Desralynn Cole

Excellent offering of classic spirit forward cocktails. You can choose from a variety of delicious drinks including the velvet mood! It is a stellar version of an aviation and I highly recommend. The music is absolutely incredible you will find a stunning wall of records which they play beautifully through the restaurant. Come and experience this gem as soon as you can you will not be disappointed.

Reid Spice

fantastic atmosphere, tasty drinks and - maybe above all - the MUSIC. incredible sound system front and center, a massive wall of vinyl, and a great overall vibe make this a downtown Oakland gem. highly recommended!

John Kittredge

So not pretentious, so honestly jazzy, so thoughtfully curated, this place is cool in the coolest sense of that word. NON DRINKERS NOTE they have real non alcoholic cocktails that are not just virgins, and 2$ Fever Tree (!). For drinkers this is the place for Whisky, Japanese and otherwise. Good beer too. It is another world in Bar Shiru.

Ella Nuno

Note that you'll need to show your vaccination card to enter. Once you're in, you are seated in your own space, up to a group of 6. I loved the subdued, chill lounge vibe. It is a Tokyo inspired bar, and it really does feel like you're in Tokyo.

R Butler

An oasis in downtown Oakland with a cool and calm vibe. Vinyl tunes and picturef of musical legends. Ta le seating available but I prefer bars eating next to the window. A Startin the neighborhood - next to Cafe Vleef.

So not pretentious, so honestly jazzy, so thoughtfully curated, this place is cool in the coolest sense of that word. NON DRINKERS NOTE they have real non alcoholic cocktails that are not just virgins, and 2$ Fever Tree (!). For drinkers this is the place for Whisky, Japanese and otherwise. Good beer too. It is another world in Bar Shiru.

fantastic atmosphere, tasty drinks and - maybe above all - the MUSIC. incredible sound system front and center, a massive wall of vinyl, and a great overall vibe make this a downtown Oakland gem. highly recommended!

+1

An urban Japanese style lounge that features jazz music played on vinyl, with nicely crafted ハイボール using Japanese whisky as ingredients. It’s assigned seats, and guests are encouraged to not to talk loud so everyone gets to enjoy the relaxing vibe. A unique experience.

Excellent offering of classic spirit forward cocktails. You can choose from a variety of delicious drinks including the velvet mood! It is a stellar version of an aviation and I highly recommend. The music is absolutely incredible you will find a stunning wall of records which they play beautifully through the restaurant. Come and experience this gem as soon as you can you will not be disappointed.

I was looking for a cozy place to meet up with friends. I found it in my internet search and the concept sounded intriguing. It was just as described. A beautifully designed space with delicious cocktails and great music. The laid back and upscale atmosphere was the icing on the cake.

Some of the tastiest cocktails around, and incredible music being played all night. Couldn’t have had a better time at a bar than at this place.

Loved the vibe. Intimate setting, good music. Wasn’t a huge fan of my cocktail but I would still go back just because I loved the atmosphere so much. Great place to have an actual conversation. It’s the kind of place I wouldn’t mind going to on my own too.

Dope .... !!! Can't wait to go back to enjoy the slick sound system set up and all of the vinyl as well. Great whisky list and gins and tequilas as well too.. Popped in on a Sunday, nice way to end a weekend..

Like Japanese whiskey? An Old fashioned? This is your spot for a drink! The music is great, and so are the bartenders. Highly recommend. Check the calendar for events.

+6

one of my favorite bars - good cocktails and even better vibes. the music was amazing all night and they ended off by playing the entirety of channel orange. they also had a huge wall of vinyls velvet mood: a classic gin, lavender, lemon cocktail but thought it was a little too sour and wasn’t the biggest fan of the maraschino green eyes: refreshing with slight cucumber mint flavor! actual proof: my favorite cocktail of the night. not a huge fan of whiskey cocktails but enjoyed this one mystic bounce: loved this drink. the coffee liqueur added a bitterness to balance out the rest of the cocktail highballs: would skip this one next time. as someone who isn’t a fan of whiskey, it was too much for me

Bar Shiru is an incredible spot in Oakland for anyone who appreciates great cocktails and an amazing vibe. The focus on high-quality vinyl music sets the tone perfectly — the sound system is crisp, and the music selection is thoughtfully curated. The cocktails are expertly crafted with a balance of creativity and classic flavors, and the staff is knowledgeable and welcoming without being overbearing. The atmosphere strikes that rare balance between lively and intimate, making it perfect for a date night or catching up with friends. Highly recommend for music lovers and cocktail enthusiasts alike!

Best craft cocktails in the east bay, hands down. Nothing else over here even compares in this category, far as I'm concerned. As good as any of the top bars in the City. The great ambiance and music is just a plus.

