Bar Shiru

Bar Shiru is an incredible spot in Oakland for anyone who appreciates great cocktails and an amazing vibe. The focus on high-quality vinyl music sets the tone perfectly — the sound system is crisp, and the music selection is thoughtfully curated. The cocktails are expertly crafted with a balance of creativity and classic flavors, and the staff is knowledgeable and welcoming without being overbearing. The atmosphere strikes that rare balance between lively and intimate, making it perfect for a date night or catching up with friends. Highly recommend for music lovers and cocktail enthusiasts alike!

I was looking for a cozy place to meet up with friends. I found it in my internet search and the concept sounded intriguing. It was just as described. A beautifully designed space with delicious cocktails and great music. The laid back and upscale atmosphere was the icing on the cake.

I've never been to a bar I've liked more. Everything about my experience was top shelf. The service was impeccable - attentive, engaging, and helpful. The listening experience was divine. The interior decor was a perfectly executed intersection of mid-century modern and industrial. What isn't to love? A gem.

Like Japanese whiskey? An Old fashioned? This is your spot for a drink! The music is great, and so are the bartenders. Highly recommend. Check the calendar for events.

Nice, top shelf bar, unique cocktails, jazz, awesome environment with amazing bartenders. Unique experience, great place to bring and entertain potential clients. Reservations for 7 to 15 possible with a private area upstairs. Mainfloor has 2 tables for 6, outside of that its mostly 2 tops or small couch areas or standing room. Decent bar seats for walk in

Loved the vibe. Intimate setting, good music. Wasn’t a huge fan of my cocktail but I would still go back just because I loved the atmosphere so much. Great place to have an actual conversation. It’s the kind of place I wouldn’t mind going to on my own too.

top tier ambience, awesome music selection and lots of interesting staff to talk to, would recommend to anyone who’s looking for a great relaxed experience

one of my favorite bars - good cocktails and even better vibes. the music was amazing all night and they ended off by playing the entirety of channel orange. they also had a huge wall of vinyls velvet mood: a classic gin, lavender, lemon cocktail but thought it was a little too sour and wasn’t the biggest fan of the maraschino green eyes: refreshing with slight cucumber mint flavor! actual proof: my favorite cocktail of the night. not a huge fan of whiskey cocktails but enjoyed this one mystic bounce: loved this drink. the coffee liqueur added a bitterness to balance out the rest of the cocktail highballs: would skip this one next time. as someone who isn’t a fan of whiskey, it was too much for me

Loved the vibe as soon I stepped in! It gave me the vibes I get a good lounge bar in NOLA. We sat at the bar. The drinks are so good and strong. They had some really unique cocktails on their menu. The bartenders were extremely attentive and made the cocktails pretty quickly, even though they were busy .Lately, I've been trying cocktails that I wouldn't normally try! Most of what I ordered came looking like a gentleman's drink, LOL! Please add this to your list if you go to San Francisco!

The vibes in this bar are truly immaculate. i love the concept of the listening bar and it's so peaceful in this space. I highly recommend coming during a weekday as opposed to the weekend. During the weekend, it's super crowded/loud which takes away from the whole experience. Weekday after work is the perfect time to go and enjoy the sound system. The day I went they had a pianist for a bit which was so lovely Reasons I'm taking a star away - i ordered from the HH menu but realized the next day that they charged me the normal price which was very disappointing! Also on the HH menu, the have their only food item, "pretzel twists" which my friends and i assumed would be lil baked pretzels - unfortunately they were just very overpriced basic pretzels you can grab from the corner store - I definitely recommend skipping that lol

Bar Shiru is a special place. It's been my favorite cocktail bar in downtown/uptown since they opened years ago and I love bringing visitors here. The service is attentive and informative. Cocktails, innovative. Vinyl, classic. Big hugs to the dude at the door. Would recommend getting there early, or taking your chance on the waitlist during peak hours. The only problem is I can't remember my next favorite cocktail every time I visit.

Let me say I had no idea this place existed until someone took me on a date here. It's intimate, the music was immaculate, and the drinks are really tasty. The bartenders are legit mixologists which I really appreciate and so do my tastebuds. The bartenders were very attentive and made sure we had water whenever our glass was almost empty. I would highly recommend this place for a night cap.

