The Doolittle
20394 Lake Chabot Rd, Castro Valley, CA, 94546
The Doolittle Menu
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Address :
20394 Lake Chabot Rd
Castro Valley, CA, 94546 - Phone (510) 581-2405
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :2:00 pm - 12:00pm
- Mon : 2:00 pm - 12:00pm
Specialities
- Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : No
Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Has TV : Yes
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Julia B.
So glad to have a good place to buy a well made drink near my place in San leandro. This place is very cool. A mixed crowd of young and middle aged. Cool music. They have very good bartenders, Eddie was ours tonite. This place is pretty hip for Castro valley! Yay!
(5)Lauren K.
Uptight pretentious bartender... Over it. Over you. Bye. Yelp is claiming this is too short so it's only a tip. That's BS....
(1)Wyeth C.
The best bar in Castro Valley. Great place to start the night. Try the fresh whiskey sour a la Eddie. Girls leave your boyfriend's at home he's a charmer. All the staff is great. Jacki and Brian, you can't go wrong when you're thirsty and you happen to be in Castro Valley. The Doolittle has a rotating selection of great draft beer. The bottle selection is strong too. The Manhattan is a must try if you're overwhelmed by the gin selection alone. The Dubliner is sublime and the Castro Mule is legendary with Hangar 1. Have Jacki serve you up a Dirty Shirley, Absolutely Absolut.
(5)Mary G.
Cocktails in Castro Valley - woo hoo! I've heard good things about this place but had a hard time believing that the former Waiting Room would be worth a visit. But alas, I was pleasantly surprised to find a great beer selection and, even better -- cocktails! Friendly people and a good vibe, just what we needed!
(4)Kayla H.
I would just like to say what am amazing time I always have at this place! Eddy is fantastic at what he does behind the bar! He made two specialty drinks for my little sister who is newly drinking age. One was like a chocolate orange and one rated like a thin mint! So incredible! Really enjoy this place so much, keeping it local!
(5)Cory C.
As a bartender I'm picky about my watering holes...I love this bar. This is a bar built for bartenders. Will be back.
(5)Henry C.
First time I have ever had a freshed sqeezed screwdriver. Bartenders are awesome environment is awesome all around awesome. Most places charge too damn much for an irish car bomb this place an awesome $9. First time coming here and I can say 5 stars off the back.
(5)Karen C.
Hubby and I were curious about the full parking lot in front of the old waiting room...the new, cool, vintage-style signage caught our eye, so we parked and decided to see for ourselves. So happy we stopped! Once inside, the warm and inviting lighting along with the cool canoe showcasing some of the booze just made us wanna stay! The new but rustic decor is vintage inspired and attracts the younger and young at heart crowd... Of course being a small town, we ran into some friends and hung out listening to some records spinning on an actual turntable behind the bar. The bartenders that night (Friday) were very nice and attentive. I made sure to tip them well and tell them we will be back. Great job on reviving the old waiting room! Surely don't miss that place, but LOVE the Doolittle!!!
(5)David L.
By far and away the best bar in Castro Valley. Vintage vibe and rustic decor with a casual but well-mannered crowd. Fantastic cocktails and a solid selection of craft beers, and ciders. No longer a need to drive out of town to grab a few drinks and talk with friends. Ask Eddie to make you his Whiskey Sour.
(5)Malachi M.
really cool decor, sweet atmosphere, great beers on tap, impressive cocktails, friendly service. Ideal Bar to hang out and drink and chat in. I'm not sure how i feel about their music setup though. they will show you want they have and play something you like if you ask but there's not jukebox or anything like that. Which is charming in how its different but disappointing when you want to pay a dollar and listen to some of your favorite songs. Lastly I wish they had a pool table. I love playing pool at bars, but its a pretty small bar so i understand they don't really have the room. final word? easily the best bar in CV.
(5)Yong L.
. Doolittle is the place to have good beer, drinks and company. This is by far the best bar in Castro Valley. I've been a regular for almost a year and the place just gets better. The bartenders are great!! My friends and I always see either Eddie or Brian sometimes both at the same time. Most of the time I will either get Old Rasputin, 38 Stout, or Obsidian. Sometimes they will have new drafts for the season that people must try. The bartenders definitely know their beers and drinks. I actually don't mind the music. Most of the time they play songs that I recognize. The music is not too loud where people can hear you. The atmosphere is great!! great place to watch sports and have a nice cold one.
(5)Justin L.
