Went in on a Sunday night. Took 15 minutes to even be asked for our drink order and 10 min after that to get served. Talk to the girl with blonde hair (the only reason we got served at all.) Great if you're a big group of white men! You'll get top notch service. Everyone else, lots of better bars to go to very nearby. Only go if you're in a group. read more

I am editing my review following a sincere acknowledgement of my review by the GM of the restaurant. It is this level of integrity that is commendable and greatly appreciated. This place is definitely worth 4 stars!! This was my third visit to this restaurant. The food is very good. The service is good!! The ambience is really cozy and warm! HOWEVER, it was very disappointing that they would tell us that we exceeded our time limit 10 minutes after we ordered our drink!! 10 minutes!!!!! That's ridiculous! We should have been told that we can't order a drink 10 minutes before the time limit. So, they are ok with taking the dollars but greedy enough to want us to leave so they can have other customers. Much to our dismay, this sort of greed ruined an otherwise a wonderful, enjoyable evening. I will be back because the food is good! But I am going to think twice before I order my second drink!! read more

Love the vibe - well-curated books, bartenders spinning vinyl, good cocktails, yummy food. What more could one ask?

My wife and I went here and got the burger from the happy hour menu, both ended up with food poisoning later that night. Needless to say I won't be coming back. read more

North light had been on my list of places to visit given that it aspires to be so many things at once - bookstore, cafe, and a bar. You would think that it's a big place since it has so much going on, but it's actually quite tiny. And that's not a bad thing, I was a little surprised that's all. The decor is quite charming, and the vibe is causal yet chic. I loved the wall of books (with the ladder and everything), gives it a library-esq look. It does have a patio in the back which I am sure will be wonderful during summer time. A friend and I met at north light around 630 pm on a Tuesday and it was buzzing, but not crowded. The bar is dimly lit and has a good collection of alcohol. I got a glass of rose and my friend a Moscow mule. The cocktails were interesting and if I was not driving I would have probably tried one. The food menu on the other hand was a little underwhelming. Finger foods + bar food + lots of different types of toast options. If you are in the Temescal area its certainly worth visiting. read more

North Light - Drinks with a friend :) Moscow mule and a glass of rose - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

The service and people who work here are wonderful. The decision to insult customers with a $9 grilled cheese, not so wonderful. Especially when the grilled cheese is no more than sliced white bread and low quality cheese hardly grilled to even make the sandwich melt. Not even overflowing cheese on the edges. Whole Foods is another block down, I know they sell bread that adults like. read more

North Light - Grilled cheese...white bread special - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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Absolutely loved this place! We were walking by and the gorgeous bookcase and alcohol caught our eye! We were so glad they had a cute and nice sized patio out back. The drinks were DELICIOUS and the staff was amazing! I've been telling all my friends about this little spot and I can't wait to come back and try more off the menu read more

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I have come to North Light twice in the last two months, and each time I was disappointed. Overall, I think the drinks are overpriced and that it is way overhyped. The first time I visited was on a Friday night. A maybe high and homeless man was in front of the restaurant harassing and cussing at customers, and taking his clothes off. It took too long for the staff to intervene and for law enforcement to arrive. It was uncomfortable to watch, and put my party into a bummer mood for the rest of the evening. The second time I came was on a Saturday afternoon. We were seated in the back patio. The tables back there are metal, and they were so hot that we felt unsafe sitting there (for fear of our skin being burned). We immediately moved to a more shaded table. Another party arrived a couple minutes after us and tried out the table we had just vacated. They left the restaurant promptly. Once the hostess realized the problem, she closed the blinds above to cover the patio from the sun. Unfortunately, that made the patio turn into a literal sauna. I really am not looking forward to coming back, but millennials seem to think this place is great, so I unfortunately will probably be stopping by again. read more

North Light - Espresso martini, sangria, etc. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

One of the servers asked me if I wanted regular water or sparking water before I had ordered my cocktail. I asked for sparkling water, thinking it would be poured from a bottle into my glass. Instead, I get a huge 750ml bottle of sparkling water that has already been uncapped and get charged over $7.00 for it. I felt ripped off by this underhanded move and will not return here. When the server here asks if you want sparkling water, be on guard and firmly ask to know what the price of the sparking water will be. They definitely pulled a fast one on me. read more

