Binny's Cocktail Bar & Restaurant

Brunch by Chef Yann Everything was so good! We ordered the chicken and plantains waffle, oxtail french dip and had the hibiscus drink. Nice Vibe, cool music and delicious food

We stumbled on Binny’s on a Saturday night when we were hungry, and thirsty, but wanted to be able to hear each other talk. Kareem was welcoming and took care of us. The drinks were yummy, the food was great. The fried chicken sandwiches were amazing. I highly recommend. We will be coming back.

Went to Binny’s on a whim and ended up with the most delicious cocktail I’ve had in a long time. Not only were the bartenders lovely, but the food was spectacular. The crab artichoke dip is not to be missed! Thanks Binny’s!

Excellent service, food and cocktails! The fries are remarkable! The fried catfish is also delicious. We’ve been there a couple of times and they are attentive and always and to come back!

Sarah was tending bar. When I asked for a mock tail she asked me if I had any notes for her. Floral? Fruity? Bitter? etc. I told her to surprise me, and she did just that. A colorful, flavorful, thoughtful, non alcoholic cocktail was brought to my table. It was layered and garnished like a real grown up drink. For that alone I'm giving Binny's high marks. So sad to find out Sarah was just filling in for someone and doesn't really work at Binny's. But she was there when I was there so Binny's gets credit. I ordered the Root Hash and finished every bite. Jurassic 5 and A Tribe Called Quest completed the experience. Yes, I'm going back.

The food and cocktails here are fantastic. The middling review is because the past couple times I’ve been there I’ve sat at the bar, been acknowledged and told by the bartender that they’d be right with me, then waited 10 minutes while they did any number of other things (on a slow night with not many people at the bar). Tried to get their attention with no luck so, both times, I left and went to another local place and got served immediately. Why wait and be ignored when there are so many good places with great service within a block?

I love this place! This is one of the first bars I visited when moving to the area and I've been coming back frequently since. Their bartenders are attentive and knowledgeable on the cocktails they make. Great environment and atmosphere. If you're hungry then their food is a must! I've tried most of what's on their menu and they change it as seasons change - my favorite is their fried chicken sandwich! They also do nightly/daily events so check them out any day or time of the week for variety.

I’d like to start off by saying that I don’t leave many positive reviews online, and even fewer heartfelt. I am 29 years old, well traveled, and this is one of my favorite restaurants of all time on my 1st visit. The vibe is great incredible, the staff is incredible, everyone is so down to earth, including the owner, and the food is equally amazing. If you are wondering where you should go for great atmosphere, great drinks, great food, and comfortable seating, come here. With love, Austin.

Craft cocktail loverssss tap tap tap in! Stumbled upon Binny's after grabbing dinner at Understory next door, and we both agreed this might be our newest lil neighborhood spot. The entire interior of Binny's is setup with an elevated bar so you feel like you're walking into a welcoming and warm space. The mixologist was a one-man show, so attentive, professional, and intentional about making the drinks, more than a 5mins wait but it's so worth it. There was a sweet foodrunner who kept bringing out people's dinner orders, and sheesh those catfish bites looked BOMB. We just ate, so were really sad we didn't try the food there. Chef Willie Mendez, a legend in Uptown Oakland, exclusively cooks there so y'all...run don't walk. The drinks menu is divine, and all cocktail enthusiasts hold tight to your britches! I got their signature blackberry whiskey sour and I didn't think it was going to be sweet but it was too sweet for my tastes. BUT y'all blackberry and a whiskey sour whatttt, blew my gd mind how gorgeous it was. The garnishes were so beautiful and intentional, and the drinks were topped up to the tip! Cheers to that. My friend enjoyed the Paloma, and tajin rim always deserve an extra lick. The vibes were so cozy and slightly elevated, so great for the 30+ crowd. Tons of seating is a plus, from bar stools to plush seats and wall-facing seats for solo diners. You really can find something for all diners and drinkers at Binny's, we're so lucky to have you in Uptown. Menu is incredible, and can't wait to come back to try more libations.

