Presentation on Map Reviews Nearby

The Alley Piano Bar & Restaurant in Oakland

4.6 (199) 3325 Grand Ave, Oakland, CA 94610, United States

Categories

Piano bar
Steak house

Location on the map

Oakland, Alameda County, California, US

Phone: +1 510-444-8505
Site: https://thealleyoakland.com/

Opening hours

Monday:5 PM–2 AM
Tuesday:5 PM–2 AM
Wednesday:5 PM–2 AM
Thursday:5 PM–2 AM
Friday:5 PM–2 AM
Saturday:5 PM–2 AM
Sunday:5 PM–2 AM

Edit info

Total reviews rating 4.6

199 Reviews for The Alley Piano Bar & Restaurant 2024:

Review №1

2024-02-04 17:07:59

Its a small cozy local (full) bar and restaurant. Live piano on Friday and Saturday nights.Food is delicious authentic American cuisine.Service is quick and responsive. Accept credit cards.Has a long bar seating with big screens (could be a good option for sport bar).Has indoor seating with tables and booths.Decoration is classic saloon type bar.Since more weight goes to bar side than restaurant and small seatings, not good for kids.Great for casual drinking, small gathering or meet up. Will go back for burgers, fried chicken and drinks for sure!

Review №2

2023-05-27 19:46:28

If you like the eclectic, old school Bay Area hole in the wall, this is your place! If you like the corporate clean sterile boring, please don’t bother. They have (almost) daily music program. Not everything will delight your ears ( when the neighborhood Pavarotti thinks he has toMake up for lack of talent by singing louder during open mic karaoke). Food is solid old school. Wine…. Please skip. Even the more expensive $12 glass makes vinegar a superstar. No draft beer :(Service was great land customers are as unique as the place itself. To me this is a jewel. But, check out the images before you go- to make sure it is your style. We lost WAY TOO MANY of these unique places since the early 2000’s in tie Bay Area, and with it also left the characters operating and patronizing these kind of classic Bay Area places. Come visit and visit often to keep THE ALLEY going.

Review №3

2024-04-30 20:08:48

Its such a great place! Karaoke around a piano!! The man playing the piano is amazing playing for everyone singing. We met great people, enjoyed the great drinks and loved the atmosphere. We highly recommend checking this place out!

Review №4

2024-06-24 07:09:29

Amazing venue! It is a combination of piano bar/restaurant/dive bar. Truly a local gem. Come for the karaoke & stay for the comradery!!

Review №5

2023-05-14 19:02:20

Mesmerizing. Mesmerizing. The vibe is amazing - local, artistic, nostalgic, jazzy. Great performance from the participating musicians and singers which made the dining experience unforgettable. We asked for the best seats for music and we were seated very close to the piano. Fried chicken is a blast, hot, juicy, well marinated. Burger comes with lots of veggies and a thick patty. Cocktails loaded with liquor. Will come back.

Review №6

2017-10-16 22:53:50

The Alley! Definitely an interesting place - quite the decor with the business cards attached to the walls. Kind of dirty divey type place. Didnt enjoy that part when I visited the restrooms...Cash only so be prepared in advance.Service was good overall. Place was kind of empty. Enjoyed the old songs played live around the piano and sang by different people seating around it. I thought that was the best thing about this place.Drinks were just ok. They dont really do too many cocktails so old school type. Food menu is typical bar food menu at solid prices. We ordered the fried onion rings which were quite oily and heavy before sharing the alley fried chicken. Food was just decent, lets leave it at that.I didnt really enjoy myself since the hygiene was ok, food was ok and drinks were ok. But definitely an interesting dive bar for those who like that type of scene.

Review №7

2024-01-15 01:20:41

Funky bar with good food with large portions. The steak sandwich was delicious. Prices are fair. Parking can be challenging.

Review №8

2018-09-05 20:38:47

**CASH ONLY BAR** Grabbed a beer after work. Full of regulars. Definitely extremely dive-y crowd. But the ones I spoke to were friendly. Love the interior of this place. Supposed to simulate being outdoors. Sort of reminds me of being on a TV Set. Would return for the ambience. The piano also gave a mellow-type atmosphere on the night I went. Lots of 60s/70s jams in the air.

Review №9

2024-01-15 17:36:26

Great bar with an amazing atmosphere and setting! If you like steak, youd love the food too! I love the place

Review №10

2024-02-16 03:50:17

One of my favorite neighborhood spots, its cool for a quiet drink with friends, or a party around the piano if you wanna get lit! The bar staff are the best, super friendly, remember my name every time now and fix some mean cocktails

Review №11

2024-01-25 08:20:39

Come here for Tuesday night trivia. The staff on Tuesdays are superhuman and do the lords work on busy nights like these! Great ambience for a night to get together with friends and enjoy some mind boggling trivia in a dimly light space with lots of things to look at.

