The Avenue Bar

Halloween is every day of the year at The Avenue. Traditional small bar with great staff and pool table and quiet area at rear. Pictures tell the story.

I absolutely love this place!!!!! One of my favorite places in the Bay Area and the coolest dive bar! Halloween themed! And every October the decorations are absolutely incredible. Wish I posted these pictures sooner. They’re from the end of October 2024.

Super fun dive bar that had a very diverse mix of people, who all seemed very Oaklandish. Didn’t spot a tech bro the entire night. Oh, yeah, an impromptu drag show occurred which was fun.

Dive bar, that does awesome stuff for Halloween (full bar decoration) Good place to watch sportsball. Check out the cool toy cabinet near the bathrooms! Halloween is a great time to visit!! The bar undergoes a very spooky transformation!

Nice metal bar, we crashed here after filing taxes and had a good time :-)

Great dive bar. Love the lil details like the photo booth and the big game hunting video game. Classic. Two things that after a few drinks are actually, very suddenly, appealing. Bartenders were nice and everyone seemed to be having a good time. A good bit of the bars in Oakland are a lil stiff this place was very relaxo. Also pretty good prices and deals ! Also its got a heavy metal goth thing kinda going and who doesn’t like Halloween vibes.

A Temescal staple. Cheap drinks, grungy gothy decor, ample seating. One of the best dives in Oakland.

Avenue, how I love thee - let me count the ways. First, cans of Hamm's. Honest and straightforward, just like the bar. The bathrooms are always clean. The staff are friendly and efficient with no pretenses and no nonsense. The house cocktails are priced better than anywhere else in the city and always stiff. The crowd knows how to relax and they're always friendly.

This is the place for year round Halloween lovers! I can't believe I hadn't heard of this place up until this year. Reasonable prices, good drinks, spooky vibes. Bartenders are attentive and chill. They decorate even MORE during Halloween time, and heard they do it up for Christmas as well. 10/10 bar and vibes. The one iffy thing I'd say is if you're driving there, be aware of the risks that come with parking in the area. Even though it's a "nicer" part of Oakland, no one's safe when it comes to getting your car bipped. Seen so many cars when I left with the windows smashed. Sigh.

This is a cool bar with friendly vibes and no drama This bar was on our list for our X-mas Pajama bar hop and I am glad we made it here Drinks are good, prices are reasonable and I cant wait to come back here

Coolest bar in the Bay. Maybe California. Maybe the galaxy. What did I do in a past life to deserve a horror-themed dive bar within walking distance? There are places one should go. This is one of them. Have fun.

Calling all Horror and creepy vibes lovers! The Avenue is a great place to grab a drink and enjoy some good goth music. I was pleasantly suprised to know they host Drag Shows and they had one on the dag of my visit. Super fun and good for groups. They have a billards table and seating in the back but also plenty of seating in the front and outdoor. The drinks were good and the bartender was fast and kind.

A year round Halloween dive bar?!? What a dream come true! We were in the area wasting time before our dinner reservation and stumbled upon The Avenue. The skeletons on the outside caught my attention and I knew we had to check it out. The inside was a mix of a dungeon and a nerdy guy's bedroom who likes to collect Halloween decorations and toys. Skeletons line the ceiling and even the fireplace. There was a signed "Helter Skelter" book from Charles Manson and a guillotine on the back patio. The bartender was friendly and the drinks were decent - pricey, but decent! Even the bathrooms were a sight to see! I just love funky places like this and visiting made my little weirdo heart so happy!

So much to look at! Get a drink and play iSPY, def a nightmare/xmas vibe...but way more exciting though. Fast service and decent drinks!

The Avenue is the all year round Halloween decor dive bar located in Oakland in the Temescal area off of Telegraph. Located in the area where a lot of restaurants are, we tend to come here while waiting to be seated for ramen or after getting some Cuban sandwiches. Watch out where you park here because it's bip central. But The Avenue has a full bar with cheap drinks, brews, and everything. They have a pool table, tons of seating areas, and other activities and I think you can watch games here. Service is great and a vibe inside.

This is a cool dive bar! Last time I was there, lots of young people were chatting and drinking their brews. Hanging out at the bar, and other places. Cheap drinks!!! A great place to gather with your peeps! Or maybe reach out6 make new friends. The atmosphere is "spooky", funny, and festive! I am impressed how well the place works together visually. It just all flows. Imagine Halloween all year. There are lots of different areas where friends can hang out, and drink. Or play pool? Or cuddle with a friends in front of the fireplace. I noticed that the ceiling looked different than the last time I was there. There had been a severe ceiling leak, that the owner fixed it, and re-designed the ceiling decorations. There is alot to see. Each time you go, I recommend going to a different area to check out what is to be seen. Also, walk all the way to the very back and check it out. If you have friends coming in from out of town (that like to drink) this is a unique place to take them that they will probably remember. Or get to know your friends in the East Bay better.