Love Binny's! Very laid back, retro interior, good cocktails and a few bites. We visited tonight for the second time and were pleasantly surprised to find a writers group doing readings. It was a fantastic addition to our evening.

Best wings in the East Bay! Stopped in to visit my friend in Oakland and was pleasantly surprised. The Korean fried wings are hand breaded, tender, and nothing short of amazing. Looking for some heat though Catfish bites were absolutely perfect The cocktail list rivals any fancy rooftop in San Francisco Plenty of room to accommodate large groups. Conveniently located close to the convention center. Stop in to see Mikey or Paul during happy hour

Loved Binny's! We found this place on accident on a Thursday night, but it was a great find! The space feels intimate, not super busy, and it's super cute inside. The food is simple but really hits the spot, and the drinks are super delicious. The bartender and staff are super attentive, quick, and happy to modify based on taste. I really enjoyed the arugula salad and grilled cheese. The food wasn't too oily, especially the catfish bites, and they were super tender and fresh. There was also a good amount of vegetarian options too! If you have the chance to try anything, the shots are insanely good. This place was a great spot to end a crazy busy Thursday work night!

I'll start by saying this review is for their drinks only. Came in after dinner so didn't get to try any of the food. That said, the drinks were delicious! Tried the Rosie the Riveter, the Mint 2 Be, and the Hot Mez (not pictured). Besides them looking beautiful, they were also super balanced and tasty. They were all very good, but my favorite was the Hot Mez. It was spicy, sweet, sour. So if you like a hint of spice, I would definitely recommend.

So first I want to thank Sara and Enrique for amazing service! Sara is super knowledgeable and made really good cocktails. She taught us a few things and schooled me on some new gins. Enrique is hilarious. My face hurt from smiling so much. He shared his Mezcal and rum favorites. They do have food but I didnt eat since I already had dinner. But I did get a sample of the lava cake it is was delicious. The bar, seating and wall paper are beautiful. It's a sexy bar. There is a big screen TV if you want to catch a game. This is a great bar and I look forward to going back. It would be great to do a buyout for a party. Bathroom was clean and pretty. Parking was easy on the street. Enjoy.

So for trying this place on reviews I'd say it was ok. Binny's is the type of place for a drink a some easy food. As much as it is, the options weren't as i hope'd. The menu seemed appetizing on their google reviews but none of it matched and it was limited. Even staff didn't seem to know if certain items on the menu were still there. I will say though the time I ordered my food to getting to table was quick and good. The place was nice and small but definitely I wouldn't come here if it was a busy night.

The Asian wings & catfish is fire!!!! The service is quick & fast. The ambiance is cute and bar like but it's a local spot to grab a quick bite, drink and date night to get to know someone. Love this place

The BEST kept secret in all of NorCal. The best! And I hate to announce it because I don't want it overrun with idiots, young folks without respect or home training, or thugs. The bartender is generous and well skilled. The ambiance is relaxed, modern and inclusive. But it's the food that elevates this spot! The chef was the mastermind behind Lukas menu. He's brought a smaller menu to Binnys and it's spot on. The entire menu is strong. And he cares intensely about the quality and the experience of the customer. Do you find this where you currently eat? Only reason I'm sharing this spot is cuz they need business. Oakland is fckin up the climate for small businesses with all the crime. Binnys is hurting from this. Go support this gem. Mention that 'Rob D' sent you. It should get you a free napkin or extra ketchup.

Hip yet humble bar & gastro pub establishment great for dates, solo dining, or meeting with some friends. My burger was perfectly cooked and I appreciated the quality accoutrements. Extensive cocktail offerings but I keep it old school with an Old Fashioned which was 8/10. I'll definitely come back and try something else off their menu. *They are under new ownership. Their system for ordering was a little confusing at first but service was great otherwise.

