The Valley Inn

I’d always heard the stories of the bikers hanging out at «the V.I.,» as locals call the place. And, honestly, in the back of my mind, there was always this little voice that worried if I would get shot if I ever stepped foot into this joint. So it was with a little apprehension that I followed my (drunk) group of friends stumbling from The Doolittle to The Valley Inn.
I was very pleasantly surprised by the our lovely bartender. She was so friendly and didn’t seem the least bit fazed when our group of 12 strolled in, loud and boisterous. Jello shots all around! For $ 2 a pop, they weren’t bad (though I didn’t personally taste any alcohol in my orange one).
I had a LOT of fun while I was here. Our group was so loud, laughing it up, taking car bomb shots and drinking copious amounts of alcohol. And the bartender didn’t even bat an eye. The other patrons also humored us and didn’t give us any dirty looks or seemed to be put out by our antics.
The Valley Inn isn’t as scary as I’d always heard it was! I wouldn’t hesitate to go back and hang out with my friends, maybe shoot a game of pool or two, or play the Photo Hunt game on the little computer screens by the bar. But I still think I’d rather go in a large group (like, at least 6+ people).

This is the first time I’ve stood in line to get into a bar in Castro Valley.
Friendly bartenders, great vibe. Solid beer selection. The doorman is tripping in some form or another.

Cool sports bar, just stumbled in to watch the game. Great place to hangout, friendly staff, peaceful atmosphere…
Full bar
Decent draft prices
Plenty of t. v’s to watch
A couple pool table

This week looks like another SMOKIN HOT BLUES nite — Michael Osborn! Don’t miss it!!!

I came here to the «VI» for the first time last month for a friends birthday. We walked inside and to my amaze it was a pretty nice a big, compared to doucets. The Bar was huge and long, so there was enough room to order drinks if it got busy. It was around 9:40pm and it wasn’t that busy, just a few people towards the end of the bar. We got seats at the bar right away, and ordered our drinks.
The Bartender was really nice, and made a drink on the house for the b-​day girl. i usually just drink skyy and sprite, which me made pretty strong, because after about an hour being there i was already starting to feel it.
For only being there an hour or so, it got pretty busy, quickly. It filled up with a bunch of bikers and what not. so when we were ready to play pool, no tables were open. a few of us ended up going out the back so they could smoke a cig. As usual, it’s dark and dirty looking, sorta like an alley way, where a bunch of crack heads hangout trying to bum cigs off people. I recommend if you have to go outside, take someone with you!
I did use the bathroom before we left, and if i could remember i sure would comment on it, but i can’t really say, but i’m sure it was dirty as everyone else had commented on it.
I will come back, as i enjoyed my time and my drink, but i’ll stick to coming earlier in the night as opposed to later =]

the «Vi» as it more known as around Castro Valley… this place is pretty famous or infamous for the biker groups that hang out here… I am an 81 supporter, Henchmen, etc… but, the actual spot on the boulevard is very undesirable… unless you plan on walking here, you are most definitely asking to be pulled over by a CHPer driving around the area looking for drunks or troublemakers…
The bartenders are actually very good and friendly… it’s too bad the joint is such a dive…
The pool tables are usually taken by groups and/​or bikers, so the wait can be a verrrrrry long time… weekdays are better than weekends…
If you are like me and not a usual that hangs out on a daily basis here, you can definitely expect some looks from the other females that have claimed their spot at the bar… so with that being said, be careful because they may think you are there to pick up on one of the guys they’ve claimed!
The place needs a good wash down and the bathroom is dirty… just another dive in Castro Valley!

