Super fun place, had this bookmarked for a while and finally got a chance to stop by for my birthday as a pitstop. Even on the weekend, they run happy hour specials- instant win win in my book! Parking is street and not too hard to find especially on a quiet weekend like Saturday! It's gorgeous inside and even better with a giant outdoor patio space in the back. A giant tree to hang around, barrels for tables, and some epic artwork along the fences! That's great for groups and inside, is better for smaller pairs. Fine selection and variety of liqours and beers on tap. Special tap cocktails are up on their board. The Henny Apple Soda caught my eye and in time for happy hour to end. It was deliciuos and I threw back two in a time span of 10 minutes. It had hennessy, applejack, lemon, apple cider, and bitters (10). Or you can get this by the pitcher for $45 which isn't a bad deal at all! They like doing pitchers here, lot's of variety for that. Happy hour is M-F from 4-7pm and Sat-Sun from 2-5pm. It's $1 off all tap beers, $1 off all wines, and $2 off all tap cocktails (expect first Fridays). It's clean inside and there's restrooms. It's definately a great hangout spot for friends to catch up, afterwork drinks. It looks better from the pictures than it does in person, but it's a chill space especially for DT Oakland. read more

Note: The patio and the drinks are the stars here. The patio has a huge tree in the middle of it. Like oddly in the middle. But, it sort of adds to its charm. It has lights on it so it is a part of the evening scenery and I imagine offers some nice shade for the midday alcoholics here (kidding). At first I found the setting of the patio a bit off putting. Sitting in close proximity to a bunch of strangers on park benches didn't sound super fun. But, it actually made the whole place a bit more social. You cannot help but accidentally fall into your neighbors convos and vice versa. It really added a fun dynamic as I found myself talking to some total random people. The drinks were solid. Good little selection of mixed cocktails. Nice array, not all too sweet and not all too smokey. I feel like it is either all cosmo variations or heavy bourbon choices nowadays. Refreshing to see a nice mix. The inside is a bit small, and sorta overly standard. The bar is nice and long but the place is a bit narrow so if you are at the bar you will be pressed up on much of the night. The vibe is nice. They were bumpin some rap and other stuff but it was really eclectic. Everyone seemed welcome. Not too hipster, not too "local only", not too yuppie. Definitely will be back when I am in Oak and want a drank with chill people. read more

Discriminatory and unprovoked aggressive behavior by the bouncer yesterday (6/3/2022) which made me and my boyfriend cancel our plan to hang out at The Double Standard (I get the name now). I don't know who on earth would hire a bouncer who would yell, curse, and treat customers differently based on their sexual orientation, gender presentation, and nationalities. I'm a petite middle eastern gay man with some fem presentation. The MOMENT I showed the bouncer my id and he saw my passport (and my nails) he started to treat me aggressively. I was shocked at the beginning because I'm very quite and didn't know what I did wrong. HE WAS OBVIOUSLY ON SOME SORTA A POWER TRIP. Feeling hurt after my passport was checked, I just stood behind my boyfriend who was paying with his card. AGAIN, the bouncer yelled at me aggressively cursing telling me to wait with him and not with my bf although my id was already checked and returned to me!! It was obvious at that point that the bouncer was targeting me and not missing a chance to be aggressive with me for no obvious reasons. I told my boyfriend that I'm being treated like sh@t by the bouncer here the moment he saw me and passport. We decided to leave and cancel the plan. When we left the bouncer said - knowing that I left because of his treatment - "Have a nice daaayy" with a sarcastic tone. I was hurt because he was a reminder of how I'm being discriminated against continuously. I was so fed up that I couldn't enjoy First Friday. When the bouncer was checking my passport and I was holding it for him - just as my bf did before me -, the bouncer say with an angry face and tone "LET ME SEE!" while looking at me. I immediately took off my sunglasses and mask so he can see my face to match it with my passport photo. This is where things got escalated more. He grabbed my passport that I was holding open for him from my hand and said "I said let me fuc#ing see!". I said I thought you meant you wanted to see my face, but he literally kept ranting like I committed some violation. Notice that my boyfriend - who shares the same racial background with the bouncer - was also holding his ID with his hand and the bouncer did not have any problem with it!!! Then after I stood behind my bf who was paying with his card, the bouncer yelled at me with his angry face cursing and telling me to wait with him although I passed the id check. My bf noticed how the bouncer was treating me and agreed that we should leave. During all that I was silent just trying to do the right thing. I don't know if it was my middle eastern passport or my nails/presentation that triggered the bouncer. But whatever that was, I'll make sure that all my friends and entire community won't have to be treated this way in places like The Double Standard. read more

