I'm giving it such a good rating only because the service has always been so good for me and the beer is fantastic. Their beer is really worth every penny because just two beers gets me quite tipsy. read more

Like this place and love their festivals but this was the first time I've experienced a daytime bartender, if that's you'd call her. Worst service ever!! After spending 30 min. doing other work without asking anyone if they'd like another beer, she proceeds to wash and fill a large dog bowl. WTF, seriously? She sure isn't making the bar any $$. I ended up walking out after 1 beer. Go at night or you're wasting your time. She had as much personality as a sheet of plywood. read more

The Bistros a great place in Hayward.Nice,respectful patrons and staff. Taps are 5-6 bucks a pint (strong stuff too). I love coloring on the table i wish more bars had that lol. Saw a reaaaaaally good soul band here a couple wks ago, the whole bar was up and jammin and its always good vibes floation around there. I think they should start trying to cater to a younger crowd, well on like one or two nights a week or so. I think people just look at it and assume its for "old white ppl only" but thats not even the case! Give more people a reason to come here is what i say! dont get beat out by lame overly priced Bijous or the trashy racist funky monkey also in downtown hayward! read more

Great beer, great music, great atmosphere! I gave four stars because they don't take card so I have to pay a ATM fee to get cash.

This was my old stomping grounds back in the 90's rockin to the Collette Brothers ... then I moved away for a while ... I'm back and looking forward to hanging out again at this most bodacious venue. Look forward to rockin out to Bruce Collette again. Wonder if I will know anyone from the good ol' days ???? read more

If your idea of fun is hanging around nasty drunk people, being surrounded by cigarette smoke and being pushed around by rude "bouncers" on a crowded night, then more power to you. This place is forgettable. VERY forgettable. read more

if you are a man or woman who loves beer this is your spot!! they have live music and outside seating. this place is the heart for downtown hayward. they hold ipa festival's every year. they have 10 great beers on tap usually. about 14 to 15 different beers bottled. they also have about 6 to 7 different types of wine served. my favorite beer they serve is russian river piney the elder, and sierra nevada torpedo. i am looking forward to the ipa festival they are having on august 8th to try more beers. the only problem with this place is that it is a bit small, and can get packed. has an old looking feel to it. when they have live bands in there, it gets to loud. they also serve food. all i have is the chips and deep or the 7 layer bean dip nachos. so if you are looking for something different and love beer this is the spot! read more

CASH ONLY!! is all i have to say. THERE ARE APPS to pay with a credit card. The environment last time i went was alright and the music is awesome, but it is a very older crowd not good for young people. read more

Good beer on tap, not much food, live music every night and a dog friendly patio...the Hayward street lunies can provide some people watching entertainment but can also be a nuisance. I think I once saw a dancing gnome getting his groove on to good blues band. They also host a few brewfest events...overall it is a pretty cool lil' spot. read more

I went here about 3 weeks ago for a first date. It was a lovely atmosphere with the coloring on the tables and live music aspect. The bathroom was clean, and they had hard cider (not many pubs/bars have hard cider on tap these days). The reason I gave this 4 instead of 5 stars is because there was no online statement that the menu changed past a certain time, nor was one visible anywhere in the pub. The live music was a nice treat but it was too loud to think, they should've turned the speakers down a bit. Don't get me wrong I like loud music, but in such a small space with minimal attendance...hmmm. Drinks are also fairly priced, huge plus. read more

I go for the music, and enjoy excellent brews when I'm there. The musical quality and style varies widely, but is often quite excellent. The Jones Gang (www.youtube.com/watch?v=9urFlVeA5XY) is one of my favorites that plays there regularly. No cover; leave a tip or buy a CD. A local cultural treasure--local musicians and regional brews. Up close and real! read more

