The Oaks Tavern

Awesome drinks, awesome crowd, awesome karaōke selection! This place can’t be beat in the valley! My friends and I have been here for at least three different bday parties, and we reserve tables. The place is small, so if you plan on having a big group, then call ahead for reservations. It can get pretty crowded on the weekends, but definitely a neighborhood spot!

Such a great bar! Pool table and shuffle board!!! So much fun, if you are in Sherman Oaks make sure to stop in!

Nice fun neighborhood bar, the prices are grreeeat. Pool tables, karaōke on certain nights, TVs if you want to watch games. They always have popcorn and sometimes food trucks, they should come by more often. There a smoke shop next door and a taco shop across the street. Good place to kick it. Parking not that great on side streets but you will find some.

So my friend told me we were going to a dive bar and took me here. Maybe this is an LA dive bar, but my midwest self knew that this place is too clean to be divey. A dive bar has a small beer selection, gross bathrooms, and weird drunk patrons yelling about something political from 20 years ago. This place, thankfully, had none of those things.
The beer selection was great. I like craft brews and the bartender helped me find the right IPA for me. They have a variety of taps (including Chimay). It was the most at-​home I have felt while in the city.
We went for karaōke, which was a blast. I forgot who the host was, but it was a Friday night (so whoever does it that night). He kept throwing back double shots at a pace that made this Wisconsin girl concerned for his liver. Get there before karaōke starts so you can get a table, if that’s your jam.
I’d love to come back and probably will next time I’m in town.

We ended up here this evening after a very disappointing experience at another local watering hole– thank goodness we did! The bartenders were speedy and attentive, there was free parking, the selection of beers was intriguing, the crowd was cool and there was free popcorn! Tonight was an open mike night til about 11:30 pm so there was some fun comedy going on, but unfortunately that means we missed some of the karaōke later on in the evening. Either way, I was so happy that we stopped here– the friendly curly haired manager even took the time to chat with us and let us know about some of the events going on. We felt comfortable and welcome here– it was a super friendly place and I will definitely be back!

This place was cool, we played pool, had drinks and stayed for the open mic. Some hit and miss but fun none the less. Cool for a monday night. I did expect more pool tables but cool over all. Drama free and with people.

This review is exclusively for my experience St. Patrick’s Day. After hearing some mixed reviews about The Oaks Tavern’s St. Patty’s event, we decided to give it a shot and go there for some Irish car bombs and green beer.
However, I wanted some general info beforehand, so I called around 4:30 PM to get the scoop.
Me: Hi, do you guys serve food also at your bar?
Girl: Well, being that this is a bar, no we do not have a kitchen (hostile tone).
Me: Well some bars also have a kitchen which is why I asked. Will you have karaōke tonight?
Girl: Karaōke is played on every night with the exception of holidays (hostile tone).
Me: Okay, and will there be a cover charge at the door?
Girl: I don’t know, depends on what the crowd is like so you just have to wait and see for yourself (hostile tone). Any other questions?
Me: No, thank you! Bye. (But I should have said… yes, I have another question: Why do you sound so dismissive and hostile over the phone? Are you having a bad day??)
Anyway, my friends and I decided to give this place a shot and arrived to The Oaks around 11:00 PM on 3÷17÷16. Once we were inside, I realized that it was waaay above the maximum capacity (potential fire safety hazard violation). There was absolutely no room to move around, and others were also complaining of how congested it was.
We decided to head over to the bar to grab a drink. I raised my hand politely to catch the bartender’s attention so she can tend to us once she’s free. She looks at me, shakes her head, and glares (short blonde girl, ponytail, blue/​green eyes, looks about 24 – 25).
Me: Hi! Sorry, I hope you didn’t take it personal when I raised my hand. I just wanted to make sure you caught us in this crowd!
Girl: Okay, so what do you want?
Me: 4 Leprechaun shots. (In my head I’m thinking, you really don’t care about getting a tip it seems like!!)
Girl: Okay. (So she pours the 4 leprechaun shots and then goes to take care of something else. Meanwhile, a tall male bartender knocks over the leprechaun shots accidentally and green syrup spills all over the counter).
Me: Uh oh, seems like someone made a spill!
Girl: (roll her eyes) Ya, I’ll poor another one.
Me: Thanks — Happy St. Patrick’s Day! (I sign the receipt and write NO TIP on the gratuity section)
I know your busy and I know it’s St. Patty’s Day which makes it even busier. However, does that justify your poor attitude? Does that entitle you to be impatient and hostile? I’m wondering if you are the same girl I spoke to via telephone earlier today? Well guess what, you just got your bar a not-​so-​positive review! (I wish I caught her name — darn!)
To top it off, a fight broke out in the bar between these two Anglo redneck gangster type guys, and a bunch of patrons/​bystanders got shoved out of the way. Drinks started spilling, people started huffing and puffing, and so I realized that this was our cue to get the heck out of here!
Won’t be in a rush to return to The Oaks… but if I do, it would only be to check out karaōke night… and not on a holiday! And if that goes well, then I will gladly do a «review update». Until then, approach The Oaks with a high level of skepticism and caution!