Fun place, with awesome decor! Saw a Sunday night football game here, which they played with the sound on. We were also served free popcorn, which was a plus! Wish they had a larger draft beer menu, but otherwise had a great time.

This place is just the right kind of spooky. It's the perfect dive bar. Great bartenders, great crowd, great decor, great prices!!

One of the last nice dive bars in Oakland. The ambiance is what it is all year around which is cool. The drinks are potent and amazing. The only thing that sucks is they close at 1am everyday. Which can be a plus or a minus. Either way always a great time when I come in!

Love love love this place! I really only remember to come here around the decor heavy holidays (Halloween & Christmas) because they go all out. This is the kind of bar you bring your friends from out of town to. You know the friends who have just the slightest inkling towards dark and twisted, all times of the year? Yea, those ones. Plus the bartenders make some legit drinks. Don't expect anything fancy (no egg whites on my whiskey sour) but I've always had consistently good cocktails.

This is a Hallowen Themed bar and really a sight to see. It was a one drink stop bc it was a random weekday stop but worth it to just pop in one day

Funny bar with cool Halloween theme. Good drinks and friendly bar staff. They have a pool table too. Lots of places to stand and a cozy feel. Super fun!

I love this place. Cool decor. Cool bartenders. Good, but not fancy drinks. This is my go to spot while I wait 45 minutes for my table at Marufuku Ramen next door. Make sure to play the Bimini ring game, it's a lot of fun.

Good vibes. Happening spot. Good music. Had fun on nye there. Everybody seemed cool. I like the venue. It has very interesting decorations, lay out and like a little secret chill room in the back that was very cozy and comfortable.

Came here for a quick drink but ended up staying longer for their pool table. This is your friendly neighborhood dive bar decked out in Halloween décor, LOVE. If you need a beer, come on by. What more do you need.

Love this place but they need a second pool table! Super fun atmosphere, people are friendly , bartenders are welcoming and attentive.

Super creepy scary skeleton shiver down your spine kind of bar! Fun as heck to stop by have one two or three drinks. Beers are reasonably priced and the atmosphere is relaxed drinking culture. Service was quick and the music is chosen by the ppl who pay haha so beware

It was our first time checking this place out and we thought it was really cool with wall to wall Halloween decorations that grab your attention from all angles. The beer and cocktails list was right up are alley with good ipas and tasty drinks. 10/10 would recommend!

I love this bar. The decorations is how I feel like I would decorate a bar. I have come in a few times before, but the Halloween decorations really kicked it up a notch! The bartenders are awesome, fast and attentive. The crowd is a good mix of Oaklanders and it's a great chill and fun vibe. I've always enjoyed our nights here & it's right across the street from Burma Superstar. Parking can be hard so you will have to walk a few blocks on a busy night. Drinks are priced nicely. Definitely a good unique time!

Such a great bar! I went in on Fourth of July, a Sunday and the bartender was sooo sweet! She made the best Moscow mule I have ever tried, and trust me, I have tried a lot. I didn't get her name but she is tall, has beautiful tattoos, and glasses. I hope I get another chance to see her! The bar is pretty nice in size and has a pool table! The pool table only takes quarters but it is 50 cents a game if I remember correctly. They have a nice patio outside a well. All of the people here were friendly too, which was kinda shocking! I will go here in the future if I want to avoid the crowds in Downtown Oakland. I recommend!

You know for what it is it was a decent place. We were just stopping by on the way home and found this little bar People seemed pretty friendly. It's pretty dark in there, but you're still able to see. The drinks were pretty decent and they were a decent price.

Love this bar! Definitely a must if passing through Telegraph Ave! Right now the bar has outdoor seating for drinks. You are able to sit inside for food. Nicest staff ever!

This place is quintessential Oakland, owned by a son of Oakland Curtis, born and raised here. All good people working here in a very eclectic setting. If you like Halloween or horror movies you should check it out. Great prices and generous pours. Danielle is best, most honest bartender ever. I paid cash and she tracked me down because I overpaid with my bills stuck together.

It was really quick to get a beer here which was nice but to be honest there was an overpowering strange smell in the bar that ranged from body odor to stale dusty furniture. I am absolutely aware that this is a dive bar and there is a lot of charm in the decorations and the bartending staff was quick and attentive. The lighting and the feel it's pretty fun however just keep in mind that it is a dive bar.