Sara and Eddie were super great!! Sara is the bartender and let me tell you her drinks were delicious! I ordered the "paper plane" and my husband ordered the " Dont let me down" and we both really enjoyed the drinks. We also ordered the shrimp verde which I highly recommend and I will be coming back just for that very soon! And we also ordered the crab artichoke dip which in my honest opinion was just okay. We also late ordered their Buffalo wings and they were small but so very delicious! When we went they were having a party for the Marriott employees but we were still allowed to come in which was great because they were so entertaining! Needless to say we will be back soon! Thanks so much for being a great local bar that we can even enjoy on a weekday!

ABSOLUTELY babaaay! Binny's understood the assignment. Such a dope ass bar with amazing drinks, food and service! I'll be honest, I'm quite rusty when it comes to the bar scene these days. This once "happy hour princess" has lightweight become a homebody during the COVID era. And if I'm being frank, I wasn't even planning on coming here. That hellish Bay Area traffic made me do it. I blame that! But I'm so happy that it did because it helped me discover this place. Got off work and looked at my GPS before taking the drive home. Saw that traffic was nearly 1.5 hours and I said, the hell with that! Looked at a few places nearby to grab a drink, and this newish spot popped up. The reviews looked good and the drinks looked yummy, so I headed over with the quickness. Binny's is located in Old Oakland, not too far from some of my other favorite spots (District, Square Pie Guys, Cupcakin' Bakeshop, etc). Walked in and sat myself at the bar. My first thought was "This place is super cute!". It's cozy but the setup is extremely inviting. Comfy booth seating in the front and a glowing horseshoe bar in the back. Anthony (the bartender) was very welcoming and fun to chat with. Started the night off with one of their signature cocktails called "Don't Let Me Down" which tasted wonderful. It's definitely a slow sipper. I'm generally not huge on dark liquor cocktails, but this one was strong and tasty without overdoing it. Decided to have dinner here and ordered their New York Steak special with mashed potatoes and asparagus. Of course, I had to pair it with a lovely Cab (from Hess Winery). When I tell you that this steak was friggin' mouthwatering! Geezus!!!! SO damn good! The steak was perfectly cooked and well seasoned, and the mashed potatoes and asparagus were delightful. Hats off to the chef because WHEW! That meal was insanely good. And let's not forget about dessert! One of the owners (didn't know it at the time) actually split her Tiramisu with me and it was SCRUMPTIOUS!!! Definitely save room for dessert and get this!!! Speaking of the owners; I got to meet them! Simon and Amy are so humble and chill! I really enjoyed chatting with them about how they got started. I would have never known that they owned the place because they were both just casually sitting at the bar enjoying cocktails like all of the other guests. I love the low key and relaxing atmosphere here. Plus, the music was bumping and that always gets me. Even though this visit was impromptu, it seriously made my day. Both my tummy and spirit left completely happy by the end of the evening. And guess what? No traffic on the way back! Booyaaaah! They have happy hour here as well, so I'll have to come back to check that out too. But even without happy hour, this place is golden. So excited to have them in the neighborhood and I hope that they continue to thrive. If you're looking for a mellow bar with great drinks, food, service, and vibes, Binny's fits the bill for sure.

Tucked away is this craft cocktail lounge with a small dinner menu. The vibe is cozy chic - deep green on the walls with high chairs. Cocktails were really good - didn't think marmalade would do well with bourbon but I was pleasantly surprised. Their chicken sando was also yummy (the slaw in the sando was a highlight). This place is good for a 2-4 people or a 2nd date. Staff were attentive and friendly- patrons also seemed friendly. Would come here again in a heartbeat

My wife and I are always seeking great food, drinks and service. Their blackberry something cocktail was cold/tasty/and delicious. Also, their habanero wings were fire along with their churros and chocolate dip.

Don't bother making a reservation because they won't have a table....went with a group of four friends for a 7:00 reservation and they didn't have a table for us. We had 8:30 plans elsewhere so didn't stick around. Super disappointing. Won't go back.

