The Most Flavorful Cocktail Bars in Oakland

Addis Ethiopian Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.2 (729) • $$

"My friend and I visited Addis Ethiopian Restaurant on Friday, 2/9/24, for an early dinner. We decided to order the Kategna as the appetizer. It was crispy and delicious. For the main course, we got the Meat Combination Platter for Two. It came with 3 Ethiopian meat specialties such as the Doro Wot, Sega Wot, and Sega Alicha along with Injera, Ayib, Boiled Eggs, and a mini Salad. All of the meats were beyond flavorful and bold in taste. My friend and I finished the entire platter feeling full and satisfied. For the drink, I had a glass of Ethiopian Honey Wine. It was sweet and I enjoyed it very much. Everyone inside the restaurant was pleasant. The customer service was attentive and lovely. The indoor ambiance was decorated nicely with flowers and candles at each table. Overall, Addis Ethiopian Restaurant is a great spot to satisfy Ethiopian food cravings. I recommend coming here."

Tay Ho Oakland Restaurant & Bar

★★★★☆ 3.9 (830) • $$

"Love this place. Never had a dish I didn't like. It's always bustling but I live near by so I take it to go. Staff is great."

Ocean Oyster Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 4.1 (729) • $$

"I'm pretty sure this was here when I was living in UC 4 years ago, and now I'm mad at myself that I never knew of this place back then.My brother and hubby stopped in for late lunch reservations on a Wednesday and it was pretty empty, wait it was very empty with just one other table with a customer. I was a little worried but more shocked. My immediate impression walking in, I thought this restaurant has a nice interior, welcoming vibes but I was concerned there was no one here eating. Julian, our server was amazing from the start. Very personable, almost like he was an AI/robot, lol jk. He provided exceptional customer service without being overly helpful. For foods, we ordered two appetizers: crab cakes (bro's fav) and the aguachile. Both dishes were so good, I was excited to what was going to come out for our main dishes. The Aguachile had the perfect amount of spiciness with the Serrano sliced peppers and the shrimp marinating in a sour lime juice with spices. Wow, delicious stuff. Now for the mains, I went with the spicy pasta, hubby tried the Cajun pasta and my brother opted for the lobster/crab sandwich. Presentation was on point, really pretty plated dishes! Portions were pretty big, I would say two people can share the pasta dishes, needless to say I had leftovers, so yay me! I was just so satisfied with everything that we ate. From the flavors to the presentation, *chef's kiss good! Customer service, great; Ambiance welcoming and clean. I would 100% come back for a second visit and so should you. Bookmark now and come in to try some yummy dishes from Ocean Oyster Bar and Grill."

Honor Kitchen & Cocktails

★★★★☆ 3.8 (846) • $$

"My first time back at Honor Kitchen since they reopened after the pandemic. I came in expecting a solid meal, but they took my expectations, deep-fried them, and drizzled them with deliciousness.I ordered the chicken and waffles. In turn, they ordered my taste buds to the culinary dance floor. The chicken was crispy, juicy, and nomtastic.My friend had the huevos rancheros, and from the way she was aggressively defending her plate, I assume they were also fire. Speaking of my friend, it was her birthday. Honor Kitchen came through with a next-level bread pudding with plantain and even included a birthday card signed by the staff. That definitely earned me some free brownie--I mean bread pudding--points. :-)Service was solid. The restaurant is beautiful. Apparently, the speakeasy bar in the back is open till midnight? It's a great late-night date idea.If you're in Emeryville and NOT eating here, my condolences!"

The Hobnob

★★★★☆ 3.8 (834) • $$

"The food, drinks, and service far exceeds any expectations. They'll make sure you're comfortable and the food is always so flavorful and hot. This is our go to for a great family meal. They think of everything with great menu offerings, music, and games. We love their tuna tinga tacos, butter fusilli, chicken karaage, wings, salads, fries, and special"

Alamar Dominican Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.1 (684) • $$

"This wonderful restaurant has a happy atmosphere, vibrant decor, bachata & merengue playing in the background, an open kitchen and some seriously flavorful food to enjoy. Traditional Dominican recipes feature a unique element to make it new and exciting. My sancocho vegetarariano took a bit longer to arrive compared to my husbands sancochito but that was fine since I was just about stuffed from the succulent slightly spicy sweet pork ribs and chili glazed maduros appetizers. Unfortunately they were out of both pernil and oxtail during this visit but we hope to come back and try it next time. We ended the meal sharing their Dominican style bread pudding. Our awesome waiter Jesus was very nice & efficient and the charming Chef Nelson came by to check on us. So glad he decided to stick it out despite their recent hardships. Oaktown needs places like this to thrive."