Finding a good dive bar in LA is an arduous task. Several bars are self-​described as such, but are too fancy to make such claims in my opinion. I’ve been on the lookout for a good one and finally found one I like, go figure in Studio City of all places.
Wandered into The Oaks after dinner at The Woodman a few blocks away off of Ventura. My boyfriend and I left The Woodman a little let down by what it promised. Hoping for one more drink I took to Unilocal for some guidance and found The Oaks was within walking distance. It looked dead from the outside for a Friday night, but we opened the door to reveal a lively crowd all in good spirits. We immediately found two spots at the bar and requested a drink list which arrived in front of us as two separate menus, a cocktail menu and a beer menu. I got a beer and my boyfriend got a cocktail. He also inquired about the Strawberry Shortcake shot on the shot wheel, but found out from the bartender he had to spin the wheel and land on it in order to get it for $ 5. Later found out you can still get the shot of your choice from the wheel, just costs a little more, but worth it to avoid the alcohols you don’t like. Aka the Jameson my boyfriend landed on and had to take.
Karaōke was also going on in the background. Kudos to the participants for choosing good bar songs and for not sucking at singing, that’s difficult to do when you’ve had a few. May have to go back just to hop on the mic myself.
Finally, they had my favorite beer ever which is an imported Belgium fruit beer called Fruli. I can’t find it anywhere else!

My friend and I were on vacation and decided to check out the local scene on a Sunday night, and find some karaōke in the process… we found The Oaks Tavern. The atmosphere was light, the people were super friendly, and the karaōke DJ, Rain, was great! We had such a good time. The crowd was so diverse and culturally eclectic, everything you’d want in a «hang out spot». I will definitely go back the next time I visit California.

Very friendly staff and an amazing craft beer selection! I just moved around the corner from this place, and after hours of heavy lifting and a sore back, I decided I needed a beer. I went in shortly after 4PM (when they open), chatted with some of the regulars in the neighborhood (really nice people) and the bartender (forgot his name) and the manager (nice lady, forgot her name too) were super friendly. Whatever your style of beer is, they have it! I was telling the bar manager about a few breweries I like, and how good their beer is, and she got on her mobile and left them a message asking about trying their stuff!
I don’t care about games or karaōke, but they have those things. They have free popcorn which is great, and it is a clever marketing strategy because it makes people thirsty!
This place is going to be my new hang spot. Love it!

Fantastic bar/​atmosphere!
Give it a shot (especially if you love karaōke)! Crowd seems to be mostly late 20’s to early 30’s so expect to hear a ton of 90’s classics on karaōke night!
Also, amazing beer selection and special events.

Good luck finding a spot to sit down. Parking is small. Tab is minimum $ 10 for credit and debit. Only BEFORE TIP. Really, guys? Everything is 8.50 or 9.50. I had the bartender round it up .50 to $ 10.00 just to pay. It was either give you .50 for nothing or buy a cup of water for $ 1.50. Yeah, no thanks.

I used to go here A LOT! Its a really great bar hidden in studio city, and the bartenders are all really awesome. The karaōke is really fun! If I lived closer I would probably still go but its too far now. Ive had too many good times here to have anything bad to say.

