The Fireside Lounge

The Fireside Lounge is Alameda's most enduring and genuinely beloved neighborhood bar, a woman-owned cocktail lounge that has been serving the community since 1942 and has been voted Best of Alameda multiple times under its current owner, Sandy Russell. The room is exactly what a great neighborhood bar should be: a beautiful Art Deco bar that is original to the building, a working fireplace that gives the lounge its name, guitars on the walls, a pool table in the back, and an atmosphere that draws in a diverse crowd of locals who feel completely at home from the first visit. The drinks program is serious and community-rooted, with 11 local craft beers on tap, 42 different cans and bottles in the cooler, and cocktails crafted with fresh-squeezed juices, homemade syrups, and spirits from the best small-batch domestic distilleries. The entertainment calendar is one of the most varied of any bar its size in the East Bay, with weekly open mic on Wednesdays hosted by Justin, DJ nights on Fridays, live music from local and up-and-coming bands, live trivia on Tuesdays, comedy, drag shows, curated art shows, performance art, and board game nights all rotating through on a regular basis. For music listeners, the Fireside delivers genuine intimacy: bands play close to the crowd, the acoustics of the small room make every note land, and the vibe is never anything less than welcoming.