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The Ruby Room
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 5 pm - 2 am
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Yes
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Ambience:
- Dive-y
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
309 reviews for The Ruby Room
Review Highlights
"Good vibes, good music, definite plus."
(in 20 reviews)
"The low red lights give the place a very sexy feel."
(in 21 reviews)
"The bartenders are quick and make strong, cheap drinks."
(in 22 reviews)
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309 reviews in English
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Review from Ryan B.
12/13/2011 9 Check-ins Here
First, your eyes will need to adjust even at night time when you walk into this very dimly lit bar with red lighting. But after getting used to the initial impression, this place actually makes for a really cool dive-bar. I like this bar because:
-Good Prices
-Chill Atmosphere
-Not Overcrowded
-Cute Lady Bartenders
-Decent Tap Selection
-Oakland Roots & Divey
See you there! -
Review from Alexandra S.
Sebastopol, CA
12/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Walked into this place and they were playing "My Posse's on Broadway" after just having seen most of Broadway blocked off by OPD. People are dancing, folks are drinkin', then "Freaks of the Industry" comes on and you see girls in the back room jump up on the table and start getting freaky grinds on--yeeeeah, it's a party right?
Back room is like a steamy, "my parents are on vacation so I'm having a party in my 1970's rec room-- wanna play spin the bottle and make out with me? We have a pool table."
*Prices are reasonable (the price of good scotch is what it is, yo)
*There's a pool table but you can only play if you like to sit in a room full of smoke (an ick for me)
*DJ--started off awesome but then I dunno what happened, started playing records that sounded like they were owned by my 1970's parents so I had to bounce.
*Peeps are cool- can't hate on folks getting down-- can't deny that O-town vibe.
*Bartender thought it was funny that the barback swiped my husband's MacCallan and we couldn't get it back from her (it only had a splash, but still a no-no.)--at least she had just set it down and not dumped it.
Funnily enough, last time I was here was last Christmas! -
Review from Mikayla M.
Oakland, CA
11/15/2011
this place is so dark and rounchy everyone looks good! easy to miss this awesome lil bar right across from the main library in downtown oakland. theres a pretty good size smoking room, one pool table. punk rock-hipster-grungy-hard core oakland natives. gotta love it!
i've been pretty entertained with the graffiti inside the womens restroom stall, they've had everything from "trevor has a huge cock" or inspirational quotes [btw i heard trevor snuck in and wrote that himself! :P] theres dried up spiled drinks all over the floor, and ashes all over the place if you drop something on the ground i dont recommend putting it back in your mouth lol but i LOVE this place. -
Review from LeVar H.
Oakland, CA
2/5/2012
I come here every Tuesday night, or as I like to call "The night I'm most likely to enjoy the music at Ruby" night. If I spent as much time in school as I do at Ruby I'd be a PhD by now. Zhiva is one of the most knowledgeable bartenders I've ever met... dude really knows his stuff. My weirdo housemate orders absinthe and Zhiva seriously does the whole thing with the burning sugar cube. Its rad. Everyone else here is super cool, from Ryan Gosling at the door, Bean, Antoinette, Trevor and whoever else's face I can make out in the dark.
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Review from Mike L.
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
If you like dive-y bars it's a good place. Ordering the same type of drinks non happy hr is cheaper than the lake chalets but there is a nice staff and there are pool tables. All and all.. decent place..
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Review from Edward M.
San Leandro, CA
10/20/2011 19 Check-ins Here
It's dark as hell. It can smell bad at times. The drinks are strong, and they're either playing funk, booty rap, or indie rock that I don't recognize. Also, I went ahead and flagged the blurriest/darkest pictures as very helpful, because that's exactly what it's like in there.
This may not sound like that positive of a review, and yet I was there ten times in a two week period.
I LOVE YOU RUBY ROOM! -
Review from Buck Buck M.
San Rafael, CA
12/6/2011
Rookie bar. For kids.
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Review from Gerard Y.
