One of my favorite jobs as a journalist is trying out bars and restaurants in order to write our Beer Passports. This past year nearly every weekend I explored 2-3 new drinkin’ patios in the Bay Area, while asking friends and patrons where their favorite spots to drink were.

Here are the best places to drink beer in the East Bay (mostly Oakland) and not only that, how to get 2 for 1 beers at all of them!

From the shiftiest street parklet to the most glorious drinking patios, we endeavored to try them all so we could put together The 2021 Oakland and East Bay Beer Passport:  27 of the finest places to drink beer in the East Bay, and with the passport you get a FREE beer at all of them.

Get your 2021 Oakland & East Bay Beer Passport before they sellout here.

I’m a West Coast Ipa/Pale Ale guy, with a penchant for the occasional German lager, Czech pills, Irish stout, and a session in the sun.  All of these beers are made better when you’re drinking them outdoors, on a nice patio with your pals, at a locally owned joint with good food to boot!

The 11 patios on this list are all in this year’s beer passport and on our beer passport map.  And they all have excellent beer lists to enjoy in the sun.

THE BEST DRINKING PATIOS IN OAKLAND & EAST BAY

TEMESCAL BREWING

Temescal Brewing has a genuinely friendly vibe with delicious beer and community pride. They have a softer, lighter, thoughtful approach to beer, brewing, and even esthetics. Their décor, their bright color palette, even their murals have a welcoming feel. For our money, you can’t find a better,
fresher, hazy. They also have great local food trucks on rotation.

@temescalbeer
4115 Telegraph Ave, Oakland

ELI’S MILE HIGH CLUB

PORTAL

There’s a lot to love about Portal. The sunny patio with a view of Lake Merritt is a neighborhood haven to enjoy scratch made food, fantastic drinks, and lively
conversation with friends. Portal is best known for its bustling weekend brunch, but the hard working, tight-knit staff propel one of Oakland’s best gastropubs all week long, boasting a hidden gem of a beer program, featuring a draft list of the best beers of the Bay Area and beyond.
– Description by Beer Sommelier Morgan Phillips

1611 2nd Ave, Oakland
IG: @portaloakland

EL PATIO

They’ve been living the patio lifestyle since 2017 and serving the best tacos, arepas and of course Mezcal in the East Bay. Grab a beer, cider or hard kombucha to pair with delicious food and Mezcal.  The great variety and quality of drinks at this spot will have you wanting to try different tacos and cocktails and then back to beer all afternoon long.

2056 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley
IG: @elpatio510

THE TRAPPIST

This classic is in old historic Oakland, and it feels like it.  The Trappist honors the brewing monks, the pouring rituals, the age old traditions and, of course, the beer. They provide knowledgeable and friendly service spirits, cocktails and a great Dutch and Belgian inspired beer selection. The bar is housed in an 1870’s Victorian and the interior will make you feel like you’re back in Flanders.  The patio outback is small but nice, and there always seems to be good food around.

460 8th St, Old Historic Oakland
IG: @thetrappist

JUPITER

Jupiter is known for its big beautiful beer garden, it’s extensive locally crafted beer list, and of course its pizza oven. It’s an intimately lit and decorated venue that’s usually buzzing with locals, students and live music.

2181 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley
IG: @jupiterberkeley

MERCHANT’S SALOON

Good god, Merchant’s is a dangerous place! I don’t think I’ve ever left there not completely wobbly. And it’s been giving folks their sea legs, while still on land, for over 100 years. This is the crown jewel of Oakland dive bars, so stop by and have a drink or 12.

401 2nd St. btwn Broadway & Franklin Sts., Oakland

BUCK WILD

California’s first and only 100% dedicated gluten-free brewery and taproom. They brew with unique, gluten-free ingredients so that you can be confident in what you are drinking. The taproom’s in a beautiful, historical building dating back to 1947 and they have a dog-friendly patio too with good food to boot.

401 Jackson St, Oakland
IG: @buckwildbrewing

ARTHUR MAC’S TAP & SNACK

Arthur Mac’s Tap & Snack is a beer garden located right next to MacArthur Bart on 40th and MLK. They focus on 3 things here: good beer, good food, and cute dogs. Need we say more?

4006 MLK Way, Oakland
IG: @ArthurMacs

SPEISEKAMMER

A real German biergarten with great schnitzel and sausages. Not to mention German lagers, helles, kolsch, pills, dunkels & bocks on draft and in the stein, with more cans and bottles too.. Great place to watch soccer or just get a healthy dose of Bavarian hospitality.

2424 Lincoln Ave, Alameda
IG: @speisekammer

WANNA KNOW WHERE THE REST OF OUR FAVORITE 27 BEER DRINKING SPOTS ARE IN THE EAST BAY?  CHECKOUT THE THE OAKLAND AND EAST BAY BEER PASSPORT.

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