Where is the Best College Bar in Oakland, California?
The Lair is a great place to hang out. A central bar surrounded by Cal sports memorabilia. During the school year they have beer’s on the terrace for cheap. And, game days, football or basketball, this is the place to be. Nothing like singing the Cal drinking song with the Cal Band and Oski (Cal’s Mascot) standing on the bar with a straw in a liter of his favorite brew after a game. On thursday nights this bar is a regular stop for the Cal Rugby team and the frat crowd, probably due to the $5 liters. The house brews are good (I love the Porter) and the best deal but there are other local micros, “alternative malts” and wines for those who don’t like beer. The food is good, the pizza and wings are awesome. A must stop if you are in Berkeley for a game or just visiting.Pros + Good Beer, Great Sports Crowd, Cheap BeerCons – Can get crowded
This place fills up on Thursday Nights with Cal students looking for a good time. I have to say that in my undergrad days, I spent many a night there.The food is Pub Grub at its best, burgers, nachos, onion rings and fries. My fav is the avocado bacon and swiss burger. trust me, the food it good.The real story about this place is its wide selection of micros, many of them represented on the walls on hand drawn chalk boards. Though they have intriduced many domestics to their menu there are still many “good beers” to choose from. The pool tables and shuffle board and heated beer garden are also long time favorites. A great spot.Pros + Beer, Food, GamesCons – It gets crowded
Thought that people should know that there is a decent nightclub on this side of the bay. Went out on a Thursday night with three friends, had some drinks (the bartender was excellent!!) then went downstairs to the club. Really good DJ and a diverse crowd. We danced till it hurt, mostly Hip Hop and Pop music…really high energy…it was a really fun night! Pros + music, drinks, peopleCons – , a few strange people
Comfy sofas, tables to gather around, dim, but not dark lighting. Low key attitude. Slightly older crowd than the bars closer to campus. Great selection of mixed drinks (though a little more expensive than some other places in Berkeley, still cheaper than a bar in SF).Pros + comfy sofas!, variety of drinksCons – parking isn’t easy
Located almost across the street from the downtown BART Subway station in Berkeley. I actually know one of the managers and he describes their decor as, “a Cathedral for Beer.” The description is accurate. Pressed tin on the ceiling and walls, big wooden tables and a nice coppertop bar. Ample seating on the ground floor and a large up-stairs area. It is all pretty rustic, with big slab tables and woodwork everywhere.There is a beer garden out back with live jazz a couple times a week and heaters to keep it comfortable.The beer is very good, close to ten house brews. Everything from a Hefe to a stout. My favorite is the porter, robust with hints of Coffee and Chocolate.Beyond the house brews, they also have a rotation of guest brews that are pretty much a who’s who of the micros in the Bay Area.Pros + Good Beer, Beer garden, Easy BARTCons – No Parking
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