1/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is a dive bar for sure and not in a bad way. I decided to check this place out after a friend told me they had a pool table here, good music, and smoking room. All 3 were correct. They don't mix drinks here at all, well at least the one particular bartender I asked a drink from. I asked for my usual Surfer On Acid and the bartender guy didn't know how to make it so I told him the ingredients. All he did was pour everything into a glass. I did the mixing myself with a straw. I thought that was weird that he didn't at least try to mix it. Surprisingly the drink was still stiff. Smoking is allowed in the back room where the pool table is located. There was a sign about "no pot" so there goes that idea. Parking on a Thursday night was relatively easy and found plenty of space very near the bar. The bar wasn't crowded at all and was even almost empty. Wouldn't mind coming back here to hangout with some friends.
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Review from Jennifer M.
Emeryville, CA
12/11/2011
This place is pretty freakin awesome. The bar is dark, its hard to make out if the person you are talking to is good looking or not, but it doesnt matter bc You're already plastered off their drinks bc they make it SO STRONG! They're arent stingy with the alcohol, which is awesome. I love the fact that this little dive bar is kind of a hole in the wall place, bc it doesnt attract trendy douche bags. Anyway- great place to hang out and get a drink at.
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Review from mister b.
Oakland, CA
8/19/2011
You walk into the woman's restroom and a woman is shooting up into her pussy. It's soo dark I can't see my feet. It smells like pine sol, 100 years of spilled PBR and drunk lawyers.
My vodka soda tasted like VODKA.
It's better than Acme.
I LOVE IT! -
Review from Derya A.
Oakland, CA
7/31/2011 2 Check-ins Here
*It's not as seedy as it looks*
I just moved to the area and passed by the place quite a few times. It's next to a liquor store that yields a questionable crowd, but don't let that deter you from stopping in! It's very dark with red lighting (hence the name) but it's actually pretty fun. They play good music and offer pretty good drink specials. And the bouncer bought us a round! -
Review from ellen w.
Oakland, CA
6/17/2011
This place smells like a wet dog wearing a diaper. Every surface has a dried up 30-rack of PBR stuck to it. You can't see who your making out with. It's like being inside a stripper's asshole WHILE SHE'S DANCING THE END OF HER SECOND SHIFT.
LOVE YOUUU -
Review from Dustin H.
Foster City, CA
8/4/2011
I work at the courthouse a block away and I cannot believe I haven't been here sooner! I've actually walked by this place a lot and never knew it was a bar...until this evening.
I love how dark it is inside. You can barely see anything other than your drink, the red lights, and maybe - maybe the person next to you. It's awesome. I guess this is a dive bar, but it seems kind of cooler than that,. But in any case, I got a sweet tea vodka (for someone who doesn't really drink and likes the fruity, sweet stuff) and it was a solid drink for $5. Can't really beat that.
They had something called a SoHo Dirty, which had lychee liqueur, grapefruit juice, soda and rocks....sounded deelish, but alas, I had already gotten a drink. Now that I have a hot 2 days left in Oakland, I better be going there one of those days...just sayin' -
Review from Eden F.
Claire is the bomb bartender!! She will take the time out to make you the drink of your dreams (as long as she is not swamped!).
Its great bartenders, that can make or break a place and Claire really goes the extra mile!
Before I came here i had (mistakenly) passed judgment on this place, based solely on some mediocre reviews.
I came here reluctantly at the request of the BF. I can now say that I was wrong.
Love it here! So divey and at the same time a secret mixologist haven, I am almost afraid to tell anyone. Like that secret bar you don't want to be ruined by the mainstream.
Yeah it's dark and yeah it's smokey in the back, if that's not your thing save yourself some grief and head elsewhere. Really great crowd and a great selection of cocktails.
Seriously, Claire is a stellar bartender, this is my new go-to bar when I can't get to H&D.Listed in: It's always about the drink!
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Review from Mimi C.
Oakland, CA
Updated - 7/11/2011
You know, this place definitely just grows on you. It's like how I hated bitter melon as a kid and now I just love that shit. So they have a special -- for $5, you get a glass of PBR and an infusion shot. It always happens to be the first drink that my friends and I order when we come in for some odd reason. It tastes pretty horrible. But you finish your beer and think back - it wasn't that bad. So ...you might order another one. But it still tastes horrible...it's kind of like a vicious cycle and it happens every time that I'm there.
