Its my neighborhood bar, and we've had the best of times, the worst of times here.
The bartenders are en pointe, pub food is decent and the patio is nice and big.
I've played some great shows here, and tried to organize big group-outings as well.
I gotta say, the soundguy (Brendan?) is a FUCKING DREAM. Wow. Give that guy a raise. Â
Sometimes its hard to come in just for a drink because there's *always* a show, Â but I guess I'm part of the problem here too, so can't complain too much.
This is also the only bar I've ever been kicked out of in my entire life... for having a PG-13 makeout session 3 years ago. Hilarity. Â
And it occurs to me there are NO TVs. NO FUCKING TELEVISIONS. YAY. That's almost enough to bump it up to 5 stars. seriously.
Its just my brand of shithole dive bar.
It's a pretty sweet dive bar/ venue-- cheap booze, good service (gotta love John, Kelly & Billy!), loud punk rock, an outdoor patio, and ubiquitous hot, tatted boys with newsboy hats. Really, what more could one want!?! I recently moved to Oakland from Santa Cruz and have been looking for an unpretentious, hipster-free place to grab the occasional drink-- this place is it! I will definitely be back...
Review Source:Great Dive Bar. Â Huge. People range in age and I don't feel old here! Â Not a bunch of 20-something poseurs. Hilarious graffiti in the bathrooms. Off the beaten path, easy parking, kinda in a dodgy area. Â Cheap drinks, there's an ATM, bartenders have always been nice, no nonsense. Â Huge outdoor patio for smoking and drinking. Â Picnic tables you can share with friends. Â Cool live music acts. You can thrash, pick up change, rage and windmill. Room for all that. Pool tables, crusty punks, lots of tattoos, dog friendly. Â You can also bring your bike inside if you ask. Â Food available too, though I haven't tried it.
Review Source:This is the kind of dive bar that makes you nostalgic. Nostalgic for other grungy, friendly holes in the wall you've thrown back a super cheap drink at. There's something about it that makes you feel like you and the others in the bar are the last remaining people in a post-apocalyptic world. Yeah, it's that kind of place.
Oh yeah, and I played pinball here for the first time in my life. I don't know why I waited so long.
I haven't reviewed Eli's yet?! Â This place is the shit! Â A true dive bar with cheesy video games, my favorite pinball games, an art gallery that always has new and inspiring pieces up (and a lot of them are actually affordable), plus super amazing bands with reasonable covers, HAMM'S, drink specials, and well, I could go on and on. Â The back patio is graffiti mayhem, and a great place to relax with friends and/or people watch. Â I, myself, am a pretty normal looking chick, having no piercings, tattoos, heavy makeup, wild hair, or combat boots -- but I am never treated any differently then the regulars that have a lot of the physical attributes I listed above. Â If you have an open mind, like music of all kinds, and don't mind a smoke machine or two -- come here!
Review Source:Loved it.
Cheap Drinks, good food, very spacious. Obviously not going to be a spot for all the stuck up people in O town. Definitely a spot for the UG punk/crust/Metal scene in the Bay Area, but that shouldn't discourage you, everyone is in their own world. Will definitely visit again, only a 5 minute walk form Bart, Â not bad walk at all.
My only complain is that it closes too early, but that's cool, it was such a chill place and they close just before the  very last Bart ride. Â
AND the History behind this place is eerie, the owner Eli got shot behind the counter by his jealous wife back in the day...
Cheers!
At this very moment, I consider Eli's to be the best bar in Oakland. Â Yeah, that's right. Â Cheap drinks, pinball machines that are always working well, greasy food, awesome bartenders and chill regulars.
Oh and someone else wrote a review saying they wouldn't walk there from BART. Â Dude. Â It's alright. Â Don't let the neighborhood keep you from coming by to kick it.
Grimy as fuck! Â This place makes me feel like a little loca. Â
It's like a miniature Parkside for the East Bay - which means it is rougher and tougher and more struck down in the gutter than Thee Parkside.
You can get food and hooch and unlike Thee Parkside in soft ol' SF, you can getcho knucks or dome tatted upstairs.
Their bartenders and chefs are out of this world dreamy to boot.
It's dirty, it's in the hood, it has a specific clientele, it's CASH ONLY and it's grimy as sh!t.
