The Yummiest Pubs in Oakland

Johnny's Pub

★★★★☆ 4.3 (49) • $

"Friendly neighborhood dive bar. Rhonda is amazing and their Friday night karaoke with Adonis is not to be missed. Definitely worth a visit."

Brew City Grill

★★★★☆ 4.4 (750) • $$

"I like the atmosphere. However, we must have visited on an off day because our entire party left food on the table. We were one of four tables, so it wasn't busy. Onion rings were greasy. Sandwich was poorly made. Steak was grisly. Pizza arrived at the table with the cheese sliding off one edge. Mushroom burger had few mushrooms. Fries were unevenly salted- one side extra salty, other side unsalted.The curds were great and the only item completely eaten. But the portion seemed less than a full portion when compared with pictures from other yelpers."

19th Street Station

★★★★★ 4.5 (61) • $

"Why is this spot a five star to me? It's one of the oldest in Oakland. It's ran by one man -- owner. Typical old school bar. Only place folks are allowed to smoke cigarettes inside like old days. Inexpensive drinks, great customer service. A lot of history here."

Kensington Circus Pub

★★★★☆ 3.9 (328) • $$

"Kensington Circus Pub is such a hidden gem & most certainly one of our favorite neighborhood places to tuck into. It's not only a fun place to watch a game with friends, but also just for date night to cozy up to the bar for comfort food, a cocktail or freshly poured Guinness, and conversation. Love the British pub feel!Food highlights: corn fritters, thick cut fries, the clam chowder, Caesar salad, Shepherds pie, fish tacos, tuna melt, B.L.A.T. (bacon, lettuce, avocado, tomato), and thick cut pork chop to name a few. As you can see, we've been eating here for a few years - the food is always consistent, fresh, hearty portions, and honestly there's such a variety it keeps the overall ordering experience just so fun!The servers make you feel like family and the ambience is lively, especially when sports are on or live entertainment (check their website for the event calendar). We recently stopped in on a weekend evening for dessert, drinks, and music. They have what's called "England's most popular sticky toffee pudding" with a tagline that reads "so good that we have it flown in"...omg they aren't joking! It's so delicious - warm, in a bath of butterscotch sauce with vanilla ice cream and whip cream...yum!Can't rave about this community joint enough - with indoor/outdoor seating, kiddo/dog approved, ample areas for street parking, we'll see ya again for tunes and toffee pudding soon!"

Up & Under Pub and Grill

★★★★☆ 3.8 (583) • $$

"Gotta love this place! Even a decade later, the food and staff is amazing! The fresh made pastrami and baked potatoes are legit. Now they are serving comfort, homemade Indian food Weds - Sun. Go check them out!"

Firehouse No.1 Gastropub

★★★★☆ 3.9 • $$$

"I went with a group of 7 ladies for drinks and food and everything was delicious. We ordered the cheesesteak, cheeseburger, the ribeye, rosemary garlic chicken, and mac n cheese, mushroom pasta and then a shrimp pasta dish. We made it kind of family style to try everything, and each dish was amazing. I was raving about it to my bf and daughter and I told them they had to try it. Needless to say, I'll be back. The service was great, and we were checked on a lot through our meal. It gets super loud inside, but it's a good place to get together with people."

Out of the Barrel

★★★★☆ 4.3 (231) • $$

"My wife and I love goto the pruneyard for date nights as they have some of the coolest restaurants (Luna, Orchard City Kitchen, ect.) Whenever we goto Luna - there's generally a 20-30+ wait when we arrive so we usually make our way next door to Out of the Barrel for a drink. This place is a small but super cool taproom. There's limited seating inside but the outdoors have plenty of bench and table seating. It's a very friendly and informal environment which makes it very approachable and enjoyable when hanging with great company over a craft beer. Every time I've visited, the bartenders have good and positive energy and will seek you out even through a busy crowd. I used to be an avid beer drinker - primarily IPA's but I have transitioned mainly to wine and whiskey over the last few years. This place sources from independent craft breweries so you'll find some hidden gems that you won't find at your local grocery store. For the wine lovers - while there is a limited selection, I'm just happy that they offer an option for us. They essentially offer one of each type of wine (Pinot noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, ect.) We ordered a bottle of red wine - Cabernet Sauvignon. It was fairly priced and delivered for its priced point. I will point out that red wine typically needs to be stored around 55-65 Fahrenheit. When we got the bottle, the temp felt like it was stored with the beers, just something to note for ownership.Overall, always have a great time here. Perfect place to enjoy company over some drinks and even catch a sports game. They also have craft beer you can purchase to go. Come check this place out!"

