Laurel Lounge

Oakland, United States

4.2

Open now

19 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 510-530-0158
Website:
www.laurellounge.com
Address:
3932 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA, 94619
Lower Hills, Laurel District
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
1.1 miShuttle Stop
1.2 miFruitvale at MacArthur
1.2 miFruitvale & MacArthur
Categories:
QR code
Download QR Image Download vCard

Map

Streetview

Activate map

Bussiness info

Takes Reservations
No
Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Accepts Apple Pay
No
Parking
Private Lot
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Good for Groups
Yes
Ambience
Divey
Noise Level
Loud
Music
Juke Box
Good For Dancing
No
Alcohol
Full Bar
Happy Hour
No
Best Nights
Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check
No
Smoking
No
Outdoor Seating
No
Has TV
Yes
Has Pool Table
Yes

Today

Today 12:00 pm – 2:00 am
Open now
Local time (Oakland) 23:57 Tuesday, 15 July 2025

Business hours

Monday 12:00 pm – 2:00 am
Tuesday 12:00 pm – 2:00 am
Wednesday 12:00 pm – 2:00 am
Thursday 12:00 pm – 2:00 am
Friday 12:00 pm – 2:00 am
Saturday 12:00 pm – 2:00 am
Sunday 12:00 pm – 2:00 am

Description

Specialties

We have a great selection of micro and macro brews, a full liquor bar, an excellent range of music on the jukebox, large screen TVs, billiards & darts, and occasionally live music.

History

Established in 1942.

The Laurel Lounge was one of the hot spots for big bands and swing dancing in the 1940s and 50s. At that time, patrons could jump off the J-​Line at 35th and Macarthur and walk only a few blocks. After falling into disrepair, the building was extensively renovated in 2005.

Meet the Business Owner

Gregg M.

Business Owner

Former techno geek turned publican. I’m a Real Estate agent by day and committed to improving life for Oaklanders through my involvement in local civic groups.

Related places

You might also consider:
1.9
mi
Aloha Club
952 Fruitvale Ave (East Oakland, Fruitvale)
2.8
mi
McGee’s
1645 Park St
2.9
mi
Parkway Lounge
1850 Park Blvd (East Oakland)
3.2
mi
Grand Oaks Restaurant & Sports Lounge
3701 Grand Ave (Lower Hills, Grand Lake)
3.3
mi
FD Sports Bar
1231 Park St
3.3
mi
Clubhouse Sports Bar
1215 Park St

Nearby

Browse nearby places:
50
ft
Sun Sun Alterations
3924 MacArthur Blvd
60
ft
Beast Oakland
3924 MacArthur Blvd
70
ft
Thrifty Cleaners
3920 MacArthur Blvd
90
ft
Komodo Toys
4004 MacArthur Blvd
100
ft
Phnom Penh House Restaurant
3912 MacArthur Blvd
100
ft
Elegant Styling Salon
3926 Macarthur Blvd

