Came in on a mission for a good Manhattan and walked out impressed. I asked for one built on Rittenhouse Bottled-in-Bond rye, and Sevan behind the bar knew exactly where to go with it. Fantastic drink. My friend tasted mine and ordered the same. The selection is the draw here. Whiskey lines the entire back wall, the rarer bottles sit behind wire-mesh locked cabinets, and there is a deep bench of tequila, beer on tap, and wine to round things out. One look at the shelves tells you they have the base for any drink you want. We split the Margherita flatbread, pesto, fresh mozzarella, and blistered cherry tomatoes, and it hit the spot as a drinking snack. The menu goes deeper than expected for a bar, with sliders, naan tacos, and charcuterie if you show up hungry. Service was good considering the staff-to-crowd ratio. Sevan stayed attentive the whole time and clearly knows his stuff. The vibe is chill and conversation-friendly, not too loud for the size of the room, with a bank of TVs toward the back if you want to catch a game. Logistics are easy. The bar sits a short walk from Pleasant Hill BART and parking in the area was no trouble. I've been a few times before and this visit confirmed why I keep coming back. For a high quality cocktail in the East Bay, this is the spot. read more

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For beverage choices, H&S gets 5 stars. For food, one star. And while the servers are nice and good at their jobs, if there is only one covering the whole restaurant, the service is sssllloooowwww. I blame ownership for being cheap and not wanting to pay for enough servers. Lastly - DON'T ORDER THE KETTLE CHIPS! They used to make their own, but now they charge $4 for a bag of kettle brand chips tossed on a plate. Eew. read more

Hops & Scotch - $4 "kettle" chips. From costco to your plate. So unsatisfying and cheap!! - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

My buddy and I went last night to grab a drink after a hard day. We've been there a couple times and sat at the bar and really enjoyed ourselves. The food is good and the beer and scotch whiskey select selection amazing. However Last night, was a terrible experience. One of the worst I've ever had. We walked in and the place was fairly busy. The bartender acknowledged us and we sat down. And that's the last time we were acknowledged. For the next 15 to 20 minutes, the bartender walked by us. Ignored us. Made sure to never make eye contact with us and never even came over to say hello sorry we're busy we will be right with you. Nothing. I've never sat down in a place and then gotten up and left because no one approached us. I mean, that's just crazy to think about. Two people walk in ready to give you their money and you literally don't even say hello to them. So we walked out and went next-door to the Peruvian place and had delicious food and beer. With masses closing, and lots of people looking for a new bar we thought we had found it. This is a profoundly disappointing experience and clear that they simply do not know got to staff the bar properly on a busy day or they're just jerks. Either way I'll be hard-pressed I ever come back read more

"Just as good as I remembered it!" It's been a few years since I was here last, and it's just as good as I remembered it. They even have two more beers on tap. They have a large seating area inside as well as a pleasant garden area overlooking a creek outside. On the outside there are heaters to keep you warm on chilly nights. Wait a minute, do we have chilly nights in california? There is such a gigantic beer selection, I asked the bartender to make a recommendation. They had two dark lagers, and I settled on ghost town holy ghost. Just what the doctor ordered! Just like my last visit, I was able to snag a easy parking space close by. Amazingly, the parking around here is free, unlike most spots in Walnut creek. Thanks especially to the wonderful G.M. Lauren, for making this a pleasant visit. read more

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The beer selection is enormous, and there is always something I like on draft. The whole bar is very dog friendly, which is great for my Husky whether it's hot or cold outside. That staff was super nice. It's more of a bar than a restraunt, so the portions are modest. The flatbreads are good. My doggo approved of the carrots. They even gave him extra! read more

Decent place Nice decor, great selection of whatever your like, beer or alcohol Some real nice bourbons and scotches (pricey) Brianna was great, pleasant and new her stuff Had the naan tacos Tikka Marsala was awesome Lamb gyro was ok a little dry Came with potato salad which was average( if I'm doing a potato salad as a side in a nice place I'm going to do a kick ass potato salad) read more

