Here's How

There are quite a few bars in the neighborhood but only a handful—Duende, Flora, Shinmai, and Hopscotch—worth considering if you want a great cocktail. And Here's How is a welcome addition to that group, offering well-made cocktails from some of the best and most knowledgeable bartenders in the East Bay / Bay Area. The level of cocktails they're serving almost warrants more of a pretentious vibe, but they manage to keep it chill, comfy and casual. So if you live in the neighborhood, or are catching a show at the Fox across the street be sure to check it out. Heck, I've moved out of the neighborhood and I still go back for one of my favorite cocktails: the Other Brother or the Navy Gimlet. Or just name your spirit and flavor preferences (sweet, herbaceous, citrus forward etc) and the bartenders will whip something up for you. Oh and as far as food goes, I haven't tried it all but my faves thus far are the Fries w/Aioli and the Fried chicken sandwich.

Amazing, sweet staff. Drinks were well priced and absolutely delicious. Music was great with a chill vibe. Food was great: we had the popcorn shrimp, pretzel and eggs and fries with zhoug. Loved every second of it. Will be back soon.

Really nice cocktails, friendly staff, welcoming environment, reasonable prices. Plusses across the board.

This place is amazing! The drinks and food are mind blowing. I loved the atmosphere and layout. See you tomorrow!

Drinks were amazing. They know their stuff. Salad was surprisingly good.

Great cocktails and service- try the Maracuya! Kids welcome here.

Some of the most crafty, creative, tasty cocktails I’ve ever had. The soda system is particularly neat. The food menu is unlike anything else in the area. I like that the ceiling is low-slung compared to other places, which helps to tamp the noise — you can have a conversation without screaming into your friend’s ear.

This must be a little known cocktail bar in oakland because it's been pretty quiet the last few times I've visited. The drinks are delicious and the service is always phenomenal. A great date night bar or a place to catch up with friends, their cocktails are sure to meet your needs. Highly recommend

My wife and I were going to a concert at the Fox Theatre when we stopped in a for a drink. I ordered and old fashioned and she ordered a grapefruit and tequila mix. Drinks were tasty and artful looking. The bartender was super nice to us and the space was ample. Atmosphere was very chill and relaxed. Overall 5/5 - stop by for a drink before you go to the Fox Theatre. Tip: go during happy hour (before 7pm) drinks are about half off!

Night Heron is a chic, yet understated, cocktail bar quietly tucked within the thick of uptown. The staff is friendly, and the bar hosts guest bartending events for nonprofits -- a great way to support the community. The times I've stopped in for a drink, the staff has been attentive, and the drinks have been pretty delicious. When I guest bartended here for a nonprofit, the staff did a fast but effective training (because really, y'all, the best learning is when you're WORKIN) and after 10 mins, we were slinging drinks to customers.

Date night vibes, cool neon lighting, round table seats with comfy couches and amazing cocktails. We got the milk and honey & another one whose name I'm forgetting that came with a raspberry flavored popsicle, gin based and equally delicious. I was amazed at how the drinks were refreshing and not at all bitter, yet still strong. Definitely a slow sipping , fruity cocktail. Bartenders were friendly and gave us suggestions based on our preferences. Defintely interested in coming back for their Tuesday trivia nights.

Such a cute cocktail bar!! The bar is huge, there's tons of seating around the place as well as a lot of standing room if you had a big group or want to dance. We love the neon lights and artwork they had around the place and the music was good -- great vibes all around. We ordered our drinks at the bar then grabbed a seat. Even though we came later in the night, it wasn't that packed which was perfect since it was easy to have conversations with each other without having to yell. The cocktails were really good and really strong so def worth the price. They said you can even bring in your own food so def going to do that next time. Really enjoyed our time here so will def be coming back :)