OMG, I can't believe I hadn't reviewed one of my favorite bars on the planet. Bar Shiru quickly became an Oakland legend within months of opening. It's the kind of place you want to share with your favorite friends. And sure enough my favorite friends all enjoyed meeting me here so much that it became their favorite place too. One of my buddies just calls it his living room now. Shirin and Daniel are the real deal. They were impressed and inspired by the bustling jazz cafes and hi-fi bars of Tokyo. He's a DJ. She is one of the few female music promoters in the Bay Area. Together they make one bad azz couple. What to expect. A stylish scene. Downtown loft vibes. Large-scale black and white photos of jazz royalty above the wall of bottles behind the bar. A wall-sized display of albums comprise the back wall. High-quality audio. As in audiophile heaven. Often jazz, sometimes neo-soul or Latin. Often a guest curator/DJ. Always vinyl. Always tasty and tasteful. Through their patient audio balancing of a series of top-flight speakers, Bar Shirin offers the perfect musical environment. You and your table can converse at a normal level, but the music just is loud enough so you could focus on it over all the other conversations if you'd like. A perfect audio environment is like that, no shouting necessary. It is a bar, so you're probably interested in hearing about the drinks. Bar Shiru offers an incredibly high-quality cocktail program featuring top-shelf whisky AND whiskey. Happy hour until 7 on weeknights. The unique and tasteful cocktails include my fave, Green Eyes - vodka, lime, cucumber shrub, elder flower liqueur, and mint gomme. Exquisite. They know what to do with gin, mezcal, rum and tequila too. So it's obviously not just a whiskey bar. Although, if you need some whiskey education, get a flight and they will hook you up.

very cool vibe for a bar, intimate and chill. came with a party of 5 on a friday night and had to wait for an hour to be seated though. they make everyone in your party order something, even though one of my friends didn't plan on drinking. very very strong cocktails. they also serve wine. most drinks were $15. a good spot for catching up, not much of a party or dancing bar.

This bar features that kind of stereo system that is rarely found in people's homes. It's tubes and high-end vinyl gear. They also have an excellent collection of LPs. Many bars are so loud you couldn't hear what they were playing anyway, so the quality of the sound is not a focus. Not so here. They attract a quiet crowd, and the sound is excellent. As are the craft cocktails, mock tails, and "near tails". While it's right on Telegraph, It's not the easiest place to find, especially at night. The address 1611 Telegraph seems to go into the lobby of an office building. You're in the right place. Just go outside go to your left and back in that door. There is some signage, but it's very small and subtle. No big parties here, maximum of 6 per group.

A romantic jazz bar with liquor forward cocktails that is still pleasant to sip on. Drinks were top tier as we got the mystic bounce and green eyes. You could hardly taste the whiskey in the mystic bounce and instead it tasted like a espresso drink, think of the old money rich aunt version of what you would normally get at a Starbucks reserve. For green eyes I was impressed by how healthy it tasted ? The vodka was so smooth it tasted like I was drinking a juice cleanse but a yummy one. Service was fast though they didn't explain the menu we thought they did a good job at addressing our questions when we had them and checking in on our drinks.

I'm low-key (not so low-key) obsessed with Bar Shiru. Every conversation I had, after returning home to NYC had as a part of it my effusive praise of this gem. On a trip to Bay Area, my uncle brought me here. Everything from the ambiance, to the vibe, to the cocktails, to the music all worked in this perfect harmony. It's the type of place where you go and you instantly get it. You're at peace. A note about the cocktails that they are interesting, delicious, and well thought out. The mocktails are equally so. Too often, mocktails are just fruit juice with bubbles. If you want to come here for the vibe, but don't drink, you're still going to have a great time. I could say more, about how I appreciate their rules (which serve to give everyone a better experience) or the auditory experience (so carefully set up) or how comfortable all their furniture is.... but really you should just go. I only wish there were a similar place in NYC. All the listening rooms here pale in comparison.

