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Where to Watch the Election Results in the Bay Area

No matter how it goes, you’ll want a drink

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The 2018 midterm elections are here. Whether you’re stressed about California rent control, the fate of the House of Representatives, or your local mayoral race, you’ll probably want a drink or two once the results start pouring in.

After you cast your vote, hit up one of these Bay Area bars, cafes, and restaurants that will be showing live coverage of the election — and some will even have special events or discounts built around the occasion. We’ll keep updating this list as more places add events through Tuesday, November 6. (You know, election day.)

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Finn Town

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Watch the results come in while you dine on salisbury steak during Finn Town’s “Blast from the Past” TV Dinner Night. Choose from a few TV dinner-inspired set meals for $35, pair it with a retro cocktail or non-alcoholic drink (The Gavinator, named after Gavin Newsom, features citrus and grenadine), and root on your favorite candidates.

The Riddler

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Show a sticker or ballot stub to receive a free glass of bubbly. No TVs here to watch results, but just keep drinking Champagne and looking at your iPhone for news.

Manny’s

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It’s fitting that Manny’s, a bar, restaurant, and civic gathering space, will finally open to the public on election night. Its opening night party will include watching national election returns, music, food, board games, and even “flip the house drinking games,” from 6 to 11 p.m.

Standard Deviant Brewing

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Join Sister District San Francisco, and our partners in the SF Resistance Coalition: Democracy Action SF, Indivisible San Francisco, Ladies of The Resistance, Resistance Labs, and Swing Left San Francisco at this unabashedly blue watch party focused on key states like Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Florida. It starts at 6 p.m.

If you primarily care about the San Francisco elections — and maybe you hate TV screens — then El Rio is your spot. The SF League of Pissed Off Voters will be keeping an eye on the San Francisco returns and updating flip charts throughout the night, starting at 8 p.m.

Liquid Gold

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Join Japanese groups Nakayoshi and Nikkei Resisters to watch the results come in at Nob Hill beer and wine bar Liquid Gold. Bring your own food.

SoMa gay club Oasis is opening its doors early at 6:30 p.m. so friends can gather to watch the national results. At 8:30 p.m., the space will become the official party for the San Francisco Democratic Party.

Seven Stills on Nob Hill

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Stop by Seven Stills’ taproom in the Stanford Court Hotel all day for $5 Seven Stills beers, $5 glasses of pinot grigio and cabernet sauvignon, and special snacks. Make sure to wear your “I voted” sticker (or bring a ballot stub) to take advantage of the deal.

Jordan Rosen/Seven Stills

Pop's Bar

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This is the official party for Gabriela Lopez (school board) and Janice Li (BART board). Supporters are encouraged to come boogie down with their favorite local candidates from 8:30 p.m. to midnight.

Mars Bar & Restaurant

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Cheer or boo the local, regional, and national election results with music at Mars. The party goes from 6 to 10 p.m.

Wursthall

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While not a watch party, J. Kenji López-Alt’s German-inspired beer hall will be basically giving out free beer on election day. Tell your server the secret password “Wurst Vote” and get a Kolsch or soft drink for $.18.

Sláinte Oakland

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An election viewing party in an Irish pub means this one will surely be fueled by whiskey and Guinness. Sláinte offers a robust food menu, too.

Peter Lyons

Starline Social Club

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Oakland bar and music venue Starline Social Club is hosting one of the Bay Area’s more formal election night events, “Can Democracy Work?” In addition to watching the returns, you’ll consider the state of American democracy during a discussion led by two political scientists and philosophers, James Miller, author of the just-released Can Democracy Work? A Short History of a Radical Idea, from Ancient Athens to Our World, and Hans Sluga, professor of philosophy at UC Berkeley. It lasts from 7 to 9 p.m. and is free to attend.

Easy Creole

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There aren’t any TV screens at Easy Creole, but you can get a sweet discount with your “I Voted” sticker — bring it in on election day or November 7 and get any meal for $10.

Spats Berkeley

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Indivisible Berkeley, Sister District Project CA-13, Together We Will Albany-Berkeley, and Flip the 14 are hosting this watch party, starting at 6 p.m. at a Berkeley neighborhood pub, which has a full bar and food.

The Kon-Tiki

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Drink a free shot of rum with your sticker.

The Port Bar

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Watch coverage of the national, state, and local elections at this LGBTQ bar, with support from the East Bay Stonewall Democrats. The party starts at 5 p.m.

The New Parkway Theater

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Join community radio station KPFA at Oakland’s favorite community theater to watch the election results and commentary on the big screen. Advanced tickets are recommended at $7, with a $1 discount for students and seniors. Half of ticket sales will benefit America Votes, and food and drink discounts are available for people who can prove they voted (a.k.a. you gotta give up your sticker). Festivities start at 5 p.m.

The New Parkway Theater

Club BNB

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Drink specials and free pizza are the key draw at Club BNB’s LGBTQ election watch party, which lasts from 4 p.m. to midnight.