Night Heron, you're my fave cocktail bar in DT Oakland right now. And for good reason. They have trivia nights on Tuesdays at 8pm! SO FUN. All the bartenders have been so welcoming, friendly, and they totally know what they're doing with the menu. The community is queer-friendly and their restrooms are clean YAS. The crowd is respectful and honestly just here to have a fun time without the sloppiness or unnecessary bougieness. Their menu is easy to navigate, and I loved my Super Brava mezcal and Aloe tequila drink (that is no longer on the current menu). It's dope that they have a revolving menu that has changed over the course of two times that I've been. We love a creative cocktail crew! I have to shoutout Mars who was delightful, made such a delicious off-menu after some begging. Our party of 4 enjoyed our drinks and had such a blast catching up in their gold-accented furniture. Do yourself a favor and check our Night Heron for delicious, affordable cocktails for that millennial crowd aesthetic. They have indoor plants in their front seating area, lots of lounge and swivel chairs for groups and cute date/couples. There's also lots of bar seating, and I've always enjoying having space at the bar and limited wait at the bar. The music isn't even loud and you can ACTUALLY hear what people are saying! The aesthetic is softly/dim lit with neon lights and gold-accented furniture that feels just the right amount of cozy without getting too "just like home" comfortable.

Friendly service, cozy vibe and great selection of drinks. Dani was my bartender and made me feel comfortable during my solo date.

Great cocktails with chill vibe Well balanced, unique, tasty cocktails. The mixology here is great. - Milk and Honey (whiskey rum based) - Super Brava (mezcal whiskey based) Service friendly and frequent Overall a great experience!

This is my kind of cocktail bar! Celebrated my friend's birthday here on a Saturday evening and had a great night. Highly recommend taking a lyft/uber here. It's located right on Telegraph so parking could be inconvenient, especially on nights when they've got a show at the Fox (right across the street). The bar is pretty spacious with lots of seating, tables, and open areas. Plus it's also got a great vibe and aesthetic with a clean look and beautiful art/murals on the walls. When we arrived around 7/730, there was still plenty of seats and our group of 5 (which eventually became 9) had no problem cozying up around a table together. Order your drinks at the bar - they've got a great menu of specialty cocktails, beers, wines, and non-alcoholic mocktails. Plus they've got a happy hour menu that I'll def have to come back to try. The cocktails were so good and I love that they explored so many different spirits. They're strong cocktails AND they taste great. Also at the bar are QR codes to order $20 bento boxes from Itani Ramen next door. My friends and I ordered a couple bento boxes made up of snack items (gyoza, chicken karaage, snack mix, seaweed salad) along with some spam musubis. They'll deliver your order right to your table/seat. As the night went on, the bar never got too crowded and for me that was ideal. I love a bar that you could just sit, chill, hang with your friends, and still easily hear the conversations without feeling too claustrophobic in a crowded area. The seats all eventually got taken but it was never too much in the room at one time. Service was awesome and all of the bartenders were super helpful and friendly. Can't wait to go back!

Night Heron is such an underrated bar in Oakland. My partner and I wanted a few drinks, so we stopped by here on a Saturday evening. Their menu was really unique, and we loved every drink we got. Our bartender, Dani, was also super helpful and nice. Service was top-notch! The ambiance is nice, and the interior is pretty spacious. They have a few lounge areas with couches that can fit bigger groups. Drinks we ordered: - Milk and Honey: This was one of the BEST drinks I ever had in the Bay. The coconut flavor was really pronounced, and it wasn't overly sweet. My partner and I both enjoyed this so much that we ordered a second round of it. - Super Brava: My partner ordered this, and he really liked the drink as well. It was a bit too strong for me, but the flavors were really unique due to the garam masala. - Doowutchalike: This drink was also really good, I would order if you are a fan of ginger. - Rose drink (I forgot the actual name): This was a light drink and tasted just like a rose soda. I liked this too since it wasn't too strong in alcohol. Their drinks seem pretty solid all around and have not disappointed. They have a drink that comes with a popsicle that I didn't get to try this time around, so I'll definitely return to give that a taste.