Hops & Scotch - Chicken Tikka and Lamb Naan Taco with potato salad - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Hidden little gem, tucked in an odd spot of offices and apartments. Nonetheless there's street parking, and cozy inside with a large bar area and plenty of tables to watch games. The bartender was friendly despite being the only one on shift and knew his cocktails well. We asked a million questions about ryes and he was super honest about what he knew and didn't know. Really huge menu of whiskey, it's a bit overwhelming with 100+ pages, but for the whiskey people in the world a dream come true. We were on the hunt for Russell's 13 which wasn't available but tried the Birthday Blend of Old Forrester which was amazing. They had full and half pours of you want to try the triple digit sips. Didn't get food but everyone around us had their flatbreads which looked decent. We will be back. read more

Hops & Scotch - Inside up at the bar, plenty to look at and even more to taste hiding in the back! - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

I went here for drinks and it was packed. They served the drink pretty fast and they were pretty good. I would go back again when its warmer read more

Hops & Scotch - Pretzel - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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Visiting on a family emergency, stopped in to take my mind off things and Sevan was so amazing! I cannot say enough about how amazing he was and if you are ever in the Walnut Creek area please go take a visit to this place. Literally helped be a bright light during a horrible time in my families time. read more

Hops & Scotch - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

If you're a whiskey or beer fan check this out. Food was good too. I read reviews on restaurants in the area and decided to give it a try because it was so close to the hotel across the street. I almost didn't try it because of reviews on service. No clue what others are complaining about. Service was 10/10. Final thought, pricing on allocated bourbons is elite. (Don't go changing pricing now..) read more

Hops & Scotch - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

First timers and we loved it! I found my new favorite cocktail in the Megatron Margarita, it tasted just like a mangoneada but even better. For eats, the BBQ Chicken Flatbread & the Brisket sandwich on ciabatta were both delicious and we will definitely be back for more, especially their Happy Hour menu. The service was quick and friendly. We loved the display of the liquor behind the bar and will definitely be coming back to sit outside in their patio area. A great spot when in the Walnut Creek area! read more

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Stopped in here recently to have a drink with a friend on the recommendation of a local and this spot is really cute. The decor is inviting and the whole space has a nice vibe. They have indoor, outdoor and bar seating. They also have some games you can play that add to the relaxed atmosphere. It wasn't busy on our visit and the service was ok but the person that I was with and I both happened to order smoked drinks and after they were served we were advised the smoker "wasn't working" and they wouldn't be able to do anymore. The drinks were both quite bad and there were multiple bits of bark in them from the issues with the smoker. It was disappointing, especially at the price point. It would have been nice to have been offered an alternative or to have been advised of the issue sooner so we could change our order. I might be persuaded to come back for a trivia night or to try some of their food but as it stands, this is just an ok place to stop if you just want to hang out and have a drink and some conversation. read more

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They have a wide selection of beers with some cocktails and food as well. We got the charcuterie board just to have something with our beer and that was easily shared among four people. My only gripe would be that we had to sake multiple times for the check. read more

21 and older bar! Should put that on your info for bar. Our son and his friend meet us at this place and my son wasn't 21. We didn't know it was a 21 and older bar. We all are from out of town. My husband and I ordered drinks had one drink and then server asked for my my sons ID. I said oh shoot 21 and older and she said yes. She was going to let us finish our drinks as we had just got them but manager came over very rude and told my son he needed to get out right now. The server apologized to us. She was super sweet! Manager . read more

Lovely little bar. Bartender was super friendly, welcoming and helpful. We popped in on a Saturday afternoon on a whim. Terrific beer selection. Terrific experience. read more

Stopped in with family, my first visit but not the first for those in my party. It's fun! Indoor and outdoor seating. And clean. Honestly a really clean bathroom for a bar! Nice staff. Lots of board and card games available. This place is super cozy, warm, and inviting. We parked at the nextdoor parking garage which was free for 2 or 3 hours I think? I don't really drink so it was nice to see a couple mocktails on the menu tho I wish they had more mocktail optjons. They have a decently extensive drink and food menu. We got the pepperoni flatbread which was basically just a thin pepperoni pizza. It was pretty good for bar food! Tasted fresh. Got the Margarita and Piña Colada Had A Virgin Baby ($8:Liquid Alchemist Coconut, Orgeat, Lime, OJ, Pineapple). This was good! On the sweet side. Would come back. read more

Hops & Scotch - Margarita and Piña Colada Had A Virgin Baby $8 (Liquid Alchemist Coconut, Orgeat, Lime, OJ, Pineapple) - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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I've visited multiple times and the food and drinks are decent. They have a large selection of beers on tap as well. Other than that, the service has been terrible every time. I always hope it will be improved after each visit but it always feels like customers are a bother and it has never felt like a welcoming environment or experience. I will definitely make the trek to somewhere else even if they are farther away next time. read more

