True Laurel
Bar · Alameda
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About True Laurel
En True Laurel, te invitamos a descubrir una experiencia única en Alameda. Somos un elegante bar donde la innovación en coctelería se une a refinados bocados, creando el maridaje perfecto. Con el sello de calidad del equipo de Lazy Bear, te ofrecemos un ambiente sofisticado y acogedor para disfrutar...
En True Laurel, te invitamos a descubrir una experiencia única en Alameda. Somos un elegante bar donde la innovación en coctelería se une a refinados bocados, creando el maridaje perfecto. Con el sello de calidad del equipo de Lazy Bear, te ofrecemos un ambiente sofisticado y acogedor para disfrutar de momentos inolvidables.
What Customers Say About True Laurel
True Laurel is a popular bar known for creative cocktails and a lively atmosphere. The patty melt and thrice-cooked potatoes are highly praised. Service is generally excellent, with special mentions for Jessie and Jelly.
Popular Dishes
Best For
Tip: Reservations are recommended, especially during peak hours, as the bar can get very crowded. Be prepared for pricey drinks and small appetizer portions.
Features
What to see nearby
Data from Wikidata
Explore the area around True Laurel
True Laurel is located in Alameda, surrounded by cultural and historical points of interest. Here are some of the most notable places nearby.
Historical Heritage
- Schoenstein and Company Pipe Organ Factory (A 65m) — historic building in San Francisco, California, United States Lugar inscrito en el Registro Nacional de Lugares Históricos
- Trinity Presbyterian Church (A 903m) — church building in San Francisco, United States of America Lugar inscrito en el Registro Nacional de Lugares Históricos
Parks & Gardens
- Mission Community Recreation Center (A 176m) — park in the United States of America
- Folsom Playground (A 404m) — park in San Francisco County, California, United States of America
- Fallen Bridge Park (A 562m) — park in San Francisco, California, United States of America
- McKinley Square (A 621m) — park in San Francisco County, California, United States of America
Other Points of Interest
- Seals Stadium (A 820m) — minor league baseball stadium in San Francisco (1931–1959)
- Grand Theater, San Francisco (A 834m) — historic theater
- Redstone Building (A 870m) — historic landmark in San Francisco, CA
- Clarion Alley (A 923m) — street in San Francisco
Data from Wikidata
Frequently asked questions about True Laurel
True Laurel Alameda Reviews
5 Super vibey bar - perfect for dates imo. The drinks are interesting - they keep half their menu seasonal and constantly changing. That being said, while the drinks are good, Cold Drinks is prob still better in terms of nuance. This place is def more vibey than Cold Drinks tho - fun aura and is very lively (without being too loud to hear each other). Overall, excellent date spot and plenty of good bars around in case you need to wait. Definitely make a res on the weekend because you will wait for over an hour or not get in. Good set up for canoodling.
Love this place!!! They have one of the best cocktails in the city. I’m not a big drinker but True Laurel will always be in my book for creative and non traditional drinks. The food is always great every time and I come here quite often. Come here early if you dine indoors and prefer a lower noise level. Dine outdoors if the weather is lovely. Sit at the bar if you intend to drink a lot. I always get the bar nuts which has crispy kale and lemon zest (a must!). I wish they sold it in bigger quantities. Their crispy mushroom is another go to dish. Overall, wonderful to have in the neighborhood. I can’t wait for my next visit.
I had a blast at this place with my girlfriend and friends. The atmosphere was good and the service was friendly. I really liked the drink selection. Mai oh mai was one of my favorite drinks here, capturing the essence of a mai tai in a creative way. This was my very first SF experience in a long time after moving back recently from Boston. While I am still searching for a good espresso martini, this is definitely one of the better versions I had since moving back. The apps were also on point, good portions and highly addictive. This is somewhere I will be coming back often whenever I am in the city! Highly recommend.
Went to True Laurel for drinks before dinner and loved it! I asked the bartender to make me something new with ginger — and they absolutely killed it. The drink was fresh, creative, and perfectly balanced. Such a chilled hangout spot — this has become my go-to place for drinks and 1-on-1 catch-ups. The vibe is relaxed, the interior design is beautiful, and the staff are super friendly. We walked in with no reservation (party of four) and still had an amazing experience. Never disappoints
Food? Fantastic. Drinks? Gorgeous (no surprise) But a bar of this caliber providing service and hospitality this inspiringly warm is truly something special. From the front door staff and beyond everyone was exceptional. Jessie, the bartender was a true highlight of a much too short San Fran trip. First on my list to revisit when I’m back
Stopped by here on a busy Sunday afternoon with four and a baby for brunch and we all had a great meal. Was able to get a table with no wait at all. The drinks we ordered were all tasty, especially the coffee with foam on top. The patty melt and egg/sausage sandwiches were amazing, really enjoyed the nice toasted bread both were on. We also really enjoyed the cornmeal pancakes topped with apples. I’m glad we stopped by for lunch here. Would love to come back soon.
