Not my favorite bar in Berkeley, but this is a very college student bar! Go if you wanna feel YOUTH

Spats is a great place to hang out and grab drinks. I came here for a friend's birthday celebration. For $11, you can spin a wheel (like on Wheel of Fortune) that has a different types of drinks on there. Unless you land on the tall can of PBR, the spin is totally worth it. Examples of what you can get: 4 shots of a liquor of your choice, a bottle of champagne, beer-garita, Fireball and a free spin. There's both Old Rasputin Stout and Barrel Aged here. I've heard so much about Old Rasputin that I was so happy that I got to try it on tap. Highly recommend! read more

My first experience was at Spats was excellent. Jake the bartender is a new favorite. Cheers

From the outside it looks like a small dive bar...which it is....except it is actually a lot bigger than it appears. This is the type of place that is definitely a dive bar, but is good if you want to just get a drink and meet new people, catch up with a friend, or come in a group. The drinks were affordable and were not weak, which is such a big plus. Beyond not being too expensive, it is located right in the heart of downtown on Shattuck so it is super convenient. Not to mention, they also have a wheel that you can spin. Although fun, it just didn't feel like it was for me. Although maybe it was not for me, I will continue to come for the drinks and to continuously mix up my drink locations. read more

Spats - Inside Spats!! - Dive Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

Normally, I would give 5 stars because the bartenders are amazing and very chill, the food provided by their in house kitchen, "Crack," is top notch and has some of the best tater tots in the Bay Area, and the bar is quite spacious with many interesting evening events. Unfortunately, I am giving this bar one star because one of the co-owners is absolutely delusional and a bit scary. If you want your customers to treat your bar like a fine dining establishment, it would have been a better idea to open up a hotel or a high end restaurant. Also, your staff is terrified of you and that's never good for business. read more

wanted to like this place. was ignored and treated with blatant disrespect. Maybe thats what the bartender intended, it really seemed so. So many places these days are full of people too cool to be of service to folks. Whoever owns this place should look into how unbelievable rude the staff can be. You and your regulars are mean girls, men included read more

I would post 5 stars for the food and drinks, but getting sexually harassed by the older gentleman working the door on 10/27 (Saturday before Halloween) bumps this review down a few stars. Having never met this man in my life, he checks my ID as I'm coming in, and then says, "I don't know you personally, but I sure like you sexually" Who says that?! Like wow, thanks for making the first impression of this establishment a rape-y one. Probably not the first thing a woman wants to hear when entering a bar with the intention of having a few drinks with friends. I will say that I had the best mojito of my life shortly there after but I'm not sure I would ever want to pay the price of getting creeped on by someone who works there just to get another one. read more

It's time to update my review! Walked in yesterday night (Taco Tuesday) and I expected to see my favorite bartender (Randy). Rumor has it that Randy found a better opportunity but I don't know if that's true. What I do know though is that Randy was the BEST bartender in that joint and I want him to come back. * looks around* Randy! Please come back. I sat at the bar for about 5 minutes and remembered Randy telling me that if he was never around then I had a backup to depend on which was a beautiful young lady named Melissa. I seen she was there and I felt better when I seen her so I waited till she was done serving the bar (Shorty was super busy, that must mean something, right). She's the Bomb! She totally remembered me from sitting at the bar and Randy would serve me. I bought the 2-for 1 Margarita and I must admit she can make a delicious damn drink! If you're a drinker, you know how hard it is to find a damn good bartender that's going to know exactly how you like it, right!? Melissa hooked it up the whole night. I stayed about 2 hours and she was amazing at coming to check in with me. She seems really popular at the bar because everyone was coming up and checking and let her know that they were leaving and thanking her for a good drink. (That was nice). I still recommend this place for a good drink but ,it's only because of Randy and Melissa being amazing bartenders! Come here and ask for them and you will not be disappointed! (Thank me later) *Smiles* read more

I've only been here on Wing Wednesdays so I can't comment for the place on other days. It's a huge place with tons of seating - well aside from game days - so finding a spot isn't too bad. I enjoy that they have a huge wheel near the bar and i've definitely bought a few people a couple spins. It adds to the vibe of the place and does have some great steals on it for $11, but also some bad ones like PBR. haha Each time i've been here the servers have been great. Always attentive to take my drink/food orders, clean the table, and ask if I want a refill. I've tried all the wing flavors but my favorite one hands down is the Thai. They recently added a super hot flavor called Spirit and it I can't take it. I've had mixed reviews among friends about it being too spicy but also nothing out of the ordinary. You should come try it for yourself! read more

Went there last night for a party , the security named Tina was so nice and helpful and funny. She made our night and helped us with any of our queries. This woman needs a pay rise !!!! She is an asset to your business not a liability like us last night lol read more

Good drinks, bar feel and big TVs.. this place is great for game days .. The place is divided in section.. Bar, middle room for family dining and a room for groups. read more

College bar! :: I'm not in college :: If this place was smaller, it'd be your typical homey, yet trendy dive bar (it's a thing). However, it's actually quite large making it a perfect place for the following: groups, events - I imagine a perfect venue for a birthday party, and game day pre-gaming festivities. All three factors were part of my visit to Spat's. I mostly stayed in the lounge area. I loved the vintagey vibe it's got going on (think a ton of old wood tables and chairs, antiquey couch) yet you can still catch your sporting games and they even have an old school Nintendo system for some Super Mario 3 action. The middle section is more for dining (and more tv's), and then there's the bar for straight up dranking! Drinks are not college prices, no doubt about that. You're looking at $10 for a cocktail, but they are large, they are strong and tasty, and yes, it's Berkeley. Still, tho. Food: They offer up a wide array of bar food: think burgers, sandwiches, tacos, fries, salads. I ordered up the vegan dip (yay for vegans) and the chicken sandwich topped with cheese, bacon, L, T and avo (yay for bacon)! All was better than anticipated. The chicken sandwich was super tasty and quite large for the price and came with those beloved tots. A menu highlight that I spied, but didn't taste: totcho's! YEP! Question: Would I go out of my way to eat here? Not quite. But again, if you happen to be here, you can definitely eat and be totally happy and satisfied with your purchasing decision. Or just drinks and tots all day, everyday. A ton of seating, a nice long bar and the employee's are all so nice. Smiles all around and a lot of good will. Not to mention, the music was on point! read more

Spats is back, and so is the Borneo Fogcutter!! We had a performance to attend at the UC Theatre when we got here, so will have to go back for the Fogcutter next time. Lots of large TV screens to watch sporting events, but the old kitschy decor is mostly still there. read more

TATER TOTS FOR DAYS. Spats is a great place for groups enjoying a birthday party or watching a sports game. Very chill atmosphere. The waiters are nice, and ours kept trying to join in on our fun, which was hilarious! The majority of people at our table ordered tater tots, including those that checked-in on Yelp for a free set of them. I ordered the Spats Burger, which was alright. Nothing special for a burger. My favorite part was the tater tots. Their beer selection seemed decent, though I always opt for an IPA anyways, so I don't really pay attention to the numerous other ones they have on tap. The birthday boy in our party got to spin the wheel they have at the bar for a drink, and he also tried their Cement Mixer drink, which was apparently interesting. Overall this feels like your average American sports bar, relatively close to the BART station and the UC Berkeley campus. I would come here again to hang out with friends and enjoy a nice beer or two... with tater tots, of course. read more

I'm a fan. Ok they don't have a happy hour but what the do have makes up for it. Random antique couches, NES (super mario world), enough TVs, TATER TOTS, waitresses are really nice, PITCHERS of cocktails (southern bell for the whiskey drinkers) maybe I'm a little different but I like to add a shot to the pitcher. It's also really large so good for groups and the bathrooms are clean (an obvious plus for any bar). They also have a wheel that you pay to spin: I have won 2 shots of Jameson and a friend won a bottle of champagne. read more

Spats - Yogurt smoothie and cornbread muffin - Dive Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Maybe it was a bad idea to come here for Valentine's brunch. Very long wait for the food, although they did a good job filling us up on bottomless mimosas. Got the groupon which gave us any entree, bottomless mimosas, and a free shot for $15 (worth it!). The famous totchoes are definitely very filling and should be shared. It's smothered in guac, sour cream, cheese, chili, pico de gallo and is not meant for the faint of the heart. I ordered a burger and it was decent, although I wish it was bigger. I love that your side orders can come with either fries or tater tots (of course..tots!). My friend ordered the eggs benedict, although the egg was overcooked. Probably won't be my first choice of brunch places to go to. read more

Definitely should go here if you have a coupon or something for more food cause they give you a good amount of free food! I went for a taco happy hour and also got free tater tots through yelp and it was all really good! I also came back a different day for just a beer and it didn't take too long to track down a bartender and get an order through. Definitely a very busy place, especially with UC Berkeley people. Expect the bar to be filled if you go at night but luckily they have a lot of room to sit in the restaurant! Bring all your friends and get some beer and tacos here :) read more