Review №12

2024-03-18 00:52:13

Great place. Diverse crowd, fun music and atmosphere. Had a burger and it was good. Mom enjoyed her steak.

Review №13

2024-04-24 19:37:02

Nice whole in the wall place. I only had a Long Island, but it was made right. David the bartender was nice as well. Recommend

Review №14

2017-12-19 07:31:34

Cash-only! Everyone should put this first in their review. The location is great, but come prepared with cash, as they do not take cards at all. I ordered a Manhattan which came to $9: totally reasonable for the Bay Area. Drinks were good, but the Alleys claim to fame is the piano karaoke bar. We were there on a Thursday, and a pianist was there to play along with whoever felt like singing. There are large plastic tubs with binders of sheet music under the piano, but it seems now that the pianist uses a digital format for reading the music. The legendary man who played the piano there for the last five or so decades (give or take a decade) is only there rarely now. But its clear that people take the piano karaoke function of the Alley quite seriously. The guy who rocked out to George Michaels Faith there recently made for a fun night! If you like a little bit of awkward public spectacle, the Alley is the place to be, for sure. Just be sure to stop at an ATM first.

Review №15

2022-12-07 02:06:04

Great place to get a drink. Its classy karaoke with a live piano. Great place to hang out get some food and sing along to some old hits.. love this place its such a gem.

Review №16

2022-11-15 11:56:06

Absolutely loved the atmosphere! Such a fun piano bar. No beers on tap though– my one & only complaint.

Review №17

2024-05-04 09:46:46

This place is always a hit. The food is good and the music makes the place. The staff is dope

Review №18

2023-07-20 02:15:59

First, let me say clearly that this review does not have anything to do with the bar, where I consistently have friendly service and great drinks.I do, however, want to write about the major deterioration of the music atmosphere over the past several years since Ive been coming here. It used to be a welcoming place where people could sit down, sing a song, listen to others, and have fun. Now its an old boys club of rude, nasty men who are fully annoyed when anyone they dont know approaches. I approached the piano with a friend, we were careful not to speak over the current musicians playing, as Ive seen others admonished for this in the past, but still we were given nasty looks and not acknowledged at all. I personally find it frustrating since I am a conservatory-trained singer, Ive sang here before, and I know for sure that we were careful not to be rude to anyone else.Basically, it was made clear to us that this place was not for us, which is not how I remember the Alley when I first moved to Oakland. I hope they can do better in the future.

Review №19

2024-05-31 23:25:09

Go for Trivia...food will surprise in a Good Way I love a Steak sandwich.

Review №20

2020-01-12 16:00:14

Great divey, cash only piano bar with a nice ambiance, live music, and an interesting and genuine vibe. Lots of history on the walls.

Review №21

2023-07-08 03:05:34

Fried chicken and steak special were fabulous.. it was too dark(;I prefer my food more visible) and loud for my taste.Singing needs to be softer or without a mic cuz it sounds like the vocalists are in your face . but obviously a well loved placed by the community and I appreciated the spirit and history 🙂

Review №22

2022-11-07 18:42:56

Great neighborhood spot with a deep bench of locals to prove it. Lots of character and offbeat charm, and the piano built into the bar is not to miss. Open mic night was a fun one! Drinks are generally strong and well made. You should be ok with a little mess as thats part of the charm...

Review №23

2023-01-24 21:18:23

Very special establishment. Local mainstay with history. The place has a great community, honest, unfussy and laid back. One of my favorite bars in Oakland. It used to have more distilled piano bar energy when Rod Dibble was around, but still great piano and singing. They used to be cash only, they recently got a point-of-sale.

Review №24

2023-04-14 18:51:29

The Alley is an institution. Terrific place to take a date. Fun vibe, terrific bar staff who are working with a terrific selection of liquors beer wine etc.I wont even start to name drop the people who show up here, but lets just say Thursday nights there are notables therein.Shout out to David who is an amazing bartender and makes the Alley special.

Review №25

2023-07-11 14:22:37

What a great place. Simple food but delicious. The ambience is great. Karaoke, music, friendly service.. if you want to spend good time with your family? and love one is the place to go .

Review №26

2023-04-22 04:10:02

Service was wonderful! Shoutout to Kevin who was super patient with me (who has never been to a bar to drink before) and my pals (who are regular normal people). The vibes were super cozy, and the bathrooms were much cleaner than I thought they would be (sorry I doubted you!!!) big recommend as a comfy hang out spot

Review №27

2024-06-18 05:18:28

Good burgers, great drinks, dark and divey.

Review №28

2024-04-17 00:06:59

Great steaks and loaded potato! Cant wait to try the friend chicken.

