3 Best Bars in The Bay Area, California

This tucked-away German biergarten is in Oakland's Brooklyn Basin along the waterfront Bay Trail, with lovely views of the marina, estuary, and Coast Guard Island. Known for its select German beers and delectable Bavarian dishes, including sausages, schnitzel, and homemade spaetzle, this family-friendly spot is especially popular on nice days.

For a true taste of Peninsula life, visit this longtime locals’ favorite for burgers and beers on a fun patio or inside the well-worn restaurant space. There's always a lively game of pool going on and any Bay Area sports team will surely be on the TVs. Families, beer league softball teams, and many other regulars (including several celebrities who live nearby) come by for fun parties or a quick pizza dinner. The deviled eggs are not to be missed.

With more than a hundred styles of canned and bottled beers and 30 beers on tap, plus wine and hard kombucha, this enormous indoor and outdoor beer garden is perfectly situated along the Dipsea Trail for a visit before or after a Mt. Tam hike or Tennessee Valley beach visit. The brewers partnered with PizzaHacker, a cult-favorite pizzeria in San Francisco's Bernal Heights, to provide classic pies like their "top-shelf" Margherita, as well as salads and meatballs. The landscaped outdoor space is lined with picnic tables, Adirondack chairs, and firepits.