Bartenders are friendly, I came here on a Saturday afternoon. Just got a beer to catch up with some friends and all the people are generally minding their own business. Great place to get a selection of beers (I don't know all the names of them, but I don't like sour beers). The bathroom luckily was always open, clean and became my good friend. read more

I don't know what all the hoo haa is over this place....it's a small hole in the wall joint that offers live music on some evenings and has a pretty good selection of local beers on tap and has special events, but it needs a good washing down... the carpet is totally icky and it smells like your grandma's closet full of mothballs...the atmosphere is a bunch of locals hanging out. the place is kinda small so most of the time i go i have to stand to watch the band. only one shared bathroom that gets gross by the end of the night because the guys pee all over the floor... read more

$3.50 for a glass of House Red. yay! It would be better suited poured over fish & chips. gross. The creeps give me the creeps. read more

I love this place. Great beer. And always have solid live music. I've seen several bands here, but I love Suspicious Package. They were great, but haven't seen them in a while. Crowd's pretty laid back. Usuals includes some former (or current) 'shroom heads. No mixed drinks, but that's OK considering the quality beer selection. Give it a try! read more

Good beer selection with a large amount of fancy west coast brews (think russian river sours) and an outdoor area to boot if you're not feeling whatever band is currently playing or trying to have a conversation. read more

I have been going to The Bistro off and on for many years. This is one place that is what you make it. An eclectic group of regulars and a retro to hip, metal to folk ever-changing environment. They have always on tap twelve of the most tasty and wide-ranging micro-brewed beers and a great selection of Belgian ales. You can enjoy your beer in the outdoor street patio. As far as food they have a good eve cheese/appetizer menu.But this place is about the music, the beer and the people. They have LIVE music on most nights with an OPEN MIC on Monday's. Always fun or at least not boring. And you will always meet someone new. read more

I had been to The Bistro a few years back, but recently stopped in to try some of the beers and hang for a bit. For the beer menu, this place hits the spot. There are about a dozen on tap, a few common ones (Sierra, Pyramid) and some delicious treats, such as 'Pliny the Elder.' Seems they rotate the taps every so often as well; the menu online was slightly different from what they actually had. A very good thing! As far as the Belgian menu goes, they have a great selection in bottles (33cl and 750ml) for a lot of the more common ones (Chimay, Duvel, etc). I don't believe there are any on tap, but not a big deal. It is sometimes a challenge to find good beer of this sort in the east bay (Oakland is an exception). Definitely check it out if that is what you're into. I haven't seen any of the shows or spoken word here in ages, so I can't comment on that. Seating is adequate and the patio tables are a nice touch on a sunny day. I tried the nachos here which were delicious at the time, though I had just come from the Hanger 1 tasting, so it may have been the booze talking. Solid 3.5 stars for me, perhaps 4 after another visit. read more

This place is a gem in Hayward. It has a small stage and a bar stool area for about 12. There are another set of small tables. Almost all of the beers available are craft beers. If you ask for a bud light, go elsewhere. I liked the 7-layer dip a lot. Jess was the bartender and he's a cool cat. Really nice. Someone said that he pours his beer with love. He cares about a good brew and makes sure that all of his patrons love it. Pretty good place to catch with a small group of friends to BS about life and what have you. I can see myself becoming a regular of this establishment. Monday night is open mic night, and I was entertained with the free entertainment, and the multicultural and diverse sources of culture and music this place has to offer. Come to the Bistro. Bring a friend. read more

Finally visited this place after recommendations from my beer buddies. Came here during the West Coast BA Festival. So many awesome BA beers that I am only disappointed that I can't drink all of it (50+). The BA Festival was very well organized (water, bathroom, extra tickets, food, etc.) were all available without much of a wait. We ordered some chicken wings nearby and sat outside to chat with some regulars. There was music playing in the background and excellent BA beers were flowing. Life is wonderful! Staff and customers were all very nice and attentive. The day I visited, Bistro had Pliny the Elder on tap which shows their commitment to great IPAs as well. Will definitely visit again. A++ read more