I obviously don't mind it that much to stop.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/12/2010
The music is good. The drinks are cheap. So...what's to it?
I just don't really enjoy the narrow… Read more »
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Review from Augusto L.
Emeryville, CA
6/11/2011 6 Check-ins Here
This spot is your perfect hole in wall, dive bar. The floors are dirty, the bar sticky and the crowd seem like regulars. I dug it a lot!!!
The first thing you do when walking in is adjust your eyesight to the darkness! The lighting is very dim. The low red lights give the place a very sexy feel.
The bartenders were cool. My friend and I weren't completely sure what we wanted, so I'm sure it frustrated her (bartender) a bit. Finally we ordered some special shooter that was 6 bucks.
The flavor was like a strawberry daiquiri, I think. It wasn't super strong but it wasn't bad tasting. We shot it quickly and returned for something different.
The seating is sort of abundant. At first you walk in and assume the place is a sardine can but as you make your way to the back, you realize they have a dance floor, a pool table and additional seating. Depending what time of night you show up, you will most likely find some seating.
The crowd is pretty chill and keeps to themselves or their little groups. All of them appear to be very unique Oakland hipsters.
The men's bathroom is a tagged up mess and did not have a pleasant smell but it also wasn't the worst thing I have ever seen. During my trip to the bathroom, a dude decided to chat me up. I was in the stall, so I wasn't overly uncomfortable but dudes, pissing and conversation just isn't very cool. Maybe if we wearing skirts and had to sit to pee could that fly but as dudes, it doesn't. Shut up, pee and exit!
Lastly, prices are not low but not high. A shot of cheap tequila will cost you $5. Jäger Bombs were $8. The Monday night specials ran between 4 and 6 bucks.
Overall, I dug it. The dim lighting makes gives it a sexy feel. The dance floor is small but sufficient.The music isn't overly loud. The selection of music was interesting. It sounded like folkish electronic or something like that. I really can't remember but I will definitely say it was not mainstream stuff.
This was my second time here and I will definitely return for drinks again. -
Review from Bob W.
Emeryville, CA
5/14/2011
So? You are one of those types that wants to experience it all?
The punk rockers knock tables over into the IT guy's from Emeryville, who buy smokes off the rocker kids who bump lines with the cutty ass neighborhood weirdo's.
I think the Ruby room has a DJ every night. The speakers got the treble turned to eleven and it tends to be garage rock or metal 73% of the time, gangster rap 8%, and hipster dance music the rest.
You can smoke in there, and that kicks ass. If you're a pussy and don't want to get black lung you can head to the bar or "dance floor". Yeah, there's a "dancing area." It's generally where patrons go if they've already found a mate for the night.
One o' clock is the make out hour at Ruby room, and by this point, if you've never been to a crack house before, the Ruby Room is a perfect representation of what one looks like by this hour.
All of this, in my opinion, is what a bar should look like. It's rowdy, they light the bar on fire, and you could get pregnant just from sitting down in the motherfucker.
We might as well adjoin Oakland with Walnut Creek without it! -
Review from Pam Z.
2/15/2011
Who is Libby? She's obviously a very important person since it's plastered in graffiti art all over the women's bathroom. It's not Banksy, but it'll do since it was the only place Sunday after Xmas that was open in the neighborhood.
Other than the dive bar qualified bathroom, this bar is all dark red low lighting with pool table and worn leather seats.We went to the smokers' area in the back and watched other people play pool and lounged while discussing religion, philosophy and politics per usual. Bartenders were chill, and I couldn't get over how nice the decor was for an alleged dive bar. I've been gone from CA for too long. Also, it's super cheap (and the cheapest in the area according to my friends who live nearby). Two super strong and decent sized rail drinks set me back $8+tip! Not bad for a Sunday night! -
Review from Darrell Y.
Sacramento, CA
4/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was already unfit for the civilized world when I came in here, having slammed a bunch of beers and a shot of whiskey at the Fox Theatre just down the road, so I don't remember much of my experience here at the ruby room except the the following:
a) it was incredibly dark, and incredibly red inside
b) they served me an Olympia in a can
c) the bartender lit the bar on fire (no really!)