I had been driving by the establishment for a while now, and finally couple of friend's of mine and I ended up grabbing a drink and early dinner "yes!! Early dinner" The first thing that call my attention was the decoration and the diversity of spirits bottles in the wall, and of course the friendliness of the employees. The indoor seating was great no many people at the moment we arrived the outdoor huge backyard style were it seems that you can bring your dog and hang out After looking at the menu, we order cosmopolitan, smoky Manhattan and Negroni in the clouds "first timer" very impressed by the smoke flavor of the drink. We each ended up ordering arugula salad with pulled chicken and Caprice salad, a quesadilla and naan tacos "two mini naan beef/lamb, and shredded beef" Food was good and fulfilling but I really enjoy the drinks If you just want to have a quick bite and very delicious drink with friends and family totally recommend this place read more

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Good place for a drink and a bite. My partner and I were in the area and popped in on a whim. Good vibe with friendly employees, and a chill crowd. Fun, modern, uplifting music, and no downer pop (i.e. John Mayer, Coldplay, etc - gag). I don't go out and spend money to be depressed, so downer pop in establishments drives me crazy, but that's a topic for another day. They have a very extensive beer selection, and rather than pore over the many options, I asked the gentleman behind the bar to fix me up with a flight; my only request was no dark beers (stouts and porters) - you know, the stuff that will grow hair on your chest. He did not disappoint. He delivered a flight of the following for me: Hops & Scotch Light (#12) Russian River STS Pils (#1) Melvin Killer Bees (#22) Fieldwork Radios & Rodeos (#23) BarrelHouse Cold Brew Blonde (#42) I'm happy I left the choice up to him, because the selections were perfect. My partner enjoyed a Black Stallion Cab and an Old Rasputin. We shared a chicken quesadilla which was tasty, and their other food options look enticing. The place seems to draw in locals and fill up with the after-work crowd, and as it gets later it gets progressively louder. They turn down the music to compensate for the crowd noise. Some good sound absorbers on the walls might go a long way. Clean ladies' room as well - you can tell a lot about a place by the condition of its restrooms. Nice spot, we will return next time we're in the area. read more

We have now been here several times over the last 6 or so months. The layout. Nice outdoor patio, nice bar as you walk in and lots of inside tables. There are multiple screens displaying all the beers and ciders available. Also, paper menus, QR codes and big bible binders of all the whiskeys. I don't drink beer that much anymore unless there is a nice porter on the menu. Lucky for me they also have tequila and some totally adequate red wines. For food we have had the flatbread, quesadilla, and pretzel. One of the best pretzels around even from German food places. Always get the pretzel. Comes as straight sticks instead of convoluted.  Staff has always been nice and service prompt. If you like flights, they have flights. If you don't know what you want or know what you definitely don't want the staff is there to help. We have always been able find street parking close by. Very nice place to chill and have snacks. read more

Hops & Scotch - All the fixins - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Hops and Scotch is super dope!! Great hidden gem. Delicious and unique drinks! Awesome environment. Highly recommend for a chill hangout with cool drinks to try! Food is yummy too! read more

Great place for scotch and bourbon if you're into that like me. They have many options even some bottles you don't normally see. Next to the bar is a good tap selection of many micro brews. They also have decent appetizers but not a big selection. It's more the drinks for this place. Definitely a good spot to have a nice drink! read more

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I had the pina-rita and it was soooo good. Partner had the Dr. Doom seasonal drink and that was solid too! Glad we found this place while visiting. Would come back next time we're in town. Cute vibes, good service. read more

Hops & Scotch - Dr. Doom and Pina-Rita - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

I've been wanting to check out this bar for a long time and I finally had a chance! The might be the best whiskey bar in the east bay. Arguably, it might be the best in the bay area! My favorite things about this joint are the variety of Old Fashions on the menu, they have the most amazing displays of rare whiskeys, and their beer menu is extensive but easy to read. The service was great and they have board games for anyone to play. I love how they have Russian Rivers brews on tap. I recommend the Chai Old Fashioned! I'll definitely be back someday! read more