This place is a must try! They have a huge variety of craft beers and their cocktails are all made very well. This is the perfect place to kick back with your friends and knock back a few or more. Brian and Eddie and the bartenders here are all about their shit. They know what they're doing and are all very knowledgeable. I usually get a double shot whiskey neat and holy shit! The double shots here are like triple or maybe even quads elsewhere. I've came to a conclusion. Either I've been going to the wrong places my whole life or they make their drinks strong! If you like quality drinks that are made strong then this place is for you. If this place started serving food then it would definitely be game over!
(4)Ruobin W.
Nice place but so empty. As in, there's so much room not being used as there's a small table in the middle of the bar. I would suggest maybe more smaller tables? Pretty decent selection of beers and strong cocktails. My manhattan was definitely stiff.
(4)David D.
This is the best bar in CV. They have awsome craft beers and its a good crowd. Lots of TVs for sports and vinyl music adds a nice touch. Bar tenders are great! Place. This is not another trailer park CV bar
(5)Jordan Kyle W.
Still remains the champ of brews in CV. Sophisticated but not snooty. Employees are all super talented and are passionate about the craft of bar tending. Drop by for a craft beer or array of libations. I might see you there. Cheers.
(5)Fernando H.
Very happy to have a cool bar near my house!. Came in here on a thursday evening recently ,It wasn't very busy but people were coming in. They had the warrior game on which was nice. They have maybe 10 beers on draft, some local stuff like Drakes Dennogonizer.. The bartenders are very nice here, very welcoming. I hope this place does well, the bartender said they have big plans for the place..
(5)Amy P.
A friend invited me to check this place out. I like the private booths and the decor is pretty cool. I just drank beer so I can't comment too much on the drink quality. The bartenders are nice and service was really good. My only complaint is lack of the typical bar games, like pool and video games. They just opened up so maybe they're planning on adding these later. If I were them I'd add a huge big screen TV for watching games. They have a few medium size TVs. I would definitely return here and take friends here, especially to see what they add.
(4)Lawrence S.
Great atmosphere, very welcoming and laid back. Music played on old school turntable is a wonderful way to pass time. Cool conversation with the bartenders and bar-back is just icing on this cake. Upper echelon clientele, they seem to have eliminated any undesirables and it really works! LLS Stack
(5)paul a.
Doolittle is a laid back and stylish bar not far from Castro Valley's main drag. Definitely caters to a different crowd than the normal CV or Hayward dive. Pros: - Cool decor, including a canoe on the wall behind the bar - Super friendly staff - Booth seating is fun for groups - Sports on TVs, but without the TV sound Cons: - Pricey. I believe a mixed drink and a soda water was $8. - Closed Sun + Mon! Wish list: - Too much openness in the center of the space. Not enough seating. A giant long picnic bench would be awesome. Or just another 2 freestanding tables like the 1 they have - A patio!
(4)Kelsey C.
A few friends and I checked this place out on a weeknight a few months ago. The exterior of the bar does not do the interior justice. Inside you'll find really nice wooden booths and high top tables. Everything is clean and polished, but it's not a bar that's full of itself. I certainly wouldn't call it a dive, but it's not fancy either. I'd say, anything goes in this place. Eddie was tending the bar when we arrived. None of us knew what we wanted to order, but he quickly threw out suggestions based on our preferred tastes. Later on he even checked to make sure we were all happy with our orders. The vinyls were on constant rotation, which I appreciated. That night the atmosphere was perfect for a game of dominoes, but I'll say it again, it seems like anything goes around the Doolittle. We'll be back, for sure.
(5)Marvin T.
Always a great place to go if you're looking for a chill spot with strong drinks. I don't know what they put in those cherries but I'm sure theres some kind of crack in them. Come here thirsty, leave DRUNK
(5)melissa b.
We visited this little gem this evening for the first time & were so pleasantly surprised. Never have we been excited about a hangout in cv and this is our new & only spot. I had a glass of wine & my hubby had some beer. They're friendly, the place is relaxed & hip & it's basically in our neighborhood!! So happy about this.
(5)Marco T.
This place is amazing! Stephanie and Derek have done a great makeover! It's going to become your neighborhood Cheers bar and more. Where can you find a bar that plays records these days? Stop in and try a signature cocktail. You'll be back for more!
(5)Tamariffica I.
Looks like a dive bar from the outside but once you get in it is great. Bartender was so nice and the crowd was fun. They play records so it gives off a very fun vibe. I am happy to have stumbled upon this place last night. What a gem!! Great prices too!!
