Good Bay Area Sports Bars?

by rungood on Aug 28, 2006 2:51 PM PDT

Hey Everybody!

Since I just moved back to the Bay Area for the first time in 5 years, and it's the first time I've lived here since being of legal drinking age, I must confess that I'm not so hip as to which spots are good ones to watch A's games over a beer when I can't go see them in person.

So, I wanted to open up the forum to all of you, because I know that 5000 minds (plus however many non-posting trolls we have out there) are better than one, and I was hoping you could give me some insight.

I've been to Raleighs in Berkeley as well as Triple Rock, both of which are fun, but are there better places to go watch the games?

Thanks, Woo-Hoo, and Go A's!!

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I'd also be interested

Not having cable or satellite I can only watch games that are televised in ch.36 (and the occasional one that ends up on Fox)...of course, I do go to most of the home games.

by OaklandSi on Aug 28, 2006 2:54 PM PDT reply actions

Yeah, I hear that

I go to as many home games as possible now that I'm back in Oakland, but I'm only going to Tuesday's A's-Sox game this week because I'd rather pony up the $30 for beers tonight in a bar than for tickets to see Loaiza pitch (though I hope he pitches like last game!!) and I have a job interview on Wednesday. This should be a good series though, I'm stoked! Go A's!!!

Me and your kid probably have the same IQ!! -Swisher to Chavvy

My Blog

by rungood on Aug 28, 2006 3:10 PM PDT up reply actions

Go to my WEBSITE!!!

Geezzzzz!!!

http://www.sportsbarinfo.com/

"I think we just feel that now is our time." - Nick Swisher

by saint @ Athletics Nation on Aug 28, 2006 2:56 PM PDT reply actions

hey saint

good to see; thanks for sharing. but what I was really going for is more like personal favorites-- not just a directory. The reviews of Rex's and Ricky's are great. I'll definitely keep them in mind.

What's your favorite spot to go to watch?

Me and your kid probably have the same IQ!! -Swisher to Chavvy

My Blog

by rungood on Aug 28, 2006 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions

I go to Central Park here in Oakland:

It isn't a sports bar, but, they do have two TV's and a great happy hour.

Free food on Mondays and $4 Sierra/Phat Tire/Heffy/Guinness.

It is a nice establishment and is usually pretty private.

www.centralparkoakland.com

In SF, I'll usually go to Lefty's on Geary. It is the best IMO.

Either that or I'll go to the Chophouse at AT&T Park for a steak and martinis.

BTW. Do not go to The Rex. I'mm pulling them down. Crogan's in Montclaire is way better.

Ricky's is a must!!!

"I think we just feel that now is our time." - Nick Swisher

by saint @ Athletics Nation on Aug 28, 2006 3:17 PM PDT up reply actions

Crogans, eh?

Alright, that was my preliminary thinking since I am pretty near the Montclair area. Are you going to the game tonight?

Me and your kid probably have the same IQ!! -Swisher to Chavvy

My Blog

by rungood on Aug 28, 2006 3:24 PM PDT up reply actions

Hell YA!!!

I'm leaving in a couple of minutes!!!

"I think we just feel that now is our time." - Nick Swisher

by saint @ Athletics Nation on Aug 28, 2006 4:07 PM PDT up reply actions

by the way

my postseason tickets -- just in case, of course ;-) -- are in 135, next to some AN'ers

by OaklandSi on Aug 28, 2006 4:24 PM PDT up reply actions

HA!!!

We're in 235!!! Way to get down in the bleachers!!!

"I think we just feel that now is our time." - Nick Swisher

by saint @ Athletics Nation on Aug 29, 2006 8:00 AM PDT up reply actions

i saw you on TV

for a good long while tonight. Way to go!!

Me and your kid probably have the same IQ!! -Swisher to Chavvy

My Blog

by rungood on Aug 29, 2006 1:17 AM PDT up reply actions

I did get the Crogan's Montclair bar once

to turn on the A's game on one of their TVs (small TV). I'm wondering which of these have the A's on as a matter of course -- and have a bigger screen than Crogan's?

by OaklandSi on Aug 28, 2006 3:17 PM PDT up reply actions

was the screen

prohibitively small?

