While Oakland is constantly growing and changing, there are a large number of fun bars, restaurants, music venues and nightclubs that create a fun and exciting nightlife scene. If you are more interested in a Pub Crawl, than seeing a live show or going clubbing, then you will definitely find more than enough fun spots in Oakland to grab drinks with friends. From sports bars and dive bars to mixology bars and karaoke bars, you can find pretty much anything in Oakland.
A great place to grab a drink before and after shows at the Fox Theater, Cafe Van Kleef is a cool little bar serving unique craft cocktails.
Cafe Van Kleef
1621 Telegraph Ave.
Oakland, CA 94612
510-763-7711
Website: https://cafevankleef.com/
A cool Oakland bar with a neighborhood feel, Mad Oak has a great selection of drinks with some awesome specialty cocktails and over 40 beers on tap. If you are hungry, you can grab a bite to eat at the rotating pop-up kitchen with different selections throughout the year. This fun Oakland bar also has an outside patio and a rooftop deck.
Mad Oak Bar
135 12th Street
Oakland, CA 94607
510-843-7416
Website: http://www.madoakbar.com/
The best place in Oakland to get some unique Belgian beers, The Trappist is a comfortable bar with two rooms and an outdoor patio to use when the weather is nice.
The Trappist
460 8th Street
Oakland, CA 94607
510-238-8900
Website: https://www.thetrappist.com/
The Bay Area’s oldest Piano Bar, The Alley is a fun spot to grab drinks and a bite to eat while listening to talented pianists and singers.
The Alley
3325 Grand Ave.
Oakland, CA 94610
510-444-8505
Website: https://www.thealleyoakland.com/
A classy wine bar in Oakland, The Punchdown prides itself on serving “natural wines” which have to fit very specific criteria like natural farming practices, organic practices and more.
The Punchdown
1737 Broadway
Oakland, CA 94612
510-788-7877
Website: https://www.punchdownwine.com/
A hip wine and whiskey bar in Oakland, District is a fun place to go with friends and enjoy some drinks and small plates.
District
827 Washington Street
Oakland, CA 94607
510-272-9110
Website: https://districtoak.com/
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October
2025
Jeremy Jordan & Age of Madness / with Homestyle Dinner Rolls- The Independent
09
October
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Fleshwater at The Fillmore San Francisco
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October
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Balu Brigada – Portal (Early Show) at The Independent
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Dermot Kennedy at The Fillmore San Francisco
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Balu Brigada – Portal (Late Show) The Independent SF
11
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12
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Dua Lipa – Radical Optimism Tour at Chase Center Night Two
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13
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13
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Nation of Language at The Fillmore SF
14
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15
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Covet at The Independent SF
16
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Johnny Stimson at The Independent San Francisco
17
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DURRY with Gully Boys at The Independent
18
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Christone “Kingfish” Ingram at The Fillmore
18
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Oliver Hazard x The Last Revel: Head West at The Independent
19
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Matt Rife Stay Golden Tour
19
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Isabella Lovestory with Cece Natalie, Ali RQ – The Independent
20
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Aidan Bissett with Zach Hood, Lulu Simon at The Independent
21
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Superchunk with Case Oats at The Independent SF
21
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grandson: INERTIA Tour at The Fillmore
22
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Hazlett at The Fillmore San Francisco
23
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The Army, The Navy at The Independent
23
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John Maus at The Fillmore SF
23
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Viagra Boys The Infinite Anxiety Tour of 2025
24
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Crawloween San Francisco Halloween Bar Crawl
24
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The New Mastersounds at The Fillmore
24
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Frost Children with DJ Thank You at The Independent SF
25
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San Francisco Halloween Pub Crawl: Crawloween
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The Hip Abduction at The Fillmore
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The Best Pub Crawls in San Francisco
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