The only reason we went, was because my buddy's friend had a gig there that night. Â We walked in and it was obvious we didn't belong at Eli's. It's a rocker bar, I don't like rock, I don't like mosh pits, I don't like Hepatitis...sorry.
We sat at the bar, got some drinks and headed to the patio area. There are several picnic tables out back, a rapey couch, some tagged-up storage containers, a busted ass air hockey table and a bunch of smokers. Â
If you don't look like 'them' they will stare you down and if you can't take the glares, don't bother coming out. After everyone got nice and liquored up they were super friendly to us.
We ended up have a great time, once we got past the first awkward hour. A nice guy bought us a round of drinks at the bar, I got a bunch of free smokes from other people and I had a lot of laughs. I even got a free massage from one of guys there. Awesome!
WHAT A HOOT
So many AWESOME things about this place: backyard patio, excellent and cheap bar food, cheap assfuck drink specials -- WORKING MANS SPECIAL, whiskey and a beer: 5 doll hairs.
The bartenders are FRIENDLY AND FAST AND HOTTTTTTTT
There are 2 pinball tables.
The crowd is the REAL DEAL. No shitty people like me and you.
There's always good music blasting from the stage or the stereo.
Big suckage: neighborhood is sorta WHACK and it has to close early cos of the neighborinos trying to do drugs in total and utter silence.
THE BATHROOM IS A VOMITORIUM
The five stars I am giving is mainly for this place being awesome in an  area of town that you would  not expect. The drinks are (usually) reasonably priced and strong. The bartenders... have very colorful personalities and generally fun.
The ambiance is...well, just go and make your own decision.
Eli's is a little more run down than your average dive, I mean pit. The drinks are strong and cheap. The crowd is a mixed collection of Bikers, Sharps, Punks, art kids, homeless and random odd balls off the street. It's kind of an anything goes kind of place if you know what I mean. Music was a collection of punk, oi, hard rock and various indie.
This Bar is probably not for everyone but if what I wrote above got you excited in anyway give Eli's a try.
On my next trip to the bay area I will be making a return for the 6th time!
This bar has been on my radar for some time. The reason I hadn't been sooner is that I never drink and drive and I was told in no uncertain terms that I absolutely should not walk here from the Macarthur BART station. Finally one night my friend Jan was driving me around in Oakland so I suggested we come here.
Eli's is a rowdy punk rock/rockabilly dive bar. The place is full of cheap furniture and has an unpretentious vibe, it kind of feels like hanging around in someone's basement for a private party. A skinhead in full uniform came up to us and told us have a good night, which I really didn't know how to take.
It looked to me like they might have live music in the side room and they have a poster collection on one wall that they are obviously proud of.
The bartender was very friendly and helpful but unfortunately they didn't have any decent beer.
I'd come here again if someone would drive me.
As I live a few blocks from this lovely establishment, it is definitely my go to bar when I am looking for a few drinks and some fun bar games. Â Their drinks are cheap and strong, their bartenders super nice, and they have 2 pinball tables! Â Currently, they have Bride of Pinbot (pretty neat table, definitely a curious play) and Creature from the Black Lagoon (amazing machine, not to hard, but lots to do). Â Working man's special, $5 (shot and a beer), surprisingly tasty food, strong drinks, back patio for relaxing, two well kept pool tables, and a free jukebox, you really can't ask for much more in life! Â I know I will keep coming back for more
oh, and if you have black clothing, you might want to wear it when you come...
I must give mad love to Josh! Â He is just ripping up veggie food menu. Â Last night he made me a veggie Philly cheesesteak and it was to DIE for!! Â Better than the one I had at Triple Rock, hands down. Â I'm super pumped that they have expanded their food menu to include more vegs and vegans options and it seems to have been worth it as they've been selling out of some of the items like the faux chix stix (I recommend a side of buffalo wing sauce). Â Also need to mention their season fries: NOM!!
Fantastic drinks and sassy bartenders as well. Â It's where I had my first Sweet Tea - which I've gotten and a few other establishments but Eli's still makes it the best imo.
I only give it the Four Stars because They have not put a Bed in there for me. Â Not much you can say bad about the place unless you are some sort of clean freak. Â Jason has done so much with the place since reopening. Â Some of the greatest Bar Tenders in the East Bay. Â
You have seen them around town for years. Â Eli's offers a great food menu for meat eaters and an ok for vegetarians. Â Great group of patrons who always make you feel welcome.
