EAST BAY INSOMNIAC

LUKA’S TAPROOM & LOUNGE

2221 Broadway, Oakland • 451-4677

FEATURES:

• Limited bar food until 12AM, including dollar oysters (see dinner menu)
• Unique beer assortment. “Five of our sixteen taps are reserved for Belgian Brews and we offer over eight Belgian varieties in bottles.” (see list)
• DJs from “funk to punk, and from bhangra to be-bop and hip-hop and all shades in between.” (see events)
• Art exhibits
• Billiards table

OPEN UNTIL: 2AM (Wed-Sat) • 12AM (Mon-Tues/Sun)

PARKING: street

WEBSITE:  Luka’s Taproom & Lounge

REVIEWS: yelp

KINGMAN’S IVY ROOM

860 San Pablo Ave @Solano, Albany • 526-5888

I haven’t been here since it was reinvented, so I’m quoting the following Yelp reviews. Apparently, there is no more live music, no cover charge, no beer on tap and better restrooms. A sampling:

• “I’m sorry, but I loved the original Ivy.  This one bites.” 
• “The place is excellent, and it’s nice to not have to go to SF for a decent bar.”
• “I miss the shuffle board, and the sticky floors, and the jazz band that played in the other room.”
• “A PIER 1 IMPORTS WITH A BAR.”
• “They know how to make Mojitos and Martinis… they have an entire Martini menu…”

Perhaps “Sophia C.” sums it up best: “In order to appreciate the new Ivy Room, you can’t compare it to the old–the two are like night and day.  The only recognizable remnant of the old Ivy Room is the sign outside.  Old clientele will be disappointed by the change and will probably never set foot in the new version, except maybe to use the (clean) restroom.”

OPEN UNTIL: 2AM

PARKING: street

WEBSITE (splash page): Kingman’s Cocktails

REVIEWS:

The Ivy Room past and present…

RADIO

435 13th St, Oakland • 451-2889

FEATURING:

• mostly hip-hop
• mostly hipsters
• dark and smokey
• Dark and Stormies (and other strong drinks)

OPEN UNTIL: 2AM

PARKING: street

REVIEWS:

THE WHITE HORSE INN

6551 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley • 652-3820

FEATURES:

• two pool tables
• smoking patio
• two table-top computer games (hot!)
•  two bars
• dance floor and high-tech sound system

OPEN UNTIL: 2AM

PARKING: street

(more…)

THE RUBY ROOM

132 14th St. (btwn Masdison & Oak), Oakland • 444-7224

SPINNING:

• 80s/new wave
• punk/goth
• soul & funk

POOL TABLE: YES

OPEN UNTIL: 2AM

PARKING: street

REVIEWS: