This is a great neighborhood bar, generally I'll pop in on nights when I've been at forbidden island and it's a little too rowdy for my tastes. Always have some good jams playing and the drinks are affordable and stiff. read more

Cool neighborhood spot... I used to frequent this place back when I lived (literally) around the corner, and it was run by an Englishman named Pete. For years this place was called McGrath's Irish Pub. It had a somewhat older crowd, live music acts, and was a neighborhood dive bar if there ever was one... The new owners have really cleaned the place up. I love the back patio, and the topless mermaids that grace the walls are fun to look at. A lot of the faces are still familiar, including some of the bartenders. Good drinks at fair prices. Wish my neighborhood had a bar like this... read more

The outside rear patio is reason to go here. Inside bar is ok, and the staff is pretty cool, but hanging out on the patio is the best spot here. read more

Hip place... good tap..darts,... Go in..chill.. be a barfly or just be yerself. Nobody is gonna mess with you and drinks are great. Nautical theme... back area is pretty neat.. bit small, but neat. read more

The bartender thinks she is slick and decided to up her tips when i tipped her in cash and paid it through my debit card... She thought I was an idiot and would not check my transactions daily... read more

My first time here was recently. Although it took a bit longer than I hoped, it was relatively not a 15 minute ordeal to signal the bartender over to place an order. Patrons were really nice and I was digging the atmosphere. There are some games such as darts available. Overall it was a nice, small bar experience and I would come back on an off-night. read more

Swell Bar - jäger bombs - Bars Near Me - Alameda, California

Second favorite spot in Alameda for drinking. I find myself here mostly for the Happy Hour and Dart Boards. They take cash and credit so there is no need to worry about withdrawing money and paying an ATM fee. Service is great and the Tenders are super friendly. I've seen people order food to the bar and there never being an issue or anything. They also have a DJ Booth and have some music playing on the weekends. There is a Karaoke night too. The questions aren't as good as most I've been too but it's a good time none the less. Hope you enjoy! read more

Swell Bar - Happy Hour with a Full Selection! - Bars Near Me - Alameda, California

The bartender (some skinny dude with buzzed/short hair...maybe balding?) made the mistake of thinking my boyfriend and friend were drunk and when they ordered 2 coors lights and 2 shots of jack they asked how much it was. He sputtered. "Uh well. Hmm. Let's just say $40" Hahahaha at least be good at lying if you're gonna try to rip off "drunks" at a bar. They weren't drunk. They asked what the cost was per drink to add up to $40, He got so pissed and started saying "this isn't working out" We laughed at him and left. That's disgusting and pathetic. You want tips? Be a better bartender lmao avoid this shit hole at all cost of you don't wanna over pay for $6 dollar beers. Nice try though guy. read more

This place is legit. A good place to come with a group of friends. You can keep yourselves entertained with cheap drinks, darts and the patio (for my smoker friends). Solid place. read more

Swell used to be a great dive bar. In fact, the best dive bar in Alameda. We used to go there twice a week for 3 years. That all changed last night. Walked in with a group to watch the Warriors playoff game at halftime. Was just too exciting to stay at home and we all wanted a lively atmosphere. We opened the door and there game was on all the TVs but no live sound. They had some sort of art exhibit talk radio! No kidding! We thought, oh well, let's order a pitcher. Proceed to order and the high horse rude staff says we're under new management and don't sell pitchers anymore. I said that you did last time and she says that they haven't for a year and a half. Yeah, right. Ok, you're the boss. Back to the sound or talk radio. We asked her to put the sound on for the game. She said they don't do that and she couldn't because other people weren't watching the game. There were only 6 other people in there all with there eyes fixed on the TVs! It was like some comedy skit on SNL! I was waiting for the cameras to jump out and record our expressions! After hearing our request for some sound, ALL the other people siting at the bar finally had the nerve to ask the god syndrome of a bartender to put the sound on. She rudely walked over to us and said "We normally to do this but will just tonight. Don't expect it next time." I have never felt so unwelcomed in any establishment in my life. Next time? Are you serious? There will never be a next time. The only thing swell about swell bar is the memories I had there. Hopefully it will be "under new management" one day and we can give this place a try again. Such a shame. read more

If I could give less than 1 star, I would. I walked into this place on Saturday afternoon and it didn't take me long to walk right back out!! Who in their right mind would let ANYONE walk into the bar with, much less let her sit at the bar with a NEWBORN BABY for any length of time???? That's EXACTLY what was going on this particular day, a woman just sitting at the bar happly chatting with her friends with a baby in her arms, definitely not right, not to mention illegal!! Neither the bar staff, nor the owners should have EVER allowed this to happen!! Keep in mind that this in NOT a restaurant...it is a COCKTAIL LOUNGE only, and she wasn't sitting on the outdoor patio or in the back at a table, she was sitting right at the bar, in the front window. I couldn't believe that the bar staff was allowing this. I will be sure and tell all of my friends not to go into Swell and I hope they got caught and fined as well!! read more

Locals are a bit rude. I sat at different ends of the bar and basically had to attract the bartenders attention each time. If you sat at the end of the bar where his friends sat you were okay. The problem I have experienced at this bar is that the bartenders don't know how to work the bar. They pour decent drinks but their knowledge of how to work a bar is very lacking. I was at 1:20am, and I know that is getting close to closing, but the bartender poured one drink and then told me that it was too late to get my drink.....??? One of the big issues at this bar is inconsistency. Having run a bar before, my guess is that it is the result of under experienced and/or poorly trained staff. Yes, I will continue to go there because it is decorated well and has real darts and provides a getaway. I WILL JUST PUT UP WITH THE SERVICE..!!! read more

