Dance clubs, live music, rooftop bars, speakeasies, LGBTQ+ venues, listening bars and late-night dives in Berkeley.
Dance clubs, live music, rooftop bars, speakeasies, LGBTQ+ nightlife, listening bars and late-night dives across Berkeley, with where to go and what is worth the late night.
A basement club below Shattuck Avenue with rotating DJ nights covering hip hop, R&B, house and reggae. The capacity is around 200; the atmosphere is sweaty and unpretentious. No dress code beyond reasonable standards. Live performances and themed nights complement the DJ calendar. Covers typically $10-20.
A nonprofit performance venue in downtown Berkeley presenting folk, bluegrass, roots and world music since 1968. All-ages; no alcohol served. The Freight hosts 250 shows per year in a purpose-built 550-seat theater. One of the most important folk and traditional music venues on the West Coast.
Jupiter presents live music in its outdoor beer garden most evenings. The format is acoustic or small-band performances rather than amplified concerts; the bar provides a relaxed setting with food available throughout. No cover charge; the music is ambient rather than headline.
The all-ages punk club that launched Green Day, Rancid, The Offspring and Operation Ivy. Member-supported, no alcohol, democratic programming. The most historically significant music venue in Berkeley. Covers $5-15.
A speakeasy-aesthetic cocktail bar in the former Tupper and Reed music shop space on Shattuck. High-backed booths, low lighting, expert cocktail program, live jazz Thursday through Saturday. Reservation recommended on weekends. The most sophisticated bar in Berkeley.
Berkeley's oldest bar, open since 1940, with a long history of LGBTQ+ welcoming space. Dark wood, board games, darts and a jukebox: an unpretentious neighborhood pub that has served a mixed and inclusive crowd for decades. No dress code, no attitude.
Irish pub and music venue on Shattuck in South Berkeley. Pints of Guinness, pub grub, pool table and live music most nights. No frills; genuine regulars bar since 1974.
South Berkeley cocktail bar and community gathering space with DJ nights, live music and a genuinely warm welcome. The neighborhood anchor on South Telegraph for a mixed local crowd. Drinks lean classic-cocktail with modern interpretations.