This is an EASY 5 star review. I've been to Binny's 3 times since my first visit. Why only 3? Because I live in Redondo Beach not Oakland. But I come to Oakland for work about once a month. Each time I visit, I return. Every single time, it's an incredible experience. From the more than welcoming and friendly bartenders to the insanely talented and equally friendly chef. This place makes you feel like a regular your first visit. Not to mention, they have a "bar dog", Ozzy is SOOOOOO cute! Come here for Happy Hour and get the burrata salad along with your cocktail of choice. Btw they have margaritas, old fashioneds and manhattans for $8!!! I have one more full day/night in Oakland. Guess where I'm headed right after work? If I could give Binny's more than 5 stars, I would.

Binnys was lovely. The decor is so so good. The food was delicious. The vibe was great. The staff was absolutely amazing. I felt like I walked in and made a bunch of new friends. By the way guys: I passed my real estate exam today!!

I'm so glad to have found Binny's! The cocktail menu is a good mix of tasty classics and original house drinks. The food entrees that I've had have been great, and the ones I've seen delivered to other tables looked good as well. The ambiance is the perfect blend of upscale neighborhood bar, and Oakland laid back. I definitely recommend Binny's!

I had faith and I kept the faith, I brought a new group of friends to try the place. We sat in the land of "misfit toys" well it isn't the land of misfit toys anymore . The service was cohesive to the bar. They came quickly to check on us and take our orders and was very attentive. I don't need to talk about the food. The food has always been on point. The service has improved and that made me Feel good. Friendly attentive service. I knew they would redeem themselves.

I can't speak highly enough of Binny's- not just the venue itself, nor the food, but equally, the full staff and ownership team. I had booked my wife's birthday event at a nearby rooftop, but because of 90% chance of rain in forecast, I had to scramble 4 days before the party to find a new venue indoors. I pinged a bunch of venues, and Simon (Binny's owner) got back to me right away. The next day, my wife and I stopped by to check out the venue- we hadn't seen it in person but it had been bookmarked on my Yelp "Town Places to Try" list- and we fell in love with the venue. The vibe, decor, the music, the first impression was great. And then we met the team- and we were blown away. Lauren, the bartender, had a great playlist playing, and was super helpful and friendly. And she called Simon to come over and meet about private last minute rental of the venue- working with Simon was a breeze. As I told Simon, it's obvious he is well versed in running a business- he was quick with his communication and action, it was honestly a pleasure to work with him on producing a fabulous birthday party for my wife. As for the rest of the team- the chefs and kitchen are fantastic, the food was super on point (try the chicharron de pollo aka "chicken crack"!), and for the private party, the food just kept coming. And the FOH staff were so attentive and friendly, always trying to see how they can make the party better. My guests were so impressed with the service and the food, the music, the venue- all of it was a smashing success. I've been there for happy hour too- great, chill vibe, good music, and reasonable prices. Would recommend for HH. But if you're considering a private party, I would strongly suggest Binny's- I can't rave enough about how perfect the party was, and nor could our guests. Thanks Simon, Lauren and the rest of the team for an epic event!!! We'll be back soon.

He has a very nice towel!! Will drink again. Service was smooth but not as smooth as the counters!!!

Wifey and I recently had a date night and stopped by for a quick drink and bite. We had heard about this place from a friend and also heard they had good cocktails. We had made it during Happy hour and had ordered the Tacos trio and Ciccharonnes del Pollo and a few drinks. Sarah the Bartender was helpful and super Friendly. She had made a libation with strawberry gin and Lillet blanc and introduced us to a beer by Stem which was a guava chile spiced infused. Tacos trio had Vegetable, Cod, and Chicken and were phenomenal. Chiccarones del Pollo had some heat but the sauce was very good. Even the Manager boss , stopped by to say "hi", and check up on us. Binny's was quaint and small is more like a neighborhood place which is homey but comfortable, with food and drink to makes you want to meet up with friends and chill. Definitely will be back fro more food and drinks.