The best experience I had in a long time. I was looking for something unique and 100% I found it. Combination of flavours is on another level. The host was very welcoming. Everybody from there took a good care of us. High level of mixology, and a well deserved status of a good bar. Thank you!
Oooooookay, this place will live in my head rent free. From the ambiance, service, food, drinks, and the vibe - there's nothing to not love. Their cocktails are AMAZING. My favorites were Quinine Cobbler (light, fruity, refreshing, and hydrating!), Melons Triple Lindy, and Bobby Boo-urns but you won't go wrong with any, really. As for the food, please please please try the Crispy Hen of the Woods Mushroom and thank me after. It's fried to perfection that you won't even know it's mushroom that you're eating. We'll absolutely need to be back to try the other scrumptious goodies but for now... au revoir
Had the best time at True Laurel!! We went because of them being ranked one of the Top 50 bars in the US, and after my time spent here I can completely understand why. When we arrived a little less than an hour after they opened, they already had a packed house. We sat at the bar and were greeted by Jason. He exceeded all expectations with his knowledge of every cocktail, spirit, and origins of the drinks as a whole. Giving us a whole story behind every question we asked made us feel like we weren’t at a bar, but a class on the drinks they were serving. I was a bit car sick when we got out of the Uber, so I wasn’t in a rush to drink and asked for a soda. Their version of a soda that they made in house was a phenomenal combination of flavors which tastes like a tart, less carbonated kombucha. Besides that, the drinks were of course amazing. I am forgetting what everyone else had, but I had their Pea-casso. Such an interesting drink, and I say that with all the good things in mind. It tasted like a pickle-back cocktail, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The star of the show were the mushrooms. I have been craving them ever since. They were perfectly deep fried, had the most amazing sauce, and were seasoned so beautifully. Accidentally made this review longer than I thought, so long story short this is a MUST go. Thank you Jason for all of your hard work and dedication to serving us. We can’t wait to be back.
I like the service here. They’re very prompt and friendly. We tried the non-alcoholic drinks and they were nice but quite pricy ($18). We were more interested in the food. We had the salad, patty melt, and chicken katsu. The salad was simple but done right. Simple ingredients and dressing, but quite enjoyable. The patty melt was interestingly delicious and fatty. Would be great if it comes with a simple side. The chicken katsu was great but huge! Keep in mind it’s not a sandwich, just a chicken katsu with ranch sauce and pickles.
I had low expectations going into this place, but wow everything exceeded expectations. We sat at the bar and ordered, In the Pines & Bobby-boo. IN THE PINES was the showstopper. The flavor was absolutely insane. I will definitely be back for this drink. We also ordered the woods mushrooms per our bartender's recommendation & they were delicious! Ambiance is modern & service was great. My favorite part is that the bill comes in The Giving Tree book! We had a great time and will definitely be back.
Read a lot about the patty melt of this place before visiting. Now I can safely say that it was hands down the most vintage - authentic tasting burger experience. The patty melt and the loaded baked potato are two dishes that would make me revisit True Laurel again and again. We sat outside, accompanied by a heater lamp. The place was very chill and the service was excellent. Highly recommend
Came for brunch and had the patty melt, breakfast potatoes, and true brew cocktail. Definitely would get them all again! The patty melt was perfect and a deeply satisfying good classic burger. The potatoes are perfectly crispy (being cooked thrice) and savory with the crispy onions to accompany it. The True Blue is likely the best coffee cocktail we've ever had- great coffee flavor and not too sweet. Service was attentive and we sat outside on the nicely heated patio with our dog. I definitely want to come back again and try more of the cocktails because they all sound so good!
True Laurel, even on a bustling Saturday afternoon, delivers a solid four-star experience. We had a reservation and were seated within five minutes, which was impressive considering the lively atmosphere. The bar definitely has a great buzz and a cool vibe, with both indoor and outdoor seating options. My friend and I sampled two of their cocktails. The Mai o Mai, a milk-washed concoction featuring blended rum, lime, pistachio orgeat, curaçao, and a coffee-rum float, was everything you'd expect from a milk-washed drink – exceptionally smooth and velvety. It was a delightful and well-balanced cocktail. The Bobby Boo-urns, a sesame-washed genepy with blended scotch and vermouth di Torino, was a different beast altogether. This was the stronger of the two, with sharp, smoky notes that definitely packed a punch. If you prefer a bolder, more intense cocktail, this is your drink. Our only slight disappointment was the bar nuts. While they were fine, they weren't particularly memorable and had a slightly bitter aftertaste. Given the high caliber of the cocktails, we expected a bit more from the bar snacks. Overall, True Laurel is a fantastic spot for creative and well-crafted cocktails. The atmosphere is vibrant, and the service is efficient. Just maybe skip the bar nuts.