Amazing bar with legit craft cocktails, awesome bartenders, and overall immaculate vibes. Came in after first Friday because of the small vendors market they were hosting. It ended up only being a few local vendors and a delicious food popup. The place was pretty full so we sat at the bar. I forget how fun it is to watch drinks get made and chat with the bartenders about alcohol. After struggling to decide among many drinks, I settled on the First Things First, a flaming cognac cocktail. Get this drink, it tastes incredible and it's so fun to watch it get assembled and lit on fire. Our service was amazing, and quick. I gotta say this is the kind of place you come back to again and again just to chat with these fine people.

Popped in here the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and we got the best service and great conversation with Danny, our amazing bartender. The place is very spacious with lots of seating and was very clean. They do trivia as well so we plan to be back for that. We got a few drinks, the milk and honey was the best drink I had that night. The clarified milk punch was so tasty in it. The other drink, I believe was first things first and that had a fire set to the alcohol on top which was pretty cool. I highly recommend this spot and am looking forward to visiting again!

Went on a quiet night. We Booked the back room as a good starting place for a buddy's birthday. Good drinks. Great staff. Good vibes.

This past Friday, my friends and I were trying to grab a table at Viridian but were told there was a 30 minute wait list. We put our name down on the list and ventured a few blocks down to Night Heron in the meantime to kill some time. At around 7:00 p.m., the bar was super empty. Pretty surprisingly, but I'm guessing the First Friday block party stole most of the night crowd. I ordered the Super Brava -- a Mezcal cocktail, while my wife ordered the Milk & Honey. Though I didn't get a chance to try out her drink, I enjoyed the sprit-forwardness of my own cocktail. I was initially concerned the inclusion of orgeat would render the drink to be too sweet but this wasn't the case at all. Aside from the drinks, the vibe here is super laid-back with lots of lounge seating. There was a DJ at the front playing lots of Bay Area bangers. Music definitely gets a 5/5 from me. Will be back to try out some of the other cocktails.

Stopped by to see the homie Mars working the bar. They always make stellar drinks and this was no exception. I got the Super Brava because I love a mezcal drink and it was great. My best friend got the Juicy Gotcha Krazy which was very fruity without being too sweet, which is always a tricky balance to maintain.

Unique and delicious drinks. Chill vibes. Great service. Did I mention they even have a variety of their cocktails on tap?

I came here for a drink after a show at the Fox Theater and I definitely recommend! Such an amazing and intimate ambience. Drinks were delicious and strong. Greg helped us out and provided such a friendly and welcoming environment. Thank you Greg!

I wish I liked this place more because the decor and the vibes were chill, but the service here isn't the greatest. My boyfriend and I came here after going to a few bars and we happened upon this place because we wanted to try something new. The bartender was had was not that friendly... totally curt and to the point with no personality. I asked a few questions about the drinks and the place but the bartender wasn't super responsive or helpful. I feel like it's just the bartender we ran into, the other bartenders at the end of the bar seemed much nicer. The bartender spilled a bit of our drink transporting it to our coasters too... not the best. Drinks we got: -Juicy Gotcha Crazy: This tequila based drink has good passion fruit flavor! Nice and tart. -The Girl Who Cried Champagne: this one is my favorite because it has a coconut Thai popsicle! The popsicle melts and flavors the drink. All these drinks were great but I think more infusions than actual alcohol. Overall, it's a decent place, but I wouldn't choose it over tried and true bars in the same area.

Solid drinks and a chill vibe at this spacious bar. Plenty of seating for large groups and the music wasn't too loud. Good for group hangouts. In our group, everyone loved the aloe drink, the mezcal based super brava and the milk and honey drink. You can also get food delivered from the Ramen place next door.

Night Heron is fairly a new bar but they always have changing cocktails, unique ones.. I usually go on Tuesdays for trivia, and Danny is usually the bartender/host of the trivia, he is super friendly! The space is really cute for date night and also you can rent the back room for private parties which I thought was really cool I think you can even bring your own food. They have huge booths that can fit probably 8 people at least so pretty good for large groups in my opinion with seating. My favorite drink there is the milk and honey!

