The Factory Bar is one of those places that just feels right the moment you walk in. From the outside, it has that clean industrial look, but once you step inside, the space opens up into something warm and layered. Exposed beams lined with old Richmond street signs, vintage photos, leather chairs, soft lighting. It feels thoughtful without feeling staged. You can tell someone cares about the details. The drink program is strong across the board. Good beer selection, a nice mix of wine, and a full bar for cocktails and spirits. What really impressed me, though, was the quality of the cocktails. They are balanced, well-crafted, and made by bartenders who clearly know what they're doing. Some of the best cocktails I've had at any bar, not just locally. The staff is friendly and genuinely helpful. You never feel rushed or overlooked. It feels like a neighborhood place that also happens to take its drinks seriously. And the patio is a standout. String lights woven through the trees, heaters for cooler nights, tucked-away seating that feels almost like someone's backyard gathering spot. It's intimate and relaxed, the kind of space where conversations stretch on longer than you planned. This is not a flashy club and it's not a pretentious cocktail lounge. It's a well-run, character-filled bar that brings people together. Richmond is lucky to have it. Five stars, easily. read more

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Looking for a super cool bar in the Richmond area? The Factory Bar is full of Richmond pride, located off San Pablo Ave. Upon walking in, your greeted by security carding patrons (it's been a while since I've been carded, haha) and you can begin noticing the nodes to Richmond in art, decor, collectibles, and sips. It was a beautiful weekend evening and we sat in a room adjacent to the main bar in super comfy lounge chairs. This room is where karaoke and other events take place. There's great ventilation, and it's just quite honestly a great space to chill with friends, and also observe all the fun Richmond memorabilia. We also sat in the outdoor space, a super nice garden area that is well-kept and a great option to enjoy on these beautiful sunny days. I had a watermelon margarita and it was so fresh & tasty, I thought it was already summer! Friendly staff and environment filled with regulars and newcomers alike. They seem to have food trucks regularly, and we ordered food to-go from the Brazilian truck outside. Deliciously unique! There's also a few spots nearby you can bring food in from (an ice cream/waffle shop next door and Tacos El Tucan too). We took a ride share, but street parking is available. Looking forward to coming on an event night to catch the local vibes. read more

Tried to hang out, Stood still for thirty minutes with dozens of people. Nobody was getting drinks. It's Hard to make money running a bar when you can't pour a drink. Poorly trained, poorly motivated bar tenders. SHYTE OWNER. Predictable results. read more

I'm so happy that I came because I am counting down the days until I go back! Factory Bar is a great place to unwind after a long day at work or just hanging out with friends! Great drinks, lots of seating (both inside and outside) and even better vibes. My favorite cocktail was the Como La Flor, which is their seasonal margarita. The staff were personable, helpful, and attentive. Oh! I forgot to mention that you can bring your own food! There is a food truck outside and my favorite taco place is right next door! What more can you ask for? read more

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Lovely ambiance and staff, but terrible drinks. Not much else to say (I almost never post negative reviews) ..................:-/

I always enjoy going to The Factory Bar. My daughter took me there for a Mother's Day cocktail and tacos. I ordered a bloody mary which came with a strip of bacon and a skewer of shrimp and misc cocktail veggies. It came pretty quickly and was tasty. We sat in the patio which is quieter than the indoor seating areas. It was warm enough that the heater were unnecessary. read more

The Factory Bar - tacos from popup - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Richmond, California

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Local water hole. Best mixed drinks in town by far. The space is intimate with amazing art and Richmond memorabilia. I love coming here for drinks with hubby. They allow food from el tucán next door or the food truck. Their comedy events are always a great treat. I've attended multiple. Service is fast and friendly, drinks are always innovative and fun. I love their Halloween and fall drinks. Over all is a great hangout. Come one come all. The factory has the best mixed drinks in the area. read more

The Factory Bar - A cold one - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Richmond, California

Such a chill fun bar to get drinks, hang out, and bring your own food! Everyone's friendly and helpful. Lots of space in the backyard patio and some open seats inside near the bar. Would definitely go back for a chill neighborhood hang with friends. read more

