Aesthetics are nice. food to me is zero stars. Very bland. Not worth the price. Small
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 2
Julie H.
Yikes. My friend made a reservation here weeks in advance on a day that the girls could finally get together. It's almost impossible to coordinate our schedules, so getting a day together to try a boozy high tea on a rooftop bar was going to be a highlight that we were really REALLY looking forward to. We did it up. We dressed up and found frilly high tea hats. We arrived on time and the door was locked and chained. Okay, so maybe they open a little late? We waited. We knew they'd be coming down for us soon, because we could hear them playing music up on the rooftop bar from below where we were waiting. 15 minutes go by and we start thinking there must be another entrance? We don't have the shoes on for a full walk around the block. We drive. Then we wait another 15 min out front. Nothing! There's no phone number or contact anywhere. Finally- we walk over to the Main Street to see if the hotel in front might know anything?? They say our reservation has been canceled due to renovations & we could have a brunch in their hotel. What?! Are they even linked? No thanks.
Elizabeth D.
This place has been on my wishlist to visit. Unfortunately I have given this place not one chance but two chances and I don't believe it deserves a third. I was looking forward to their "advertised tea time on Sundays" only to be cancelled on the first reservation I made because of an "influencer party" the second time I had also made a reservation, I show up the doors are locked no sign of an employee and on top of that no contact information, immediate red flag. I reached out to them via Instagram and no response either. I waited outside 30 minutes and drove around to find a back entrance only to notice this location is in a hotel, that's when the employees notify us tea time has been moved to the lobby due to maintenance, I understand locations often have maintenance but to not be notified in advance is pretty ridiculous. Don't think I'll ever stop by again. P.S. get a phone, every business has a telephone.
Sydney M.
This place let us down twice. The first time we had a reservation for high tea, they called last minute letting us know they had a private party and we had to move our reservation. The second time we had a reservation, the doors were locked when we got there. We waited about 30 minutes trying to figure out how to get in or contact them (they don't have a phone number), and then we walked around to the nearest hotel where we found out their roof was having "maintenance" work done and they moved high tea to the hotel lobby. They didn't tell us our reservation was moved or apologize for the inconvenience of making us wait and changing things on us once again. Do not think this place is worth the hype.
Minea Herwitz
Not a rooftop—a terrace. (And by the way, I’d be happy to change my review upon seeing changes / upgrades.) Server did not smile or help create a warm, welcoming atmosphere (which can taint the entire experience!!) The drinks were average. The open air seating is unique … it’s a nice spot for outdoor drinking that is above street level. So for that, I recommend it. But unfortunately they lived up to their 3.8 star review. For downtown Oakland, they can certainly (easily) do better. Either charge less or step up.Wheelchair accessibility: Elevator
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 1
Andrew L.
This is probably my favorite bar in Oakland. A very classy spot, with a nice ambiance and good drinks. The food options are limited, but are very good as well.They have an outdoor rooftop area with plenty of seating, and indoor seating as well. The entrance is somewhat inconspicuous on a side street, and the bar itself is on the second floor of the building. I highly recommend it for a fun night out.
Kendall H.
Everyone in our group kept saying "this place has potential!"It was in a safe nook of Oakland with security at the bottom floor. Immediately upon entering, it was so so so quiet. The indoor portion was completely empty, which was comical considering they took making a reservation so seriously.We sat outside, which had NO MUSIC. Upon mentioning it to the waitress, she said their proximity to apartment buildings made it impossible for them to have music. The waitress had zero personality and did not check on our table after taking our order. I'll let photos explain our thoughts on the meat and cheese boards.... Drinks were nothing more than decent- how can your Hugo spritz be just mediocre? We left after chasing the waitress down to close out. Safe to say we will NOT be back.
