The Cat House

The Cat House is a cute bar with funky decor (haaay, old piano), kind staff, and solid drinks (shoutout to the E&E). They're dog-friendly and allow you to bring in food if you want to as well. I rate them four stars because, while I appreciate their outdoor patio, it is a smoker's haven. The many times I've tried to sit out there, it transforms into a cigarette smoke cloud and I'm not feeling that.

Wow, this bar felt quite hidden away from the world behind gray doors despite being on a busy commercial stretch of Lakeshore. There was a cat sign, but Jamie W. and I kept missing it as we strolled back and forth just before it opened at 4PM. When we finally entered, it was a stylish space but overly so with vintage accents producing the requisite chill atmosphere. Let me be honest though. We came for the craft cocktails we saw on their website, and Keenan was the cool bartender who was there to make them for us. I tried the $14 Dear Irene, a blended Pina Colada riff with gin, coconut, ginger, mint, cane, and lime. A lovely libation. Jamie had the $14 Blue Meanie which had a more tantalizing tropical taste. It had a nice kick consisting of eight-year-old Haitian & Banana Rum, Giffard Coconut, lime, and blue curaçao (photo: https://yelp.to/1sYcUkcK94). So satisfying that we had another round. I went with the $14 E&E, a vibrant mix of tequila, mezcal, lime, cilantro, pineapple, and jalapeño over rocks. It was like a short margarita. Jamie tried the $14 Mata Hari, which sounds more mysterious than it was. It left out tequila and mixed mezcal, amaro nardini, lime, and tamarind syrup into a saucy, south-of-the-border libation (photo: https://yelp.to/0thoXAbwXW). While Dear Irene was the definitive standout, all the cocktails provided a nice symphony of compatible flavors. Otherwise I was just drunk. Either way, it made for a satisfying visit at this hidden hideaway close to Lake Merritt. COCKTAILS - 4 stars..,well tested libations with the Dear Irene a standout AMBIANCE - 4 stars...stylish, vintage space with a large enough bar at an inconspicuous address SERVICE - 4 stars...Keenan is a very helpful bartender TOTAL - 4 stars...a chill hangout on Lakeshore RELATED - Exploring Oakland? Here's a collection of places I've patronized and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2ObVcpQ

Great drinks! Hot prowl - very well balanced and smooth mix of Manhattan and old fashioned E&E - hits the spot with mezcal, tequila, pineapple, lime and cilantro. Savory refreshing feeling Pop up gumbo - pretty good! $20 per cup of interested , has shrimp and crab and sausage Bartender and pop up Chef were very nice Antique vibes from the venue, music was old school and good! Overall would recommend to come here to start your night!

I recently spent some time at The Cat House on Lakeshore, and I have to say, it's become one of my favorite spots. The vibe here is so chill and inviting--perfect for winding down after a hectic day. The bartenders are awesome; they're super friendly and make amazing drinks. What really sets this place apart is that you can bring your dog! It's such a treat to find a place where I can relax with a great cocktail and have my furry friend with me. If you're looking for a cozy, dog-friendly hangout, The Cat House is definitely the place to be.

Love this place soooo much, love the decor , the music the play , the people who hang around here and live the drinks mixed just right. The cocktails are spot on , the beers are perfect. Love this place.

Super cute bay kinda hidden away. I'd walked past it a million times and just happened to notice it the other night. Had a delicious hot toddie and my friend had a beer called death and taxes. Really enjoyed the drinks and overall ambience of the space

Cons: no cats. Only pictures and light up toy cats. Very sad Pro: great flavorful drinks (may take awhile to get them though)

Just the best. Cocktails, ambiance, vibes. It's small but mighty. If I lived closer, I'd be there more.

One of my favorite lowkey spots in the Bay for a drink and ambience. LoLo is an excellent bartender and a gracious host. Must try drinks: I'll Pink About It and the Irene.

