So far, this is my favorite bar in Oakland! We arrived in the late afternoon on a Thursday, and the…read morebar was already about 90% full. My husband and I managed to snag a couple of seats, and the bartenders quickly wiped down our spot and handed us menus. I ordered the Frozen Espresso, and my husband got the Melon Drop Martini. It was an absolute treat watching the bartenders make each drink--they were incredibly fast, skilled, and clearly enjoyed what they were doing. Our cocktails arrived within minutes. I think I finished my martini in literal seconds. My husband's Melon Drop was served in a perfectly chilled glass and wasn't overly sweet (IYKYK). The prices are more than fair, and I can't wait to come back to try the hot dogs and work my way through more of the cocktail menu!

I've heard all the hype about Tallboy, so I had to check it out myself…read more I do think it lived up to some of the hype, but I think they could've used their space better. It is a unique layout to a bar, and probably better concept for earlier hours, when it isn't as crowded during the night. It can fill up really quickly, since the area to order a drink, dance, and mingle is narrow, since the bar is literally in the middle of the room. Some of the staff can be extremely nice and kind, and there are some who you can tell are fed up, upset, and don't have the best attitude. I get it, though. It's a cool bar to check out or be the first stop of the night. The djs they have always turn up. Good luck getting a drink under 15 minutes though!

I've gone four times and each time it's been soooo hard to pick a responsible number of cocktails…read more They have so much variety and a lot of unconventional combos; the staff is very good about helping guide you to something that matches your preferences, but everything I've tried there was really good. The bites are generally really good too, though I wasn't a huge fan of the chili cucumbers. Try the Tomato Beef cocktail-- it's really yummy! The Li Hing Ramos is a good go-to if you like egg white drinks, and the seasonal milk punch has always been good. The ambiance is very cool, not bright inside, but bright colors, very hip. Great date night spot.

Viridian, you stole the show this month! This was my first time coming back to Viridian after about…read morea decade, and we were not disappointed. Such a beautiful interior space vibrant in celebration for AAPI Heritage month, and a super fun cocktail menu that was the perfect post-meal moment (both photo-worthy and tastebuds approved). We also noticed they have a cool food menu too filled with yummy and innovative dishes like Cheesy Char Siu Tots, Szechuan Salt & Pepper Wings, Korean Fried Mapo Tofu, BBQ Char Siu Ribs, and more. They also have nice swag ~ we took home a hat that resembled a Kirkland hat that spelled out "Oakland Viridian" (IYKYK). Drink-wise we ordered the Soy Sauce Old Fashioned and the Café Sua Daddy, which essentially is an espresso martini with a fun twist with black sesame and an egg cream foam. Both drinks were outstanding and presentation was beyond..I wished we could have stayed for round two, but duty calls! Ride-share and or BART suggested in this area, it's just a bit congested downtown to park. Service was fun, prices fair for the whole experience. Loved it!

The driiiiinkkksss omg. So yummy. The bartender paid such great attention to detail when making our…read moredrinks for happy hour. These were the best mixed cocktails ive had in a really long time. The wings were cooked to perfection and service was good. Im for sure going back for happy hour!

Black owned restaurants! I had a chance to check out NOSSO last night when I met my family, my…read moresiblings there for appetizers and drinks. I was able to park right out front. I walked in to ample seating on the ground level. I was able to scan and see the menus and quickly able to get an order in and included chicken wings without the sauce. Oxtail sliders and brussels sprouts. They had a DJ go on the club was busy but the service was excellent. They bought our food out and the drinks and everything was good. I had to say this was in place with a nice vibe in downtown Oakland. I would recommend NOSSO if you're looking to go out no fuss great food and drinks nice bartenders and a great DJ !

Drinks here are smooth and delicious! We ordered a flight to Oaxaca, suffering bastard, whiskey…read morejack, and a passionfruit drink that the bartender made on the fly for mex Everything was so good! No notes here- loved suffering bastard (more refreshing, ginger forward), and the whiskey jack (smooth, complex), the flight to Oaxaca was spicy and delicious too. Will definitely be back- recommend others to try!

