My after work watering hole, and sometimes during work nudge nudge, wink wink say no more! Great selection of tap beers and a full bar. Decent food menu, even have a decent veggie burger. They've got some nice veggie appetizers, cauliflower, fake chicken tender thingies, and a nice pretzel. Probably the best pretzel I've ever had. Pay the little extra for the cheese dip. Me likes the cheese bites. And I love the shishito peppers. Lotsa interesting folks come up in here, and there's some daily regulars, a real mixed bag , fun people. I met a couple people that turned out to be my good friends for the last few years. Attached is a concert hall that has some pretty interesting live music acts and very diverse from hip hop to jazz to funk to rock and roll and that dark sider stuff, heavy metal, etc. They rent the whole joint out if you have a party or they rent sections as well. Great spot for wedding rehearsal dinners, high school reunions, company parties, etc. Stimulating conversation abounds and a lot of laughter bouncing off the walls. A great place to see sporting events, especially the Warriors. Very nice patio as well with big umbrellas and fire pit. There is an odd set up as you have to go to the bar to get your drinks each time you want something. The downside could be long lines as they don't have table service but they bring you stuff. They don't take orders from the table. Some kind of crowd control thing? Or mis management or local rules? At any rate, it is a fun hang out with killer bartenders and servers. Great spot, get over here and enjoy yourself! Time to leave your crib, get off the sofa, turn off Netflix. And remember, social media is not! Let's go, get out and make Berkeley great again! Tip well the service is great! read more

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I was an insane person and went to go see 4 concerts in 1 week, all at different venues and I have to say that this one is my favorite. I went to see the visual kei, Japanese rock band, JILUKA, here with my boyfriend and we lined up beforehand for VIP. The staff walked out, showed us the rules for the VIP that was printed on a piece of paper and explained it to us too, they walked down the line to scan us in as well. Venue itself is pretty neat. The front part is a bar area with lots of tables and seating and outdoor seating as well. Since it was before the concert, we were able to enjoy some food and drinks from the bar and kitchen. It was also during their Happy Hour too which was great. My boyfriend got a drink (not sure what it was, but it was refreshing and citrus tasting?) and we shared a Bavarian soft pretzel with mustard and we got the white cheddar dipping sauce added on for a nominal fee. One of the best pretzels that I've ever had! Deliciously soft interior, nice chew to the texture of the exterior. Comes out hot, warm and delicious. Great on it's own, but great with the sauces too. Perfect dash of the coarse salts on it. I'd get this again for sure and would like to one day order more from their menu. The live house music area is in the back in a separate room. Restrooms were clean too. Enough space for the bands to sell their merch and do a meet and greet. Wasn't a huge venue and insane turn out, but it fit the crowd and I liked how intimate setting was. I was around 3-4 rows from the front and even with a mosh pit and wall of death, I was able to shift around and see the band more clearly. Easy visibility no matter where I was shifted around. Lighting was pretty good and made it easy to take pictures and video. I think the vocals were a bit more muffled than the rest of the band members playing, but that might just be the set up more than anything. Of all the venues I stopped by for the week, this had the most approachable and friendly staff. Greeted going and as we were leaving too. I didn't overheat at this one either, so the AC was A+!! There's paid parking nearby but if you read the signs and go around, you can get free street parking too. Bring more J-rock/over seas acts here, it was so good! read more

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Great beer choices to get a pregame going. Good food and spot to meet up as well after work or maybe lunch.

I stopped by for lunch for the first time. I love the ambience here and the food is amazing!!! The customer service was on point A+ all around! read more

Cornerstone Craft Beer & Live Music - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

Visited Cornerstone Berkeley for the first time to see a band, IDKhow But They Found Me. This was my first time at this venue, but my second time seeing the band and they were amazing as always! The venue is in Downtown Berkeley, so there was a lot of street parking. The stage space was actually quite small and intimate, which I really enjoyed because you get to be much closer to the stage. I didn't get food, so I can't speak to that. Would come back again! read more

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Was at Cornerstone 7/13 to watch Barrington Levy perform & decided to have a brew at the downstairs bar before heading up. Service could definitely use some people skills work, not very welcoming at at all. Thank goodness for great concert Barrington gave! We'll see if the tudes are different next concert go round... Actually, I just may head straight upstairs to Avoid the Noid!! read more

Cornerstone Craft Beer & Live Music - The show - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Root beer beer? Count me in. Very tasty, I would totally get that again. Great selection, very chill place to hang out. The cheese plate was good too! read more

Went for a show, so can't speak to the food. The sound system was awful, and when I tried to tell someone we couldn't hear because of distortion, they were dismissive. That may have been show dependent (at least I hope it was). Ambiance was outdoorish, folding chairs, despite being indoors. Not comfy. Would try it again, but only for the right show. read more