IBU Taproom & Bottle Shop

★★★★☆ 4.4 (231) • $$

"Hidden little gem in a random strip mall next to a daycare center. The taproom is connected to a pizza place. They have a large variety of beer, cider and other drinks. Everyone was super friendly and knowledgeable. Plenty of sitting room, large tables, lots of TVs. I would definitely recommend giving this place a try. Casual setting and great vibes."

Lanesplitter Pizza & Pub

★★★☆☆ 3 (335) • $$

"Okay, it's April 1st, 2022, April Fools Day! DoorDash sends me this offer of "40%-off or $9.00 off" any pizza from Lanesplitter Pizza in Emeryville. What? Is this some kind of joke? Hey, I'm taking this deal. But wait, what's up with all these mixed Yelp reviews? Yikes.....oh well, time to earn that Maverick Badge. Ok, so I ordered a 15" Medium Neapolitan Pepperoni Pizza. It arrives in a plain brown box. No coupons, no thank you card. Nothing to try and get repeat business. Also, no free Parmesan cheese or Pepper packets. So it's like a generic pizza. This is not a good sign.So, this is supposed to be an East Coast style pizza. What's that mean?-large slices-thin, crispy crust, sometimes charred-traditional and classic style pizza-made with marinara sauce, mozzarella, and meat/veggie toppingsYes, that's what I received, an East Coast pizza. Big, thin, foldable slices. I warmed up my pizza in the oven for 6-mins @ 400*F. It came out hot, with beautiful colors and good taste. A little on the oily side. I like my pizza with more cheese.When you're hungry, any pizza is good pizza.This pizza was okay, so 3-stars."

Bottle Club Pub

★★★★★ 4.5 (56) • $$

"Great drinks and liquor from around the world! Worthwhile to checkout and to have some fun with friends or co-workers!"

Raleigh's Pub

★★★★☆ 4 (250) • $$

"I was kind of not looking forward to coming here for our work outing, which was at AxeVentures, but I was pleasantly surprised when we arrived. Very clean, bright, and the menu was really extensive! Food was pretty decent, affordable, and had lots of pescetarian and vegetarian options."

St. Stephen's Green

★★★★☆ 3.5 (729) • $$

"St Stephen's Green Mountain View CA Tue 8/22/23Meeting Google Analytics Director for beers! Irish pub I've frequented plenty when I had Mountain View office on Castro!Found my old review! Update time is due!©Silicon Valley Irish Fleadh! Sláinte!My dearest friends don't you forget, It's All In A Day's Work they say! And by that I mean the actual workday From sunrise to waaaay past the sunset!This Tuesday early evening visit we ordered Buffalo wings & Sausage & Colcannon, and drunk beers & Irish whiskey! Celebratory ambiance in the air & people come to enjoy outside patio, play music & sing songs!Space Dust beer, Irish whiskey, life's good!A little bit of business, a tad of relaxation!Stephen's Green offers Super Happy Hour SHH 4-5:30 & Happy Hour HH staggered over it 5:30-6:30. Would you've guessed we stayed through both, you'd be 100% correct!Buffalo wings SHH $13 & HH $13Sausage & Colcannon SHH $13 & HH $22My Space Dust SHH $7 & HH $8Drafts SHH $5 & HH $6Vodka, Gin, Tequila, Whiskey, Scotch, RumSHH $5 & HH $6I do have to bring up one memorable experience from the past! A friend & a colleague celebrated milestone birthday catered by Stephen's Green one summer 7-8 years ago. A scavenger hunt with lunch here, it was fun! Classic simple dishes & I still remember, Mac-n-Cheese, Chicken wings, crispy lettuce salad, good ole beers, great times! Meeting friends & catching up is better nowhere else but at St Stephen's Green! Solid food, reliable service, original charm retained over the years! Lotsa spots on Castro dissipated, this one survives the turbulence of times, because it sticks to its guns! The vibe makes you some back every time!*Well, you're walkin' through a city street, you could be in PeruAnd you hear a distant calling & you know it's meant for youThen you drop what you were doing & you join the merry mobAnd before you know just where you are, you're in an Irish pub!So whether you sing or pull a pint, you'll always have a job'Cause wherever you go around the world you'll find an Irish pub![ Update Review #775 w 4 pix on Aug 24, 2023 ]Sláinte! @Stephen's Green Mountain View CA Tue 8/22/23Silicon Valley Irish Fleadh! @Stephen's Green Mountain View CA Tue 8/22/23Irish Whiskey! @St Stephen's Green Mountain View CA Tue 8/22/23St Stephen's Green Mountain View CA Tue 8/22/23"

