Wine Bars

The owners of this natural wine-focused bar, restaurant, and bottle shop, Lisa Costa and D.C. Looney, have a lifetime of experience. They’ve worked at nine wineries together, initially meeting at one in Sonoma. Their establishment, located in Uptown, Oakland’s misleading term for downtown, attracts a lively after-work clientele that participate in competitions to name wines in blind tasting flights. Those who can solve all three puzzles don’t have to pay! A dozen themed flight selections (reds, orange wines, Georgian bottlings) are offered, as are roughly 25 wines by the glass from bottles located in a climate-controlled, walk-in cellar across from the bar.

CDP

James Syhabout has helped put Oakland on the gastronomy map. His main restaurant, Commis, has two Michelin stars. In 2017, he took over the other half of the building on Piedmont Avenue to establish this considerably more inexpensive wine bar also located in Oakland. Some of the award-winning Commis menu is also available here, including a five-course menu for around $75. The restaurant tries not to reuse the same ingredient again in the course of a meal. Similarly, in wine pairings, he strives never to use the same variety or place of origin twice. “You find some unexpected, but amazing pairings that way,” Mark Guillaudeu, the drinks director explains. 

Restaurants with excellent wine lists

Shelley Lindgren, co-owner/wine director of the famed San Francisco Italian restaurant, has won a James Beard Award for the wine list with a Southern Italian emphasis. She spent the summer exploring wineries along the Naples-to-Bari route (after which the restaurant is called) in preparation for a book, The New Italian Wine. Sommelier Noah Kenoyer, a winemaker with Blue Ox Wine Co., assists diners in navigating the extensive list. There are 200 reds, 125 whites, and 25 rosés to choose from, many of which are produced by tiny wineries using lesser-known grape varietals.

Shinmai

Yingji Huang, who was born in China, collaborated with Andy Liu to bring his passion for all things Japanese to this restaurant, which is located in the district behind City Hall. There is no signage, as is customary in Huang’s favorite neighborhood of Tokyo, the Roppongi district. A sleek, well-stocked bar sits to the left of a mural depicting kimono-clad women in traditional geisha makeup. 

The California wines pair well with the sophisticated interpretations of traditional Japanese izakaya meals. There’s also a modest but potent saké menu, which includes cedar keg-aged examples from Kyoto and marigold yeast-accented Amabuki.  If you’re looking for a pre-dinner drink, choose the classic Old Fashioned, which is prepared with shochu and Mars Iwai whisky.

Wine Shops

Minimo

Minimo translates as “minimal,” and it refers to both the design and the wine styles available. This wine shop, located near the Oakland waterfront square named after local hero, novelist Jack London, offers a selection of natural wines from the Old World. Georgia and Austria are strongly represented, as are producers from New World countries, such as North America and Australia. There are also plenty of wines for around $20.

Oakland Yard

Max Davis and Daniel Schmidt met while working at a wine shop in Brooklyn, New York. In Temescal, they then opened a business that combines the raw and the polished. A lumberyard and a restaurant specializing in upscale mac and cheese are among the neighbors. Expect classic European wines and Californian bottles well-known to insiders. The Instagram page provides info for the frequent early-evening flight tastings, which often spill out onto the terrace.

Urban Wineries

Brooklyn West

Though Brooklyn and Oakland are very different in many ways, both have attracted swarms of new people from more expensive zip codes across the river. The winery really knows their reds, sourcing grapes from farms in Northern California and Amador. It produces Tempranillos and Barberas that are refined and well-balanced. Its Zinfandels are jammy and huge, but they’re also delicate. The wines are served in its tasting room, which is situated in a refurbished old factory on the waterside. 

Prima Materia

The name of this micro-winery is comes from the Latin for the raw material that alchemists wanted to convert into the philosopher’s stone. Their purpose was to harness this fabled ingredient to transform base metals into gold. This winemaker hopes to turn grapes into wine, which is a much more commonplace process, but not without a mysterious element!