After catching up with a friend post-work over drinks at this bar, I was immediately struck by its charming interior and inviting atmosphere. The bartender, Kienn, if memory serves, showcased remarkable attention to detail and crafted some truly scrumptious cocktails. Despite a few patrons becoming overly boisterous and somewhat discourteous, Kienn managed the situation with admirable composure and patience. His professionalism alone merits commendation and, frankly, a raise.

This place is pretty cool. I had never been here before but had seen it and finally got the chance to go. The vibe is cool, low key, not too loud so you can hold a conversation, food music and the crowd is chill. The cocktails are good and they had a special Halloween cocktail menu. We sat at the bar and the bartender was appropriately engaging, not so much that we couldn't have our own convo, but also asked at the right time if we were ready for another round I'll definitely come back.

Wow every cocktail we tried here is amazing. We had 4 of their drinks and would recommend them all. Wish I stumbled upon this place sooner. The vibe is very chill and I love all the cat stuff around. Bartender was nice and service was good. All the cocktails were very well balanced and well worth their price of $13 each. Went on a Sunday night and there were quite a lot of people inside. I can imagine how busy it must get on a Friday or Saturday night. Will be back again soon!

This spot is awesome! Came here on a Thursday night for drinks. The staff is very friendly. Cocktails were fantastic. Will be coming back!!

After a delicious dinner at Farmhouse Kitchen, my friend took me to Cat House. Street parking around here seems like a challenge no matter what time of day, but we managed to find a metered spot on the same block. We claimed two barstools on the side of the bar, though I love all of the comfy seating options available. The cocktails were really good! They rotate often, and you can see the current featured menu on their website. They're as picturesque as all the bar décor... By the way it's pretty obvious why their name is Cat House. I don't recall exactly what cocktails I got, but I remember having a great, 5-star type of time. Not exactly the easiest to get to via public transportation (requires a LONG 30+ minute walk) but totally worth the car ride if you can get over here!

Nice neighborhood spot. Drinks are great, but get the E+E (I think that's how you spell it)....I typically end up getting this drink 2-3 times each visit.

Cat house is a great neighborhood bar that's definitely worth a visit. Reasonably priced drinks and friendly staff.

Love the back patio. Wish it was bigger. Lots of great employees who go above and beyond.

What a great neighborhood gem! I've lived two minutes from this spot for 6 years and somehow haven't really seen it until now (#kids). The beautiful signage out front helped lure us in for take-home drink orders. We ordered: Mata Hari: Mezcal, tamarind, lime, and other magic. Nice and smoky! Dear Irene: Gin, ginger, coconut, lime, and mint: strong, delicious, and sweet but not cloyingly so! We will be back! Makes for a super fun night at home and the drinks were ordered and ready in just a couple of minutes.

Good vibes. Can chat up with the local community. J'Vonna is a great bartender. Come on down for happy hour if your in the area. Really nice music.

Love how a 100+ year old building is transformed into this super chic vintage kinda bar!! Highly recommend the Coal Miners Daughter with the Cardamom dashes (the cardamom dashes is my edition and it really takes this drink to a whole new level as their cardamom bitters are just brilliant since it's made in house..so even a drop goes a long way!)

I have walked by many times during past the 10 yrs of living in the area and *finally* went last night after dinner. Just the perfect amount of busy on a Saturday night; the overall vibe was chill and I really loved the French noir-like decor. Didn't get to check out the patio but maybe next time when it's a little warmer. The drinks were great, especially the Dear Irene, which appeared to be probably their most popular drink because I watched the two bartenders making it quite a few times during the 2.5 hrs we were there. I also got the Coal Miner's Daughter, which was perfectly sweetened for a bourbon-based drink. Got to strike up a great convo with Lolo, the female bartender, the last 30-45 min we were there. LOVE her. Looking forward to coming back again soon.

Was staying in the area and needed to kill some time by myself, so I was walking around the neighborhood and popped my head into this spot--was enamored with the space, enjoyed great service from bartender as well as excellent, well priced cocktails, and really just enjoyed the vibe.