Delarosa Bishop Ranch

★★★★☆ 3.8 (787) • $$

"Eddie was great! Super helpful and helped us celebrate "Makora Day" Definitely would recommend. I'm from WA, so it was a great treat to visit this place."

East Bay Spice

★★★★☆ 4 (692) • $$

"This was my first time at East Bay Spice Co since they moved. The first thing I noticed was how cold it was; they leave the door open to the elements and there wasn't a heater or anything to keep things warm. The second thing I noticed was that all the drinks were completely different, but the food items were the same (with some new editions, like the chicken wings which were DELICIOUS!!!).I arrived for happy hour and the place was pretty empty. There isn't as much seating as the old place and it filled up pretty quickly once five o'clock rolled around, so get there early. I had the pisco sour (pretty good) and the daiquiri (excellent) to drink, both new cocktails. I am excited to come back and try the rest of the menu. EBSC is known for their cocktails and this new spot hasnt yet disappointed!"

FOB Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.1 (634) • $$

"I've known about this place for a while as they've been featured on social media, newsprints, articles, word-of-mouth, TV shows, YouTube and etc... A few months ago (more like last summer), I took wifey here on a dinner date and didn't tell here where we were going. Funny thing was that as soon as I stepped inside, the bartender was already buttering me up...and it worked. So, I had to order some Red Horse (Philippine malt beer made by San Miguel) to get me started. The chef and owner, Janice Dulce, was busy working and greeting guests from behind and in front of the kitchen. The placed used to be a taqueria as she paid homage by keeping the original sign outside while adding her F.O.B. Kitchen logo. The exterior of the place is vibrant, full of colors and greeneries with vines crawling up the wall. The interior is warm, homey with touches of Philippine artwork. It feels comfortable, and the staff was surely very welcoming.We had the following: Starters/Pulutan - Sticky Wings ($15) coated with Patis (Fish Sauce) Caramel, pickles & cilantro. It was a delightful fried chicken that was well-balanced with tanginess and sweetness. The patis flavor wasn't too overpowering and pleasantly not too salty. It was crispy on the outside and tender inside. Lechon Kawali ($13) thriced cooked pork belly with pickled red onion, Thai chili, soy sauce & lemon. They were crispy but not greasy. The pickled red onion gave it a nice contrast, dipping it in the sauce gave it an umami punch. Of course, the Bartender reminded me to get the "Mang Tomas" sauce as it wouldn't be complete without it.Side Dish/Gulay-Tortang Talong ($13.00 - eggplant omelet, tomato, scallions, soy & banana ketchup dipping sauce (before the ban). Solid dish that was evenly coated with egg that provided a crispy exterior layer mixed with the soft eggplant to give it a nice contrast of texture and flavor.Entrees/Ulam - Sinigang Baboy ($25) tamarind & ginger soup, pork, daikon, bok choy, eggplant, green beans & Thai chili. If you like it sour, this was very sour....in a good way. The sourness comes the tamarind, which is very traditional and definitely did not come in a powder form. It was definitely a strong kick that would clear out your sinuses. The fresh veggies just sapped in all the flavors, and I couldn't stop eating them.Pork Adobo ($20) palm vinegar, soy, garlic, annatto, coconut milk & Thai chili. I have to give this a mix review since the pork was not consistent. There were parts that were dry and parts that were tender. However, their version of adobo was unique as I literally slurping the sauce. It was savory, but it also had sweet notes that reminded me of caramel. I just wished they made a Chicken Adobo version as well as chicken can be easily cooked evenly compared to pork. Dessert/Panghimagas -Turon with Ube Ice Cream (forgot the cost) a nice ending to the dish as the Turon was goldenly fried and the Ube was made with real Ube. It wasn't too sweet, and the ice cream had a great texture of real Ube mixed in. I don't know if they made it inhouse or from a vendor, but I appreciate a good and real Ube when I taste it. Not the fake, purple-colored desserts being appropriated by Trader Joe's. Cold Brew Pandan Coffee ($6). I know, it's not really a dessert, but this was addictively so good that I ordered another and another to go. Now, my only bone to pick with was the side of garlic rice that we ordered. The garlic was nice, but the rice was just way too clumpy. It could've been mixed together more evenly as opposed to getting clumps and chunks that it was almost a cop out. Just my opinion, but they could pay more attention on this one. Don't want to end on a negative note as we truly enjoyed our meal and time here. The service was friendly and professional, especially the Bartender. These were truly some of the best-tasting Filipino dishes we'd have to date, and I know there are other dishes that we wanted to try, but we only have two mouths. They also pay homage to its Oakland roots as evident from the names of the cocktails such as The Town, Blow the Whistle, Feelin' Myself, and Golden State of Mind. Oakland has been getting a bad rap, especially with what happened to their mayor, but it doesn't represent everything about The Town. It's very rich in the diversity in its people and culinary cuisines. There are good people here trying to make it better. Janice Dulce is one of those people. She's a proud Filipina American offering her culture and providing a safe space for people of color with different ethnicities, background and orientation. We must uphold them during these bleak times, and it is what America should be about."