This is my favorite bar. Don't come here.
Full of crusty punks and train riders. Conspicuously absent are stupid girls and douchebag jocks, and I want it to stay that way...Just cause I'm selfish.
Matt and Tracy are the best bartenders and awesome people. If you want a complex and spicy bloody mary that tastes like a most delicious alcoholic pizza, go to Tracy. If you want a bloody mary that turns you into a giggling boyfriend raping savage, get one from Matt. They're closer to pink than red when he makes them, due to insanely high vodka content. They're totally drinkable and spicy delicious.
Best fries on the planet, and their burgers with jalapeno and cheese are painfully great.
I'm so Jazzed! Â I love Eli's and had tried to visit some time back to find they had closed up. Â To find that they have re-opened and I now have a comfy place to go listen to my favorite music while enjoying a drink or two, even better! Â I will definately be back. Â
Also to the gal who gave Eli's one star: Â This is under the category "Dive Bar". Â So not to insult the owners, but to bring enlightenment to those who don't undertand what this means. Â Dive bar is not a formal spot, it's not fancy, it's not well lit, it's not Yoshi's. Â It's a comfortable place to come and hang out with your friends and listen to some kick ass blues music. Â That's it!
They used to have killer Cajun cuisine too, but the music venue was awesome, I could feel comfortable getting up and dancing on my own if the "sig" did not feel up to it.  I am so jazzed and looking forward to revisiting this place.  Maybe next  week.
Eli's Mile High Club is a no frills blues bar in an old building in lower north oakland, a bit off the beaten path from the uptown district. This is an nice venue to go see a local blues band and drink a stiff cocktail. The room sometimes does get a little crowded and hot inside. But you always can take your drink out on the patio to get some fresh air and share some bonding time with friends.
This place is a perfect spot to take some good friends out to see a band. Also with the right people, its the kind of place you can take over and make your own private dive bar. A bar with cheap drinks, authentic blues and a great back area with picnic tables. This is bringing back some memories of the old Blue Lamp on Geary in SF as well. Â Where have all the old dive blues bars gone? Thank god Eli's Mile High Club is still here. Â This is one place that remains part of Oakland's blues legacy.
Great spot. I plan on coming more frequently now that I've found it. Excellent for groups. Large outdoor patio area with good amount of wooden park table/bench style seating.
India Pale Ale (IPA) and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale  on Tap, $5 a pint. Good cheap options also available.
1 pool table, and they let you park your bike inside.
Great dive bar to go to if you seek refuge from the normal bar scene.
Not only is it a good place to hang it has great drinks and great food and the food is served late night too!
Loved the area out back...the picnic tables are a great touch! It really is a smokers haven.
Prefer not to be in the cloud of smoke? Do a little dancing inside. Music blares from the stage and dancing is encouraged.
Glad we stumbled into this place!
i'd always seen this place from above during the transition from the 24 to the 80. considering the neighborhood it's in and the lack of windows, i always assumed it to be dangerous or something. and that's even with my aversion to assuming.. but, it's not what i expected, which is a good thing. yes, it's a dive bar. no, the record doesn't skip when you walk through the door. and yes, it's awesome.
eli's does a few very important things right: they serve cheap beers and pour heavy. i think i was paying $2.50 for a pint of PBR, and (on skate nights - if you skate you get deals) you can get really shitty olympia piss-water, errrr beer, for $1. there is also some sort of punch that is $3 a glass and probably knocks you on your ass. they show skate videos at the bar. if everyone is too boring to talk to, at least there's something good to watch. they have music (a stage, some turntables - you can spin records, but don't expect to get paid, and a sweet-ass jukebox). and everyone (at least on the night i went) is pretty friendly.
i'll definitely be back to eli's. next time i'll ride my fixie.