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Heinold’s First and Last Chance Saloon

This Oakland institution may seem out of place at first. It’s built of weathered wooden planks and sits in the middle of Jack London Square. Between the quirky decor inside and the sunny patio, this is a bar you won’t want to miss. If you want to sit at the antique slanted bar, just remember to keep a hold on your drink.

Sobre Mesa

Nelson German, whose seafood restaurant Alamar is just a few blocks away, has opened his first bar. Sobre Mesa, like his restaurant, is influenced by his Dominican and African-American roots. It features native plants, Haitian rums, and bar foods like bacalao fritters and empanadas. Classic cocktails such as Manhattans are served, but the big sellers are the tropical drinks sold by the pitcher. Try the passionfruit paloma made with blanco tequila, orange liqueur, passion fruit, grapefruit juice, and lime.

Make Westing

Make Westing is always a safe choice for your Friday night cocktail bar of choice here in Oakland. Hang out with a youthful crowd, play Bocce Ball, and drink a fantastic cocktail. Make some friends, drink, and don’t forget to devour an inordinate amount of complimentary habanero popcorn.

Viridian

The cocktail bar in uptown Oakland had a bad start: it launched in February 2020, just a month before the first closure. Over the last year, they’ve transitioned from a bottle shop to a takeout cocktail bar to a bakery. However, as the pandemic fades in the Bay Area, the trendy, neon-lit establishment with Asian American-inspired beverages, nibbles, and desserts is now getting its due. It has become a firm favorite for the newly vaccinated who are finally returning to indoor drinking.

Café Van Kleef’s

While it can be difficult to hear yourself speak when the crowds arrive before and after shows at the Fox Theater, it’s easy to keep yourself occupied admiring the distinctive decor inside Café Van Kleef’s. If you’re going to a performance at the Fox, present your ticket to get a discount on drinks. Be sure to try one of their legendary greyhounds, made with freshly squeezed grapefruit juice. But be careful not to drink too many; they are deceptively strong!

Heart and Dagger

Don’t be put off by the tattoos, loud rock music or the leather. While comparing Heart and Dagger to Zeitgeist isn’t completely accurate, this biker bar is a close cousin to the San Francisco establishment. Having said that, it is unquestionably friendlier. How can you go wrong with a dog-friendly patio, pinball, pool, and video games?

Friends and Family

The bar and back patio of this inviting sanctuary on 25th Street are filled with plants, delicious drinks, and natural wine. Owner Black Cole, a long-time beverage professional who launched the bar with an all-female staff just as the outbreak began, creates the cocktails. Now that it’s reopened, the move is to order shrimp cocktail to go with a “grandma’s standard” drink of gin, dry vermouth, and a twist.

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Actual Coffee

This community café in Oakland’s Golden Gate area has something for everyone. It’s a popular venue for coffee, lunch, dinner, and brunch. Actual invites artists, cyclists, and musicians and helps the community by supporting the development of sustainable solutions. On weekends, they’re laptop-free  to create a lively environment for people to interact. What distinguishes Actual Cafe is their celebration of community as well as their participation in it.

Timeless Coffee Roasters

Coffee Roasters that have stood the test of time
Timeless Coffee Roasters proudly roasts their coffees in-house and serves some of Oakland’s greatest java drinks. It’s one of the locals’ favourite cafés due to their great coffee quality and extensive breakfast menu.

Blue Bottle Coffee

Another popular cafe in the Bay Area is Blue Bottle Coffee. The iconic blue bottle logo looms large in this establishment, and they always serve a fresh cup of coffee here since they only use in-house roasted beans from the previous two days. Come to Blue Bottle for a fresh cup of coffee and to unwind in their modern and spacious environment.

Bicycle Coffee

What began as a one-man coffee shop on a bike has now grown into a full-fledged coffee shop. Their highly regarded coffees are now available in their shop in downtown Oakland, and you can even purchase some of their beans there to make your own brews at home. They create some great ice cold coffees here, and you can even bring your own growler to fill up with their ice coffees!