Me and your kid probably have the same IQ!! -Swisher to Chavvy

My Blog

by rungood on Aug 28, 2006 3:25 PM PDT up reply actions

since I'm no TV snob

it was fine for me. I remember is as being @15".

by OaklandSi on Aug 28, 2006 3:41 PM PDT up reply actions

on this website

one of the places listed for san mateo isnt there any more. rawlings is closed but nearby is the bj's

by smasfan on Aug 28, 2006 3:30 PM PDT up reply actions

Cool, I'll change it:

Thanks

"I think we just feel that now is our time." - Nick Swisher

by saint @ Athletics Nation on Aug 28, 2006 3:32 PM PDT up reply actions

no problem

just didnt want anyone going there and im glad you did something like this. good to know where to go. ive written to both kicu and oakland a's and both responded quickly about more coverage for a's

by smasfan on Aug 28, 2006 3:34 PM PDT up reply actions

what did they say?

by OaklandSi on Aug 28, 2006 3:41 PM PDT up reply actions

after 3 emails

back and forth lori darnell ktvu-kicu program assisstant said she was letting management know that more a's games are being asked for. mr warren chu at oakland athletics said he anticipated one of their affiliates possibly picking last game and he said they have been urging them to pick up more games all year

by smasfan on Aug 28, 2006 4:14 PM PDT up reply actions

that's hopeful

by OaklandSi on Aug 28, 2006 4:22 PM PDT up reply actions

need more people

to do this

by smasfan on Aug 28, 2006 4:24 PM PDT up reply actions

you're absolutely right

do you have the email addresses handy?

by OaklandSi on Aug 28, 2006 4:25 PM PDT up reply actions

email address

kicu.com and at top it says action 36 cable 6 and then scroll down to contact 36 cable 6 and click on that. oakland athletics.com and at bottom says contact us. click on that and they have a's radio and telecast questions

by smasfan on Aug 28, 2006 4:32 PM PDT up reply actions

great thanks

this might be worth a diary

by OaklandSi on Aug 28, 2006 4:49 PM PDT up reply actions

i dont know how

to do them but you could.zonis did one and thats how i found out about games we cant get. could still have everyone call or email oakland a's or kicu

by smasfan on Aug 28, 2006 11:22 PM PDT up reply actions

You need to add the

Tri-Valley Area to your list.

One of the best sports bars around is The Rockhouse in Livermore.... 50 tvs (all big screens), all the sports packages, food and lots of beer:)

by 3up3dn on Aug 28, 2006 3:47 PM PDT up reply actions

there are two bjs sports bars in san mateo

county that i know of. one in san mateo and one in san bruno. once when i called to see if they were carrying a's games when it wasnt on kicu and they had it on. as opposed to a red robin that only carried giants game. bjs had both games on. bjs may have more in bay area.

by smasfan on Aug 28, 2006 3:28 PM PDT reply actions

I think...

there's a BJ's in Cupertino too...

Good beer, decent food, unfortunate name...

by RickeySteals on Aug 28, 2006 10:35 PM PDT up reply actions

where are you...

the englander in san leandro or scobies in alameda...englander is more resturant and scobies is more bar...i prefer either or...

Billy Beane is the only man I can TRULY count on!

by KotsaysGirl21 on Aug 28, 2006 4:03 PM PDT reply actions

I'm in Oakland for the moment,

but will be moving to San Fran soon, I think...

Me and your kid probably have the same IQ!! -Swisher to Chavvy

My Blog

by rungood on Aug 28, 2006 5:17 PM PDT up reply actions

Thieves Tavern in SF

20th and Shotwell. It is an owner/operator bar so there is smoking inside which you may not like. They only serve beer/wine. However, the owners are A's fans, the A's ALWAYS get the big screen, Giants get the small tv in the back. There are usually a few patrons with A's gear on and sometimes the whole bar gets into the game. They also own Whiskey Thieves on Geary and Hyde - same deal but with liquor - no big screen tho.

by dmac13 on Aug 29, 2006 11:16 AM PDT up reply actions

I like The Englander also (San Leandro)

They have a nice big screen & a bunch of little ones....

Tons of different good beers & good food.

by Batgal on Aug 29, 2006 12:45 PM PDT up reply actions

in Oakland,

Cato's Ale House on Piedmont Ave is a great place for A's fans - they don't have the biggest TVs, or even the best angles to see the ones they do have, but lots of A's fans there, good beers, good food.

Also Barclays, or Ben & Nicks (which i think is owned by the same people as Cato's), on College Ave is kinda the same deal.

Although I notice Barclays has a distinct Giants vibe sometimes....

by popcornjames on Aug 28, 2006 4:28 PM PDT reply actions

I like Cato's

if they turn on the A's game that would be a nice alternative

by OaklandSi on Aug 28, 2006 4:50 PM PDT up reply actions

I'll have to check out Cato's

that sounds pretty fun.

Me and your kid probably have the same IQ!! -Swisher to Chavvy

My Blog

by rungood on Aug 28, 2006 5:18 PM PDT up reply actions

Pyramid Brewery, Berkeley

Great beer & they sometimes have the game on a big projection screen. You have to get the right table or go for the bar.

by KrautBall on Aug 28, 2006 6:07 PM PDT reply actions

cool man, thanks a lot.

will definitely check it out.