This bar was once my favorite in the area, but I'll never go back again. They have changed bartenders and the service is now slow and surely, if you every manage to get a drink. The bar seems to be under new management and they have reduced the staff and hired awful people. Stay away!

Wandered in for a drink tonight to get out of the rain. We ordered 2 specials, $10 each - a grapefruit gimlet & a Corpse Reviver (gin, orange, some kind of aperitif). Both were served very similarly in style & garnish, both were fairly sweet but well mixed. Nice vibe, friendly service, and an impressive collection of obscure bottles on the shelf to gaze at.

Great vibe. Had a lovely rosé. Nice place to have cocktails and meet up with friends or for a date. The bartender was a sweetie. The security was warm and friendly. Loved it!

It was a cool and chill vibe. The prices were reasonable on the drinks and service was quick.

I'd been meaning to check this place out for a while but the signboard that listed only $13 cocktails made me think that everything at this bar costs about that much. Luckily, this was not true and there was a range of more reasonably priced beers and the like, in addition to the fancy cocktails. That being said, I ordered this bourbon drink called the Coal Miner's Daughter and thought it was a bit too sweet. The space itself is also pretty neat and has a surprisingly cute back patio area.

The place has a good vibe. The bartenders are usually super nice. There's a section inside & a little spot outdoors as well that is perfect for a nice day. There's always been a different person checking ID's when I've gone, but every time they look at you crazy instead of asking for ID, but the experience is worth the awkward beginning.

This place makes makes incredible cocktails! The Dear Irene In particular is one of the most delicious refreshing blended cocktails that I've ever had. Will definitely be coming back! They even have a cool patio to hangout with friends in the back. Covid friendly :)

This is such a beautiful bar with a great menu. This was the last stop for a buddy's "bachelor party" pub crawl and it did not disappoint. The staff was great and generous about remaking cocktails, and I appreciate it was the first place I'd visited that checked for vaccination status (when the mandate was just implemented). I'd be happy to make this a regular haunt if I were closer.

Nice chill spot, I needed to decompress abit. Bartender and bouncer were chill. Bartender had good recommendations, quick, friendly, attentive service. He even made sure I was okay, by asking me simple questions before I closed my tab. It wasn't too packed, you could have a nice date, or just hang out by yourself. The outdoor area is quite small, so if someone is smoking you are probably gonna smell it too. I would definitely go again.

I was looking for a chill place in Oakland one night. I came across this spot on yelp, in my search for some decent craft cocktails. I will say they have a super interesting craft cocktail menu- might I add, super stiff drinks! All craft! The inside is super dim lit with an antiquey feel, reminiscent of an old school under ground bar, some antique/charming looking furniture, old light fixtures, house plants, a copper bar - almost a bit dingy, but superrr chill, and some great live music.

My girlfriends and I had fun. Service was great. Drinks were great. Would definitely return. Highly recommend.

This place is great! I love the old Victorian atmosphere. The plush couch seats, antique decor, the classic piano, back patio, and awesome drinks! I really enjoyed their cocktail menu. It mainly consists of good Smokey Mezcal with her blends and juice syrups. They're delicious! I loved the Mata Hari which has a nice citrus bite to it. They're cocktails range from $13-$16 which is decent. Their bartenders work quick and super friendly no matter how hectic things can be. I was able to order drinks without complications. This is an excellent bar for after hours. I'm definitely come back!

Super cute place with excellent drinks and good service. Can't wait to go back again.

Cute little spot, nice ambience, and good prices for quality drinks. :) Service was also on point.

We stumbled upon the Cat house for a few drinks after our dinner over the weekend. Its easy to miss but definitely worth a visit. Atmosphere: The vibe was cool it had an old speakeasy feel with funny odes to the name "cathouse" these included feline trinkets, statues and art which i thought played nicely. There was plenty of room to sit with a large group or go for more of a private area for you and a date. The back patio was also a nice touch but it was chilly so bring a jacket! Service: the service was fine you order off a qr code and use apply pay which is efficient but it was a little bit of a wait for our drinks. Drinks: the drinks were tasty we got a few. We had the Mata hari, Joan collins, and the costume of the day. They all had great flavors and were refreshing especially the Mata hari. I wish the glassware was a bit more refined but thats pretty nit picky. Overall it was a great local bar with a cool feel and great drinks we will definitely be back for more!