Review №29

2023-09-16 18:37:04

Simply the best!!! May be old and funky- an old Oakland landmark. Expanded beyond burgers to STEAK😎😃. THIS is the place to go if you want a smokey bistro, wonderful service, and the best damn steak I swear in town!!

Review №30

2019-04-30 23:45:59

Love this bar — an Oakland classic. Definitely miss Rod Dibble at the piano, but I love coming here and listening to everyone sing and have a great time.

Review №31

2023-06-26 14:08:29

Great little dive bar/restaurant.Fantastic service, delicious steak sandwich (enormous), and a perfect manhattan.I do love a good dive bar, and this one is top notch.Highly recommend.

Review №32

2022-10-10 19:19:03

Its very crowded and divey but the karaoke piano bar part is fun. They kind of only had old timey music in their books so its not your typical karaoke experience if youre used to like, 90s jams instead of Frank Sinatra.

Review №33

2022-07-23 19:00:44

This is a unique spot! I loved that you could do karaoke with a live pianist - that was a first for me. Its definitely a dive bar and you get everything that comes with that including interesting old pictures on the wall, rickety booths, and no frills service.

Review №34

2023-08-05 23:40:49

Nice atmosphere, good (karaoke😅) music and juicy steaks 👌🏻

Review №35

2022-09-18 23:37:01

Cozy piano bar with an amazing pianist who plays almost anything you wanna sing along with.The bar tenders and wait staff are always overwhelmed as theyre too short of staff.Overall a fun place to check out

Review №36

2022-01-09 06:27:05

Great place to grab a drink. Request a song and sing your heart out with someone playing piano to the song of your choice.

Review №37

2022-06-01 23:26:22

First and foremost, this would be a 5-star review if they accepted cards.I find the atmosphere to be wonderful and somewhere between dive bar and historical landmark.The inside is dimly lit with that too-familiar red light and any exposed wood is covered with business cards and random paper paraphernalia that has been tacked up over the years.Bonus; theres a grand piano that is the life of the party during the nights when live music and raucous karaoke is hosted.

Review №38

2021-09-24 01:56:17

Bohemian piano bar in Oakland. This place is an institution to local and sought out by travellers from far and wide. Great food, great music, and if you feel up to it (or tipsy) you can request nearly any song you cam think of the have played while you croon.If you are in the area make this a stop. If youre not in the area, get here while you can. Awesome atmosphere, cheap drinks and a lively spirit make this place great

Review №39

2023-08-25 05:02:45

It was the absolute best steak and fried chicken dinner I have ever had!!!!! Truly a best kept secret that more people need to experience. The service was perfect, and truly a gem of Oakland !!!!!

Review №40

2019-12-19 18:01:27

A solid neighborhood dive bar, with a distinct personality. Also, a good place to get a decent steak. This place is not fancy, but its not trying to be. The Alley has a distinct vibe, reminiscent to me, of Johns Grill in SF, but without the tourists or prices. It is definitely a locals hang-out. The piano bar music was fun without being intrusive.Opening at 5, dinner service begins at 6. The menu is limited, but as previously stated, a good place to get a decent top sirloin steak. They were out of the rib-eye when I went. If I wanted to nitpick, I would say the rare I ordered was closer to medium-rare, but it was within acceptable parameters. If youre just looking for a shot of good bourbon and steak reasonably priced, with no hassles, I would say this place fills the bill.

Review №41

2023-11-08 04:52:15

Love this bar. Great food. Live piano player that takes karaoke suggestions.

Review №42

2023-08-28 17:20:33

This is a place where you can be a Star as long as your song last. Its not fancy but, its real for Real Friends who want drink and sing with a piano 🎹.

Review №43

2018-08-02 04:12:03

Great live karaoke bar that has a live guitarist or live piano player nightly. Small selection of bottled beer - plenty of liquor, they serve food up till 9pmish but I havent tried it yet. Super cozy place - dim inside and feels like youre in an alley.

Review №44

2017-01-07 20:17:23

Im in love!! Just went to The Alley do the first time least night and my friend and I had a blast!! The serves was great the people were extremely nice, welcoming and easy to get to know. And who can beet doing karaoke around a piano!!! Defiantly going back every time I can.

Review №45

2022-01-25 15:29:10

Atmosphere lives up to its name. Our server was on point with friendliness & very attentive to us. The food was really good & for the price! They had karaoke which was great! Def will be back!

Review №46

2018-01-30 04:56:20

Everyone we encountered was friendly and happy and we had such a great time. We happened to go on one of the two nights per week that they do live piano karaoke, which was such fun to watch. This place feels divey in all the best ways and none of the bad ones. I will definitely be back!

