This is the type of bar that you can bring your friends who don't necessarily enjoy alcohol as much as you, and still have a great time.
Happy hour!? Free popcorn!
This place has a great bar selection...classic cocktails, some nice Scotches and Whiskeys, and some great pitcher specials.
On top of the beers and drinks, this place has some great things to do at it! Into trivia? There's a night for that! Into darts? Plenty boards! Pool? No problem! Sports? There's a TV! Live music? The Bird has that too.
Love this place and how crazy it can get. You're guaranteed a good time, and are taken care of well, whether there are 5 or 100 folks here. LOVE THE BIRD.
What a great spot.
Chill and relaxed North(west) Berkeley bar, with a cozy atmosphere and a fair amount of seating for a bar in Berkeley. On weekend nights, it gets crowded so tables do go quickly.
It's a particularly great place to go on a cold or stormy night - the dark wood interior and fireplace make it perfect for inclement weather. I always feel compelled to order a hot beverage - mulled wine or a hot toddy - when I'm there.
They have a wide selection of board games (Yahtzee and Scrabble are my two favorites), and everything about the Albatross encourages you to stay a bit longer (including the popcorn).
Having moved to Hercules, I realized I was much MUCH closer to Berkeley now. Naturally that means I get to hang out with one of my best friends, who suggested a place to grab a few beers. I got in my car, picked him up, and he showed me the way. About ten minutes later, we arrived at the Albatross Pub (and immediately, "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Iron Maiden began playing in my head...).
So naturally, it being Tuesday night around 11:20 or so, the place was pretty empty, even for a divey place such as this. That being said, the selection of beer was definitely a nice sight. The cash-only policy is a bit annoying though, especially since you can't keep an open tab. I hate carrying around coins, so this was particularly annoying for me.
We ended up playing darts and catching up on each others' lives for the next hour or so. Near the end of our stay, however, some interesting things happened.
There was also a woman straddling her date in the booth behind us with the two of them unabashedly making out - the trademark sign of a truly classy establishment! The group of guys next to us were decidedly drunker than we were, and as such, started making some decisions the bartender didn't agree with: namely, playing darts from their seats and throwing across the walkway. This led to a HUGE profanity-laced scene which was getting pretty heated, so my buddy and I decided it would be a good time to bounce.
I guess that altercation skewed my experience a bit, but overall, I'd say this is a pretty solid place to hang out and chill with some friends. Though I definitely won't pay the $10 or whatever for that bottle of Chimay Blue again, I can see myself coming back here.
All I have to say is the drinks are okay. And the place is a bit dirty. For all the workers that are around, the least they can do is clean up. One more thing...no food is served here. There is only popcorn and goldfish crackers. I'm sorry. ALBATROSS YOU SHOULD serve at least 3 snack  items. Thanks for nothing...even in terrible bars there's at least crappy bar food.
Review Source:3.7 Stars
If you're into darts, free popcorn, beer, Â and a long line to the bathroom! Then this is your place!! Â I think I would like this place more if it wasn't Friday nite around 11ish. It's so crowded, it's smell.. Overall, I would definitely come back when it's less crowded, so I can play some darts!! =)
This bar is pretty large with dart boards in the back and has a popcorn maker where you can refill you popcorn bowl.
They had something I've never seen at other bars, which was the beer drinks (a mix of two beers). I had the Black Velvet, which was a combination of Guinness and Cider. Slightly bitter at first, but as I got to mix the two, it was really interesting since you tasted the sweeter cider at the end. It wasn't too bad but next time I will probably just order a beer.
I liked how you can bring outside food to eat in the pub, which also makes sense since they don't seem to other anything else than popcorn to eat there. Pretty good Happy Hour price for beer and free bottomless popcorn!
I would definitely want to visit on a Trivia Night or to play some darts.
I went here with 6 friends on a Saturday night. Â We found parking right outside and walked in around 11ish. Â It was crowded inside, but we were still able to find an good-sized table.
