Doucet Saloon

Shanna and Dustin Doucet are awesome. This is My second home, good people and atmosphere. I only go to this bar in Castro Valley all the other ones aren’t that great, everyone is super warm and nice.

This place is a complete dump in just about every way I can describe.
It’s dark and gloomy.
It’s grimy and dirty and gross
It needs a face lift in just about everything from a paint job to a replacement bar and carpet and front entrance.
The back patio is uneven and half pavement and a foot below the walkway is gravel with tables.
The crowd consists of mostly washed up Castro valley high school students who love making small talk just to be polite.
I stopped going here 2 years ago.
Go to the Doolittle for a decent bar that’s not a worthless shit pit.
Castro Valley will never have a nice restaurant or sports bar in it because Castro valley values junk food and gross bar.
THE MENS BATROOMS ARE DISGUSTING TOO

The only thing fabulous about this place is Peggy! Sloppy guy bartender and snotty young girl bartender not a fan!

Been to some pretty cool bars since my last review, when I first turned 21, so this spot has lost a little bit of its luster for me.
Still a really chill spot to grab a beer and have a chat after work, but thats really all its good for. It’s never that busy… so unless music is playing (a must) its pretty quiet in there, which is just a bit awkward.
This place is nothing special, but they did just get drakes denog on tap, which is pretty chill.

They have free shuffleboard which is always worth a star. However that’s where the good stuff ends for me.
Just finished playing shuffleboard with my friends and we were walking away. We jokingly slid the pucks into each other a handful of times on the way out.
The bartender came out and yelled at me to cut that shit out because he could hear it all the way at the bar.
Whether he could or not, it was for only 10 seconds and we had already started walking out.
This place is not special and I will not plan on going there again unless all of my friends are there. Total douchebag and fat bartender ruined it for me.

My new favorite dive bar for the city, the people are friendly, the prices are fair, the only thing I wish was that they take credit card.

Such a COOL spot! It’s your CLASSIC dive bar! This building has ALOT of history!!!
ask about it when you visit :)
My only complaint is they only have one craft beer on draft.

I’m a spawn of the city of Hayward. Therefore, since turning 21, I’ve naturally patronized Hayward bars. I do venture outside the city, but with BART stopping at midnight, Hayward is generally just easier a lot of the time.
Still, Castro Valley is just a short drive or a longish walk away from my downtown apartment. So I was surprised that I wasn’t acquainted with Doucet Saloon sooner, or «Doucet’s» as everyone calls it.
What makes Doucet’s different from other bars in the area is that it’s full of 20-​somethings (unlike Hayward, where sports dad and barflies often occupy downtown). Doucet’s can feel a bit like a high school reunion, but luckily for me, I didn’t go to Castro Valley High. The bar is littered with bumper stickers full of clever and tacky sayings, and all of the bartenders are pretty chill. I do feel like the crowds of youth are usually concentrated around the bar, the pool table, and out back, so it can get a little claustrophobic. The rest of the inside seems to be consumed in tables and chairs. It would be great if they cleared some out and put some benches or lounge chairs to create more of an open, welcoming space.
The women’s bathroom is always pretty clean, with multiple stalls and sinks. It never seems to have a line, which is kind of weird for a bar, but awesome.
All in all, Doucet’s is a win considering it’s not near BART. I will come here more often… when I have a ride.

Peggy Sue I was thinking of you. It is Harry the sound guy from the old days. love ya

The OWNERS daughter wouldn’t make me a drink that I wanted. Are you kidding me. What bar doesn’t make you a drink that you wanted. I know spanky’s makes anything you want. Doucet saloon not on my list of bars anymore!

Doucet Saloon is in a side street across from burger king. 50 people would packed this place, patio not included. no happy hour-​drinks are cheap all day anyways
pours: angry orchard hard cider (4.5)
packs a punch, citrus taste
gin & tonic (3.5)
–heavy pour, well gin tasted industrial .
on draught
–only 6 drafts
–cash only
–parking only on street, 2 spaces in front
–fussball, shuttleboard, pool, pinball, golf games available
–amicable bartender, (tipping helps)
–diverse crowd, tad older, mostly men.
–cool music from jukebox.
–bumper stickers behind bar:
*“bad cop no donut:
*“limit politicians to 2 terms, one in office, one in jail”.
*“treat your children nice. they will choose your nursing home”.

Great place to grab a beer and play some pool! Prices are very fair.

An easy going, although could easily get rowdy, kind of dive bar. Most nights it serves as an end up kind of joint or a jumping off point for some sort of half twisted Castro Valley bar crawl. The staff are laid back, but I have never seen any of them look like the one in the main business photo, and are happy to pour you some heavy drinks if you show them some tip love. Pool tables can have some sharks at them so betters beware. It’s also cash only. Cool little joint worth a trip every now and again.