Review №47

2021-06-15 09:54:39

I had the best hamburger Ive had in YEARS here! 🍔 I think the chefs name was Stanley, I love that man. It was so good! Drinks were good and live music was beautiful! One lady sang opera! 10/10 recommend for the throwback vibes.

Review №48

2018-02-27 21:56:44

A place unlike any other Ive been to. If you feel up to it you can even sing your favorite song to a live piano performance. Strong drinks. Inexpensive. Only problem is its cash only, otherwise would have been 5 stars.

Review №49

2014-06-23 17:57:16

I wanted to love this bar because it has everything that I normally like. Great divey spot with lots of seating, great character. But when I think of a piano bar I think of upbeat and cheerful music- and it was everything but that. They were playing the most depressing music and it was such a buzz kill that we ended up leaving and going to a different bar. It may have been an off night so Im willing to give them another chance.

Review №50

2024-04-02 12:29:36

This place is great. Mainly because they have Parisa.

Review №51

2019-01-27 16:22:08

Very unique, cool and cozy hangout. The pianist was very talented, as were the volunteer singers who accompanied. walls are covered with remnants of past visitors, stickers, business cards, feel free to add to it! Definitely a local favorite hangout with great people.

Review №52

2019-04-10 17:34:37

I sing here with the Regulars about twice a month. Go Wednesday-Saturday to have Brian and Paul play piano for u and to sing along. Skip Monday and Tuesday nights. Guy that plays guitar is TOO CONTROLLING and critical. Sunday night karaoke is fun! The Wednesday-Saturday piano players are pretty versatile. U can use yr phone for any lyrics and they have a computer at the piano to find/play yr songs. As u come more and more u will bond (as I have) with all of the regulars. Some are here everyday like Cheers! A GREAT bunch of kind, supportive people. I usually drink water but have heard the drinks are cheap and strong. The bar/wait staff doesnt try to push alcohol on u. Theyre busy serving others. We dance here too whenever theres a catchy tune. U can be yourself at The Alley. Creativity is encouraged. Food until 9:00 pm. Heard the steak is good. See u there. Im the beautiful, black, bald woman leading with Twist and Shout or Lets Stay Together. Come on down! Will be there this Saturday at 10:00 pm.

Review №53

2023-06-05 14:31:44

One of the oldest bars in The Town, this place has about as much fun atmosphere as one could ask for. Great drinks and great staff.

Review №54

2018-11-24 02:29:23

Bizarre and wonderful. This is a dive bar by all means—cash only, kind of dirty, and lots of fun locals. There’s business cards stapled all over the walls, so for that alone it’s worth the visit. Look out for the super creepy cabbage patch doll hanging near the bar. The drinks are strong and the bartenders are super friendly, too.

Review №55

2022-03-18 13:35:17

Great food and drinks in this Oakland classic nightspot going back to the prohibition era! Singers are really professional, so practice before you show up if you want to sing. If you have out of town guests you want to show a good, authentic time, take them here!

Review №56

2019-07-16 18:00:57

The alley has great drinks. Do be advised that its cash only though. The atmosphere is good and the prices seem in line with other area bars. The piano comes on at 9, so keep that in mind too. Enjoy!

Review №57

2014-10-27 05:43:45

Its very charming. Has old business cards and pieces of paper stapled all over every wall. There is ample space to eat or drink. With cute little light up booths on the side. I believe they have an upstairs but it was closed today. Sunday is Karaoke night +++

Review №58

2019-12-16 03:05:17

Fantastic cash-only piano bar. Dimly lit in a warm red glow, there are plenty of booths for seating and decorative walls to make for many private corners. Great piano bar with the opportunity to sing out some tunes. Cash-only bar, but there is an atm on site.

Review №59

2023-05-28 18:42:57

Fun eclectic place thats popular with locals. We loved the steaks and got great service... we had so much fun we stayed for 2 hours drinking and eating

Review №60

2021-03-31 17:52:34

Cash only! Beware these atm fees. Bartenders are skilled and quick, but have little patience for drunken nonsense or would-be divas. Piano Karaokes singing quality varies widely. The interior is authentically dive bar, but the clientele is a calm mix of local barflies, gentrifiers, and adult theater kids all having a good time.

Review №61

2018-08-06 17:06:51

Can be hard to get a spot at the piano if you want to sing, but worth the wait. Bryan plays on Sat night and knows a lot of songs. If you have a specific song, get there early as a some only gets played once per night. Some of the regulars are really good, and have their songs they do every time, and tend to congregate at the left corner near the keys...so keep your ears open when that corner sings.I went to sing a song for a friend who passed, and was the reason for my visit to California. The barkeep suggested I put a glass of his favorite drink in the center of the he grand piano, which the promised would remain until after closing, in his honor. Good crowd. Nice and friendly folks--tolerant of people who enjoy singing but arent that skilled, and unless youre obnoxious, they will encourage you to telax and have fun....just dont beat in time on the tables or piano!