We ended up playing Scattegories non-stop for 2 hours. Â Chill, fun, engaging!
To borrow the board games you have to let the bar hold your ID. Be careful -- I almost forgot my ID at the end of the night.
They had a live band which was okay but too loud. Â The 3-dollar cover for the music was a bit of a bummer.
For drinks, most of us had Boddingtons daught, which was excellent.
Next time I'd want to try darts.
#140. I think my friends hyped up this place too much because when I finally got the chance to check it out myself, it didn't give me the same feeling. Â I'm not gonna lie, the place was totally popping with people and game-- so much that seating was almost a problem. Â We were fortunate to grab the last table in the bar, and I did have fun playing Connect Four, so it was all good in the end. Â
I will admit that I didn't have much to drink, so maybe I'll get a better vibe if I visit next time.
__________
My 2¢:
- Get here early if you don't want to stand around. Â There might be a cover charge.
- In case you're hungry, there's $1 bottomless popcorn.
Pros: Cheap drinks, easy to get a table (even for large groups), plenty to do - board games, darts, pool table, etc.
Cons: Cash only. Pay as you order (you literally have to pay right after you get your drinks). Board games are limited to Chess/Checkers, Connect Four, and Apples to Apples. You might want to bring cards or any other fun board games. AND only food is the bottomless popcorn ($1), so eat before!
* Woulda gave this place 5 stars but the waitress was a beezy. The other waiters looked nice though, if that counts.
$1 bottomless popcorn yo! I'm cheap AND I can't hold my liquor so the popcorn is a must for me.
Come have some beer on draft or their artisan ginger beer if you don't drink. Play some darts or bring your own game to play.
The general atmosphere is chill and low-key (unless there's a hoppin' event like trivia night). They also have a pinball machine which really takes me back to the good 'ol days when I would play pinballs with my buddies and then get in cars and go cruising around my neighborhood. Wait, that was American Graffiti.
This place is all kinds of fun!
This will be a bus ride for college students but you gotta check this place out. I am not into the drinking and stuff but just coming here with a group of friends to hang out will always be fun. You can chill and drink, play board games like checkers and CONNECT FOUR (!!), play darts in the multiple alleys, or play pool. Board games are scattered all around the pub so you just have to pick it up when someone leaves it behind. I liked playing darts because they have a scoreboard for each dart board and they are completely separated. You can also spend a dollar and get unlimited popcorn after that. My friends and I split that so we literally destroyed the popcorn.
**TIPS**
1) Unlimited popcorn for a dollar!
2) Games galore!
3) Enjoy!
Albatross is your very typical and divey neighborhood drinking well. Â Full bar with some unique drinks. Â Bartenders are cool and have attitude. Â Relatively large interior makes for good large party gatherings. Â Ambiance is quite tame, nothing too rowdy. Â Great place to grab a few cocktails or drinks with old friends. Â Bar is cash only. Â They have darts, boardgames, and popcorn to pass the time.
Review Source:THIS is the place I wish I got to go to when I was a student. Â It has the all of the atmosphere that I ever could have wanted, and darts! Â It's too bad it's so far from campus! Â A great hang out place, but for godsake accept credit cards! Â I would buy way more if you accepted credit cards.
Review Source:Great place to get your drink on and play some boardgames or shoot darts! Drinks are decently priced as far as beers and well drinks. The bar offers basic snacks but the real treat is you can bring in outside food. Live music is available too. A fun hang out spot!
Be sure to bring cash - this is a cash only bar. There is an ATM inside.
A landmark bar in Berkeley.
Pros:
-The servers/bartenders are friendly and attentive. Â
-They've got a wide selection of beers at a decent price ($5 for a pint).
-They offer all you can eat popcorn for $1.
-Live music on the weekends
-A variety of games from darts, connect-four, to Cards Against Humanity which is freaking ridiculous
Cons:
-$3 cover charge. Â I know we're getting live music, but a cover charge for a bar?