Beatriz Luzardo
Giving it 4 stars because of the atmosphere. The terrace is cute to go at night with friends or a date but I felt it was way overpriced. $17 for a cocktail in Oakland, the Pepsi was super watery (how hard it is to serve a Pepsi?). We also had 3 truffles that were good but could have been served differently. We had no food so I can't comment on that. Overall an interesting place to try one day.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
Jocelyn Hernandez
Ambience: Aesthetically modern & colorful. Music was great! A chill & relaxed time.Food: Small bites only. Caprese Salad was bomb. Tandoori Chicken was great too.Drinks: Give the fiiine bartender a raise - those drinks were strong and well made! ???✨Parking: There was plenty of street parking available.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Shakira
This rooftop bar is funky and has a chill vibe and excellent drinks! No food...could have been put together better...floor and tables were dirty and the lounges were disheveled..service was not good at all..and were asked to leave early while other guests were clearly staying...not sure I'll be go back but it served its purpose, outside and me and my girls left wit a cool buzz.
Mixed review. Cool place with a sunset/ish view. Busy with youngish crowd. It's off side street, not the Kissel front door so walk around to the north of the building's Broadway entrance. ID is checked. Drinks were ok and disappointed with old fashioned but cool smoke. First sip was better than the ones after. Then I had to go to chase down someone to close out. Bartender helped find the server who maybe focus on the bigger groups instead of me.
Richard Rose
First, the drinks were good. We sampled three signature cocktails and enjoyed them all.Service was friendly, if not a little green feeling.The atmosphere was really unique and cool and has all the potential you could ask for as far as downtown Oakland is concerned. I imagine it has to be Beatty with heaters jamming on a chilly evening.However, the place felt worn down and dirty. The outdoor floor had spills and stains everywhere and looks like it needed one hell of a pressure washing or degreasing scrub, and I’m talking about the outside concrete patio. The furniture was pretty beat up as well with stains on the upholstery from the wicker outdoor furniture. Just maintenance, seems like it doesn’t get what it needs.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 4
Sara P.
Located in an alley way off a Main Street, limited street parking. We utilized the valet service with Kissel around the corner. Very professional when entering - security greets you, let's upstairs know you're coming and escorts you to the elevator. When upstairs, you see high ceilings and modern decor.There was only one other party here so the hostess let's us know to sit wherever we wanted. We opted to stay inside and viewed the patio from our table.Their tea time was not great, at all. And to be fair, people are probably coming here for the drinks. I go to high tea often so i was disappointed at the selection of pastries/treats/cheese/meats and tea sandwiches. Skimpy on the charcuterie and was not much to share between two people. And the tea sandwiches.. there were two different kinds but not even cut for us to share. Weird. I will say, the drinks were strong, we got the margarita and it was pretty good. Service was also just ok.I don't think I'd be back for their tea time but it is a beautiful venue to hang out.
Alexa D.
I'm always on the hunt for a rooftop bar with a view and great vibes! High 5ive was a great spot to have a fun ladies night with some drinks and snacks. The staff was very nice and attentive, although our server did forget to bring us water when we asked for it. Oops! We shared the tuna poke, arancini, and potato chips. All of which were pretty good. We were excited to try the caprese but they were out of it. The $15 cocktails were unfortunately not great. The Bay area has some of the best cocktail bars around so I'd expect a pretty decent cocktail for that price. I got the "gone in 60 seconds" drink which was tequila, amaro, mango, grapefruit and lemon. All I could taste was tequila and what reminded me of from concentrate grapefruit juice. The "On Broadway" was drinkable and I did get 2 of those. Based on other reviews it seems consistent that the cocktails could be better. If the cocktails improved this would definitely be one of my favorite bars to go to!
Jeannette W.
Website says the bar opens at 3:00. We went to the Kissel lobby thinking that was how we access the bar. No one in the lobby knows that this bar opens at 3:00 so multiple people tell us the bar opens at 5:00. Finally, the front desk person says she will check and she is told the bar opens at 3:00. We find out that we have to walk around the corner to access the bar. At this point, it is 2:50. We wait until 3:00 and the big chain with padlock is still on the front door. I direct message the bar on Instagram to tell them we are outside and ask if they are opening at 3:00 because God forbid they have a phone number to call. No one responds.We go to two other bars and eat and come back at 5:00. There is a bouncer who asks if we have a reservation before letting us upstairs. I asked him when they open and he said when he shows up. Which was not until 3:45 today. How on Earth do you run a business like that? And it wasn't even half full when we got upstairs. The whole thing was bizarre.I only gave two stars because the ambience and space was nice. I also hated my drink and told the waitress it tasted like soap. I didn't drink it but she also didn't offer to take it off the bill or replace it with something I would actually like. For a place trying to act all elitist I think you should have better customer service.