If you like stale cigarette smoke, stanky bouncers, rude douchebag men, and cheap Halloween decorations then you have truly found your place to be. The bartender was real cool though. She makes an awesome vodka on the rocks. Curtis was pretty cool except when challenged about those rude bouncers.

Give it to me, give it to me, give it TO me! O M jeezy! The dive of all dives! I'm talkin' skeleton heads and chains hanging from the ceiling, cheap ass drinks, and DMX playing in the background! DMX people! They played a DMX medley! Damn, I just love you Avenue! I was bustin' out in all kinds of raps! I love when a bar pays homage to some of the best rappers of our time. They were bumpin' Ice Cube and Bone Thugs... daaaaamn, I can't even right now! This place is FIRE! Hella tables and bar seating to accommodate me and my crew! Tons of TV's to watch the games. Arcade games and a pool table. Cheap beer and alcohol! Stoppit! Just STOPPIT! I would live here on Friday nights with my peeps! For real! The ceiling is so scary but the neatest art compilation that I have seen! This place is just full of entertainment! The bartenders are legit and fast as well. I loved that it wasn't crowded on a Friday night while the Warriors were playing. Cheap beers! Only $5 for drafts and bottled beers! Yes sir-e-Bob! My only nitpick is the $10 minimum for card use. But with the cheap drink prices, you have to get more than one drink here! So many fun and interesting people at this bar! I admire unique and trendy dives like the Avenue. They follow their own rules and I love that to pieces!I will be stopping by here again in the near future for sure!

The bartender, Danielle, is an absolute angel! My Apple Watch had died, so I put it in my purse & of course I missed the bag & it fell on the floor. I didn't notice until the next day and after a week I assumed it was lost forever. I got a call from Danielle telling me she had found it & went through so many hoops to try and get it back to me!! So so grateful for amazing bartenders & people like her!!

One of my new favorite dive bars. To be honest, I hate writing about places I love because I hate to expose it and then contribute as to why it gets super crowded later on, but this place deserves a review. With everywhere getting all hipster and gentrified nowadays, this place kept its spunk. I love the imitation of cave stalagmites on the ceiling, the dark ambiance, the wall decor, and skulls along the bar next to the liquor. The locals/regulars are nice and the bartenders are always pretty awesome. The drink prices are decent as well.

This place has some amazingly fun regulars and the bar staff are a bit off the rails sometimes but I wouldn't have it any other way! They give the Oakland vibe!

Fun bar, suits my decor and music than a lot of people probably. Younger crowd and vibe, laid back and fun. Bartender(s) were solid though they were getting swamped on a Friday night. Pros: Horror and Satanic themed decor. Awesome. Decent draft and Scotch selection, better than at most dive bars. Old (I'm old now) rock and metal. So nice. Easy to find late-night food literally next door and across the street. Functional pool table Cons: Couldn't find any really!

The tall lady bartender just loves to clear your drink before you finish it

They made a pretty great martini - I often get chastised for ordering martinis at dive bars but I still do it because... tradition. Anyway, the night we went it was not crowded at all, which made for a cool chill experience. All in all I would come back because the drinks were made really really well but there's not really anything else that make it that noteworthy. Patrons who were there on the night we went were pretty diverse / all over the place (ages/races/genders), which I appreciated and didn't expect for a place like this. Older crowd with lots of couples as opposed to big groups of college kids you might often expect at a dive bar. It's close to home so I may be be back but to be honest all of the miniature figurines on the way to the bathroom really really creep me out so maybe not.

One of the bartenders was sexually aggressive and made extremely inappropriate remarks. I have previously really enjoyed this bar and am so disappointed. I'm no prude and appreciate an off color joke but he took it too far, and when I expressed my concerns to another staff member, was told there was nothing they could do but offer me two beers on the house. Call me crazy, but dignity and respect are worth a heck of a lot more than two beers

If it wasn't for my coworkers I wouldn't have discovered this gem. I often come in the afternoons and it's less busy which is great because no one likes to wait for their drinks for too long. Depending on who the bartender is you may get a really strong drink. I haven't had a bad drink yet! They decorate during Halloween which is really cool. The atmosphere is already in a league of their own so adding Halloween decorations is always fun to see. There''s only 1 pool table tho so be prepared to wait if that's what you came for. They have an arcade game and a jukebox. Lots of seating at the bar, they have tables too and a couch towards the back for those that may want to relax in a group setting.