I felt unfit to review the joint based solely on the fact that I can scarcely recall being there, but the three bullet points of info I have given you ought to be enough to pique your interest, right?? I will certainly return to (and hopefully remember) the Ruby Room! -
Review from Julia V.
Berkeley, CA
3/14/2011
I don't know if it's because i'm not a regular but every time I go the price of the drinks are always changing. It's not happy hour since I always go late, but whatever.
This place is DARK and you can tell it's probably dirty as heck, but the people are great, friendly and really welcoming. There's always a totally mixed crowd when I go, and I always really enjoy myself.
My boyfriend's ID recently expired, they're usually cool about it except Billy. Last time he had his wasted friend, who wasn't an employee, say some backwards sh*t and then kicked us out. Yea it was expired but by a few days and I think he was just having a kick out of bossing us around in front of everyone.
Still, I like the atmosphere. Most people are cool, only the occasional douche. -
Review from Tom R.
San Francisco, CA
9/10/2010 1 Check-in Here
The Ruby Room is by far the darkest bar I've ever been to. It's so dark in there that your eye's never really get used to it.
I thought I saw people smoking in the back room when I was looking for the bathroom but I'm not sure, I suppose you could do whatever you want back there and no one would know. -
Review from Marissa C.
Oakland, CA
11/26/2010 3 Check-ins Here
As a newly initiated regular of The Ruby Room, I have to say it already feels like home. This is the quintessential dive bar with all the necessary elements: low lighting (red, of course), pool table (which is always in use), smoking room, deals on drinks, chill bartenders and guys checking IDs at the door and good tunes (always).
The few nights that I've spent here, I always end up making random friends or getting a good vibe from the people who are there. There's none of the hipster mellow drama, or if there is, it's gently squashed out by the loud music and low lighting. This place is low on bullshit so you feel like you can really let your hair down and really have fun.
Oh and the drinks are fairly stiff, so you get what you pay for, but the bathrooms leave something to be desired, but who goes to a bar expecting to have a pristine bathroom?Listed in: Hella Cool Places in Oakland
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Review from Cyrax N.
Oakland, CA
3/5/2011
I've been living in Oakland since November of 09' and this is the spot I'm always feelin. Like everybody keeps saying, yea it's dark, yea it's smokey, but please believe, if it weren't smokey the smell of bar rot would rock your fucking face off.
It's cheap, has a pool table, mostly great music, and you can fucking drink yourself to death in the darkness. This is a great place to go if you want to plan an Ocean's Eleven heist or acquire a new quest from the shady halfling in the pool room. -
Review from Nay R.
San Leandro, CA
5/6/2011
Cool drink and nice bartenders.
Its defiantly a dive bar and if you didn't know it was there you would never notice it. Cool place to go with friends and get a drink after work or before you going somewhere. The music is really loud and you need a flash light because its so dark.
All in All a cool pace -
Review from Lisa H.
Oakland, CA
Yes! It CAN get darker than this. But not much. I mean if you have a candle in a closet how much illumination do you really get? You get the Ruby Room. And hot damn. Everyone looks amazing.!
Fellow Yelpers.. do you like dive bars? Or just a bar with a hot Tennder who can make any drink you throw at 'em. Even makes you a JD&C without calling you stupid? If u do then you will love The Ruby Room.
They have a great product ( oh yeah!).. made perfectly (of course), at the right price (thank u!), and they treat you right (that's dive bar 101)
Been here too many times now to count. Each time I love it more than the last!Listed in: Favorite East Bay Bars
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Review from Tamara C.
7/29/2010
Too DAMN dark. I felt like I needed spelunking gear to go safely around the bar. Damn, I sound like an old person! Whatever. It sucked. It reeked of stale cigarettes and smelled worse than an old sneaker. Hated the music too. Obviously I do not belong there.
The only redeeming quality was the stiff drinks.
I can see from the other reviews that some people enjoy bumbling around in the stinky dark. Well folks, you can have it! -
Review from Helen T.