Aesthetics are nice. food to me is zero stars. Very bland. Not worth the price. Small
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 2
Yikes. My friend made a reservation here weeks in advance on a day that the girls could finally get together. It's almost impossible to coordinate our schedules, so getting a day together to try a boozy high tea on a rooftop bar was going to be a highlight that we were really REALLY looking forward to. We did it up. We dressed up and found frilly high tea hats. We arrived on time and the door was locked and chained. Okay, so maybe they open a little late? We waited. We knew they'd be coming down for us soon, because we could hear them playing music up on the rooftop bar from below where we were waiting. 15 minutes go by and we start thinking there must be another entrance? We don't have the shoes on for a full walk around the block. We drive. Then we wait another 15 min out front. Nothing! There's no phone number or contact anywhere. Finally- we walk over to the Main Street to see if the hotel in front might know anything?? They say our reservation has been canceled due to renovations & we could have a brunch in their hotel. What?! Are they even linked? No thanks.
This place has been on my wishlist to visit. Unfortunately I have given this place not one chance but two chances and I don't believe it deserves a third. I was looking forward to their "advertised tea time on Sundays" only to be cancelled on the first reservation I made because of an "influencer party" the second time I had also made a reservation, I show up the doors are locked no sign of an employee and on top of that no contact information, immediate red flag. I reached out to them via Instagram and no response either. I waited outside 30 minutes and drove around to find a back entrance only to notice this location is in a hotel, that's when the employees notify us tea time has been moved to the lobby due to maintenance, I understand locations often have maintenance but to not be notified in advance is pretty ridiculous. Don't think I'll ever stop by again. P.S. get a phone, every business has a telephone.
This place let us down twice. The first time we had a reservation for high tea, they called last minute letting us know they had a private party and we had to move our reservation. The second time we had a reservation, the doors were locked when we got there. We waited about 30 minutes trying to figure out how to get in or contact them (they don't have a phone number), and then we walked around to the nearest hotel where we found out their roof was having "maintenance" work done and they moved high tea to the hotel lobby. They didn't tell us our reservation was moved or apologize for the inconvenience of making us wait and changing things on us once again. Do not think this place is worth the hype.
Not a rooftop—a terrace. (And by the way, I’d be happy to change my review upon seeing changes / upgrades.) Server did not smile or help create a warm, welcoming atmosphere (which can taint the entire experience!!) The drinks were average. The open air seating is unique … it’s a nice spot for outdoor drinking that is above street level. So for that, I recommend it. But unfortunately they lived up to their 3.8 star review. For downtown Oakland, they can certainly (easily) do better. Either charge less or step up.Wheelchair accessibility: Elevator
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 1
This is probably my favorite bar in Oakland. A very classy spot, with a nice ambiance and good drinks. The food options are limited, but are very good as well.They have an outdoor rooftop area with plenty of seating, and indoor seating as well. The entrance is somewhat inconspicuous on a side street, and the bar itself is on the second floor of the building. I highly recommend it for a fun night out.
Everyone in our group kept saying "this place has potential!"It was in a safe nook of Oakland with security at the bottom floor. Immediately upon entering, it was so so so quiet. The indoor portion was completely empty, which was comical considering they took making a reservation so seriously.We sat outside, which had NO MUSIC. Upon mentioning it to the waitress, she said their proximity to apartment buildings made it impossible for them to have music. The waitress had zero personality and did not check on our table after taking our order. I'll let photos explain our thoughts on the meat and cheese boards.... Drinks were nothing more than decent- how can your Hugo spritz be just mediocre? We left after chasing the waitress down to close out. Safe to say we will NOT be back.
