The Double Standard

This is the laid back experience with great cocktails you were hoping for.
It’s a backyard experience with friends. With large picnic tables you can bring your own games and food and it is sure to be the evening you deserve ESPECIALLY in good weather.
Order the whiskey buck and try out the food at the Soul Food place across the street. We will be coming back!
An affordable happy hour that even spreads to the weekends.

Watched the Warriors game here tonight with co-​workers. Loved the true back yard atmosphere with the picnic tables and the grill firing up burgers. We got a couple pitchers of beer from the bar (friendly quick service from the bartenders) and burgers and chips for each of us and had a grand old time watching the Warriors put the beat down on the Cavs. I’ll definitely be back. Pro tip: The best seats in the house are on the roots of the large trees. Super comfy. Love those trees.

Came on a Saturday afternoon, wasn’t that crowded so we were able to grab a nice seat outside in the back. One to many SF Giants fans in the place, but oh well, thats how that part of Oakland is now. Will go back.

Drinks may be okay but watch out for the scum who work here because they WILL give themselves more tip than you wrote down if you pay with credit card. They never pick up their phone so good luck trying to reach a manager. If you want your hard earned money to go down the drain with their scam, go here.

If you are over 35 and want to feel really old (and BROKE) — visit the Double Standard! It’s really pretty and has a great patio — the ambient lighting is very nice. They have great beer selections — but everything is quite expensive. The music in the bar was pretty loud — but I guess if most people are looking at their cell phones, it doesn’t matter if you can’t have a conversation anyway!
I’ll visit again for S&M vegan pop ups but it’s rather out of my price range.

Great spot for casual vibes both inside and outside. The bar is inside, but there is great outdoor seating here as well. The drinks are actually reasonably priced for a cocktail bar, and they are serving the Anderson Valley Gose here, which I LOVE. And it’s only $ 5 for a can! They also have water that you can get yourself, so no need to deal with the busy bar to get hydrated.
My only complaint is that the tap cocktails are a bit too sweet for my liking. I’ve tried the Pimm’s Cup and Moscow Mule and both were too sugary for me.

Currently my favorite booze-​watering hole with an outdoor patio. Can’t beat three redwoods with fairy lights strung across! The white walls could use more art though.
The drinks are reasonably priced, especially during happy hour for the cocktails on tap. We had the Moscow Mule and the El Diablo (tequilla, cassis, lime, ginger). Somehow the steel mugs make it all the tastier.
Good half-​dozen taps as well.
Not crowded on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

I give this place 2 stars simply because it was a cool place BUT, the treatment we had. Goodness.
Two of my friends who I came with, one hispanic and one black, was kicked out because they «looked like they were going to fight» each other. We were there for a couple hours and those two had been catching up the entire time.
The bouncer oh man, was the cherry on top. We tried to calm the bouncer down but ended up with him threatening us and basically talking in a manor where I would hope he had a conceal and carry license so he wouldn’t get in trouble.
Not a fan of the treatment. I don’t think I’ll be coming here again. I guess they’re named the double standard for a reason.

Favorite place we stopped on a night out celebrating a friend’s birthday: 4.5 stars
Highlights:
— Outdoor patio: love this area with several picnic benches and hanging lights outside at night
— Self serve water: props to having this dispenser at the side of bar especially for later at night when you might not remember to ask for one
— Tap cocktails: tasted fine to me. I went for the whiskey buck which was bourbon and ginger.
— Not crazy: on a Saturday night, we were there later but it wasn’t busy which made it pleasant to chill with friends and easy to get drinks.
— A lot of space to sit inside either by the long bar or a table
Lowlights:
— Outdoor patio closes before the bar does: just by a bit (30min-​hr) probably to be nice to the neighbors.
Really enjoyed this spot and would come back.

Great spot. Decided to check it out after First Fridays — one friend recommended we try out this bar since my friend and I both live in the city and don’t go out much in Oakland. (definitely changing that after checking out all these awesome bars!)
The Warriors game was just finishing up so it was PACKED. we had to wait in line for about 20 min but it was worth it. Such a fun atmosphere once we got in. Nice little back patio too.

Ballast Point Watermelon Dorado on tap? I’m there!
Not crowded or stuffy here. Cute outdoor area to sit and bask in the East Bay sunshine.
I would definitely come back to try some of their signature cocktails.

I was standing on Telegraph Unilocaling bars to figure out where I was going next. As I looked up from my phone I saw that one was right in front of me. Unilocal had The Double Standard listed as a cocktail bar/​lounge. I scoffed as I took in the very rough exterior. «THIS place? Cocktail bar is a bit of a stretch… «, I thought. But I, forever a lover of dive bars, decided to give it a try anyway.
As soon as I stepped inside I realized I was SO wrong about this place. The inside was classy, beautiful and featured an interesting list of specialty cocktails. The best part was the back area, though. There were lights strung up and three beautiful, giant redwoods were the centerpieces. Despite there being at least a dozen people outside, it was quiet and peaceful.
Do not let the front deter you from coming here. The Double Standard is an awesome place for a drink!