-No credit card. Â I know it's trying to keep that old-school collegiate feel, but it's about damn time you guys take Visa/Mastercard at least.
All in all, a fine bar and a must-go-to spot.
Wanna a bangin place to come on a Sunday?? No sleepiness here! What a fantastic place to hang out with your dude, girlfriend, or even for a lone self session. It's very comfy and they let you bring in your own grub to snack on. What's even better? I looked on the drink menu and the prices for drinks have 6,7, and 8's by them!! No $10-$15 dollar price tag to shock the life outta ya.
We played a mean game of Trivia. Team Poon-tang was our name and we rocked it along with 20 other groups. All you need is between 2-5 and your good to go. It's free and they just ask to buy some drinks- which is fine by me! Bartenders are beyond friendly and i could see actually being able to have a convo with them on a not so busy night. I will be back many many more times.
Totally digging this bar. Came here with a couple of my girls to catch up, and it was perfect for that! We went on a weekend night and we were able to find a table (but it was still sufficiently crowded, so it wasn't awkwardly open or anything). We grabbed a couple beers, played some cards, and just had a good time. This is a great bar to just hang out and talk to friends. It's not raunchy or kind or sketch like Pappys and Kips.
I think my favorite part was just the massive selection of beer! What a cool place! Also, I tried a black and tan here for the first time. It was AMAZING.
If you're a Cal Grad Student, this is probably your alcohol haven. You probably didn't come to Yelp to read about the Albatross anyway, since you already knew about it. Anyway...
Definitely the kind of pub I'd enjoy spending too much time at - I love having a beer and playing games with my friends. That's one of my ideas of a good time, no doubt. I wouldn't mind coming back specifically for trivia night, or just for a night out in general.
We showed up on the early side and snagged a great table, but this place gets extremely crowded as the night goes on, so consider yourself warned. I was at least happy that they had enough games in stock that even as it got crowded, we could switch out games. Cool stuff.
Drinks are cheap enough where I don't mind getting two, but expensive enough that I'm not getting three = fine with me.
I also hear good things about the popcorn.
This place is filled with activities. If you like games and great beer, this is the place for you. The darts and popcorn are definitely a plus for the bar setting. The only thing that I can imagine them not having is a shuffleboard. And you can find one of those up the street at Hotsy Totsy. Sunday nights is trivia night, so get there early.
The rare quality in Albatross is the BYOF concept. That's right... bring your own food. They allow outside food; generally from the local places in the neighborhood, which is a decent assortment of foods. I recommend importing some Everett & Jones from across the street.
The servers are down to earth and friendly. And you have a great variety of customers: college students, old locals, east bay rats, everyone. Great pub! Did I mention the popcorn and variety of beer. 4 stars.
Love The Albatross although apparantly i'm a crap at darts. Â
Happy hour has free popcorn, free darts, beers are cheap and the beer selection is great. Â They don't offer food but they'll let you bring it in from outside. Â Yahtzee, connect four a fireplace... good for groups. Â Get there early as it gets really packed around eight.
They have so many activities that are wholesome-ly fun for everyone! This is such a cool hangout spot, if I live nearby I'd be here every week on Trivia night! Pool table (though only one), dart boards, board games, popcorn, lots of beers, great music, and just awesomeness and filled with people that are down to earth.
Great place for a fun date night, or bring all your friends along, as many as possible, and just have a great time here! I like their decent selection of beer, and they really try to use the space as efficiently as possible. Great lighting, fun and upbeat ambiance, along with great company makes this place real easy to become a regular. Who knew playing connect 4 can be so addicting?
The Albatross has a great atmosphere and lots of tables.
The AWESOME PART of the albatross is the atmosphere, the art, darts, games, etc. Â And it feels like you are at your grandfathers house with a lot of nice wood finishings.