Spats is THE place to be for good people and a great time!! Craig, the bar manager, is always friendly and trying to make sure everyone is having a good time! Jake, a bartender, serves up some stiff drinks and is a crack up! Love them both! They were the best part of Super Bowl Sunday! Highly recommend if you're in the neighborhood and want to have a good time!! read more

Spats - Won 2 shots of Jameson on the wheel! Had a shot with my good buddy bar tender Jake! - Dive Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

I journeyed to Spats to pick up Yelp Football Tickets but stayed at Spats for the fun environment! Don't forget to check in for free tots w/ a drink purchase! The bartender we ordered from told us she didn't make the drinks (our mistake for ordering a cocktail then?) but it turned out perfectly fine (aka extra strong). Chi Chi Punch = Fun fruity drink that reminded me of a Mai Tai. Didn't seem that special for $10 but its something ladies will stereotypically like. Cement Mixer = My friends loved this! Drink it fast though since it might curdle. 4 Shots Bartender's Choice (we spun this on the giant wheel they have next to the door) = Fun pre-gaming! That is all. Tots = Delicious way to load up before a long hike up to Memorial Stadium. It's your classic tots and in a healthy portion. Overall Spats seems like a nice spot to hang out and grab drinks with friends while staying close to campus. read more

Hip and cool new edition to the bar rotation on Shattuck. Vintage-themed, three-room layout. The first room on the left was reserved for the Yelp! Elite event. It includes a few couches and bar stools in the back. Retro game console hooked up on the back wall! The middle room contains regular tables and chairs. The room in the left is where the bar is at and where most people coming for a good time usually go to. The bar offers this cool spinner game, where you pay the bartender $12 (?) and spin the wheel... Wherever the spinner lands on, that's what you have to drink. It's especially fun when you've already had a few to drink and don't really care about what your next drinks are. Even more fun when the entire bar is egging you on, lol. Lastly, Spats tater tots is a clear winner. They cook 'em nice and crunchy - just the way I like them! read more

Great ambiance - Plenty of space. Love that it's divided into three areas. Couches to lounge on too! Good selection of brews and got free tots for checking in. The staff are also very nice, however they took forever to come out with our tots. read more

Spats - Meow - Dive Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

Some of the drinks are a bit on the pricy side, but I've won two bottles of champagne (i'm 2/2) spinning the wheel so I feel pretty good about it. This is a really solid college bar which has the most space next to Pappy's, but the food is better. I really hope spats makes it, I've been a few times in the last month and Berkeley needs it. The tots and wings are particularly good. read more

Great place for pool, pinball, dancing, and drinks! Cam made us a great old-fashioned and cosmopolitan, and was lively for conversation!

Really enjoy Spats the atmosphere is very welcoming and Jake the bartender was super friendly and guided my friends and I to the right drinks. Definitely will be coming back! read more

I love Spats there BBQ and Drinks are really good. I been there just to have drinks and also to eat I love that it's family oriented and that they have old school pin ball machines. I love the drinks good and strong for a good price. The staff in the restaurant is so nice and sweet. I love they have live music there and that it's local for me to get to. read more

Security, not the bartender, said I disrespected him! I never talked to him! Bartender was super cool, I had two wines! Then .. At closing this dude, after last call...opens a non working door and tries to give me a problem! I'm 5' 5"! I tell him, I already wrapped up. .....still bartender has no problem. He's actually working! But this older dude, who hasn't served anyone, harassing me! (I think he showed me the correct door to enter from...initially... now that I have a chance to think... I guess I didn't give him a knee!) It's not okay!!!! He had the wrong person. If a person, at all. read more

Not what it used to be. But not bad. There aren't too many choices for an actual bar in Downtown Berkeley so this is about it. It used to be a cozy little drop in but now an actual bar. Didn't have what I ordered drink wise last time I dropped by, so I accepted what they had. But it was a lot more expensive. Bilkage? Anyway, I pop in from time to time to meet friends after work and such. Sokay . But nothing to write home about anymore. read more

This has become one of my favorite spots downtown. I've been here a few times now, and each time I'm impressed. The first time I came here was to watch a Warriors game. I was surprised that the place wasn't packed, but maybe that's because it was an earlier (5:30pm) game. I asked the bartender if she could change the channel to the game, and she asked around until she got it. Since that was my first time being there, I also had no idea what to get. I told her I was feeling a fruity drink, and she recommended the Chi Chi Punch. Exactly what I was looking for! When the rest of my group got there, we ordered the Totchos and the Chicken Wings. Totchos were interestingly delicious. Wings were classically delicious! Great evening with great food and drinks. Another time I came here was for Taco Tuesday - $1 tacos and two-for-one margaritas. I actually ordered a double margarita (rough day), one chicken taco, and one beef taco. My friend ordered the free tots with Yelp check-in. Service is always great. They give good recommendations to newcomers and are super friendly. I can't wait to come back here for Wing Wednesday! read more