Great for cocktails - my favorite is the Dear Irene. Also, just really enjoy the atmosphere. There is a spacious interior with high ceilings, beautiful decor, and comfy couch seating - and out back there is a lovely patio area.

Great drinks. Ok ambiance. People seemed nice (even if I little pretentious). Heaters outside didn't work. They said they would bring one, but forgot. No biggie. We had jackets. Love that they require proof of vaccination and that the bouncer actually checked! Again (and most importantly), amazing cocktails! Yum!

The Cat House is a gem of a place! I ordered the Dear Irene which was absolutely delectable. My friend ordered the salted vanilla lavender lemonade and that was super refreshing as well. Service was excellent and the vibe was low key but nice enough for a date. Will be back again!

Awesome bar tucked away with a "secret garden" patio that's nice for a chill night out. I really enjoyed the though put into naming the drinks and with COVID I appreciate being able to order and pay from the table and the waitress just brings our drinks out to us as we order them!

Fun and charming little bar in Oakland. It's kind of loud, dark and mysterious. It does have a very cool ambiance and the guys know how to make a drink. The prices for beer are a little high, and some of the drinks are over priced in my opinion. Overall it's a great spot that I enjoy but you have to be ready for a $100 tab on 5-6 drinks.

Amazing cocktails and great friendly staff. Very safe with COVID protocols. Definitely worth trying the E &E

5 stars to the bartender (petite white brunette) playing really good 80s music -THANK YOU. So hard to find elsewhere, it is appreciated. Really nice but down to earth ambience.

One deep, I rolled into The Cat House to pass a few hipsters in bright neon orange beanies at the bar. Live music played as the pianist tickled the keys and gently crooned. It was a quiet, casual Sunday with no more than 20 or so patrons chilling inside to the tunes of the live music and outside in the small patio area, enjoying the cool night air breeze and an evening smoke. Sunday is the day of live music! Great addition to the chill ambiance. No obnoxiously loud music or dark dim lighting. I could actually see and hear people. Some bars can make you feel like you are in a dark cave or near a large speaker at a live concert. Over the course of two hours, I enjoyed an awesome conversation with one of the owners, Hana, who was gracious enough to humor me and tell me a bit about her journey into the food business. It's rare to see the owner of an establishment, let alone converse with her beyond small talk. She brought a smile to everyone whom she encountered. Sure, the mixed drinks were tasty and smooth, thanks to my boy Matt with the mustache. I had the "Dear Irene" which was reminiscent of a Tiki-type of drink with its gin, coconut, lime and crushed ice. The Cat House is cool, quaint, chill. The "bar" experience is all about the people, and Hana and the folks at The Cat House created a vibe and space that keep cats coming back.

From first entry into the room, this place has a welcoming, cool vibe. Drinks and service outstanding. Love it, love it, love it.

The music was cool, and our bartender (Austin) was nice and friendly. He made me the best Paloma I've had since being in Peru. I had some challenges with how dark it was inside, had to break out my iPhone light a few times. The seating was also limited, which left us on top of one another. At some point, I thought I was on a date with the guy to my left and my right. Overall it got the job done.

The rare combination of good people and good product makes this spot a stand out in Oakland. Excellent COVID procedures and cocktails to go in screw-top jars. Try the E&E, Super nice staff. Really trying to make it a great experience in spite of all the limits

I had tried to come before COVID but never made it .. today on whim stopped by. Such a nice time drinks were creative and Hannah helped me through the process with grace and patience ! Tamale purchased and anxious to try.. for a great escape from the madness check it out

Kool place to get ya Happy Hour on...4p.m.-6p.m...Nice lounge area out back...lots of couch seating and table seating...Chill vibes here...