I would have no qualms with coming here. They have a tight back patio and tight ass music. It's super clean and the bartender was friendly. I have a very wide palette that loves foie gras as well as slim Jim's (I know, I'm just the worst) so I personally didn't mind my drinks but some of my party with more refined and reliable palettes were very underwhelmed. We only had one bartender on one night so I most def will be coming back to be fair. I love the merch and the whole vibe of the place. 5 stars for vibe and service! Mixologyblahblahblah gets 3 stars for now. 4 stars for some kind of math I made up in my head cause I'm a yelper and think I can say whatever and it makes sense. You know what I'm just gonna exit now before I start giving stars to the tree outside. read more

Divey-looking on the outside but luxurious-looking on the inside. Further away from other Uptown pubs and bars but great place to have an intimate group outing. Quiet and doesn't get rowdy. Happy hour prices are more expensive than most but the cocktail drinks are real winners. Plus, the setting and ambience are relaxing and posh. read more

Ballast Point Watermelon Dorado on tap? I'm there! Not crowded or stuffy here. Cute outdoor area to sit and bask in the East Bay sunshine. I would definitely come back to try some of their signature cocktails. read more

I am a huge outdoors kind of person and am constantly looking for places that have a fun outdoor space. This place is deceptively fun!! It looks like any other dive bar when you're driving past it. When you step in though, it has a a cool neighborhood bar meets Brooklyn beer garden vibe. The outdoor space is intimate but does the trick! I love the wall art and how they made use of the space. The drinks are reasonable and their express wine and beer line makes getting your sips on even faster! It's great for a casual date night, or hanging out with your friends and dogs! I'd recommend checking it out... even on a Sunday! read more

Been here a few times, it's always worth it to pop in and see if it's aligned with your vibe at that time. Fun and easy spot. Friendly Bartenders, good drinks, nice back patio. Chill crowd. I've noticed it's either dead inside or PACKED to the brim. I prefer busy. Haven't noticed a lot of in-between. It's a fun stop if you're bar hopping in the area or during First Fridays. read more

Good alcohol. Just don't go in announcing the license plate number of a luxury car blocking the bus lane. They'll sic security on you.

Got to visit The Double Standard recently and i was blown away! Times are tough for most face to face businesses, but Ali and his entire staff went above and beyond to make sure my party felt safe and to make sure we were well taken care of. Great drinks, good music and a solid vibe. I can only give 5 stars on yelp, but this place definitely deserves a few more read more

This place is poppin'. Wednesday night before Thanksgiving and the times I came before were fun. Need I say more? Come here before all the rawnchies come thruuuu... Whomever was dj-ing. This person was on point. Spanish music in there that night was so wise. They serve pinot noir on tap and I am normally not the type of person to get that but you cant always win.. Its not terrible. Wine with corks is the way to go. No twist caps etc. but thats cause I'm boujie sometimes. Anywho, I'll be back soon. Keep doing the same. Good music. Good drinks. Classy atmosphere. read more

LADIES BEWARE!! I had to help a girl off the bathroom floor last night who thought she was roofied AND my best friend thinks she was too. This was the only bar we went to. She had one drink and remembers nothing and passed out while we were leaving. Super sketch. It was the first First Friday back so we can't be sure who it was since it was super packed. The Double Standards voicemail box was full so hopefully people see this before going. Be safe. read more

