On a chilly rainy night, 40 of my best friends met up with me on my birthday at the Fireside. We had the most delicious tasty cocktails served by sweet, kind, lovely bar maidens. We hung out by the fire, laughed and ate some snacks they let us bring. There was wonderful jazz playing. The Fireside is THE best bar in Alameda to go with your buds!!! Hands down! Thank you Fireside ! Thanks you for the chill, laid back friendly atmosphere and your amazing service! And on a side note, on another occasion we were there and heard a wonderful girlband, glamskanks. Bring them back! They were amazing! read more

When you first walk in (through the very tiny door), you can't believe it. They have completely revamped the place. New leather comfy couches and very cool decor. Love the flatscreens and the bar. Larry the bartender was great. Very cheery and nice. This will definitely become a regular hang out - let's just hope lines don't form outside. It would be cool to have food there, maybe that's coming. read more

Really great vibe, and great beer selection. No food beyond little snacks, but you can BYOF. Great neighborhood bar.

It's open ya'll! Such a wonderful neighborhood bar! I'm glad to have discovered it.

I have to say I was so surprised I liked this place but it was Amazing! FIrst night I walk in the bartenders are so friendly and welcoming and they make great drinks umm yummy. The overall ambience of this place is warm, cozy fire, laid back but upscale. It's a hidden gem in Alameda. When I first walked in I met a guy named Keali'i from Hawaii and he was so nice to us talking story with us which is always a great sign to me because I am from Hawaii so it made me feel even more at home. Reggae band on a friday night even better! I can't recommend this place enough read more

This is a great local bar. They typically have a diverse beer selection and a fun trivia night. I wish they had cider in tap, however. Super chill spot to cozy up with friends and they even have a Dolly Parton pinball machine! read more

I feel really really bad for this place. Fireside has reinvented itself as a nice, classy, comfortable place to drink and mingle with good people. UNFORTUNATELY it's on Webster. Now...I live near Webster and love Webster for the dive bar shit hole gas stop that it is. However, I would never ever think of making a night here. If Fireside was on Park Street then it might have a chance. As it is...I say good luck, I hope you do well, but me planning on going there is a low 15%. Cheers though.... read more

This place is amazing. Grace was bartending and making fabulous martini's. The ambiance was lovely. The DJ was kicking ass! I would go again. read more

Great local bar with a great beer selection. They have different events happening throughout the week. It is a nice low key place filed with great local peeps. The bartenders are friendly and there is live music and even an open mic night. Great place! read more

wow! i haven't written a review in ages but thought the fireside lounge deserved attention. this place with its old world charm gives alameda a hint of sophistication it has been sorely lacking. i have been a few times now and find the clientele diverse and refreshed with the fireside upgrade. i overheard numerous people exclaiming that this is exactly what alameda needed and I couldn't agree more. i love the fact the owners kept the original bar and phone booths from the 40's and removed the false ceiling to reveal the full length of the fireplace. it's always amazing to see what imaginative good taste can do to a place whilst still preserving its authentic features. i am a huge tequila fan and am pleased to see the selection continue to grow. the beers on tap rotate almost weekly and there is a huge bottle selection - the ones from france and belgium are stellar. the wine menu is also ever expanding. minor drawback - the owner keeps saying he will finish the crown moulding and hopefully soon -because it would really complete the place. if you live in alameda you can walk here or ride your bike (i've done both). i plan to go here for one cocktail and end up staying for three more! I also keep noticing the same faces when i go to visit - that speaks volumes about the future of this place. i say....check it out!!!! read more

Fun little place! No food and old time movies playing. Ok to bring the food in but should have a few food items and sports on TV. No one is going to watch a movie - but could have one screen with the movies for the ambience and then a couple games on! Still nice place and nice staff! read more

Great beer, cozy atmosphere. Sat at a high top near the open window during warm weather and enjoyed a cold beer. Bar tender was peasant. Music was enjoyable. read more

Ok the OLD fireside I was afraid to set foot in! In worry I would get robbed or stabbed or somthing worse! But now..... Wow! what an improvement! Patrick (the owner) is awesome! great conversation, good people, relaxed atmosphere, beautiful leather furniture, high table tops and ceilings! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!! read more

This place caught my attention from a block away. The red glowing sign that reads Fireside draws you in immediately. I loved the cozy feeling you get when you step in. You can tell this is a favorite neighborhood bar for many. If only I lived closer, I would visit often. The bartender was adorable. She was as friendly as can be. We tried a mix of drinks from the cocktail list, all of them were original and fun. There was a fireplace in the back, with a few tables, boardgames available for use, and a pool table. All of these things made me feel like I had just come off the slopes and stepped into the best lodge around. However, the Hawaiian themed birthday party taking place fit the place perfectly too. I really enjoyed my time here. Great crowd, fun atmosphere, and great staff. I will be back. read more

Great spot. Good chill crowd, fantastic bartenders. Whether for a casual beer or night out with friends, this place is win.