The LAME PART of the Albatross is the quiz night is super-annoying. Â And the people that go there tend to arrive in large groups. Â It is like phd game-night from hell. Â So, that's fun if you're in one of the groups, but it definitely is not a place to meet the locals. Â The groups tend to be insular and into themselves. Â If you're looking to have a conversation and you're not bringing a date or part of one of the groups, then try one of the other bars in the neighborhood instead Lane Splitters or Acme.
I come here on Sundays for pub quiz, so I'm pretty much focused on this venue's suitability for that purpose. Â But I must say that it does seem like a pretty apt general purpose hangout spot. Â They've got a fair amount of beers, including many local ones, at prices that put many Bay Area spots to shame. Â They've also got a rotating Belgian beer on tap, along with other beer and cocktail specials--though I must say I've never ventured in to the cocktail realm. Â It's a nice place to sit, and they do have waiters to take your drink orders. Â Plus, as far as I can tell, you can feel free to supplement their neverending $1 popcorn bowl with outside food.
Add in plentiful board games, many available darts lanes, a pool table, and a cozy fireplace, and this place stacks up to a pretty formidable little place to cozy up to your beer. Â The only drawback is that they only take cash, but there's an ATM up front.
Awesome vibe here. People don't need to yell simple sentences at each other because the music isn't freakin loud. Lots of seating, though really closely spaced aka just cozy that's all. The atmosphere just gives you a reason to enjoy your friends, especially with the variety of board games they offer you there.
Also remember bottomless popcorn WHOOPWHOOP and cash only BOO
Berkeley, I love you.
The roaring fire, the local draft beer, the board games, the popcorn, the low lighting, the dart boards... I could go on but there isn't much point.
This place has a wonderful vibe and represents everything that is great about the East Bay. Zero pretentiousness and I haven't had that much fun playing Apples to Apples in a very long time. Absolutely worth checking out if you're in the area.
SO MUCH FUN! The five of us came here on a Monday night - 3 of us hanged at the darts area ($1 for 3 darts and they hang onto your ID to ensure you give it back) and the other 2 played pool ($8/hour - and they hang onto your ID).
There wasn't any food though - just popcorn for $1. Beers were $5.50 for the mixed - affordable fun!
When I have gone it is packed, there is live music, board gamers, and dart boards all taken. Even when not packed it is a sea of tables and heavy wood armed chairs. They have a fireplace that is often lit and getting a table in front is hard.
They permit dogs inside until 7:30-8ish, at which point you will be escorted out of the bar immediately because they can't handle dogs (aside form service dogs) with larger crowds. I have a service dog and felt hassled, at this point, so I don't go often now. It is hard to move around with the number of chairs anyway and I love McNally's because it's the exact opposite scene.
I recommend this to older people who like a good sturdy chair, people who like to play games, and people that don't mind yelling later at night to talk. Not really a pickup bar.
This is a nice little spot if you want to have drinks and conversations with a group of friends. Â They have a great selection of beers and a waitress that will come around to take drink orders. Â They have 6 dart lanes, a pool table, and some board games for you to borrow. Â You can also borrow darts for a dollar.
I love that they have $1 unlimited popcorn, which is a great snack food to have with your beer. Â They also have a dart tournament on Tuesdays for $5 entry starting at 8 pm. Â I believe they also have Trivia night on Sunday night.
The downside to this place is that it does get a bit hot during the summer and is cash only (they have an ATM).
The 'Tross is an institution; I hardly think anyone needs me to point out the awesomeness of a) great selection of beers on tap, b) Â darts and board games, c) pub quiz, d) popcorn, and e) everything else the 'Tross has to offer. Â
I am writing this review, however, and giving the 'Tross five stars solely based on their pinball machine. Â Like many folks in the Bay, I am a pinball junkie; and their Family Guy machine not only gives you five plays for two bucks (3 plays for $2 is common), but can also be played in Spanish! Â How cool is that?
