Fireside-Alameda

Located on Webster street, the Fireside is a bar in transition.  Tom had been here before and remembered the more divey version of the Fireside.  I had not been there before.  The Fireside is brightly lit with two tv above the bar.  In an attempt to appeal to a more upscale crowd, the Fireside offer a nice array of wines as well as bottled beers.  They also have beer on draft and free pretzels.  They also have a small stage for the bands that come in on the weekend.  

Forbidden Island-Alameda

Located on Lincoln Avenue, Forbidden Island is a Tiki Bar in Alameda.  Both Tom and I had been to this bar before but with different levels of appreciation.  While Tom had only been there once and it was enjoyable, I've been there a handful of times and never was happy about the experience.  This review experience was my best time there but they kicked us out early because they wasn't anyone in the bar.  With a limited number of seats, this bar regularly packs them in. With decoration that looks like it came right off the Gilligan's Island set, Forbidden Island offers all kinds of fruity and rum based drinks.  A note about the drinks: Forbidden Island doesn't offer any drinks with strawberries.  The waitress told us that since strawberries have a short shelf life, they don't use them there.  We found this out when Tom tried to order a strawberry daiquiri.

Smitty's-Oakland

Located on Grand Avenue, three doors down from The Alley is Smitty's.  Both Tom and I had never been there before.  A very small bar that has 3 tvs, table shuffle board and a poor table.  It's actually startling that they managed to cram so much stuff in such a small space.  This bar has a regular crowd and is more relaxed than The Alley or Lucky Lounge.  This bar allows smoking, so we didn't stay that long because it stank in there.  I won't be going back.

The Alley-Oakland

Located on Grand Avenue, The Alley has a neon sign with a cat on it above the door.  I'd been to The Alley before but Tom had not.  The Alley's claim to fame is that it's a piano bar.  The venerable Rod Dibble plays the piano and anyone who would like to sing, stands by the piano and is given the microphone.  In addition to the singing, the inside of the bar looks like an alley and there are business cards stapled, taped and pressed into the walls.  A word of advice about the singing: most of the people who chose to sing have great voices, so you won't hear any drunken renditions of "Saturday Night Fever" and they have a steady stream of regular singers.   

Geo Kaye's-Oakland

Located across the street from the Oakland institution, Art's Crab Shack, Geo Kaye's is a small neighborhood bar with a great jukebox.  Both Tom and I had not been to this bar before.  There wasn't really anything special about this bar.  But for people in the neighborhood, you'd be hard pressed to find a more convenient bar than this one on the corner.  You can get pretty cheap beer here but be warned, they don't have pint classes so you actually only get about 12oz versus the standard 16oz.

Cafe Van Kleef-Oakland

A funky bar that you'd past if you weren't looking- Cafe Van Kleef is the quintessential Oakland bar.  The crowd is diverse in ethnic make up and age and only people in the know seem to be going there.  But with a steady stream of people coming into Van Kleef, you'll never be drinking alone.  I've been to Van Kleef several times- I used to work a few blocks away from there and it was always a great start to the weekend.  Tom had not been there before but he really liked it, so it's on the return list.  Filled with patio furniture and a host of crazy crap that's reminiscent of a TGI Friday, it's a comfortable place to drink.  Van Kleef's claim to fame is the Greyhound.  Made with fresh pink grapefruit juice that they squeeze in front of you, it can get the most ardent vodka hater on board.  

Combine that with a snacks that range from popcorn with old bay seasoning, Gardetto's snack mix and hot dogs, and there's no reason not to be drinking with the very friendly people at Van Kleef.

Easy-Oakland

Located on Lakeshore Avenue two doors down from the delicious Arizmendi bakery, Easy is a beautiful dark wood bar where DJs spin every night after 9pm.  I'd been to Easy once before, Tom had not.  They have a great drink menu that includes a very delicious mango bloody mary and t-shirts that say "Easy" on the front and some positive words on the back.  But Easy's real claim to fame is that they run a happy hour on Saturday that coincides with the Farmer's Market down the street.  If you're in the mood for a fruity drink on a Saturday afternoon, Easy's the place to be.