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Where to Watch the Election Results in the Bay Area

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

by Janelle Bitker@JanelleBitker Updated Nov 6, 2018, 4:53pm PST

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by Janelle Bitker@JanelleBitker Updated Nov 6, 2018, 4:53pm PST

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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

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.

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2251 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94114

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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.

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528 Laguna St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Visit Website

The Riddler

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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.

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3092 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Visit Website

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.

280 14th St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Visit Website

Standard Deviant Brewing

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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.

3158 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Visit Website

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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.

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1040 Hyde St, San Francisco, CA 94109

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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.

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298 11th St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Visit Website

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.

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905 California St, San Francisco, CA 94108

Visit Website

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.

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2800 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Visit Website

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.

Open in Google Maps

798 Brannan St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Visit Website

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.

310 Baldwin Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401

Visit Website

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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.

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131 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94607

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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.

2236 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Oakland, CA 94612

Visit Website

Starline Social

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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.

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1761 Alcatraz Ave, Berkeley, CA 94703

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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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1974 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704

Visit Website

The Kon-Tiki

Drink a free shot of rum with your sticker.

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3906, 347 14th St, Oakland, CA 94612

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The Port Bar

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.

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2023 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612

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The New Parkway Theater

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.

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474 24th St, Oakland, CA 94612

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The New Parkway Theater

Club BNB

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.

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2120 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612

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La Peña Cultural Center

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.

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3105 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

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Ramen Shop

Get a free shot of bourbon or tequila with sticker.

5812 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618

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Double Barrel Fizz Ramen Shop

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Heart & Dagger Saloon

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.

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504 Lake Park Ave, Oakland, CA 94610

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Also featured in:

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Red Bay Coffee Roastery & Bar (Headquarters)

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.

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3098 E 10th St, Oakland, CA 94601

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Camber Montclair

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.

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6516 Moraga Ave, Oakland, CA 94611

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Finn Town

2251 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94114

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.

Open in Google Maps

2251 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94114

Visit Website

The Riddler

528 Laguna St, San Francisco, CA 94102

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.

Open in Google Maps

528 Laguna St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Visit Website

The Riddler

Manny’s

3092 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94103

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.

Open in Google Maps

3092 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Visit Website

Standard Deviant Brewing

280 14th St, San Francisco, CA 94103

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.

280 14th St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Visit Website

Standard Deviant Brewing

El Rio

3158 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

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.

3158 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Visit Website

Liquid Gold

1040 Hyde St, San Francisco, CA 94109

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.

Open in Google Maps

1040 Hyde St, San Francisco, CA 94109

Visit Website

Oasis

298 11th St, San Francisco, CA 94103

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.

Open in Google Maps

298 11th St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Visit Website

Seven Stills on Nob Hill

905 California St, San Francisco, CA 94108

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.

Open in Google Maps

905 California St, San Francisco, CA 94108

Visit Website

Pop's Bar

2800 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

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.

Open in Google Maps

2800 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Visit Website

Mars Bar & Restaurant

798 Brannan St, San Francisco, CA 94103

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

Open in Google Maps

798 Brannan St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Visit Website

Wursthall

310 Baldwin Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401

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.

310 Baldwin Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401

Visit Website

Sláinte Oakland

131 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94607

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.

Open in Google Maps

131 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94607

Visit Website

Starline Social Club

2236 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Oakland, CA 94612

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.

2236 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Oakland, CA 94612

Visit Website

Starline Social

Easy Creole

1761 Alcatraz Ave, Berkeley, CA 94703

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.

Open in Google Maps

1761 Alcatraz Ave, Berkeley, CA 94703

Visit Website

Spats Berkeley

1974 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704

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.

Open in Google Maps

1974 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704

Visit Website