambience, it was eclectic, busy, loud; just what we were looking for that night. No live band, unfortunately, but good background music. Good place to sit, have drinks, and just enjoy good conversations. read more

Cafe Van Kleef - the interior of a restaurant - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Oakland, California

Very unique and eclectic bar. A definite visit at least once in downtown Oakland just for the interior alone. This bar is famous for their greyhounds, which is fresh grapefruit juice mixed with vodka. When I watched the bartender make this drink, it was basically all vodka with a splash of grapefruit juice. Definitely a good bang for your buck. Surprisingly, it did not taste terrible, like straight up vodka. The grapefruit juice really mixed well. Better be careful with these drinks. Order too many and who knows what will happen at the end of the night. read more

Cafe Van Kleef - Greyhound (fresh grapefruit Juice and vodka) - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Oakland, California

1/5: Everyone raves about the Greyhound cocktail, which uses fresh grapefruit juice: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/cafe-van-kleef-oakland?select=7MMI3XS6QRe8UZn-nSHw1w#7MMI3XS6QRe8UZn-nSHw1w I found it to be totally unworthy and overhyped. However, you can increase your hipster cred by knowing that you can order a variation, called the "Local Greyhound", which uses local gin from Seven Stills distillery, located in the Dogpatch neighborhood of San Francisco: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/cafe-van-kleef-oakland?select=7MMI3XS6QRe8UZn-nSHw1w#1zH7f2ma_4OX2efqRKDkeA read more

Cafe Van Kleef - The Greyhound cocktail: fresh grapefruit guice and gin. - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Oakland, California

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Fun but often crowded on Fri and Sat evening. Known for greyhounds and a decent selection of beers on tap

This place was PACKED Saturday night. We came here with my bf's coworkers after the holiday party. There was still live music playing and the bar was alive with boisterous party-goers. Personally, I'm more of a homebody on the weekends, so the bar scene is usually a bit out of my comfort zone but it was such a delight to see how much everyone was enjoying themselves at this place. The bartenders were all so friendly and treated you as if you were a regular. I sat and watched one guy pretty much break the world record for most grapefruits juiced in half an hour, prepping the juice for all the greyhounds to be made in the next few minutes. Everyone enjoyed their greyhounds and kept coming back for more. If it weren't for last call, I don't think we would have gone home! I'm the last person to ask about alcohol and night life, but I know a good time when I see it and this is where you want to be on a Saturday night! read more

Cafe Van Kleef - Greyhounds galore! - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Oakland, California

Solid fresh cocktails as always- was just as good as when I came ten years ago. Pricing is reasonable for what you get. Bartenders are great too. Ambience is nice read more

Greyhounds. Enough said. Chill atmosphere and good for groups! Love this spot! read more

Cafe Van Kleef - Greyhounds on deck! - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Oakland, California

Awesome live bar and the bartenders were quick and easy to get a hold of even though it was absolutely packed. The live music was awesome and it was bumping. Would 1000% come back. read more

Love this place! Dive bar well known for their greyhounds: (lots of vodka), fresh grapefruit juice, and a slice of grapefruit on top. Service is great and decor is full of unique paintings. Definitely a must do in Oakland! read more

DO NOT GO HERE!! UNSAFE!!! Went here before a show at the new parish with a friend looking for a quick drink in a fun place... Started feeling strange and realized at the end of a torturous night that we were assaulted and given a date rape drug known as a roofie. The only possible person to have done this to us is the bartender. I truly hope Peter Van Kleef gets his act together and triple checks his employees so this does not happen to any other unsuspecting girl.. read more

This place is horrible do NOT go! The security "big low" has no respectable customer service. He was very abrupt with me and rude. In the past hour I have watch him play favoritism to several ppl and some sneak in. While others are standing in line waiting to in line. If this company is losing money they should definitely look at him since no on is inside, no one is in line and no one has ordered but he still make people wait. Also, they charged us $75 for 4 drinks. I'm warning you now, stay away from this place read more

**************** 1675 ************** Love the vibes here, we came to meet up some friends. They frequent this spot. It reminds me of half New Orleans during Madigras and half after-hour club/dive bar in Vegas. Plenty of arts and weird stuff display through out the place to the ceilings and some more. Regardless, nice people serving here, cheap drinks, (don't ask for wines here!), it's a good spot to stop in post dinner. read more

Get the palomas! The grapefruits are freshly squeezed and they're so good! Will be back!