This is one of my favorite spots to get a glass of wine or a beer. Which is good, because that is basically all that they serve. They always have a good selection on tap and some fancy Belgians in the bottle. This is not the place for you if you only like mixed drinks. The Bistro also hosts a large variety of bands, 7 nights a week. We have seen a huge range of music styles and if you are particular they post the next weeks shows on the window. Beware, this place only takes cash. Price ranges from $5 for a pint to $10 for a Belgium in a bottle. $6 for a glass of wine. Not that pricey. And the best part of all... Crayons and paper on the table to doodle... awesome! read more

The bistro gets an enthusiastic five stars for appealing to the Beer snob in me. When you stroll into the Bistro you can count on an excellent beer selection with knowledgeable bartenders that will point you to the right brew to suit your mood. On any given night you will hear a solid local act and the you won't be paying a cover. I played at the open mic last night and was totally pleased with the quality and variety of acts on the stage. It seems like there is definitely a regular crew that rolls in on most nights but for the most part everyone has always been super friendly and I didn't get any of that, "why are you in my bar?" stare. Go to the Bistro get a beer and you'll thank me later. read more

I went back again recently, and apparently a different barista was on duty. The coffee left a lot to be desired, took forever to be prepared and the cookies were dry. This is a special enough location, and the last time was so great, that I feel it was an 'off' night for them. I'm sure to be back in the future. read more

Really a small bar that offers live music on most evenings (free) and has a pretty good selection of local beers on tap...a neighbor hood pub in the old fashioned sense of the word. Minuses: small unisex bathroom that makes for some of life's more iffy public restroom moments. Food sucks, place itself is a bit grungier then most (needs a good scrubby cleaning day big time). When we want to do the bar thing and listen to music, our go to place. They have paper and crayons on the table which makes for fun times, nothing like coloring on the table and playing bar games while you drink! read more

I've been here a few times with friends on a Friday night for a beer and there is a good selection to choose from. I've come a long way since I started drinking beer and appreciating it but I am not to the level of IPA/Double IPA/Triple IPA just yet, hats off to those who can handle that strong of a beer! At my most recent visit, I had a pear cider and a Trumer Pils, and both were great. I've had them before else where but I like when I can order something I know I'll like and not have to guess that I'll like it. I'm all for trying new beers but this was not the case that day. I like that there is indoor and outdoor seating and the people who work there are nice and approachable. They have bands but I not had the pleasure of seeing any of them yet, yet! This is not a frilly bar to have a ladies night at, but it's more a local spot that is low key. Easy to get to from BART and there are parking spots near the Bistro. I suggest you try this place out and have a few beers!! read more

I went here after the Saturday session of the Hayward/Russel City Blues festival hoping to catch a jam of some of the musicians that had been announced both in the newspaper and at the blues festival. I arrived around 8 to find that they had run out of food. Completely out of food. Too bad, so sad. Well we had all just come from the festival hungry, so we would have to find our snacks elsewhere. So we walked down the street and found a pizza place which turned out to be pretty good, and walked back to the Bistro to eat (they had told us to go ahead and bring our food back over, to get our money spent on drinks no doubt). We sat down to discover that the band we had come to see was packing up, and some young guys wearing kilts were setting up instead. They announced that the owner of the club had "accidentally" double booked and that there would be no blues, only some weird pop kilt wearing boy band. Needless to say, we (along with most of the club) cleared out. I spoke to the guy in charge, and he said it was because the blues society hadn't "called to confirm." Stupid when you see that the thing had been advertised in the newspaper for weeks, and that the blues society had played there after the festival for almost 10 years. They said they had tried to call the owner to straighten it out, but the owner was "on vacation." What kind of owner goes out of town and doesn't answer the phone? An irresponsible one as far as I'm concerned. I will never set foot in this place again. I don't patronize places that can't handle their booking and may or may not have food on any given Saturday night. read more