Great, intimate venue to see a band! The food is also really good. The big ol' pretzel is as good as it looks. read more

Cornerstone Craft Beer & Live Music - Before the Autoheart show - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

Really great smaller, intimate venue. We went to a concert here to see Moon Hooch and I really appreciated many things: - Good air circulation (I was standing close to the stage where it was more crowded but not terribly so, was dancing like crazy, yet always felt a nice little breeze on me and never got hot). - Water dispenser at the bar (you can get free water!). - Bathrooms were clean and line-free every time I went (and were right outside the stage area). read more

I like how they let you bring board games to play. The tables are big enough for large groups. And they also have outdoor seating. My friends and I met up before Friendsgiving dinner here and played Sequence and Wavelength. I've been here before to attend an ABBA dance party next door (they have a concert venue next to it). It's really an easy place to get to but parking may be difficult. I would suggest waiting until after 6pm or taking Bart here, it's a short walk from Bart. I had a sour and I really liked it. I will probs be back to just chill and hang out with friends. read more

I went to this bar today to watch a World Cup game. After the game was over, I asked the bartender to change the TV channel to an NBA game. I waited 15 minutes, but none of the bartenders changed the channel. They were ignoring the customers and talking amongst themselves. When I asked again if they would change the channel, one of the bartenders started yelling at me and got really angry. Everyone around me was shocked that the bartender would loudly yell at a customer. This has happened to me before where I went to this bar to watch a game and the bartenders were extremely rude to me and to other customers. read more

I went to a concert at this venue tonight and i had a decibel meter app on my phone reporting 130+ consistently so i left. My friend reported it but nothing changed. I think 100+ is dangerously high. I had ear plugs but i still felt it was just not pleasant. I am sad because the beer, the food, the service was all amazing. And they book great bands. I sadly will likely never go back though because i value my hearing read more

Happy new year! Now it's time to clear out some of my back log of waiting reviews. I went to a concert here a while back. Had some good beers and good food. Also heard some amazing music from VOLA and Deidric. I will definitely come back here for shows. I work about a mile or 2 away. Had a big pretzel and some craft brews. Bathrooms were clean and the service was great. It's honestly one of the nicer places I've caught a show in the last few years. read more

Our first time in this place to see Strange Love Tribute. We were pleasantly surprised. Great venue for the concert. We had lots of fun & cover bands were awesome! We had fish & chips for a quick bite too & it was pretty good too. We'll be back if any other interesting cover band ! read more

Nice venue. Small and quaint. Reminds me of August hall in size but less historical. Went to see a band that I knew for many years. Was good experience. Drinks are good but at Bay Area prices. I will be back. read more

Great place to enjoy happy hour with large group gathering - its cozy & welcoming with plenty of seats - both indoor and outdoor! Friendly staff. The house-made soft pretzels was really good, esp when its hot! Pork belly nachos was delicious too! read more

Went to Cornerstone recently and the atmosphere was decent, but one interaction with the bartender really threw off the experience. After paying for a drink, there seemed to be frustration over the tip amount, and the response came across more aggressive than professional. I understand tipping is important, especially in service jobs, but making customers feel uncomfortable over it isn't a great look. A quick transaction ended up feeling unnecessarily tense. The place itself has a good vibe overall, but customer interactions like that definitely affect whether people want to come back. read more

This music venue is super fun, you can grab food and drink before, during, or after. They have something like 40+ craft beers, but I made the mistake of ordering a cocktail instead. I didn't think it was very good, but the bartender did warn me that they're stirred not shaken. Bartenders did not seem the most welcoming or open to conversation, but my waitress was sweet. The food was good, came quickly and hot with plenty of fries to share. The music venue itself is upstairs and to the side from the food area and has its own bar. read more

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Great food and beer, plus the outdoor patio is awesome. And the live venue is outstanding!

Went here to get Cosmic recently. Didn't enjoy any food, but beers on tap from local breweries were flowing. Super friendly staff and chilled out local vibe. Would definitely recommend checking a show out! read more

Cornerstone Craft Beer & Live Music - Cornerstone live music! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

This is a great spot for beer & mixed drinks, home cooked foods, and a music show!!! They have a large eating area. They even have a heated with fire pits outdoor dining area! The food was excellent beyond belief! Every bite was delicious, so much so, i actually finished my meal! They even have vegetarian and gluten free selections! The staff were busy, but still attentive and very happy people. They were not too chatty, but able to make us feel welcome. I love this place! I'll be back!!! Street parking. Clean, large restrooms. read more

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Very great concert venue place! Nice free upstairs seating as well as downstairs right in front of the stage! I've been to 3 concerts there now so definitely can say it's a great venue and have heard good things about the beer! read more