Love the ambiance, cocktails, food Nice folks too The parklet allows for larger group events, and they've got a really nice back patio too read more

This is the BEST spot for a private party in Oakland! The event was truly MAGICAL in every way! I was looking for a space to host a birthday party and the team was so easy to work with, so thoughtful and so willing to find creative ways to keep the event in a reasonable budget, all while also making it special and unique. The whole team was incredible and really made every single effort to make our event absolutely perfect! The have a really special thing going on there at North Light! read more

Love this cute neighborhood bar. The food has always been on spot, albeit a limited menu. The drinks are great and creative, and the music is always great. The only complaint, if one has to name one, is that the volume of the music can be a bit too loud for the cozy space, making conversation difficult. read more

North Light - Bar area - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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Best drinks in the bay! The food is also amazing and comes out so quickly-Stevie is a great cook!!! The service is excellent, everyone who works here is so incredibly kind and welcoming. I'll keep coming back here :-) read more

Books , patio, food and drinks ! It's that kind of place where you won't feel awkward sitting alone with drink and book. Food was good we ordered finger food and few drinks. Nice place to hangout with friends. read more

Somewhat hidden spot in between other restaurants. Their cocktails are amazing! Tried the pillow talk which was super smooth and their umami fries with bacon hit the spot! Can't wait to try more of their cocktails read more

North Light - Pillow talk - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Fantastic place to get lovely cocktails and small bites. They are popular but don't usually have a long line, which is a huge plus for me.

Northlight is a pretty solid bar. Being on Telegraph the chance of getting a table without a reservation in the evenings is slim on a Thursday-Saturday. The wait time can also be long. Parking is hit and miss. The area is really busy, but be careful. I have had two friends whose cars have been broken into while we had a snack here. The beverages are great, pretty standard for the area. The food options are also pretty good. They have tater tots that I'd recommend especially if you have a flair for the dramatic. The staff is always very kind and welcoming. One of the nicest staff in the area. I'd highly recommend. read more

Cool spot, great ambiance, food selection leaves a bit to be desired. Everything was tasty, the menu just isn't very big.

Came here for the first time shortly before the pandemic started and loved it. Then the pandemic happened. Luckily they were (and still are!) open for delicious to-go cocktails. When they reopened this past spring they remembered me from pandemic times which was really nice. Food and drinks here are fantastic. I love the brunch burrito (I'm a sucker for chorizo) and the Action Item (a cocktail that tastes amazing but unfortunately has a name that gives me flashbacks of work). All of the staff are amazing. Super lucky to have a great bar like this in the neighborhood. read more

Cutest little spot in North Oakland. Happy hour drinks were Bomb (3-6p weekdays). I got the Southside for $9. They have wifi (but discourage use after dark). The back patio is adorable. It was filled with a mommy group with XL strollers last I was there but was still pleasant and a fun place to catch up with a friend. The bartender was nice and efficient and made a great drink. Recommend. read more

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Met my book club here for drinks and dinner. Cute back patio, yummy cocktails, and tasty food! The menu is a little light but tasty nonetheless. read more

Big fan of the cocktails and congee (on the brunch menu) at North Light. I love sitting at the bar and staying close to the vinyls and books. One of those spots that I keep going back to! read more

This place has great ambience, fabulous service, and creative cocktails. I left out one star because the only food item I ordered (which was French onion soup) tasted over salted and quite bad. It was also very over priced for what felt like three tablespoons of food. The drinks were also so full of ice that the ice was literally spilling out the top of the drink. Made me feel like they were watering down the drink? But In any case, the place has nice outdoor vibes. It's clearly a date type place... but not totally sure I'd be back... read more

