The Golden Bull Bar, Oakland CA

The sound is killer for a small venue like this! This place's best feature is that it is less than a minute walk from the 12th street station on BART.

Kudos to the bartenders who work here especially whoever was tending friday febuary 10th. He looked like he was slammed.

Came in from Texas for a music fest here. Awesome 300-400 capacity venue. Little tight toward front of stage but sound was phenomenal. Place was crowded but never a line for the bathroom and the bar is easy enough to elbow your way to the front of. Real gem of a place.

This place is a live music venue if you like the sounds of cats in a pillowcase being kicked down the sidewalk. Rude service, dirty venue.

We entered this place about 1: 30 a.m. And got some incredible drinks and listen to great music great time in an unexpected place

Great place! Glad they were able to survive the pandemic! Slight remodel with small booths makes for a much more comfortable environment when wanting separate from being a part of the crowd. Hoodies are DOPE!

A dive in the best way possible, this was hands down the spot if you're in Downtown Oakland. The bartender was cool and made some stiff drinks. Stay for the goth/punk shows!

Great place to see a live band. The staff and owners were friendly and clearly valued providing a great experience. The drink selection was great, bathrooms were clean and the vibe was cool. Couldn’t have had a more positive experience. I’ll definitely be going back next time I’m in Oakland.

I have been this bar countless time and it’s always a very pleasant/memorable experience. Management is very professional and friendly as well as the rest of the staff members. They have amazing drinks as well and you are always bound to have a great time here! I highly recommend this place if you have not already been here!

Amazingly organised NYE party, friendly staff then and on the 2 prior nights we visited too. Relaxed atmosphere. Great selection of drinks. We saw a comedy night and a local band play who were amazing. Will be back!

I love the Golden Bull! I’ve seen a couple shows here this past year, and had a great time at each. Friendly and attentive owners/staff who really care about their business. And I love the self serve water cooler they leave out at shows so you don’t have to wait in line with everyone else who’s ordering drinks when all you want is water.

One of the best bars I have ever been to in Oakland. It’s really hard to find a decent bar in Oakland but this place takes the win! They have very friendly staff and management is also very friendly and professional! They have really great drinks and amazing shows! I highly highly recommend this bar! You will not be disappointed!

I've been at this bar a couple of times for concerts. Even though the view on the stage is exceptional, I give this note because of the way I was treated by the staff (ownership) after being attacked, twice, by the same person, coming to see the concerts as well. Some co-owners treated me as if I was the attacker, literally accusing me of wanting to make trouble, and physically pushing me when I was trying to defend myself because the security wouldn't do it, as the only persons who stopped the attacker were other attendees of the show. The security put no pressure on this person to stop.

As I had been targeted by this person for the second time in the same place, I called a police officer a couple of nights later, purposefully on a day when there was nothing happening there (and practically no one inside, even less outside in the street), for a report against my attacker, and asked the members of the bar staff present if they could give him their testimony after what they've seen. The security played the game, but the ownership behaved ridiculously bad towards me. Pretending they had never seen me, which was false. Pretending they didn't know who my attacker was, which as I found out later was false again. Finding a stratagem to lead me out of the bar when I would speak with the officer, and then leave the security to tell me that I was forbidden to come back in. Because the staff of this bar didn't want to admit that they had not handled well the attack I had been victim of in the first place, and so they didn't accept that I would call the police, even for a simple report, even on an evening where there was nothing happening at the bar, even though the officer was very kind and that there's no way his presence at the entrance for a few minutes could have caused any prejudice to the bar. The bar staff wasn't willing to see that I had called the police because they themselves had showed to be unable (and / or unwilling) to deal correctly with the person attacking me. Maybe because this person is American, and ostensibly wealthy and socially surrounded, while I am not.

Once again, I don't blame any member of the security individually, I blame the ownership that seemed to be only interested in keeping a reputation they visibly don't deserve, and keep getting the money deriving from it. The least of their concerns was the way I felt after their failing to take in charge my attacker, and then again after their unjustified, dishonest and violent attitude, when I only wanted a testimony from them, which was the least they could've done for me at that point.

Edit: for info a few persons left a review right after mine which happen to be my attacker (Jessica Deen) and a few of her friends: Erin Ryan, Montclare, Alison Munin, Shelby McElrath, to mention only them (but seeing the time coincidence, there seems to be several others, since I haven't myself written this review right after the gig, more like a week after, but they have all written their reviews simultaneously and immediately after mine.), which have all known of me online, and have been apparentely following me everywhere on internet lately. Funny to see that these persons barely have written any reviews apart from this one. All adding to their sad history of online and real life bullying attempts. Which seems to take most of their time. Good luck guys!

I had visited The Golden Bull the day before NYE and was warmly welcomed by staff and regulars of the bar.

However, the main purpose of my visit was for the NYE party/gig, which was well managed and everything I could have hoped for (and more). The atmosphere itself was electrifying, mixed with great drink, food and people. I would highly recommend a visit to The Golden Bull if you're looking for a local, friendly and flippin' amazing bar, I know I'll definitely be back!

The Golden Bull is literally like my second home. I have so many amazing memories and experiences at this bar. The staff, owners and co-owners have always been so friendly, professional and sweet. They have amazing shows and not over priced drinks! The bartenders are also the sweetest! I love this place and highly recommend it!

Visited this place last July during a trip to the East Bay. Fun, casual atmosphere with great music, live bands and a friendly bar. Staff were professional and welcoming. Would definitely visit again and recommend if you’re a fan of live music and great hangouts with a cool laid back vibe.

Cool venue, bartenders seemed a bit spaced out but probably exhausted from working, other than that a great watering hole.