Brunch by Chef Yann Everything was so good! We ordered the chicken and plantains waffle, oxtail french dip and had the hibiscus drink. Nice Vibe, cool music and delicious food. Street parking (free on Sundays)

Binny's is delightful! I had somehow driven past this place many times, and finally went in. Its a great spot in the historic Old Oakland district. The art on the walls catches the eye. Its a modern Art Deco theme. Love the U-shaped custom built bar. The food has a Peruvian touch. I happened to hit the happy hour menu on my visit. Its Monday through Friday from 4 to 6 pm. A draft beer of their choice is $6. And all classic cocktails are $8 (think Manhattan, martini, margarita, old fashioned, etc.) They also have some snacks like hot links, pork bell bao, fried gigante beans, and cornnuts on sale for $5-$7. PRO-TIP: If you ask for a beer and a shot at the same time, they'll give BOTH to you for just $8 during happy hour. NOTE: Tuesday and Wednesday they close early at 10pm. And on Sunday and Monday they are closed entirely.

Love this place...what a fun , clean, stocked with great drinks and the food in the back is amazing by Simon. Happy hr. Till 6pm $9 beer and shot...what a deal. Gotta go gotta see, you'll like it.

Great Happy Hour Spot! Good drinks great Customer Service! Old Fashion was excellent!

great bar, great drinks, love the vibe, has food. great for sports games too bc they have two huge TVs

Binnys is a lovely addition to old Oakland! Great decor, service, and delicious food (and great drinks -- cocktails, beer and wine, and mock tails).

The service is mediocre, food is just OK, but the ambience makes up for it all. I visited on a trivia night, and that was super fun! The way the space is set up, there's a few dining tables set up on the lower part of the restaurants, and then the bar area takes up the upper part of the restaurant. The waitress didn't come down to the dining area much, so we had to go to the bar to place our drink orders.

Stopped by Binnys after work with some friends for a bite to eat. We usually go to District but it was so crowded and we didn't want to wait for a table. Although the crowd was light the atmosphere was warm and friendly. We preserved some appetizers and food. It was pretty good. The host was very cordial and the place was very clean.

I recently went to Binny's for date night, it's a new cocktail place in old Oakland and I had a good time for the most part. First thing I will give them credit for, their service was excellent. It did take the kitchen and bar forever to wrap up our food and drinks, but the servers attentiveness was great. Since I normally dock points for bad service, I gave them an extra star for the good service I received. We ordered 2 cocktails, fries and their tuna tartar, all this costed a little over $55. The drinks was decent, at $13 bucks each, they were acceptable quality. For food, our fries came out in smaller portions than I expected, and the tuna tartar, while fish was fresh, I think they could've done a little bit more with it. If I was judging on food alone, I probably would've gave this place 3 star. Again, they earned that 4th star because of the service I received.

Friendly bar staff! Delicious catfish bites with steamed kale. The drinks are good too! The ambience is led by one of my favorite colors, green; with a dope mural on one of the walls. Restrooms were very clean as well. It's a mellow intimate spot, laid back- good vibes :) One star off because the bar back brought us lemon slices for our water with his bare hands- YIKES :/

2nd time at this bar but this time was different. My friend was denied a drink because he asked for a drink too many times. Ended up that the bartender gave him a drink on the house. Not going back :(

Such a cute bar! I was incredibly excited to see a classic cocktails menu with the Last Word and a Veuve Carre. These are my favorite cocktails and I can never find them anywhere. Service is really friendly and parking is a breeze. We've got a new regular spot.

What a fantastic place!! Great food great service and a wonderful atmosphere! Come and support a local business. All restaurants in downtown need our support. Oakland is a mess but that is not the fault of these small business owners who have put ever dime they have into their businesses

Excellent cocktails and excellent food! We love this place! I frequent here with my friends, the bartenders are so kind. It feels like coming home.

Binny's is a hidden gem that I discovered because a neighbor recommended it to me after I complained about going to the same usual spots. This place did not miss. The bartender Enrique was comfortably attentive. The drinks were strong and the food was delicious. Definitely can't wait to go back!

