At Christmas time, their pop-up bar is the best experience and has become a tradition for my sisters and I. Not only are their drinks good but their non-alcoholic drinks are delicious as well. Any drink you order here will be one of the tastiest you've ever had. Very nice staff and talented bartenders. read more

4.5 Really cannot add much more than the other 229 reviews so I will be brief. Finally got a chance to check this spot out and it did not disappoint. Wish I remembered her name but fun, helpful, informative server. Met some buddies there, but seems like a perfect dark romantic spot. The Smiths and 80s music added a nice mood. Love the chairs and decor. Enjoyed the dark lightening but a tad bit dark. Not a deterrent though. I had something called Pride of Barbados and had my first Ramos Gin Fizz - beautifully made. Wish I had a pic. Revolving menu is nice. Fun, high-end cocktail experience with a laid back, chill, unpretentious vibe. read more

The ambiance is unique, very dark. Literally. Hardly any light at all. We had to use our phone cameras to properly read the menu. The drinks were a bit pricey but tasty, and there were plenty of options to choose from. The service was good. I'd come back. read more

Rude staff, with bad attitudes, a bunch of bratty 21 year olds think they run the place and pretend managers who put their fingers in people's face, I'll never go back. read more

I've been to The Oakland one time. In the winter. And there's nothing like a dimly lit speakeasy with alcoholic drinks to warm you up. This place is a gem! I WISHED I've gone to it more times. But you know, kids, job, adult responsibilities. I still can though. And I will. Hopefully sooner than later. The owner, if it's still the same one, very nice guy. Talked with him for a bit. Not one bad word for this place. Screw Bar Louie and BDubs and the other corporate owned bars. Independently owned and operated bars are the best! And if it's a speakeasy of sorts, then it's even better! But that's just me being biased. read more

The Oakland is a great little cocktail bar in the midst of downtown Ferndale. Friendly and knowledgable bartenders who were fun to watch make drinks while we sat at the bar. Bluths Original and Buzzsaw were very delicious, but the Pandanamonium was extremely nutty, which I didn't care for. The prices are high, so for us to each have 2 drinks it was an expensive night ($80 with tip). I would probably return while I was in Ferndale, but would only do one drink next time. read more

Not a bad pop in joint. Would recommend it. Check it out bc the prices are fakes. Let me know your thoughts to

Dark atmosphere. Friendly staff. Tasty, unique cocktails. Stayed for a couple drinks and then explored other local Ferndale establishments. read more

I had heard nothing but amazing things about the Oakland so I decided to give it a try! My friend and I sat at the bar and were overwhelmed with all their amazing cocktail options! The bartender asked us for what our preferences are as far as cocktails and ended up creating custom cocktails for each of us! They were over the top and exactly what we liked! Mine was a combination of vodka, tequila and St Germain! Highly recommend this cocktail bar! Very classy and great ambiance! read more

The Oakland - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

Very cool vibe. Off the hook custom cocktails. Great place to catch up with friends!!

Terrible service. Mandatory 22% gratuity regardless of party size. Will not be returning

Well let's start by saying this place is so nice inside, extremely dark, but nice. It was also pretty hot but their nicely laminated menu helped with that, as it doubled as a fan. There was a large selection of drinks. My choice was the watermelon sugar. It was pretty good! If you like drinks on the sweet side, I'd recommend this. The nana who ha, yes that's the name, I'd also pretty good. read more

The Oakland - The watermelon sugar. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

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Dark chill atmosphere. Well put together drinks. Great spot for a date night drink after dinner

Loved the drinks here! The vibe is young and eclectic . I would have to say I was a little lost when looking at the menu, and felt like not everyone with me cared for the fancy drinks. One drink was good enough to try something new! It's really interesting and unique. I could see how those with a more sophisticated palate would enjoy a place like this! read more