Review №62

2024-03-11 09:16:50

This is a gem in Oakland the service was outstanding the bartenders are amazing

Review №63

2018-12-16 16:45:21

Really comfortable place: good steak, good service. Very dark with wonderful pianist. Some good singers but others so bad you want to leave. Of you have a couple drinks you might become more tolerant.

Review №64

2018-08-25 18:07:26

This is one of my go-to spots for solo, date and group bars in the area.They have trivia nights and a pretty good drink list.It is divey/eclectic. It has a great atmosphere and is a great conversation starter for people that are not the greatest at conversing.

Review №65

2024-01-01 20:09:27

Cool vibes and secret cubby tables. Good spot for a chat with friends.

Review №66

2020-05-13 16:20:35

This is a small restaurant with some great burger choices. They have a selection of burgers and chicken sandwiches made on their own homemade rolls. The food was very good and the extras were even better! They have several options to choose from including onion straws, fries, sweet potato fries and very unique tater tots. DO NOT pass up the tater tots!!! What an incredible idea! These tots were stuffed with cheese and my familys favorite thing on the menu. The pricing was very good for the area and they also serve beer.

Review №67

2021-06-12 05:44:01

Worst experience ever. We waited for 30 minutes to get seated while the host let in other people who arrived later than us inside. We proceed to tell the host we’re looking to get food and he assured us the kitchen closed at 10:30pm. It was 9:45pm when we got seated. Once seated, we waited to order and not one single waitress came to ask us if we were ready to order. After 20 minutes I had to get their attention only for them to tell me the kitchen was closed. Keep in mind all this happened while other people were getting served. Makes it feel like we were being discriminated against as a POC. This is quite a bummer since it was a cool hole in the wall.

Review №68

2022-02-15 19:52:20

Ye olde dive bar and restaurant with live music provided by people (e.g.YOU) who sing along with really good pianists. One or 2 evenings there is a guitarist. occasionally there has been karaoke or trivial games. Round Robin order of appearance.

Review №69

2022-01-17 07:26:21

Dive bar meets piano bar/karaoke bar meets steakhouse. Its got the decor of a dive bar, its got a person playing the piano or guitar for karaoke singers, and its got an incredible steak.I went there for the steak, deciding between this and Palmetto and Wood House, and i was not disappointed.

Review №70

2018-12-01 03:26:04

A wonderfully idiosyncratic open mic piano bar thats well worth a visit. There are rules around how and when to sing at the piano and regulars are a little possessive, but its also a great spot for a chilled out drink and chat if thats not your speed.

Review №71

2018-02-08 05:08:12

Definitely check this bar out! Its one of my faves for being the perfect mix of cool and actually authentically enjoyable. Its been there forever and the piano man is a local legend. Bring your singing shoes.

Review №72

2019-05-02 03:48:18

One of our favorite place to go every time we visit my Father in law! Its so much fun having live music while having a yummy dinner. Got to love that cool vintage decor!

Review №73

2018-08-23 02:30:09

Love this place. Live piano bar is great. Jennifer the bartender is the best. Business cards all over the walls. I wonder, has anyone gotten business from the cards on the walls?

Review №74

2022-01-25 04:05:38

Iconic music bar. Ultra casual, simple, rustic with great piano and guitar. Great place to hang out with decent drinks!

Review №75

2023-08-10 20:39:33

Visited November 2021. It was not what we expected. It was a dive bar. We went on some open mic night…we walked in and walked out and had to book another Uber.

Review №76

2023-04-10 05:33:25

One of the oldest bars in Oakland- drinks, full menu and music 7 days a week. A piece of Oakland history....

Review №77

2018-11-18 18:12:59

Great bar, with a piano player who plays for walk in singers.

Review №78

2019-06-05 01:45:15

Looove this place! Great vibe! Great food! Great music, piano, and kareoke night! Definitely one of my top 5 places in Oakland! ... i just wish they had a veggie burger on the menu!!! 🤗🤗

Review №79

2018-08-22 16:39:47

Still best piano bar, yes Rod has left us but Bryan and Jeff and guitarist Paul all fulfill the ideal of a friendly place with pro quality live music support.

Review №80

2012-08-23 03:45:24

I had heard about the steak here for a while and finally decided to give it a try. GREAT! Huge portion of steak cook perfectly, salad, veggies, onion rings (or fries, or baked potato) and bread for

Review №81

2022-09-05 05:22:37

Always fun. Bar tenders are super nice and the drinks are tasty. Somehow the price of the steaks increased dramatically tho

Review №82

2019-02-15 07:56:46

Imagine a old west mine shaft turned into a piano bar. The walls applicaded with stickers post it notes and printed parafernalia. The bartenders the age of your favorite great aunt and named something like Lavern. If so then you have the Alley. Its awesome. A divey yet strangely heartfelt and weirdly classy neighborhood haunt. So happy to have stumbled upon it.