The atmosphere is very local and they have a good selection of beer on tap. I like the cover bands that play there and open mic night. Very good place to go and relax. And its close to my boyfriend's house so we can bike there. I love the Blue Star hefeweizen. Delicious. And the best part is, we went there last night and my boyfriend had to pee and it took him 20 minutes to get in because of the line and I needed to pee afterwards and there was also a line of 3-4 men and they let me in first. I didn't have to wait. Awesome. read more

Been here once recently was really cool not much of a younger crowd but I came for the pliney. Hard beer to find and even better on tap! I was extremely entertained drawing on the paper table cloths that they let your draw on felt like a kid at an Applebee's hahaha. Only negative is the bathroom was one person only and was really dark in there but I'll still give it 5 stars read more

This place is cool....especially since it is in Hayward. The beer selection is pretty good and they always have something for every type of beer drinker. At first it kind of feels like a locals only bar but once you go and order a beer you find that the crowd and bartenders are inviting and a lot of fun. Funky things like crayons on the table and a wide selection of patrons makes this place a cool hang out. My one complaint is the price...$4.25 for a pint in Hayward is a tad pricey. read more

Great place to go if you love beer, real beer. No miller and bud here, only the good hearty stuff! They have a variety of local beers and have special beer events which are posted on their website. Local bands perform nightly. There is seating outside if it gets too loud and stuffy inside. Excellent place to spend a warm summer night, sipping on a glass of cold beer and listening to live music. :-) read more

Monday afternoon beer, daydreaming about how life goes by so very fast. Sipping beer watching the people walk by in the drizzle. Eyes closed feeling a little hungry. Newspaper read already and contemplating a nap. I love the Bistro and their selection of beers... read more

Wow Patricia was really harsh on her review of this place. Mistakes happen.. What kind of owner doesn't answer his phone on vacation? Perhaps the kind that needs a break? Who knows...SIlly me... Is an owner who can't get confirmation from the Blues Society supposed to leave his venue without entertainment? I have been there before being told (with confirmation) the players from the festival would be there and they no showed. So it goes both ways. The Bistro is a very unique ecclectic place. The people watching is great! The staff is friendly knowledgable and as eccentric as the venue. Love the beers, and the Owner is a really cool guy. Sorry your experience was so bad, but hopefully a 2nd chance would be possible. read more

Get your drunk on, I mean drink on at The Bistro. If you want to hear live bands then this is the best place to go on a Friday or Saturday night in downtown Hayward. They have a good selection of beers, the vibe is very neighborhoody & if you don't mind the men gawking then you will have a good time. This is a decent place to go with a group of friends. read more

I came here to watch my friend's band, Ben Storm Band, perform and it was a nice, casual, cozy venue. Hayward and its "downtown" are pretty barren so this was a nice little place with a variety of people, young & old. There's a very local & laidback vibe. There was a lady that had to be about 50ish there and she was wearing a mini skirt and dancing all cutsie to the music. It was a funny sight. Let go & let loose at any age, yea? read more

Fun dive bar. Good beers, usually live music.

I enjoyed the music and wine here. My one star ding is because I received the flattest beer of my life here (just one, so this may not be typical). read more

This place is always fun. The crowd can be sketchy sometimes but that makes it a better experience. Definitely a local place to stop into if you're in the Stacks. read more

What a fun spot to grab a beer and a bite. They have outdoor seating, and a lovely old bar inside. The food is okay, but the large selection of beers more than makes up for it! Great spot in Downtown Hayward! read more

Always a great selection of beer and a cool crowd. Crayons and paper on table for tipsy artwork. Buddy of mine framed a hand drawn group portrait after a half dozen plinys. Live music is cool as well. read more

High value for the price! Nice place w live entertainment, dancing, current beer selection on tap, and excellent choices of top quality cheeses. I enjoyed a pint of Firestone Easy Jack and a cheese plate w sheep Manchego, and it cost me only $9! read more

This has been a fixture in hayward since I was a kid and probably longer good food good music and good drinks nuff said.