Manhattan, NY
9/24/2010
So I asked my boyfriend what he'd give The Ruby Room, and he said, "Aren't all bars pretty great?".
DARK, DARK, DARK: Liked the ruby mood lighting since I wasn't full blown wasted. I can see how this can trip me out though.
CHEAP? : I didn't do any drink buying but I noticed 5 bucks can get you a shot of Jameson and a pint of PBR.
AWESOMENESS: Small dance floor--hey, it can get wild. Long bar--decent amount of seating. Separate room w/ pool table.
BATHROOM: It's dark as it is and so did they really have to paint the hallway completely black? Nyctophobia+ethanol+The Ruby Room hallway to the bathroom = piss in pants. -
Review from Erin K.
9/6/2010
***This is dedicated to one of yelp friends, you know who you are ;)
I figured for my 200th review I'd show it some respect and take it out for a drink to celebrate. I chose the Ruby Room for it's dark and sexy vibe.
I've been here on the "off nights" which I kinda prefer. I don't like crowded bars and when I'm with someone special or even a friend I want to talk to, I want to be able to hear the conversation.
My drinks have always been good
(margaritas, draft beers, lemon drops) and reasonably priced.
This place is all about the vibe. It's dark and sexy, which makes it hard not to fall for someone in the glowing red light. I must say it was mighty challenging during my last visit.Listed in: Boozin' in the Bay
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Review from Emily J.
4/30/2010 1 Check-in Here
[In the style of Kaiser Chiefs]
Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, Ruby
And do ya, do ya, do ya, do ya
Know what ya doing, doing to me?
Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, Ruby.
Tell the bartender your booze of choice and he will make you a tasty drink. I was pleased with my whiskey cocktail.
The ladies bathroom is disgusting. Just hold it.
I didn't like the indoor smoking. I appreciate tobacco control policies and especially like it when they are enforced.
Keep lighting the bar on fire, though. That's fun.Listed in: Yelp DYL Spots
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Review from Brad E.
Dublin, CA
9/7/2010 1 Check-in Here
I love these kinds of places. The darker, the better I say. I would love to visit that bar they go to in 'Jackie Brown' remember? "Hook a brother up with a screwdriver."
This place is very cozy and features red flood lighting and a cool faux rock wall. The bartender was very friendly and served up some stiff drinks. However I didn't like that the orange juice part of my screwdriver was like a Tang or instant mix.
So if you're planning a heist, this is a great place to meet your crew and go over the plans.
This is also a great place to meet a beautiful lady and have some great conversation. -
Review from Vanessa S.
Oakland, CA
6/26/2011 2 Check-ins Here
This place is darker than hell! But I like it. If you are having a bad hair day or a terrible pimple and want a drink, you should go here. It did make me sleepy and using my phone hurt my eyes because of the bright light LOL I will be back.
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Review from Rosie W.
San Francisco, CA
6/24/2008 ROTD 9/10/2008
The Ruby Room is the darkest bar in the free world. Who are you talking to? Could be Olivier Martinez, could be Boss Hogg... you don't know, 'cause you can't see them. I went here in the daytime recently (because I am THIS close to being involuntarily checked in to St. Helena Health Center) and the eye adjustment from outside to in was crazy -- like blacking out almost. Or like going in that tunnel thing at the Exploratorium. If that tunnel thing smelled like stale smoke and had a few red spotlights pointed at a wall of liquor bottles. Seriously, that's the only thing you can see in there. Stage lit hooch. So there's no doubt as to the star of this show.
Considering how dark it is, it's pretty clean in there. I think. Nice crowd, good bartenders. And the drinks were strong like bear.
Word to the wise: the women's bathroom door PUSHES in. More than a fire code violation, this trick feature had me standing there about to girly rain my pants and wondering what ungodly things were going on in there for what seemed like an eternity... until a 510 mama took pity on me and showed me the ropes. To the MAN who hung this door: real funny, ass clown.Listed in: That Not-So-Fresh Feeling, Smokers Are Jokers!
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Review from Angelo F.
San Francisco, CA
11/29/2008 ROTD 12/18/2008
...and Shelly thought this would be a low turn out/intimate DYL due to it being on Black Friday :P. The place is three blocks from Lake Merritt Bart, but I'm told its equidistant from 12th St. Bart which is a safer walk.
