The New Parish

Cocktails are great and reasonably priced, same with beer. Sound system could be a bit better. I like that there is two floors. Second floor has limited capacity but has plenty of room for dancing if you get there early enough to catch a good view. Bar on each floor. Would be a cherry on top if there was a bathroom on the second floor.

Nice spot for live music. Absolutely standing room only..Not a chair in sight for the band we saw fyi! I didn't see it until leaving but there appeared to be a food window with some seating outside near the exit..

New Parish is an outstanding venue. Indoor/outdoor friendly space. Cocktails & beer/cider selection are very good and reasonably priced. Easy to get too via car service, public transport and plenty of parking. Love the acoustics & big dance floor

Security throwing a girls phone and physically hitting her fire him now hes like over weight and wears a beanie! dont go here if u want to get ur phone thrown aswell as leaving and throwing out young girls stranded on the side of the road in the danger ghost city oakland for no reason

New Parish always has the best DJ's/music/events. The only reason I give 3 stars is because I just can't stand that people smoke SO MUCH weed IN the venue. It is sometimes too unbearable when trying to dance or even watch the performers. Once the venue becomes (over) packed, it is so hot in there. The chairs at the outdoor tables have holes directly in the middle of the seats, so it is hard to enjoy the food you purchased because the chairs are not functional.

Great venue. Only wish they had a coat check. If that’s my biggest issue then big whoop. Thanks New Parish for all the great shows.

Very nice place, I really liked everything. The upstairs bar is great. A lot of space, this a go back place for a fun night

What a fun venue, and the vibe is on point. It has a small open area, and you can chill there while still being able to enjoy the show. Dress light because it gets hot in there. Great selection of drinks at reasonable prices.

Came here for the Afro Rave. What a production!! And then we ended the night with food truck jerk chicken (situated right outside). The people (way way too cool, way too sexy, but I still felt like I fit in somehow?) The vibe (everyone knew the lyrics to the songs, I knew a few, but still) The music (2 rooms, each with their own style, we loved both) The drinks (I went basic here just had rum and coke) I loved how there was an outdoor room so you can dance and look up at the stars. In the main room, there were dancers on stage, exceptional lighting, it was an immersive experience.

Oh my golly!!! This place is LitCity! Came here for the AfroRave, which I think happens every month, or a couple of times a month, I dunno. Will DEFINITELY be back for some more! Absolutely amazing crowd and just beautiful energy. Can't say anything about anything else, because we just came here to party, but I like venue, too, because it's got a bunch of different stages, and some upstairs business and some outdoors business and some other blow-up box stuff. I need to find the photographers from that night though, oh em GGEEEE! There have got to be several hundred photos that I need to comb through... Anyway, come check it out if you're in the area!

Title: My evening at The Parish Bar in Oakland was one for the books, especially with the live performance by MarchFourth, which brought an electrifying energy to the venue. It was my first visit, and the bar's open-air section adjacent to the stage area provided a pleasant, breezy environment that complemented the night's mood. Its accessibility via BART was a huge plus, making the trip hassle-free. The Parish has an alluring upstairs area that, while it was closed off during my visit, added a touch of intrigue to the space--though its inaccessibility did contribute to a sense of being a bit cramped, as the stage area isn't particularly spacious. However, the acoustics didn't quite hit the high note. For a venue that hosts such dynamic acts, the sound system didn't seem to do justice to the live performances. Investing in a sound system upgrade could transform the listening experience, taking it from good to great. In summary, while The Parish Bar boasts charm and a great location, a little attention to the sonic details could make it an outstanding venue for both music lovers and casual visitors alike. 4/5 stars - would go back for the atmosphere and the anticipation of acoustic enhancements!

