Tallboy

Didn’t get a chance to try the food but the cocktails are fun and well balanced. Beautiful spacious bar that has a way of making you feel comfortable even when it’s full. Easy choice if you’re looking for good drinks with friends in a comfortable environment.

A cute martini bar along Temescal that used to be a coffee shop years ago. It was an awesome transformation that you can see from the street view. It was swanky and comfortable with a nice thick bar front/center with casual seating throughout. The bartenders were nice and some really went all out for the drinks with a well loved shake which we appreciated. The drinks were nice and well balanced. I tried the Lychee Martini and the Espresso Martini (slushee) was sweet but strong. I liked the food and was pleasantly surprised to see the food curated by Lion Dance Cafe (so all food is deliciously vegan too)! The Cheese In The Trap was a kimchi bombshell that soothed the soul. I’d come back for a chill night with friends or an afters place for a date.

met up with a couple of friends here and we didn't want to leave. the food is extremely creative from the lemongrass peanuts to the shallot cookies to the vegan hotdogs. the drinks are also clever and delicious. love the relaxed vibe of the place and the bartenders are cool and very friendly. amazing place to people watch as well as the clientele is as diverse as Oakland itself.

I didn’t know how much I needed a “martini dive bar” until coming here. Beautiful yet relaxed environment with friendly bartenders, great cocktails (my favorite is the martiña colada), food, and most importantly — a horseshoe shaped bar. The space has the ability to accommodate all party sizes from solo patrons to large groups, as well as two rooms for private parties. Tallboy is a new favorite ❤️

Lovely new martini spot in Oakland. Interior is clean modern and bright clearly a lot of thought went into the design. I only had the signature "Tallboy Martini" but it was well balanced and delightful. I want to go back to try more of the cocktails. Also the bar nuts are excellent they have makrut lime leaves mixed in which gives a great tartness to contrast with the fattiness of the peanuts, again very well balanced. Check it out easily one of the best new bars in Oakland.

What a perfect addition to Temescal! Fun twists on classic drinks, abundant vegan food, and an all-around killer vibe make it feel like it’s always been a part of the neighborhood

Tallboy is one of those places that hits on many different levels: the cocktails are dialed in and reasonably priced; the staff create a fun and inviting atmosphere; the food menu is small but curated, elevated, and special. If you are on the fence about going here, this should move you across the line. You’ll like it. Best cocktails: - alaska #2 - spirit forward, herbaceous, unctuous - baby boy - thirst quenching, quafable, balanced with a spicy finish - 100 acre woods - refreshing modern take of classic pebble ice tiki drink with biggg activated mint garnish - my personal favorite.

Great martinis and lively atmosphere but my buddy and I about walked out after sitting at the bar for 40 minutes before getting a drink despite flagging the bar tenders twice. No shade to the bar tenders as they were friendly and apologetic for the wait; clearly working really hard. Management should step up and hire more service before it sours the reputation.

Gorgeous space with delicious food and drinks! Will definitely be coming back. A great new addition to the neighborhood.

I came here on a Monday night and boy was it busy! I love this cute new place. The inside is well designed. I love the bar in the middle. The seats on the outside had some bar seats as well as small tables. There is no service at the tables, so it's order at the bar. I ordered the lychee martini and the a touch of class. Both were great! I do wish that the lychee martini had a real lychee in it though. I feel like that's part of the charm of a martini. I would recommend checking it out! Cute new hip place. Great for a date or hang out with your friends.

Chaos: the best way to describe this place.. it needs rugs and more lights to make it feel warmer and more welcoming but instead it feels like ambiance was all an afterthought. Pretty good drinks tho.. if they had them to-go then that's why I would come back.

