It’s nice to have options. Whether we’re in the mood for a bar crawl, need to appease various members of our friend-group or feel like Goldilocks-ing our way to just the right spot, Oakland’s Northgate-Waverly District offers a wide range of possibilities all within a few short blocks. Mainly bordered by Telegraph Avenue and Webster Street, and sandwiched between 26th Avenue and W. Grand Avenue with the New Parkway Theater at its center, Northgate has in recent years become a hotbed of nightly entertainment.
In this year’s Bars & Clubs issue, we highlight more than a dozen establishments in this emerging and lively neighborhood of victuals.
For drinking amidst the trees
The Double Standard
2424 Telegraph Ave.
Although the Double Standard features a large inside bar with all the usuals, its most notable feature is out back. The bar boasts an expansive patio surrounded by massive redwood trees, with plenty of seating and games like cornhole, Connect 4 and Jenga. The establishment is basically like a giant adult clubhouse—especially festive during the holidays. Dogs welcome.
For romancing ourselves and/or others
friends and family
468 25th St.
With its warm, intimate ambience and lowkey chic vibes, Friends and Family is the ultimate first-date spot, a cute place to meet up with friends or the right spot for a deservedly indulgent solo outing. It’s also proudly queer-inclusive, occasionally hosting queer speed dating, queer comedy and other events on the romantically lit, mural-backed patio. The bar offers craft cocktails and mocktails, with an inventive menu of elegant dishes from chef Gaby Maeda, a 2025 James Beard Award semifinalist.

For forever-summertime vibes
Sandbar
2418 Broadway
Surf’s up at the Sandbar, which is more tropical beach oasis than tiki kitsch. With actual sand on the floor and reggae jamming from the speakers, visitors will feel like they’re taking a seaside vacation without the resort fees. No aloha shirts necessary. Nonalcoholic beers and refreshing mocktails are also on offer.
For seeing a punk show and not feeling too old or uncool to do so
Thee Stork Club
2330 Telegraph Ave.
It’s a dive bar with all the best retro features: a wall of blacklight velvet paintings, shag carpet ceilings, red lights and friendly bartenders. As a bonus, Thee Stork Club has a separate room with a small stage for eclectic punk, rock and comedy shows, with the coolest encased dollhouse display ever. There’s also an outdoor patio area, and a back room with a pool table and old-school vinyl booths. Something about this place makes folks want to flirt in the universal bathroom line and we’re OK with that.
For when we’re hungry for more than just ‘bar food’
Parche
2295 Broadway
Chef-owner Paul Iglesias’ contemporary Colombian restaurant is as dynamic and bright as Iglesias himself. With a robust happy hour, vibrant decor and upbeat tunes, Parche has become a regular post-work stop for locals and an overall fun place to bring adventurous friends of varying hunger levels.
Jaji
422 24th St.
A recent addition to the Northgate hub, Jaji is a vast, sunset-hued, fabric-bedecked, light-filled restaurant serving modern Afghan cuisine from Sophia Akbar and her husband Paul Iglesias of Parche. A handful of selections from their cocktail menu denote nonalcoholic adaptations, along with a few organic options from the Art of Tea.
Low Bar
2300 Webster St.
The contemporary Mexican menu at Low Bar is at least as impressive as its creatively crafted cocktails—perhaps even more so, given how unpretentious this place is. Noted for its regular and late-night happy hours and weekend brunch, Low Bar features a menu of Mexican- and Filipino-inspired fare with the occasional oyster popup, collab with vegan fave Lion Dance Cafe or gourmet ode to Taco Bell.
Mua
2442a Webster St.
Quintessentially Oakland, Mua has a vibe that’s artful and edgy, music-forward and chill. Located on the outskirts of Northgate in a renovated industrial warehouse by a row of auto dealerships, Mua offers eclectic small plates with a lean towards comfort food, craft cocktails and frequent DJ appearances.
alaMar Dominican Kitchen
100 Grand Ave.
Chef-owner Nelson German serves contemporary Dominican cuisine at alaMar—flavorful, soulful, hearty fare in an upbeat and bright dining room—perfect for soaking up a guava margarita, Frio Frio slushie, Mamajuana or two. Open for lunch and dinner.
For entertaining the possibility of breaking out into song
The Legionnaire Saloon
2272 Telegraph Ave.
The Legionnaire is a neighborhood bar with a little something extra. They have pinball machines and host nightly karaoke, as well as other events like live comedy, “Puppy Happy Hour” to support Oakland Animal Services, and more. Regulars—and whiskey—rule here.
For rolling with a crew on a sunny day
Drake’s Dealership
2325 Broadway
For the past decade, Drake’s has served its fresh brews and wood-fired pizzas in a grand, open-air beer garden with fire pits and Adirondack seating. With 32 beers on tap and a full menu of American classics, the classic brick building on Oakland’s historic Broadway Auto Row houses an indoor restaurant, too, but it’s really all about that patio. Good for groups and dogs.
Burgers + brews = a winning combo
Two Pitchers Brewing Company
2344 Webster St.
Two Pitchers’ charming brewery taproom, noteworthy for its ultra-cool “cold beer” sign out front, revamps a historic auto repair shop with its relaxed indoor-outdoor beer garden, offering delish burgers from Lovely’s in a large, semi-industrial open-air setting that’s dog- and kid-friendly.
Beeryland
2318 Telegraph Ave.
This casual spot has everything one needs for a quick, friendly afternoon/evening refresher: heated indoor seating with projected movies, semi-heated outdoor seating with an impressive mural, tasty burgers, and of course, a great selection of beer and cider—also, slushies!
Because: beer
The Good Hop Bar & Bottle Shop
2421 Telegraph Ave.
On the corner of Telegraph Avenue and 24th Street, The Good Hop features 16 California craft beers on tap and stocks more than 400 bottles and cans from independent breweries. It’s a dog-friendly neighborhood bar with indoor seating and regular trivia nights.
For seducing lovers and impressing frenemies
Viridian
2216 Broadway
It might take a minute to catch one’s bearings after entering the uber-stylish, hypermodern yet playful enclave of Viridian, which resembles a love letter to Asian-American culture, craft cocktails and cuisine. Neon sculptures complement a high ceiling exploding with multicolored lanterns in a scene seemingly set in ’90s Hong Kong—but, you know, prettier. Accolades for the food and beverage program are endless. Sometimes the line to get in is as well.
High 5ive Rooftop Bar
437 25th St.
The High 5ive Rooftop Bar at the Kissel Hotel offers a spacious open-air lounge and cushy outdoor seating with firepits and ambience galore, along with fancy cocktails and a menu of small plates with late-night bites. But why miss the sunset vibes? Only open Friday and Saturday nights.
Because sometimes our crew needs a VIP table
Zanzi Oakland
19 Grand Ave.
Housed in the former Era Art Bar space, Zanzi fulfills this list’s “nightclub” category with style. Check Instagram for all the latest theme nights and performances. Expect the hottest Afro, Latin and house flavors, with guest DJs and dance-floor divas dressed to impress.