Alright for a cheap drink on way in or out. Best to pay cash and watch your credit card charges cause they like to up the tips on it. Lots a locals... read more

Found ourselves in Alameda for the day on our bikes, and yelp directed us to this swell bar before our journey home... it's a treasure, and we had a BLAST! I especially like the darts, outdoor patio, and laid back atmosphere. Music selection was fantastic, too. read more

Swell is a great place for friends old and new to come hang out play a game of Drinko on Monday nights, Trivia on Thursday nights and even though it says not a good place for dancing.... I feel that is untrue !! I've spent a fare share of Friday and Saturday nights plus the last Thursday of the month dancing up a storm to rockabilly, honky tonk, punk, new wave, 80's, heck even some good soul and oldies!! I love Swell Bar... I just can't get enough!! read more

The Forbidden Island up the street was full so we ended up here for the night. Pretty cool bar. They had a couple bar games to play - darts and a nautical themed rope and pulley type game the guys couldn't stop playing. Good drinks, cool atmosphere and decor. Would come here again. read more

One of my favorite haunts in Alameda! Formerly McGrath's Irish Pub: http://www.yelp.ie/biz/mcgraths-irish-pub-alameda The new owners have done a great job fixing up the place. The back patio rocks! Drinks are reasonably price and made well. Bartender's are efficient to get those drinks in your hand while still being friendly to everyone there. The patron's are fun, cool, nice folks. Always a great conversation to join into. Just a great place! read more

Where to start. This bar has great staff, great beer and really cool decor. In the summer the back porch is open and a good place to hang out. read more

I recently moved to the Island and this is my favorite local bar! McGrath's got an amazing makeover from a dingy dive bar to detail oriented nautical theme bar with friendly bartenders, free Sunday BBQ, drink specials, awesome DJ's, Bingo, a sunny back patio, and a chill crowd of regulars, sailors, and fun people just wanting to have a drink without any attitude. Every time I pop in, it seems like the owners have added another little touch to the decor as well.... Love it! read more

A fairly solid, nondescript, nautical tattoo themed bar. They have drinks, they have a small outdoor patio, they have drink specials, potato chips and jerky, and event type things (drunk bingo, trivia nights, etc.), plus darts, and I saw a DJ booth too. It was a SUPER quiet Saturday afternoon, with only a few regulars, and later a few more people trickled in, some reading books; so it was really just a quiet, chill kind of place. Not sure what it's like during peak hours, but if I was looking for a nice quiet place to sit alone and nurse a drink on a rainy afternoon, this might be it. read more

Darts, patio, good crowd, solid drink specials, super nice bartenders! A+ 100% will drink again

Bill and Matt were serving us (me and my best friend). We felt a bit disrespected . Probably because of our age. They served everyone around us and kept skipping over us. They gave us shit about the drinks we ordered but at least they made it after telling them thus 2 star rating. Never again. read more

I had such a good time. Its not my usual type of bar, but i had a really good time. Good drink specials. Matt the bartender was pretty cool. There were regulars there, older crowd, but me and my husband ended up taking to a few other patrons who came in. All in all good time at a little dive bar. read more

so nice what they've done to this place. Decor has gone up 5 notches, smoking in back is a boon. many theme activity nights - Drinko, Trivia, Movies, Oscar Party, Valentines Prom party! read more

LOVE the decor! I'm a big fan of themed bars. Nautical bars are A-OK in my book. Good drinks, decent prices and laid back dive-bar environment. If back in Alameda, we will likely return. read more

This is my very favorite place in all of California. The owners are amazing people and the atmosphere is amazing. This place has everything you want in a bar plus steel tip darts. read more

pretty freaking good. Drinks are reasonable, the crowd isn't too loud, and it's everything you love about a dive bar/hangout. Plus, the sailor decor is awesome. read more

The place that everyone knows your name! They are so nice here. The bartender Donna is very welcoming and I didn't know many people so she just introduced me to everyone. A great dive bar! So fun to watch football here on Sundays. read more

The boyfriend and I went looking for the tiki bar on Lincoln but when we walked in the bartender told us they were closing in ten minutes and pointed us to Swell which was a few blocks down the street. Glad we took their advice. We had a great time playing darts and having a few drinks with lots of laughs. read more

Just go. It's fun. Play the B-I-N-G-O on Monday nights. Eat a hot dog. Listen to an amazing variety of fun music. Just go. Just go and have fun. read more

Ive been here once before and had a decent time but when I went on Monday, Feb 2 with a friend of mine, the bartender (white girl with long brown hair) was a rude biatch! Someone needs to show her how to check ID's properly. It took her a second to check out my friends but when it came to mine, she examined my new California ID it as if it were fake. She had it in her hand looking at every speck, reading all my information, flipping it back and forth, holding it up to the light and holding it up to make sure it was me. She asked me if it was me and told me to take my glasses off. BITCH was blind and rude. I have never had an issue with my ID until this person carded me. Her approach was rude and disrespectful. Bitch just didn't want to serve me and my friend drinks so I took mine and my friends card, walked out and made our way to lucky 13. I will never step foot in this place again! This place doesn't even deserve a star! read more

Pretty chill neighborhood bar. Cheap beer, great service with the bartenders generally being friendly and efficient. easy to start a conversation here. dig the patio when its not too busy. can be a bit smokey at times though. Darts is a def. plus ! be cautious using a credit card here, i've gotten notifications from my bank saying suspicious charges with having them over tipped a few times, which is why i tend to pay in cash, or if paying by credit card make sure to double check. read more

This is a great, little bar in Alameda. The bartender is very friendly, and the bar is never too crowded.

This was the last stop of a bar crawl I did with my friends, and it was a great last stop! Even though it was last call bartenders and drinks were awesome! Great time, I'll be back :) read more