The service here left something to be desired. When I came in and sat down the waiter didn't explain the menu to us (which I heard is something that they have done for others). I felt this was important bc their menu was unorthodox, had a lot of rules, and contained information that didn't pertain to just the drinks offered. The second red flag was that the waiter took the menu while I was reading it. Not in an aggressive way but in a lack of social cues way. The waiter left his shift in the middle of serving us without saying anything or handing off to a new person and we sat there chatting until we realized 30 mins had passed without anyone checking in. This place has a lot of rules (see menu). It also has a lot of potential, perhaps under different management. So many amazing vinyls from various artists on display but none of that music was on the playlist. Make a reservation!

Bar Shiru is a very cozy and intimate bar. Definitely a gem in Oakland! Just be careful because my car got broken into. Sucks but not their fault.

Sickkkkk listening bar. They got HIFI equipment with beautiful music. Such a classic bar with a twist on their drinks, highly recommend! I found street parking about a block or 2 away and didn't have to pay parking fees! Bar Shiru is a place I would frequent whenever I am in Oakland now. The bar got full really fast and it did take a while to talk to a server or to order more drinks, but the ambiance, drinks, and crisp music was great! It's a listening bar so you can't talk too loud or get rowdy, they might kick you out!

Vibes vibes vibes! The ambience and mood at this bay is on point! There were so many vinyls on the wall with jazz played from the HiFi system. I was throughly impressed by the calm and warm atmosphere. This place is perfect for a unique and tranquil date night! I tried to come here twice. The first time, the estimated wait time was 30 minutes on a Friday so I went to grab a bite to eat, but was called earlier so I didn't go. The second time, the wait was also 30 minutes on a Saturday and I did wait for that amount of time and was able to get a seat. The bar is unassuming from the outside, the "Bar Shiru" sign is easy to miss because it is black. The only indication that this is a bar is the security guard outside. The security guard is such a nice guy as well, always making conversation and making sure things are going smoothly. Shout out to him! What we got: -Green Eyes: this drink was superb and reminds me of a more citrusy midori sour. -Mystic Bounce: This is similar to an old fashioned. I didn't like this very much but my bf enjoyed it. The waiter here was also kind and amazing. He made sure we always got water and drinks. When I left, I forgot my purse but the staff kept it safe for me. 10/10! Please come here and have a good time! The only thing about this place is that it gets too loud to hear the music when there is a full house. I would recommend coming on a weekday to truly listen to the music.

Came here on the recommendation of a friend and it definitely lived up to the hype! Cozy intimate bar, great for a date night. If you don't love dark interiors with dim mood lighting, this place might not be for you. The place was quite busy on a Friday night and our group had to wait by the bar for about 20 mins before we got seated. Do recommend making reservations if you are planning on coming here but if you are a smaller party, you might be fine, they have plenty of seating. Drinks were alcohol forward and still enjoyable. Husband enjoyed the Mystic bounce but be warned that this is a strong drink. It was similar to an old fashioned with the addition of espresso. The Green Eyes on the other hand was citrusy, refreshing and easy to drink. Definitely see myself coming back.

It's giving sexy... sultry... jazzy. Hell, it's just straight GIVIIIING bay-beh! Bar Shiru is vibes.com and I ain't mad about it at ALL. Shoutout to the homie who put me onto this place. We came here for late night drinks and left with good feelings. If you don't already know, this place is all the rave! We found that out when we tried to drop in around 10 pm on a Friday night. The wait was crazy long. Ended up doing a little bar hop down the street for a few hours and returned around midnight. And lo and behold; a few magical seats at the bar awaited us. You know what it is. That Friday night get down. We were basically at the point of unwinding for the night, and this place was the PERFECT spot for it. Not only are the vibes amazing here, but the decor and ambience are like whoa!!! I mean... the whole damn place was glowing. The bar, the artwork, the ceiling lights. So purdy!!! Loved, loved, loved the black and white portraits of legendary jazz artists on the wall above the bar. Also really loved the colorful album displays on the back wall of the main dining room. You can tell that a lot of thought went into designing this place. And the music! If you like Jazz... hell, even if you don't like Jazz; you will love it. Their music selection is so damn soothing. It's just something about the relaxing and high vibrational mood that this place puts you in. It's the best-est! So chill and fun. The drinks are pure art. The craftwork of the cocktails are top tier. Beautifully executed and extremely tasty. Well thought out and unique. Even if you don't check out their special concoctions, the classics are made well here too. Before we knew it, closing time had crept up on us. I was so bummed and wished that we had made a reservation (do yourself a favor and make them if you can). But even the short amount of time that we spent here has me craving for more. So glad that I was exposed to this little local phenomenon. Until next time.