I've been here before and it was ok. It's never packed around dinner time so it's nice when you want to get a drink and actually have a conversation. This time though, we walked in and waited at the bar for over 10 minutes and didn't get acknowledged AT ALL by the bartender who was helping out some customers right next to us. Their friends just kept coming so we kept patiently waiting and still NOTHING. Also, they didn't have the popsicle cocktail on the menu anymore which I really wanted.

TLDR: It's my favorite bar in Oakland. Please go and try their Milk and Honey special cocktail, it's great. :) Not only does Night Heron have excellent cocktails on a nightly basis, but they were amazing enough to open their doors on a Sunday, a day that they are normally closed, just to host my engagement party. The staff went absolutely above and beyond my expectations for my party, and were incredibly accommodating. They made my engagement party truly special, and I am so thankful for it.

Had a birthday party last night and the staff could not have been kinder. Special shout out to Greg!

This place is awesome - delicious, reasonably-priced cocktails and excellent atmosphere. Staff was friendly and responsive, too. What more could you ask for? Oh... happy hour? They've got that dialed in as well. Check this place out if you haven't yet!

I really wanted to love this place but the experience was just ok. Pluses: the decor is lively and cool. Love the Oakland/East Bay themes, and murals and decor from diverse local artists. Cool collection of plants too. Average: drinks were pretty good. We tried Milk & Honey which looked cool (decorative ice!) and tasted interesting. The Welcome to Paradise was better and quite strong. Downsides: the service was really weird. We were there on a Saturday night after dinner which should've been peak fun times, but it was really quiet and nearly empty. When the only other group there left, all three bartenders sort of clustered together at the far end of the bar at the back. Wanted to order another drink but they didn't even ask us how the drinks were or if we wanted to try anything else. Finally got their attention but eventually was just ready to leave. Idk I might go back with a big lively group but there are so many other places to try.

The venue is super cute and the bartenders are very nice and friendly ! Been in there a few times to enjoy the vibe . The drinks are good and the play list is great. Knocking 2 stars off due to my experience with Sequoya who I believe is apart of the management team. I wanted to host my bday there , initially she responded to my email in timely manner and stated that my requested date and time were all available . She also sent us a package that included costing and all options . We responded to her stating we wanted to book and just had a few logistic questions (are there tables provided , difference between the room options etc) to find no response ! They state they respond to all emails within 24 hours but I understand things happen . After sending 2 follow up emails days apart she finally responded (so it took her about 4-5 days )and her response was just a copy and paste of her initial email ..LAZY! Her copy and paste wasn't necessary. I responded asking if we could hop on a call because we wanted to finalize everything as my party would be within 2 weeks and again no response . Oh well their loss ! Overall super disappointed, we ended up taking our party to another bar/lounge and had a blast. If you're planning on booking an event here I would save yourself the headache !

Casually walked by this bar with my friends and we did a double take, and walked in. we do not regret it at all!! Greg was GREAT and so personable, and his drinks were sooo good! definitely a hidden gem in oakland. we loved the vibes there and Greg even let us choose the playlist. OH and their drink menu is based off song titles *honorable mention-Goapele & Kehlani* we will definitely be back this weekend!

Went last week for the first time! We loved it! Had 5 or 6 cocktails within the group - great service, high quality. We will definitely be back! Also you can order food from the place next door and it'll be delivered.

The bartenders are friendly and the drinks are good but the whole bar smells like pee. Won't be back.

Really cool cocktail bar in Uptown - good cocktails, especially the one with the gin garam masala (I forgot the name). Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area!

strongly suggest the Doowutchyalike. Aged tequila paired with aperol, ginger and a zippy kick of citric acid; a dance of sweet bitter spicy and sour that makes me salivate just remembering it. Chatted with Cory the owner for a spell, seems like a great dude. They have a tap pre loaded with some of the cocktails and he gave me a sample of the Milk & Honey, that thing has LAYERS. I will return here, close to my office, immaculate vibe, I've been bar hopping around here a fair bit, there are 3 main types of bars in downtown Oakland, self serious exposed masonry places that lean on the three cocktail business lunch nostalgia, shoebox sized places with the walls covered in crazy crap with cheap but strong drinks, and neon soaked havens that pick a theme and swing for the fences, I think the theme here is "welcome, you few remaining Bay natives". It's a good theme.