Cole Coffee

Cole Coffee has been a fixture in the Oakland cafe scene for nearly two decades. Their longevity can be attributed to their freshly roasted beans and the lively ambience of their cafés. Why not relax on one of their sofas where you can have enjoy a good read whilst drinking a cup of your favourite brew. A great place to meet up with some friends. 

Modern Coffee

Modern Coffee, which has a few outlets in Oakland, has established itself as a dependable source of good coffee. It sources their beans from some of America’s greatest roasters and prepares your coffee to order rather than in batches.  It’s definitiely the place to go for your favourite made-to-order coffee beverage.

Coloso

This small café is a relative newcomer to the coffee scene in Oakland. Coloso Coffee is moving away from pour over drip coffees in favor of batch brewed drip coffee and espresso. Jose Posadas and Renzo Gianella, the founders, strive to value their customers’ time by serving rapid cups and keeping open seven days a week. Coloso also provides pastries from San Francisco’s Sandbox Bakery. The smaller space of the cafe has a minimalist atmosphere and d espite its small size, has a warm and easygoing vibe.

Farley’s

Farley’s takes pride in its community influence and uses its shop as a venue to assist local businesses. Mnay locals consider it to be Oakland’s most welcoming and accepting coffee shop, supporting everything from local artists to non-profits. It’s not uncommon to see a community workshop taking place at Farley’s, so make yourself at home here.

Awaken Cafe

This cafe’s walls are covered with the work of local artists, and it hosts open mic evenings. It has been a neighborhood treasure for over a decade!

It’s more than simply a café though. It also features an award-winning espresso bar, a beer and wine bar, and an event space.

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Original Pattern Brewing Company

While their surreal taps may have you wondering if you were abducted by aliens, Original Pattern Brewing Company’s beer will return you back to Earth. Their  barleywine has the unmistakeable taste of cookies. The smoked coffee porter will have you wondering if beer can be counted as breakfast. Original Pattern allows guests to reserve cans online if you don´t want to miss out on a limited run.  This comes in handy as they regularly runs out of stock as soon as it is released.

Drake’s Brewing

It’s impossible to discuss breweries in Oakland without mentioning Drake’s. This craft-brewing legend first served its brews in 1989 and has steadily grown since. Their acclaimed IPAs, notably the omnipresent Best Coast label and the infamous Denogginizer, are legendary. Drake’s flagship brewpub in San Leandro, which borders Oakland to the south, boasts food that is almost worth the journey by itself. But, if you can’t make it, drop by Drake’s Dealership in Oakland. In the outdoor beer garden, you’ll find fantastic food, great excellent beer, and proper vibes.

Temescal Brewing

Temescal Brewing has a lot going for it. To begin, they provide an impressive mix of accomplished classic styles, such as their altbier and the super smooth coffee porter. Then there are the more contemporary recipes that showcase a lot of flavor and personality. Their white ale with apricot and orange, known as the Forever Sun, is a masterclass in harmony of its elements. As the ingredients linger on your tongue, each sip adds more and more depth. Whilest they are primarily a brewery, there is always at least one food truck on hand to keep your hunger at bay. If the food truck does not appear, Temescal provides complimentary freshly popped popcorn. Crowlers are also available if you want to take away any of their beers you have enjoyed on tap .

Ghost Town Brewing

West Oakland isn’t exactly buzzing, which might be where Ghost Town gets their name. With fifteen taps though, there’s enough beer to last a whole afterlife. The Cat Hoarder nitro milk stout is smooth and rich, whilst the Locrian pale ale is one of the best in the San Francisco Bay Area. Be sure to grab the four-pack of the latter if it’s in the fridge. Ghost Town really is the place to go if you’re a ghoul yearning for a good time.

Ale Industries

For almost a decade, Ale Industries has been one of the best breweries in Oakland. Throughout that period, their primary concept has remained the same: to show people how diverse beer can be. They have a great selection of hoppy beers as well as crisp/clean beers for the more traditional palate. But it’s until you start digging into their strange stuff that you realize this spot is really special. Take, for example, their raw ale, which is created with gin-inspired ingredients. It’s aromatic and unusual,and completely captures what makes this brewery special.

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