First Edition

The bartenders are chill, super good vibes, great conversation, & absolutely have your back. The space is clean, cool, & the furniture is well maintained & gorgeous. The crowd was minimal, so it felt safe. This spot deserves all the success! Really good music, too. Jam after jam.

love the comic book theme which played out well with the menu but thought the actual interior design could do some work. felt like some of the comic pieces were just thrown in there with no real care and better lighting needed. too bright for a nighttime bar. drinks were amazing. widows kiss was so good with the tajin on the side of the cup.

Super nice bartenders, good food, love the design of the place. Drinks were smooth. Great for getting together with a big groups of friends.

We had two beers on a Sunday afternoon. They really could use this space for a great beer bust, especially because they have a back patio. I do wish the upstairs bar was open when they were directing most customers up there like today. Because it was self service at the time, we had to walk up and down with drinks, a little unwieldy if you ask me. Overall we had a good, chill time and the staff were nice but we didn't interact with them much. I guess it was for everyone's protection and can't blame them.

This is a super cool bar and I used to come here quite a bit before SIP. Reasons why you should go: 1) The venue: it's trendy, huge, comic book themed, 2 mezzanines, 2 stories, booths and plenty of table/chairs, and a non-smoking patio. Perfect for hosting events. 2) Happy hour (HH) from 5-7pm 3) My all time favorite cocktail 'Old Fashioned' is on tap for $5 during HH. A dream come true! I order 2-3 and I'm lit for the night. 4) Catering from Xolo. The menu consists of tacos, burritos, and chips/dip. Order the Camarones (battered fried shrimp) taco and gauc and chips. 5) 2 minute walk from the bar to19th street bart station 6) You run into fellow Yelpers when you check in. Cheers!

Delicious cocktails. The El Bromelista is yummm. Paper Plane was good too, though a bit heavy on the citrus

Large, bi-level bar with a nice rooftop patio. Cheap cocktails ($12 including tax), and apparently you can order tacos that come from Xolo just next door. Ideal for large groups.

Good drinks, great staff, and some food to boot. Don't really get much of a comic book theme unless I crane my neck to be honest.

Cool spot in downtown Oakland! Comic book themed but don't have to be into comic books to enjoy the vibe. It was empty on a Monday night! We stopped in before seeing a show at fox theater. We ordered food from the neighboring restaurant and that was really good. Highly recommend the quesadillas! Very spacious would be fun on a weekend!

Maybe we went too late but the service was pretty terrible and the bartenders were rushing us out 2 hours before it was supposed to close? The drinks were OK, didn't justify the overall experience.

Cool decor, decent drinks selection, limited but tasty food choices. When walking by First Edition you may think this is a hip bar, you'd be half correct. The bar has a fun energy, trying to lean into the comic book vibe heavy should be known with the name. The staff is nice, but seemed to be understaffed when we were there and a large party was happening. Nice areas to sit in three areas, main floor and two different sky decks. The drink selections are nice, but nothing out of this world. Churros we're pretty good but the sauce was a little watery. The rest of the food selection seemed traditional bar fare.

Met some friends here before going to a show at Fox theatre. The place is bigger than it seems from the outside with two loft areas for seating. To be fair it was dead for a Monday but there was a pop up Mexican food inside which was pretty tasty. The place was decorated all Halloween themed and the staff were pretty friendly. The bar gave off a really cool vibe and I would imagine this place gets pretty packed on the weekends. The Bart is also conveniently located across the street for easy access to those SF folk.

Don't go here. They charge gratuity at the bar and don't tell you. Even though there are signs at the bar that tell you, the first time I came they didn't charge gratuity. This club is wack, drinks weren't good. We paid $50 something bucks for a Long Island and an adios and neither one had a garnish or cherry or anything. Bartender was very nonchalant, they weren't busy at all when I went this time and it was just really dry. Never again should have went somewhere else.

This place is way overpriced. I went on a Friday night. Paid a $10 cover for a DJ night, bought $20 drinks without realizing they charge 15% gratuity on every transaction (this post is crazy) . The vibe is OK, but not worth the price at all, especially with so many great bars and clubs throughout oakland and the bay area.

