Soon’s Cocktail Lounge

Armed security guard. Sassy, friendly bartender. Warrior’s game on both flatscreens. Clientele shit-​talking each others’ team. Concern about the whereabouts of a homeless man who usually hangs out front.
What’s not to like? It’s the Regal Beagle of Oakland.

Terrible, bitchy bartender.
Terrible, cheap owner who seems more interested in playing keno than serving customers.
This could be a charming dive bar in an emerging neighborhood but the owner has no people skills, so too the woman behind the bar unless you’re a part of her throng.
If you want awful service and lousy vibe come here. I’m done. I’ll go to the other place around the corner.

Dive bar with nothing special.
It’s just a bar with a loud bunch of working guys and addicts slumming around outside. Drinks were more that I thought they would be, but that multi-​camera DVR security system was expensive.
Tonight there was a cute but boring & bored bartender. Multiple TVs with sports and a jukebox playing hiphop.
It’s around the corner from the 2101. I’ll go there instead.

This bar is packed with character. One of the bartenders has just enough hospitality, topped with the right amount of relaxation. He’s personable, prompt with orders– what more could one want?! Especially when you’re unwinding after a long, stressful and tiresome day.
Okay, the bartender is a friend of mine. yes. But I digress.
Complete with a jukebox armed with a nice choice of songs and a pool table that’s seemingly in constant use, this bar MIGHT be easy to miss. Write it down on a post-​it note, as a memo in your cell phone, what have you. You’ll appreciate the warm glow of the Christmas lights adorning the spirit bottles, as you savor your drink while absorbing the ecclectic personalities. It’s worth a try.

great spot to just chill hand have a good time!!! The Asian bartender makes a nice strong drink for yah!!! very diverse and friendly bar!

Oh my god, talk about a find. I love to find a dive bars and people watch, and i think i hit the jackpot. At first glance it’s just a door with some people outside, naturally interested i peak inside, a small room with a small bar and a small pool table. but the drinks were big and strong, felt like a place that a coal miner would goto have a drink served by coalminers, except i came from my office and the bartender was korean, i think. The crowd can be best described as intimating but cuddly at the same time. I sat down, at the bar in the middle and started on my vodka and tonic, but i think he forgot the tonic. Long story short, somehow i guess i joined in the conversation, talked for hours, and walked out of the bar at closing arm in arm with a bunch of people that i probably never would speak to or even look at on a regular day.
Just reminds you how human we are, definitely going back to drink with my new friends.

saw an handicapped person in a wheelchair. nothing happened. basically nothing was happeining in the bar. had an anchor steam (4) and left.

I lived life on the edge yesterday… I went to a dive bar in Fruitvale.
My pool playing was fantastic. I don’t know if it was because I was focusing on not noticing the incessant traffic to the bathroom, the dancing crack ho in the corner, or the older black lady at the bar with most remarkable potty-​mouth evar!
The drinks were strong but pricey. I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a sober, non-​addict surcharge thrown onto my rum and coke. $ 6? for a single. How on earth did the shoeless guy at the bar afford to drink there?
While its true, most of the clientele are on drugs of some type or another they are good people and the crack-​contact high you get is infectious – just don’t loan anyone any money.
I was told that the bar is often frequented by a legless one armed junkie in a wheelchair who will shake you down out front then join you for a beer inside. Sadly I did not see her.
Another field trip anyone?

A great little «hole in the wall» for a friendly game of pool and darts. The «locals» add flavor to the atmosphere and the jukebox has oldies/R&B/rock/soul! No food served but the drinks are decent and you can head next door for pizza, chinese, burgers or soul food!