First impression: The place is dark. Like seriously dark...close the cellar door and call me Donnie Darko dark. But as DYLers move in herds, it wasn't hard finding the fun bunch in the corner seats. A little too dark for my taste but...
This little divey bar is decked out in red everything, or was it the red lighting that gave everything that hue? Anyway, it was a cool interior that reminds me of my dive bars in the Tenderloin.
Lasting impression: The Tokyo Teas and the Adios MoFo's ($10 each). As I rub my temples and drink my water this morning, I know; Ruby Room has left me w/ a lasting impression. Heavy handed doesn't give our great bartender enough credit, the lead handed bartender got me full on trashed. Ice was the only mixer in those drinks. Two Tokyo Teas and one AMF were enough to send me to the pool table worried that I would lose. Eyes crossing/closing and all, I staggered to the table.
Pool tables: The sharks at Ruby Room circled at the smell of my intoxicated blood. I hesitantly put in my quarters and played my damdest. Luckily I pulled out all the dirty tricks (aka strategy), played safety, pushed when I needed too etc. I didn't even call any of my opponents' faults. So I got out of there 2:0...praiseing my lucky stars.
It was a great night and I'm glad I made it out. Now off with you, go to Ruby Room....I guarantee you won't be seeing red. :) -
Review from Christina T.
Oakland, CA
5/6/2010
Awesome bar, I like coming here on the off nights since you can just relax at the bar and hear some rock and roll tunes and get drunk for relatively cheap on their surprisingly AWESOME margaritas. I actually laughed when my boyfriend suggested them - but turns out he was 100% correct, I always have a margarita for my first drink here.... and then a few more and then by that time the bartenders are pouring shots and it all gets a little fuzzy from there. But seriously - I am not a tequila fan by any means but the house margarita is so kick ass.
Asked the bartender once for an old fashioned- said he didn't quite have the right ingredients but he'd do his best. Well whatever he used made for great substitutions because it was a kick ass old fashioned.
Overall a great neighborhood bar. -
Review from Bill B.
5/17/2008 ROTD 6/23/2008
Talk about entering the Red Light District... The lighting, what minuscule amount there is, is all in red, definitely creating a sultry mood. (Which some people I noticed were taking advantage of...) On the plus side, everyone looks better in such conditions, so your odds of leaving alone fall precipitously.
The bartender, Melissa, was awesome. (Disclaimer: We got a Yelp discount of $1 on well drinks for the inaugural East Bay DYL happy hour.) She was quick and friendly in responding to all our orders. More important than pouring our drinks strong (which she did) she poured them well-proportioned (like she herself) so they also tasted really good. Despite being the only bartender, she still came back and cleared our tables of empties at least 3 times. The bouncer and later bartender were also responsive about shutting down the guy who started lighting up cigarettes in the back, which I really appreciated.
The men's restroom looks like it was "painted" using nothing more than a couple red paint-bombs, and given the broken angle of the door, that wouldn't surprise me. Still, it was clean, well-stocked, and in otherwise good condition.
Unlike most bars I've been in, Ruby Room kept their music to a very reasonable level. I could carry on a conversation without shouting, yet could enjoy the music without straining if a good song came on. And when someone cranked it up, Melissa was very cool about adjusting the speakers so they weren't blaring right into our group.
The great staff, atmosphere, and 4 block proximity to Lake Merritt BART make this a great bar to visit again. Just remember to eat your carrots beforehand or bring a seeing-eye cat!
TRIVIA: Rubies are geologically the same as sapphires, being the same mineral (corundum). Trade in rubies has been tracked back as far as 100 BCE along China's North Silk Road. Today, roughly 90% of rubies are mined in Myanmar (Burma), prompting many jewelers and governments, including First Lady Laura Bush, to call for a boycott.Listed in: East Bay DYL Happy Hours, ROTD's
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Review from Pamela D.
11/29/2008
This bar is so fucking dark that if you stumble and run into the wall, no one will know you're drunk. They'll just think that you can't see anything and tripped over your own feet.