Review №83

2018-11-22 03:03:58

Fabulous, old fashioned dinner - steak, chicken, or vegetarian platter, with baked potato, steamed vegetables, & salad. The best fried chicken I’ve had - maybe ever. Great, funky decor & super service.

Review №84

2019-09-28 19:45:30

Great crowd, friendly staff and an amazing piano/guitar bar. Big secret is a delicious dinner menu to have before or after your performance.

Review №85

2023-11-18 00:26:13

The fried chicken is incredible and Parisa the bartender is just the sweetest!

Review №86

2017-07-10 18:48:49

A beautiful, moody, and quirky dive bar that oozes with atmosphere. Just spending time there, watching as people take turns singing around the piano is a catharsis in itself.

Review №87

2023-08-11 21:23:53

This old funky bar has a lot of charm and decently priced drinks. Food is great and good portions

Review №88

2019-12-18 18:16:39

Good food. Friendly staff. Slow in service. Beware of local Divas sitting near the piano. Theyll tell you youre being too loud and ask you to move.

Review №89

2020-01-31 07:26:54

There is a real community of singers here. Very unique, one of a kind. Not too many Piano Bars around anymore. Only one in the East Bay!

Review №90

2016-07-16 05:36:58

This place is home. Fun. Interactive. The bartender Jen is amazing. This is a legend with history and you can step back in time the minute you step in. My go to spot where everyone knows my name.

Review №91

2015-11-17 07:28:30

The Alley was really well known for their steak... But they had some issue with their hood and had to stop using the grill. Without the food options, this is a 3.5... But when they get the steak dinner back up Ill update this to 5.

Review №92

2016-10-29 17:00:14

Really cool bar. The alley on the side was used during the prohibition. Seats at the booths are not the most comfortable but the ambience and millions of business cards make up for it.

Review №93

2024-05-11 01:07:11

This place sucks and you should stay away from It

Review №94

2020-01-12 12:08:28

Very cool place. Great live music. Lots of seating. Parking is a bit of a hassle but its worth it very neat inside

Review №95

2019-06-10 06:31:46

The Alley is a locals secret. This is where amazing singers come through. Each night there is live piano or guitar. Sunday is karaoke.

Review №96

2022-09-10 07:56:03

For one time visit its ok. 18$ burger lol.More like karaoke then piano bar.

Review №97

2018-02-10 05:38:57

Great to sing along to the piano bar and the steak is pretty good too. Cool decor and lots of regulars to make you feel at home.

Review №98

2021-11-27 03:23:41

Amazing, cozy, unique piano bar

Review №99

2023-10-22 16:12:43

Everyone needs to go to this bar at least once in their life. People are friendly and interesting and theres lots of singing!

Review №100

2021-10-01 05:36:45

Great dive bar vibe, good food, and a welcoming ambience, what more can you ask for? Oh and the love entertainment is dope too

Review №101

2019-09-09 18:11:48

A cool kinda divey place that is eclectic and has awesome karaoke? They dont take debit/credit so bring cash.

Review №102

2017-04-22 15:34:15

Cool, chill vibe. Unpretentious and great prices. The people singing at the piano bar are, overall, really amazing.

Review №103

2018-12-23 09:50:49

Check out this above the Dive Bar location many people are are still on Cheers type friend. The piano in the middle of the room encourages wannabes to become going to bees and for others stay away bees

Review №104

2023-07-04 02:37:53

Awesome steak and really nice staff. Quite busy so be patient.

Review №105

2019-10-25 05:28:03

Classic piano/dive bar. Great karaoke on Sunday. Amazing staff. Cash only.

Review №106

2018-03-21 22:09:14

Great vibe! Love the Plano karaoke, and the bar tenders dry sense of humor adds to the charm of the place.

Review №107

2018-10-25 07:04:58

All time favorite bar! Ive been coming here since I was a kid and it still has the same charm as always

Review №108

2019-12-15 19:35:30

You know that feeling when something is just the perfect amount of “divey”

Review №109

2018-03-27 17:33:30

Love the atmosphere, drinks are cheap, the regulars are friendly and usually talented... And Rod Dibble was a gem who will be greatly missed

Review №110

2024-05-30 18:49:55

Classic dive w classic feels

Review №111

2019-08-12 06:20:58

Dive piano bar with food being served. Drinks very overpriced food ok but they do give you a lot for the price.

Review №112

2021-12-24 11:55:23

First time there best place in the entire bay area the people are very nice the food is good amazing!!! Not expensive at allthe best experience ever.