I was excited to try this spot. The overall atmosphere and vibes here are great. Also, kid friendly as we brought our baby and saw a few others with children. We had a few food items off the menu that were overall good, but very pricey for the amount you receive. The drinks are delicious, but are not strong which was quite disappointing for the amount of money you’re paying ($18-$19 per). I’m expecting a strong cocktail for that price. There are cute restaurants/bars in the area that are better imo.
Updated Review (10/11/2025) Today, I decided to stop by True Laurel for an early dinner and some drinks right around opening time at 4pm on a Friday. There were just a few people seated, so I was able to get a nice table outside while the weather was still pleasant. It didn't take me long to figure out what I wanted to order. A TL Patty Melt with an heirloom tomato addition. For my drink, I ordered a Love Below, which includes Solera rum, lovage, seasonal tomatoes, dry vermouth, citrus & tequila. The Patty Melt came out in about five minutes, with the drink arriving a few minutes later. I placed the order around 4:10pm and received everything by 4:25pm. The Patty Melt was delicious and filling enough. The Love Below had a bit of a raisin-like taste and it never really developed further from that taste. I was planning to order more food, possibly the sweet corn gazpacho and a Mai o Mai cocktail. I looked over at waitress as she walked outside and went to check on other tables before walking back inside. Every single time she came out, I tried to get her attention but she never even glanced in my direction. This happened maybe 5 times or so. After what seems like an eternity, I looked down at my clock. It was a few minutes before 5pm. I had just sat on the patio at True Laurel for 30 minutes without a single visit from the staff after the initial order. Just completely ignored. I have praised and recommended True Laurel to many of my friends and the online community for the past couple years. I was rewarded with the worst hospitality I've ever experienced among the many cocktail bars around the world that I’ve been to. It's unimaginable how a business associated with the vaunted 2-star Michelin restaurant Lazy Bear could have such poor service. I decided to get my check, pay and get out of there. To add insult to injury, I saw that the bill already had an automatic 20% gratuity applied, which normally denotes that the service was above average. Knowing that 20% gratuity is guaranteed regardless of their quality of service seems to have led to systematic complacency. Clearly resting on their laurels. I don't imagine I'll have any desire to go back to True Laurel anytime soon. It's really sad because I genuinely liked their cocktails and food. Previous Review (5 Stars): I've had True Laurel on my radar for awhile. It is owned by Lazy Bear, the nearby 2 Star Michelin restaurant and was recently named #30 on the list of 2024 Top 50 Cocktail Bars in North America. They have a weekend brunch so I gathered a bunch of my friends to meet up at True Laurel before going to MoMa to catch the last two weeks of the "Art of Noise" exhibit. I tried the Melons Triple Lindy and Mai o Mai, which I felt had a nicer presentation with more complexity, seamless blending of balanced flavors than the signature Vodka y Soda and Green Mango Martini that I tried at the mega hyped Superbueno in NYC, #2 on the 2024 Top 50 bar list. The Mai o Mai looks virtually clear but somehow has a milkiness to it. The brunch menu crafted by the Lazy Bear team is excellent. I ordered the Chicken Liver Mousse, which is served with rhubarb preserves with slivers of green strawberries and a few slices of perfectly toasted sourdough bread. My friends ordered the TL Patty Melt, which looked picture perfect - the toast was golden atop a square egg and dry aged beef patty. I got to try a bite which was a sudden burst of special flavor...I know what I'll be ordering next time. The service was straight and to the point. Courteous but not overly friendly. The interior is industrial and modern but not inherently upscale. It's in a safe part of town so you have the option to sit outside at the wooden picnic tables. If you're looking for world class cocktails and brunch food with a Michelin pedigree, look no further than True Laurel, which exceeded my expectations. I'm excited to try more of their excellent cocktails and dishes. Until next time...
After leaving Lost Resort I was excited to try this neighborhood bar as it was the only thing open for drinks on a Sunday afternoon. The place tries way tooo hard. Good food, drinks and service is all it takes. Try less. Add Bloody Mary’s to your menu. Lame people, menu, drinks and vibe. I’m happy I didn’t spend $19 (before mandatory 20% service charge) on bre-batched cocktails in a glass. 1/10 for the piñata as it was the only thing I found fun.
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753 Alabama St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Alameda, CA 94110
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historic building in San Francisco, California, United States
park in the United States of America
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park in San Francisco, California, United States of America
park in San Francisco County, California, United States of America
minor league baseball stadium in San Francisco (1931–1959)
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