NEW. FAVE. BAR!! Yes, incredibly loud upon first walking in but not something you can't quickly adjust to once you find your own little table. This spot is just such a vibe and everyone's enjoying their own sips, tastes, and company so much so that it's contagious! The drinks were DELICIOUS and dare I say, actually affordable?! Perhaps I've gotten so accustomed to paying $18-22 in the Bay Area for a mediocre cocktail that I was just blown away by how reasonably priced these cocktails were on top of being so dang yummy. Hundred acre wood - gin, carrot, ginger, and omg I was surprised to like this so much. It tasted like an alcoholic immunity boost shot in the best way possible. Lychee martini - pretty standard but good! Appletini - light, refreshing, a little bit like a green apple Smirnoff to me? Thai tea slushy with rum shot - SO GOOD with the ube drizzle and vegan whipped cream omg. Sipped some down to make room for the rum shot and this just mixed together so beautifully and creamy! Chips n pickle dip! - gets a little too salty but that dip is tangy and so delightful - nothing another sip of your fave drink can't fix. :) Popcorn station with various seasonings? Say less! Although I think I might bring my own furikake seasoning next time haha

Tallboy opened in Hawk & Pony's long vacated space. Totally furbished to a glam, stylish "dive bar". Not much seating. Expect to stand when it's packed. Bites: dogs & sides. Imbibes: martinis, beers, slushies, cocktails, wines, non alcoholic drinks, craft cheekies, jello shots Sips: sous chef (8) well shot + 16 oz. Miller's high life. -gordon's gin, my fav traditional gin, easy sipping -Miller's: an old time favorite Nibbles: peanuts (7) -Lion's Dance special mix of roasted peanuts, markut lime leaves, aromatics, Tientsin chiles... -very addictive, slightly spicy, smooth tasty yummies Lion Dancing Dog (14) -wrapped on soft potato style soft bun with impossible beef dog garnished with sambal mayo, peanuts, cilantro, fried shallots, lime, cucumbers, soy pickled chilies. -flavas meshed as single unami unit, great comfort food for a light snack..

Tallboy is the new kid on the block. This highly anticipated spot dons a good martini and bites from the legacy Lion Dance, IYKYK. I'm not going to tell you how to live your life, but there is a martini rule. However, you can circumvent this by ordering multiple mini teenies. The dark wood bar is the center piece of the space. I loved the high energy vibe with people surrounding the bar: laughing, talking, and connecting. The space is laid out beautifully. Squeeze your way in and you'll be welcomed where ever your feet take you. The bartenders are serious about these drinks. Everything is made to order and you can see the juggling act. So impressive! The hot dogs are a fun vessel for unique toppings. I wish the buns were Lion Dance house made, but after a few drinks, "store bought is fine"...right, Ina?

Visited around 3pm on a Friday afternoon with 4 other coworkers. The bar had a couple other groups but plenty of space at 3, as the afternoon progressed, definitely got busier and louder so plan accordingly. Drinks: Martina colada - delicious, a clarified Pina colada, pineapple forward with a bit of line and coconut, sweet but balanced, super tasty and drinkable Espresso martini slushy - delicious, like a coffee slushy with a hint of booze, definitely more of a dessert cocktail, non-dairy whipped cream added creamy richness, really enjoyed Food: Corn Gratin - okay, this is vegan so keep that in mind, was a bit bland and could have used a bit more cheese and seasoning overall Olives - fine nothing special just a generous bowl of olives, these seemed packed in brine not oil Chorizo chex mix - again this is vegan keep that in mind, was mostly a blend of chex cereal and peanuts in a slightly spicy smoked paprika seasoning, wish this was a bit more savory with more snack variety like pretzels and bread stick or crouton pieces Service was fine, bartenders were pretty efficient taking orders but preparing drinks took a bit of time which is totally understandable. Overall fun new cocktail bar with an emphasis on martinis. The food was pretty lackluster so would probably skip given there are so many options in Temescal. Bar gets pretty loud so keep that in mind but definitely worth a visit for drinks.

Good drinks but the service leaves much to be desired. Idk if it's the orientation of the tables but it can get pretty crowded and hard to get around the U bar at night. They have booths, bar seating, and tables. It felt a little like the wild Wild West trying to wrangle chairs for the tables. There is a private room on the right hand side with built in seats. I've come here 3 different times and it's always busy whether it's 4pm, 6pm or 10pm. Coming early before dinner time seems to be the sweet spot. Frozen Espresso martini - 9/10 George Clinton - fruity tiki drink 10/10 Martiña Colada - 7/10, a bit too sweet for me Apple martini -10/10 Lychee martini - 8/10 Pretty privilege- 10/10 I love a strong sweet and sour bourbon drink They do sell food but I haven't tried it yet. They have a popcorn machine in the front with seasonings for snacking.

