In an area known for wineries and wine bars, Solano Cellars is a mecca for Bay Area oenophiles who sit at the imposing wood bar and sample a dazzling array of wines from around the world. A staff of refreshingly unpretentious wine experts can guide you through the selection and help you find just the vintage you were looking for. The shop attached is tiny, but what they do not have on display can be fetched from the seemingly bottomless wine cellar. To enhance the wine, an ever-changing appetizer and dessert menu, designed with wine in mind, is offered. There is a strict prohibition on cell phones.
This favorite is full of congenial spirits (both the drinks and the regulars), fish and chips and some of the best in local and Irish bands. Enjoy over two dozen beers on tap, including an impressive selection of local brews and ales, as well as the usual suspects (Guinness, Rolling Rock). There is a small dance floor that fills up during live performances, but also features locals who jump on in for folk dancing. Traditional Irish dance lessons are held on Mondays, and Happy Hour lasts from opening to 7p.
Rustic and romantic, Freehouse is a haunt for the beer lover in you. The interior of this beer garden is made to look like a cozy living room; it is furnished with intimate seating spaces and the fireplace keeps patrons warm on colder evenings. Yellow lights and timber-clad walls give this place an old-school look. The outdoor seating in the spacious courtyard lets larger groups dine under the bright California sun. At Freehouse, the menu is ever changing but classics like Beer Poached Mussels, the house salad and Chicken Pot Pie never go out of style. Limited but potent cocktails are on offer along with beers sourced from eminent breweries.
This place has been serving up traditional pub fare, a few gourmet treats and lots of smiles in this congenial "publick" house atmosphere since 1981. If you are looking for a quick meal, want to catch a game on the television in the corner, or are just looking for a spirited good time, it is here. Sit at one of the tall tables or at the huge wood bar. The high ceilings and tall windows keep this place from falling into the dark, smoky sports bar category. Find dozens of beers on tap and a full bar. The menu features old standards like nachos and cheesy potato skins as well as the huge Henry's Burger.
Cafe Van Kleef is located right in the heart of Oakland's Uptown neighborhood. The theme of Van Kleef is unconventional and all about the quirky artwork everywhere. The specialty at Van Kleef's is their Greyhound - a drink of vodka with grapefruit juice, which you can watch them squeezing fresh at almost any given point during the night. On most nights in the week, the bar plays live jazz music. Certain nights come with a cover charge so be sure to check details before you head here.
The retro luxuriousness of Bimbo's 365 Club's interior adds unexpected character to the venue. A wide variety of artists perform here, from local talent to major-label superstars on international tours. Past headliners have included the Detroit Cobras, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, They Might Be Giants, Seu Jorge, Aimee Mann and the Flaming Lips. Weekly Wing nights fill the floor with Charleston-ing zoot-suiters, accentuating the original plush crimson curtains of Bimbo's 1931 opening.
San Francisco Champagne society is a a bar located in the Civic Center neighborhood. It is a only by reservation bar where you can enjoy a wide range of champagne and wines from across borders and time. To enjoy a calm evening in company of friends or strangers and delicious champagne, visit San Francisco Champagne society.
Montesacro Pinseria Romana Enoteca has created quite a name for itself for its unique offerings of Roman-style pizzas called 'pinsa'. Light and crisp in texture, pinsa is low in fat and calories offering a superior quality of dough with high-digestive features. Along with pizzas, the menu features exciting salads, sandwiches, paninis, characuterie and other Italian-inspired dishes. Excellent wines and beers can be combined with the food that adds to the experience. The industrial vibe of the restaurant complete old-brick ovens and rustic wooden tables offer a casual vibe perfect for deep conversations over great food and drinks.
Wine Down is a great spot for an after-work drink or even for bringing in the weekend with your friends. Its white-washed interiors and cozy atmosphere set a perfect tone for the place. Owned by two passionate oenophiles, the bar is known for their unique selection of beverages which are procured from wineries close to home. They also keep rotating their collection thus offering something new on every visit. Moreover, there's delectable food to sample along with those succinct wines.
Sláinte, the Gaelic word for "cheers" or "to your health", is a good name for this traditional Irish Pub located in Jack London Square. The interiors feature a lot of dark wood, exposed brick walls, copper accessories and fixtures and the Irish colors. Above a cozy fireplace, you will find a portrait of James Joyce, while other walls have ones of Oscar Wilde. The pub hosts traditional Irish musicians and quiz nights. The food menu is small but features traditional Irish delicacies. Irish breakfast is available all day with dishes such as black and white pudding (imported from Ireland), eggs and boxty, and Irish bacon or sausage. The bar menu features classic cocktails, spirits, beers, and Irish whiskeys. Guinness is available on tap, and you might want to down traditional drinks such as Magners Irish Cider and Smithwick's Ale.