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Ever since the 1940s, Alameda has been branded with the image of a quaint, small, Midwestern town firmly ensconced in the 1950s. That notwithstanding, Alameda used to have a shitload of dive bars. Actually, now that I think about it, dive bars may well be a hallmark of quaint, small, Midwestern towns firmly ensconced in the 1950s, for all I know. I don't consider myself an authority on quaint, small, Midwestern towns firmly ensconced in the 1950s. Nor would anyone else. So I can't really say. All I knows is there were way more dive bars in Alameda back in the day than there are now.
The list of dive bars that have bit the dust in Our Fair City over the past 20 or 30 years is vast and disturbing:
Remember Snug Harbor, near where some weird, creepy, Boo Radley-lookin' alleged upholstery concern that has sported a "Closed Due to Injury" sign in the window for the past five years or so now stands? (I hope the injured guy isn't still in there, dead of his injury and...you know...mummified by now.)
There was Rocko's, where Linguini's now takes up space.
There was Dale's, across the street from the base. (More than a dive, it was an adventure.)
The Fireside has gone all uptown on us. (They put in a freaking *window*, fercrissakes. Guess my brother-in-law won't be drinking *there* anymore.)
The 19th Hole, which gave up the ghost only to be converted (until recently) into a(nother) damn coffee house.
Lincoln's Address, which is now of course Forbidden Freaking Island.
Does anyone besides me recall The Hideout down at the end of...Pacific I believe it was. Maybe it was Lincoln. Anyhow, that place was the mostest. It looked as if someone had converted their living room into a bar, which might be explained by the fact that that's exactly what it was. It also boasted a severely warped, splintery, completely useless shuffleboard table that looked like it had been left out in the rain for ten or twelve or fifteen years. (How would Richard Harris feel about *that*?) I always felt like I was in the Deep South whenever I was in there, which I feel is quite flattering testimony to a joint located in a quaint, small Midwestern town firmly ensconced in the 1950s on the West Coast in the 1980s.
(I would go on, but this thing is already way too long and I didn't sleep so good last night. Plus my back kinda hurts.)
Ahhh, memories.
Now even the venerable Pop Inn has augured in (as all my test pilot buddies like to put it) only to be replaced by a freaking pub.
What the hell is becoming of this town? There are now far more churches here than dive bars.
Thankfully, the Lemon Tree still stands. And rocks.
There are a mess of things to dig about the Lemon Tree: a cool jukebox, pool table, crock pot, "sister" dive across town (Wally's Corner) and décor clearly inspired by the Flintstones just for starters. Plus it's named after a Trini Lopez song. But one of the things I like most about the Lemon Tree is that it makes me feel like a moderate drinker. Most of the habitués would put Dylan Thomas to shame, even on an off night. This may or may not have to do with the feature that canonizes the Lemon Tree as a dive bar: it is physically connected to a transient hotel. It don't get no more realer than that, my brutha.
Need to tie one on old-school style but don't want to stand out in the crowd? Knock back a couple of shots and head on over to the Lemon Tree. It's the right thing to do.
The Lemon Tree is the Narnia of Alameda. The rock wall facade might imply shag carpeting and crocheted plant holders, but to stroll inside is to enter a surreal dystopia illuminated by blinking lights from the latest in dive bar technology. It is mystifying.
Expect to find a fancy, new MP3 jukebox with access to many, many songs old and new (pricey, but at least you can hear what you want). Expect to find electronic gambling machines and, of course, a pool table. The bartender I'm familiar with is very kind and welcoming. You can go with Coors Light or Lagunitas IPA (slightly above standard!). But if you have NO standards, you can get a $2 shot of Schnapps with any beer purchase.
I'm a little weary of entering the restroom without a fully charged taser in my hand due to some of the folks I've run across here, but I haven't had any truly horrifying experiences.
Affordable drinks and eclectic charm will keep me coming back.
Lemon Tree, oh Lemon Tree..it's where _____ people go to ____. I'd fill in the blanks, but then I'd have some serious bad karma on my ass so I'd rather not. But basically, it can be whatever the hell you need it to be. I dig the hot dog machine and my friend saw corn muffins around the bar. Hells yeah!
Everyone was super friendly but I'd only stop to talk if I had a lot of time on my hands. Good place to end the night or start the night really, really early.
The Lemon Tree is like "Cheers," where everybody knows your name...
Friendly, reliable, reasonably-priced and reasonably-strong drinks make Lemon Tree a safe bet. Like most of the Alameda spots, Lemon Tree freshened up its decor not too long ago, so it's nice and clean, but dark, which I think a decent bar oughta be.
This is my favorite bar ever. It's just a really nice crowd. Lots of nice old regulars and its mostly people over 40 but im 23 and me and my friends frequent so not all old people...
yes Yes YeS
We arrived a bit after Monday evening's karaoke had begun and it was packed. As we approached the front door, the soft coos of Joshua L. were gently ascending from his tightly grasped microphone..."I just want your extra time and your.. kiss".