Don’t let the divey appearance of the outside scare you off. It’s much nicer inside.
I hit this place on Fridays when the S*M Vegan Pop Ups happen. I love that there is such good food available at a bar on a Friday night! (It’s only on Fridays though, so don’t go some other night)
The drinks are ok. Moderate prices, moderate selection. Measured pours, so the drinks aren’t strong, but they’re not watered down either.
Bartenders can be a bit slow when it’s busy. Ambience is nice. The place isn’t too dark inside, and the backyard is great. Love the big redwood in the middle of the yard.

Amazing patio! Had the opportunity to go to The Double Standard on the First Fridays event in Oakland. The place was packed but we still managed to get a drink in a timely fashion and enjoy the patio.
The backyard patio or should I say beer garden is absolutely awesome. You can really tell how much more space there is in Oakland, as compared to San Francisco. Decked out with lights, wooden paneling, and lots of people made this space very enjoyable. There are picnic tables all around and lots of standing space. A definite must go if you are looking to enjoy the weather at an outdoor patio.

I’ve been here twice – the first time was great, the second, much less than. Hence, the 3 stars. My complaints are not to do with the hipsterness of the outdoor lights, wooden tables, and tree growing out back – these are the selling points! If you hate trees and nice atmospheres I don’t know what to say to you.
At my most recent visit, a friend of mine was contemplating which drink to order and the bartender’s unsolicited commentary was, ‘It’s not that hard, it’s just liquid in a glass.’ I usually don’t factor service too highly into reviews, but when someone is blatantly rude like this, it’s too difficult to ignore. Plus, I had recommended this place so I felt bad that she was being treated unkindly.
Maybe if the cocktails we had ordered had been good, I would have been a little less irked, but sadly the ones we tried were all average at best and surprisingly sour. Whether it was the experience that soured the drinks or excessive citrus, we shall never know.
If you’re planning on coming here, do it for the atmosphere and grab a beer, not a cocktail. Order your beer with assertion and you’ll probably sidestep any potential snarkiness and have a lovely, hip time with your buds under their cool tree.

Looks can truly be deceiving. A girlfriend invited us out to grab drinks and as soon as I parked I wondered if I had written the address down correctly. Don’t let the outside scare you, it’s what’s in the inside that counts. And what’s inside is good music, an awesome bartender, and delicious cocktails.
If you don’t get a drink during happy hour, the cocktails can get a little pricey, but not too bad. The plus is that they’re delicious! If you’re a mezcal fan, order the International Mason: mezcal, cynar, sweet vermouth, and coffee bitters.
If it wasn’t so cold, I would have enjoyed their back patio. It’s cool that there is a giant redwood tree in the middle of the patio!
I’m officially a fan of The Double Standard and can’t wait to come back and bring some more friends.

Thank you Unilocal for suggesting this place! I REALLY liked this bar. It has a calm atmosphere and a great selection of quality cocktails. The drinks are pretty pricey but I can deal with it because the other patrons there are just as friendly as the bartender.
I never got to venture out onto the patio since it was so cold the night I visited. But this is definitely a spot that I’d be willing to make a trip out to meet my friends.

This bar looks deceiving on the outside but once you walk in. there’s a huge patio space i the back with hipster lights!
The patio looked like something from a fairy tale. There was a huge tree in the middle of the patio and there were even people sitting around the tree.
This place is a great hangout spot and the drinks are pretty good. I especially liked the grapefruit beer my friend ordered. I’m not a huge beer fan but wow, the grapefruit beer was amazing — wasn’t overly sweet like a lot of fruity cider beers. I even asked the bartender where they get the beer in hopes that I can get a 6 pack of it somewhere because it was THAT good.

Quality cocktail lounge with a smaller, rustic interior and a glorious, gigantic rear outside garden. The vibe works a number of ways, whether for intimate nighttime socializing or even weekday happy hours where officials and community groups gather to discuss local policy.
The cocktail menu is quite extensive, and many of the drinks are quite creative and tasty, so you’re getting your money’s worth. They also offer wine and draft beers.
Yet another social, lively venue that’s adding to quite a bustling scene along Telegraph.

Love the space here!
Tasty cocktails at a price that won’t break the bank. Both the indoor and outdoor were nice and cozy, with a laid back atmosphere. Perfect for after dinner drinks or catching up with friends.
I tried the strawberry infused gin cocktail and it was fruity and delightful! I do wish the pour was just a little bit more though, my glass wasn’t completely full.
Seems like a great spot for happy hour as well!
Note: $ 10 minimum on credit cards