The East Bay bar scene is heating up and with it comes a bevy of places serving good times alongside a selection of strong cocktails, wine, and beers. There are a number of breweries expanding with new taprooms, new wine bars to raise a glass in, and cocktail bars featuring top-notch food to boot. Here are 11 of the newest bars and taprooms in the East Bay.
Read More/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71388705/nicolaparisi_goodluckgato_aug2023_0707.28.jpg)
These Are the Hottest New Bars in the East Bay
A guide to the newest spots to throw one back, from Oakland to Martinez to Livermore

Bentley’s Cocktail Lounge
The self-proclaimed birthplace of the martini has a new hometown bar with the new Bentley’s Cocktail Lounge. There’s plenty of outdoor seating perfect for the warm weather and sipping a Martinez-appropriate martini or one of the bar’s popsicle-infused drinks.
Morgan Territory
Morgan Territory Brewing has moved closer inland from Tracy, planting a flag in Pleasant Hill with its new taproom. Expect the beers that Morgan’s become known for, but also expect some seasonal brews to switch things up. There’s no food served on-site, but outside food is welcome.
Banter Wine
The wine-drinking denizens of El Cerrito have a new wine bar of their own, located in one of the cutest buildings in town. Knock back glasses of biodynamic wines alongside charcuterie plates, while watching old movies on VHS via the bar’s retro TV/VCR setup. It’s a nice casual space to drink some well-curated wines.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72356900/IMG_9951.0.jpg)
Also featured in:
Hal's After Hours
One of Albany’s favorite coffee shops, Hal’s Office, has recently taken the leap into wine bar-dom, turning the day cafe into a nightlife spot dubbed Hal’s After Hours. The cozy space features seating indoors and out, and you’ll see plenty of neighbors enjoying low-intervention wines with tinned fish, empanadas, and charcuterie and cheese plates.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72356901/hals.0.jpeg)
NORIA Wines
A new winemaker has joined the ranks of the Gilman District neighborhood known for its urban wineries. Nori Nakamura has opened a production facility and tasting room for his brand, Noria Wines, on Gilman Street this past August. Nakamura launched the brand in 2010, but this Berkeley location is Noria’s first tasting room.
Bartavelle Cafe
Bartavelle has reopened on San Pablo Avenue, shifting from its annex window into a new space that customers can sit in, and with its reopening, wine bar alter-ego Bar Sardine has also made a comeback at night. Expect interesting wines from smaller producers using regenerative farming techniques and bar snacks that shift with the seasons, but share the same ethos as the food from its daytime cafe.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72547915/BarSardine_PChang_6134.0.jpg)
Cellarmaker Brewing Co.
Cellarmaker has reopened in the previous Rare Barrel space on Parker Street, welcoming customers to its new taproom and beer garden. Expect a mix of the brand’s beers by the can and bottle, as well as on tap; meanwhile, the kitchen isn’t quite running yet, but there are snacks for sale. Following quickly on the heels of its Berkeley debut, Cellarmaker also opened another East Bay taproom, this time in Oakland at 300 Webster Street.
Also featured in:
Mother Tongue Cafe & Bar
Mother Tongue is known as a coffee brand, and while the new Oakland shop is a coffee-serving cafe, it also features a full bar for those who would rather imbibe something stronger. Try the Italian Spiderman, which showcases both tequila and mezcal, along with Aperol, lime, soda water, and hot sauce. (“Spicy!!!” the menu warns.) Beer and wine are also on the menu and keep an eye out for days when the bar hosts pop-ups, such as a recent day featuring the breakfast-forward Egg Pals.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72547916/MotherTonguePressRelease_LindseyShea_7.0.jpg)
Also featured in:
Good Luck Gato
Good Luck Gato is dubbed an “izakaya cantina” — a mix of casual Japanese and Mexican drinking establishments, but also a shorthand way of explaining the roots of this new spot which features dishes and drinks that pull from both cultures. Pick from a mix of plates, such as the uni elote, or corn on the cob boiled in dashi and served with sea urchin butter and cotija cheese. For cocktails, try the Emerald Zone, which features nori-infused tequila, mixed with mezcal and gentian liqueur, plus cucumber, yuzu, lime, and sesame oil. Some fun sake items are on the list, such as a can of sparkling peach sake with jelly — heads-up it requires shaking before opening.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72662180/nicolaparisi_goodluckgato_aug2023_0403_Edit.0.jpg)
Fluid510
If you’re seeking a fun, lively night out, try Fluid510, a new Oakland nightclub. The club hosts events, such as a weekly drag cabaret experience, and even if you’re dipping in for drinks — which include cocktails, plus wine and Champagne flights — it might be worth trying a plate of food, as chef Alessandro Campitelli of Contrasto created a menu of classic bar food and elevated items such as grilled octopus.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72356902/DSC_2952.0.jpeg)
Also featured in:
Homegrown Hops Brewing
Homegrown Hops Brewing’s popularity has helped the business grow into a second location in downtown Livermore. The taproom stocks the brand’s beers, of course, and hosts live music on Saturday, which really makes the space lively. Food from New Tradition Kitchen keeps the night rolling.