Monkey King Pub & Grub

★★★★☆ 3.5 • $$

"My first impressions of Monkey King Pub & Grub were that they are certainly the place to be for late night eating and drinking! Our host/waiter was a very friendly guy who greeted us and we waited a few minutes to be seated at our table. The place was very busy and a bit noisy but that's what to expect since this pub was filled with families and friends who were there to get their "Grub-On"!!! By the looks of things at other tables there were quite a few dishes that looked really good and delicious...this being my first time there my friend and I ordered their Wonton Soup (we ordered extra Wonton), an order of Garlic Noodles, Spicy/Sweet Korean Style Chicken Wings, Mango Lemonade and their Lychee Lemonade. Everything that we ordered was delicious especially the Korean Style Chicken Wings...they were Tangy and Sweet just the way we like them."

Old Ship Saloon

★★★★☆ 3.9 (442) • $$

"This place is a gem Friendly staff, super niceOpen lateFood was outstanding Great atmosphere vibe Highly recommend"

Casements

★★★★☆ 4.4 (126) • $$

"Great spot for live music and spontaneous whiskey tastings. The outdoor seating is lovely and it gets loud but not too rowdy. The staff has always been very kind and the drinks are solid."

Hop Oast Pub & Brewery

★★★★★ 4.7 (43)

"Cute neighborhood pub with great beer and a cozy atmosphere. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable. They have more food than I was expecting as well which mainly includes sausages. I got the beer pickled veggies and the pretzel to snack on. Both were tasty and good pairings for the beer. There are also a good assortment of games available for patrons if you want to play while you drink. I just wish I lived close so this could be my neighborhood spot!"

Triple Rock Brewery & Ale House

★★★★☆ 3.7 • $$

"My friends and I came here to attend a friend's band's concert. Hubby dropped my friend and I off and another couple of friends drove but had a hard time finding parking on a Friday night so they parked in a lot. This is a humongous place with two big rooms and a rooftop with seating. I hadn't eaten dinner so using the QR code on the table, you can order drinks and meal and/or appetizers and pay on your phone, very convenient! They have a huge menu! We had a Diamond Dealer moscow mule, beer, cheese croquettes, fried brussel sprouts, a basket of french fries and a buttermilk fried chicken sandwich with coleslaw. The drinks and food came out pretty quickly and there is plenty of seating inside the venue. I thoroughly enjoyed the Diamond drink, along with the crispy french fries and fried chicken sandwich. Next time, I'll try one of their beers since it is a brewery!"

Mission Bar

★★★★☆ 4 (246) • $

"I honestly loved this place! The music wasn't too loud so my friend and I could easily chat and catch up. We stayed for 4 hours and there were always people around but it wasn't bustling.We each got two drinks and both were tasty and strong. The prices are also unheard of: $10/drink!"

The Factory Bar

★★★★☆ 4 (184) • $$

"The updated menu has just the drink you need this holiday season and the patio outside has heaters so you can visit with friends while you let the stress of world go by."

Shotwell's

★★★★☆ 4.3 (255) • $

"First time coming out to this place and it was great!Went on a Friday after work and wanted to decompress after a heavy week before the holidays. They have great beers on tap and the vibes are awesome. Jukebox, pool, pinball can all be found here as well. Bar tender made the night awesome TY!"

Gestalt

★★★★☆ 3.9 (528) • $

"This was my first time in Gestalt in a couple years, and it feels better than it's ever been. I hear it's under new ownership and it feels like it's getting the refresh it needed. Great beers on tap, fun folks in here watching the Super Bowl, bartenders handling the crowd well, and a really nice selection of modern pinball tables that seem like they were set up by someone who really knows what they're doing. My partner got the soju margarita and did *not* like it...so maybe stick to the beers. Black Knight, Mars Attacks, Foo Fighters, Dr No, and - a clean bathroom! A buck for three balls, woohoo! And there's a pool table now. Haven't tried the food, but I'll be back."

Toronado

★★★★☆ 3.8 • $$

"An institution. A destination. The beer selection is superior. The prices are stellar. The service is efficient. The ambiance is comfy and cozy."