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We've been here a few times and it's a solid bar. Decent amount of indoor and outdoor seating, a big stack of board games and a wicked selection of bourbon and whiskey! The food menu had a decent selection but wish there was a little more variety. Would love to see weekly or nightly specials for those of us who frequent the place! Or maybe they have specials and we just haven't heard........ The servers/bartenders are dope too. Overall solid spot. read more

From my very first visit to Hops and Scotch, I was welcomed with above-and-beyond hospitality and incredible service, especially from Sevan. Sevan, you are truly the pillar of this establishment! What impressed me even more was discovering that every single member of the team is just as gracious and wonderful. The service here is so exceptional that I didn't even think about looking for another place or bar during the entire month and a half I stayed in Walnut Creek. That speaks volumes about the atmosphere, consistency, and genuine care this team puts into every guest's experience. I truly appreciate all of you at Hops and Scotch and you can be sure I'll be back soon! read more

I went to Hops & Scotch for my friend's birthday on a Saturday night. We arrived around 6:15pm and the place was packed. Felt like we were playing musical chairs in order to get a couple of extra seats for me and my fiance. The place seemed like a cool spot for the locals. They not only had a full service bar, but they also had an extensive beer selection. The had individual tables in the front and communal tables toward the back, but that's where we were seated so perhaps they configured that layout for our large party. H&S had a nice outdoor patio, but I was told that we couldn't bring our drinks past that point. Although our server was very friendly, I felt that the overall service was awful. She wasn't attentive, but I also found it difficult to flag anyone down for assistance. The cheese flatbread was meh. Nothing to write home about, so don't waste your calories on this. I know it's just cheesy garlic bread, but I've had better elsewhere. I tried the naan tacos, which were OK. I liked that I could choose 2 of any flavors, so I did a mix and match of the brisket and chicken tikka masala. I appreciated how loaded both tacos were and how flavorful they were. I much preferred the brisket taco over the chicken tikka masala. The beef was pretty tender and fatty, which is how I like brisket. I did find that the bbq sauce was an overkill. It was such a messy taco to eat. The chicken tikka masala was missing something - like the sweetness of a tamarind chutney or freshness from paneer. The naan bread used as the taco shell had a soft chewy texture, but I think it would've been nice if it was toasted so that it could hold up against the sauces. I ordered one drink called "Margarita and Piña Colada Had a Virgin Baby." Yes, this is off the mocktail menu, and it was excellent. It really did taste like the best of both worlds. read more

Hops & Scotch - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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My date and I got sick here. I know it was from Hops 'n' Scotch because we did not have any other shared meals other than from this place and we both got sick within 12-48 hrs after our date. It could've been from either the pastrami sandwich or this BBQ tri-tip sandwich. However, to call the tri-tip one a "sandwich" is misleading because it was the thinnest layer of barbecue sauce and meat crumbles between two large slices of bread. I wonder if they were almost out of the tri-tip, and it was old maybe? I give two stars because the staff was nice when we were there, the location is good, and the beer was good too. The service was a bit slow and I did have to go and get our server a couple of times, but the staff was nice. read more

The service was great, the beer menu was awesome. We didn't try Their food. But the menu looks good. Kinda a fun nice welcoming spot.

I stopped by Hops and Scotch for dinner and left pleasantly full, with a few notes worth sharing. What was done well: The wings were solid--ordered the garlic Parmesan and barbecue, and both had good flavor. They came with a generous side of carrots, which was a nice touch. I also tried two of the naan tacos: the tikka masala and the barbecue brisket. Both were delicious, but the brisket was definitely the standout--tender, smoky, and packed with flavor. The tacos came with a side of potato salad that was actually pretty good--creamy and well made, though it could've used a little salt and pepper (none on the table, unfortunately). To finish, I went with the salted caramel vanilla cake. It was clearly a packaged dessert and not what I expected based on the description, but to be fair, it was rich and flavorful and hit the spot. And even though this place is known for whiskey and beer, I was really happy to see that they had not just one, but three different ciders available--big win for us cider drinkers. Areas for improvement: While the wings were tasty, the homemade ranch they came with was a little too watery for my taste--could use some thickening to really complement the wings or better yet a nice thick blue cheese dressing. Also, as mentioned, the potato salad would've benefited from basic table seasoning options. And while the cake was flavorful, the description had me expecting something more freshly made or house-crafted. Overall, a fun spot with good food, solid drink options, and a few areas that could be tightened up. Would definitely come back, especially to try more from the naan taco menu. read more