I recently visited this spot with a group of friends. We arrived around 6 pm and were pleased to be seated immediately. The ambiance of this whiskey bar is undeniably cool. Being whiskey enthusiasts, we were excited to try their highball and mezcal old fashioned. Both drinks were well-crafted and delicious. However, we encountered an issue with the seating arrangements. When we informed the hostess that another group of friends was on their way to join us, we requested that they be seated next to us. Surprisingly, the hostess refused to accommodate our request, even though there was an empty table available nearby that could have easily accommodated our combined party. This unfortunate incident dampened our overall experience.

***Overall 3.5 stars*** My partner and I wanted to grab a few drinks and got intrigued by the hi-fi bar concept. Parking was really hard, especially on a weekend night - we finally found a spot after cycling around for 30 minutes. What we ordered the Green Eyes, Velvet Mood and Whisper. The drinks didn't really stand out to us that much, and we thought they were pretty average for the price. Our overall favorite was the Green Eyes since it was pretty smooth and had a refreshing feel. The vibes were there, and the interior gave a cozy feeling. The ambiance was immaculate! Service was not that great, though. It was hard to flag someone down to take an order or ask a question.

Came here on a late Saturday night and had to wait 30-45 mins to get in the door. This bar is quite popular so recommend putting your name down, grabbing a drink elsewhere and coming back. Tried their green eyes drink and it was delicious! Refreshing, light, sweet - so good you couldn't taste the alcohol and I had to get a second round. Lovely ambiance and chill vibes. Service was quick and prices were reasonable. Highly recommend for drinks, date night, chill catch up session with friends! Keep in mind they don't serve food so come thirsty but not hungry.

Bar Shiru checked all the vibe boxes for me. The music (jazz) was on point. The vibe was chill. The Japanese-inspired interior design was beautiful. The space was also quiet enough where you can have an actual conversation. The entrance was so lowkey I couldn't have found it if I was going alone. If you aren't as lucky as me who had a friend lead the way, look for a black door with a guard sitting out front right next to the Cafe Van Kleef sign. I enjoyed their specialty drinks: - Green Eyes ($14): if you're only getting one drink, let it be this. Easily one of the top 3 best cocktails I've ever had to date. Super refreshing and easy to drink, which can be dangerous ;) - Velvet Mood: I only tried a sip of this and can barely recall the taste, but remember thinking it was not bad. Green Eyes was definitely a better choice. Service was pretty standard. Note that they require reservation for party of 6+, so plan your visit accordingly. Highly recommend checking them out when you're in Oakland!

Came here on a Friday night with some friends, there was not a long wait and we were seated immediately. The menu gives you a description of the bar, venue, history, and the overall theme of the place. It is featured as a bar that focuses on audiophiles but that theme kind of gets lost. The interior is dark and sets a mood. It feels really high end with the tall ceilings and concrete surfaces which contrast the van kleef next door. The decorations are really nice with the speakers and record collection and large prints. The drinks were great and they definitely have a standard selection of whiskeys/highballs. I'm a fan of mixed drinks and they were pretty good. The service was nice but the table service can be a little aloof. Prices are cheaper than in sf. Overall the experience was nice and pleasant. Just remember there is a two hour seating limit.