(5)Mike M.
Looks like a dive from the outside but don't be fooled. Very cool local bar just outside of downtown. Lots of sports screens, great music (strictly vinyl mind you), good selection of artisan brews and great service.
(5)M M.
So ever since moving to Castro Valley from Oakland, I've had a hard time adjusting to the stagnancy of all the chain restaurants and dive bars. Yelp brought us to The Doolittle, and it's unlike anything else this town has to offer! The bartender, Eddie, could tell by our deer in headlights look that we were first timers, and made us feel right at home (even asking if we had any music requests from the extensive record collection!) For the beer lover, they offer a great selection of craft beers, even giving some love to our local breweries. For the cocktail lover, they make fresh, unique, and memorable handcrafted libations. There's a lot of love going into each drink, and you can taste it! As far as the scene, it's nothing like the other bars in CV I've checked out. This is a place you can feel comfortable bringing your folks, your date, or even your work colleagues. They're really doing something special at The Doolittle and I can't wait to return!
(5)Funk G.
This is a great suprise in Castro Valley. The bartenders/owners are great. They were very warm and create a very comfortable and welcoming vibe. Plus they were playing great music.
(5)Heather K.
My favorite place to come for Athletics baseball games and bloody Marys. I like how (when I come) its usually quiet. I did however go one night and it was crawling w squealing chicks have a conversation in nothing but "omg's and shut up no way's" I chugged my bloody Mary and left quick. But I like the bearded bartender. He makes super tastey bloody Marys. I hope the annoying chicks stay on the blvd so I can come here for baseball more often
(5)Laurie R.
This place has a great vibe. Your first time there feels like the kind of local, casual bar that you've hung out in your whole life. Great decorating, great beer selection, friendly owners who care about what they're doing. I'll definitely be back!
(4)Jovani A.
I was here a few weeks ago with some friends. I gotta to say they have great beers on draft and the bartenders are on point with their recommendations! Big thanks to the female bartender ( sorry I cannot remember her name, young brown/black hair). She was amazing all night. The bar is small but kept clean. We will be back
(5)donna s.
I sure miss the waiting room. No more juke box or pool table. I guess if you want to sit in a booth and drink it's the place to go. A little pricey too.
(3)Kyle W.
This place has really turned around. Great staff and a cool relaxed vibe. They have done great craft beers which I enjoy. They play vinlys behind the bar for the music which is great so the music does not get taken over with horrible music. Keep doing what you guys do. I need to go here more often.
(5)C. C.
We have been looking for a local drinking establishment that fit our tastes, craft beers and specialty cocktails. We are so glad Stephanie and Derek saw the need for just such a place right here in CV. They have created a comfortable and friendly place to enjoy local beers or a well made cocktail.
(5)D K.
This place is really cool! The drinks are great and fresh. The only downside is how long it takes to order a drink and then for them to make it, even when it's not busy (maybe need some additional training).
(3)marie a.
First, I gotta say The Dolittle is Do-Alotta because my husband and I have been trying to find a place like this that's close by, with a welcoming vibe and mellow. What can I say other than THANK YOU for coming. You can see from the decor, the lighting, and drinks that there was thought into this. In the past, (try like as recent as 2 wks ago), we'd have to venture outside to Oakland or Berkeley; so talk about counting your change for drinks and gas money. Not anymore. Great place, tip of the hat for support to local breweries, and keep on rocking. This is a gem.
(5)Stephen O.
love the mojitos! Staff and place is awesome! Love coming and just relaxing to have a nice well made drink of any kind here.
(5)Jenee B.
So this place opened about 3 months ago. As a LA native relocated to Hayward area I'm always looking for a good place to go. THIS IS IT! There lemon drops are mind blowing. It's a bit small of a bar but the atmosphere is mellow and welcoming. Plus the bartenders are extemely helpful and knowledgeable. I will return and be bringing friends!
(5)El L.
Love Love this New Bar in Castro Valley. Not a sleazy bar!! Very clean, upscale for Castro Valley!!
(5)Laura J.
What a great find! We can walk to this neighborhood bar that is hip, friendly and has great drinks. A welcome addition to the west end of Castro Valley! We will be going more often with our friends and for the sports games on TV. To the friendly owners - thank you for opening this business. Great job!
(5)Shelly B.