Had a fantastic time at my first show here! Some friends and I came here to watch the Mortified show and it was a blast. - Venue: really cool and intimate! It has a patio, a bar, two floors with great seats and a track record of a variety of performances (comedy- Dave Chapelle, music- Mos Def, entertainment- Mortified). - Bar: decent prices and a creative menu. I loved my refreshing strong $10 Hawaiian mule! - Show: so fun! The Mortified show/crew is amazing - they put together a great show with entertaining storytellers, nostalgic music, and a hilarious slideshow. We were on an emotional ride with the storytellers as they told us mortifying moments from their teenage school years. So much laughter from the crowd! - Staff/Service- overall good but at the end, there was one lady who was rudely kicking everyone out of the venue so they can set up for the next event. We understand that they need to do this but the message delivery could have been much better. I'd love to see more shows here!

Came here for the first time last night (April 23rd) to see Israel Vibration. Had a great time. Wasn't too crowded and parking was great. Would come back again.

They find some incredible artists to showcase and it's worth the time, energy or wait for the place to open and get going. The crowd is always mellow and it's one of the best of the best (limited space and don't bother parking near ) venues in the area. Looking forward to going back soon. We found it comfortable and accommodating and the sound seems better than the last few events.

I've been here a few times for G-Eazy, The Pack, Rexx Life Raj, Ab Soul...Very small and intimate environment but way too crowded. Good luck finding safe parking, I've had two instances where I came back to my windows smashed and car searched through. Not a very fun experience overall.

Low key local spot to watch a show. Went here for Jack Kays on a Wednesday night. Loved the vibe, super friendly crowd that night. Good acoustics, small place so not a bad view in the house. Cheap and STRONG drinks for $7-10. The cold brew PBR and bourbon was tasty. Lots of beers too. Also have rotating food options which is nice! I had delicious Dungeness crab and jerk chicken for $20 from @lionfacedacheff that night. Street parking or Bart in. It's just 6 min walk from 12th street Bart.

Love the small but intimate venue for concerts/shows as it feels really homey! I've been here twice to see thuy and RINI on separate occasions and have had a great time. Crowd sorta depends on the event you're going to, but I recommend coming at least 1 hour before doors open so you get a good spot. Bar drinks are CHEAP (most are ~$10-13) and strong! I liked the Hawaiian Mule the most because it was fruity, and The Parish Punch was also ok though you can really taste the rum rather than the punch. Personally didn't like The Cafe Parish, but if you like spiked coffee, it might be your thing. Plenty of options for parking nearby but would recommend parking inside a garage.

The best venue for a very personal concert experience. Not to mention the food is incredible, the menu is limited for obvious reasons but it's delicious nonetheless. The audio quality is astounding, like being inside your high end BOSE headphones. Feeling and hearing every note played and word sang. I've seen Ab-Soul and Mick Jenkins here on two different occasions, and I can't wait for my next visit to this hidden kingdom

06232022 Emo Night was very fun until I was targeted by this employee. 1st standing on the sideline of the walkway . 2nd, while was assisting an inebriated patron who was waiting for her ride. 2 fem New Parish employees (1 photographed/2nd not photographed) started to make insulting & degrading statements about my appearance-weight. The band+patrons were very pleasant. The staff is the reason why I wouldn't return. Definitely felt unsafe. Wouldn't return or reccomend. Employees degrade paying patrons unprovoked.

Always good dancing, music and great venue. Been here many times and never disappointed

I'm reading some of these reviews suggesting this place can get overly crowded, but that really doesn't do justice as to the "why." The New Parish books some of the most exciting artists performing in the Bay, the vast majority of them are quick up-and-comers, where the likely hood of you seeing them perform again at this venue is highly unlikely. The size of the venue offers an opportunity to intimately interact with these performers in ways you just wouldn't be able to in a larger venue. Want more space? Head upstairs to the balcony. Just get there early to claim a railing where you can put your drink down.