OAKLAND PEOPLE PLEASE READ (or anyone planning to visit this place. North Light a kind "edgy" place with a horrendous beer and food selected FORCED me and my business partner to buy 2 more rounds each in order to use their completely empty fromt patio to eat our Burma Bites food that is literally right next door . The front patio covers both restaurants but North Light "OWNS IT" and even though we bought a round we were told we had to purchase more alcohol in order to stay . ?????!!!!!! Really? DO NOT GIVE THIS PLACE YOUR MONEY . THERE WAS NO ONE SITTING OUTSIDE WAITING . Ruined our night read more

Small portions for the food $12 grain bowl. Glad to have vegan options, even if they are an afterthought. Servers forgot about our coffees as well. Very disappointing. read more

North Light - $12 grain bowl. Ingredients cost less than a dollar and you couldn't even fill the half the box?? - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

What a find in the neighborhood! Let me just start by saying best old fashioned ever. For me, this place just beat my old favorite and that's big! Nice decor with the books, cozy outdoor seating, tiled backsplash, and old vintage alcohol bottles (the books are for sale). Great service but mind that we sat at the bar so that's what this review is based on. The cocktails are what this place is all about. Other than the old fashioned, also tried the 'Last Mistake' - very refreshing, gingery, light and perfect for a hot summer day. They have some excellent snacks on the menu which has changed recently. No sardines toast but great deviled eggs with crab and bacon. Just a hint of some spice on them would make them outstanding! read more

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North Light, a new café in Temescal, has a lovely ambiance - much brighter than its dark and morose predecessor. The indoors seating area is quite small, however, and only seats about eight people. You also have the option to sit at the bar, but it's harder to spread out with your computer (if that's what you came to do). The real gold mine is the back patio, which isn't particularly well decorated or cozy but has ample seating and light, as well as heaters. Food and beverage options are quite good, ranging from eggs and bacon for breakfast (served until 11am), to all-day options like avocado toast, to lunch options like salad and a meatball sandwich (served until 3pm). There are even kid friendly meal options (think grilled cheese cut diagonally). Only downside are the portion sizes and prices - for a small avocado toast - one thinly sliced piece of bread, small slather of avo - you will pay $15?! There is a nice wine last as well as the option to partake in some "day drinking" with some fancy cocktails. Overall, a very nice venue and addition to this neighborhood! read more

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We were delighted to have North Light host a work event for us this week. They reserved the sunny and spacious back patio for our happy hour group of about 25 and it.was.perfection. Planning with Den was straightforward and professional. I couldn't have asked for better response time and he had excellent recommendations to accommodate us logistically. The service was outstanding - the staff was so friendly and attentive and our guest of honor felt so special. There was a cocktail to suit everyone in the crowd. The small bites were paced perfectly and they were SO delicious, it felt like we were at a fancy catered event. North Light will be a go to for our next Happy Hour, for sure. Thank you so much for bringing our event to life! read more

North Light - First Happy Hour guests in the back patio! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

North Light takes over Marc 49's spot. bar area just 7 tall chair stools. 4 tables in rear patio, 4 tables in front. both walls have bookselves with new titles. music from vinyl disc. bar shelves wines, apertifs, mezcal, etc. offerings: cocktails, wine bar, plates, snacks, non alcoholic drinks,.. eats: deviled egg(8) coming: breakfast, lunch, & dinner. 4 halves of egg, bacon tasted chewy monterey sardines(2) on toast(8) -sardine really fresh, toast chewy, not crunchy drink: pacific coast cider (5) -nice and tart -old kan beer out of stock. rogue punch(5) -tastes/feels like alcohol, isn't. nice faux buzz. drips: -soft opening now, hours 3-10, after 1/22 regular hours 7am - 12 a.m. closed mondays. -associates friendly, cordial... -majority of drinks wine, cocktails, just one beer, one cider. read more

North light is a hip bookstore that serves booze. You can buy the books on display and they have a great selection of shelves curated by authors?!? That being said, you can read books in public here without feeling weird or being the only one and drink a cocktail at the same time. Whoever was playing dj during my visit did a great job of satisfying the indie kid buried (maybe not so deeply) within me! The actual quality of the food as well as it's presentation is spot on. I arrived before the menu changed for the evening, but the sardine toast and hummus toast was awesome. The olives were also served warm and were quite delicious. I'll be back and next time I'll buy a Book! read more