We had drink tokens we needed to use up! But I was pleasantly surprised at how big, fun and funky this place was. No food, but often a roaming foodie truck or two will park out front to help the patrons slow down the effects of all that alcohol. Or next door is a hella busy but good Mexican place. The bar allows you to bring your own grub in so that makes for a lengthy fun and action packed evening. So said token in hand dog in tow we headed out for a Friday evening of drinking. I left the cocktail tokens for the ladies to use and I wound up downing several on tap Guiness beers. Very eclectic Friday night crowd from 20 something's to ol foggies like us, after work office types and construction crews alike. Place was packed and hella busy @ 5 pm! No wait service so getting the cocktails can be daunting unless you turn on that New York attitude and bogart your way to the front without a second thought. And heck yes, the bar tenders all ladies were great. So we were sure to give em some $$$ even tho our drinks were free. If it wasn't such a blustering cool evening we would have been content on the ample patio but the owner saw us shivering and suggested we go in side. Either way Koa loved it... becoming a 62 lb lapdog! Not exactly our hood, but it was a nice inexpensive deviation from where we normally go to get lit. read more

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My favorite go-to local bar! Great vibes and ambience, and nice people all around. This place is spacious enough with different areas to hang out even when it's crowded (which it can be at times). Cool thing is you can get food and bring it in also. Many options at the bar for whatever you're in the mood for. read more

The Factory Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Richmond, California

We were getting food at Tacos El Tucan next door and while waiting for our food, we decided to stop in. Vibe was chill with music playing. Different areas to seat and the patio area looks big. Best part was we were able to bring our food into the bar and hang out, although no outside drinks. read more

The Factory was born 8/92020 in the darkness of Covid and we sat outside 6 feet apart wrapped in blankets. It's survived as a great community bar and it's a Richmond treasure with owners contributing to the community. Try Duane Patton funk trio every other Thursday. read more

Bartenders and security need to do better. Ive came here a few times and never had a good experience. Whether it's the lack of awareness on the bartenders or security failing to kick out folks who are on one (not alcohol). Richmond/San Pablo need more bars! read more

The perfect place for a drink after work, is a great location, they have a nice patio also a cool indoor space, they always have tables; staff is great and in order to to make it easy they have a good 5-7 house drinks menu every day. read more

I tend to underestimate Richmond and all it has to offer. OK, give me a minute...Point Richmond. Tasty Mexican food on 23rd. Rosie the Riveter. Tasty Mexican food on San Pablo. Oh look, there's 3 Hermanas and Tacos El Tucan within strolling distance. I wasn't aware this bar was even here since it feels like it should be in a more hip neighborhood. But hey, maybe this IS a hip neighborhood and this spot could be leading the way. It's a nice welcoming space with a long bar where you can gather with your friends or sit in relative solitude. I've done both now, so I can attest to the satisfaction found in either situation. The big draw, however, is the open patio, and even on the weekend, it didn't get overly crowded. Jamie W. and I came here on a Sunday as we waited for his car to get serviced. It was pretty quiet but we were seduced by their specialty cocktail list. We both went for the $12 El Coco Piña, a refreshing albeit a bit sour mix of Plantation Pineapple Rum, Navigator Coconut Rum, and lemon juice topped with pineapple foam (photo: https://bit.ly/446abr9). Sitting on the patio made us want to go back to Waikiki. With Jamie out of town, I stopped by for a little libation and ordered the $12 Princess Peach because I'm secure with my own masculinity. It was a tartly winning combination of Buffalo Trace, Bank Note, Combier Peche, lemon juice, and egg whites (photo: https://bit.ly/43MsK45). The scene was livelier on a Saturday as were the bartenders. We need to come back for Tiki Tuesdays because I could go for an ube piña colada. COCKTAILS - 4.5 stars...nicely relaxing combos of tropical treats AMBIANCE - 5 stars...unexpected find in Richmond of all places SERVICE - 5 stars...very convivial spirit at the bar, relaxing on the patio TOTAL - 5 stars...another attraction to bolster Richmond's reputation RELATED - Exploring this part of Contra Costa County? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2VyCP18 read more

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Hard to get drinks on a night that wasn't even busy. Felt ignored for over an hour. This place has gone down in service & that's super unfortunate. read more

I love the neighborhood feel of this bar. It looks pretty nondescript when you walk up, but once you're inside there is so much to see. My favorite things are the back patio/garden and all the Richmond themed historical decor around the whole place. The back room has some great art and looks like a good place to bring your laptop or have a quiet convo with someone. They have great beers on draft and someone told me their espresso martini was super good. Clientele seemed friendly enough, my only gripe is how long it took to get my drink. Not a big deal though, servers were friendly and professional. Happy I went and will go back. read more

A fantastic local bar with solid cocktails. There are lots of fun spaces inside, including a really comfy lounge with leather chairs and boardgames. There's also an expansive space outdoors in the back where you can relax while soaking in the sun. The cocktails are well made and reasonably priced. The service is friendly. Best of all, you can bring in your tacos from El Tucan nextdoor and enjoy them with your drinks. read more