Not handicap or pregnancy friendly. Showed up thirty minutes early to try to ensure getting seats to avoid issues, but all seats in the entire venue were taken already. Tried three times to get staff assistance for seating at different points in the show. Security staff was outright dismissive, with one person being borderline hostile when trying to find a place for my pregnant wife to sit when she became uncomfortable. I'm disabled with a very painful nerve condition, and my inability to find seating of any sorts had me in more pain than I've had in the past few years of managing my condition. I don't get to go out much because of my condition and the fear that doing things will lead to more pain, and the staff at The New Parish has added kerosene to the fire of of anxiety. I'm used to having my condition disregarded as it's an invisible disability but the fact that my visibly pregnant wife was also unable to find the slightest accommodation was an absolute shock. Especially as my first interaction with the security guard at the entrance was fantastic. He was warm, personable, and welcoming.

This is my new fav venue for music... why you may ask? 1. Up close and personal with musical artist.(l got to touch and sing with Jack Harlow and P.Lo) 2.Able to charge my phone secretly from the stage( everybody who was close was jealous) 3. Bathrooms were clean and easily accessible. 4. Reserved seating for handicap 5. Great crowd...bay area really shows up and out My expectations were met and little exceeded coming here last night to a sold out show for up and coming Hip hop artist Jack Harlow. I' ve been listening to this guy for a couple of years now so when I had the chance to see him live for under 25 bucks...it was on and poppin. He had a few opening bay area artist come out before him that got the crowd hyped like Nef the Pharoah, All Black, and special guest P.Lo. Except for the excessive amount of smoke in the room( which honestly shouldn't be allowed) I had a great time.

This is a HORRIBLE venue with extremely rude, hostile, and ableist staff. First, if you're going there for a show that you already bought tickets for, expect to be forced to buy drinks that staff will physically assault you if you try to leave with (even if it's a non-alcoholic soda in a disposable plastic cup). When I tried to leave early with my soda, security grabbed my wrist with one hand and proceeded to crush and dump out my drink in front of me as punishment for "attempting to violate their policies"-- even though I said I was willing to go back inside and drink it. Second, the venue blatantly disregards ADA guidelines and offers NO seating for folks with disabilities to watch the show. They claim this is only available upon request by phone, which isn't on their website or in the ticket policies at all, and violates the legal requirements for equal access. If you so much as lean on a side table, staff will try and force you to leave the premises rather than try and meet your needs. The staff seem to regard their venue's policies as more important than this country's civil rights laws, which was made especially evident to me when my partner and I were mockingly called "the ADA people" for wanting to be reasonably accommodated. All of this on top of the small bathrooms, low visibility for performances, and generally bad vibes made for the WORST live music experience I've ever had in the 12+ years I've been going to shows, including the times I've passed out at concerts and been rushed to medics.

The venue and event were fine but the show we went to ended at 8:55 ish. By 9:00pm (on a Saturday night!) everyone was being screamed at to get out, and no drinks allowed outside. The bars hadn't closed down early so us and many others had bought drinks within the last 15 minutes! At no point was last call made. Some us and others were trying to chug drinks we'd paid for while being screamed at. At 9pm!!! I'm sorry but either you can close the bar down early or give people 15-20 minutes to exit the venue after a show. People literally had full drinks they'd paid full price for, and they had to decide if they were going to chug it or not. We are in our 30s and 40s... not exactly the vibe!

Had a great time at a show here recently. It was our first time being to a live music event since COVID began, so it as very exciting! The space was very nicely laid out with multiple bars (one on each floor that we noticed at least). There was a little courtyard area to get some fresh air without leaving the venue, as well as a small kitchen to order food from. We are before the show, so we didn't end up checking out what the food offerings were. Anyways, we had a great time! Just wish parking was less of a hassle.

Love going to Reggae Gold and concerts here. My absolute favorite are the concerts because they offer a space to Indie artists and other artists that may not sale out the Coliseum and other larger venues. I've seen Some of my favorite bands and singers here like: The Foreign Exchange The Internet Sevyn Streeter Of course there is also something intrinsically nostalgic about New Parish as it used to be the throwback Sweet Jimmy's, (It's had a few names/owners in between now and then), But if you're an Eastbay native then you know the parties were so lit they were televised! There is a great outdoor courtyard area to catch your breath and 2 floors to roam.

From the looks of it, I'm sure the New Parish is a nice music/ club venue. Though I wouldn't specifically know that from my visit, as I was here for a motorcycle show. Which certainly speaks to the versatility of this place's space. The layout is a bit of a maze with a little outdoor courtyard, upstairs area, & full bar. The location is highly BARTable from the 19th St. station. Which I appreciated since it was raining. Typically, I ride the motorcycle to motorcycle events, but I don't ride wet anymore. I used to when I was "hardcore." But with over a decade & 10's of 1000's miles in the saddle, I no longer feel the need to be "hardcore." The show was a blast & the New Parish felt like a great spot for it. With bikes on display all over, including on stage, there was still plenty of room for everyone to move about & examine their next machine of interest. & what's a motorcycle show without burnouts? In the little courtyard, no less. Smokin'. Literally. The New Parish is a cool venue that I would definitely come back to for another motorcycle show, or perhaps even the much more common music event. Being BARTable is a key for me. Because even if it's not about riding wet, not having to drive here is additionally advantageous in the case of a little too much libation.

Can't speak for the venue itself, but I CAN speak for the amaaaazing customer service I received from a gentleman when I called. Jackson Ellis took my call (during an event, I might add!) and he was nothing short of perfection. He listened attentively to my concern, he exhibited patience with my (perhaps silly) reason for calling, and he responded with the information I needed as well as additional reassurances that I didn't know I needed. I wish I could have compensated him in some way, like a $$$ tip or something, much in the same way I would tip for services anywhere else. If upper management sees this review, please know that Jackson brings immense value to your team and the New Parish establishment. If he can make a potential customer feel welcomed & appreciated in a 1-minute conversation, there's no doubt that his skillset IN PERSON would be a whole vibe! He's the type of sought-after employee that other companies just HOPE to find-- the team member who is genuine and kind, with integrity and character, who does the right thing even when no one is looking! Keep him. PERIODT!

This place is a favorite to see local artists. They uphold amazing covid standards and have helpful friendly staff. I wish the space was a little warmer, but appreciate the need to keep things open for airflow circulation. Great sound, friendly staff, all around good times.

Amazing show and ambiance! Would love to visit again soon. Great location and walking distance to cute restaurants and bars.

Literally wish I could give zero stars. Worst show I've ever been to due to the HUGE LACK in security, I got assaulted by a man in the crowd and there was no security in sight to get him kicked out!! I even watched someone jump on stage and they were able to run back and forth a few times until someone took her off the stage. I will never go to this venue again, the security and the way they ran the show was a big joke. I get you can't control a crowd, but concerts are supposed to be full of respect and a good time. When someone falls out of line, all we can do is rely on security for our safety instead of having a huge fight break out. So anyways. If you care about your safety, this is NOT the place to go. They didn't even wand us or check my bag lmao it's not worth wasting your money, really. I can wait for bands to roll around again at another venue, this is not the place to be.

**This mainly reflects The People's Party** Here was my experience on a 4th Saturday evening. AMBIANCE: Parking: Street parking or plaza parking... we got lucky with street parking. Feels: I mainly like this spot because of spaces for dance cyphers. It's a chill place that provides the feelings necessary for - catching up with a friend, date night, boys/girls night out. I'm glad for the most part it's a dancing place. It's cool how these spaces are, not for fckbois and other random sht. It's a pretty spacious place with multiple rooms (even an upstairs). I enjoyed the house scene in one room and hip-hop in the other. The food seemed pretty legit, it supports small businesses and it looked really really good. CUSTOMER SERVICE The bouncers were cool. Can't complain here. TL;DR OVERALL: 4.5 Stars. They say the first appearance is a make or break, that being said, though it may not the cleanest outside it's a great place to check. Cover was affordable, food choice was great, music was fantastic, and my experience was good. I look forward to visiting this place more often. Tips: * Check out the People's Party every 4th Saturday. * Come early for parking.