I came here to grab some drinks before a show at the Fox Theater and I definitely recommend! Drinks are around $10-$15 but they are strong and delicious. Danny was such a helpful mixologist and took the time to provide recommendations. The ambiance was very relaxed with a comic boom theme. Thank you!

They have their signature drinks and the bar tender knows exactly what they're doing! Very chill ambiance and some strong drinks !!

Another Oakland Bar located off of Broadway, they have a cute menu cover that looks like a magazine. I didn't come here on a First Friday but was here on a Friday to meet up some friends. They have an upstairs and outdoor area, which you wouldn't think from the outside. It's pretty big, they have music, and the bathrooms are on the first floor. Drinks are fairly priced and security check to go in. I don't know how they are on a regular day or how busy it could get but it looks like you can block off areas for parties and it's quite big inside!

Super cool comic book themed bar on Broadway! I came here on a Friday evening to celebrate a friend's birthday and it was not too crowded even at its peak (something that I like). The bar was very spacious and had a good amount of seating for a bar. They also had a great music playlist, making the experience even more fun! It was super cool to see their drink menu to look like a comic. The drinks here are not too expensive and the one drink I got was delicious! I forget the exact name of the drink, but it was nice and fruity, not too sweet. For $12 a cocktail, I was happily impressed. I don't venture out to Oakland often, but this place is a place I would keep in mind for the next time I hit the bars in Oakland.

BART-adjacent bar with great atmosphere and surprisingly cozy rooftop seating. Walking into first edition feels like you've become a part of a live action graphic novel. With speech bubble light fixtures illuminating the vaulted ceilings, multiple mezzanine seatings plus their life-sized comic artwork, the ambience alone makes this spot worth the visit. Comic book style menus line the bar, listing their many craft cocktails; which are equally delicious and worth sampling! They also offer food from Xolo, which you can order at the end of the bar. Ended up ordering chips &salsa, quesadillas and churros to share. Great food, great drinks, great ambience and easy walk (or stumble) to BART after we were done with our evening. Can't wait to go back.

A great spot to grab a drink before a show at the Fox. Highly recommend the old fashioned if you like whiskey.

Beautiful rooftop area, fairly plentiful seating. As long as you're outside, it could be a nice little date spot. Ordered mushroom as well as Al pastor quesadillas. Really delicious! Parking is not too bad since for downtown Oakland. Important tip: leave NOTHING in your car to minimize the risk of break ins.

Surprisingly, it was not crowded at all when my friends and I went here on a Saturday evening. The place is quite spacious with two floors and outdoor seating. Despite having heat lamps outside, it was still cold so we sat on the second floor where no one was at. We basically had the second floor to ourselves. I'm not quite sure if it's this empty every time, but I really liked how chill it was. The drinks were fairly priced and really good. The bartenders were really cool too. The music was a vibe as well, which also added to my surprise that it was not that busy on a Saturday evening. I have no complaints there since my large group of friends seemed like we had a private space upstairs. I'd like to come back here and experience a busy night with more people just to get a full experience. I honestly think this would be a great first stop if you're planning on bar-hopping around the area.

Pretty cool hangout spot with some friends. It's comic theme. Hence the name of the place "First Edition" even the menu is comic themed! The place is dimly lit and reminds me of Paper Plane in San Jose. Funny cause one of their drinks was called Paper Plane!! Neat bar and plenty of seating on the lower level and upstairs! Great atmosphere and music. Bartenders are friendly (obvi). I got the "Bee's Knees" which was soo good I got a second one. Perfect spot to pregame before the concert at Fox Theater :p Next time I'm coming back to try some of their food!

LOVE IT , you would have to be here to find out ! Real chill great drinks and atmosphere .

Fun and chill spot in oakland! Has a really romantic outdoor patio on the second floor. Loved how the drinks are themed and how there's a drink for everyone. All the classic cocktails has a twist, easy to drink, and enjoyable spot. I got the Saga Bomb ($13) which tastes like a strawberry starburst (No alcohol taste which is a hugggeee plus for me) . ALSO! They have a lit playlist (hiphop)!

Great service, great drinks & decent prices. The food was also amazing, came here with my girlfriend's once & we will be returning.

Hard to believe that this bar is in Oakland! First time visiting was back in February to celebrate a friend's birthday. There are two levels to this bar and an outdoor balcony area, which is where we stayed during our time here. Wonderfully crafted cocktails, cute menus, all with a comic book themed twist! Killa Kwinn was my drink of the night. Love the vibes here and I can't wait to be social again, so I can come here!!! Miss it.