Came here for the vibes, left a fan. Me and my friend checked out Tallboy, one of the newest bars in Temescal. From the super spacious interior to the creative cocktails, as well as the friendly bartenders, this spot is truly a gem. My favorite drink was definitely the espresso martini. It's a slushy version with vegan whip cream on top, which is basically an adult desert. It was so good. I followed that up with a dirty martini, which seemed to be a crowd pleasure because almost everyone around me had it. It was definitely a new drink for me since I usually like my drinks a bit on the sweeter side but the olive cut through the vodka quite nicely. It did get pretty packed on a Saturday afternoon so be a little patient with the bartenders. Oh yes and tip!

Ambiance is chill, but it can get loud there. Service is as expected. I didn't try the food, but I heard it's good. Drinks are priced very reasonably. You can take anyone here who's old enough to drink. It's a nice place and it's friendly.

I have been wanting to try this place since the end of April when LDC sadly left us. The vibe is really cool. Feels like your local neighborhood bar with dope food, drinks, and people. I had the Lion Dance Dog and it was amazing. It tastes like Lion Dance! You order food/drink first at the bar and grab a number and then find a seat. The bar is busy so get in where you fit in. My friend ordered the Kimchi dog with cheese. If you enjoy American cheese you would enjoy it. It wasn't my favorite. A huge plus: there is popcorn machine in the back. I will certainly return.

Exploring Oakland for the first time and discovered Tallboy, a new "martini bar." (Note - Seen this great spot been categorized as a "dive bar," but can misrepresent Tallboy due to the lack of timeworn patinated furnishings and obvious patrons pickled from happy hour well drinks or PBRs. Perhaps "Nouveau dive" or "Neo dive" bar better fits this unique establishment.) Loved Tallboy on many levels and would recommend it for locals as well as others visiting the East Bay Area! Here's why: First, Tallboy offers a combination of fair priced craft cocktails, including low budget small craft shots called "Cheekies" and Jello shots, respectively $3 and $4, plus a range of reasonably priced vegan food. While I didn't select the eats, but noted the enticing gourmet vegan hotdogs the people next to me ordered, the comfort foods on ranged from a well decorated wedge salad to their own version of Chex Mix and Nissin Noodle Cups. The Tallboy team's curated offering addresses something special that I've not seen elsewhere, at least to that extent - a cocktail venue with attitude for those can enjoy "champagne tastes" yet something for people suffering a "beer budget" in these inflationary times. Their martini range start at $12 and caps at $16, but with a flight of assorted unique premade Cheekies setting you back only $9... you can still have some fun. Second, Tallboy's craft cocktails taste fantastic! Asked the bartender to recommend a main drink to try out. Note, I'm not a traditional martini person. He recommended at Lychee Martini. Although I've had that once in Hong Kong, this was their own recipe, with mezcal, their lychee mixture, lemon and fino sherry. WOW! Smokey delivering also those wonderful lychee notes. The only thing that could have topped that would have been decorated with one lychee! Then I ordered a CIA Cheekie of Cynar, bonded apple brandy, and Angostura. Also, WOW! About the space, Tallboy's U-shaped bar of freshly milled pine counter and dark stained lumber posts provides seating and occupies about 1/3 of the space. There are tables around for additional, more intimate seating. Definitely it has a style, yet it feels like it has just been "unboxed," so it would be interesting to see how it adjusts over time. Note, the nondescript storefront has been tagged. I'd make Tallboy a destination the next time I'm in the area, certainly to test out more on their menu.

Such a fun addition to the neighborhood! Love the expansive menu - everything from amazing martinis, cocktails, shots, and beer. Loved the dirty martini and lychee martini. The dirty martini was so well balanced and lychee martini felt refreshing. Had the lion dance spicy hot dog with peanuts and it was so good! So glad the flavors of Lion Dance still continues on through this location. Super packed, but the wait wasn't too long- about a 10min wait to get in. Such a fun vibe and looking forward to coming back!