Marzano

★★★★☆ 3.8 (733) • $$

"Loved this place! Beautiful interior, excellent service, delicious food, quality wine, and fair prices. We ordered the meatball appetizer, polenta, chicken and potato pizza and were thoroughly impressed with the quality of the food and freshness of the dough. Can't wait to come back and try the rest of the menu!"

Elixir

★★★★☆ 3.8 (683) • $$

"Definitely the bar to be at during the holidays (or all year round as a matter of fact!) They have an amazing holiday cocktail selection. I wanted to try every single thing on the menu! The Pumpkin Killer and the Aged Eggnog were the highlights for me. Unfortunately, the Tom & Jerry was not available. Apparently, it takes quite a bit of time to make and the staff were quite busy on a Friday night. The only thing I could potentially dock a star for was the inconsistency of the drinks. My friend and I had ordered two different drinks from one of the bartenders, and both our drinks tasted a bit strange/unbalanced (too much mint syrup in the Mistletoe Sour and too much sherry liqueur in the Añogo). Another one of our group members ordered the Mistletoe Sour and it tasted vastly different.Aside from that, loved the ambiance and the drinks!"

Baci Bistro & Bar

★★★★☆ 3.7 (701) • $$

"Definitely recommend this place if you are looking for italian food. The ambience is good. I really liked the salmon, it was well done. For small plates I liked the fried risotto balls. Service is also good."

Thai Table

★★★★☆ 4.3 (512) • $$

"I AM OBSESSED WITH THIS PLACE. Every single thing I ate was perfectly balanced and delishhhh! The workers are super sweet. I love the decor of the place & it's in a good location on the main street. The fresh shrimp spring rolls were definitely fresh & crunchy. It's a great appetizer to go with a heavier entree with carbs because it's light & fresh. I had the Nam Khao which is the crispy rice with lettuce wraps. It has crispy rice, pork, carrot & peanuts. You load up your lettuce with all of these and it's a bite FULL of flavor. My friend had never had this dish before and she looooved it. If you're looking for Thai food in the area - look no further."

Teni East Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.3 (490) • $$

"Oh my goodness! This place was amazing! If we lived closer we would eat here all the time! Everything we ordered was so flavorful from the green beans with tofu to the tea leaf salad to the coconut rice. What I was especially impressed by was their tea leaf salad...I didn't expect a kale based salad but it was AMAZING and I was surprised to find that I even prefer it this way. Highly recommend!"

Bar Cesar

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (880) • $$

"This review is all about updating the happy hour pricing images. ;)Happy hour food costs have doubled since my last visit. (No judgement! Food costs are up everywhere. ) Great food. Love the environment, staff and location too!"