Good ambiance, good food, and beautiful outdoors. There's two floors and it is a pretty big venue. ID & vaccination record checked upon arrival. I love their food menu partnered with Xolo. The guac & chips were my favorite. Knocked off a star because service was a little below average - we asked if we could order from them directly upstairs and one staff member just said no and started running really quick away....I will say it was a one man show when we got there though (right at around 5 pm) But, the outdoor ambiance was great. Environment is chill and perfect to chat with coworkers. As the night goes on, definitely more of a bar vibe. Happy hour goes until 7 PM for select drinks (Old Fashioned, Paloma, Creole Club, Thrillmonger, and El Bromista when I was here 10/1/2021)

Checked out New Edition for Happy Hour with my friend Shayla. She picked the spot, which has a nice long and later happy hour than other places in the area. The place is huge with a few areas that could be private spaces for medium to large groups. They have two balcony areas that are separate from the main bar area. This would be a great place for Happy Hour, corporate event, birthday parties or other celebrations. I arrived around 5:00/5:30 and the place was not too busy. I ordered an Old Fashioned off the Happy Hour menu for $5, which was great. I ordered house made chips and guacamole from the bar that comes from Xolo (in the neighborhood). When my friend arrived, the place got busy with only one bartender on staff. We tried all of the other drinks off the happy hour menu which were not as good as the first one. If these are the highlighted ones, what on the regular menu? While some of the drinks and service were not up to par, the location was really nice and roomy. The food from Xolo was fast and delicious. I would definitely consider coming back and even hosting an event here, but I will probably stick to the old fashioned' s.

WHEN: Thursday @5:30pm I came here for Happy Hour which happens Weekdays 5pm to 7pm! I got here super easily because it literally off the 19th Broadway Bart station! This subtle comic book themed bar has an upstairs VIP area, but the bottom area is quite spacious. I was able to get here before the crowd which was around 6pm. They have such great happy hour deals. I ended up having 3 of these: OLD FASHIONED - $5 Bourbon, Gomme Syrup, Angostura Bitters. This is amazing. Not only is the happy hour price so low, the taste was fantastic!! My friends and I really enjoyed the old fashioned here! I'm definitely coming back. They have other Happy Hour selections too. I'm rooting for this cool spot!

It was like 10 people in there . The building and staff itself was cool nothing exciting, drinks were expensive but that's all clubs.... We still enjoyed ourselves though.

The atmosphere is killer but those dranks need some work. To be fair, we came here during happy hour and well... ya know. Sometimes them happy hour drinks be the worst ones. FACTS! The happy hour drinks that we received were definitely low quality and I personally didn't find them very good at all. The ambience is what will really hit you. Not sure what this place used to be before, but the space is pretty large and roomy. There's a few booths in the front, tables in the back and even an upstairs area. The bar top was long but pretty crowded during happy hour. What's nice about this spot is that they have happy hour from 5-7 which is unusual because most other places on the block end it around 6 or 6:30. They are definitely winning in that aspect. Where they ARE not winning is with their drinks. As I previously mentioned, we only came for the HH drinks but I still expected them to taste at least alright. We ordered a couple Old Fashioneds, two Thrillmongers, Creole Club, and the Mad Titan which are basically all of the happy hour drinks on their list. My friend seemed to like her Old Fashioned but all of the other drinks were truly subpar. The Creole Club was more of a shot versus a drink and was HELLA strong. Now don't get me wrong, I looove me some strong ass drinks. But, this felt like I was drinking mezcal straight out of the damn bottle! We all know how potent mezcal can be. If I wanted to do that, I would have just gone to the liquor store and gotten myself a bottle. The Mad Titan was straight up coffee! It was so bad that I actually took it back to the bar and asked if he could make me a different drink. Would not recommend it even if you love coffee. It was just overkill. The Thrillmonger was probably the only decent drink out of everything. But even then, it was nothing special. Just Tequila and mint syrup on the rocks basically. It could have used something else to truly balance it out. Not sure if the bartender was having a bad day, but wasn't the least bit pleasant. He pretty much had an attitude the entire time that we were there. The one good thing that I can say is that the chips and guac were stellar, and for $11 I wouldn't have expected anything less. We split this and devoured the entire thing. Apparently Xolo provides their food, but it was tasty. All in all, I found it to be a solid establishment but probably wouldn't come back anytime soon because the drinks were subpar. When I do make it back, I'll probably skip happy hour in hopes of receiving a genuinely handcrafted drink.