Hops & Scotch - Garlic Parmesan and BBQ Wings - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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There were pros and cons. I came on a weekday for dinner but we only got appetizers as nothing really looked good for a meal. The old fashioned and burrata really were excellent as other Yelpers mentioned. The place was pretty busy for its location and it being a weeknight. We got the chicken quesadilla. Meh. I was still hungry so I got the cheese pizza - it tasted like they heated a frozen pizza. Not good at all. We also sat by the door and I was freezing because they left it open. The waitress was great and checked in on us often. Finally, we asked for the check and the waitress stood there to get paid. I prefer the check be left with me so I can contemplate the check, discuss it with my companion, etc. I think most nice places allow you that time. Next time I'd likely go to Parada for dinner instead. I'd come back for the patio mid-day and not for indoors. read more

Hops & Scotch - Great old fashioned - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

They have some new cocktails names after some hip hop legendaries! We tried the E40 which was like a spicy mango margarita. It was delicious and the spiced mango garnish was double yummy! Their outdoor seating is nice especially when it's warm outside and if you have your fur baby with you. We have ordered food here before from my last visit. Their flatbreads are bleh, not worth getting again IMO. Their hummus with pita bread and carrots is one of the few things on their menu that is more bang for your buck. The burrata toast/salad is a whole lot of arugula than anything else. We always come here before eating a full meal somewhere else. Their drinks don't disappoint. Staff is friendly and upbeat. I appreciate that more since nowadays most people seem to hate their job when in hospitality. read more

Hops & Scotch - The E40 - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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I really wanted to like this place, but oh well. Beer selection was good, cocktails were fine, food was fine, service was awful. They have quite a large list of beers from many local breweries, which is cool. The cocktail we tried was nothing special and way salty (and it was supposed to be a sweet drink, a piña colada!). The flatbread pizza and nachos were fine, but tasted mostly like some frozen meal or something you'd get at a minor league baseball stadium. The service was slow, they were out of multiple beers and cocktail ingredients (though that didn't stop them from taking our order of multiple items they were out of only to have a different person come by 10 minutes later to say they were out of it). Not coming back. read more

Haven't dropped by here in a while so it was nice to enjoy the patio on a nice summer evening. We had a couple of drinks and Doreen was our server. She's off the hook!!! We adored her and it was fun being able to exchange some sarcasm and a little friendly banter. We learned she's new to the place and I'll say she's a good addition to the team. Got to chat with one of the owners Gurpreet for a bit which is always a pleasure! Place was busy but we were served pretty quickly. Ordered a hummus plate to snack on with our drinks and I'll say the pita bread is fireeee! Outdoor patio with the lights on and hanging out on the couch gave it a perfect backyard feel which we loved. We plan to come in a little more frequently especially during the nice weather. read more

This WAS one of my favorite places to visit when I stayed at the Doubletree across the street. Tonight's visit fell short of that mark. A couple of minor issues occurred regarding timeliness of service. When I tried to resolve the issue, each person I interacted with was more interested in providing an explanation than a solution. You are in the Service industry! Good luck! Lost one "repeat" customer tonight. read more

Hops and Scotch is a fun place to meet friends and hangout. Their food is delicious! I'm a bourbon guy and there's plenty of options in that category. They have many other great drink options. Spring - fall is the best time to use their outside seating area. Over all a great place to hang out. read more

Service was slow and rude. Good spirit and beer list though, so very disappointing! Wish the service was better! read more

Hops & Scotch - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

My husband and I came twice so far! It's really fun and cool place! The drinks are amazing! We both enjoyed our drinks :) the food was okay! The only thing we both didn't like it was very pricy! It's definitely cool spot if you want just couple of drinks :) We had good service! read more

Enjoyed my time here with a glass of 2 Towns Blueberry Cosmic Crisp on a very hot day last week! Sat outside and enjoyed the great outdoors feel in the back patio covered by huge trees which provided a nice shade. The waitress, Sam, was kind and although it was really hot out, she was sweet enough to come out and check on us often and I appreciate that. Have been wanting to come here forever so I'm glad I finally got around to doing that. Will definitely come back, just learned they have trivia night! read more

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Love this great little restaurant/bar! Super good staff, fantastic drinks & the tacos are just delicious! read more

Hops & Scotch - The incredible bar! - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Walnut Creek, California