Oakland is THE spot for the perfect spot. Dark, intimate and romantic. I can guarantee an exceptional drink here- prob one of your best ones. The bartenders are friendly, helpful and exceptionally trained. Every drink is a piece of art! It does NOT get any better. If you are still unsure, try their happy hour. The BEST drink u can have for 5 USD. Strongly recommended- must try. Only downside- no appetizers :(. I am an eater when I drink and that would make it so much better. But again, guess a drink this good that we drive here all the way Exclusively for it! Highly recommended and pls post your experience. In love! read more

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I can't stress enough how much I love this place. It's got a great New York vibe to it. It almost feels undercover or hidden. The decor and vibe is theatrical, it has an eclectic feel w the furniture and decor, the chairs along the wall are pushed together for a more intimate vibe.... The drinks are speciality drinks and I noticed that over the years they have changed the menu. I do not think that they offer food items so just be aware of that. The drinks are top notch. This place is excellent for a date or even for a girls night out to chat. read more

The Oakland - Front view - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

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I truly love speakeasy vibes and this place nails it. The Oakland is next to Soho and from the outside it doesn't look like much. Then you open the front door where there's another door in front of you and you think, "umm am I at the right place?" Yes you are. You can either walk in or make reservations. The drinks are phenomenal. If you have a hard time deciding, just tell the bartender what you like and you will get exactly what you're looking for. The interior is gorgeous. The lights are dimmed a bit but the candles help set a nice mood. read more

My favorite bar. Great cocktails, very nice staff, menu can change with the seasons but you'll never be disappointed. Love this place highly recommended. read more

We stumbled across this place last night, when two of my Yelp friends were having drinks here. We were at One Eyed Betty's down the street, and decided to come join them. First off: it's located next to Soho. For some reason Google Maps/Yelp made it look like it was across the street, and we were a bit tipsy from drinks so we stumbled around into the back to see if it was there (it was not. lol.) ... finally I just called the place and they said they were next to Soho, which clued us in. The door sign says something like Oakland Art Exteriors and it feels like a real speakeasy. I was blown away by the interior - felt so fancy! - and I believe they only serve drinks too (no food). Heads up, drinks will cost you $10-15 or so per ... I tried the Swamp Water drink for $13 and it was just okay - pretty, but really to my liking. Apparently they add bitters too to it, which didn't say on the menu. The only reason this place gets 4/5 stars from me and not 5 (atmosphere is everything!) is that the waiter wouldn't split our check, so we both had to pony up cash. I guess he was kind of insistent on not splitting it, even though we both had ordered only drink. I'd come back here again but only when I was looking to spend some moolah on fancy drinks. read more

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This place was not it. My boyfriend and I went during the Christmas pop-up "Miracle at the Oakland." We made a reservation and everything was very smooth when arriving. Once we sat we ordered a drink each and finished them. Our waiter passed us at least 4 times and even went to the table across from us without asking if we needed another, with our drinks on the table clearly empty. We got the check and there was already a 22% gratuity added, which I understand given today's economy but we were not aware of this until the check came. It was not noted on the website or within the reservation process. The atmosphere was cool but, in my opinion not worth it. read more

The atmosphere is great! Their drinks phenomenal and very different. You must go and take cool pics.

Great ambiance and craft cocktails. The service was good as well and the bartenders were attentive.

We were visiting some friends in the Detroit suburbs and a friend who lives in Ferndale suggested this place. I was pleasantly surprised that such a place existed! The cocktail menu is very interesting and the bartenders are happy to make recommendations/modifications to the concoctions, or make you something that isn't on the menu. I loved the cool vibe and large Gatsby-esque chandeliers on the ceiling. I found the prices higher than I expected for Ferndale (more along the line of what I'd expect in Boston) which wasn't a shocker to me (because I'm used to paying more) but I could see why there might be some sticker shock. We were there on a weekend night and waited maybe 20 minutes for a spot for 3 for post-dinner drinks. The large armchairs in the back could use some reupholstering--they sink in way too much for a petite person and were hard to get out of once I sat down. Perhaps that was the point. read more