Recently joined a couple of colleagues after work on a Monday for cocktails at First Edition. It was our first time there and we each got two drinks (one with mezcal and the other was their version of a Manhattan). We were the only ones there for most of the time so we didn't get a chance to see a more "true" vibe, but the ambiance was cool and the drinks were great. We ordered some chips, salsa, and guacamole that were also really good, although it was weird that we had to order (and pay for) that completely separately from the drinks. My only knock was the fact that, despite no one being there but us, we still had to go to the bar to order. Would have been nice to get table service but still enjoyed our brief time there.

Good drinks and even better vibes. Onyx makes the best Hennessy sidecars. If you are out in Oakland, you need to be here.

Interesting comic decor with a lot of space. Drinks are good, but giving 4 stars because nothing really stood out to me.

Unfortunately, it's the type of spot where you have to constantly follow up with your bartender to ensure they entered your order correctly. Double check your receipt! I understand that offering happy hour specials for bars and restaurants is a great luxury in this economy as well during a pandemic. I appreciate all the hard work folks in the industry are putting in but please don't offer happy hour specials if you can't honor them. It sucks having to ask the bartender to correct your bill and honor $7 happy hour specials. They simply shrugged when I asked and said "it is what it is and I can't change it." I'm not incensed over the $14 difference but it's the lack of concern or courtesy from the establishment. That's what bothered me the most. Further they added my friend's drinks to my tab which we caught early on. He had his own tab open. Fortunately we settled up via Venm as they refused to make the changes. Also, it's not a good sign when another patron shows up and complains about their incorrect tab. He was told the owner or manager is on vacation for a week and asked him to come back another day. It seemed odd. My credit card company will settle this credit dispute so it's not a big deal. It's just too bad knowing they don't care enough to take of the situation. They did not trust me when I ordered my drinks during the 5-7 HH time slot and said they were entered after HH. Its hard to believe as I was there for almost 3 hrs with my friend catching up. There were maybe 6 other patrons there the entire time so they know what was being ordered. Two bartenders were working. I won't ever be going back and wouldn't recommend it to anyone else.

This comic book themed bar is one of my go-to's whenever I visit Oakland. It's a two-story bar, with an intimate balcony in the back, sometimes there's a live DJ playing as well. High ceilings, industrial decor, drinks are delicious! Great ambience.

We were referred to this bar by a friend and we have loved it since. We've had a great experience every time. The staff is so amazing. We come for the experience, the drinks are the cherry on top. Thank you for making this a great local place to hang out.

I couldn't help but to think the unfriendly attitude of staff played a big part in why the place was empty. Contrary to what their website says... Cool design and look - maybe smile - be personable and make conversation to make people wanna stay. Just sayin'

Cool place, great atmosphere and 10/10 recommend Alexander as a bartender. Amazing knowledge for both spirited beverages and non-spirited beverages! Service ON POINT.

Came here on a whim and it was pretty fun! This bar is spacious and there's plenty of standing room on the first floor and there's also seats available upstairs. Their cocktails were fun and unique & they also had beer on tap. My friends and I had some questions and sought out drink recommendations and the bartenders were kind and helpful. We came on a random weekday evening and it still had a good amount of patrons, but that also made it really easy to find somewhere to sit - always a win. I do wonder what it would be like on a busier night, but all in all pretty good bar and I'd come back.

This is a super cool bar and I used to come here quite a bit before SIP. Reasons why you should go: 1) The venue: it's trendy, huge, comic book themed, 2 mezzanines, 2 stories, booths and plenty of table/chairs, and a non-smoking patio. Perfect for hosting events. 2) Happy hour (HH) from 5-7pm 3) My all time favorite cocktail 'Old Fashioned' is on tap for $5 during HH. A dream come true! I order 2-3 and I'm lit for the night. 4) Catering from Xolo. The menu consists of tacos, burritos, and chips/dip. Order the Camarones (battered fried shrimp) taco and gauc and chips. 5) 2 minute walk from the bar to19th street bart station 6) You run into fellow Yelpers when you check in. Cheers!