I LOVE THE DOOLITTLE. Castro Valley SO needed this spot. I really enjoy the effort on the managers' part to keep the craft and local beers rotated, but my favorite part of The Doolittle has to be the bartender, Eddie (the one with the sick beard)! Since day one Eddie has been nothing but friendly and hospitable, and has always done an excellent job at making every craft cocktail that I've ordered with such care and expertise. Honestly, i've never had a good mojito until Eddie made it for me. Such a simple concept is a mojito, yet most bartenders are lazy and would rather take the shortcut. Thus = gross mojito. THANK YOU Eddie for being so fun and enjoyable, as well as professional. It's very easy to see that he cares about what he does, and does it with such care.
(5)Katie D.
Eddie the amazing bartender made the best drinks! He made a lemon drop to die for and also made a new drink that I swear liquified alcoholic creamsicle... It was ammaaazing!!!!! You should come here for good vibes fun people and amazing drinks!!! Eddie will blow your mind and make you anything you can think of!!!! Love this little town bar!!!!
(5)A W.
hi. i was house sitting in castro valley and needed a couple of hours out. i kept seeing the doolittle and stopped in. its a quaint little place. great service and classic music played via vinyl. you cant go wrong stopping by for at least a night cap. good crowd. great bartendar and impressive beer list. enjoy!
(5)Mark J.
I go here with my buddies when I'm in the area. This place is nothing like the dive bars I've been to on the boulevard. Whoever designed the interior is awesome. The crowd is different every time I'm here which is cool. Bartenders know what they're doin too.
(5)Gracy P.
I wanted to like this place... Decor is fun. However someone has watched one too many "Bar Rescues" and forgot a key ingredient. Service - I was there with friends and could not get service. 4 of us walked in and took a booth, bartender brought us the beer menu and never came back, after about 20/30 minutes we moved to the table in the center of the room. Still no service (3 ppl sitting at bar) 2 bartenders, 1 gentleman cashing out for the night, I stood to the side of him waiting to order and when the bartender finished the transaction she turned around a proceeded to walk to the end of the bar where someone had just sat down and took his order.... Put my money back in pocket, we all left after 40 min of NO service went down the street and got service in 3 minutes. If you are charging on average of $9 a cocktail you might want to try harder with the service. Just because I am a woman doesn't mean I'm not a "BIG" tipper.
(1)R J.
I absolutely love this bar! It is by far the best bar in CV. They have a great atmosphere, it's always a great time. The owners Derek and Stephanie are awesome, they're so friendly and remember us by name when we come in! The bartender Eddie is so fun to chat with, he's so awesome and makes the best drinks ever! He makes the best drinks! The cocktails are delicious and the beer selection is always rotating which is great because you can try new stuff! They also host great events here with tastings that are really fun! If you're looking for a clean bar with a great atmosphere, this is definitely the place to go!
(5)Bill R.
Just what Castro Valley needed. The Doolittle is a nice break from your typical CV dive. Sure dives can be fun, but this place is more upscale without losing a laid-back, relaxed feel. Bartenders are awesome - very friendly and very knowledgeable mixologists. A well-made cocktail in CV was almost nonexistent until the Doolittle. Their menu is great - I highly recommend the Castro Mule or Bayhound. I've ordered their specials and had them mix up my favorites - I've never been disappointed. Great atmosphere, great drinks.
(5)Rich C.
Stopped in after work on Friday because of the positive Yelp reviews. The bartender on duty was first rate. Probably one of the better bartenders I have experienced. This is a young place that is building a good personality, and I am looking forward to watching them grow. We'll be back, and we are spreading the word.
(4)Dawn C.
Stopped by for drinks one night. We really enjoyed this place. Only downside was they have no food/appetizers/snacks. Although you can order from the restaurant next door.
(4)Ness H.
I love this bar! Their beer prices are always amazing and they have great beer options too. The vibe in there is also very cool. Wooden interior with interesting decorations. My only complaint is that the whole place echos. So when the music is loud, we can't hear each other.
(4)Allison F.
Ed was a fantastic bartender. The drinks were very good and he def knew his drinks( as opposed to places where they have to google your drink orders lol ). He made our drinks in a timely manner and was very friendly. The place has a somewhat country/rustic feel. It's definitely been a huge upgrade from the bar that was here before. Plus it's better than any of the other local bars in cv. It's my go to spot for a chill place to grab a drink with friends.
(5)A. M.
Lots of good beer. The best light girly beer to have is white ale....it's strong but delicious. A chill place. The best part is you can bring ur own food or have food delivered while you enjoying good beer.
(5)Elizabeth L.