I've got mixed feelings about the Oakland. It's been hyped up so much as this super cool speakeasy that has the best cocktails but I don't necessarily agree. First off, you'd never know this was a bar from the street. The door says it's a novelty company, guess that's the hidden speakeasy part. Inside is uniquely decorated but VERY dark! I saw a first date occurring and I'm pretty sure they didn't know what each other looked like because it's impossible to see. I literally had to use my phones flashlight to read the menu. It is also extremely loud music wise. Our group of 5 had to shout at each other to be heard. Things to note, they do not serve vodka here at all. Most drinks are whiskey, bourbon or gin based. I cannot drink whiskey or bourbon and I'm not a huge fan of gin, I happened to find one drink the 60/40 that was tequila based thankfully. My drink was strong and good but nothing super special or exciting. I do like their gigantic ice cubes that don't water your drink down. The service was good but as others have noted, very hipster! read more

Put my name down for 3 people. Was told it was a 45 min wait. That was fine, we waited somewhere else because we wanted to eat here. After 3 hours. Still no text. I came back and asked what happened. The hostess told me, it was so busy we didn't text people. Really? She said she could have me STAND and wait by the bar for a bar seat. Ok, terrible hostess, and low key racist by the way she spoke to me.I would've asked for a manager but at that point I was too tired to fight for anything. Hope she knows who she is. This is not Ferndale stands for, I hope this business dies out for their blatant racism and poor service. read more

I recently moved back into town and came here to meet an old friend from high school. I would've given them five stars however we happened to come right as they had changed their cocktail menu and didn't have ingredients for several drinks I wanted to try. The decor was nice (they still had their holiday decorations up). The bartender was attentive and poured us drinks similar to what we had expressed interest in on the menu so that was also a plus. I will definitely be back to try their craft cocktails in the future in hopes they have the ingredients on hand. The drinks are a little on the pricey side but we're very good. read more

This week I got to go to the Oakland in the heart of downtown Ferndale. It's just off of Nine Mile Road just west of Woodward. Public parking is available behind it and across the street if can't park on the street. You won't notice this place because the sign reads The Oakland Art Novelty Company. You won't think it's a bad from the outside and that's the way they want it! The theme is the prohibition era. And when you walk in you are transported. It's so beautiful inside. Dark with a long bar, tables on the side and gorgeous light fixtures, chandeliers and that roaring 20's feel. Their drinks are signature and amazing. I wanted something light and asked for a whiskey sour. Our bartender Desmond asked if he could put a little spin on it and I said sure. The result was amazing! This place is a definite gem and I recommend you pop in for a drink or two or three. It's definitely a great place to take a first date or long time love to! Friends out for a night? Go to the Oakland! The bartenders are creative and kind and it will definitely be a fun night! read more

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Who doesn't like a chill place where you can actually talk to someone and not scream at them?!?! Love this place when we come down to Ferndale. This place is a chill and classy place. The people are very nice and always help you make a decision if you do not know what kind of drink you want. The place is cozy and home. Definitely recommend this place if you are in the area. read more

I LOVE the Oakland! Love love love love LoVE this place. The bartenders are so nice and friendly. They answer and tell your about the drinks. Every drink here is a creation! I love beetle juice and what's yum. Super cool atmosphere and drinks are just amazing. read more

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The Oakland is the best cocktail bar in Ferndale... if not the only TRUE one. The cocktails are pricier than some other spots, but they are so thoughtful and creative; it's worth it. We love going here to really treat ourselves. Also, this year they're hosting Miracle at the Oakland.. do NOT sleep on this event! Everything is decorated for the holidays -- even the drinkware is special for Christmas! I absolutely loved both the egg nog and the gingerbread cocktails. Make sure you make a reservation, though! The Oakland is a beautiful place year-round. The decor is incredible and the service is great. Will continue to support this awesome business! read more

Hidden gem in Ferndale. Great vibes. Amazing creative drinks. Cool atmosphere. They change the cocktails seasonally and are very accommodating to allergies and taste preferences. Bar tenders are very knowledgeable about the variety's of liquors. read more