First time at the New Parish last night to see Wolfmother, and I have to say - it was a terrific experience for a small, intimate venue bringing in national acts. Overall: This is a great small venue to see a band. We had very little wait getting in, and the ID/ticket check went smoothly. The bars were accessible and the bartenders friendly and efficient. The courtyard provided a nice cool place to escape the noise or body heat if needed. #LionfaceDaCheff was dishing out some highly tasty jerk chicken and plantains. Sound mixing was on point, and everything was clean. Great job New Parish. I'm a fan. The Good: A 5 minute walk from 19th St BART. Doors opened at 7:30 for the show, and we arrived at 7:45 to a line of only about 10 people. It only took about 5 minutes to get checked in and inside. The courtyard is the first area you pass through with restrooms to the left and a small catering kitchen. The bathrooms were far cleaner than most small venues I go to. The courtyard was clean and easy to navigate. There were large water containers and cups available on table to one side. There are two entrances to the main stage area and stairs on either side leading up to the balcony. Even during the show it was lit well enough that you could get around without any trouble. View from the balcony was great. Drinks were easy to get and decently priced. I thoroughly enjoyed the show. The bad: Nothing. The Mediocre: I saw some people complaining about the balcony being overly hot. I was up there for several hours and it was a little stuffy, but nothing unbearable or worse than any other balcony I've been to for that size venue. They could use some exhaust vents up there, but I just went out in the courtyard for a minute or two when I felt too warm. Not a deal breaker for me.

I saw Dumbfoundead (headliner) and Year of The Ox (who opened) at this spot on 1/17/2017. I mention the wintertime date because it was raining when I was standing outside to get in--sucked a little bit and I wasn't about to hold an umbrella only to probably lose it. I like New Parish a lot because the venue is small/intimate so you can definitely get a good photo of whatever artist you're watching with a higher chance for meeting/greeting if you're looking to do that. On stage left is where the merchandise was and a place you can stand where it looks like you're backstage if you're taking pictures. There is a bar downstairs and upstairs. The upstairs area was a lot less crowded because unless you're along the railing looking down, it's hard to get a good view of what's going on. The drinks are on the expensive side. I bought 3 shots of Jameson whiskey and 3 Racer 5 beers which came out to about $45. Honestly if the prices were like 15% cheaper I bet they'd get more business overall, especially when some of the events are ages 18+ and not many people are buying drinks anyway. Other things to know: - There was a coat check - You may have to exit from a different location that you came especially if there's another show right after the one you're in - Mostly street parking - It's not that ghetto in this area - Have fun!

This is a really nice club venue in downtown Oakland. I've always heard about this place and never knew what it really was. This place is very spacious with a large outdoor space for smoking(420 friendly), socializing, or eating, and several large indoor spaces for dancing and listening to music. There are several bars spread throughout the venue and the crowd is fly! The design and decor of this place is pretty dope and there is plenty of room to be social, people watch, dance or flirt :) I always wondered where all the beautiful people were around here and apparently they come to hang and party at New Parish. It was packed, but not crowded and I had a great time. With all the people there I was pleasantly surprised that there was no drama, no fights, and no hostile behaviour of any kinda, just cool, fly folks enjoying each others company. I have been twice now and I will continue to come back periodically and get my boogie and people watching on. I would recommend anyone and everyone check this place out! CHEERS AND BEERS to New Parish!

How have I not known about this place? I've lived in Oakland for 5 years now within walking distance of the New Parish and I could have seen a lot more shows in that amount of time! The venue is dimly lit and intimate with two levels, and so far the BF and I have only sat upstairs where you are looking down on the stage. This is better for me than jostling among people at stage level who are invariably much taller since I'm 5'. After only 2 visits, we've already learned that it's best to arrive early for a front-row view from the mezzanine. Otherwise, you're in danger of standing the entire evening, not being able to see, or both. I love that there is a bar on both levels so you don't need to go back downstairs to get a drink. Sound, lighting, and pricing of the shows are all great. Let's see if I can make up for all the missed years here!