This is the best bar in Oakland in terms of atmosphere, location, patrons, drinks, prices. But I'll only give this place 1 star due to its slow ass service. They need another bar out back and they need to hire faster bartenders. Seriously slow. I keep thinking about all the money they lose because they're so slow. I always leave at the hint of a crowd developing...because I came to drink not stand around at the bar for 20 minutes waiting for a simple draft beer to be poured. Fart. read more

I. Will. Never. Come. Here. Again. I don't know what is wrong with this place, but I went here with friends last weekend, and that was my second time going there. My first experience wasn't great, but it wasn't outright dreadful like this one. When it was decided in our group that we would be going here next (bar hopping), a few people rolled their eyes and another exclaimed "Oh God, why?". So clearly some of our expectations were already pretty low prior to showing up. The blonde female bartender was a total (forgive me) b*tch. I'd been waiting at the bar for about 15 minutes, and she was helping everyone else but me. So, as I was waiting there at the 13 minute mark...losing hope and serenity with every order being taken that was not mine, another woman steps right up to order next to me and the blonde immediately goes to her. Thankfully, the woman says "She was here before me", and these words were was met with the slack jawed expression of the blonde bartender who still refused to look at or acknowledge me for some reason. Another bartender working behind the counter sensed a confrontation brewing (I was NOT happy), and quickly moved to get my drink order. The worst part is my drink wasn't even that good. But hey, I got off easy because apparently that same blonde bartender, who may or may not be partially blind, can't make a drink to save her life either. One of my friends got a drink made by her, and it was dreadful. Do you want to know what my friend ordered? Something complex you ask? No. A martini. A. Martini. HOW DO YOU MESS UP A MARTINI?! I aspire to fully understand the level of incompetence required by a bartender to screw up such a basic drink. My friend was better off taking a Lyft to BevMo, going home, and just making the thing herself. I tried it, and it tasted straight up like alcohol mixed with swamp water. My friend couldn't even finish it. Strike number two. Ready for three? When I went to close out, yet again...some woman walks right up, and the male bartender with the tattoo sleeve (who spent a portion of the time I waited dancing) helps her immediately. She waited literally 5 seconds to be served, and I was about 5 minutes just to close out. 5 minutes is obviously not a major amount of time to wait, but I don't understand their inability to grasp the concept of: first come first serve. Some sins can be forgiven, but at a bar I believe we can all agree that the THREE major cardinal sins are: Shitty drinks, shitty service, shitty atmosphere. Double Standard has all of that on deck. Their drinks aren't good (and overpriced), they need more freaking tables and chairs, the music is OKAY, and the bartenders really make this place shite. This place lacks the clout to even have the nerve to overcharge and have poor service on top of that. There is NOTHING that makes up for it. I urge you...in Oakland there are so many amazing places. Do not waste your hard earned money and time on this horrible hole in the wall. Go spend your money at Telegraph, Drake's Dealership, Overland, Beer Rev, Plum Bar, MUA, Mad Oak, Heart and Dagger, Blind Tiger, Woods, Dog Wood, Kona Club, Commonwealth, Lost and Found, Make Westing, LITERALLY ANYWHERE ELSE. read more

Favorite place we stopped on a night out celebrating a friend's birthday: 4.5 stars Highlights: - Outdoor patio: love this area with several picnic benches and hanging lights outside at night - Self serve water: props to having this dispenser at the side of bar especially for later at night when you might not remember to ask for one - Tap cocktails: tasted fine to me. I went for the whiskey buck which was bourbon and ginger. - Not crazy: on a Saturday night, we were there later but it wasn't busy which made it pleasant to chill with friends and easy to get drinks. - A lot of space to sit inside either by the long bar or a table Lowlights: - Outdoor patio closes before the bar does: just by a bit (30min-hr) probably to be nice to the neighbors. Really enjoyed this spot and would come back. read more