Jo's Modern Thai

★★★★☆ 4.3 (464) • $$

"Note this review is for a meal we had before the news of the sudden departure of the chef. So sad to hear of this news, what a great loss for Oakland and this neighborhood. I read the article from former staff. I am shocked. I don't want to support a restaurant that mistreats staff. Sanitation issues, so many other things that show a lack of integrity from the top...you'll have to read the article yourself. I have to say, the customer service we received from staff was great, and the food was great...where it goes from here on out though, no one knows. Hope they can get it right, clearly many locals love this place. The food was so tasty! This place has been on our list to try ever since it opened and for my brother's birthday we finally made the visit! Our family of four shared everything family style (the best part about going out with a group is you get to sample a little bit of everything). And although we were a little shocked at the smaller than expected portions, we were actually quite full at the end! I do recommend family style for this place. Here's what we shared:-Crunchy Catfish Salad: shockingly small portion and the catfish was unexpectedly served in a crumble style instead of chunks of meat as I imagined it would, and a little too sour for me but it was still delicious and definitely earned it's name--crunchy! Due to the sour nature of this dish, I would not recommend anyone order this as their main, definitely share it.-Massaman Curry: vegan dish, sweet, sauce was so good we asked for more rice to finish off the sauce; although it was good I'd probably go for a meat curry next, as a carnivore I did miss my meat in my curry.-Drunken Noodles: loved the smokiness, sweet flavor, brisket was cooked just right (medium rare); glad I shared this dish because I think the smokiness could get overwhelming had I had the entire plate to myself-Stir Fried Japanese Eggplant: tasted great but the outer skin was a little tough, wished it was cooked more thoroughly although I can see some other people enjoying itFor dessert:-Blue Rice Pudding w/ Mango Sorbet: so good, my favorite of the two desserts we ordered! I really liked the variety of textures--blue sticky rice, crunchy sticky pandan rice krispies, sorbet, mango pieces. Can never go wrong with mango and really loved the unique pandon rice krispies (I'd seriously purchase a bag of those)!-Corn Sundae: very unique, sweet & salty flavor profile; don't order if you don't like any sort of bitterness (the mock fish sauce was a little bitter, similar to bitters in a drink). I'm a big creamy corn milk fan, less of a coconut fan. I felt like the corn part was a little overshadowed by the other flavors. But that might just be me, my brother said this was his favorite of the two.Birthday boy got the Samarai Sun cocktail, which he liked! I tried a sip, and it was really refreshing and light. Would make for a great summer drink. The cocktail menu is pretty expansive, so many flavor combos that I'd love to come back to try. Great customer service. No birthday specials, but they kindly put a candle on the dessert that we ordered. Seating is pretty limited, and busy even on a weeknight. Note that they do take reservations, so it would be a good idea to make one in advance. Since we didn't make one, we were given the outdoor patio seating, basically coffee table seating, but within 5 minutes of sitting down to study the menu another table opened up and they offered that to us! The place is very modern/hip, and the unique asian fusion flavors on the menu reflects that. Didn't realize it was in the 2024 Michelin Guide until we got there. It's rated Bib Gourmand, which means quality food for a reasonable price. Not sure what the future holds for Jo's now that staff and chef are gone. We will be following the head chef Intu-On Kornnawong and where she goes next (I hope she stays local)!!"

Casa Del Toro

★★★★☆ 4.2 (483) • $$$

"Started skeptical because it was dead inside, but then assumed that this was due to it being a holiday weekend. Ordered the glazed pork ribs, gambas, and calamari off of the starter menu; again not expecting anything spectacular. WOW food was elevated and finger licking delicious! We also ordered two cocktails and they were top shelf...not at all watered down, had all the garnishes and proper ice for what we ordered. Support this local diamond in the ruff, you won't be disappointed! Only suggestions and not a necessity. Turn up the thermostat a tad. Chop up cashews and sprinkle on the top of the ribs instead of serving them whole-whole makes them a little misplaced. PS: very friendly staff!"