19 reviews of Laurel Lounge

No registration required
Place rating: 1
Oakland, CA
If zero were an option, I’d have chosen zero.
This «could» be a cool place; in fact, it has all the necessary and requisite elements in the evolution of what a nice, clean, neighborhood, fun bar should possess: well-​poured drinks, pool table (I could do without, but ok), two TV’s and, for the most part, nice bartenders, EXCEPT one.
They hired a new younger, bartender, who seems to be perpetually unhappy, never smiles, never acknowledges you, never makes it a point to give you the service you deserve.
In essence, she’s not fit to pour let alone be there because since her hire, many regulars have split, including me, for the final time. She has cost this business one of its best customers now, maybe the owner can get a clue. She’s mean, nasty and bitchy; other than that, she’s fine.
Bye Bye Laurel Lounge, Hello Lakeshore.
Place rating: 4
Oakland, CA
I went here last Saturday to watch some football and have a beer. This is a dive bar by name. If you want to mingle with some locals about football or sports this is your spot. It’s in a popular neighborhood so I imagine there are some decent food spots near by but I didn’t get to check them out. It’s worth a try if you like Bay Area sports and its 1 mile from my house.
Place rating: 3
Oakland, CA
Good relaxed sports bar, fresh microbrews on tap and friendly service. No food served (unless the tender feels ambitious) but strangely, you can bring in yr own from surrounding restaurants. Kinda small area which keeps it cozy; mainly neighborhood folks — if you’re looking to impress a date, this ain’t it but brew & sports banter, yeah.
Place rating: 5
Oakland, CA
Okay Laurel/​Dimond neighbors: You want drinks. You want sports on TV. You want some friendly and diverse company. Food sometimes. A great bartender. Some light and fresh air. A pool table. This is your Cheers. Go, enjoy!
Place rating: 4
Encinitas, CA
OK, lets be honest. It’s not fancy. It’s not even ‘nice’. But you know what… everyone in the place is friendly. The bartenders are generous. The prices are right… and to be honest — ever once in a while that’s exactly what I need.
Place rating: 5
Berkeley, CA
Friendly local spot, nice bartenders, good deals on drinks, pool table (2 nights/​week they have free pool) They get a big crowd on game day. last night they even had free jell-​o shots!
Place rating: 4
Oakland, CA
I ended up here last Thursday during the NBA finals, and it was definitely a fun place to be. Small and crowded, but luckily my friends had gotten there around 6, so they secured a table. We were definitely in the racial minority in there… which was interesting because really, it’s not that often that I’m really IN IT with a crowd of people who are mostly a different race than me. I just find it to be an interesting social experience when it happens. The bartender was a nice middle-​aged lady who managed to talk on the phone and make me the strongest whiskey sour I’ve ever had in my life at the same time. I have no idea how much it was because it went onto my friend’s tab (watch out, $ 20 minimum credit card charge).
I’d go back. It’s a cozy neighborhood bar. They also let you bring in food from other places too, which is cool. Just not other drinks :) I drank my whiskey sour and cheered for the Spurs and ate Cambodian food from Phnom Penh. Good night.
Place rating: 3
Oakland, CA
Hometown Bar With A Welcoming Local Feeling.
This is a great bar to come to for a cocktail and to watch sports. There is plenty of seating at the bar and table seating in the space behind bar seating. They have one pool table so you can shoot pool. The service is good and the drinks are strong!
Place rating: 5
Oakland, CA
I still go here! The last time I went was Halloween because I didn’t want to pay a cover and I wanted a good, strong drink! I was satisfied. THE END.
Place rating: 5
Oakland, CA
My houseguest from the backwoods of Maine celebrated his last night in OakTown at the Laurel Lounge, against my ill-​formed advice. He had a blast and raved about the place — the bartender was a bit concerned about him walking home at 2am and gave him a free beer if he’d stay to closing so she could drive the young man home! Awesome! Thanks Laurel Lounge!
Place rating: 3
Oakland, CA
Small place with good service. Too bad they don’t have food. Decent prices.
Place rating: 4
Oakland, CA
Definitely a great neighborhood bar!
Clean cozy spot with plenty of bar stools and tables. Well lit, a few big flat screens, a pool table, and a great selection of music on their Jukebox including my favorite Sade. Some great choices of beer on tap including Speakeasy, and only $ 4. There is plenty of choices of top shelf liquor, and all available at great prices. Very chill ambiance and a nice spot to spend some hours sippin’ comfortably. I will definitely be back on a regular basis to this bar. Laurel Lounge offers a very chill cool vibe that will make you feel like your in your living room having some drinks! Don’t drive by this spot and keep wondering, park and get your chill drink on!
Place rating: 4
Sacramento, CA
This is a bar for grown-​ups. Nice vibe, nice people, and plenty of space.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Hell yeah! Laurel Lounge is definitely a 5 star nabe bar. It’s a family-​owned joint with a good vibe, great taps and a nice tequila selection. They got the Don Julio, bro… you know you want it… And if you don’t know… then just get the fact that any shot you order comes with a free beer back. That’s right, free beer with every shot, homey. But if you’re getting a nice tequila, use a snifter, please…
As if that all isn’t 5 star worthy in and of itself, there’s a pool table, chill bartenders, cool regulars, and the music is hella sweet. Bonus points for the owner kickin’ us all free hotdogs at midnight.
Place rating: 5
Oakland, CA
Neighborhood place, looks as always can be deceiving, the place its pretty cool! Good beer selection, as well as hard stuff, (It is a bar after all)
People are friendly and the BBQ during Raiders games are killer!
Place rating: 5
Oakland, CA
I currently live on the top of High St., and I am only about 5 blocks from the Laurel Lounge… walking distance. I visit this establishment every week. Any night that I choose to go everyone is always cool, including the bartenders, and I have never turned down a drink from a fellow friendly patron! The interior is upbeat… with a long bar that curves, and also about 3 or 4 tables to the side that are high seated tables. The music is supplied by an internet capable juke box, so it is whatever your ears desire.
This place is the best… I gotta have on tap! I am delighted by the awesome selection of beers on tap. My personal favorite is the Tecate, which I still have not found at any other bar, and I have had more than my share of party times all around the bay. I enjoy this place regularly, and I’m not intimidated to go solo, or with a few friends.
Place rating: 5
Oakland, CA
I’m sad that it took me a bit over a year to set foot in this place. Although, I agree with another reviewer that it looks shady from the outside — the Laurel Lounge has everything a neighborhood bar should. The bartenders are very friendly, local clientele is awesome, and apparently there’s a bbq on Sundays during Raiders games. Woohoo!
Place rating: 5
Oakland, CA
laurel is across from the seven seas bar which was recently closed involuntarily. came in here to eat my fish & chip which alberto, the bartender was agreeable to.
they carry patron and many brands of tequila, many kinds of whiskeys, some cognacs and seemingly only ketelone and absolut vodka. there is also 9 beers on tap including tecate (4). prohibition (4), mgd, bud, flat tire, sierra nevada, hefw, etc.
there’s a pool table in the corner. the counter and a few tables provide some seating. the jukebox is constantly, playing «retro hits».
there’s a diverse crowd of gringos, latinos, blacks, asians and gays.
very friendly group here. nice brews.
Place rating: 4
Jersey City, NJ
I moved into my apartment in February and then a couple moved into one of the other units in March. They had their housewarming party last weekend. Good times.
So during the party, we joked about the Laurel Lounge. Cause it’s down the street and looks hella shady from the outside… but kinda enticing, you know.
So, after several hours of housewarming partying, their friends headed back into the city and we decided to go to the Laurel lounge.
It was supposed to be a joke.
But it’s not bad. Decent selection of beer on tap. Nice regular joes as patrons. 1 pool table. Polite bartenders. And a juke box with good tunes. Really, what more could you ask for of your neighborhood watering hole?
I think we’ll be back… or at least I will.