Cornerstone Craft Beer & Live Music - Marc E Bassy - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

This venue is super laid back. My first time coming here, I arrived about an hour and a half before doors were scheduled to open for the Varials show. I was so surprised and relieved to see there was no line formed upon arrival. It's cool that concert goers can just hang out in the dining area until the venue opens without having to order food. I decided to catch the headliners upstairs which was nice since they have stools to sit on and of course, is a lot less crowded than the pit. From what I know, balcony access is only available if there's more than 100 people in attendance, so keep that in mind if you've never been here before. As far as parking goes, there's nearby residential street parking but if that's not an option, there's a few parking garages to choose from that are within walking distance. Overall, great place to catch some live entertainment. Can't wait to come back! read more

Didn't enjoy the food at all. The quality wasn't good despite nice ambience and large menu of drinks.

Uh ya this place SUUUUCKS as a performance venue. First of all the room is fully ghetto. It is literally just a big janky room with a rundown stage and limited bar. We went to see a drag show recently. First they were running late opening the doors so we had a drink at the bar. The pink haired (only bc I didn't get her name) bartender we dealt with was a total snot . I shouldn't have tipped her Then we went into the "venue" which literally looks like a smaller version of a high school gym with like 10 folding chairs. Here's the thing though, the show started AN HOUR AND A HALF LATE. The drag queens were good but there were only two and it was a good 20-30 minute lag between performances. Tf? I emailed Cornerstone to let them know about the situation and the "manager" couldn't have cared less and took no ownership. "Thanks for your feedback. The DJ was almost an hour late. We cannot control the artists, but we will mention it to the promoter so they can make sure it doesn't happen again. Hope you check us out for a show in the future." What a total douche. I mean even a half hearted apology would have been nice Needless to say you should skip this dump. There are a million better venues in the Bay Area read more

I was at Cornerstone 5/27 for a concert. I had a pretty bad experience with one employee in particular. I did not get his name but he was working 5/27 around 7pm. He was white, had facial hair, was wearing a black hat, black t shirt, grey pants, and black and white dunks and he was the person checking ID's and giving people over 21 wristbands. From the beginning I felt that he was very aggressive and had a bad tone/temper. My friend and I got there before the concert started and there wasn't many people there, when 7 rolled around he opened the doors and gave absolutely no instructions on where to go or what to do so everyone started walking up to the door in what looked like a crowd. My friend and I walked up because no instructions were given and my friend was holding a can of alcohol (was not purchased at the bar) and was going to throw it away in a trash can by the doors of the venue. Nobody at the bar said we couldn't have outside drinks and nobody told us to throw them away or we would've. He immediately got angry and told us both that we "cut the line" even though there was no line, and told my friend she can't bring the alcohol in, which she wasn't trying to do and we explained that she was trying to throw it away. We told him we didn't see a line and have been waiting but he still sent us to the back with so much attitude and aggression. After getting in the venue other people came up to me about how he spoke to us and agreed that he was very rude and aggressive. He then kept giving us dirty stares during the night. Once in the venue there was people smoking weed and drinking their own cans of alcohol that they brought and he only said something to my friend and I, I would expect the rules to apply the same to everyone. Now, I have epilepsy and need to take breaks often, especially during a concert. After one of the sets I needed to take a break because I was getting hot and dizzy so i walked out until I couldn't anymore and needed to sit down, which happened to be on the stairs right outside of the venue. He immediately came up to us again very aggressively and told us to get off the stairs and that we can't sit there. While that is completely understandable, the way he spoke and addressed us was extremely disrespectful and unprofessional. I do now owe anyone a reason as to why I need to take a break and while I understand I was not allowed to sit there, he could've addressed it a lot nicer or asked if there was a reason that we were sitting there. Again, I have epilepsy and NEEDED a break. When I go to a concert I expect to have fun, not be disrespected by the staff. This was my first and last time at Cornerstone, I did not appreciate that man's attitude. read more

Carson McCarns, really chill guy. I think I fell in love. In all seriousness I had so much fun at this bar and customer service was amazing. 10/10. Highly recommend. read more

Cornerstone Craft Beer & Live Music - Beer - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

I did not come for the beer or the food, but I did get to see my favorite band, X! Let's talk about what worked first - they were very accommodating with my disability. They set chairs reserved for disabled, and there was one with my name on it, which made it really easy. The venue is quite beautiful. I love the high ceilings. I thought the sound was decent. Stage is really nice. What I did not enjoy is going up to the bar in the front on two different occasions and being ignored while waiting for a drink while any white man standing anywhere near me would get asked what they would like. I felt like I must be invisible. It was to the point that when I finally had a bartender give me attention by nodding at me and grunting, I burst out into laughter because every other man had already been taken care of, and apparently I wasn't worth actually speaking to Lol! I was a bartender myself at one time FWIW. Literally had two bartenders look directly at me and then ask the man behind me or down the bar what he would like. I have gray hair - I'm also queer. It's a pretty heterosexual scene, so I don't know if they just assumed I was with one of those guys and I don't order my own drinks or if I was just invisible because I have gray hair. That being said, the drinks I got were very nicely made, and I appreciate the choice of fine liquor. read more