As a recent Cal grad, I went back for a mini reunion dinner and then we hit the bars. We wandered around and Pappys had a line out the door that was abnormally long; with the thought of sweaty college students at Kips, it just wasnt doing for us; made our way to Thalassa, our usual go to bar since we used to live around the corner and it just felt so BLAH.....until someone suggested we drive over to albatross.
On a Friday night, it wasnt too hard to find a table and we had 9 people. We got lucky I guess.
$1 unlimited popcorn
free board games
$1 darts
It was my first time playing darts and it was so much fun! :)
I do have a suggestion though (not only for albatross but for all bars), order your beers from light to dark so noob beer drinkers like me can get an idea of what certain beers are like. My new favorite Berkeley bar.
Drinks, board games, darts, AND popcorn! This place is awesome! For those of you looking for a more laid back night out, Albatross is a great place to check out! The crowd is mostly older twenty-something year olds and everyone, both the customers and staff are friendly. Surprisingly on a Friday night, there was still plenty of room despite how busy the place was. The atmosphere here is relaxing and a nice break from the typical loud, bass booming sounds of many of the Berkeley bars/nightlife.
What's great about this place is that there's so many things you can do with your friends. Drinks are pretty good here and probably range from $5-$10 depending on what you want to order. Cocktails are pretty strong though so keep that in mind. The pub has its own collection of board games, ranging from Scattergories to Taboo - literally tons to choose from. It's definitely a neat feature of this place and it's cool to see how everyone plays! The dart boards are also pretty fun and even if you don't know how to play. Don't worry - the people around you will probably help explain the rules of the game to you. There's also a pool table in the back - not sure whether you need to pay to play or not though.
Beware of $1 unlimited popcorn. For those of you with the drunchies, you will soon realize the incredible amounts of popcorn that you will probably consume over the course of the many hours you will spend at Albatross haha. Better hit the gym in the morning.
This is going to be such a fun review, for me to write and hopefully for you to read!
Having lived in England (Brighton and London to be more precise) for the last 4 years I've been to more pubs than I care (or can) remember, what can I say, the English loooove to drink and socialise in pubs!
So having recently moved to from Brighton (500+ pubs) to Berkeley (not nearly enough pubs) I had to check this place out straight away!
First went there on a Saturday and it was absolutely RAMMED to the ceiling with people, so many even that we didn't stay long because we couldn't hear ourselves think! I guess that's what happens with a city having a major pub-shortage :D
The last couple of times I've visited during the week which was a much more pleasant experience!
Now I have to say the place feels sort of English, with the wonky tables,being dog friendly, books, darts and very friendly crowd...Apart from the fact they don't sell food, just snacks(but allow you to bring in your own, huge bonus), don't have enough sofa's and they're not open at 09:00 in the morning (yes, pubs open at 09:00 in the morning in some places in England)
Apart from that the bar peoples seem friendly albeit a tad slow sometimes, their goldfish snack things rule but the bottomless popcorn is EPIC!
Also they have Blackthorn cider and do snakebites which costs a little more than what I'm used to but definitely worth it for the 'authentic' English feel!
Oooh I totally forgot about the (board)games!! They have some cool boardgames and I have also seen people take in their own.
Oh, and this place gets five stars because they have Laphroaig!! Â I haven't found it anywhere else and basically can't live without it (not saying I'm an alcoholic by the way, I just love whisky)
This place is still one of my favorites because of the dart room. Â I went there this week and they have replaced their dart boards so they are nice and new. Â The crowds are still mixed of college, young professionals, and a bunch of board gamers. Â Tuesday nights, lanes 2-6 are reserved for their Dart Night. Â So beware!
$1 for darts
Cash Only
1 pool table
Plenty of tables and games for your pleasure
Bring food and have your own little party in there. Â I've seen people order pizzas and had them delivered right to their table. Â
This is definitely a regular spot for me!
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