Tw: S/A NOT A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR WOMEN/FEMMES. I was yelled at by the intoxicated bouncer for reporting a sexual assault. I was outside the bar with my partner getting some air when my friend and her group came outside. She told us that she had been groped and in response hit the guy. (As she should) As a result of her hitting the sexual assailant she was removed from the bar. I didn't have an issue with her being removed for hitting someone because she was heavily intoxicated however as a woman, i was concerned about the sexual harasser STILL in the bar and was curious of any precautions taken to remove and preferably ban him as well. So i asked the bouncer who kicked her out what was being done about the sexual assailant still in the bar. I figured her friends could walk her to their car and once she was safe he could kick him out. Or he could kick him out and escort her to their friends car. Removing both people but protecting the victim from the assailant. This was NOT the case. The bouncer was belligerent. I could hardly understand him as he was throwing his arms up annoyed that i was questioning his decision to kick out the victim and not the assailant. He huffed back and fourth claiming she didn't tell him and if it really happened she would've told him(blaming the victim). According to her friends who were sober they did tell him but he ignored them, claiming he didn't see it and only saw the punch. He got angry very quickly and YELLED in my face how that particular patron was a regular and played pool with his wife and just knows he would never do that (protecting and advocating for a predator). For context my partner and i were stone sober. We had one drink between us prior to the incident. We were both very calm when addressing the hot headed bouncer. For this man to yell in my face, denying an assault took place, blaming the victim and protecting a sexual predator mortified me and i refused to go back in the bar. At no point should the bouncer be more intoxicated than the patrons. It was ridiculous and disgusting. I told my partner that I no longer felt safe there and we waited in his truck for the rest of our friends. At this point word had gotten around the bar and how mishandled this sexual assault was. According to my other friends it took PATRONS STEPPING IN to call out, corner, and chase out the sexual assailant. It shouldn't have to take patrons stepping in to get something done for the safety of the other patrons. My other friends explained to the woman bartender what had happened to our friend and myself and was mortified but at that point nothing else could have been done. That bouncer protected a sexual assailant and in doing so harbors and unsafe environment. Until they replace him and fix their protocol on sexual misconduct I don't advise women,femme,non binary, non conforming come here. Its not safe for you. (We had another incident where a group of men heckled and harassed our friend outside by asking if he was gay because of his coat, just an example of the type of people who go here) Despite the design this is not an alt bar, this is a normie bar where normies come to prey on the alt community. Their are plenty of other goth/alt bars in Oakland that harbor a much safer environment for women and people of the lgbtq+ community.

Came here to meet up with someone on sort of a blind date/meet-up. I really like this place - sort of like a dive bar but with a Cheer's feel to it as it seemed like it's a place where locals go. The bartender was cool. One downside, aside from my meet up being a total disaster - the guy was a real loser ( but I digress) - their wine selection was very limited. I'd definitely venture back to this place if I'm ever in the area.

Definitely in my top 3 dive bars in the bar area. Great ambiance, good value, and a lot of great restaurants nearby! Bartenders are polite enough, a lot of seating, arcade games, and the decorations can keep you busy for hours. Stiff drinks, good selection. This is a fernet's and whiskey heaven. Parking can be a bit of a hassle and the bathrooms and definitely not the cleanest but still worth.

I love a dive bar and a themed bar, so imagine my surprise when I realized I'd never been here. We hit this place up on 2/29/20 after grabbing some ramen next door. The blonde female bartender was definitely overwhelmed by the number of people ordering. She took maybe 15 minutes to look us in the eye, and before she helped my siblings and I, she definitely went to help the blonde group who came in 10 minutes after us first. This left a bad taste in my mouth, so we had our drinks, played the ring game, and left. We wanted to get another round, but we didn't want to wait 15 more minutes for 2 shots and a canned cider for $25 dollars. The bartender had the HARDEST time doing math in her head, so I'm sure we were overcharged, especially since we were not given or offered a receipt. Maybe we'll come back in October. The female bar back who came in later (black and blonde hair) was super nice and helpful. This place definitely has regulars who look at you funny if you're new to the spot.

Danielle is the absolute best! She makes killer drinks and is the kindest bartender. So happy to see this bar thriving in Oakland. The Avenue is lucky to have a star like Danielle!

This place is a serious gem! For starters if it's October definitely stop by for their Halloween set up it's FREAKIN' EPIC! But you'll notice that even if it's not October it is still decorated pretty spooky, I heard they decorated for Halloween a number of years back and decided to keep it up. It's excellently spooky in here! YO! It's great mix of perfectly weird "Classic Bay Area" weirdos and neighborhood locals. The drinks are cheap and they usually have a strange movie on. Sassy staff and strong drinks. Definitely my kind of place! Stalactites in the ceiling, a pool table and a jukebox that folks are playing great tunes on, 90% of the time. I mean come on and if you get hungry there is some seriously solid Ramen next door. God forbid they ever close this place, if they do, I'm leaving town. Rock on The Avenue!