Came here early Tuesday evening and there was already starting to get busy by the bar. I ordered a dirty martini to start and my partner ordered the deli dog and we split the chips and dip. Both were good and the dirty martini was also very enjoyable. I also ordered the apple tini and found that to be crisp and refreshing. We split an espresso martini which was tasty and had a healthy serving of whipped cream on top. Loved this place and will be back. The decor is lovely, the green is a nice touch and love the gold accents. I highly recommend coming here early and you must order any martini on the menu as that's their specialty.

Packed on Friday night; we snagged a table in the backroom. It was a random night, we found a big blank book of checks they'd left out and a whole bunch of someone's personal items. We let them know of course and our food took over an hour and a half to arrive - they brought us some sparkling drinks as a comp which was nice - then we got charged for a chocolate martini we didn't order and it never got corrected. I do love that Lion Dance is reincarnated in the form of vegan hotdogs here and they get 5+ stars. The flavorings were esp good in the Lion Dancing Dog w/peanuts w/the dirty martini. The passion fruit Jell-O shots were also yummy. Our throats were both sore and our eyes strangely dry on the way out; we had fun but business practices could be better.

Food and drinks are great, no notes. Service behind the bar was quick and attentive, even though they were busy (4:30pm on Saturday). This place is new, but I hope they invest a little more in making the space comfortable. It was super loud from people talking, and some sound proofing panels would go a long way in helping that. Also it was a pretty warm day and inside was way hotter than outside. Our entire groups was sweating and we definitely left earlier than we wanted to just because we were physically uncomfortable. They had one big fan in the doorway, but ceiling fans, and maybe replacing the windows with ones that open? Either way, it's a great spot, and I will be back -- but I'll stay for more rounds if they fix these 2 minor things :)

The drinks were transportive--and I don't mean to that hazy place you go with high ABV, but to a sweeter cosmic realm of flavors from favorite childhood desserts and summertime. I tried something with carrot, ginger, and mint, as well as their slushie espresso martini. Both were outrageously good. The Lion Dance dog is incredible: texturally interesting, spicy, and deep with flavor. The bun could have been toasted, both for the constitution of the thing and for crunch, but there are crispy onions and peanuts. My only complaint is the noise. It is deafening. I love the voices of friends gathering and enjoying vegan fare, but the music could be turned down a notch or they could add some sound dampening pads. I'll take my sister, but not my parents.

I went to Tallboy with my friends last night and we loved it!!! It was very busy for being the first Friday night it was open but the vibes were great and the space is so cool. I LOVE the horse-shoe shaped bar. The drinks are so delicious, I had a Cosmopolitan and a Lychee Martini, my friends got hot dogs as well that were very yummy. The bartenders and staff were so nice despite being super busy. 10/10 will go back!!!

This is my favorite spot in Oakland. It has everything I love: a wonderful selection of martinis, inventive cocktails, an all vegan menu of small bites and hot dogs, bright and clean ambiance, good music, conversation friendly sound levels. Get the frozen espresso martini and frozen Thai ice tea-- the best!

Vegan hot dogs!!!? So yummy I got the lion dancing dog and while spicy it was delicious. Great choice of a vegan dog. Drinks are yummy too.

Beautiful spot with good aesthetics and lighting, great music, and a wonderful staff. Really impressed with how they've hit the ground running since their recent opening. Just a perfect spot for a date, reading at the bar or grabbing a booth with friends. Can't wait to come back.

Great bar, great vibes, reasonably priced drinks. I had the tallboy martini which was good - I'm not normally a martini guy but enjoyed it. Beer and shot was only $8 for a tall boy of high life and a shot of Evan Williams. Service was relatively quick for how crowded it was. This is the only "cool place" that is that big in North Oakland, so that's a real addition to the neighborhood. A great to bring a group, hard to get a table and not quiet (but not overwhelmingly loud either

This place was so amazing! Delicious espresso martini slushees and a gorgeous cocktail menu. Super busy on a Saturday when we were there but great vibes from staff and clientele. Want to go back and check out some of the hot dogs.