Cool, messy and full of charm. I loved this little bar and wish it were closer to home for me. We…read moresampled a few of their house cocktails and they were pretty darn good, just served a little sloppily. We joked they might toss the glasses to us if we got a second round. Definately worth checking out if you're in the area. It's a short walk to many other bars and restaurants in the area. Service was efficient and friendly.

We had a great time here and I highly recommend this place. The food presentation was immaculate…read more The taste was solid and delicious, with my favorite probably being the Ceviche Verde - and my wife enjoyed the scallops. A couple of people in our group commented that the texture of the yucca fries was a little different than normal, but they served them with a nice dip. The drinks were pretty good, too. I really took a liking to the El Capitan - it had a nice spicy kick to it. The Old Fashioned was definitely solid, and the Pisco Sours were well-liked by a couple of guests in our party. Aside from the food, the ambiance was great. It wasn't too loud, with nice Latin music playing in the background, and the decor was very cultural and colorful. The bathroom was actually pretty nice, too, with a good vibe to it. The staff was super friendly. The servers offered great suggestions on what to eat, took birthday pictures for us, and were just extremely welcoming. Even the hostess came over to our table to greet us and thank us for coming. It was crowded that night, so the only thing I would say is there was a tiny bit of a wait just to get our order in. That could have been a little quicker, but other than that, the food and drinks came out fairly fast. Definitely recommend checking this spot out - another great restaurant in Oakland!

Wonderful vibe, great food & music selection, and staff is fantastic…read more Great for treating yourself to a solo night out, and date nights. Def recommend.

Honestly, this is one of the better bars in Oakland. They have decently priced drinks, good djs, a…read morelot of space to dance and mingle, and an entire back patio with a photobooth. I think the back patio might be more spacious than inside. It's a great usage of space with plenty of space heaters and plenty of seats and tables. The security and staff are pretty typical for what you come across bars, but, overall, I had a great time and experience! There's also a ton of seating room inside and doesn't feel too crowded or compact. Definitely will be coming back!

I visited a few weeks ago for the first time, and unfortunately, my experience started off on a…read morenegative note. After arriving, one security guard checked my ID and directed me inside. As I was walking in, I briefly stopped after recognizing someone I knew. At that point, another security guard began yelling at me and then grabbed me forcefully to move me along. I understand that security staff have a job to do and need to keep entrances and walkways clear. However, the way the situation was handled felt completely unnecessary. I was not causing a disturbance, and there was no reason for physical contact. Being grabbed so aggressively was uncomfortable and unprofessional. I hope management addresses this issue and speaks with the security staff about appropriate ways to interact with guests. First impressions matter, and this interaction immediately impacted my experience.

A great Bar. Piper is a great bartender. And every other Wednesday, Reginald does a pop-up…read more Excellent food at a good value. Highly recommended. Tonight it was chicken sliders with potato . Delicious.

I came here with a group of friends for a night out in the East Bay. We hit up this bar for a round…read moreof slushies after pregame at my friend's apartment. I got the Blue Hawaiian, a yummy classic, and it did not disappoint. Despite the cold front over the Bay Area this weekend, I instantly felt as if I'd teleported to Hawai'i. Service is pretty quick here, but they do have a minimum credit charge of $10. It's pretty easy to reach though if you order a cocktail or slushie.

My favourite hangout in Oakland by far. Fun ambience and friendly service and you can enjoy…read morecatching up with friends without being pressured to leave, as long as you like. No food but you can bring in whatever you want, like my favourite rico Rico taco from next door. Great cocktails and good bartender. Highly recommended for a good time.

Stopped in to try a drink because I'd read that this was one of the best bars in Oakland. I tried…read morean old fashioned and it was pretty good. I enjoyed the open air seating area in the back and the overall vibe was good. I went solo, struck up conversation with strangers, and enjoyed my drink.