I've never felt so disrespected in Oakland.. Came here once for a friend's birthday and waited patiently at the bar for 30 minutes but they didn't ask if I wanted anything... meanwhile, they were serving everyone else who went to the bar. Finally, one of the bartenders asked what I wanted and so I thought alright maybe they're just super busy. I ended up waiting another half hour there as they made everyone else's drinks. I realized that they weren't going to serve me and just wanted to waste my time. Not sure if I did anything wrong to piss them off but I hope they realize that people from different countries observe different norms. I would have preferred for them to say that people like me weren't welcomed at their bar instead of them trolling me for 50-60 minutes. Needless to say, I won't be going back, but I HOPE that this is a one-off thing and that they typically don't treat other people who look like me with such disrespect..

Massive bar. Like huge. The bartenders don't really seem to connect with the guests though. They have a super diverse staff, so I'll give them points for that. It's rare to see Black female bartenders in Oakland, and they have (at least) two. THE VIBE It's cool. The comic book menus are dope. I'm not a big comic fan, but I get the appeal. The music is solid. It's not divey. It's not pretentious. THE DRINKS So their wine list kind of sucks. Come here for a cocktail. Their focus is clearly on cocktails. Their menu features mostly classic cocktails, but they do have about a dozen or so original cocktails to choose from. THE VERDICT Another downtown Oakland bar to choose from. If you don't like long lines, check out First Edition. I've been here twice and will likely add this to my rotation of Oakland bars. It's a new bar, so they're still figuring things out. They've only been open for a few months, but I can really see this place doing well in the summer, especially since they serve FOOD!

I like the comic book theme throughout the establishment. Not only by their decorations but down to their menu. They also serve a nice selection of food that is rare from most Oakland bars. The bar is spacious with a sizeable downstairs and two staircases leading to two-second levels, one with just tables and the other with an additional bar. They also have a small outdoor area with a string of lights which was nice. It's tucked between a lot of buildings so it naturally doesn't get as cold, but they probably will put in heaters eventually. The bartender on the upstairs bar wasn't as friendly and she said one of the descriptions of the cocktails on the menu was incorrect which was a small detail but also why should that even be an issue? When I walk in, it definitely doesn't feel like Oakland which is happening more frequently than before. The crowd was diverse but still very gentrified. Looking out in the crowd, it lowkey looked like I was in SF. Compared to the other bars in Oakland, I don't know if this would be my go-to just yet.

A nice new and very spacious bar. A lot do room. Do not know if they will ha e dancing but they have the space. They have two lofts and a patio. There is also a decline bar in one of the lofts. I know here I am having my bday at this year. The prices are decent for the area and they ha happy hour. There are also some different specialty drinks. Very fun atmosphere. They are going with comic book villain theme - even though they have Superman and Batman on the wall. But we all like to be the bad guy sometimes. The staff so far are on point. Fun staff and knowledgeable. Check out Sequoya and Mina behind the bar.

A hot new Uptown Spot FIrst addition is a sexyish new bar to see and be seen when out on the Town. It is much bigger than it looks from the outside. It has a huge open space downstairs. Upstairs is another bar, patio and lounge. I wish there were places like this when I was a youngster who liked to hang . Unfortunately, I had to schlep myself to SF in order to get my party on and shake my tail feather. The multicultural crowd diverse mix of techies, artists and other chill people in their 20s and 30s. My friends and I were happy to add a splash of maturity to the mix. Xolo, the taqueria, provides the bar snacks. Check it out. Celeste

I am always looking forward to new bars opening in the East Bay and this is but one great addition to the Downtown Oakland area. Great HH drinks, in my opinion, in the area. We made HH with 10 mins to spare (5-7 PM Weekdays), he got the Creole Club and I got the old Fashioned ($5 each). I LOVED the old fashioned, not too sweet and nicely bitter. The Creole Club was good and my cohort like but it was a little sweet for me. The bar is super long, so grab a seat where you can and there are multiple bartenders every 3-4 seats. It can get really busy and if you can grab a private plush sofa seat with friends. There is also food that you can order at the end of the bar from XOLO.