There was already enough people to make the task of entering the party a difficult one. I ducked, dodged and smiled my way through friendly faces and slid into the less crowded back room. I looked up and the first thing I saw was a huge poster of a middle aged woman sitting on a bar stool...without pants..or underwear. Awesome. Between the bright blue cinder block wall, rock wall exterior, beaded lamps circa 1963, corn-like maze to the restroom and four counters full of crock pots - this place is divey greatness.
It was an eclectic mix of older regulars, younger regulars and random drop ins. At first, it was so crowded that I kept having to go outside to cool off. Around 11 p.m. a couple of groups left. I was then able to acclimate and get down with a little help from my friends.
For as busy as it was, I never waited more than 2 -3 seconds for a drink. I really can't say enough about the bartender. She was incredibly sweet and efficient. Not to mention, a reasonable $3.50 for a stiff rum & coke.
Curt KJ's on Monday nights. Anyone that knows Curt - knows he is the best in the business. A doctor of KJing indeed. He does an incredible job of rotating different groups and keeping the mood sublime.
You're gonna have a goooooooood time.
I was all set for this to be my local... chill (older) crowd, Journey on the jukebox, stiff margaritas, and promises of karaoke and chili on other nights. I've moved, but the Lemon Tree will always be the bar that got away.
I love this place!
On Monday & Tuesday nights there is Karaoke run by Kurt.
The staff are friendly & so are most of the regulars!
One of the few places that you can go by yourself & still have a good time in the crowd.
They have a pool table in a side room.
All in all, a great place!
This may the ultimate dive in the Bay Area. One of my best friends used to take me here all the time. It was the kind of place where everyone knows each other. It looks like a cave inside and out.
Drinks are cheap. The crowd is reliably pickled, friendly, and rowdy at the same time. A good spot to meet people, that is, if you don't already know everyone there...
Auf.
Alameda has some of the greatest dives on the planet. For example, The Lemon Tree. If they put in a couple of slot machines you would swear you were at a bar off-the-strip in Reno. The rock walls are totally 70s, I love it!
Surly regulars being put in check by an even surlier bartender. Well priced drinks (I had beer, but the mixed drinks looked strong and the shots were pretty liberal). A cigarette machine for when you're jonesin'. I didn't see any food, but there is a microwave and a pretty impressive collection of Crock-Pots in one corner. I don't know what that's all about.
a place where Mike Brady or Alice would hang out at to get away from the "bunch". Usual bar schwag hang on the buttercup blue shingled walls. A rock wall supports the shelves of libations. Look closely in between the gaps of the rocks, what was once a little green ball of clay may just be lookin' right back at ya' kid.
I know this is one of Alameda better dive bars when my older uncle is a regular at it. He says Jimmy I've been coming to this place for ages. He tells me that Julie the bar tender also rides a motorcycle, I asked him the Honda 250 in the back or the big ass Harley in the front.
The Lemon Tree standouts in the front where there are other merchants displaying flowers, mail boxes to go, barber-shop and t-shirts and other ware and then you see this brown faux rock wall with this funky patio in front. How did that pass Alameda's planning committee?
The bar is not too dark and danky and they serve the assortment of domestic beers. The bar area is not too fancy, just the typical long bar. I can recall seeing one of those Coors beers signs with the waterfall and REO Speedwagon on the jukebox. The drinks are not too strong but I don't think they go in depth in their vodkas and tequilas. They have a pool table where my uncle gives me pointers, he is well versed in pool sharking.
I'm slightly confused. This has all the workings of the best dive bar on the planet, but what is with all the technology, man? The outside boasts a large faux rock wall reminiscent of the house of Brady. The inside looks as though Best Buy had a sale and took a large dump on the face of simple town.
I like my dive bars dark, especially after an 11 hour work day, but the Raiders game on all of the flat screens were lighting up my puss face.
I think there was a salad bar, or maybe just a pot luck I wasn't invited to. This was a public place but I couldn't help feeling like I was the girlfriend that just walked into the BBQ, that nobody's parents approved of.
I did not see a single lemon tree in this place, aside from the horribly pained rendition of one on the door when you walk in.
I did see a sex toy vending machine in the women's restroom (the men's only has condom machines,sorry fellas). This confused me seeing as the crowd was of the age that the machines probably don't get much use.
There are lots of rocks on the wall, a ramp in the back that leads to nowhere (?), a side room with a pool table, a very friendly bartender who will ask you your name and them tell you she is going to forget it anyhow (her name is Julie) and bar stools that have martini glasses carved into the back of them - the classiest thing about the place, for sure.
A decent neighborhood bar where everyone seems to know each other and where they all appear to really enjoy their booze.
I just got back from this place and I'm giving it five stars because I want to.
I love the turquoise paint and the sloping walkway. I love the werid carpet and the stone wall behind the bar. I love that my dad's cd is in the jukebox, along with a mix that offers one song by M.I.A. (Paper Planes) and another by MGMT (Time to Pretend). I love the comfy black wrap around sofa seating, the oval tables, and the unobtrusive upright piano in the corner on which Raoul rested a pitcher of PBR.
