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    Town Bar and Lounge

    4.4 (57 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:30 PM

    Town Bar and Lounge Photos

    TOWN BAR AND LOUNGE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Intimate
    Classy
    DJ
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Town Bar and Lounge

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    Darin T.

    Last Thursday, a few friends and I decided to check out TOWN bar and lounge, before even arriving it started off on a good note: it's literally a minute's walk from the BART exit -- super convenient if you're coming from the city or parts of the East Bay and don't want to hunt for parking. Walking in, we were greeted by a super friendly bouncer (a pleasant change from some of the aggro vibes you get at Castro bars), and immediately hit by the chill atmosphere and music. They had a DJ spinning a dope Aaliyah and Diana Ross mashup-- pure gold for anyone who's a fan of the old school BET/VH1/CMC days. It's the feel-good, throwback music you seldom hear in gay bars anymore. The place wasn't just about the music though; the ambiance was on point too and every detail felt intentional. My friends and I grabbed a spot near the fireplace surrounded by cute candles, and even had a chance to chat with the owner. He was incredibly welcoming and genuinely interested in supporting and uniting the LGBT community, which really made an impression on us. Service was top-notch all evening. The bartenders were amiable and even let my friend sample some unfamiliar wine before deciding to buy -- again, not the type of vibe you get in the Castro and made it feel homey. While I stuck with my trusty Jack and diet, the signature cocktails looked tempting enough to try next time. And oh, the bathrooms -- finally a place that gets it. Instead of the typical divey drug den vibe of other bars, TOWN offers actual ~rooms~ with toilets, a communal sink area that adds to the inclusive co-ed vibe. It's these thoughtful touches that elevate the whole experience and are welcome from the typical bars where people can see you doing your business through a half-inch gap in the door. Whether it's watching the Warriors game or even a variety of board games available for anyone to use, this lounge is all about good vibes and a welcoming atmosphere. TOWN has nailed a dope mix of soulful, danceable hip-hop and R&B, cute drinks, and a grown and sexy atmosphere. I'm already planning my next visit and this time, I'm bringing more friends. If you appreciate good music and a welcoming spot to chill, TOWN is the place to be and just what the Bay Area needed.

    Montage of images from Town Bar and Lounge
    Ed U.

    My rainbow bulb must have been on a dimmer because I didn't realize Uptown was turning into the Castro of Oakland. I just figured the Port Bar was a random gay bar with overpriced cocktails (review: https://yelp.to/oKSNNikHrl). However, the arrival of Town around the corner on 20th Street in the old I. Magnin Building has signaled a genuine community is starting to form in these parts. It was a welcoming place with a decidedly vintage vibe somewhere between the '70's and the '90's without the tackiness. Jamie W. and I were thinking "Boogie Nights", Studio 54, and C+C Music Factory. Sure enough, the video montage behind the bar had plenty of New Edition, early '90's Mariah, and Janet showing skin in "Love Will Never Do Without You". The owner Josh was tending the bar on our first couple of visits. Yes, we've been twice. Don't judge us. Josh made us feel at home and handles multiple customers with dexterity, no small feat. His cocktail selection was quite literally intoxicating. The $16 Caribbean Dreamin' was tasty with rum-washed coconut oil, pineapple juice, and almonds that are torched in front of your eyes (photo: https://yelp.to/qN3aKsJUYC). A tangier treat was the $12 Hibis-Kiss with hibiscus-infused tequila, sour cherry liquor, and agave (photo: https://yelp.to/Lo3Sg5uQ1R). A fruitier libation was the $14 Crème-Me with vanilla vodka, passion fruit, and lemon and orange juice (photo: https://yelp.to/YIQD6EW85L). As you can tell, Jamie and I are thorough cocktail samplers, and besides, we love chart toppers from the last third of the last century. Great job, Josh. COCKTAILS - 5 stars...Josh was a master mixologist and the prices felt tight AMBIANCE - 4.5 stars...Boogie Nights SERVICE - 5 stars...we felt welcome TOTAL - 5 stars...going to Town RELATED - Exploring Oakland? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2ObVcpQ

    Great artwork around all over the interior.
    Jason B.

    This new and fresh queer lounge is a great addition to the area! A friend and I stopped in for a quick drink and Kiki session.. the cocktails were tasty, and bartender was very kind with great music taste. Only taking a star away for the comfort level of some of the elevated booth seats(made for smaller butts), and the lack of mirrors in a gay bar's bathroom... there is a variety of seating options, which is a saving grace, and can invoke different vibes depending on where you are sitting. Overall, good vibes and pleasant staff! This is a great alternative for local queers that aren't so into clubbing, but still want a communal space to enjoy a cocktail with your gworls

    Brennan B.