We found out about this hi-fi bar through a recent 7x7 article. It is very unassuming from the outside and you could have easily walked by it while on the way to Fox Theater and/or other Uptown bars/restaurants. We went on a Friday night around 6pm ish. The friendly security put us on a waiting list and told us it would be about 45min wait. (There was a Vance Joy concert so maybe that's why they were slammed.) While we waited to be notified to get in we got some Mexican food at a nearby restaurant down the street. Once we were let in, the hostess led us to two bar stools by the window. The interior felt intimate and so chic. I want to stage my future home exactly like Bar Shiru honestly! Anyhow after perusing our menus we put in orders for our drinks. Their drinks definitely put an emphasis on Japanese whisky. I got the cocktail with mint and celery (can't remember the name!) and my husband went with the coffee based cocktails. Both were interesting and complex, making them easy to sip. The music was also very much on point. Unfortunately it did get too loud inside with the volume of other customers chatting. We decided to leave shortly after finishing our delicious drinks. I think I would have enjoyed it more if we had come earlier on a weeknight. While the staff did a great job limiting numbers of customers inside the bar, it was still really loud. Also the bar stools were not too comfortable to sit on after some time. I would still gladly return another time!

One of my new favorite bars in the Bay and definitely my favorite bar in Oakland as of right now. The dimly lit atmosphere with records adorning the dark walls up to their high ceilings gives me the feeling that I've been transported to Tokyo or another swanky glittering metropolis in East Asia. The ambiance was very casual, intimate, yet exciting. The crowd in the lounge varied from young couples, and groups of friends. There were people who were young and old, of every ethnicity, giving you a sense of how welcoming the space is. What won me over was their Mystic Bounce cocktail, featuring an old fashion version of an espresso martini. It is definitely stronger than what I was anticipating, but the drink gets better the more and longer you sip on it, especially as the ice melts and dilutes the strong hard liquor. I also appreciate that the bartenders were very fun to talk with and quite attentive, despite the fully packed bar seats and tables that night. I would love to come back and have a drink again, even if it's just two or three more Mystic Bounces. For someone immunocompromised like myself, I truly appreciate the fact that the bar is still doing vaccine checks at the door along with your IDs even when most bars or establishments have foregone covid precautions.

Relaxing ambience, good drinks, friendly staff. Favorite place for cocktails in Oakland :)

My absolute favorite bar. Everything about it is so comfy and cozy. The drinks are pretty strong though. The music is amazing and the people always have good conversation. Also, the security guard is so nice and helpful lol

Classy mood, ambiance, love the music listening lounge vibe reminiscent of Japanese listening bars. My brother took my boyfriend and I here over the holidays during a trip home and loved it. Classy cocktails, great little whiskey tasting, and a great find in Oakland with great workers. They really want you to respect the time and space of others, keeping conversations to a low and enjoying the vinyl playing and the conversations to be had. Would love to come back and take more people for an intimate little date night or hang!

We were able to find parking in downtown Oakland a block away from the entrance from this place, which was VERY nice. From the outside, this place looks like a bank or something....but inside it looks VERY hip. Pictures of jazz musicians, cool lighting, and large speakers are scattered on the walls of this place making it very cool. It feels like this place is a LISTENING bar....a cocktail bar that has emphasis on the music being played. There's even the speaker information in the menu. We ended up ordering the green eyes and mystic bounce. The green eyes was VERY refreshing. The cucumber and mint would be perfect for a balmy night. The mystic bounce was quite boozy and I found that it was better sipped (I guess it was about time that I grew up lol). I definitely would come back to try the other cocktails in this cool cocktail bar.

Romantic date spot for Japanese whiskey and Jazz on vinyl. I learned about Bar Shiru through my friend. We were bar hoping on a Saturday night, and thought we'd give this bar a try. There was a 20-30 minute wait upon arrival. My friend put her phone number down, and we had a drink at Cafe Can Kleef next door. When she got the text notification, we had 10 minutes to claim our reservation. The vibe was dark and sexy--definitely better for couples than friends. Due to high demand, there is a 2 hour time limit.

There aren't many HiFi bars/systems around though they are becoming increasingly popular so this is a one of a kind establishment to visit! Its decor is on point (and I pay attention to these things). The vibe is super intimate and chill for a date night or small group of friends not looking to wild out. Drinks are delicious and music hits the spot for this audiophile.