Said place has Pliny the Elder, a tasty brew indeed and darn hard to find. Happy hour and a fine service were to be had. Regular price per pint is $7.50 and $2 less for a smaller glass. Decor: with instruments on the wall, you know this place is for music people. Customer service: ok Parking out back in a multi level free garage. read more

Great selection of beer! Has a rotating tap. Staff is great and live music on weekends and Monday's. Music can be hit or miss but most mostly hit. This place can be loud and packed at times but if you get a table on the inside they you can draw with crayons and have fun with friends. read more

We stopped here to have lunch today. I had the Roast beef sandwich, DH has the Chicken sandwich. Both were good. Their wine selection is slim, only 3 white wines to choose from. Many many beer selections. Chardonay was ok, not great. Waitress/Bartender was very nice and attentive. I would like to come here at night and see how it is. We were the only ones eating lunch. 3 other guys at the bar drinking beer. read more

I like this place! The Bistro has this cool homey feeling. obviously the place has been there for many years. its definitely has its set of regulars, from old to young. I've only seen them serve beer and coffee, not even sure if they make cocktails or mixed drinks (dont think so). they have live music every night which is super-badass! every time I've been there the music was good. I'm loving the outdoor patio smoking area, mainly cuz its on the sidewalk and on a busy night you can see B street full of people, an awesome view on a nice weekend night. wouldn't recommend this place for a nice night out with the girlfriend tho. this place is better for a group of friends for a quick brew, smoke and live music. all in all real chill downtown hayward bar. read more

They have the best beers on tap, and everyone is really laid back. I love the vibe here. Indoor seating with crayons to draw on the tables. Outdoor seating is perfect for summer. Live music every night, sometimes a total diamond in the rough. I have never had a bad time here. The bartenders are all very knowledgeable about the beers. I have learned since coming here than I'm a. IPA fan. I consider my visits educational. read more

Best beers in Hayward on tap. Period. Live music everyday of the week and something new to hear and drink just as often. nice wine and delicious pub food. Great, attentive and Friendly bartenders! read more

The Bistro hosted the The 15th Annual Double IPA festival. They did a wonderful job. The staff was very friendly. and all the volunteers I encountered were great. They had live music inside during the event. The bathroom was kept clean and available for the event and I opted to use this rather than the Portapotty. We stayed after the event for a drink and it was great. I would definitely return. It is a small place but I can see where it would be a lot of fun on busy night. Music, beer and great atmosphere how can you go wrong? read more

I've lived in Hayward (almost) all my life, including college - can't believe I've only been to this place all of 3 times, considering how much I drink (disclaimer: on the weekends!) and how far I usually go to drink. But that is bound to change now that my tastes in entertainment have. Fuck a loud ass, overcrowded club with super pricey weak drinks, crowds of over-perfumed ugly people with the same striped shirts who stay ugly the drunker I get (which is either a reflection on the competence of the bar staff or the kinds of people they let into clubs these days), and a wack ass DJ who swears that "Welcome To Jamrock" (a good song, don't get me wrong) is the epitome of real reggae, because I'm so over that shit - these days, my idea of good entertainment is all about hanging out with friends, meeting people and having actual conversations with them (can't really do that at crowded nightclubs), sharing a few rounds and appreciating good music - which includes live music from people who actually have talent (or have the balls to let other people judge for themselves LIVE) and dont hide behind the recording studio. So, that said, I've only been to the Bistro all of three times but I have never been disappointed. The music has always been good (I concur with Rob M's statement that they truly have "something for everyone"), the outdoor section is great for connecting with my friends over a cigarette or two, and they have Guinness on tap - what more could I ask for in a local bar? Gotta visit more often, though! read more

I've only ever been here for the Double IPA Festival (both 2009 and 2010), and it's awesome, though crowded and now on the pricey side ($35 for tasting glass and 5 tastings). But, I love hoppy beer and I have to love anything that has 50+ double IPAs on tap, so it's a good time. Warning: People, please understand that double IPAs are not for lightweights. They range from 8-11% ABV. This is not Bud Light. You will be wasted. Please attempt to hold your alcohol. Of course, people failing to get this created my personal highlights of the 2010 festival, both of which occurred on the walk back to BART. Fail #1: Guy is walking with a group of buddies, and zig-zagging back and forth like he can't decide which side of the path is the coolest. He's also on the phone with wife/girlfriend, blabbering about nothing and likely pissing her off more by the second. His feet tip, and he looks like he's wobbling. One of my friends yells, "Watch out!" Guy does a pirouette worthy of the San Francisco Ballet prior to falling flat on his face. He then grumbles "where are my glasses" (which went flying), grabs the phone, and proceeds to continue talking to even-more-pissed-off wife/girlfriend without even attempting to get up from the ground. Hilarious. Fail #2: A group of us heard a BART train coming and proceed to run up the wrong side of the platform. On our way back down a guy in front of us was having quite a few problems maneuvering the stairs, and had to lean into his buddy. After he tripped once a BART cop was staring at him, so the guy proclaimed loudly, "It's not me! It's the stairs!" To which BART cop replied, "The people around you seem to be able to walk down the stairs just fine." After the guy almost trips again three more times, the BART cop pulls him aside. Double hilarious. Thank you, drunk people, for providing quality entertainment. read more

I heard this place has live music, I stopped by and checked it out. I was suprised, the place has great outdoor seating, the inside was a little outdated, but the decoration were nice (instruments on wall). I really enjoyed the band (forgot their name), they were great, but deceptive. If you see one of those band members walking down the street their is no way in hell you would ever guess that: they are in a talented band and also they can rock a guitar and drums. The staff were also really nice and welcoming. Overall, this is a great place to hang out with friends and listen to live music. read more

The service is usually pretty good here. I have to give mad props to the bartender that helped us the last time I went with some friends. She gave us a free beer for lifting a keg for her. They always have a stellar line of brews, although I did miss the Pliny the Younger when it came out. Dang it! It's definitely a local joint so don't be surprised if you get a few glances when you walk in from the old timers...If you can get past the first 10 seconds, you'll be fine... There was supposed to be live music when we went there, but either the guy didn't show up or he was incredibly late...Regardless, still a good spot for a quick brew around the Hayward area. read more

Hayward is normally out of my range of places where I'll go to drink, but last Saturday they had a Barrel Aged Beer Festival and so I headed down there with a friend to check out the brews! This bar has a casual feel to it...they had live music which apparently is a normal occurrence. I got a chance to speak with the owner who was a jovial man who appreciated the fact that we had come all the way from SF. There were over 65 beers at this festival that were mostly being served outside in a tent. Everyone was very friendly and we got to taste some amazing beers. What's good to know is that they have a decent beer selection on a regular basis. Lots of tables inside and out so you can go and enjoy live music, drink good beer and enjoy great people. read more

Great place to hang out with the beats and grab a pint. Buffalo Bill's is too dressy for me. The Bistro's got character. Always a great selection of microbrews. The music scene is eclectic to say the least--very diverse. Best place in town for live bands. Ask Graham, the bartender, to play a tune for ya on the piano... the guy is talented. read more

Bistro implies it's a small casual French resturant - guess they were too lazy to paint over the old sign or something. This is definitely old school brew pub - the entire place seats like 8 people including the 4 bar stools right in at the bar counter so you defintely have to be a serious beer drinker. It's right by the rehab place down the street so it's perfect for those guys if they get a check of some kind. So, if you don't mind sitting in the bartender's lap while he stares at you to finish your glass faster so he can sell you another one - the Bistro is the hovel for you. So, if you enjoy talking shop with the bartender on homebrew techniques, this place is for you. Most people would prefer a more casual place where they serve beers just as good with actual food, actual restrooms and actual room to sit and linger - and with closer parking - just down the street at Buffalo Bill's. read more

This is the Beer Place in the South East Bay! I think they have 12 taps. Some people would smirk and say the Engander has more! The Engander has all the soul of a deep fried pickle! If you really want a lot of taps with common medicre beer then the Englander pales to a place like the Yard House with 150+ beers! But the beers the Bistro has mostly would never show up at the Yard House or Englander. These are eclectic and rather rare. The list changes daily! If you like drinking the same stuff day after day, pass on the Bistro in Hayward. If you like variety and savoring good beer with an respectible Belgium bottle list, then the Bistro in Hayward would be a stop. Also live music daily. Served up with honest peop read more