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I'm giving 2 stars for Randy, my favorite bartender here who is always cracking jokes. Sad thing is that I don't see him that much anymore, which is a real shame. The other star is for their great and inexpensive tots and fries, yum! -3 stars for Melissa, who is the bar manager here? This chick has resting bitch face and a pretty bad attitude like you wouldn't believe. However, she's always sweet to my boyfriend, which adds a whole new layer of jerk to the mix. One encounter I had was her shooing me away from vaping outside a closed back door at spats, saying I "needed to move down to the middle of the block"...rude but whatever. The second really crappy exchange that comes to mind is last Christmas when I said "hey Melissa, Merry Christmas!" And she literally ignored me, turned away, and began cheesing and talking to my boyfriend. I may be back to try out the new pinball machines but seriously, someone here really needs to learn how to treat customers. I much prefer beta lounge bar on Durant, always friendly and down to earth bartenders there! read more

My wife and I came here for a few beers in the afternoon. At first we had a great time, but after the bartender changed shift it became a sleazy dump. The young male bartender scammed us for shots and outrageously overcharged us read more

My 1st time in Spats, we went in to have a few drinks and wait for a nearby restaurant to open. We were there for "Happy Hour". We had cocktails and shots. I like the time we were there and I would go back at this same time. The bartender was friendly and enjoyable because we had him almost to ourselves. read more

Roach in the kitchen. Botched order completely. Refused refund request after 40 mins for goddam fries

This bar has the best vibe in Berkeley! Not to mention every bartender is super friendly and helpful but I'd say Jake is the one! I recommend this place to ANYONE. If you're in Berkeley and want a drink.... COME HERE. read more

Friendly staff, generous pours, prices aren't bad either. Their arcade area is awesome (they have The Simpsons, people!), and pool in the back room is is a nice touch. Glad to see this place back up and running after seeing it empty and full of cobwebs for so many years! read more

Some of the worst BBQ I've ever had -- dry, bland brisket, served not even warm, little to no char nor flavor; the BBQ sauce was literally cold, as in straight from the refrigerator -- not even room temperature. The cornbread was dry and tasteless, served room temperature, without butter -- neither in, nor on, nor accompanying. Good collard greens, I'll give them that. Never again. read more

Spats is a nice hangout I go with friends sometimes it's very welcoming people are nice the food is okay but the beer is a little bit pricey but overall you should go! read more

Great neighbor dive bar, with cold beers, bourbon, and even a full slate of BBQ on the menu too! Hard to beat that combination, and reason enough to keep going back! Support your local businesses! read more

Greatest neighborhood bar! I love the atmosphere and drinks! They also have "Smoke Berkeley" inside most night! It is the best bbq I've had on the west! So worth it! And the nicest staff! read more

Spats is great because their food is SO GOOD. Seriously guys, try the caesar salad. It's 10$, but it has the most delicious roasted brussel sprouts on it. They must be slathered in butter or something because they taste like they were sent to romance me from some other world. If that makes no sense it's because you haven't tried their caesar salad yet. Go, try it. The real reason most folks seem to frequent spats is their fabulous happy hour deals on Tuesday and Wednesday. It's hard to beat $1 tacos and $.25 wings. Just remember to be nice to your server who is probably losing their mind trying to keep tabs on all of their tables. Their tips are shitty on these almost-free food nights, so it's important to be considerate and tip on the real pre-deal cost of your meal. Oh, and they still have $4 tall boy PBRs.. so there's that. read more

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This was the meeting spot to check in to the Cal Bears YEE. I had no idea that Spats had re-opened! I used to drive by/walk by and see this spot shuttered for years, the musty and mismatched chairs and tables standing empty, as if in a mausoleum. No more! Thanks to Yelp, I saw that Spats is now a swanky, new bar with no remnant of the mildew of the former spot. The wheel at the bar that patrons can spin for a specialty drink was fun to watch, as people groaned and moaned when they got a drink they didn't want, but had to drink. Plus, TATER TOTS! (Yay to the Yelp check-in offer of free TATER TOTS!) The best TATER TOTS that I've had : ) And that, is why, I give it 4 stars. For the freakin' tasty TATER TOTS. : ) read more