Very fun place to catch great shows. The vibe is always good, with a great mix of guests

I was there for Fanna-Fi-Allah concert on August 8th, which was transcendental. The woman at the bar was really amazing and made great virgin margaritas! But to compensate that, at the end of the show a very rude employee started yelling at the guests demanding them to go home and leave the venue. She was rude and disrespectful. She also harassed a guest who was waiting for someone who was in the bathrooms by grabbing drinks from her hands and throwing them in the trash. Later after being confronted for her behavior she kept saying she never yelled at anyone. Well, I was there and heard it pretty clear. At first I thought it was a drunk person being unreasonable but soon I realized she was actually an employee. I believe her name is Fiola, or something similar to that. Please orient your employees to treat guest with manners. The band was hoping to connect with the public in the patio after they got changed, but this woman made sure everyone was gone pretty quickly. The concert was beyond amazing because of the musicians, but the treatment afterwards was shocking and disorienting.

5 stars but MINUS 1 STAR BECAUSE OF RENOVATIONS ;P Been to the New Parish a bunch of times, mainly for Wormhole Wednesday. 5 stars for the Wormhole crew. !!! THE RENOVATIONS: THE "SIDE ROOM" is now a kitchen. Brightly lit, white-walled kitchen. But I guess it's cool, you can now buy arugula salad sandwiches or whatever. So now the side room dj set-up is in the courtyard, which, yeah, is cool, I guess. I wonder what they're gonna do when it rains. Just cancel the side room/courtyard stage? THE RESTROOMS: They SWITCHED the men's and women's room. So they have a security guard posted between the rooms to redirect everyone who is now confused. (Women's room used to be at the end of the hall, and men's used to be by the courtyard door--now they're switched.) The bathrooms are all fancy now. Yeah, it's modern and clean and the toilet roll dispenser has a surface to put your drinks and phone, etc, and it's useful and nice. BUT, the previous dive-y/punk/janky restroom had a better vibe. All they really needed to do was fix the leaking toilets in the women's room. They didn't NEED to do this whole major renovation. I'm waiting for people to stick stickers and tag obscene poetry on the new bathroom stalls. Bring back co-creative artwork. INSIDE the main room: New railings upstairs/mezzanine with a little ledge to hold your drinks. I guess that's nice, but not necessary. Sure, thanks for the added utility. They added lighting along the bottom of the stairway. That WOULD've been nice, but now you can see how dirty the carpet is. I don't know if the renovations were in the works for a while or it only happened because of the new management (look up the East Bay Express articles about the owner). Things DO look nicer and cleaner, but I personally don't think it was all that necessary (I don't know if there were more things wrong with the venue other than the leaking toilets). It feels related to gentrification--trying to appeal to yuppies, rather than the original sort of punk/gritty vibe. Or it could just be that management wanted renovations to keep the venue competitive. I dunno. Whatever, I guess. Just feels a little too fancy and new right now. A cool thing about the venue is that it's multi-purpose. In the daytime, it's used by Bicycle Coffee as a cafe.

Cool venue. The people working the lines kept things moving and didn't have an attitude. There is a nice little courtyard in the middle of things before you enter the main venue. There is a bar and a food window was set up serving real food (wraps and such). There was also a table with jugs of water and cups for self serve water. That was a REALLY nice touch. I was here for the Ella Mai concert. The downstairs area provided a nice view and had a nice draft blowing through to keep things cool. The upstairs or VIP area, was hot and stuffy. There was also a bar upstairs and less people, but I thought the view was worse than downstairs. There was also no air flow even though the windows were open. The space is small an intimate and I appreciated that the volume of things was not too loud. I was still able to talk into people's ear's and have them hear me and my ears weren't ringing when I left. I lucked out and found parking a block away 30 mins before the concert started and that was pretty clutch as well.

Caught a great show, but the heavy cigarette smoke during the concert made it hard to appreciate, even with a mask on.