Review №113

2019-08-12 03:54:33

Last standing local piano bar. Limited food menu, diverse drinks, friendly staff and great history

Review №114

2023-08-25 19:47:19

Fun place. Piano bar is great.

Review №115

2015-11-25 16:49:00

Loved this place, was jumping on a Sunday night and had a really good crowd. Is a many times more awesome inside than it looks from the outside!

Review №116

2023-03-24 01:52:05

Great piano bar. Business cards are everywhere on the walls.

Review №117

2019-10-29 23:31:46

Best bar for local flavor n history.Great piano bar and karaoke everynite!

Review №118

2021-06-07 16:52:40

Great place to kill some time, have a few beers, and sing a little. Glad to see the are back open and hoppin

Review №119

2021-12-05 11:22:13

Jeff is a maniac on the keys. Come here, listen to some amazing piano bar, have a warm bev.

Review №120

2019-01-29 06:43:48

Very nice and low key. The karaoke was nice and the drinks were well made.

Review №121

2017-10-27 05:07:17

The piano bar around the corner of your hopes and dreams.

Review №122

2020-02-23 03:25:03

What a cool place! Definite stop for an old school dive bar and cozy feel. Cash only at the bar.

Review №123

2017-12-04 15:24:11

A tiny little beautiful old-fashioned altered universe.

Review №124

2013-01-06 06:57:06

I fuc...... Love this bar. If I where to own a bar this would be it. The food, staff, drinks are all great. You must come to this bar.

Review №125

2022-02-16 01:29:49

This is Oaklands historical piano bar. Food is great and the atmosphere phenomenal!

Review №126

2018-03-15 03:23:15

This place is awesome if you want to sing karaoke or just enjoy amazing people to drink with.

Review №127

2022-04-01 03:25:57

Nice dive bar with live music and piano-backed karaoke!

Review №128

2017-06-20 21:37:34

Dive Bar.I love this place. The picture for Wikipedia should be this bar. Youve got to go here.Come in on a Friday night and grab the microphone!

Review №129

2019-06-24 20:59:44

What a great hole in the wall vibe. Bartender was super friendly. And great selection of beers

Review №130

2016-04-25 22:49:38

Unlike any other bar in Oakland. Fun place to have a drink and admire some off the wall decor.

Review №131

2021-08-20 01:17:42

Best bar in Oakland, I miss Rod Dibble, but piano man is a.o.k. these days.

Review №132

2023-05-13 21:06:45

Hidden gem dive bar with steak dinner reasonably priced

Review №133

2018-03-28 14:59:09

Wonderful staff, inexpensive drinks, fun atmosphere, decent food, and unique kareoke.

Review №134

2018-03-13 20:46:54

Quirky piano based karaoke bar. Drink some cocktails and hear some drunken compadres belt out standards

Review №135

2016-01-09 03:14:23

This place hasnt changed in the ten years Ive lived in Oakland. The bar is kind of terrible, but Rod Dibble is gold.

Review №136

2021-07-30 21:48:04

Great bar with a live piano/guitar player for karaoke!

Review №137

2023-09-15 22:11:29

Great food and bartenders were the best

Review №138

2023-01-11 05:01:34

Fun local bar with quirky vibes and friendly people 👍🏽

Review №139

2017-08-07 19:04:22

Awwwe maaaan, this place is magical, you have to experience drinking in an alley between two houses, but youre really not, it just seems that way from the inside.

Review №140

2017-01-16 19:00:12

A dive with a piano. Not sure how it works but people were definitely sitting around a piano singing. Cash only.

Review №141

2019-08-15 16:26:43

Always a classic bar to duck into. I feel lucky when I come in on a night when the piano is going.

Review №142

2019-06-20 19:15:40

Came here for Monday night trivia, which was fun, and the host was awesome. The garlic bread was questionable.

Review №143

2019-05-06 02:32:52

Place was full but seating was still available and server came promptly. Nice atmosphere.

Review №144

2021-09-11 21:26:26

Always wonderful! The steaks and the piano singing stole my heart

Review №145

2018-03-17 17:51:35

Impeccably amazing! The folks there are kind and talented, plus, they make you feel right at home.

Review №146

2015-11-20 18:23:38

Trivia on Mondays, karaoke on Sundays, occasional appearances by Dibble. . Whats not to like about this neighborhood bar?

Review №147

2016-12-28 02:05:34

Nice divey bar. Cash only, no beers on tap but a good vibe.

Review №148

2018-08-27 02:26:22

Had a $10 old fashioned that was extremely mediocre, unfortunately. I like the hole in the wall feel, but then why the ten bucks?

Review №149

2019-03-19 01:13:52

Friendly folks, fun atmosphere, great place to go for karaoke.

