The Grape Nest isn’t technically a new spot, but with a new, larger location and the potential for some upcoming pop-up partnerships in the works, one could argue it’s worth a revisit. This Point Richmond wine bar serves selections from beyond our California backyard — although they do have options from Napa, Sonoma, and Paso Robles — making it easy to settle in with a glass of rose from France’s Rhone Valley or a riesling from Napa Valley, whatever your choice.

Those looking for lively entertainment alongside a well-stocked bar and Southern-influenced food will do well at Richmond’s new Baltic Kiss. Located at the Baltic building, which dates back to 1904, Baltic Kiss gives the older space some artistic updates while highlighting a bar made just before the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Drink any of the local wines or beers the bar keeps on hand (such as nearby East Brothers) or dip into a seasonal cocktail — if you have any room left after eating from chef Toy Carracci’s food menu.

Rooftop bar Study Hall is located across the street from UC Berkeley, atop the Residence Inn on Center Street. The space seems built for pre-gaming during football season at Cal — you can watch the stadium fill up from the spacious roof, where you can enjoy the bar’s take on classic cocktails or a food menu filled with shareable and not-so-shareable items, such as a burger. It’s a spot where you can winkingly tell the gang to meet you at Study Hall, without a chorus of protests.

Fans of Berkeley brunch spot Venus were sad to note the restaurant was confirmed as closed for good back in April by Berkeleyside, but with that shuttering came the promise of a new bar from Venus owner Deepak Aggarwal. It seems the new bar has opened as Tip-Sea, with drinks primed for the downtown Berkeley crowds.

Helmed by Johnelle Mancha and Brian Hill of design studio Mignonne, Rendez-Vous is akin to a French retreat with decor and food vibes to match. From the newly-discovered frescoes dating back to Prohibition, as highlighted by Berkeleyside, to the cocktails, French-forward wine list, and food, it’s a great gathering spot to enjoy oysters on ice with a gimlet while you chat with a friend.

Yes, Thee Stork Club is a music venue featuring indie music performances, but the fun drinks and atmosphere are a draw in and of itself. Order the Benjamino if you’re in the mood for a boozy snow cone composed of gin and Chambord, or ask for a “Crappletini” — the bar’s version of the oft-mocked appletini — with no shame whatsoever, everything’s acceptable in this campy, Madonna Inn-inspired, Telegraph Avenue spot.

A lot of the focus of chefs Nigel Jones and Hanif Sadr’s new spot, Calabash, has been on its unique blend of Afro-Caribbean and Northern Iranian food, and with good reason. But it is worth noting that the all-day food spot, has not just one bar, but two, catering to both cocktail drinkers and wine aficionados. The wine bar features local selections, with wine events in the works; meanwhile, the cocktail bar offers a drink list designed to play well with the food. Order the Aloe Dreamin, a mix of two rums with aloe liquor, pineapple juice, lime, cane sugar, and a touch of elderflower, or Nigel’s Old Fashioned, which adds rum, jerk spice, and lime oil to the classic drink..

Just steps away from the 19th Street BART station, Night Heron is a new Oakland spot with inventive cocktails made to be sipped next to colorful art and murals from local artists. If you’re looking to lean into the popsicle trend, there’s the Girl Who Cried Champagne, a vodka- and Champagne-laced cocktail topped with a coconut and Thai herb popsicle. There are plenty of other things to imbibe in as well, including low- and no-ABV options. And if you’ve worked up an appetite, customers can order a bento box made by nearby Itani Ramen.

One of Oakland’s newest bars isn’t a full-service spot with everything from whiskey to gin; instead, it is “mezcal church” with a thorough selection of tequilas and mezcals — and nothing else. But rather than feeling limiting, the menu feels exploratory and, yes, educational. The mezcal flights take you on a journey through the complexities of the smoky spirit, while the cocktails show you what can be done with it. The Cornhub delivers notes of corn, while the El Mazapanso incorporates orgeat, mole bitters, and nutmeg.

Fieldwork Brewing Company is expanding its East Bay footprint with a new taproom and outdoor beer space in San Leandro totaling 7,800 square feet of prime, sunny, beer-drinking space. There will, of course, be plenty of options on tap — 32 to be exact — ready to fulfill your drinking needs alongside a menu featuring taproom classics, such as a bevy of pizza options, wings, and salads.