Double Standard makes one of my favorite cocktails, no idea what it's called (can't find it on the menu anymore) but I just ask for the spicy tequila drink and they've been able to make it each time. Double Standard is more of a bar to start the night off. You walk in and immediately come across the bar. There is limited seating, so I only sit inside if I am with 1 or 2 other people. Outside is more of a "beer garden" feel with tables, benches, trees. I like this area a lot, but they don't play music out here! They only play music indoors, which is completely fine if you're coming earlier in the day, but on a Friday night I feel like music outdoors would be nice too - could be a similar vibe to Mad Oak. It's a casual bar, and a nice place to catch up with a friend if it's not a busy night. read more

went in with Giorgia Polly and Bob.. wanted a Gibson (gin martini with pickled onions ..(no can do? no onions???) so had a a well made standard martini with olives and a twist house gin is Gordons & properly stirred!! tasty & cold and the redwoods on the huge back deck were spectacular... our group of seniors (the only ones there) had a great time surrounded by a bunch a yoots... our gals had superb Negronis will return & bring them a large jar of onions... read more

I'll say it again -- I love a bar that includes the Vesper on its house menu, but what really sells me on this place is the patio with the resident redwood tree right in the middle of it all. read more

It's cool... great spot to watch warriors games outside. The beer is ok. The vibes are pretty good. It's definitely an interesting crowd in terms of new and old oakland. read more

Oakland continues to surprise me with all its cool & diverse watering holes. This cozy bar/lounge on Telegraph Ave. is def worth a visit! Came here the other night for a night cap with some friends. We saddled up at the bar for a quick Fernet before heading home. Cut to 90 minutes later, and my buddies and are I still embroiled in a game of Liar's Dice and nursing our 3rd beverage. Needless to say, time flies when you're having fun at The Double Standard. We swung by around 10pm on a Tuesday night. The place was pretty quiet (and yet they still had a bouncer checking IDs). The few patrons we saw inside were all playing a variety of bar games like Chess and cards. After ordering our drinks, we noticed the dice sitting by the cash register. We all looked at each other and then looked at the bartender... and before we knew it, it was GAME ON. The Double Standard is a surprisingly mature bar for the area. You won't see Frat boys here doing tequila shots or sorority "cat fights". This is the bar you go to AFTER you've graduated from college (when you're old enough to know better). The space has a warm, pub-like atmosphere. They also have a very inviting back patio. Although it was too cold & rainy to hang outside, I'll def want to check it out another time when the weather clears up. I'll be back! read more

The Double Standard is a refreshingly fun Oakland bar that has plenty of space and beautiful redwoods in its outdoor patio space. I came here with two friends after a long work week on a Friday night to find it not so packed, but still lively. DRINKS: An eclectic selection of mixed drinks and your beer on tap, this place has got something for everybody. Average priced for the Bay (roughly 5-6 on a pint of beer, 11-13 for a cocktail) that keeps it competitive with the other drinking places in Oakland. SERVICE: Pretty darn good! A place that has good space, delightful outdoor space to enjoy the nice California weather, and solid drinks to match! read more

Love this place! Bartenders and staff are very friendly and welcoming. Atmosphere is chill, music is perfect.

We stopped by this bar for a quick drink. Love the outdoor patio area. This bar is dog friendly. The only negative is the swarm of flies at the entry to the patio left a bad taste in my mouth.... Not cause one landed inside it. Other than that, good service, friendly customers read more