A buddy and I came here on a busy Saturday night quite a while ago - definitely pre-COVID. There was a pretty good energy and people were mostly having a good time. Perhaps some of them were having too good of a time cause some of them were a bit sloppy and talking really loud. The service at the bar was hit or miss so one star off but the cocktails tasted pretty good.

Yoooo!! I don't normally go out to bars or cocktail bars for that matter because I like a different type of poison, but this place is a vibeeee - if you get there before the 10pm to midnight rush on the weekends it's my kind of place. Snagged up a booth and big relaxed with the homies. Upstairs got a cute lil outdoor area. Would likely make a good date spot - again, before the rush - but what do I know.. I'm single and always smokin for that tingle. And you might like a more lively vibe. If so, 10pm onwards! The budtenders - sorry wrong establishment - I mean bartenders are A1. Like most bartenders in Oakland. Tip them please they are nice people. Not sponsored.

A friend and I went strolling along Uptown after a hiatus from the scene just to try this place. I loved the vibe when I stepped in right away! The space was large with high ceilings, with comic book memorabilia arranged neatly around like a gallery, and a fun little menu that included low ABV and even no ABV options for the kid in you that's reminding you to drink more conscientiously. Since it was rainy not a lot of people thought to head upstairs, but we looked up there out of curiosity and found an unmanned second bar and that secret back patio that would be perfect for a sunnier day. The moment LCD Soundsystem started playing, I knew this was the kind of place I'd want to bring the rest of my friends to. What a cool curated space!

Wow, this place is great and has a huge open space -- both horizontal and vertical. We came here within the first 2-3 weeks of the opening. Drinks were on point. I can't remember the name of the drinks, but one had rum and coconut and the other had amaretto. It was sweet. Everything in this place was thematic, from the portraits on the walls to the drink menus, etc. Food comes from Xolo, which is across the street.

This is my first time coming to this place. Always heard about it but usually more of a place for weekend night out. Bar itself was very spacious, friendly bartender and a server. My best friend and I decided to have a night out in the town on weekdays after work and as soon as I got there the bartender which I believe he said his name was Alexander/ra(overheard)being a nosy ass I didn't ask the name as I walked in we straight up started joking/laughing/having conversation right off the bat didn't even get to ask his name. Anywho we ordered some food which was decent considering it's a bar food. My friend got himself tacos and I got Al pastor quesadillas and chips and guacamole to share. I sure tf did judge the chips by the cover but it was actually really fresh and drinks he made was awesome. Overall loved the energy. Alexandra I am coming back just for you biiiiiiatch. Loved his energy

New new new bar that opened up in downtown Oakland and you wouldn't guess the theme.... yes... a real life comic book bar. Not joking. The walls are filled with giant pictures of comics from all your favorite super heros and the ceilings have 3D structures coming down from them. It's such a cool concept & if they couldn't have done it anymore justice, the bar menu is also comic book themed & so are the drinks! I honestly didn't know what we ordered but I told the bartender something sweet & she gave me just that, it was a red/pinkish drink & that's all I could remember from it. They also have a beer list, just have to ask for it. They have a bar seating area, some high chairs and a cool lounge area on the first floor then two upper level seating areas over looking the bar. Plays good music, hip hop, r&b, some soul. Gotta come here on a Friday or Saturday night next! Yay for Oakland!

Cool space, and fun drinks with a comic book theme! I had no idea First Edition had a comic theme, and even upon entering the bar the theme is pretty subtle with its directions. The menu however looks like a comic book which I really like. They have lots of drinks--none really comic book themed but they have classics like a Paloma, Mezcal Margarita, etc. $12 for the cocktails. Happy hour is every weekday from 5-7pm! It's about $6 per drink. They also have food--when I came they had a menu for a Mexican Pop Up restaurant. I was with a group that got lots of chips and guacamole, tacos, etc. Overall I had a good first experience and would definitely add this to my list of go to bars in Oakland. It's very close to 19th st Bart if coming from outside of Oakland.

The bartender is really rude. I asked for a drink and was told in a condescending way that they do not have the drink that I wanted and suggest another drink but I did not understand what it was . Once I ask explain the delivery was very catty. I will not visit again

Delicious food, great presentation, ambitious is mellow dim lights type of vibe. Nice friendly waiters. I would recommend going for a special occasion