FRIDAY FIVE
Memorial Day weekend marks the official beginning of summer, which also means it’s beer-garden season. And Oakland is where the party’s at as the summer-like days descend upon us.
Beer gardens are the fabric of East Bay life, partly because such a thing doesn’t really exist in foggy San Francisco (with the exception of Zeitgeist) and partly because beer in the Town is really delicious. A perfect Saturday consists of a casual patio bar filled with communal seating, beer and food, California native plant life and positive vibes. Below are our favorites.
1. Arthur Mac’s Tap and Snack
If sipping on a brisk brew at a picnic table in the warm sun is your jam, Arthur Mac’s Tap and Snack is a spot you’ll quickly fall for this summer. The beer garden is located in North Oakland at the corner of 40th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way (within walking distance of the MacArthur BART station), which makes it easy for transbay commuters to take part in the fun. From fireclay tile floors to shipping containers to a kids’ play area, this beer garden is guaranteed to be a good time while keeping the environment and family in mind. Arthur Mac’s Tap and Snack’s brew selection features 16 craft beers — including sours from the Rare Barrel in Berkeley and rotating ales from Drake’s — two ciders and five wines on tap.
4006 Martin Luther King Jr. Way | arthurmacs.com
2. Drake’s Dealership
Drake’s Dealership is the mother of all beer gardens in Oakland because it set the precedent for all future beer gardens to follow. Located on Oakland’s historic Broadway Auto Row inside an old Dodge dealership, this hip spot makes you feel like you’re drinking inside a greenhouse thanks to its creative foliage and cozy firepits. Drake’s as a brewery got its start in 1989, but the dealership beer garden opened its doors in 2015. Staying true to its dealership roots, the beer garden was built using the old dealership’s repurposed wood and steel. Today it serves 32 beers on tap, in addition to a selection of delicious pizza.
2325 Broadway (Uptown) | drinkdrakes.com
3. Lost & Found Beer Garden
A spot that is oh-so-Oakland, Lost & Found is the literal definition of a beer garden. This lovely outdoor spot, located behind the Paramount Theatre, has a real garden with flowers and plants that are maintained by former inmates who graduated from an inmate-run garden program at San Quentin State Prison. Husband-and-wife team Christi Vaughn and Tim Martinez opened Lost & Found’s doors in 2014. The 2,000-square-foot interior space has everything you need: 21 local beers to choose from, California eats (did someone say sage fries?) and games.
2040 Telegraph Avenue (Uptown)| lostandfound510.com
4. Temescal Brewing
Located in one of Oakland’s most beloved neighborhoods, Temescal, Temescal Brewing has a lovely beer garden filled with twinkly string lights, graffiti art, free popcorn and inviting picnic tables—for some, heaven on earth. Temescal Brewing is known to have major vibes and be a great spot at which to hang out and drink a couple of beers with friends. Its beer selection is made in-house and includes 12 beers on tap and seven more options for beers to go. A regular rotation of pop-up restaurants serve food in the taproom, but customers are welcome to bring in outside food too. Children and dogs are welcome.
4115 Telegraph Avenue (Temescal) | temescalbrewing.com
5. Mad Oak Bar ’n’ Yard
Mad Oak is a special place because its beer garden is both a patio and a rooftop. Located in Oakland’s Lake Merritt neighborhood, this spacious beer garden is known for its massive beer selection, made up of 40 beers on tap. It also has rotating on-site food trucks every six months to make sure customers are never bored with the food selection (this month is Amini’s Fusion, which is described as “American/Indian-fusion-style grub”). Mad Oak is all about giving back to the community too. On the rooftop on Wednesdays during the summer, the watering hole invites charities to educate customers about what they do. This ongoing event is known as Good Work Wednesdays.
135 12th Street (Lake Merritt) | madoakbar.com