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My new favorite bar. It has three different areas each with it's own vibe. There is the typical bar, the old pub room to the back left with leather chairs and cool posters, and the outside patio - lots of flowers and different kinds of seating. Many interesting drinks. Food popups were good. The cheese woman - excellent selection, so tasty. The Brazilian food truck - great food that I had not had before. Taco restaurant next door was popular. A few doors down in the other direction is an El Salvadorean restaurant. Be forewarned - very long wait there for food even if no one else is there. But the food was good! read more

This is a cool bar and place to hang out at Vibe is chill Came here on a Friday nite Walked in and bouncer immediately carded us No worries We sat at the bar Bar area is clean and well stocked Bar tenders are friendly Margaritas are $12 This place filled up fast. Before I knew it it was pretty crowded Nice decor Several TVs to catch a game Street parking only No private parking read more

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I LOVE this place! When first walking in, you can't see all the cool hangout spots, but take a look around. The front/main room with the bar is great, but there's another small area toward the back with a few spots, including almost-hidden stools tucked away along the wall. There's another big room to the left that I like to refer to as the library (in my own mind) with tables and at least one lounge area. Then there's backyard with beautiful plants, heat lamps and plenty of tables. I appreciate the eclectic, whimsical style and attention to detail. They have a good selection of beer on tap and wine. But I recommend a cocktail since the busy, but friendly bartenders seem to know what they are doing. I just enjoyed a couple delicious Sazeracs last night. This is a great place to meet friends or have a drink on a date night. Street parking only. read more

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I've been here probably 5 times at this point and what I appreciate the most is the consistency. My favorite drink is the passion fruit lemon drop my girl is in here doing her big one every time . I came to a Halloween party here couple years ago it was pretty live . Open patio seating and nice customers it's literally always a vibe . read more

Chill bar with outdoor and indoor seating options. The patio is really nice and is my preferred spot. Good for after work hangout with coworkers. Know before you go, your ID will be checked at the door, you're allowed to bring in outside food but NOT drinks. Makes sense but also kind of a bummer if you don't know that and get a whole meal form the Mexican food next door which is a popular choice for food. They sometimes have food trucks sometimes parked right outside. Service is friendly which means it's not always the fastest as I think they value quality over quantity. Good drinks with updated list of featured cocktails. Parking is street only so if you don't have much luck on or want to park on San Pablo, the neighborhood around the corner will have some and is safe. read more

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Great bat and scene. Plus they invite food pop ups to sell tasty foods. We had grilled cheese sandwich vendor when we went. Sooo good!

This is my favoriteeee local bar. The staff are always so kind, the place itself is beautiful and has a huge patio with plenty of seats, and they even have board games to play as well. And of course...the drinks are great and they often rotate the menu with new fun drinks. Love coming here :) read more

What a fantastic space to unwind and relax with easy going people! Seating is comfortably spaced apart inside, and the outdoor patio provides more room with fresh air and daytime sunshine to congregate. Drinks are very reasonably priced for the Bay Area. Tiki drinks on Tuesdays are something I must try as my husband and I have made it a bit of a hobby to try nearby Tiki Bars and drinks wherever we roam. Very friendly bartender - tip big! Two doors down door is a super Mexican restaurant El Tucán if you don't want to hit The Factor Bar on an empty stomach. Cheers! read more

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Call me impatient, but after work I wanted to grab a quick brew. But the bartender passed me up, because her friend was there. Don't get be wrong, the ambiance is chill but with the wrong impression it disappears. It is what it is, but it was a lame first impression. I might as well make my own at home. The security guard is hella nice. read more

This place is a great bar in Richmond! The ambience has a more upscale feel and the wide variety of cocktails makes this a true local gem! Give them a try! The crowd is super friendly and diverse, representing the area very well. read more

Outdoor patio is choice. It's like hanging out in someone's well maintained backyard/garden.They have a good selection of drinks and a solid signature cocktail list. They have specials on different nights and partnerships with different food trucks. The night we went everyone was bringing in food from El Tucan next door. Seems like a solid plan! The bar itself is nice, great seating, not pretentious, good music, and clean bathrooms. They checked vaccination cards at the door, have barriers up to protect the staff, hand sanitizer everywhere and they keep everything clean. read more

The Factory Bar - Drinks on the patio. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Richmond, California

Great drinks! Excellent customer service!! Went on a Wednesday after work and was treated with kindness and even accommodated with extra chairs and tables to seat our growing group!!! Would definitely visit again. read more

