Mushin Sports Lounge: Oakland Has an Upscale New Bar For International Sports Fans | Eater SF

"Born from a graduate-school project by Babatunde Afolabi and developed with partners Abidemi Afolabi and Kola Shobo, this Oakland lounge reimagines the sports-bar concept — think plenty of TVs, concrete floors, smooth marble details, and tufted Chesterfield sofas rather than a neon-drenched dive. I appreciated how it borrows high-end restaurant touches: groups can reserve tables for events, there’s a crafted cocktail menu and a weekend brunch, and even a members-only back lounge called “the Box.” The focus is intentionally international — broadcasting everything from Warriors and Niners games to Formula 1, the Olympics, soccer, cricket, and golf — reflecting Afolabi’s goal of celebrating Oakland’s diversity and creating a welcoming space (he immigrated from Nigeria). Cocktails highlight that global bent: the Tap Tap is a tribute to Haiti with Saint Benevolence rum clairin and kafé anmè coffee liqueur mixed with coconut cream, coconut water, falernum, and lime. The food menu is compact bar fare elevated a bit — wings with Thai chiles, truffle-dusted fries, a chicken sandwich with curry mayo — while the weekend brunch gets creative with a Cajun chicken-and-waffles dish with cinnamon-molasses waffle and Grand Marnier glaze, CocoElote fried sweet-corn ribs with arbol chili–lime aioli, and cornmeal pancakes topped with feta and bacon crumble. Memberships (currently $1,900/year with a waitlist) include priority reservations for sporting and pay-per-view events, access to the Box with no minimum, and quarterly members-only events; Afolabi plans to add perks over time. He intentionally limits crowding to keep service solid (aiming for only 10–15% standing room) and plans daytime passes for working or meetings and eventual Bay Area expansion. Mushin Sports Lounge is at 1814 Franklin Street, Suite 5G, Oakland, and is open 4–10 p.m. Thursday, 4 p.m.–1 a.m. Friday, noon–1 a.m. Saturday, and noon–10 p.m. Sunday." - Dianne de Guzman