Awesome date place in Oakland. They have an abundance of whiskies including some Indian ones I had the good fortune of trying. The cocktails are fantastic as well. It does get busy but you can put your name down and stop by next door for a quick drink before coming back. Service was attentive. Would come back

As the reviews suggest, the vibes here are immaculate. Dimly lit, moody and classy. You can make a reservation (there is a max amt of people) or walk in (seating limit 2 hours if busy). Very close to 19th St Bart. The cocktails are well crafted and balanced in flavor. I'd recommend the Green Eyes. Definitely coming back to try more.

Here's a great place to start or end your night. The vibe is classy and sophisticated. They play strictly jazz music and the volume is never overbearing. That way, you can have a conversation without needing to yell. There's a time and place for that as well (try the dive bar a few doors down, Chef Keef). The Happy Hour goes until 7pm. Drinks on the HH menu are $10. Try the Highball Vodka, Vesper, and Sazerac. The Sazerac would be my top choice. The highball vodka is worth your while. Nice balance of Vodka and tonic. Love this Whisky Bar! You'll need ID and proof of vaccination to enter, FYI (September 2022). Also, on busier nights they have a host that seats you and they may put a time limit on your table. We were given two hours.

Worthy of the hype. But if you're a college bro who likes to do funnels. Go someplace else. Low key. An amazing sound system played at reasonable volumes (on vinyl), great artisan cocktails....If you wanna do a handstand on top of a keg, go elsewhere.

Great ambience, knowledgeable staff, delicious drinks (as well as non-alcoholic), and one of the best vinyl audio systems in town.

Love love love, did I mention love? Best to come early when they open because it will get rowdy, loud and busy really quickly. I came here with a friend when the opened and we had the chance to enjoy Bar Shiru without a mess of people. We sat next to the record player booth and got to watch the waitress switch out the records. The interior design is loyal to the jazz record listening theme. Just reminds me of a typical Haruki Murakami novel with jazz club or bar. Nice date spot or hang out!

Get either the Velvet Mood or Green Eyes and thank me later.

This is a great bar great cocktails! I highly suggest Coming here to go on a date or just unwind or catch up with friends!

What a gorgeous bar to unwind at. My friend mentioned this bar to me and suggested we check it out after our dinner, and I'm so happy we did. If you're not careful, you'll almost miss it as it only has a subtle label on the outside of the door, nothing flashy. You walk in to the most ambiant environment with jazzy undertones to set the mood. Intimate, quiet conversations were lit up by the warm table lamps and you have no choice but to get cozy and take in the scene. Looking at the menu, I was thoroughly impressed by the wide portfolio--my friend settled on the Green Eyes while I got the Sunflower, both extremely refreshing. Great place to bring friends & dates to unwind after dinner, will definitely be coming back again!

The alcohol quality is alright. A bit overpriced. The service is relatively slow. The max tables you can have is 6. The plus is that it has cool 1960s non-lyrics jazz music. But honestly, Fluid510 is way better - and you can support a queer owned business, not here. You have to order at the bar, and they take a while to bring the drinks over. The drinks next door at Van Cleef and Fluid510 across the street are better. Group has come here 3 times. Going to veto future trips here.

We went there yesterday for the happy hours (5:30pm to 7:00pm). We tried two Negroni, Velvet Mood, Rosita, and two mocktails. All drinks we tried were so delicious!! Their Hi-Fi record audio equipment was impressive and sounded amazing. The service was excellent. The bar tender lady made all drinks so delicious and beautiful!! We decided to go to this place as soon as we saw Robert Glasper, and Aphex twin's records were on the shelf showcased:) We were so happy that we went:) Highly recommend Bar Shiru!!

Easily my favorite bar in Oakland. Classy mood lighting, vinyl records playing on hifi systems, and most importantly-delicious drinks ranging from expertly crafted cocktails to Japanese-style highballs. Word has been spreading, so you may have to wait to be seated on the weekends unless you go at off-peak hours. It's worth it though. They don't serve food so make sure you've eaten before you go. As always, don't leave anything visible in your car since this is in downtown Oakland.