Great choices for tequila and mezcal lovers. Order the coffee bitter & mezcal cocktail! Craft cocktails that are well balanced and quite stiff. Prices reflect the quality of the cocktail. Beer selection covers all the bases, lagers, hefs, IPA and stout. Also, they offer a favorite cider of mine the mighty hopped golden state dry cider. I read some reviews about rude bartenders, I didn't feel that way At all. The bartenders were 100% professional and proficient at their jobs. I didn't see any signs of carelessness and their sense of urgency was on point! And that's what makes this place better than a dive bar. Our main bartender was working his ass off this past Friday! Thank you! Pros: Martini and pint glasses are chilled. Their patio is beautiful and makes you feel like you're in the red wood forest in the middle of Oakland. They are willing to substitute liquor in specialty cocktails and they are extremely quick to deliver! You can bring food on the patio and smoke on the back patio. Cons: You can smoke on the patio, our group had bought food, and could hardly taste it due to the fact that there were about 35 ppl smoking cigarettes simultaneously. And unfortunately there's not that much seating in the bar itself. This bar has so much potential, it's in this weird phase in between dive bar and cocktail lounge which, as long as good company enters the doors, is safe. But I see a lot of law suits, some of the patio is broken and not level, a drunk person can potentially break their face! That being said, I'm sure the owner knows this and I'm assuming this is why they call it " the double standard" :) Overall, this is a must visit in the heart of Oakland (well uptown) and while you're there visit Kingston 11 for Jamaican oxtail stew. read more

This bar has really great signature cocktails, friendly staff, and a refreshingly nice atmosphere. There's a HUGE outdoor patio area in a grove of redwood trees, and the interior is fairly small, but comfortable. The prices are comparable to other bars in town, ($5 - $6 beers, $8 to $12 cocktails). I haven't had a bad time here in the 5 times I've visited so far read more

It's a cool little spot with a nice outdoor patio however it is full of cigarette smoke. So if you're a smoker or aren't bothered by it, maybe you'd give this place a 4 or 5 star review. They charged $10 entry fee for the game and didn't even get a drink ticket. Really hard to order a drink at the bar it was so packed. They had a small beer cart outside with Modelo especial and a premixed paloma. They did let you bring food in from outside which was cool because first Friday's was going on and there was a lot to pick from...But, back to Mad Oak or Oakland athletic club for Warrior's Basketball. Might come back for a non game night. But unfortunately won't be able to enjoy the patio because of the smoke. read more

I always liked this place too bad it's just a memory now. I've come here on several occasions. It's a bar for the hip, it's a bar for the in-crowd that's for sure. It's has somewhat of a divey feel in the outside area around back but it's totally for the ppl that like to sip with there pinky up (if you know what I mean). My last visit here was in late September I brought my aunt here who was from out of town, she seemed to appreciate the vibe. They were being mindful of the 6ft thing, they all had on masks and sanitizer was readily available. I enjoy the space for what it is, the huge tree makes it feel like you're really not in the middle of Oakland. The tree is magical I tell ya, there's tons of good vibes and good ppl that come here especially around first Fridays. I hope they can beat the covid closures because this is virtually an oasis. They still have a beer and a shot for the low, low read more

I really like the vibe of this place! I always forget how much warmer Oakland is than the city so it was nice to chill in their backyard outdoor space. They have a bunch of picnic tables to sit at, unfortunately they do allow smoking out there, but it's super chill and fun low key spot. Bathrooms are clean-ish and you order at the bar. read more

Double Standard is a solid bar slash lounge. It's pretty crowded on the weekends, but between the tables and the patio there's usually some room. I've had mixed experiences with the house cocktails. On the most recent trip, the house manhattan was way too vermouth and bitter'y. If you're looking for a spot on Telegraph to get a drink Double Standard isn't too bad, I might recommend some other places before this one, though. read more

This place is interesting. The exterior is hopefully in the process of getting renovated it wouldn't entice me into this place that's for sure. (FYI: this is the old Kim's Backyard spot) The interior is really very nice and the patio is a huge huge improvement. Naturally first thing I ask a bartender is if they carry my favorite vodka (Stoli if you care) and sadly they did not. In fact, I'm noticing quite a few newer bars lately are sadly lacking on vodkas period. But that's another story. They had lots of rye, whiskies, tequila and mezcals and of course beer and a fairly nice cocktail list. The night I went there wasn't much of a crowd, granted it was early. Heated patio, with benches and well lit area. Inside: plenty of seating around the bar and the perimeter of the space. Friendly bartender. Pricing is average for Uptown area. I'd come back again. read more