My girlfriend and I stumbled upon this place on a walk around the neighborhood. The aesthetic is clean and modern. There's great mixology and a creative menu that nods to Bay Area music. Our bartender was friendly, attentive and quick. The wow drink was, as pictured, "The Girl Who Cried Champagne" ingredients include vodka, butterfly pea flower syrup, and a Thai spice popsicle among other magic. A definite return to spot!

Ambience and vibe was pretty chill. Drinks were hella amazing. We ordered milk and honey and I-luv. You can also order a meal that came from an adjacent Japanese restaurant, Itani. The food choices were two bento sets that contained an assortment of finger foods. The karaage was definitely a great pairing with the I-luv. It was delicious. Milk and honey was very smooth and lovely. The name says it all. Greg, our bartender, was very nice and friendly. He made the whole experience superb! Definitely will come back.

Came in for a drink before grabbing dinner next door. Both of our drinks were amazing and the bartender, Greg, was super helpful and friendly. Will definitely be going back soon.

New bar that just opened ~3 weeks ago -- super laid back and upscale vibe Bartenders were very nice, very chill, and were very experienced -- watching them craft cocktails was a show in and of itself Drinks are very unique, especially notable being in the middle of the uptown area surrounded by other bars. Mine came with a delicious popsicle Will definitely be coming back! A refreshing new bar for the uptown Oakland area

This place is a hidden gem. The ambiance is beautiful. The art and music are great. And Greg the bartender was the best!

Just stopped in for the first time. We were looking for something way better than the cocktails we just had down the street. Good news, we succeeded. Night Heron is a cute space with inventive cocktails. I had the 'proper aim' and my husband had the 'about a bird'. Both were so well balanced and delicious. We will definitely be back to try more.

Amazing new place with such creative drinks. The ambience is perfect for Oakland. Such beautiful artwork and the music goes so well with all the drinks. It's a must go place!

Great new spot in Oakland. Enjoyed the milk and honey and welcome to paradise. Oakland art and soul through and through.

Nice ambiance. Is there table service? We were a business group of 7 and one of the two bartenders picked up our used glasses and took an order or two, but I really wish she would check in with our table every 20 minutes. If the staff provided ongoing table service this bar would sell A LOT more drinks! I asked for something tall and sweet and I took the pleasant woman bartender trainee's recommendation which turned out to not be tall or sweet. VERY disappointed! The tall and sweet drink I requested was instead served in a small (not tall!) glass (way too full of ice!) and was sour/bitters-based and not very balanced or tasty. For $17 including tip, W-A-Y too expensive!!! I WANT A REPLACEMENT DRINK! Next time our monthly business group meets here 6pm-8pm, I will come early during Happy Hour (5pm-7pm M-F) for the $8 drink special. I also ordered the chicken Bento Box from the restaurant next door. I love that my meal was promptly delivered tight to my table. $20+tax&tip =$26) Pretty tasty but I wish there were more than 2 menu choices. I'll have to see if Night Heron allows other outside food. If so, that's what I'll do.

Tasty cocktails before a show at the Fox, which are not cheap but better than at the bar inside the Fox. The bartender was super nice too. It was dead when we went on Saturday early at about 7pm.

Beautiful bar that is a tribute to Oakland. From the same folks at First Edition. The vibe is classy but relaxing. The cocktails from their menu are unique and delicious. I can't wait to work my way through the list...

I walked into this bar shortly after it opened during a busy night in uptown. I loved the vibe. It was quiet, the bartenders were great and getting a drink was quick. I recommend stopping by.

We stopped by early one evening; it wasn't crowded (still early), but the decor and music made for chill and intimate ambience. Folks behind the bar were friendly and took a lot of care with our drinks. The drinks were inventive and balanced. We'll definitely be back!

Great drinks and lovely atmosphere! Bartenders were knowledgeable and mgr was super friendly.