Checked this place out last night and loved it! Decent prices for drinks, bartender was super nice, karaōke was continuously going on, and pool table available. Played a few rounds of pool, sang a song, and enjoyed the overall vibe. The free popcorn available was also a plus! What really got me was the comfy seating in a small bar. This place is walking distance to my apartment and I’ll be back :)

I’m here every fucken Karoake Sunday getting pretty wasted. Service is always good. The karaōke performances are pretty good do to the fact that most of the people here are trying to make it the entertainment business lmao

On the usual I like to check out the places two to three times before rating. Now at 1^st the bar it’s self pretty decent nice crowd. Pool and Shuffle Board and Karaōke what more oh yeah let’s not for get the free popcorn!
Bartender (Male) after a long night of drinking meaning about four drinks ($ 68). Me and my girl friend closed out our two separate tabs I payed with card never tip with my card always cash. Left 15 cash for tip. Not sure my girlfriend how she did it. Long story short we went out side waiting for Our Über which it’s a great way to get home if you can’t drive,
When the bartender rushes out yelling and screaming at both of us stating about how bad our tipping was very Rudely yelling In front of the crowd if he didn’t provide good service to us ext.
The Bartender decided to tip himself $ 10 more out of my card like who does that ($ 78). Having people like that work at your bar doesn’t matter how good the place is, it will mess with your clients. I would never recommend this place to anyone unless you’re pouring money and decide to tip over what you’re suppose to and if you aren’t wait to get yelled at.
Hope this helps!

Bartender claimed, «10 dollar minimum for debit or credit»… On a $ 9 drink. not chill.

I would drive by this place and I always assumed it was a little more high end. But maybe it was Sherman Oaks. Neighborhood type bar with a cool bartender and good prices.

This place is a must, friendly service great craft beer and even better food. I would suggest the lobster risotto or if your feeling jumpy, try the Hogzilla! I will definitely be returning to try the Sunday breakfast buffet and watch some ball games. The outdoor patio is an extra bonus!

Would rate zero stars if possible.
After a fun night of drinking and karaōke, we decided to leave for the night. It took a turn for the worst when a friend of mine realized her card was not returned after closing her tab. We attempted to retrieve the card after closing time and were greeted with a very rude «we do not have your f****** card». Despite explaining to them how we did not receive the card, they continued to deny my friend access to search.
After a short amount of time, i had grown impatient with their excuses and lack of helpfulness and demanded to check their bar. It got to the point where i had the bartenders spitting and yelling in my face, telling me the card was not in their possession. After much dispute and consulting from a «legal expert» that so happened to be at the scene, the bartenders cowardly slipped my card under their door. They didn’t have the decency to apologize or anything, so we just left.
I never expected such a poor caliber of customer service from this venue, especially since we have frequented this water hole in the past. Needless to say, they have lost my business and I will be sure to spread the word of how they treat their paying customers. Regardless of how many times something like this has happened, the point is it might happen to you, something to keep in mind if you decide to take a gamble.

Totally MEH. Super crowded on a Friday night (which is fine), service was fine. Nothing stood out, nothing was offensive.

Found my new chill spot. Under five minutes walking distance from my apartment? Check. Delicious drinks at a reasonable price? Check. Pool table, shuffleboard, & divey vibe? Check. Karaōke? Friggin’ check.
This place has it all and is packaged nicely right in the neighborhood. Small, but young crowd (hard to find at some dive spots) and dim lighting create just the right ambiance for me. Love this place.
So far I’ve only been on a Sunday night, but it was comfortable, not too packed at all. Can’t comment on the parking since I walk here, but it’s on Moorpark street so I can’t say that there’s probably a lot of options for you.

Came to this bar the other night after a party with my sister and was extremely disappointed. The place didn’t look clean. We ordered mixed drinks that was made with cucumber and was supposed to be «fresh» tasting and it was overpriced and absolutely nasty! We told the bartender that we were unsatisfied and he offered to make us a new one that we had to pay for. Rude. Service was horrible and I wouldn’t come here if I was dying for a drink.