After eating dinner, Boyfriend and I didn't want to call it a night quite yet and decided to head over to a bar nearby. We parked in the small lot outside and heard a bunch of voices and music. Our first thought was, "Great, it's going to be super crowded and uncomfortable." However, we were shocked to see a healthy amount of people at the tables with several open seats scattered around the interior. There were a couple booths and spots open at the bar. It has a marine, but woodsy, but tribal theme to the place. I don't how to describe it. I really like how the place was decorated and yet still very nicely kept and clean. They also have a cool collection of old records. The bartenders were very friendly and welcoming. They have cocktails and wine, but we decided to go for a couple of beers and leave our tab open. We sat a booth near the back and had a great time. They have an assortment of different beers on tap as well as specialty cocktails. I don't think wine is as popular, but I did see that they had a good amount of selection in that area too. I want to say that this is one of the best bars I've been to, not only in the immediate area, but also in the Bay. I enjoyed its comfortable, yet cool vibe. I would definitely recommend to a friend and return again. Boyfriend said that this place as the best bar he has been to since his trip to Amsterdam last fall. Ambiance: 5/5 Drinks: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Overall Experience: 5/5
(5)Krystina L.
Looks much different than when it was The Waiting Room! It's 1/3 of the size, maybe 5 booths and 2 or 3 tables in the middle. They always have a good choice of beers and last time I went they had free nachos and sandwiches!! They have quite a few TVs in here for such a small spot, but it's a great bar to watch sports in!! The parking lot is tiny, you'll probably have to park on the street, especially if it's the weekend.
(4)Anthony N.
Plenty of bonus points for the unassuming vibes. Strip mall next to a hospital? Who would've thunk? Even more bonus points for the canoe bar piece. Simply amazing and a joy to look at, whether you're a hard liquor drinker or not. The place would've hit 5-star amazingness if it wasn't for the mediocre drinks. Cocktails at $9-10 are a bit steep given location, but even more so when everything we tried leaned towards the overly sweetened side. So sweet to a point where we had to abandon ship on a few of our drinks because it began tasting like we were drinking iced syrup. Luckily the beer selection is great - tons of micro-options and IPAs all around - makes up for the bumpy cocktail ride. Great place though and the folks were extra friendly. Will surely come back if we're ever in the area and need a spot to mellow out.
(4)Tori F.
Let me start by saying The Doolittle is the polar opposite of The Waiting Room. They've classed the place up a TON. A literal ton. The bartenders are actually knowledgable about the drinks they are serving and you can get pretty much whatever you want here. The drinks are fairly priced as well. One of my close friends lives about three blocks away, so I come here quite frequently. It has a nice ambience, dimly lit- but not too dimly lit, just perfect. My favorite day to come is with a big group of friends on a Sunday. There's usually some sporting event on TV & we can monopolize on a large portion of the bar. To be frank, this is the best bar in Castro Valley as of now. The best bar for 20somethings, at least.
(4)Stewart B.
We went to dinner at Dino's next door and decided to stop in for a quick drink. Based on yelp reviews it sounded pretty good. I ordered a Makers Mark Manhattan and my wife ordered a White Russian. The tab was $18.00. Yes, $9.00 per drink??? That is rediculous.
(2)Nate C.
So far so good!! Stumbled on this place and it turns out to be a nice dice into kind of bar. The have a turntable do they spin vinyl. Bartender is super cool and can make a stiff drink on request. Do yourself a favor. Put Castro Valleys number 1 bar on the map!!
(4)Vanilla P.
Great place to bring a friend and actually be able to talk about kissing mermaids and riding the El Nino. Things that are lovely already: -Music selections -Wood paneling -Nice booths -Great beer selection -Lady bartenders are super sweet and don't have mean girl faces. -No dirty beards here. People are pretty chill. Areas that could use improvement: -More foods, please. The restaurant next door provide a menu, but it's pricey for my beer budget. -More parking, please. The immediate lot is tiny and there's a weird lot next door (but blocked off). Don't know it that could be opened for Doolittle's... -Less of the chatty chatty bartender. No more lectures please. CV needs more places like Doolittle. With the addition of some grub and --OOH, maybe trivia night!-- you can stay all day, if you want to
(4)Tommy R.
Parking isn't all that great but the vibe inside and decorations is pretty nice! If I was around castro valley I would swing by. Bartender stays on top of her game. She's very quick and chill.
(4)Ty X.