    The nonprofit I volunteer for held an event at Town Bar and we couldn't be happier with the service we received. The staff was kind, the drinks were delicious and the overall atmosphere was exactly what we were looking for. I will definitely host another event here and suggest others to do the sa

    Nelson Y.

    I always have a great time at the town, great and friendly bartender alone with a very welcoming owner Jdun Didit.

    Roger E.

    The Oakland/Bay Area communities are, without a doubt, blessed to have Town Bar and Lounge open in the historic I. Magnin and Co. building. Having seen this establishment rise from emptiness to the welcoming, classy, yet unpretentious LGBTQI+ bar and lounge, I am proud and truly honored to see my dear friend Joshua, his family, and work team bring Town Bar and Lounge to life. Whether you are looking for a finely crafted cocktail, an exceptional spot to have a drink with that special someone, a place to have a celebratory drink, or anything in between, I am confident you will be thoroughly pleased with Town Bar and Lounge. Stop on by! Cheers to Joshua and his staff!!

    Gabby L.

    My favorite bar in Oakland--I've never had anything but a great time here. The music, staff, and bathroom cleanliness are top-notch. The drinks are bomb, making it my go-to spot any day of the week! The vibes are top-tier, with so many great spots for pictures.

    One of the seating areas
    Brendan W.

    The classiest bar in town! Since this place opened it's been a haven for the Bay Area lgbtq+ community. If you're visiting Oakland, this is a must visit spot. Amazing cocktails, skilled bartenders, and in a lush, gorgeous environment...you cannot go wrong! Check it out before a show at the Fox or Paramount, or just make this your destination for one of their shows or theme nights. Don't forget to get a photo in the free Photo Booth!!!

    Chadie G.

    Come out on a Friday and check out DJ MK2 resident DJ for Happy Hour 6-10!!!! Loved all his sets and vibe!!! He played for the crowd and knows how to get the crowd moving!!! I loved the videos he incorporated with his sets. Added to the aura of the place. Great time to come if you looking for a happy hour location!!!!

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    5 months ago

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    9 months ago

    Fun spot. I don't drink, but their service is impressive. Cool vibes. Nice do have such a chill and safe spot downtown.

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    5 months ago

    Amazing atmosphere! The music is great and ppl are so nice. Bartenders are accommodating and very pleasant.

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    4 months ago

    Ambiance ain't bad if you like black hip hop music but they need to mix and play a little bit of everything too

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    The bar service was very friendly, professional, and tidy, and the DJ was lighting up the dance floor. Really welcoming spot to hang out.

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    Business owner information

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    Joshua H.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Town Bar and Lounge

    What time is happy hour?

    It’s 5pm-8pm

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Town Bar and Lounge

    Came here after a concert at the Paramount to keep the good vibes going and this place delivered!

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Viridian, you stole the show this month! This was my first time coming back to Viridian after about…read morea decade, and we were not disappointed. Such a beautiful interior space vibrant in celebration for AAPI Heritage month, and a super fun cocktail menu that was the perfect post-meal moment (both photo-worthy and tastebuds approved). We also noticed they have a cool food menu too filled with yummy and innovative dishes like Cheesy Char Siu Tots, Szechuan Salt & Pepper Wings, Korean Fried Mapo Tofu, BBQ Char Siu Ribs, and more. They also have nice swag ~ we took home a hat that resembled a Kirkland hat that spelled out "Oakland Viridian" (IYKYK). Drink-wise we ordered the Soy Sauce Old Fashioned and the Café Sua Daddy, which essentially is an espresso martini with a fun twist with black sesame and an egg cream foam. Both drinks were outstanding and presentation was beyond..I wished we could have stayed for round two, but duty calls! Ride-share and or BART suggested in this area, it's just a bit congested downtown to park. Service was fun, prices fair for the whole experience. Loved it!

    This place is so cute inside it's definitely a cool almost speakeasy vibe. Came an hour after they…read moreopened and it was already getting pretty busy on a Thursday night. Service was really prompt and friendly. The food was great we ordered all the classics such as the tater tots and the cucumbers, and we also got the salt and pepper wings, and the special mapo tofu. Portions are great and it's definitely a lot of food to share. There are also extensive cocktails on the menu running at $16-$20 each, which is expected for the creativity and expert craftsmanship of each cocktail. They have a large number of cocktails that are special and seasonal, and then their classics on the bottom. I don't think you can go wrong with anything that you try and I love that they have Asian fusion options for the cocktails and savory and sweet. I got one of the seasonal cocktails that was passionfruit forward and it had a nice tart crisp taste that I really enjoyed.