Giving it 4 stars because of the atmosphere. The terrace is cute to go at night with friends or a date but I felt it was way overpriced. $17 for a cocktail in Oakland, the Pepsi was super watery (how hard it is to serve a Pepsi?). We also had 3 truffles that were good but could have been served differently. We had no food so I can't comment on that. Overall an interesting place to try one day.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
Ambience: Aesthetically modern & colorful. Music was great! A chill & relaxed time.Food: Small bites only. Caprese Salad was bomb. Tandoori Chicken was great too.Drinks: Give the fiiine bartender a raise - those drinks were strong and well made! ???✨Parking: There was plenty of street parking available.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
This rooftop bar is funky and has a chill vibe and excellent drinks! No food...could have been put together better...floor and tables were dirty and the lounges were disheveled..service was not good at all..and were asked to leave early while other guests were clearly staying...not sure I'll be go back but it served its purpose, outside and me and my girls left wit a cool buzz.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
Mixed review. Cool place with a sunset/ish view. Busy with youngish crowd. It's off side street, not the Kissel front door so walk around to the north of the building's Broadway entrance. ID is checked. Drinks were ok and disappointed with old fashioned but cool smoke. First sip was better than the ones after. Then I had to go to chase down someone to close out. Bartender helped find the server who maybe focus on the bigger groups instead of me.
First, the drinks were good. We sampled three signature cocktails and enjoyed them all.Service was friendly, if not a little green feeling.The atmosphere was really unique and cool and has all the potential you could ask for as far as downtown Oakland is concerned. I imagine it has to be Beatty with heaters jamming on a chilly evening.However, the place felt worn down and dirty. The outdoor floor had spills and stains everywhere and looks like it needed one hell of a pressure washing or degreasing scrub, and I’m talking about the outside concrete patio. The furniture was pretty beat up as well with stains on the upholstery from the wicker outdoor furniture. Just maintenance, seems like it doesn’t get what it needs.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 4
Located in an alley way off a Main Street, limited street parking. We utilized the valet service with Kissel around the corner. Very professional when entering - security greets you, let's upstairs know you're coming and escorts you to the elevator. When upstairs, you see high ceilings and modern decor.There was only one other party here so the hostess let's us know to sit wherever we wanted. We opted to stay inside and viewed the patio from our table.Their tea time was not great, at all. And to be fair, people are probably coming here for the drinks. I go to high tea often so i was disappointed at the selection of pastries/treats/cheese/meats and tea sandwiches. Skimpy on the charcuterie and was not much to share between two people. And the tea sandwiches.. there were two different kinds but not even cut for us to share. Weird. I will say, the drinks were strong, we got the margarita and it was pretty good. Service was also just ok.I don't think I'd be back for their tea time but it is a beautiful venue to hang out.
I'm always on the hunt for a rooftop bar with a view and great vibes! High 5ive was a great spot to have a fun ladies night with some drinks and snacks. The staff was very nice and attentive, although our server did forget to bring us water when we asked for it. Oops! We shared the tuna poke, arancini, and potato chips. All of which were pretty good. We were excited to try the caprese but they were out of it. The $15 cocktails were unfortunately not great. The Bay area has some of the best cocktail bars around so I'd expect a pretty decent cocktail for that price. I got the "gone in 60 seconds" drink which was tequila, amaro, mango, grapefruit and lemon. All I could taste was tequila and what reminded me of from concentrate grapefruit juice. The "On Broadway" was drinkable and I did get 2 of those. Based on other reviews it seems consistent that the cocktails could be better. If the cocktails improved this would definitely be one of my favorite bars to go to!
Website says the bar opens at 3:00. We went to the Kissel lobby thinking that was how we access the bar. No one in the lobby knows that this bar opens at 3:00 so multiple people tell us the bar opens at 5:00. Finally, the front desk person says she will check and she is told the bar opens at 3:00. We find out that we have to walk around the corner to access the bar. At this point, it is 2:50. We wait until 3:00 and the big chain with padlock is still on the front door. I direct message the bar on Instagram to tell them we are outside and ask if they are opening at 3:00 because God forbid they have a phone number to call. No one responds.We go to two other bars and eat and come back at 5:00. There is a bouncer who asks if we have a reservation before letting us upstairs. I asked him when they open and he said when he shows up. Which was not until 3:45 today. How on Earth do you run a business like that? And it wasn't even half full when we got upstairs. The whole thing was bizarre.I only gave two stars because the ambience and space was nice. I also hated my drink and told the waitress it tasted like soap. I didn't drink it but she also didn't offer to take it off the bill or replace it with something I would actually like. For a place trying to act all elitist I think you should have better customer service.