I've only been once (stopped in and had a Linden Street Ale! Wow! That was good...) I'll be back for sure. They have what looks to be a nice selection of wines, they specialize in cocktails, but when I went in back and saw their bottled beer cooler - man, I started hyperventilating. The atmosphere seems nice... Check it out. read more

My friends and I were about to stop in to have a drink at the Fireside and shoot some pool, and when we got there it was was closed and it was on a Sunday night around 8pm. I don't know if its every Sunday or what but it was weird to see a bar/lounge closed on a Sunday night. I would love to go there when it is open and it said on the review it is open on Sunday but when we went there last night (Sunday) it was closed. What's going on here? read more

This is my 1st ever review and may well be my last, but I had to write after reading some of the idiotic and false reviews about the Fireside. Who are you people writing about roaches and bad service and giving 1 star reviews?? You sound like bitter, angry, and pathetic people with too much time on your hands. (Are you confusing this bar with the scetchy Shamrock or Wallys or the weird Pacific Island Club?) I have patronized the Fireside many times and have ALWAYS had a great experience. There is a huge bottled beer selection, a few really good tap beers, a friendly staff, and free pool. In addtion it is very clean! I have been to my share of pubs and bars and this is one of my favorites. Great ambiance, great people, with a nice local feel to it. So ignore the angry reivewers and check this place out. read more

Looking forward to more time here! Hard working and super friendly staff!

I like the atmosphere-- especially with the fireplace warming the back of the bar. The drinks seem great with an excellent selection of beers, and although I didn't order a mixed drink, they have a big Citrus squeezing machine for fresh fruit juice. Sarah, who is behind the bar was extremely friendly and pleasant. They have free Wi-Fi, as I noticed one bar patron was enjoying a beer and also getting some work done on her lap top. read more

AMAZING bottled beer selection!!!! I just wish they would hurry up and get some kind of bar food in there. The food they had back when the owner was cooking, wasn't anything exciting and over-priced, but now they don't even have a snack for while you're at the bar! I still LOVE the atmosphere and is definitly my favorite bar on the west side. I'm not the biggest fan of the new bartender. There use to be a couple guys and girls, but now it seems to be just the one guy and he has no personality and no patience.........give me some food and a more lively bartender that's a little faster and you'll definitly be a 5-star! They have pretty good deals occassionally too! read more

This place is just a couple blocks from me so it makes it convenient to ride my bike to. They have an AWESOME beer selection and make some pretty awesome mixed drinks as well. They do have a pool table in the back and some cool couches and table to sit at with your friends. It probably would actually handle groups really well too. read more

Great atmosphere, good local brews, my favorite place in Alameda. They actually use fresh squeezed juice in their drinks. Gotta check it out! read more

Loud music. Couldn't hear the person next to me talk. Rickety chairs at the bar. Friendly bartender. Friendly door person. Dark like a dungeon and extremely poorly lit pool table. read more

Delicious drinks, great staff, good bands. What more could we ask for?

I love the fireside. The bartenders are wonderful and knowledgable, the atmosphere is chill, there's no more pool, but pinball is awesome! Jazz organ on Monday evening is mellow and my favorite time to stop by. I love my neighborhood bar! read more

I LOVED this place! It's not too bright, not too dim. It's clean, but still feels like a bar. There's a dance floor and there was live music the night I went (my birthday - I got a song dedicated to me!). The bartender was fantastic and really nice. I went for the absinthe, but the white russian and the miami tea that my friends ordered were both delicious. Basically, this place is awesome. Yes, it looks like a dump from outside and then it's really clean inside. I like cleanliness. It was really rad. read more

I keep on wanting more and more people to hang out here, but it always feels a little flat. Nice folks working there with great beers. It's a bit on the pricey side and I wish they got the kitchen going as once planned. A classic bar in the making. read more

Since my last review, the Fireside has evolved into our regular hangout. They do an excellent job of keeping the cocktail menu fresh while maintaining their commitment to local booze. Their taps swap out somewhat less frequently, but combined with the big cooler full of options there's more than enough variety. The staff is always friendly, the big swing-open windows up front are great when the weather is nice and the fireplace in the back is great when it's not. read more

This place has the BEST cocktails!!!! I highly recommend any of the drinks with St. George products!