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    Viridian
    Viridian
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    Space Lounge Oakland

    Space Lounge Oakland

    4.9
    (7 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    Date: 2/22/2025. Time: 4:00 PM. 63°. Sunny…read more I was supposed to be at 1701, but they are not opened yet. Thus, I met my friend next door at Space Lounge for drinks. Usually I don't imbibe. I am not much of drinking the Henny. All their cocktails have exactly that. The only one that looked appealing to me was the expresso martini. The service could be a little more attentive. My friend and I were the only two people in the lounge at the time. We sat and waited for somebody to come by to ask what would I like to drink. It did not happen; thus, my friend had to go the bar and purchase the expresso martini. The expresso martini was smooth and mellow. The only time I had the Henny was years ago at a Chinese wedding banquet. I added some to the shark fin soup, which enhanced the flavor of the soup. Yes, I enjoyed the expresso martini. The atmosphere of the lounge is one of sophistication and upscale. Comfortable seating all around. Nice place to hang out, do some chillaxin' with friends. Rating: 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.

    Super chill spot with hella cool people! Wandered in here with a friend while waiting for a concert…read moreat Fox. So we had a few drinks and chatted it up with Rick. He's super knowledgeable AND passionate about his craft, plus an overall fun person to hangout with. We heard that this spot isn't getting much love these days and just wanna say it's totally worth the visit! You get excellent service, people who love what they do, community and also some bomb a** lumpia if you show up when the lumpia ladies are taking orders! Come thru!

    Photos
    Was feeling fancy , they knew what was going on ! Champagne was amazing ! Vibes on vibes baby . Oakland shows the most love
    Was feeling fancy , they knew what was going on ! Champagne was amazing ! Vibes on vibes baby . Oakland shows the most love
    Great hospitality! Drinks were on point
    Great hospitality! Drinks were on point
    Space Lounge Oakland

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    Fluid510

    Fluid510

    3.8
    (77 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    This review is two years old but never too late! First let me start by thanking Sean and Ritchie…read more Sean spent countless email messages with me ironing out the details. I added additional people and it was no problem. I'm a planner and can be pretty intense with insuring things go as planned without hiccups and of course I had a thousand questions and still, Sean's kindness never wavered. I met Ritchie the day of and he was so welcoming, the way we hugged and chatted you'd think we've met before. My kinda people. Ever sense I've been singing their praises. I've sent many people their way. The entire staff that day was great. The bartenders (see the video for the effects). They did not play with those drinks! The food? Muah! Chef's kiss. EVERYONE enjoyed their food. My party end up being about 10 people and we all almost all ordered different things. My steak and chimichurri sauce, eggs and potatoes was to die for. I still daydream about how the temperature of my steak was so perfect. I let folks try my steak, it was so good some ordered their own-aside from their other order lol I'm over due a visit. I pray my next experience is as well as the first.

    So here's my update on this absolute dumpster fire of an establishment from Friday, March 20…read more I came in, ordered ONE margarita, and within about five minutes, the bartender was physically fighting with a drunk patron and trying to choke them out while the security guard stood there being completely useless. Truly incredible to watch a place be that understaffed, unprofessional, and unsafe all at once. But wait, it gets worse. After I already left a review about being caught in the middle of their little bar brawl, these geniuses charged my card AGAIN for $52.92 after I had already left. For what exactly? The drinks from the drunk people THEY were over-serving before the fight broke out? Because it definitely wasn't mine. Let me be very clear: I walked in. I ordered ONE drink. A margarita. That's it. So somehow I got front row seats to a bartender throwing hands, security doing absolutely nothing, and then got charged like I sponsored the chaos. This place is a joke. Unsafe, sloppy, and apparently so incompetent they can't even charge the right customer after turning the bar into a live-action WWE event. If you enjoy being overcharged, caught in the middle of violence, and watching staff behave worse than the intoxicated customers, this might be your spot. Easy 1 star. Honestly, zero if I could. 3.24.26 I now have to dispute a charge that never should have been on my card in the first place. This place somehow managed to turn an already awful experience into an even bigger mess by fraudulently charging me $52.92 after everything that happened. I am beyond irritated. At this point, if I have to press charges against the bartender for charging my card without authorization, I will absolutely do it. The level of incompetence and unprofessionalism here is unreal. Not only was I subjected to chaos, but now I'm wasting my time cleaning up a problem THEY created

    Photos
    Eggplant Lasagna
    Eggplant Lasagna
    Shrimp Sliders! So
    Shrimp Sliders! So
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    Chicken Wings

    Town Bar and Lounge - lounges - Updated June 2026

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