Great ambiance, best for smaller groups as they mainly have smaller tables and is on the quieter side. They have a 2 hour seating limit, but will stop by your table and let you know 30 minutes beforehand. Cocktails are reasonably priced for the bay ($12-14) and many feature Japanese whiskey. We got: Whisper not - on the stronger side, great quality whiskey. Can be an acquired taste, but I think it got better as I continued to drink it Actual proof - lighter, more citrusy drink. Beautiful presentation! Toki highball - great drink to start or end on, refreshing

If all you want is a stiff drink and a vibe, this is your place. There's no food. Not even snacks. Just strong cocktails and vinyl records. And you don't need a resy, but you might have a bit of a wait. This is a great date spot for music lovers. I would either pre game here or night cap here.

This bar passed the vibe check. The bar's jazzy hip hop and low lighting gave it a second-date-night kinda vibe, but I'd come here on any day. The ambience is excellent. Interior design gives off Japandi meets industrial -cozy and cool. Amazing cocktails - crafty, creative and gave me a good buzz. Probably one of my fave bars in Oakland.

It's a nice little world when you go there when it opens at 5:30. The seating area is a little too loud because of the high ceilings which doesn't make great acoustics to listening to jazz. But in spite of this noise (excess reverb which turns neighboring conversations into cacophony), I do have fun here. Drinks are overpriced here as well. They charge Manhattan prices for an Oakland experience. Best bars in Oakland don't charge that much and get by. But hey, every now and then, one needs to make a public appearance and throw money away. Management is keenly aware of that here. One plus is that it is not obvious which means unless you know where it is, you won't accidentally walk into the place. This is important in preventing vociferous drinkers from entering this establishment. Also, I appreciate that they have a published code of conduct while frequenting here. It keeps the vibe reasonably controlled and pacified in a good way. I'm not much of a bar person, but I could come here once every 3-4 months.

We got shushed! Trying too hard to be upscale. Came here on a not busy Saturday and was asked to keep it down.

We found this nearby bar in Oakland on a Monday night on yelp and wanted a quick drink so came here. We were happy to see a bar like this open on a Monday night first of all. The vibes here were immaculate. Service was epic because my dumbass spilled my drink and the bartender not only helped me clean up but he refilled my drink again. Embarrassing night but this place made it all worth it.

One of my favorite bars in Oakland! The ambience is so moody and unique -- it really is such a classy establishment. The drinks are fantastic and the music is always a vibe! Definitely plan accordingly because on Fridays and Saturday's if you arrive later in the night you'll likely need to join their waitlist!

I met a friend here for a drink and immediately felt the classy, sexy vibes when I walked in. We ordered Asian inspired cocktails and they were good! The workers were very attentive, so we felt well taken care of. It's a nice place to come to before heading out to a concert or event nearby. I heard they also have live music of their own, so I'd love to come back to check that out. The space is small, so prepare to wait if it gets busy!

The vibe is nice, for sure. I was tipsy, but I remember the music being at a decent volume, so you will have to raise your voice a bit to talk. Still, I'd say this is a good place for a date or a night out. I came with a friend after dinner, and I could see why they had a reservation-only system, given how small the place is. But I feel that the reservations should be for tables only. We were sat at the window on barstools. I guess for all the exclusivity about getting in, I expected a chair with a back. *I forget which drink I ordered, but it had mezcal, and it was the strongest mezcal I've ever tasted (no expert, but I'm not new to it). Proceed with caution.*

This place is so *vibey* in the best of ways. I would say this is the perfect date night spot for music lovers, but also just a place to visit when you want to be reminded of what makes the East Bay so unique and cool. The atmosphere is dark and moody, and it is encouraged to not speak too loudly so others can enjoy the music and the environment. The cocktails are delicious and the servers are all super friendly. We arrived somewhat early on a weekday, so I cannot speak to what a busy weekend night would be like, but we were able to get a table near the DJ booth with no issue. The main draw to this bar, I have to say, is definitely the music (if that's your sort of thing). They were playing somewhat obscure jazz (introduced me to a Pakistan based group called Jaubi) and some more main stream jazz as well. Considering the Bay Area lacks many of these types of bars, it was a nice surprise! It did not feel pretentious, yet it definitely felt sophisticated. We need more bars like this in the Oakland and I'm happy to support. Looking forward to coming back!