The lady in the front that takes your money the snow bunny seems to have an attitude every time I come there. I asked her a question do I need a ticket and she said no with attitude and wave me off with her hand like really! let's show some decency and respect when taking people's money..... and can we get some real black dancers on the stage. the ones y'all have are boring....

Okay I have never had an issue with the New Parish but I bought tickets early for Rotimi and a week or so before the show its postponed. No new date set and my ticket is in the cloud? I follow Rotimi on social media and he's doing shows everywhere else. I called and left voicemails about a refund, still haven't heard a thing! No one picks up the phone.

After parking I was heading to 18th St., The New Parish is actually located on San Pablo St. I was here for W. Kamau Bell's podcast on KALW. I queued in the small line and my friends shortly met up with me. The doors opened and the security check and ticket check went smoothly and the workers were cool. Since it was an open seating event, we snagged our seats on the floor before heading over to the bar. They did have a second level for seating as well. They had cocktails, wine and beer on draft and in bottles. The venue is a casual small venue, perfect for Kamau Bell's podcast. It was my first podcast and Kamau Bell put on a nice entertaining show with his three guests. Overall, The New Parish is a nice small venue. The bathrooms were just a little old and dated.

We came here last Saturday evening as we celebrated my sister's college graduation. We arrived close to midnight and the line was long but it moved quickly. There was an event called Reggae Gold XL (or something like that) and the cover was @ $20. Once inside, it appeared that there were different quarters in this establishment. One corner was just a bar area, another room seemed to be playing classic reggae hits, there was large open-air courtyard (thank goodness, said my lungs!) with people mingling and vendors selling tings (sic). We ended up in a large, two-level room, where a live DJ was spinning, and all a di gyal dem danced pon di stage. The music was great. The vibes were chill; there was no real drama, apart from the random drunk guy who had to be put in his place. Towards the end of the night, the soca jams kept our bumpers shaking, and after midnight, the mom's got a special Tupac, Dear Mama, shout-out. I had a great time! I hadn't been out dancing like that in years. If you have any form of breathing abnormalities, enter with caution, as it can become quite smokey inside.

We went to the New Parish last Sunday for a queer Asian and Pacific Islander fundraiser called hunnies and hot sauce; and it was definitely a quintessential queer Oakland experience. Loved every moment of of it! The event had live performances, a moment of silence for the one-year anniversary of the pulse Orlando shooting, local bay area female DJs, and an ice cream cart owned by a local, queer-owned, organic ice cream company. We said yes to alllll the things. Good times all-around My experience at The New Parish reminded me that the Bay Area is definitely a very unique place in the world.

We had lots of fun here! The bar moved quickly and the DJ played good music, it was a blast!

Women who want to defend themselves are apparently not welcome at this bar. I had pepper spray attached to my keys and because I had that, they wouldn't let me in. I had to toss if I wanted to enter. Nah I'm good, rather keep my self defense than pay cover for this shit.

First ! Drink before you get here. Two double shots of patron was $52 mmm that's a bottle smh 2: dj's get to smoke weed while working and they can't mix songs.. they play good songs though for the most part 3: they messed up an artist set. He had to talk until they got his music together 4: tickets are a good price. You can win here. 5: the space is small and can get ratchet.. if you don't know what that means we'll google it lol 6: vip area is good 7: gets you up close with the artist 8: you have to stand (if outside of vip) but the stage is up nicely. Feet and back will hurt at some point. Wear comfy supportive shoes. 9: they have someone cooking chicken and stuff. Didn't order here and didn't see a line. Not sure if that's good or what. 10: overall a good night outside getting scammed for drinks and my back hurting from standing all night.