Me and your kid probably have the same IQ!! -Swisher to Chavvy

My Blog

by rungood on Aug 28, 2006 7:22 PM PDT up reply actions

KrautBall

That sounds sooo familiar for some reason...

I have this friend who goes by Kraut...

Huston Street is my hero.

by EastBayA on Aug 29, 2006 10:05 PM PDT up reply actions

Stadium Pub

...in Walnut Creek

by kvn on Aug 28, 2006 7:40 PM PDT reply actions

This topic was asked last year

and a fellow ANer recommended Whiskey Theives at 839 Geary btwn Larkin and Hyde. It's a little dive but the people are cool and they always show A's games. The last time I was there, they had a pretty large group going to the labor day game against the Rangers.

"I don't know if you know but France made it to the World Cup final. They all tested positive for being assholes" -Lance Armstrong

by sf drift king on Aug 28, 2006 9:47 PM PDT reply actions

I remembered the topic

but I couldn't find the diary myself. So I figured why not re-open the topic for discussion...it seems from Saint's posts above that some things might have changed in the year! :)

Me and your kid probably have the same IQ!! -Swisher to Chavvy

My Blog

by rungood on Aug 29, 2006 1:12 AM PDT up reply actions

we need to open up our own AN A's bar!

we have over 5000 members, or something like that. one of us has to have the capital and the business savvy to do it.

by uci anteater on Aug 28, 2006 10:41 PM PDT reply actions

when they move to Fremont...

there is going to be one great opportunity for a Mojo's-like bar, right next door to the stadium. <Forming LLC now... get in on the ground floor.>

by FoolshGame22 on Aug 29, 2006 2:15 AM PDT up reply actions

as much as I hate the prospect

of the A's moving to CostMont, I'm definitely in. Getting in on the ground floor is what I do best...when riding an elevator, at least.

Me and your kid probably have the same IQ!! -Swisher to Chavvy

My Blog

by rungood on Aug 29, 2006 10:11 AM PDT up reply actions

or at least do a test gathering this year....

Perhaps during the September roadtrips? An AN gathering somewhere to watch the games? Oh, anyone know of a sports bar with wifi so we can blog from the game? :) :)

There's no crying in baseball!

by gigglingone on Aug 29, 2006 8:49 AM PDT up reply actions

pyramid alehouse

I'll second that one, good food there, and good beer, though the happy hour specials aren't that much to write home about. Not sure how many A's fans hang out there either... I've been there twice since recently moving back myself, but never during an A's game (I live a couple blocks away).

by sardonic on Aug 28, 2006 11:38 PM PDT reply actions

There's another

diary on this topic: here . Seems to me there was another older diary too but this is the one I found quickly.

Nothing says fun like Premium Meat!

by lurkerD on Aug 29, 2006 9:05 AM PDT reply actions

don't forget this one...

http://www.athleticsnation.com/story/2006/6/13/191816/014

There's no crying in baseball!

by gigglingone on Aug 29, 2006 10:03 AM PDT up reply actions

these 2 are great!

thanks for sharing, you guys...hmm, maybe I should compile the list from past diaries right here...

Me and your kid probably have the same IQ!! -Swisher to Chavvy

My Blog

by rungood on Aug 29, 2006 10:18 AM PDT up reply actions

Anyone got South Bay recommendations?

There's gotta be a haven of beer and Oakland love in the middle of this damn Giants territory.

"This must be heaven," he says.
"No. It's Oakland."

by Kyli on Aug 29, 2006 11:46 AM PDT reply actions

Thieves Tavern

I stumbled in there once because my stupid girlfriend loves bars where you can smoke, but i was so glad i found an A's bar in sf. I would recomended it to anyone who is around the mission. Double Play on 16th and Bryant is pretty neat. It's where seal stadium used to be and they have a nice memorial of that.

If you are in sf.. dont ask the bartenders to change the giants game. they get really upset, even if their team isn't in first place

by skalordes on Aug 29, 2006 12:12 PM PDT reply actions

In Oakland

Try the Warehouse at 4th and Webster. Marty Lurie does his shows from there sometimes. Small neighborhood bar -- food is so-so but they have a killer big-screen TV and many A's fans, including the owners.

"It's like the only thing they know how to do is win." -- Baseballdad, 8/5/06

by skigurl on Aug 29, 2006 1:28 PM PDT reply actions

DItto on the Warehouse-

How about an AN at the Wherehouse for the Marty Lurie show and a roadgame..I guess that would be the TampaBay game on the 9th ( game at 4 our time, and no chance of a rainout !)

"Listen, my attitude is a whole lot better when we win..." Our favorite GM

by LongTimeFan on Aug 29, 2006 2:19 PM PDT up reply actions