La Peña Cultural Center

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Michelin-approved Mexican restaurant Los Cilantros will be catering this election watch party from 5:30 to 9 p.m., plus beer, wine, and agua frescas.

Ramen Shop

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Get a free shot of bourbon or tequila with sticker.

Double Barrel Fizz Ramen Shop

Heart & Dagger Saloon

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Keep your “I Voted” sticker or absentee voter stub to get Tecate for only $1. The deal is limited to one per customer, but the drinks will generally be cheap at this Oakland dive bar’s “I Vote for Alcohol!” election party.

Red Bay Coffee Roastery & Bar (Headquarters)

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Spacious Fruitvale coffee shop Red Bay is hosting a watch party for folks passionate about affordable housing and renters’ rights — specifically, those who are voting yes on Prop 10 and Oakland’s Measure Y. Get there at 8:30 p.m.

Camber Montclair

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Watch the national election results and follow the Oakland races at the official party for Nayeli Maxon, a city council hopeful. Camber will offer happy hour pricing and drink specials all night alongside bingo, games, and other activities. Kids are welcome, starting at 7 p.m.

Finn Town

Watch the results come in while you dine on salisbury steak during Finn Town’s “Blast from the Past” TV Dinner Night. Choose from a few TV dinner-inspired set meals for $35, pair it with a retro cocktail or non-alcoholic drink (The Gavinator, named after Gavin Newsom, features citrus and grenadine), and root on your favorite candidates.

The Riddler

Show a sticker or ballot stub to receive a free glass of bubbly. No TVs here to watch results, but just keep drinking Champagne and looking at your iPhone for news.

Manny’s

It’s fitting that Manny’s, a bar, restaurant, and civic gathering space, will finally open to the public on election night. Its opening night party will include watching national election returns, music, food, board games, and even “flip the house drinking games,” from 6 to 11 p.m.

Standard Deviant Brewing

Join Sister District San Francisco, and our partners in the SF Resistance Coalition: Democracy Action SF, Indivisible San Francisco, Ladies of The Resistance, Resistance Labs, and Swing Left San Francisco at this unabashedly blue watch party focused on key states like Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Florida. It starts at 6 p.m.

El Rio

If you primarily care about the San Francisco elections — and maybe you hate TV screens — then El Rio is your spot. The SF League of Pissed Off Voters will be keeping an eye on the San Francisco returns and updating flip charts throughout the night, starting at 8 p.m.

Liquid Gold

Join Japanese groups Nakayoshi and Nikkei Resisters to watch the results come in at Nob Hill beer and wine bar Liquid Gold. Bring your own food.

Oasis

SoMa gay club Oasis is opening its doors early at 6:30 p.m. so friends can gather to watch the national results. At 8:30 p.m., the space will become the official party for the San Francisco Democratic Party.

Seven Stills on Nob Hill

Stop by Seven Stills’ taproom in the Stanford Court Hotel all day for $5 Seven Stills beers, $5 glasses of pinot grigio and cabernet sauvignon, and special snacks. Make sure to wear your “I voted” sticker (or bring a ballot stub) to take advantage of the deal.

Jordan Rosen/Seven Stills

Pop's Bar

This is the official party for Gabriela Lopez (school board) and Janice Li (BART board). Supporters are encouraged to come boogie down with their favorite local candidates from 8:30 p.m. to midnight.

Mars Bar & Restaurant

Cheer or boo the local, regional, and national election results with music at Mars. The party goes from 6 to 10 p.m.

Wursthall

While not a watch party, J. Kenji López-Alt’s German-inspired beer hall will be basically giving out free beer on election day. Tell your server the secret password “Wurst Vote” and get a Kolsch or soft drink for $.18.

Sláinte Oakland

An election viewing party in an Irish pub means this one will surely be fueled by whiskey and Guinness. Sláinte offers a robust food menu, too.

Peter Lyons

Starline Social Club

Oakland bar and music venue Starline Social Club is hosting one of the Bay Area’s more formal election night events, “Can Democracy Work?” In addition to watching the returns, you’ll consider the state of American democracy during a discussion led by two political scientists and philosophers, James Miller, author of the just-released Can Democracy Work? A Short History of a Radical Idea, from Ancient Athens to Our World, and Hans Sluga, professor of philosophy at UC Berkeley. It lasts from 7 to 9 p.m. and is free to attend.

Easy Creole

There aren’t any TV screens at Easy Creole, but you can get a sweet discount with your “I Voted” sticker — bring it in on election day or November 7 and get any meal for $10.

Spats Berkeley

Indivisible Berkeley, Sister District Project CA-13, Together We Will Albany-Berkeley, and Flip the 14 are hosting this watch party, starting at 6 p.m. at a Berkeley neighborhood pub, which has a full bar and food.

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The Kon-Tiki

Drink a free shot of rum with your sticker.