I honestly did not expect this place to be as packed as it is by just looking at it from the outside. From the outside, it looks like a crappy little bar that’s frequented by older single dads who lost their marriage because they live to work, and had a rough day and are in need of a drink. But really it’s young and full of life on the inside!
I’m one of those people who dislikes sober people when I’m drunk and do all I can to get my friends drunk. Having said that, I only paid $ 20 for a triple shot of fireball for my friend! Yes, that’s basically a bottle of fireball right there, but for bar prices, that’s not bad.

Great neighborhood spot. I have never had a bad time in this bar. Everyone is friendly, there’s almost always karaōke. I don’t really like karaōke though. This one is ignorable however. Some places are so overbearing. Drink prices are standard for the area. Parking is a bit of a nightmare on hot nights.

So I’d give this place 1 star if it wasn’t for the beer selection…
I’m here in a Friday night… Playoff basketball… I ask the lovely and I say that with sarcasm bartender to turn the sound on… She says no… People want to use the jukebox… Why even bother have tvs?
I’ve been to this place alot for games. Fuck it’s what brought me back. A few clipper fans and a big TV. Good beer… I should have just stayed at the pool hall
Suggestion if you like sports and want to hear sound. Probably going to have to go to roccos…
In hindsight this bar is cool… If you’re a sports fanatic it’s not the right choice. If you want to enjoy a beer and kinda watch the game in the background then it’s perfect.

Redecorated the place since I’ve last been here– moved the shuffle it’s and pool table at the back and the rest is seating area/​bar area.
I get why they did it hut one of the seating areas is super inconvenient when someone is trying to play pool because you’re always in the way.
Friend and I sang karaōke– we were a few drinks in and NOT good, and that seemed to bother some of the more vocally endowed patrons– dory, not sorry.
Bartenders were great/​my newly 21 friend wanted somethin «blue and pineapple» and the bartender gave us exactly that and she loved it!
Local classic, will definitely be back

Spent my birthday party here over the weekend. Will was great and made sure we were taken care of, so we gave all the workers a few of my cupcakes before we left. The KJ (karaōke jockey) was awesome and I got to sing 2 songs even though the place was jam packed. The crowd was super friendly and sang happy birthday to me and the other 2 birthday babe and gent! Definitely stopping by again! Oh ya, try Camilla’s Little Helper!

A great neighborhood bar, some might call a dive. But to me, this is my kind of chill spot. They serve both craft beer and cocktails.
There’s comfy couches and a pool table.
Intimate and cozy, just how I like for someone like me who prefers low key places rather than a «sceney» type Hollywood clubs or bars.
Come as you are. The small crowd was friendly and also the bartender.
5 stars because they had Almanac Pumpkin Sour Ale on tap! 4 drinks was on $ 20 and they have happy hour before 7pm every day.
Definitely a neighborhood bar I could hit up more often. A hidden gem off the boulevard.

Make no mistake, The Oaks is decidedly a dive bar. It just happens to be everything you hope and want from a dive bar. It’s small, but with plenty of seating, there is a pool table, the bartenders seem to know half the patrons, and there is always some event or another going on (karaōke, bar trivia…).
What separates them from other dive bars, at least for me, is that whoever does their beer buying knows their shit. They have regular dreck for those who want it, but also a fine selection of craft brews, from Sours, to Strong Ales, to IPA’s, with none of them being obscenely priced. And yes, they do make cocktails too for those who want them.
While it can get tight, and a little rowdy come the weekend, you’ll at least leave having had a good time without breaking the bank.

The Oaks Tavern is a total dive bar in Sherman Oaks. It’s located next to a dispensary and its patron seem to enjoy smoking as well so the whole place smells extremely strong of pot. I had a headache the whole time I was there.
The drinks weren’t strong and definitely not cheap. I got a vodka and tonic and there was definitely a lot more tonic than vodka. The bar was slow but it was difficult to get service. I had to stand there for quite some time before one of the bartenders who were walking around asked me what I needed.
There was a serious lack of diversity in the bar. I was the only non-​white person in the entire place the whole hour I was there. The atmosphere is definitely not that of a classy place. The place is a little run down too. I would definitely skip it next time.