Oeste Bar & Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.8 (567) • $$

"If there's any place, I would recommend anyone to go to for brunch in Oakland it would be Oeste. I really enjoyed the energy in there and the food was packed with flavor. The rice and beans were to die for. My favorite thing there is the whole fried fish and baby Ceasar???? he was all about that salad (add the grilled chicken, trust me)"

Lara’s Fine Dining

★★★★☆ 4.2 (452) • $$

"We were out the way visiting friends and wanted a nice place to go to for quality appetizers and drinks, and boy, was I upset I hadn't met Lara early lol. We went in on a late afternoon/early evening Friday. The crowd hadn't started and the sun was an hour from sunset. Set at a window table right next to the water and our cocktail orders were taken immediately. From there we decided on shrimp cocktail, fresh oysters, coconut shrimp , artichoke dip and steak strips for appetizers. The taste of freshness was in every bite in all of the seafood. The cocktail sauce they serve should be bottled up and sold in stores. I'm not a big fan of coconut shrimp but I will eat it from Lara's any day of the week! Making it a point to return to try their dinner menu as well."

JP's Family Restaurant & Sports Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.8 (526) • $$

"I originally drafted this review but forgot to post it. I visited JP's for the first time on October 26, 2024, and I can't believe I hadn't noticed this spot before. It's definitely a hidden gem that everyone should check out. The food was pretty good overall, but the fried pancake oh my gosh, 10/10! (I forgot to get a picture)We came after a hike, and while it was somewhat busy, we didn't have to wait to be seated. However, I got the feeling that if we had arrived after 11 a.m. the place would have been packed. By the time we were finishing up, the restaurant was definitely filling up, which tells me it's a popular spot. I highly recommend checking it out, and I'd definitely go back!"

The Bureau 510

★★★★☆ 3.8 (523) • $$

"I have been a few times and this is the spot for watching sports, get togethers, or date nights! Good foods with an expanded menu featuring Thai foods and a Yakitori HH. The vibe is chill and foods are high quality. My experience with the waiters/service has been fantastic- they were hard working, helpful, and efficient. Just a hop-skip away from IKEA and Emeryville shopping, so definitely worth trying if you are in the area. Highly recommend!"

Hotsy Totsy Club

★★★★☆ 4.1 (403) • $$

"The FUNNEST place to pit stop after a day of travel. Great cocktails. Chill, funky vibe. Lots of local flavor in the neighborhood."

El Portal Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.8 (465) • $$

"Mexican food is my favorite and El Portal was a win all around. It was recommended to me by a friend and I wanted to try it for myself. It wasn't very busy (I went on a weekday), but I've heard about their weekend brunch which is supposed to be pretty popular. I had their crispy tacos and devoured the entire thing. The shells were very crunchy, didn't break apart, and weren't soggy. I also had a blueberry daiquiri that was very good. The ambiance was pretty chill but I can see it being more lively on a busier day. Overall really enjoyed the food and can't wait for my next visit."

Blue Sakana Blackhawk

★★★★☆ 3.5 (489) • $$

"This treasure is fortunately close to home and we try to dine there once a week! The fish is always super fresh and they have an extensive choice of delicious Japanese specialties. Happy attentive servers and the ambiance is 5 star inside as well as their dining area outside by the lake."

Frida's Mexican Grill

★★★★☆ 3.8 (411) • $$

"Well, I'm new to Napa and I've been wanting to try this place. I found out that they show the NFL, unfortunately, they just show whatever game is on network TV. I found out after I ordered breakfast.First of all, the ambiance is very cool. Paintings of Frida cover the walls and the decor is on point.The staff are friendly and fast, no monkeying around here. I ordered the huevos con chorizo. It was delicious. It came with a side of frijoles and rice, also delicious. I got a side of crema and verde salsa. It was a treat for the taste buds. I had the flour tortillas, also delicious. I highly recommend Fridas. I will be back."

Sobre Mesa

★★★★☆ 4.1 (350) • $$

"The ambiance was nice with cool colored lights and many plans, it's a fun little spot to hangout. The service was courteous and friendly. 5/5Initially, the plan was just to grab drinks, but we ended up ordering the patatas bravas, which were tasty. We'll definitely return to try more of the food menu. 4/5However, the drinks were a bit difficult to enjoy due to their overly harsh flavors, which took a very long time to make. 1/5"

The Saap Avenue

★★★★☆ 4.3 (314) • $$

"Delicious food and friendly service! We came as a group of three friends. Reservations were easy to make online. The ambiance is funky inside with interesting art work to look at. All the food looked good and tasted good. Their medium spicy is quite spicy lol so be conservative when they ask you want spice level you want! Great spot for friends catching up. I would love to check out their happy hour next time - it's only at the bar! The bar was crowded when we went - and the savings looked worth it so I get why! The bar for happy hour looks perfect for couples/parties of two."