But you will be drunk. Very drunk. The bartenders here are heavy-handed and great. They're attentive and actually give a fuck about my alcohol addiction, unlike other bartenders at other bars that ignore me as I stand at the bar, desperately waiting for my fix.
If you're crazy as shit, and want to spend $10 on a Bloody Mary, I suggest you order one from the long haired guy with tattoos. His Bloody Mary has won awards and packs a powerful punch, so you don't feel guilty about spending $10.
The crowd is generally awesome and laid-back, with the exception of last night when a very creepy old man kept groping my ass while I sat at the bar. Yes, sir. I realize I have an amazing ass, but it is not yours to touch, thank you very much! I had to throw down with this creep. I smacked him and told him I'd fucking kill him.
But that's what's cool about The Ruby Room. It makes you feel like a total badass to hit a dude and threaten his life in this bar. -
Review from Michelle S.
Brookline, MA
Updated - 8/23/2009
Thank you, dear bartender, for keeping me company and well-imbibed while I was waiting by myself for nearly an hour for my very awkward night to start. Thank you for assuming that I was a lot younger. Thank you for cheering me up by asking what a girl like me would be doing in a bar by herself on a Saturday night. Thank you for having my back. You helped make an awkward situation tolerable. I'll come back for you.
I just wish that you were outside to throw down for me when some asshole told me that I looked like Ozzy Osbourne.
Extra props for the oldies that they play on Saturdays until 10 pm.
Come on! You know I shamelessly love my oldies!Listed in: 510 Represent, Whiskey and Bourbon
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/29/2008
Everyone is a sexy $#@%& in the dark and smoky Ruby Room. Even me; especially after drowning myself… Read more »
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Review from Eryka V.
Oakland, CA
2/1/2010
after reading a few good Bukowski stories, I dream of landing in a space like this.
See sometimes I like riding around in my car like I am joyriding and hiding from the world.
I would end up here, walking into the peaceful darkness.
The drunk lover rises
gets beyond wasted and swims in the abyss of Crown on the rocks, travels through oceans of Hangar, dabbles in the beautiful Fernet, and make out in the midst of the smoke and cheap red lights.
I like letting go and having no tension, just letting the drunk lover flow.
Ruby Room helps the drunk lover inside of me stay alive.Listed in: The Drunk Lover™ Bars
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Review from Berna T.
11/22/2007
Highlights from the sultry, dark, and smoky Ruby Room this evening:
- conversing about "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" with a perfect stranger
- meeting a man with a penis rumored to be the size of a baby's arm (NOTE: This was not verified.)
- watching two really cute Asian girls with nice tattoos make out with each other
- witnessing a waifish lad writhing on the floor, strung out on Ritalin
- being asked by a random guy if I know where to score some coke (do I look like that type to you?)
- meeting a guy who claims be a professional poker player, to have a house in Texas and one in Oakland, and to make $1-2M a year, wearing a wedding ring, offering to buy me drinks. (I said no, I'm not that kinda gal.)
- sitting back in the comfy booth, observing folks, and drinking my favorite drink - the Greyhound - for $4 a pop
Pretty interesting evening, I have to say! -
Review from L.A. W.
Tracy, CA
8/13/2008
I like any place that has flattering lighting.
This place is like a dark room, and in some spots, you can barely see anything, so I looked awesome!!
I love the atmosphere here. People doing their own thing, and outta my face. I can hang out and talk, or listen to the eclectic music and smoke my cigar. I can watch the pool players and sip on my red red red drink.
The ladies room has one stall and plenty of grafitti reading material, even on the seat. If you follow standard bar ladies' room rules, (i.e. similar to elevator rules, conversation is short and polite among strangers, avoid eye contact, if you go in with a friend you must talk loudly in an obnoxious way about something no one else cares about.) then you'll be in an out in less time than you think.
I dress how I want, and get no friction. There's an ATM and the guy at the door is very patient with idiots like me that have to rummage about to find my ID.
The dance floor is small, but that'll just bring you closer.
Oh, and I met some drunk guy that kept talking about how he was almost in the Olympics for Tai Kwon Do.