So I just realized that I wrote my original review almost 3 years ago, back when I hardly knew anything about this place, ha.
Anyways, my buddies and I come here quite often — I’d say about once or twice a week on average. It is by far (in my opinion) the best bar in Castro Valley. The age group is very diverse, and I feel that each visit consists of a fairly different experience. It has a very fun/​wild, yet chill/​comfortable vibe to it, which makes the perfect combination for a good neighborhood bar. Dustin & Shana (bartenders) are some incredibly awesome & nice people — and I feel that they deserve much more credit than they receive for running this gem.
Doucet’s can obviously get pretty packed at times, especially on the weekends. Behind the bar, you will discover dozens of hilarious, crude, and humorous bumper stickers displayed on the mini-​fridges and counters against the wall. I suggest reading a few while you’re waiting for your drink — trust me, you will be laughing.
There is an internet juke box, two pool tables, an authentic shuffleboard table, a foosball table, a pinball machine, and a couple dart boards — all very reasonable prices to play (and shuffleboard is free). There is also a spacious patio area out back for times when you feel like getting some fresh air or having a smoke.
Support your local neighborhood businesses, especially Doucet Saloon! Seriously, I have yet to meet anyone who dislikes this place. Take my word for it!

CV’s finest in dive bars, mainly due to the kickass bartenders Shana (Doucet) and Cristina. They can pour a mean cocktail AND throw a mean right hook. So don’t come off cocky and deserving. These girls are veterans to dive-​customers and can handle their business.
Less crowded on the weekdays which is beneficial to get to know your tender. All around good vibes* with 2 pool tables, shuffle board, jukebox, Fuel TV playing on 1 of 4 screens
*If you’ve heard about the CV Bar Crawl (there’s 2 annually) vibes can change. CV alum and college-​returnees get together day before Thanksgiving to get HAMMERED. If you think you can hang be prepared for anything and to see anyone you might have known years ago. I’d suggest staying at one bar because there’s cops everywhere.

I’ve been going to Doucet’s for many years, but now I’m done with the place! Did I miss the competition to find the most self-​absorbed, worthless bartenders? Seems like my last 10 visits have been a HUGE disappointment. All I want to do is order a friggin drink when I’m thirsty and I have to put up with attitude, apathy and sarcasm. It’s too bad cuz I like the atmosphere, but I’m not spending a single dime of my money there again!
DOUCET’S BARTENDERS SUCK!!!

This is pretty much the only bar i’ve come to since I’ve turned 21. The environment is nice, and you get to know the locals that go in there, majority of them are friendly, especially Raider Dave!
The Bartenders are good, and certain ones def. make your drinks strong, especially if they know you well enough, and are a regular.
I love to play Shuffle Board, but it’s really outdated and old, there’s not much sand on it and doesn’t roll across really well either. They have 2 pool tables, which occupied most of the time, along with some dart boards, and a jukebox.
The bar itself it’s kind of small, and is hard to get a drink or the bartenders attention when the bar is full. But they do have additional seating elsewhere. They also have a back patio with seating for smoking and what not.
The bathrooms tend to be clean every time I’ve gone into one, except when it’s a really busy night, it does get dirty.
I suggest trying the Red Headed Sluts, i love them here and it’s one of my favorites. Oh and also you tend to run into a lot people you might have went to high school with too.
Heads up, They don’t accept credit cards, so be prepared to have cash, since AM/​PM across the street shut down, good luck trying to find an ATM.

Another dive on our Christmas Eve bar crawl. The crowd here seemed mid-​to-​late 20s, with a large group of them playing shuffleboard. I ended up arm wrestling and playing foosball with a few of them, and now my arms are sore. This is a fairly large dive bar, so it’d be pretty easy to have a get-​together here.
The one thing that missed me off was the jukebox. After putting in my money, it never confirmed that it actually was going to play my song. The interface provided no way to see what the upcoming playlist was going to be. Boo.

oh how I love me a good dive bar.
Fun bumper stickers for the reading
couple of pool tables
juke box for tunes
outside smoking area
tables for sitting at
shuffle boardie dealie
locals aren’t jerks
bartenders are fast and b/​s free
cash only… but… there are ATMs nearby
busier on weeknights then weekends

All the bartenders are awesome… wait there is one that is a raging bitch! I think her name is Cindy! I’ve never seen her smile. She gives you attitude and even if no one is there she makes you wait. Please let’s start a movement and NOT tip her! She isn’t worth it.
Other than that Doucets is awesome!