We came here after dinner at Pyeong Chang (see my review.) It is a dive bar & a locals' one at that. It has a lot of diverse customers w2ho are friendly & the staff is very friendly. I love how they have a juke box & the most popular song of the night was Proud To Be An American by Lee Greenwood appropriately. The bartender was friendly, though she did forget about my second drink, but I should have gotten her attension as they were busy. I had a Guinness & my friend, an ipa; we then shared an Ankchor Steam. We were amazed to see all of the sculls hanging up & all the signitures of people & stickers in the restroom. They do have pool tables in the back, but we did not partake. This is a bar with customers of all ages & not targeting just the young or older crowd. So, for a wonderful neighborhood hang out with cool drinks at low prices in a divy yet clean atmosphere with friendly service, The Avenue cannot be beat. Keep up the good work guys.

I stop by there once in a while because they stock a beer I like that's hard to find around here. I like the bartender that is usually there, friendly, while still keeping the priority of taking care of his customers. The bar deserves 5 stars when he's there. Last Saturday afternoon I stopped by and there was a different bartender there with different priorities. He was engaged in conversation with a couple customers. I thought I waited patiently at the end of the bar where they were talking, but he just looked at me as he was talking. I looked at him while he was talking, and I'm pretty sure he knew he was working at a bar and I was there to be a customer, but he just kept on talking. I waited a while before I left without getting the beer I came for. It doesn't mean all that much to me. There are other places that appreciate people coming in to do business.

This place is awesome! Danielle is amazing! So friendly and attentive . She is friendly and made mine and my gf experience one to remember! We will be back!!!!!

Cheap drinks and great atmosphere is your thing then I got the spot for you. It's definitely a dive bar but don't worry the local degenerates are friendly behind their tough exterior. Drinks a cheap and shots are full. Pool table and shuffleboard are a higher plus and the decor is cool, feels like you're in a cave filled with collectibles.

This is exactly what I want in a dive bar. First, you stroll up to some skeletons above the door. No, doesn't matter if it's June, December, or October, those homeboys are always kicking it up there. They might get gussied up for special occasions, but it's kind of a calling card for this joint. You go in side and it's dark. The bar to your right, jukebox to your left, you can't quite tell how deep it is because your eyes are adjusting. The usuals are all lined up in their spot, right where they always sit. And they have what you need. A shitty well drink? No sweat. A trendy hipster beer in a can? It's right there. Shot and a drink special? Yeah, usually. Something fancier on tap? The barkeep will pull the handle. A deliciously made cocktail? Yes, indeedily doodily. Shoot, you might even luck out with a bottle of vino sitting back there. They run your tally, usually know your name, and you get to lounge about, watch a match of sports on one of the televisions, drink your drinks, and have a great time. This is exactly what I want in any bar, honestly. But it's a quintessential dive bar and I love it.

Idk how to rate a dive bar I mean it's a DIVE bar and complete antithesis to everything you yelp or rate. So let's rate it on a bar dive scale: Sickness: slightly sticky ( a 6 on a scale of 10) the entrance is sticky but the creepy area and faux wood in the back isn't too bad Abrasive mixologist: slight check. She was friendly to the regulars but not too smiley Music : Barry white - James brown "big pay back" and metal lol Drink quality: my vodka and cranberry was watered down Proximity to life: awesome! It's on telegraph next door to Marufuku (wait list was long which is why I'm here) Entertainment/ not a lot of drunk adds (or life ) but there's a hoot booth and pool table D core rooms: stalactites (or is it stalagmites?) skeletons with horns, and other weirdness plus a weird selection of collectibles near the bathroom All in all- where the heck did this place come from ? And how does it fit in to this gentrified/ choirs Linda: ramen/Korean restaurant/ bougie Mexican restaurant area Def recommend if you need a drink while you wait for he long a$$ line at Burma or Marafuku

A sticky dive bar at its finest. Their fans are truly fans as I ended up chatting with some regulars and they couldn't speak higher of this spot. Prime location right on Telegraph in the heart of Temescal, they have a pool table in the back, buck hunter, a few tvs, a ton of sticky tables, skateboards on the walls and lots of alcohol. In my younger years, I'd be all over this spot, however in this day and age, I enjoy some windows and a bit less stickiness. OH NO, am I losing my hardness? DAYUM. Regardless, a solid neighborhood dive bar for some whiskey on the rocks and a hangover to nurse the next day.