It took me over a year to realize the Oakland existed, despite the amount of times I have walked down 9 mile. This place is the perfect upscale cocktail bar that Ferndale needs. Try it out with a friend for happy hour or go for a romantic date. Sit at the bar and chat with the knowledgable bartenders or get cozy in the comfy chairs along the wall. Half of the time I don't know what I'm ordering and I just trust that the bartender will whip me up something tasty. My favorite drink is the dill one! read more

The Oakland - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

Ahhhh The Oakland! Dimly lit, comfy seating, intimate atmosphere speakeasy all combined to deliver expertly crafted cocktails from classic blends to the more rare, exotic hooch. Stop in for a drink and end up staying for hours. The service is provided by knowledgeable, friendly servers who are eager to share their expertise about the cocktails on and off the menu. Be patient when the place fills up because there are others benefiting from their service. If you are a first timer, your biggest challenge will be finding the door. read more

The Oakland - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

Love this place! Something different to do in Ferndale. They have a real speakeasy vibe with the black entryway. Sometimes there's a wait. Cool dark vibes with vintage furniture. Interesting cocktails and a very helpful staff. They also have cheaper normal drinks for those who want that. read more

The Oakland - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

Cozy and dark, like, really dark, like, takes your eyes a minute to adjust dark. I love it. A perfect cocktail spot for the quiet, bookish, and introverted. read more

If you want to impress a sophisticated lady, GO HERE! Ambience 5: the ambience is perfect. It's dark, filled with couches and love seats, has a long beautiful bar, and makes you feel like you're the fcking DON. Drinks 5: I had one drink, the oldest drink ever created, the old fashioned. It was interesting cause it was served neat but it was absolutely phenomenonal. It was made with four roses single barrel, which is top notch bourbon. My friend had a bourbon suggested by the bartender, Barterhouse. He drank it neat like a true drunk. He loved it. Service 4.5: Our bartender was a really nice guy and talked to us awhile about different bourbons. A second bartender came in for his shift while we were there. He seemed exceptionally hungover and surly. I actually thought it was pretty funny, I've been there before. He wasn't rude to us or anything. Overall 5: This is a great craft cocktail bar. Go there or be a loser. read more

The Oakland - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

This place is awesome! Dim scenery excellent for date night. The bartenders are knowledgeable and very entertaining to watch. This is top hands down top 5 bars i have been to. Suggestion For a hot strong beverage and a good show ask for the blue blazer (off menu item) IG: flirta2012 read more

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Very stylish lounge, lots of very good TRUE cocktails. (It would be a shame to order whatever & redbull here.) Great new addition to the strip. Be warned it is cash only for now, cocktails will typically run you $9 per so make sure you have enough greenbacks. The best seating I've seen at a lounge in a while, definitely a great place to catch up with friends... read more

The Oakland - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

The Oakland is a welcome addition to the main drag of Ferndale and proof that Ferndale is the place to be. The Oakland isn't a new concept. The craft cocktail movement is in full force around the country. Speakeasies have popped up on occasion on the metropolises. Yet, even if you've done this before, every experience is difference and cocktails vary by season and location. The Oakland is a hidden gem, cocktail room of the speakeasy type right off 9 Mile Road. The exterior is barely marked except for "the Oakland" in gold on the glass door. The room is dark. Blackout drapes cover all the windows. Crystal lamps and chandeliers hang from the ceiling. It feels like a Victorian parlor with davenports, wing back chairs, a lot of wood with Queen Anne legs. The cocktails are very interesting. They are classic inspired cocktails so expect most to be made with rum, whisky or gin. This is not the place to go to get a jagerbomb or a flight of flavored vodkas. The cocktails I had were magnificent. They were so flavorful, interesting and full of fresh ingredients. This isn't the place to get smashed. Drinks are not cheap. The cocktails are worth every dollar though. If you're looking for a classy hangout to talk and relax with a cocktail, then I recommend this place for you. read more

Not a fan of the Christmas drinks. If you like the taste of bleach, try the Christmas eggnog. If you like juice concentrate, try run rudolf. And pay Manhattan prices to boot! I'm giving three stars because the drinks I've had here before have been better. Otherwise it would be lower. read more