Horrible service but after waiting 20-30 mins the Manager & server told me we don't wait on tables you have to come to the bar to get your drink. I didn't know that...being that was my first time there but definitely will be my last. They don't clean off tables. They let customers smoke right outside the entrance which you can smell inside. The Manager won't care about a customer complaint. He will say sorry to hear that & then say i have people waiting on me so what do you want me to do ? Not only does he not fix the problem but then also walks away with no hesitation to what you saying once he thinks you're done. Just overall bad service i will not be back.!

This spot oozes cool. Great place for a stiff, tasty drink. Prices are great ($10 for a dirty martini) and they have a menu of $3 freezer door cheekies which are so much fun. Bar staff is so kind. I would recommend getting there before 6 if you want to sit at a table. The Deli Dog was tasty, as was the lychee martini. We will definitely be back!

Absolutely adorable spot for a cocktail & a bite. All of the food looked amazing, so it was hard to choose one vegan hotdog. I went with the Cheese in the Trap and a Vespa, both were excellent! Bartenders were kind and the free popcorn machine is an extra plus. I will be back!

Best hot dogs I've ever had in my life, vegan or not. My gf and I tried the volcano cheese dog, some sambal flavored one, and a buffalo one (with blue cheese dressing and celery slaw). All were great, and had a solid ratio of flavor / hot dog to bun. Not sure what the buns were made of, but they were nicely chewy and complemented the contents well. I typically find vegan cheese kinda gross but everything here tasted great. The drinks were mostly great too, with the exception of the Baby (Boy? Bird? I forget), which was kinda watery tasting. I love how they have shots that are very sippable (in addition to normal sized cocktails and beer/wine). Took off one star cuz the experience is a little hectic - you have to clamor to order your food and drinks at the bar, which is not the most pleasant experience. And then swoop in and grab a table once someone vacates it. I'd prefer they use a QR code order at your table sorta setup. Also the sound insulation is very poor, so it was very noisy given the number of people. The peanut mix was great too, the ruffles and dip were fine. The A.S.S. cookies were very interesting, some sweetness but a strong savory toasted sesame oil element. The popcorn was cold and they were out of salt but it's free so I guess you get what you pay for lol. Wait was less than 5 min at ~7:45 on a Sat night, which was cool.

I went here for an afternoon sip and had the Pretty Privilege which was perfect. The balance of strength and flavor was excellent and it almost had a raspberry/chocolate flavor! The environment was convivial and fresh, the atmosphere was interesting without being over simulating. I can't wait to come back and try the food and more drinkies

An immaculately curated vibe. Everything you'd want from a bar- good ambience, friendly service, a full menu of vegan hotdogs, and a tiny-tini for when a full martini just isn't cute enough for your Instagram post. Try the espresso martini slushie!

Martinis and hot dogs... the new chocolate and peanut butter. New favorite bar, hands down.

The food -- 10/10, the drinks 10/10, the ambience 10/10. My partner and I are both vegan and were super excited to come out and try this new bar. We had a wonderful experience with one of the bartenders when we ordered our first round of drinks, but unfortunately while we were ordering the second round, we were met with an extremely sour and rude bartender that unfortunately resulted in us ending our night early. This person yelled 3 separate times at my partner -- once for supposedly standing in the wrong area to order drinks despite a total lack of signage or any indication of the correct place to order, the second time for not speaking loud enough when telling the last name for the tab, and the third time for not being close enough to the bar to grab the drink, despite having to bring back the number to the table because we ordered food. We wanted to come out and support a newly opened bar (especially with all these incredible vegan options!), but this experience really made both me and my partner feel incredibly uncomfortable, and we are not sure if we will return because of it. I would recommend placing signs that show where the correct area to order the bar is in well-lit areas to avoid confusion moving forward, instead of yelling at the customers. Another idea is to have a QR code at the table that allows you to order the food, so that you don't have to walk back and forth between the bar and table with the number. I don't think the establishment should suffer from the attitude of one of the bartenders -- but I hope this can be improved in the future, as we would love to come back. We totally understand that bartending on a Saturday night can get incredibly stressful, but that stress shouldn't be taken out on the patrons willing to spend over $100 at the establishment with the intention on having a really fun & nice night out.