Review №150

2019-02-28 22:07:09

Food left a little to be desired, but overall the place has a unique and cool vibe

Review №151

2018-11-21 17:00:42

Great staff and guests! Wonderful menu; dinner was fantastic.

Review №152

2018-02-17 06:08:29

Although busy on a Friday night, the staff was attentive and the ribeye delicious!

Review №153

2019-06-15 02:26:58

This place is very cool, stopped here unintentionally, will absolutely be back to get my business card on the wall!

Review №154

2023-06-10 16:41:59

Trivia on tuesday! Fries are pretty good

Review №155

2022-10-04 23:02:45

Nice and Cozy ambience with Live music to lift your Spirits

Review №156

2017-02-26 15:21:39

Great place for a cheap drink and piano karaoke.

Review №157

2018-03-19 08:08:24

Super divey. Cash only. ATM on site. Great spirit. Old-time feel

Review №158

2018-04-09 09:03:07

Great bartenders great pizza dsandwiches and salads. Chill ambiance.

Review №159

2018-05-09 03:40:31

Just a top notch dive bar. Been around for ages. Will not disappoint.

Review №160

2022-09-29 22:52:24

So beautiful

Review №161

2019-08-06 14:18:33

Went for Trivia night... great dive bar with decent food and drink menu

Review №162

2018-03-10 06:44:49

Great vibe but chairs are uncomfortable. Also no credit cards. But a neighborhood classic.

Review №163

2017-11-23 00:28:03

Great music. Sing along. Decent drinks

Review №164

2018-12-12 22:06:44

The best place ever! I was there only 2 times, but I will back there for sure.

Review №165

2013-01-01 05:44:23

Dive bar with really old business cards and bumper stickers posted everywhere. Depressions best friend.

Review №166

2023-01-18 01:51:41

Love this place. Best burger in town.

Review №167

2019-11-23 17:35:23

Love the vibe and the cocktails here... and the prices are great!

Review №168

2017-08-03 08:27:58

Simply love the alley. Put me in a great mood every time Im there.

Review №169

2023-02-25 16:20:57

So weird. Do it.

Review №170

2021-05-23 20:06:17

David is the Best bartender the music was and singing was great

Review №171

2010-09-09 17:53:09

The burgers at the Alley are actually pretty good. Its a little known secret.

Review №172

2018-06-19 00:11:26

Took me a few minutes after entering to realize its set up to look like an actual alley.

Review №173

2017-01-18 21:22:54

Great oldschool real-deal dive bar. Think Tom Waits.

Review №174

2017-08-17 22:24:28

Locals spot. Feels like family. Great singers.

Review №175

2019-11-27 04:30:29

Awesome spot if you like to sing listen or drink

Review №176

2018-09-02 16:53:39

A cool old local restaurant with business cards all over the walls and a $15 steak dinner.

Review №177

2017-08-05 21:18:57

Great little piano bar wit karaoke

Review №178

2021-08-19 10:13:39

I had a steak and it was full of Gristle and under cooked

Review №179

2021-12-27 20:03:07

Had a great time here for trivia night.

Review №180

2020-01-09 09:53:46

A classic. Piano bar, with karaoke Sunday, I believe...

Review №181

2022-07-08 15:33:10

Great vibes, service and unique atmosphere!

Review №182

2016-04-26 04:08:40

Best piano bar in the East bay!

Review №183

2017-07-24 17:03:57

Piano bar karaoke. Nice crowd

Review №184

2022-06-20 16:00:24

I enjoyed the bartender & the whole environment

Review №185

2021-09-14 08:02:54

My experiences at The Alley should be whispered in your ear.

Review №186

2022-02-27 16:01:37

Love the atmosphere, food was cold thou

Review №187

2018-09-14 22:57:59

Contains more character than all of Redwood City combined.

Review №188

2023-08-20 02:33:06

Nice vibe

Review №189

2017-01-05 13:40:12

Karaoke around the piano cant be beat!

Review №190

2017-06-18 21:51:52

Because its not Penrose!

Review №191

2019-08-25 09:30:12

This is a crazy eclectic fun place. Love it :-)

Review №192

2019-08-11 17:05:28

So much fun!

Review №193

2019-08-24 04:40:39

Steak was great, nice eclectic atmosphere.

Review №194

2018-04-25 05:14:12

Rude hipster bartender on Tuesday night. Just a gruff, young ogre!

Review №195

2019-09-05 03:45:39

It’s a wonderfully wacky historic dive bar.

Review №196

2018-11-15 19:08:13

Laughter and good great food. Big fun.

Review №197

2016-12-08 20:15:01

Karaoke with a live band!!! Affordable drinks, too!

Review №198

2018-09-26 00:25:39

Good drinks, food and music!

Review №199

2019-12-08 21:26:23

A pub in a pubs world. But there is also karaoke. ..