I love Eli's Mile High Club! Â I first heard about it through my roommate, who was raving about it. Â Then my friends from work who live in Temescal wanted to check it out since it's under new ownership & they now have a DJ spinning punk & metal records on Saturday nights. Â
I walked in and discovered that this is the new hang out for some of my friends from my favorite dive bar in San Francisco, so I get to hang out with old friends and new friends every time I go (which is pretty frequently). Â I also quickly befriended the owners and everyone else who works there. Â
It's pretty empty usually except for weekends, so I have a lot of opportunities to practice my pool game. Â The food is great, they ask me every detail of how I want my veggy burgers so they always come out delicious. Â The fries are sooo good! Â A lot of my friends go to Eli's just for the fries when they are too broke to drink. Â Also, they give you Mamba candies with whatever food you order - how thoughtful. Â :)
This was an old blues club quietly tucked away in North Oakland. Â
Wednesday nights are the times I usually go to sing karaoke with a very friendly group of people. Â The Owner and KJ Sam is a very friendly guy. Â
His song list consist of some of the latest releases, R&B, Hip Hop, Soul, Blues, TV shows, Pop, Country, Gospel, and many more. Â Your turn to step up to the microphone is fair and no matter how bad or good you sound the crowd will clap at your effort to get on stage.
It is a little cold in the place at nights so bring a warm jacket just in case. Â The cold is just a norm but nothing one or two good drinks will help you forget.
So come on out to Eli's on Wednesday nights. Â 9 pm is the Karaoke start times.
went to see a show here a couple weeks back and it was great. Â it's a small, divey-type place with an outdoor patio, makes for a really intimate show. Â I can't imagine too much of a crowd on nights without music, but it seems like it would be a great place for a birthday or something, you and your friends could take over the place. Â
they also get props for being open-minded in the shows they book, i went there to see Mind Eraser, Never Healed and California Love; any club that's down with the powerviolence and thrash is OK with me.
minus one star for:
-wimpy house PA: i couldn't hear any vocals!
-tiny beer cups: i can understand using plastic cups at a rock show, but could you guys at least buy some pint-sized ones? Â don't get me wrong, i love that you have Red Hook ESB on tap, but when i'm paying $4 + tip for a cup, i'd like it to be a generous one.
I love Eli's. Â We go there for Karaoke Thursdays (since the night is so dead, we decided to make it a weekly thing instead of just once in a blue moon). Â Last Thursday, the place was totally empty. Â I mean it... only us and the bartender and the MC. Â So we felt free to do whatever! Â There were stage performances, personal notes to the audience (our friends) and general jackassery. Â It was AWESOME! Â
UPDATE: So, last night, I threw a huge event there (the Grilled Cheese Invitational) and it was the most horrble experience of using a club EVER. I've thrown many events, both at clubs and at warehouses, and this is the worst. The owner was friendly, yes, and was open to setting it up, yes, but during the process of me organizing it with him, he failed to mention that my DJ would have to bring his own sound system until the NIGHT BEFORE the party. So we had to hustle to get that together, even though I had a professional DJ.
And then, on the night of the party, he was over an hour late to arrive, leaving literally over a hundred people outside in the cold while we waited for our DJ to get a power source.
The bar was understaffed for a party of that size, though I repeatedly told them the event would exceed 200 people and sent the press references as it got picked up by Laughing Squid, Current, and finally, the SF Chronicle so he could know that I was not misrepresenting the figures.
All in all, we'll be holding the GCI somewhere else next year (a warehouse, probably), and I strongly recommend against organizing events here.
NOT CLOSED. Alive and well. A shadow of it's former glory, but an Oakland institution all the same, gotta support local blues.
<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Foaklandmilehigh.com%2FCalendar%2FMarch%2Fmarch.html&s=75cca8f9ecf3bbcb194a84dfe47de48ee78d1f3f7fc5f15e93d20d92c121becc" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://oaklandmilehigh.c…</a>
Go listen, relax, dig the energy. Pool table is back.
Eli's is back, and I have to say that the few times I've gone out, I've really had a great time. I haven't experienced the West Coast Blues that they're supposedly the home of, but the shows I did see were rockin'! It's a nice small little joint, room for dancing, a cool patio out back, and a fun little phone booth (with closing door)... yeah it doesn't sound special... until you get a friend or two in with you, then it's happy time! There's also plenty of parking close by which is a plus.
My only complaint is the price of drinks. $3.50 for PBR??? Kinda crazy.
Oh, if you go to see rock shows, bring earplugs, it gets really loud. Unless you actually LIKE having tinnitus.
Eli's Mile High Club has re-opened under new owners. They're filling it up with the original west coast blues that made it famous. Â Haven't checked it out yet. Â I frequented the club right before it closed when bookings were more rock oriented. Â The venue is a great space...very similar to Bottom of the Hill. I will have to check it out soon now that it reopened.
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