Stopped in for a drink in a whim, and glad I made the choice. The bartender was friendly, and quick to offer recommendations for their liquor selection. She also made a great Old Fashioned- well balanced, not too fruity. Would come back whenever in the area. read more

Love this bar. Just down the street from my apartment. Good people, good local music and beer. I couldn't ask for much more!

My wife and I became big fans of this place during this past summer. We just moved to Alameda and were looking for that place we can go after work for drinks as well as on a Friday or Sat. night or to watch a game. This is that place!! We went for Super Bowl Sunday and had free BBQ provided by the Fireside, drink specials & great Beer!! I am from NYC and am a bit of a bar snob so I am so happy to have a place like this to come to where the service is great, the drinks are awesome & cheap and they have FREE POOL!! I decided to have my B-day party there last week and I have to say it was Great!!! DJ, Great Food, Drinks and Dancing. If your thinking about having a B-day party for some close friends, this is the place. Cristi and Patrick were accommodating and very giving. OK I can go on forever, this place is great!! read more

came here after dinner at Cafe Jolie down the street. Played some free pool. Drank a perfect manhattan. Left with a couple bucks in my pocket! Great night!!! read more

LOVE THIS PLACE! Great under new ownership! If you want something original; come to the Fireside!

They make THE best greyhounds with that fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice!! Nice place.

So the Fireside used to be one of the most disgusting bars on the island, considering it smelled like vomit and the people there looked like they were on the verge of homeless-- if they weren't already. But after a closing period, it re-opened with a thick coat of fresh paint (that didn't get rid of the vomit smell), some new fixtures, and a single man that was so rude I'm surprised his ego fit through the door. Let me tell you, it was nice that the bar had a pool table and all, though it wasn't plumb-- it leaned to one side and was a wreck. The beer was cold, yet overpriced. Don't even think about the liquor there, if you were being served by the Owner/bartender extraordinaire there was hardly any in the glass and I think he charged some people less than others! On one occasion I asked for a fruity drink selection and he quipped back with a snide remark about the "extensive imported wine and beer collection" if I couldn't find something there, go elsewhere. So I did. (Another bar with a similar name on the island recently opened, I find it enjoyable!) Needless to say, I went back once and still hated it. This weekend when I was driving past the place it looked as if the Fireside had a little run in with some, um, FIRE! Oopsie. Looks like the place had a little bad karma!!! Maybe it was in some hot water and won't open up again!! read more

I celebrated my 50th birthday at Fireside Lounge and all I can say is AWESOME! AWESOME! AWESOME! The staff was "off the hook" fantastic, super friendly and helpful. I couldn't believe it when I turned up and there was a sandwich board saying "Kelly's Birthday Party". They had a drink menu specially printed with Happy Birthday Kelly and beautiful balloons. This was all done on their own accord. I didn't arrange anything in advance other than the band and DJ. Bitsy went out her way to make certain everything was set up to my liking. They had the sound system all set ready for the DJ as well as the stage for the band. I knew I had a big dance crowd coming, so Bitsy and Chris removed most of the table and chairs or pushed them to the sides to make plenty of dance space. I was concerned the fireplace in the back would get too hot once people got dancing. Bitsy's response was "no problem it's gas, we'll just turn it down when it starts to warm up." They supplied a big container of iced water for my dancing friends which was most appreciated. The wonderful bar staff Chris, Julia and Sarah excelled in making the most delicious mixed drinks and serving a diverse selection of micro brews with huge smiles on their faces. I can't say enough great things about this place. It has such a welcoming atmosphere like the "Cheers" bar in the television sitcom where everybody knows your name. They worked really hard to make my birthday the most memorable experience. Love it! Love it! Love it! read more

Born and raised in Alameda...I know the Fireside or what was a biker bar years and years ago. I longed for a trendy hip bar in A-town...went to opening night and had high hopes. Why the 1 star? Their Salsa night sucks! They trick you by saying they have Salsa nights then when you go it's either dead (no dance partners...due to poor marketing for this venue) or they are not playing Salsa at all!!!! For those who love to Salsa we don't want something similar or jazzy or whatever we WANT SALSA and if we are disappointed once we almost never go back. Don't offer Salsa unless you have access to the Salsa scene goers and have a good DJ or live music. Hip hop Latin music draws a totally different crowd...no the kind of crowd a Salsa person appreciates. The Down Low...closed...why not go after those folks...that place was packed every Wed night...now where do they go???I am a Salsa dancer living in Alameda and I would rather drive to Berkeley or SF to Salsa. What a shame cuz the Fireside has so much potential but they need better marketing and folks who know what Salsa is all about. read more

nice selection of beers on tap friendly service yet somewhat pricey.. good spot of alameda locals read more