This place just feels like home. Warm and lovely staff, notched-up bar food, comfy interior and easy location from BART. On my go-to rounds on the east bay for a familiar joint to roll thru. Perfect spot for a well constructed classic cocktail and some fries. They have a solid burger if you're feeling saucy... I suspect as the evening wears on and different crowd rolls in, it might be a different scene but *hot damn* if this isn't the ideal bar for me during my drinking booze hour, idk what is!!

If Simon the owner of Binny's would read the original review more carefully he'll see that I never said the poorly made drinks were not refunded, as a matter of fact. You're incredibly defensive and yes, the lousy drinks and terrible service happened at your bar. Instead of fighting from the safety of your computer, why don't you accept responsibility and fix the issues? Reputation is everything, Simon. You should know that.

I travel a good amount and I cherish good food but rarely do I leave reviews. Plenty of phenomenal food out there but few that capture your heart and feel like home. Binnys feels like home. 5 stars is not enough for the burger and brussel sprouts I got to enjoy. 5 stars is not enough for the phenomenal service. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a famous chef behind the curtain. There's tremendous attention to detail paired with a comforting simplicity. I'm glad I got to come in the early days. This is going to be a line outside/hustle for your table type spot in no time.

We found Binny's on Yelp. Got here 9 PM. Loved the clientele the minute we walked in. Friendly neighborhood vibe. It was late and I'm sure we were the last ones ordering food but they cheerfully fired up the kitchen and things were on. I had the BLT with avocado but the beauty part was the fish add on. Yes. BLTFA and it was glorious. My wife had a artichoke and crab dip that she raved about. We had some great cocktails and great conversation. Binny's was just what we needed last night and we will be back. You root for places like this. I love Oakland.

So glad we found this gem! The vibe was amazing! Music was perfect! The food was delicious! The drink (Blue Dream) was probably the best I've ever had!! You should definitely put this on your Must list!

#VirgoVibes this bar is so adorable! Drinks are amazing with friendly bartenders. Definitely check it out if you're in the area.

Very cool place. Love the vibe. Interesting drinks, delicious food. Everything was so tasty. And the staff was so nice

Great drinks, great crowd. Paul is a dope bartender, love coming here. Sazerac is my go to drink & it's always lovely.

Not the best not the worse but it was okay thought it was better considering the reviews..

Came here for the first time last Friday -- saw there was a new spot near my old apartment in Old Oakland and was super eager to check it out. The area has a lot of other great small restaurants and a nice night scene, so I thought it would be the perfect place to take my sister visiting. We walked and arrived a little after 630pm - it was pretty empty when we first arrived, so we decided to sit in a booth near the bar. The bar area is beautiful, and so well pull together and it has very art deco vibes with the decorations. Super cool ambiance overall. They had a small but robust food menu and a really awesome cocktail menu. We decided to order some drinks and food - my partner and I both ordered the Have Another, while my sister orders the She's So Fine and we ordered the shrimp and tuna tartare to split. The drinks came out fairly quickly - my partner and I both loved our drinks, super nice flavoring with the pineapple, rum and chartreuse. Could've easily had a few more. My sister didn't enjoy her drink quite as much as she's not a huge cocktail drinker and misordered a bit. My partner and I were going to drink it but the people working there overheard and were kind enough to come over and make sure everything was okay and replace the drink at no cost. Super super awesome service, and a really nice guy to chat with for a bit. The food took a little longer, but it was worth the wait. The shrimp was covered in some type of chimmichurri-ish sauce that I could put on everything I eat for the rest of my life. There were only a few pieces of shrimp, but we used the bread to make sure every last drop of sauce was eaten. The tuna tartare took a little longer, but was also pretty tasty. Served with taro chips and a nice healthy portion. Overall, really cute new spot, perfect for a nice date night or some great drinks!

Friendly staff. Small and cozy place with great drinks and a lively atmosphere. Paul is a fun time

Visiting from Philly and stumbled upon this gem of a place!! Great happy hour specials and AMAZING good! Staff was so friendly, and the whole vibe was perfect. Piper was the best and she gave us gray recommendations. HIGHLY RECOMMEND can't say enough good things about Binny's