North Light - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

North Light is a cute little cafe/bar/restaurant. The atmosphere is very chill and relaxing, which makes it a great date spot, especially if you're wanting to drink as well. There aren't many tables inside, but in the back, there is plenty of outdoor seating available. Of course all the tables inside would be taken because it's a perfect photo op with the books on the wall. Sitting outside was not bad, but make sure you bring a jacket. The menu is very limited. And my first reaction was that it was very hipster. Dishes are small, so I suggest ordering about 3 or 4 and share. What I ordered was the deviled eggs, patatas, avocado toast, and the meatballs. My favorite would have to be the patatas. They're basically home fries smothered in aioli. The avocado toast had a refreshing kick to it from the lemon. Deviled eggs weren't bad, but there was a tad bit too much mustard. The meatballs were tasty, but the toast that came with it was too hard for me. I wish there was pasta that came with it! The service was really good and our server was on it. From getting us seated to taking our orders without having to write anything down. It's a cute spot, but I'd probably come back for just drinks. But if you're vegetarian or vegan, there are lots of options for you! read more

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Nice atmosphere, lots of cool books on a bookcase that goes to the ceiling. Apparently they have lots of cool drinks but I'm more of water and tea person so I concentrated on the food. I had the very pleasant little gem salad that had pumpkin seeds, grapefruit and avocado. It was good. Crisp lettuce, supremes of grapefruit, nice dressing in good proportion. I also had the papas bravas - good flavors too though I wish the red sauce had been to the side because it was sogging up the nice crunch of the potatoes. A bit pricey. Nice back patio that was mostly sunny without shade options. Inside is rather sm read more

Very nice place. You walk in and it looks normal and keep walking you will find how pretty it is inside, beautiful patio with nice plant as decoration. Lovely place for the cup of tea or wine in the afternoon. Love it. Heirloom tomato is super delicious. The freshness of the tomato with the warm toasted bread makes a perfect combination. The waiter might need a little training. Because when we ask what the sweetness in the bread is. He answered that " it might be some sugar, I can go ask"....... read more

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Great cocktails and delightful service, but get dinner elsewhere in the neighborhood. I was still hungry after their $16 petite burger and tots. Food can't compare to its neighbors but the drinks definitely can! House old fashioned was really refreshing. read more

I really liked the vibe and decoration. Such a cozy and warm atmosphere. Our friends were visiting the area. We wanted to try a local and unique coffee shop just for tea and coffee. We all fell in love with North Light. I'm definitely going back. The freshly baked chocolate chips served with milk was delicious and nostalgic:) P.S: if you're driving there, don't leave valuables in the car! Sadly, someone broke into our car parked a block away on Telegraph Ave. :( read more

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Such a cute place to come for unique cocktails and food! We ordered the Blue Lagoon and Sangria, both were super yummy! We also ordered the tater tots which were cooked to perfection and came with a tasty dipping sauce. They have a cute outdoor patio in the back and the inside bar is decorated very cute, there's even a bookshelf you can borrow books to read while you're dining. Definitely want to come back and try the espresso martini! read more

North Light - Blue Lagoon (left) & sangria (right) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Cute brunch spot with books and vinyl to browse! Loved the mushroom frittata and tots with comeback sauce. Bloody Maria was delicious as well. Our server was very attentive and kind. Lovely experience overall and reasonably priced. read more

Wonderful cocktails and service! I've been to their botanical patio for drinks before and had dinner there the other night. I like their bookshelves and intimate dining feeling. read more

North Light - Books - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

I came here a while back - pre-COVID - and met up with a former student that just finished college. She was a vegetarian so we ended up having a mostly veggie meal. I can't recall a whole lot that we had that night but I remember it being pretty good and most of the food was finished. I do remember the back patio was pretty loud and that our server was missing a good part of the time so one star off for that. I'm not sure what there operation is like these days but I'd like to check this place out again and try some other stuff on the menu. read more

I love hanging on the back patio. The food is great and drinks are inventive. Will definitely be back.