Chris's Club

★★★★☆ 3.6 (51) • $$

"The service was good. The bartender was nice and he be pouring up like it's no tomorrow, lol ....I felt like I was at cheers but nobody knew my name. I went there for poetry night. It was a lil nice hole in the wall and I would go back but the police was pulling everybody over as they left so idk if thats how they get down in Vallejo or if they really call they self "cracking down" idk but I really enjoyed the poetry. Queen Nubian was performing there and she's really good, definitely enjoyed her and the other artists as well."

Billco's Billiards and Darts

★★★★☆ 3.5 (213) • $

"We stopped by Bilco's because it was raining heavily outside. The regulars are friendly and helpful. I imagine if you showed up often, then people will start to recognize you. A kind gentleman who was a customer handed us a piece of chalk for polishing the pool sticks. I came for the pool tables, but didn't order any drinks. There are several pool tables, so you don't need to share with anyone. The price per hour to have the pool balls is a fair $8. You are charged once you turn in your pool balls you checked out. So if you spent less than an hour, then you'll be charged less than the full rate."

Ben 'N Nick's

★★★★☆ 4.3 (82) • $$

"Ben 'N Nick's is one of my favorite places to grab a pint and a quick bite to eat. It's good pub food at a good price point. Service is always super friendly, and there are a few tables outside, if that's your preference (heat lamps don't always work, though). A minor gripe is that aside from salads and a few celery sticks, there are hardly any vegetables on the menu. It's a cash-free establishment."

The Starry Plough

★★★★☆ 4.1 (404) • $$

"Absolutely baller Irish dancing night. I also love that you can stash your bag behind the bar to keep it safe while dancing. Solid beer menu. Didn't try the food."

Seawolf

★★★★☆ 4.1 (299) • $$

"Awesome neighborhood spot. Great place to watch a game and grab a bite in a nice chill, relaxed, atmosphere. Great service and food with outdoor seating.There tacos are awesome here I highly recommend them.Mix n matchem for $10 for 3."

The Valley Tavern

★★★★☆ 4 (334) • $$

"This is my fav bar in Noe Valley!! They have a great, affordable drink menu, lots of seating (tables, booth, bar, and even a gorgeous outdoor space with greenery and TVs in the back with heat lamps!) The bar has a good variety of NA beverages so I'm a big fan! This is a solid spot to watch any big sports game (lots of screens) with a group and actually sit down. On Thursday's there's a Spanish club in the back 6-8pm which is great way to meet folks and grab a drink while practicing Spanish."

The Rake at Admiral Maltings

★★★★☆ 3.8 (119) • $$

"I have been here at least five times and I keep forgetting to write a review. Love this little spot to drop in and grab an ice cold beer, especially in the warmer months... and these pretzels are one of a kind with a honey butter sauce and a beer sauce that are ridiculously delicious. You almost have to get two pretzels one for each of the sauces so you can enjoy both the gluttony is real and yes, they are THAT good.I've legit gone out of my way just to come here and buy six pretzels to share with friends. The seating is grown since the last time I was here inside outside deck, shaded, and Non with a bowl or two spread around for the four-legged friends. Of course, do not bring your four good friends if they are not already trained as there's not a lot of maneuverability when this place is crowded because it's soooo good, it often is.The selection changes and so do some of the staff. This round we didn't have the friendliest server when they brought our food out. Not sure what that was about because we didn't even interact with them previously. However, the person that took our order was incredibly friendly, very helpful and quite knowledgeable about the offerings. His choices were pristine!Great place to visit connect with friends and just hang out in the open air and great weather."

The Bistro

★★★★☆ 4 (236) • $$

"The Bistro has been in downtown Hayward for years! They have live bands on certain nights which is great! They are a cash only bar, but don't fret as they do have an ATM inside. Their beer selection changes as they bring in new bears to try. In my most recent visit I saw they now offer charcuterie boards as a snack as they also have a wine list to choose from. They have plenty of seating inside as well as an outdoor patio to enjoy in a nice day or if you want to bring your dog. The staff is always nice every time I decide to stop in. During SF beer week in February they also have the Double IPA festival where they have over 100 breweries and you can sample their beers for a free. It's a very nice festival to have here in Hayward. If you want some chill vibes, check them out!"

Ryan's Pub

★★★★☆ 4.2 (76) • $$

"Had way too much fun!! Karaoke night was crazy! Nice casual spot, good drinks, nice people. Definitely going back!"