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.
Bender's is a Mission District legend. Firebombed into oblivion in 2006, its valiant founders rallied the troops, and with a cavalcade of community support, reopened just a year and half later, bigger and better than ever. Some choice burnt-to-a-crisp fire wreckage are kept around as "trophies" of the place's victory over tragedy, you will love watching it. Comfy booths surround the pool table and the grill, which is operated by the folks at Weird Fish.
This friendly neighborhood saloon is conveniently located right next to Lake Merritt in the Lakeshore district of Oakland. Come and enjoy the casual atmosphere inside and out as Heart & Dagger features a charming garden patio perfect for hanging out with friends on a nice day. Don't forget to take advantage of the jukebox, pool table, tabletop Pacman and several pinball games. The saloon often hosts "theme" nights and features various drink specials throughout the week. Please note Heart & Dagger is cash only.
Merchant's boasts that it has been "poisoning Oakland since 1916." This is definitely your ultimate dive bar. Located just blocks from Oakland's historic Jack London Square, Merchant's got its start as a sailor bar in the early 20th Century. Now its where hipsters, punks and all lovers of cheap beer, fun times and stripper poles hang out. Merchant's also hosts various "alternative" shows that are not necessarily for the faint of heart. If you're looking for the opposite of a fancy night out, Merchant's is the place for you.
The Kona Club is located on Oakland's Piedmont Avenue. Kona is your classic tiki bar, complete with wooden tribal masks, dancing hula girl, working volcano and an interior that makes you feel like you're on the inside of a woven hut. A big hut. At Kona you can get everything you would expect from a tiki bar, little paper umbrellas, fruity drinks (a few of them flaming), and of course, the ubiquitous Scorpion Bowl for several people...or one really, really brave one. The bar has a pool table and a spacious back room, so its perfect for any occasion that you feel like making more festive. After all, it is hard to be depressed in a tiki bar.
The Hotsy Totsy Club may be the oldest running bar in Albany, but don't get the idea that this place is in any way passé. On the contrary, they offer some of the most inventive and high quality cocktails you'll find in the Bay Area. With walls covered in quirky art and vintage videos, Hotsy Totsy isn't as pretentious as it may appear. The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed, with unique weekly and monthly events catering to their low-key East Bay crowd. On Tuesdays they serve free bowls of homemade stew, and on Thursdays through Sundays a taco truck sells delicious and inexpensive food in the parking lot.
Danville's charming neighborhood watering hole, Revel Kitchen & Bar is an ideal spot for a cozy meal. With booth and high-seated tables along with a streetside seating, the restaurant's relaxed setting comes alive with enthusiastic patrons. Serving bar snacks and small plates, the food menu also comprises mains for those with a bigger appetite. Lamb Sliders, Hummus Plates, and Meatball Sandwiches are some of the delicacies offered on their menu. An impressive wine list and a wide array of draft beer allow you to choose your favorite liquor. Sip on your glass of wine or beer and enjoy the delicious pub grub at this convivial restaurant.
Bender's is a Mission District legend. Firebombed into oblivion in 2006, its valiant founders rallied the troops, and with a cavalcade of community support, reopened just a year and half later, bigger and better than ever. Some choice burnt-to-a-crisp fire wreckage are kept around as "trophies" of the place's victory over tragedy, you will love watching it. Comfy booths surround the pool table and the grill, which is operated by the folks at Weird Fish.
An arcade gaming enthusiast and beer guzzler's paradise, Buzzworks offers the best of both worlds. Featuring over 40 tap beers and 100 bottled/can beersm this craft beer haven is perfect to catch a late evening or night game with friends and colleagues over some flavorsome beers and delcious finger food. This sports bar has multiple HDTVs mounted on walls all over the premises to give you the best game experience. This apart, there are 7 pin ball machines, 2 full-size pool tables and a foosball table to let you satiate your inner arcade game demon. This sports bar offers happy hours and free entry for everyone above the age of 21, which is also the age limit for entering.
This is a neighborhood kind of place with all types of people coming in to hang out and drink, of course. You can enjoy one of the many beers on tap or one of the special cocktails. This place is usually bustling with people on the last day of the weekend. The service is friendly and you may end up chatting with the bartender or the owner. A great place to socialize and meet friends.
Opened in 1947 by Hank, a former wrestler and Ralph, a former boxer, Ha-Ra Club has been the mainstay of the neighborhood for a good part of a century. The interiors look a lot like a 60's living room with antiques and memorabilia, reminiscent of the past. This iconic dive bar ticks all your boxes starting off with liquor, a jukebox and a pool table. The prices here are sort of retro too, with affordable price tags on food and drinks that are served to you by your personal bartender. Do check out the jukebox stocked with famous songs from each decade.
This nondescript bar conveniently located in the Tendernob looks quite staid from its facade, however inside, the bartenders expertly craft cocktails to San Franciscans in the know. The atmosphere is casual. A couple of featured cocktails are the the Hemingway Daiquiri and the Basil Gimlet, both are delicious or you can order a perfect Martini or Manhattan just the same. They have a pool table as an added bonus or if you prefer, you can relax at the wood paneled bar.