This is a good lunch place. They have reasonably priced sandwiches ($6.50ish) that are quite good. The "Too Hip for Hayward" is roast beef, red onions, feta and sun dried tomato spread on a nice roll - pretty hip. They had some good coffee too. I would have liked a beer, but it was a working lunch. It looked like they had a wide selection though. The place was pretty dead at lunch, but there were a few local types in there at the bar. The waitress had some scarey tattoos and wasn't real warm and fuzzy, but she got the job done. The Bistro is in a nice neighborhood- kind of a revitalized old town area - with other shops and things on a pedestrian friendly street. The decor reminded me of a place I used to go to in Forest Grove, OR. Kind of pub-like and nostalgic. read more

Fun place to hang out! Love when they have bands play!

I really like this place. They got good live music all the time, the bartender is cool and they got tons of IPAs. A mi me gusta. Sitting outside to chat is good too, if you don't mind the occasional Hayward bum talking gibberish at you. Overall, I must say that this is one of my favorite places to hang out in my hometown. read more

I support any venue that has live music! Go Bistro!

We stumbled on this place after the Brewery up the road was packed with ppl. We wanted some beers and a TV to watch the football game. Score! The beers here are cold and they offer quite a selection of craft brews..Not much to nosh on here but we did try the cheese plate which was tasty. One TV up at the bar area was all we needed to watch the game and talk with the locals. Great little joint.. read more

This is hands down the best place for beer and music. Some serious talent passes through here. And the bartenders know everything about beer. read more

unpretentious like your favorite dive and delivers like the best of the Chicago blues clubs. awesome selection of competition level beers, carefully chosen value wines and a surprising lineup of cheeses from Sonoma and Spain that I have never seen in a beer joint. Friendly young bartender on top of his game, eager to deliver "I came here for a beer ten years ago and never left." The owner and operator have great taste and a very lowkey style. It's easy to get hooked on this place. read more

Great vibes, nice setting indoor and outdoor, cool live music, grest bartender. Beer is weak, however. 4 stouts and not even a buzz....I dunno what to say, haha. All in all, a good selection of beers and a chill bar to spend time with friends. :) read more

I really hate to write a one star review for this place because they have a good beer selection and nice vibe, but the music is dangerously loud. I know a lot about hearing loss and everyone in this place (and sometimes even on the patio) is putting their hearing seriously at risk. It can take as little as one exposure to music that is too loud to cause hearing loss. The only time to go this place is when there is no music and you will have an ok time. read more

I really enjoy myself at the Bistro. The owner,bartender,and music are always great. I've known several bands that have gigged there. Did you know Train(the band) performed there before they got big? I'm a pear cider hussy, but have tried the different brews of beer as well. Only once have I had an unpleasant experience when I came in and was disgusted by the stench of foot BO. It was not a good BO in any way. My ex use to call it a yuppieville bar, one of the reasons he's an ex, but it is a great place. read more

I love the Bistro!! Don't get there often enough but fun place to drink beer and people watch. Great selection and really mellow vibe. Good job Vic!! read more

The Bistro is a great place to grab a sandwich and a beer. It's definitely an afternoon thing for me; I'm more likely to have lunch here than come later in the day. But it's always a pleasant experience, and the outdoor seating's nice when the weather permits. You haven't really lived in Hayward unless you've been to The Bistro, in my opinion. read more

There is no better spot for music and beer in Hayward. The absence of hard liquor seems to keep the place from suffering the dumb ass, alcohol fueled, human drama that seems to plague the nearby drinking establishments. Less pretentious and commercial than the brewery up the street, the bistro is a place to kick back, inside or outside, sip on some tasty adult beverages, nibble on some pub grub, and listen to a variety of live music. And to whom ever does the hiring, thanks. Every girl that works there is lovely and I would stop in even if I wasn't thirsty to check out who was working. And if it was the new girl audree, i might cancel some afternoon appointments just to be served by her. If you haven't been there, go there. If you like beer and music, you'll like the Bistro. read more

Nice friendly atmosphere. Excellent beer selection. Great music. A very comfortable place to spend an evening.