Oakland, CA > Arts & Entertainment > Bars & Clubs > The Alley

The Alley

510-567-4878

3325 Grand Ave Oakland, CA 94610

eastbay.citysearch.com

http://eastbay.citysearch.com/profile/1020128/oakland_ca/the_alley.html?publisher=insider_pages&reference_id=1&placement=insiderpages_bpp

Grand Lake revelers sing showtunes and eat steak at this funky watering hole.

Categories:

Bars & Clubs, Cabarets, Bars & Pubs, Lounges, Restaurants

Details:

21 & Over, After Work, Karaoke

4 reviews

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See hours

Tue-Sat 4pm-2am

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Message from The Alley

The Alley has been serving stiff drinks and great food for over 50 years. Voted "Best Place to Sing a Little Night Music" and "Best Dive Bar" by the East Bay Express. Happy Hour Tues-Sat 5-7pm Rod Dibble tickles the ivories nightly Tues-Sat from 9pm-1:45am Live Guitar nightly Tues-Sat from 7-9pm

Editorial by Citysearch

In Short
The interior is dimly lit with low ceilings and ski-lodge-style shingles, while thousands of business cards cover the walls. The dining room is a maze of tables and booths; the tiny bar room is minimalistic. In the back, an old piano is surrounded by a wooden cover to rest drinks upon. A few nightgowns hang inexplicably on a clothesline. Microphones protrude from the piano bar and singers go round-robin, belting out Cole Porter to Hank Williams tunes. The bartender can sometimes disappear for a few minutes, but patrons never seem to be short of a drink.

Key Points

Nightly Drink Specials
Piano Bar nightly @ 9pm
Steak, Chicken & Burgers

The Inside Scoop

Know Before You Go - Dinner is served until 10pm and features sirloin steak for less than $10.
The Extras - There's no smoking, of course, but the Alley still has a cigarette machine if you want to grab a pack of Camels and step outside.
When to Go - Serious singers show on Thursday nights for karaoke without the machine. The piano player has been holding court for years and adheres to a list of favorites.

Editorial and merchant content by Citysearch

Insider Pages Reviews for The Alley

Old Fashioned Bar

by Brittany M. | Insider | Rank: 18,306 3 The Alley

The concept behind this bar is inventive: they offer an old fashioned way of singing karaoke with a piano and a decent selection of songs.

The location isn't bad - although it's not the city, I'd rather come here for a drink than drive down one way streets for 30 minutes trying to find a place to park.

Posted 06/28/09 | Report Abuse

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The Alley

by Jennifer F. | Insider Guru | Rank: 1,171 3 The Alley

This is a great little bar. I love the music and the service is great too. It's a good place to check out if you are in the area. They make a great martini.

Posted 09/29/08 | Report Abuse

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Latest reviews from Citysearch.

Always fun.

by charmingkati 4 The Alley

I mostly only go with my one Eat Bay friend (am a a "stay in the city"type girl), but I enjoy this place. It is usually quiet an divie, just the way I like a bar.

Good for a drink and some chatting with my bestest friend! Not too keen on the rest of the crowd though.

Posted 06/04/08

Cool Dive Bar

by blh2002 4 The Alley

This place is great dive bar. They have a smal menu with good food, great waitresses and bartenders and there's never a long wait to get a drink. The place is decorated like an old alley and comes complete with a singing piano guy. They even have extra mics on the piano if you feel the urge to sing along!

Pros: Great Dive Bar, Good Food

Posted 07/09/06