Cornerstone Craft Beer & Live Music - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

Sound guy needs to be let go lazy bad at mixing was there last night one of the worst sounds? I've ever heard this guy has no idea what he's doing the younger guy. Lazy read more

If you love live music, good food, and good vibes, Cornerstone Craft Beer & Live Music is the place to be. The energy is always great, the performances are solid, and the food and drink options never disappoint. A go-to spot for a fun night out. read more

It's a large support full bar and restaurant with many screens and projectors around. Great for sport watching, groups, casual hangouts and meetups. There are big runs for private parties with screen in the back. Not kids friendly on busy game days but could still be nice on regular days! Service is great with many responsive attentive staff. Foods are petty good American. I'd recommend burger fries sausage tri-tips pulled pork pretty much everything is good after couple pitcher of good beer It's a very reasonable price and good quality of food. read more

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I've been coming to Cornerstone since before the pandemic and it's been cool to see its various evolutions. I actually saw Andre Nikatina like 2 nights before the initial shelter in place. I love an intimate music venue so I def recommend going there if you enjoy that kind of vibe. As far as restaurant/bar/outside seating, I also really enjoy this spot! The bartenders have always been on point, super engaging and speedy. Their drinks update regularly and they're always strong and tasty. Their beer menu is extensive and impressive. There are a lot of TVs and they always play the games! The outside seating is also enjoyable. It's a fun vibey yet low key place. I am definitely biased cause I met my boyfriend here two years ago so it has a special place in my heart. read more

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https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/07/10/cornerstone-alexander-popov-solano-county-criminal-case

I wish I could give negative stars. I went to see a band I was looking forward to seeing and was going to eat there before hand like I have in the past. So there I sat at a table for 25 mins while every server walked by me and refused to make any eye contact with me. So I decided just to buy my ticket for the concert and eat later. Well I did that, my card got charged, but no ticket ever came. So I went to where they check people in and asked them for help, including showing a pending charge to Cornerstone. I was told I need to wait for an email and that's all they could do. I do ticketing work part time and if I ever turned a customer away like that I would lose my gig instantly. Would boycott read more

Stopped in for a NBA finals game and to grab a few beers. There are a handful of TVs and different seating arrangements. It was pretty packed when we went, but we eventually found seating at the bar. They also have some outdoor seating, if you are looking for something outdoors. Customer service and any sort of personality or friendliness from the bar was non-existent. That goes for all 3 people who were working the bar. Strictly transaction. What do you want to drink? Do you want another drink? Besides that, great beer selection, standard Berkeley craft beer prices (not cheap). I don't remember exact prices off hand, but $8 to $9 a pint. After tax and tip (I forget if they add an extra surcharge) you are looking at a $10-$12 pint if you are lucky. 3.6 stars read more

first time here and had a seat at the bar. really nice casual atmosphere with amazing drinks and delicious food. Service was quick and our bartender always made sure to check back in with us. We had the smoked chicken wings with chipotle sauce and the kale & butternut salad both were really good. read more

Cornerstone Craft Beer & Live Music - Kale and Butternut Squash Salad Smoked Chicken Wings with chipotle sauce - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Can't believe I've never been here. Beyond amazing to see a live show. Show up early, regular tap house with good food and a great bar. Outside patio, great staff, then walk into a great live venue with great acoustics. Big time fun with a small music venue vibe. Can't wait to go back read more

Cornerstone Craft Beer & Live Music - Y&T @CornerstoneBerkeley - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

Came for happy hour bites - pretzel, taquitos, carnitas nachos and some cocktails. Wasn't too busy for a Tuesday night probably because it was rainy and cold outside. I've been here before for drinks. They have a full bar and beer tap menu which is nice and the small eats are helpful when drinking. There's also an outside patio area when it's nice out. The place is big not counting the concert venue area. Good place to hang with friends. read more

Cornerstone Craft Beer & Live Music - Carnitas nachos - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

This is restaurant is connected to a concert venue so it feels more like a bar than a restaurant. We sat at the bar and ordered food. You pay ahead of time by mobile device which I don't love because you can't verify your order was placed correctly. We ordered a charcuterie board and a sausage. It was all really good. $42 for everything which is a bit expensive considering what you get but we wanted to snack, not eat a major dinner. I would go back for the boards but sit in a real seat. read more