Classic local staple. Can't believe it's been around so long, used to watch high school friends' gigs here. Fun, good hangout, good prices, not so great food. Live music is entertaining. Best part: drawing on the paper tablecloths with crayons. read more

I've mainly been here for beer festivals (IPA and Double IPA), but this place is also decent for a chill Sunday afternoon with some good pints. It could use a MUCH bigger outdoor seating area and WAY fewer windows, though. Who wants to look out on scenic, bustling B Street? read more

Nice little place with a good selection of beers. I've only been here during the evenings and there always seems to be a crowd of local regulars. They have a lot of local live bands play out and do open mic nights as well. The outdoor seating on the sidewalk is definitely a nice touch. Bar tenders are friendly and a help when trying to decide which beer you'll be drinking this time! My roommates and I frequent this place for a quiet evening downtown. There are buckets of crayons laid out on all the tables and poster paper laid as table cloths. The doodling possibilities are endless! read more

A great selection of beer on tap (I usually get the Blind Pig IPA) and a great place to chill out on the outside patio under the trees on a warm Hayward afternoon after work. I'll have to come back sometime to check out the evenings they have music, but for now, the Bistro will be my after work spot for a beer whenever I'm rolling through my old hometown of Hayward. Save a spot for me outside read more

Popped in on a whim while staying in Hayward, and stayed until closing. Great beer, great service, great music.

Not living a beer and wine lifestyle, this isn't the first choice for me, but I like to support small scale businesses, live local music, etc. Here's what I know: 1 bathroom stall for everyone, beer poured inexpertly, nice street patio that allows for smokers to do their thing, homeless vagranty wild-eyed people roaming around, eclectic mix of patrons inside (good thing), casual environment, no cover (at least on open mic night). read more

Great place to have a brew and check out some great live music! Not many places like this in these parts so I'm grateful to have a small venue like this to kick it at once and a while. I first came here to to check out my guitar teacher's band and I had great time. Even better is that they have Pliny the Elder on tap! That is super rare indeed. Just wish we had something like this in my hood. The Pliny and the venue, that is. read more

This place was a 4 to 5 star joint for me the past few visits. However, I was here just a few days ago and have to warn you that you should go at your own risk. We were there til after closing hours. The bartender was cool and all and let us continue chilling outside with our drinks. When I went inside to use the restroom though, I saw him cleaning the toilet bowl. After finishing wiping down the toilet bowl, the bartender proceeded to clean the sink with the same cloth. He fisnished, stepped out, smiled at me, and continued cleaning the rest of the bar. Didnt wash his hands at all. I was totally grossed out. Fast forward to the next day and today, I've been having diarrhea and stomach pain and I know for sure that I caught it from the bartender through his lack of sanitation. I'm never going back to this place again and warn others not too as well. read more

I came here to play at the open mic a couple of times and it was awful, so I'm writing this review from the perspective of an open mic performer, not a foodie, townie or beer connoisseur . Everyone sat as far away from the stage as possible with their backs turned towards their own boisterous conversations. Even the hosts had their own conversations going and no attention was paid to the sound. I couldn't hear myself and my friends couldn't hear me (even while sitting right in front of me). If you're expecting an open mic experience like you'll find at The Starry Plough in Berkeley, you won't find it at The Bistro... but you might find a dainty sandwhich and a good beer to enjoy. read more

The bistro is a great place to go when there is a festival going on. This place has beer festivals focusing on: ,Wet Hop, cheese and beer, barrel aged beer, IPA, and double IPA. By far the five must-attend beer festivals in the bay area. On weeknights you might catch a cool band playing on the stage. It's one of the best beer dives in the East Bay. read more

The Bistro - Doubel IPA festival 2010 no rain !!!!! - Pubs Near Me - Hayward, California