This place is a sleeper--off Park St and so not subject to quite so many of us youngsters, but definitely right up there on the 'Dive Bars They'd Die For In Manhattan' list (along with the Pop Inn and The Alley).
I hate it when I accidentally hit the "Back" button on my browser and loose the partially-completed, half-cocked review I just spent a whole lousy five minutes writing up. If I were especially witty today, I'd make some tenuous connection between that, lemons, making lemonade, and the name of this bar. Sadly, I'm not feeling that witty.
It was a Saturday afternoon, and a successful one for both myself and my girlfriend, having woken up early, ate breakfast, gone to a museum, finished household chores, AND made it out to an East Bay dive bar that I'd driven past hundreds of time, yet hadn't made it into yet. Flush with that success, we decided that we should attempt to continue our lucky streak and hit up another long-forsaken dive bar, this time in Alameda. So we found ourselves at John Patrick's, where the bartender informed us of yet another dive bar. Rather than let that one languish for months until we finally got around to it, we headed over to the Lemon Tree.
The Lemon Tree Inn is, as I understand it, a relatively new establishment, having been opened by the owners of the Pop Inn a few years ago. I wonder if this lends to the somewhat incongruous decoration... I would not have expected to find beautifully made metal barstools with martinis carved into the backs in an establishment with a faux rock wall both outside and behind the bar. I'm guessing that the rock walls are hand-me-downs from the previous establishment. I don't think that matters to the patrons, though. Mostly of the forty-plus set, everyone there was relaxed and at ease.
I don't remember seeing anything special on tap or behind the bar, but I think this is the kind of place that you order your staples-- a Coors, gin & tonic, jack & coke, etc. The dollar-fifty special for a shot of Schnapps with your beer seems a little out of place, but then again, I'm not one to shoot Schnapps.
The bartender, Julie, is attentive, quick, and good for a chuckle. She has a good hand with the pour-- I was glad to not be driving home after my gin & tonic. I wasn't exactly sober when I came in, but I was considerably less sober upon leaving.
Given the close proximity to other bars that I strongly favor, I'm not terribly likely to be found here that often, but that shouldn't speak poorly of the Lemon Tree Inn itself. I wouldn't balk at the idea of coming here if someone else was interested. The Lemon Tree is a good place that I can see becoming a great neighborhood bar.
We are on an Alameda dive bar tour. The Lemon Tree has been on our list for a really long time. We were heading home from Great America from a short return back to our adolescents on Saturday and we, by chance, ended up at the Lemon Tree on their Karaoke night. A few steps ahead of us, also entering the bar, was a sweet woman named Mary. She quickly sought us out and learned our names. She then ran down the list of all the Karaoke nights in Alameda. She encouraged us to sign up to sing a song. We instead listened to the others and drank beers, mixed drinks, and shots of tequila and Jagermeister.
We entered at least an hour before the singing began. The bar stools were ass-to-ass full. I could barely squeeze in to order our drinks. When the D-day for singing grew near, the regulars split and a new crop of people trickled in.
In one last ditch effort to delay the inevitable, one regular plopped money into the juke and picked every smooth jazz song he could find. It was useless because when Franky was ready, the plug came out of the wall and the smooth jazz came to a halt.
I loved the vibe of the Lemon Tree. I would totally go back, Karaoke or not!
They had crock pots, "free mags," $1.50 shots of schnapps with the purchase of a beer, a great "no shoes, no shirt, no service" poster, and, best of all, MILLER HIGH LIFE ON TAP. I didn't even know that existed.!
Many points off for the joker at the bar who filled up the jukebox with horrible music making it so we never heard our songs. I jokingly told everyone that if that "My Humps" song came on that we were leaving immediately.
Two songs later, we did just that.
Best place to feel gun addicts staring down your neck. Seriously, I love this place and it's always an adventure going there. Bartenders are friendly as long as they're not swamped. Party Tommy is my favorite attraction here.
My pops was a grizzled old ex-Marine newspaper reporter (yes, "reporter" not "journalist"). If he was still around, he'd likely be right at home here. So, I immediately felt a sense of nostalgia drinking here. We had the pool table to ourselves for most of the night, which was fun. After that, I don't remember much. I do believe I ended up walking home at some point in the eve. Drinks are strong and beers are reasonably priced. That should explain a lot.
Love the rock walls, crockpots, heavy drinks, mixed crowd [age-wise, at least; this *is* Alameda], open pool table, ramp to nowhere, and classic "no shoes" poster.
Wedding Early Bird Discount
Neighborhood: Uptown
NEW Happy Hour Specials at…
Neighborhood: Temescal
Alameda, CA
Category: Pubs
Alameda, CA
Category: Lounges
Alameda, CA
Category: Dive Bars
Alameda, CA
Category: Lounges
Alameda, CA
Category: DJs
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