Cafe Van Kleef

It's been years since I've been to the café Van Cleef since I lived in Oakland for about a year and many many many years ago. This used to be the bar that we would visit after barhopping, and it would be one of our last locations of the night.They have a great ambience inside the bar is nice and long lots of different options of drinks to choose from. Sometimes on the weekends they have a live band playing so it's really nice to hear while you're just enjoy enjoying a nice time with your friends and catching up. One of my favorite things about this bar is the lighting you know it's very intimate, relaxing, not bright and just a place to really enjoy a nice cocktail.We had a few cocktails here and did some people watching. I had a beautiful night with friends this is a place that you need to visit at the end of the night from bar hopping or just want a nice relaxing finish to your evening hit up the café Van Cleef.

Hands down the best greyhounds. Fresh grapefruit juice. We had a double and it was smooth and easy to drink. We enjoyed chilling in this bar. Unique atmosphere and friendly bartender. I'll definitely be back!

This is such a cool dive bar, the decor is unlike anything else I've seen before (super random but super unique) and even the tables look cool! The drinks are cheap as well, ranging from $10-12 for their grapefruit themed drinks which come with an actual large slice of fresh grapefruit! The vibes of Cafe Van Kleef were immaculate and made for a great environment to drink and chat. I'd definitely come back.

Killer spot. Great vibes. The grapefruit cocktails and slices are a must try. Will be back again!

A group of friends and I ordered a round of greyhounds late on a Wednesday night. The bar was busy, but not busy enough where it was difficult to get a drink.The bouncer was fun to chat with and our bartender was an angel! The decor in this place is so fun. So many quirky things to look at. The drinks were super delicious! I would absolutely come back here if I'm ever in the area again.

Funny enough, I did not know that this bar existed until I had to wait around to enter the bar next door. So in short, it was a happy coincidence to come across this Oakland staple. Definitely get the grapefruit juice cocktail and add your liquor of choice-- which I chose tequila, and it was excellent. Not super strong, but a refreshing cocktail. They squeeze the juice in front of you at the bar, so you know it's not just the concentrate. It is a bit sticky around here, but I suppose that's what can be expected from a dive bar. Overall though, it's a casual bar, with lots of curiosities to look at. Enjoy!

We love a local watering hole with a signature drink!I first visited to Cafe Van Kleef years ago to try their Greyhound cocktail. I stopped by last Saturday and the drinks were just as delicious as I remembered. I loved seeing the bartender juice gallons of grapefruit to order. The bar is cool, cult-classic, and divey in feel. Great for dates or friends. It is easily accessible by BART and bus. I would 100% come back again!

This bar was such a vibe, but it was overly crowded, especially on weekend nights. It's a small place with a few bar stools, but you really have to squeeze in between people to be able to navigate the place and/or order a drink. They do have outdoor seatings, which I believe they are currently renovating to offer more space. Whether it is outdoor or indoor seating, I think this bar is worth a visit!The decors are quite unique and fascinating. Inside is dark but filled with colorful lights which makes a pleasant vibe to chat and drink. They specialize in greyhound drinks - specifically their Greyhound Classic. It is a vodka drink with freshly squeezed grapefruit juice. I really enjoyed this drink especially because it did not taste like alcohol. The sweetness and freshness of the grapefruit juice really elevate this drink.

What a cool spot!The vibe and the decor was amazing and all the grapefruit drinks I tried were delicious. I'll definitely be coming back again!

One of my favorite dive bars in Oakland. Easy parking after business hours. Attentive bar tenders