What a freakin' gem! The space is huge, every turn there are even more places to sit and their outdoors is great with heat lamps spread out and a beer can tree. The bar area is closed for seating to practice social distancing and they even left pockets open at the bar so when people order you're not crowding each other (really appreciate that). The bartenders are very sociable and personable. You can tell they enjoy working together. The decor is unique, to say the least. They have pictures lined up against the wall that show the process of the bar being built which I found fascinating and dope! Drinks are strong and have a cute presentation. Parking is on the main street which can be challenging as there are other businesses around. Easily became one of my favorite places, can't wait to go back! read more

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Great atmosphere- excellent drinks. Lovely patio with amazing garden - cozy and groovy interior; especially the Polkadot Room! read more

The Factory Bar - Artist show with one piece clearly "inspired" by David Bowie ! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Richmond, California

I came for the first time this past Saturday night. My kids brought me thinking I would like it. They were not wrong. There wasn't live music this time but I hear they have live and DJ music at times and comedy. I will keep up on their site to see when there are fun things happening. What I like is the diversity all around - not just ethnicity but also age, gender, and vibe. People were chill. Groups playing cards, talking and laughing. Not too loud so we could hear one another. Drinks - that's a whole different topic. They have quite the choice of cocktails. I don't know half the ingredients they listed but they were good. Will be back! read more

Came here for drinks on Thursday! The ambiance of the place is really nice. There are plants scattered throughout the patio area and the tables vary as there are some standing tables as well as regular tables. All the tables are spaced out properly respecting the social distance orders. The place also enforces bussing your own table and they have buckets to place dirty dishes around the patio. A downside to this place is they didn't have many heaters. From where I sat, there was only one visible heater. I wish there were more. There is a window where you can order drinks. The staff was friendly and helpful. The drinks were good. I got the Smokey Paloma. The drink was on the sweet side rather than Smokey side but I liked it. A few issues I had with this place was staff sanitizing their hands properly. One of the staff members put their mask down, touched their nose, and proceeded to help a customer (maybe they did sanitize but I didn't see it). Also, the drinks came with a garnish and instead of a utensil being used to place the garnish in the glass, they used their hands! My last grievance comes with glass size. I had 2 of the same drink and the glasses were different. I'm not sure if the drinks were measured the same but to see that there was a discrepancy in glass size made me question their practices. Overall, this place had a nice ambiance and was a cool place to grab a drink. read more

The Factory Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Richmond, California

Great local spot. They are not stingy on the drinks. Atmosphere is great. We came to watch a 49er game. Love their outdoor patio as well! No food as there's no kitchen but you can bring your own food or DoorDash it. Definitely plan to come back again. read more

We can't get enough of the factory bar it's our go-to spot for happy hour! We love that we get the charm and quirkiness of a cool bar in Oakland or Berkeley here in Richmond without the BART ride or the occasionally uppity patrons. This is truly a neighborhood establishment, you feel like you're part of a community. Not to mention we have loved most of the cocktails we've tried (and we usually try the majority of the menu when it changes) plus the staff are incredibly friendly and welcoming! Also getting to bring in our own food makes it great to just chill on a Friday after work. TL;DR Neighborhood spot with lots of charm and solid drinks read more

I love my neighborhood bar! Great drinks and beer selection, friendly staff, lots of outdoor space and they allow dogs out there- gotta love that! They also let folks bring food inside to eat. Check it out! read more

I came here and it was cold. Bars and cold weather aren't fantastic. But my husband's co-workers were having a holiday event. The people there were nice. They did have heat lamps for the outdoors. And they allowed food from next door (Tacos El Tucan) which is fine. I did taste a cider and ordered it but it never came, so I'd like to come here again for a happy hour. This will happen once the temperatures increase because it is so cold out. And cold cider, on a cold day, outside in the cold is not a match. I will be back and will do another review for them. read more

SUMMARY: I recommend this place. Cocktails are sedating, well at least for me staff are friendly and best of all, it's local! FOOD: ONLY SMALL PLATES. Not much choices. I love the pita bread and the humus. It's addicting. COCKTAIL: I love all cocktails I've ordered. Sedating. Good price. Pleasing to the eyes. SERVICE: Excellent. All polite and friendly. PLACE: it's an outdoor. Although they have heaters, make sure to bring extra layer for warmth. It's not fun to drink when you are not comfy and freezing. I love all the plants and flowers. There is a raised bed with vegetables. I love it. I love plants. PARKING: street parking. BATHROOM: Clean. Washing is in a communal area. read more

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Service was friendly! The vibe and seating inside was amazing. They had a DJ going on a Thursday night, came with friends after a long week and it was the perfect wind down for the night. Drinks were also good, lots of variety and cool names with it. Definitely coming back. read more