I give this place 2 stars simply because it was a cool place BUT, the treatment we had. Goodness. Two of my friends who I came with, one hispanic and one black, was kicked out because they "looked like they were going to fight" each other. We were there for a couple hours and those two had been catching up the entire time. The bouncer oh man, was the cherry on top. We tried to calm the bouncer down but ended up with him threatening us and basically talking in a manor where I would hope he had a conceal and carry license so he wouldn't get in trouble. Not a fan of the treatment. I don't think I'll be coming here again. I guess they're named the double standard for a reason. read more

Looks can truly be deceiving. A girlfriend invited us out to grab drinks and as soon as I parked I wondered if I had written the address down correctly. Don't let the outside scare you, it's what's in the inside that counts. And what's inside is good music, an awesome bartender, and delicious cocktails. If you don't get a drink during happy hour, the cocktails can get a little pricey, but not too bad. The plus is that they're delicious! If you're a mezcal fan, order the International Mason: mezcal, cynar, sweet vermouth, and coffee bitters. If it wasn't so cold, I would have enjoyed their back patio. It's cool that there is a giant redwood tree in the middle of the patio! I'm officially a fan of The Double Standard and can't wait to come back and bring some more friends. read more

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Amazing patio! Had the opportunity to go to The Double Standard on the First Fridays event in Oakland. The place was packed but we still managed to get a drink in a timely fashion and enjoy the patio. The backyard patio or should I say beer garden is absolutely awesome. You can really tell how much more space there is in Oakland, as compared to San Francisco. Decked out with lights, wooden paneling, and lots of people made this space very enjoyable. There are picnic tables all around and lots of standing space. A definite must go if you are looking to enjoy the weather at an outdoor patio. read more

One of my top 5 favorite east bay bars. Friendly and quick bartenders. Beautiful patio with redwoods. Friday nights they have amazing vegan catering. Also one of the few bars that still allows smoking on the patio. read more

If you're looking for a great patio space or cool vibe lounge or sports watching area...this spot will do the trick. Great bartenders that know how to mix, nice music in the background while a huge red oak tree with lights above makes this one hell of a Oakland bar that you will want around for a while. Order a Moscow to start out and see where things go #thankmelater read more

WOW! A total transformation from the old joint that occupied this building, Kim's Backyard. A lot of hep jokes (maybe not even jokes) were around during Kim's days. The outside still looks unimpressive, but the inside, WOW! Totally transformed, friendly bartenders, and great craft cocktails. It's actually clean now and you don't have to feel scared of sitting on urine or contracting a disease! read more

While I am not much of a drinker, this place is definitely a great hangout spot for sure especially on the patio. I came to town quite on a whim to see my always fabulous friend and her equally fabulous boyfriend. We first hung out at Telegraph (great burger joint in Oakland's every growing Uptown neighborhood) then sauntered over to The Double Standard so they could get their drink on and I could take in the beautiful afternoon outside on their great patio! While I didn't stay long because I had to head back eastward, fun times were had and I know I am going to be coming back for a non-alcoholic libation for sure while wasting away another afternoon with my favorite Oakland people! read more

Came here randomly with a friend to check it out. the place was small and there is a $10 minimum if you use card. The inside definitely looks better than the outside front of the store. They play music. The crowd is interesting. There are several bar tabes to sit when inside, but other wise you will stand. There are two t.v's, but kind of tiny to see. They have a back area to hang out, but mostly smokers are out there. My friend ordered two beers there and I didn't drink. Overall, the place is okay. Not sure if I want to come back anytime soon. If you are in the area give it a shot. Parking is only on the street. read more

The Double Standard - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

I came here on a quiet Sunday afternoon after filling my belly over at Hella Vegan Eats to do some writing with a pal. Super chill and shady backyard! Had a couple glasses of Rosé and a few hours on a picnic bench made for a splendid Sunday! Super nice staff as well. read more

They have an awesome space for big groups in the back but you can't reserve ahead of time. Still worth it though!!!