I love Van Kleefffffffff! I went there with friends and on my own. There is no other bar I trust to be there by myself. All staff there are amazing!! People too. Everyone is very respectful but fun there! Overall Parking: 2/5 ( There are only street parking. Make sure not to leave anything in your car!) Price/ value: 4/5 (Their drinks aren't the cheapest but they are strong!! ) Must try: - Greyhoundssss (Yup! A few of them) read more

We spent part of our 2018 NYE here. It was super packed, but super fun. Someone was handing out cheap glittery hats to everybody coming in. The bouncers were polite and so were the bartenders, despite serving dozens and dozens of people. They had some great live music, too, a blend of blues and jazz / fusion rock. The only real downside is their bathroom is single stall, so it can get messy or have a long line. 5/5 would drink here again. read more

Eclectic place, for sure. Reminds me of some my old dive bars in NYC. Random stuff on the walls, tight space inside (especially near the entrance--and since people tend to hover here to order drinks, it gives off a huge shoebox feel), and hot as hell (they have a big fan in the back, where there's more seating but the cell service depreciates). Greyhounds are the drink of choice here; served in a tall or small glass. The drink has fresh squeezed grapefruit, which is the big selling point, but I went with an Anderson Valley draft. Drinks aren't that cheap considering their dive bar aesthetic, but if you want a good holding area before dinner or another cocktail bar nearby, it can fit the bill. read more

My first impression? Hm. Well, there was a really drunk woman yelling at someone she apparently rubbed substance off their nose and didn't appreciate the attitude she was receiving. It's definitely unique in all it's glory - decor, customers, drinks. It's pretty dark inside and they're famous for their greyhounds w/ fresh grapefruit juice (can be made with tequila). There's only one unisex bathroom which more than likely gets pretty disgusting as the day goes. The staff is super friendly and attentive. Not sure why this place is as popular as it is, with so many other bars around the area. Maybe it's just not my vibe. read more

This place is super well known for their fresh squeezed grey hounds, which are excellent. However what I like most about this place is the atmosphere. There's tons of eclectic and strange art work, and usually some blues or jazz band playing. It's good for a rowdy night out with friends. read more

Excellent spot for pre-show drinks before a concert at the Fox! Can get a bit packed if you drop in right before a sold out show that caters to an over-21 crowd, but the bartenders are good at churning out greyhounds and serving customers quickly. Greyhounds (or palomas, if tequila is more your thing than vodka) are the drink of choice here, with boxes on boxes of grapefruits piled up, ready for squeezing. The bartenders are a well-oiled machine, and can be seen darting from the slightly slow credit card machine to the hand-squeezer to pump out some juice while waiting for a card to process. The pours are heavy and the drinks are strong, but you can barely taste anything besides the fresh fresh grapefruit. They aren't cheap, but for the novelty and the quality, it's worth it. Get a double if you're really trying to get yourself pumped up before the show. I've heard there's live music, but have never been around for that. The decor is...eclectic to say the least. It looks a bit like a garage sale threw up all over the interior, but it's a change from the usual and fun to just stare off vacantly and then do a double-take when you realize what you're looking at. The entry way and bar space is narrow, so head to the back if you're hoping to find a little bit more space. read more

The question is, what more can I say about van kleef that hasn't been said? The place is wonderful, from the quick and attentive staff to the famous greyhounds to the live bands. Genuinely don't know many bars that I have met such interesting people and have such outrageous wall decorations. Admittedly, van kleef is packed on weekend nights. Also, it is not a bar to go to if you're hoping for run of the mill radio tracks, which I think is refreshing. However, I've also come here on weekdays and even did work in the back of the bar one night. Very friendly and welcoming, a must visit!! read more