Last night, The Internet presented The Internet here at The New Parish. This is my second time at this venue so I knew what to expect as a short person who didn't arrive early. It's safe to say, I barely saw anything, lol. I thought the staff here was great. The people handling the lines were attentive in recognizing the line order and directed cutters to the end when need be. From the line to I.D. check to the bar, I felt these men were professional and respectful, which is a refreshing from typical rude staff you'll find in a lot of smaller, cramped venues like these. It's intimate, which was perfect for this musical act. And, while I was up against the wall on the bottom level the music sounded great. Bathrooms are bathrooms. At the end of the night it was a hot mess, but there are three stalls; one without lock, one with the toilet paper roll on the wet floor. This is not a fault of the venue; it's very understandable that bathrooms aren't going to be very clean with all the drinking. Well, maybe that last stall could use a working lock. Drinks are average priced, but there is a fifteen dollar minimum on card purchases. Also, I appreciated the water dispenser provided at the end of the bar with plastic cups.

- I just want to personally thank The New Parish Security Team ( On Wormhole Wednesday Days ) for being super helpful always. It's not often I go to an event and feel like the security is really looking out for my wellbeing. Not only do I feel safe but the Security team is always approachable. Easy to talk to and easy to find. THANK YOU ANTONIO for always making me and my friends feel welcomed and secure. - The vibes are always on point and there are multiple bars throughout the venue. - Parking can be a little hectic but if you are patient you'll find something on the street in 10-15 minutes. - Try the food from the gentlemen who sells fried chicken, and soul food. Some true comfort food. He usually has a couple side dishes that are veggie friendly. Potatoes, jalapeño cornbread, or red beans & rice.. so amazing.

They have no line control and will let people wait outside for hours to be let in even if they bought a ticket for the night. Take your money elsewhere

Came here last week to see Dumbfoundead! I liked how they had a separate bar near the open patio/next to Curry up. My man Patrick made us some great cocktails according to our taste preference. Had a great time during the performance, and was happy to see there was water available next to the bar near the stage. Note: come early since it's a small venue, order drinks a head of time before the show starts and don't forget to wear a light jacket or layers--this place gets packed quick!

One star for the potential of this place as I have been in the past and it was great. Maybe it's the new ownership? Went to a Lawrence show 10/7/18 and the New Parish did their best to ruin the music. First, they inexplicable closed the balcony, which eliminates 75% of the good view of the show. Why? Cost saving? The show was only $20 (oh but they use Ticketmaster which jacks up the price by $15 per ticket - for a $20 ticket!) BUT THE WORST issue was how they destroyed the sound of the show by playing louder music in the courtyard which bled into the venue all the way to the front row. Have you ever tried to listen to your favorite song while other music is blasting away?! Finally, the place is hot as hell. I think they must have turned off the ventilation to save money? Wtf?!?

Really poor practices here. I purchased three tickets to a concert. Then I received an email stating that we could get a refund if we emailed with a request more than 24 hours of the show. We did so because of some COVID-19 concerns that arose. In direct contradiction of what the email said, the refund was denied. So we missed the show and are out 100 bucks. It's really sad to see a venue like this reduce itself to such poor management.

Let the cautious old lady start this review: It's a straight tinder box when crowded. Seriously, you know you're old when you're at a bad ass Cuban band and you can only think: 1) damn they are packing us in like sardines and b) yo, if there was a fire, we'd all be dead. With that out of the way, how cool is The New Parish? Well, actually a few other things that I hope help you: 1) I bought tickets beforehand and paid the fees, yet I still had to wait in line with all the other fools who didn't pay those fees and paid cash at the door. (YES, CASH AT THE DOOR). 2) Drinks aren't too pricy, but only one bartender at the downstairs outdoorish bar makes the wait a bit long. (They did take credit card). 3) Smoking of many things in the pretty cool Nolaesque courtyard. 4) Upstairs/downstairs venue and they pack you in. Get there early if you're trying to secure some good viewing. Upstairs is balcony like, so only view is if you're in the front. They books some pretty cool bands - Kermit Ruffins, La Misa Negra (who I saw), they have a reggae night and so on. Definitely a great Oakland gem for live music where you can actually get tickets (sorry Fox, I'm 0 for 4 with you).