This place rocks. If you like dive bars then by all means come here. The bar is the kind of place that puts ice in the mens urinals and the bar smells of cigaretts and booze. Since I like both I could not be happier. Drinks are cheap and its a mix of 20 somethings and 40 year old plus I guess this place misses the 30 somethings. Two words sum up some of its patrons «hey brother» :)

Happened across the Valley Inn with the need for a refreshing beer after a nice walk at Lake Chabot. Walking = calories expended = a reason to filler up.
Jen, the barkeep, was awesome. She was back on her first day after a 4-​month maternity leave. She made the perfect margarita (all limes and tequila, baby — none of that cheap mixer crap), and was genuinely pleasant. I swear I’d only back on Sundays just to see her.
They had a bunch of really small TVs, with various games on, and that was nice. They need to retire the faded flat CRT one in the back, though. That thing’s not even on its last legs… it’s gotta be on its last broadcast any day now.
The crowd was older and local. It was the middle of the day, so that doesn’t seem like a stretch. Will certainly go again when I’m in that neck of the woods on a Sunday. After expending calories at Lake Chabot.

My ex-​roommate took my girlfriend and I there for a couple of drinks. It was a Wednesday night, we played some pool and I had a couple of Wild Turkey & Coke mixed drinks. Then I got stuck in the bathroom until someone came to my rescue — 20 minutes later. Geez, I guess my friends were having a great time and didn’t notice that I never came back from the ladies room! The door stuck — really bad! It’s a dive bar on the main drag of Castro Valley Blvd. So I go to work the next morning and felt horrible! I can drink WT&Coke without a hangover the next day so I really think they had put some kind of filler in my drink — YUK!

My regular thurs/​fri hang out and i love this bar!!! I love coming here and seeing all my friends and kickin back and havin some drinks! I even had my bday party here!!! Love Danny! Hes the best bartender EVER!!!

pretty cool bar i guess if you plan on chillin with friends and playing some pool. the bartenders dan & dave are awesome. the people who go here often are kinda sketch tho. i wouldn’t suggest going here if you don’t like bikers.

Not a bad bar as far as bartender and pours. bartenders are very friendly, specially the dude at night, and pours are generous. My complaint is, the tweekers come out at night, and they like Valley Inn. I hate fucking tweekers.

I used to live right behind this bar, and I probably went to it once. OK– twice if you count the interesting CV Crawl experience. Honestly, it’s a bit trashy– but they have a bunch of pool tables and when you are looking for a local spot, I guess it’s not too bad.

there’s 4 pool tables here and a lot of room to carouse around. lots of different drafts and some bottled. the bartender reminds me of the rock and roll band where all the members have long breads. the bartender also sported an hawaiian type sports shirt.
entrée: «fire rock» beer (4) handcrafted by kona brewing co, kona, hawaii. seriously good stuff. taste a lot like sierra nevada’s pale ale with a molted bite.
many flatscreens here. one featured poker of some kind. there may be parking in the back here.

Went here Saturday on a whim looking for a place to get a good cocktail.
My friend lives in Castro Valley and refers to it as a «cow town» — i don’t know if that is bad but it sure doesnt sound good. I loved it here.
Anyhow we stumble into the Valley Inn Sports Bar about 12pm and the place is hoppin’! Peter Frampton was playing in the background. The bartender welcomed my husband like he was her long lost friend!
We played a couple games of pool — there are four tables — betcha you would not be able to get on one in the evening. The drinks are affordable and good. And they have pinball machines — extra point for that!

This is where the ‘Castro Valley Bar Crawl’ every year culminates. Yes, you heard me right, Castro. Valley. Bar. Crawl. This year it was a costume crawl.
It’s that line in the Cheers theme song: «Where every body knows your name»… except with a negative connotation.
Wow, you’re still here after high school? Cool. Um… what else has been um… so…how’s um… you know I’ve… um… LET’S GET DRUNK! (the perfect out for all awkward moments) Damn, you drink a lot! Oh, you have to get drunk as fast as you can because your mom’s watching your kid and she gets mad when you come home past midnight? Um… cool =/​
A typical dive bar the rest of the year. And not in the SF skinny jeans, Fernet serving, bar back looks like he’s fresh out of his 10:30 «Introduction to Photography» Academy of Art class kind of way. (Nothing wrong with that, *hi guys*) But like in a «Breaking Away» kind of way (CUTTERS!)