Branch Line Bar

★★★★★ 4.5 (285) • $$

"One of my favourite bars in the East Bay!!Alisa (sp) and Ali are two very welcoming and cool bartenders. They make you feel welcome and both have very funny stories and make funny comments. Of course, they are both masters of making great cocktails too! Hounourable mention: I forget the manager's name, but he is a nice guy. Great job Branch Line!"

La Penca Azul

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (514) • $$

"This restaurant was just okay. Parking was plentiful and didn't have a wait. The wait staff was the best part of the restaurant. They were constantly checking in to see if I needed anything. Food was mediocre at best. Not a ton of flavor with the price tag that it comes with. Also, when it comes to the chips and salsa, chips were stale and salsa was bland and too watery. Unfortunately will not be returning."

5 Tacos and Beers

★★★★☆ 3.7 (407) • $$

"Brunch is AMAZING!! We had chilaquiles with house made chorizo INCREDIBLE and pork tamales with a lemon sauce and eggs DELICIOUS. Both came with black beans and guacamole and salsa. So WONDERFUL. The server was so kind and friendly. Beautiful seating outside on such a nice day. They also had cafe de olla which is a FANTASTIC cinnamon coffee."

Cornerstone Craft Beer & Live Music

★★★★☆ 3.6 (427) • $$

"Can't believe I've never been here. Beyond amazing to see a live show. Show up early, regular tap house with good food and a great bar. Outside patio, great staff, then walk into a great live venue with great acoustics.Big time fun with a small music venue vibe.Can't wait to go back"

Sliver Pizzeria - Fremont

★★★★☆ 4.4 (285) • $$

"We've been here twice. The first time we had such great pizza, we told everyone! But I don't know if they believed us because 1. this is a vegetarian pizza spot or 2. because they didn't want to make the drive to Fremont. Walking into the restaurant, it's nice! Large windows, plenty of tables (some outside), and even booths (you gotta have luck to get one of those). The service here is great. They were so patient with us while we were trying to decide. They have daily specials that you can even buy by the slice. The first time we went, we shared an elote pizza. SO GOOD. I dream about this pizza. I rave about this pizza. The dough is nice with enough chew. The pizza toppings make you not miss meat and the flavors are exquisite! The second time we went, we got half potato pizza and half mushroom. The potato pizza I enjoyed. The rosemary was a nice addition to the pizza. My husband said the mushroom pizza was good, but he was expecting a little more *something*. We also ordered the corn and waffle fries. I felt the corn was missing flavors. The waffle fries, although crunchy, were very salty. We really do like their green sauce for the pizza!"

Mariscos La Costa

★★★★☆ 4.1 (321) • $$

"Absolutely DevineFun outdoor atmosphere with a pretty wall painting Felt like eating with the food truck setting with very authentic Mexican fare and seating area is clean and you can enjoy the interesting international blvd scene The tostada was very fresh and crispy with the shrimp ceviches toppings no excellent fresh tomato's and onions add extra crunch The spicy pork was very flavorful definitely need to return"

Brix & Craft

★★★★★ 4.6 (254) • $$

"This establishment from food, to craft cocktails, to service, music selection & ambiance has been nothing but outstanding! The selection of food & craft cocktails is amazing. The drink I got is Luna Amore & it literally stole my heart. You can tell the mixologists really have perfected the taste of every drink.Now the service, also very exceptional! Brayden is who took care of us, & he was so attentive & answered all of our questions. (Good service isn't easy to come by these days so HUGE kudos to him.) Will definitely be coming back for the service & drinks."

Co Nam

★★★★☆ 3.9 (352) • $$

"We did the Chef Table for my wife's birthday and it was a phenomenal 6 course experience. The couple who run the operation take the time to come out and explain every drink and every course. We enjoyed the whole experience from the food to the service and will be back again for sure."