Morgen B.
Yelp
Writing a yelp review for the Aloha Club almost doesn't make sense to me. It's chill af, but not in a forced downtown Oakland bar way. I can't write a fake thing trying to explain what shouldn't be explained -it's not right, it won't encapsulate anything about this place. I'll just tell you a few short tales of my experiences here:
- I'm here with a friend who just left work, she's in work clothes and I was in my standard uniform of joggers, sneakers, and a shirt that can be buttoned but likely isn't. We're drinking and eating tacos from Tacos Sinaloa nearby (byof!) The Warriors are playing Game 4 in the finals against the Cavs and we're some of the only folks not in blue or yellow. The bar is warm and almost packed by the 2nd quarter, folks from all over, black, brown, two white guys who dont talk much (the best kind amiright?). We're all laughing and yelling at the same calls - sighing as the game progresses. We end up befriending a strange but kind man who turns out to be a teacher, and all his coworkers, who clearly don't like him as much but tolerate his oddities. We all eat tacos together. My friend wins a Warriors jersey from the raffle the bar is doing. It's a 3XL and she promises to make it into a dress. She has yet to do that.
- I'm at an poetry reading across the street at Red Bay coffee and my friend realizes there's no alcohol at the event. She texts me this, frustrated. We head over to Aloha Club, it's not quite empty, a few lingering folks on a Friday night around 11. We're all carded (I look like I'm 19-21 on an average day) and I proceed to order seltzer without being judged. A+. My friends get hard liquor because the poetry really did warrant being a lil fucked up. Apparently their drinks were strong and decently priced. We sat there, relatively undisturbed, content with the quick service and ample seating available to process the bullshit we were gonna have to endure. Aloha Club before poetry is a win.
Come here, chill, take it for what it is. The outdoor patio looks cool too, especially on a warm night.