Shi is wonderful and is a joy to watch make drinks. I sit at the bar specifically for this reason. She’s super friendly and you can tell she enjoys her job and is very talented too. I will be coming back again and again. Even Ryan at the door made me feel welcome. I have gone to Shiru both with my boyfriend and just by myself and I look forward to bringing my friends here too! Vibes are great, drinks are amazing and the music selection and volume is perfect.

I like the ambiance and there's a pretty good selection. I ordered 2 rounds..or at least tried. The second round never arrived. When I told the server, she was amazing. Without me asking, she gave a huge discount in the drinks I ordered.. This was just one reflection of the customer service. The server was great and super helpful the whole night.

Very cozy place with a warm and inviting atmosphere. The hi-fi music setup creates a relaxed vibe without overpowering conversation, and the bar is beautifully done with great drink options. It’s honestly one of the best spots in Oakland for a date night or meaningful conversation.

Premier audio, eclectic vinyl selection, staff is kind, efficient seating system, clean bathrooms, excellent drinks, and the music is 11/10.

Emma Liddell

I've never been to a bar I've liked more. Everything about my experience was top shelf. The service was impeccable - attentive, engaging, and helpful. The listening experience was divine. The interior decor was a perfectly executed intersection of mid-century modern and industrial. What isn't to love? A gem.

Danny Lynch

Nice, top shelf bar, unique cocktails, jazz, awesome environment with amazing bartenders. Unique experience, great place to bring and entertain potential clients. Reservations for 7 to 15 possible with a private area upstairs. Mainfloor has 2 tables for 6, outside of that its mostly 2 tops or small couch areas or standing room. Decent bar seats for walk in

Vanessa S

Good vibes and aesthetics. Cocktail drinks were unique, but the happy hour list was lacking 🥲. Green eyes cocktail was fresh! Tastes good if you don't mind a light minty cucumber flavor :)

Good vibes and aesthetics. Cocktail drinks were unique, but the happy hour list was lacking 🥲. Green eyes cocktail was fresh! Tastes good if you don't mind a light minty cucumber flavor :)

David Arias

Cute spot with Tokyo-style chic vibes, the ambiance is definitely the draw here. Minimalist, trendy, and would make for a great date night or IG moment. That said, the service was noticeably uneven. The male staff felt aloof, bordering on indifferent, one even greeted me with “are you trying to order something?” which set a weird tone. The women behind the bar were more attentive, but overall it gave the impression that anyone was hired to bartend, not necessarily folks with hospitality experience. If you're just looking for a bar, it is just a bar, but if you're expecting something elevated, you might be underwhelmed.

Cute spot with Tokyo-style chic vibes, the ambiance is definitely the draw here. Minimalist, trendy, and would make for a great date night or IG moment. That said, the service was noticeably uneven. The male staff felt aloof, bordering on indifferent, one even greeted me with “are you trying to order something?” which set a weird tone. The women behind the bar were more attentive, but overall it gave the impression that anyone was hired to bartend, not necessarily folks with hospitality experience. If you're just looking for a bar, it is just a bar, but if you're expecting something elevated, you might be underwhelmed.

On a Friday night, we got sat quickly, however no one came to even take our order for over 15 minutes. Atmosphere is great but service is very lacking.

We had plans to come with a group of friends to a Silent Sunday. It's right up our alley. Last night, two of us were at a nearby restaurant and decided to check out the bar beforehand. About half the seats were taken, yet we were seated by the front door on a cold rainy night. We asked the maitre d' if we could sit in a cozier area and we're told that that area was only for large groups. Then around 30 minutes later, a young couple was immediately seated in that area. A bit later, a couple came in and were seated at the crappy seats right next to us but before they could put their drink order in they were moved to a nice 2 person table away from the front door, a table which was open when we arrived. We then asked our server about making reservations and were told that it was first come first serve for small parties and reservations were only for large groups. It was clear to us that Bar Shiru wasn't so interested in serving "people like us."

K C

We had plans to come with a group of friends to a Silent Sunday. It's right up our alley. Last night, two of us were at a nearby restaurant and decided to check out the bar beforehand. About half the seats were taken, yet we were seated by the front door on a cold rainy night. We asked the maitre d' if we could sit in a cozier area and we're told that that area was only for large groups. Then around 30 minutes later, a young couple was immediately seated in that area. A bit later, a couple came in and were seated at the crappy seats right next to us but before they could put their drink order in they were moved to a nice 2 person table away from the front door, a table which was open when we arrived. We then asked our server about making reservations and were told that it was first come first serve for small parties and reservations were only for large groups. It was clear to us that Bar Shiru wasn't so interested in serving "people like us."