Delicious drinks and fun ambiance. Didn't try the food but will definitely eat some when I go back

I have been here twice since they have opened. Overall drinks are really good. My favorite is the 100 Arce Wood. Down side to this place is that it gets really hard to hear the person you are with and the temperature inside can get too hot to handle if the front door is not open. Looking to come back again.

I thought this place was really a cool vibe, it just had a few kinks to work out. I know they are new so I totally get that they are still figuring things out, so I'm sure this rating will go up with time. First- the space is so cool. We went at 7 pm on a Saturday and it was busy! At first I thought there was standing room only but we lucked out with a table. The back tables are kind of hidden so definitely do a lap. The bar has seating all around it and it was packed. Once we say, we were super excited to order food and loved that it is a menu that features martinis and vegan hot dogs. I loved that the entire menu was vegan. However, the biggest challenge was ordering and I think this is the biggest kink to work out. So in order to order drinks or food, you have to go to the bar, but the bar was so crowded and I was in charge of ordering food and drinks for 4 people. I found a spot that had a line forming at a lower end of the bar so I waited behind about 6 people to order. It took at least 20 mins before I got to the front of the line and then another 5-10 before I was actually served. It's absolutely not the bartenders fault, she was trying to manage the bar and all these walk ups, they just need either a server or someone dedicated to walk up orders behind the bar. Then when I went to order, it was so much stuff that she had to take my phone which has the order written on it to the register to input it all because otherwise she'd have to memorize it, again another piece that could be more streamlined. The food was good. The real star was the vegan hot dogs. The chips and dip were just ok, the dip was great but the chips were straight from a ruffles bag. The olives seemed to be pitted olives from a jar and the corn gratin was good.

What a great new addition to the Temescal area! Tons of bar seating. The dirty martini's are sooooooo good! And the espresso martinis are slushies... can't beat that. Can't wait to go back and try the Lion Dance Cafe inspired food.

Went in around 5 for drinks and early dinner. Dogs were fire, N/A options are abundant, bartender was super kind, and all the prices were reasonable. I'm coming back for more dogs today :3

We came for the Lion Dance-designed menu, but loved everything! The Cheese in the Trap and Deli Dogs were awesome, the espresso martini slushee was perfection (even the whip cream is vegan!), and everyone working the bar was super nice even though they were totally slammed. Will certainly be back!

The music is too loud, especially bass. Our Group of 6 could converse only by shouting . I left early with a headache, after 30 minutes .

Walked in and I love the ambience. Bartenders are super nice, drinks come out fast, and food looks great. This is my new favorite spot. I'm definitely coming back!

Fun cocktails. Impressive back bar. Vegan weiners. Free popcorn if you're on a budget. Easy to find parking and is bart accessible. Have been here twice now and will certainly be back again. The espresso slushy martini goes down so damn easy and the more classic martini with sherry in it works very well! Favorite dog so far is the Lion Dancing Dog, but the Kimchi one and the Buffalo/Blu Cheez one was also surprisingly great.

I had high hopes but was disappointed. Tallboy Martinis were undrinkable (yech -premixed and tasted too much of dry vermouth) & some sound dampening on walls or ceiling would definitely improve the atmosphere. Defeningly loud.

This place is really popular on nights and weekends and it's not designed to handle the kind of business that it's seeing. Instead of long bench seating along the walls that would allow people to squeeze in, the seating is a few cheap little cafe tables and chairs that customers have to fight over. There's no clear place to order food and drinks at the bar, so people stand around it trying to catch the attention of one of the three bartenders, who mostly try to avoid eye contact because it's so busy--although honestly if they had a better system for taking orders (like a dedicated cashier) they could get a lot busier. Whoever did the interior design had zero fucks to give about acoustics so get ready to feel like you've been screaming at a hardcore show all night after you finish the strangely dishwatery martini and Costco-bunned vegan dog that took a hour to come out of the kitchen and go home for the night.

FINALLY! Style, edge, vibe and delicious ass drinks and snacks. Go asap. Can't wait to come back and dance.