Could it be? A bar in Castro Valley that isn't crawling with creepy dudes over the age of 40? Dear Doolittle (drinks 'n such), I'm flabbergasted in a good way! I dropped by for the first time this week to catch the Sharks game with some friends. They lost but it's okay because I was actually enjoying myself at a bar in CV for the first time in my life. I'm guessing they're going for some retro 50s vibes with the record player and funny Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe quotes on the bathroom walls. I like the laid-back atmosphere with fun bartenders and good lighting. In my humble opinion, I would replace the four bar TVs with a pool table or like, foosball or something. That would be so fun if this place hosted karaoke. Don't get me wrong, I just think the vibes are great and could be even greater with some more fun bar activities available!
(4)Angie K.
I love The Doolittle! It is clean, safe, upper-scale but not pretentious, and the drinks are fantastic! Eddie, Jacki, Brian & Shelley the Bartenders, always takes great care of me, acknowledges me by name, and remembers my favorite drinks. They keep a lively, and classy, and dare I say, intellectually stimulating. Great drinks, and great conversation! If you are just in the area, or are a local who is seeking their new favorite place to grab a drink -- The Doolittle is the place to go. See you there!
(5)Brandon R.
Swung by on St. Patrick's day around 9 PM, and it was really, really, busy!! Despite the size of the crowd, Eddie did a great job! Great drink specials, and great service. Very fun time!
(5)Darrel A.
What an awesome bar! The Doolittle rocks! The aesthetics, vinyl music, large televisions, and friendly bartenders make for a great place to have cocktails/beers. They have craft beers from local breweries and use fresh garnish. The bartenders are real people with superb bar tending experience that show an interest in their patrons. This is the perfect spot in Castro Valley to unwind after a long day at work and have drinks with friends. The crowd here ranges from college-aged to the old school clientele. Good vibes all around.
(5)Oliver W.
I've been in here once before. Right after they opened. Nice place, super clean, interesting twist with the whole LP record thing. Some friends of mine and I were going to eat at Dinos the other night. from a distance we saw there was one parking spot left but a car just pulled into the lt and snagged it. No big deal as we parked down a ways on Lake Chabot Road. As we walked up and into the lot I noticed it was the owner of the bar who was getting out of that car. I figured well, he was probably unloading supplies for the bar and needed to stop for a few minutes. After we finished our meal my friends suggested we go next door to Doolittles and have some drinks (probably an hour and a half after we got there). When we walk out I noticed the owners car was still there in the same spot. Now everyone in CV knows parking is a premium. Most of the small businesses I go to make special efforts for themselves and their employees to park away from the business and leave close spots for the customers. This one apparently does not. I'm not saying i won't go there again but at least on that evening I changed my friend's minds and we went somewhere else. Notice to business owners and especially employees who rely on tips, customers do notice these types of things.
(2)Susan L.
I love the atmosphere of this bar! Super nice staff, good selection of beer, and pretzels! Definitely found a cool place to chill at.
(5)Anna W.
I'd been hearing about this hip new place that had opened up in Castro Valley, replacing an old townie bar that used to be on Redwood Road. Smaller than I anticipated, but very homey. I like the renovated canoe-turned-shelf behind the bar. I was also pleasantly surprised by the amount of craft brews that they had on tap -- this place, to me, seems more a beer bar than your typical bar. Prices are a little steep, but I'm hoping they'll go down a little bit once more steady business has been drummed up. The owner, Stephanie, was our bartender that night, mixing us drinks, pulling us beers and pouring us wine. She was friendly and professional -- even when she nearly had our whole group turned out of the bar for drunkenness. It was a little upsetting, but we did manage to settle everything down and kill our round before we left. We understand, Doolittle! You're new, you're still establishing yourselves. We'll be better behaved next time (because I'm sure there'll be a next time)!
(4)Heather M.
Yes, you want to go to the Doolittle. Trust me. Delicious mixed drinks, excellent selection of craft Brews. Bartender introduced me to a Manhattan (yum), but my hands down favorite drink is the Castro Mule. Hangar One vodka, ginger beer, fresh squeezed lime. Crazy delicious. Only one minor complaint: no food, but you can order from the restaurant next door. If they ever do start selling food, that's probably the end of me because I'll just camp out here all day. Definite must. Sort of a hipter-ish vibe but all the bartenders I've met have been super nice and this is the only bar in town I'm proud to bring out-of-towners to.
(5)A·non·y·mous X.
Nice chill bar. A great safe place to catch up with old friends. Awesome selection of beers and the cocktails here are fresh squeezed. Excellent service. Ed, Brian, Katie, Vanessa and David are great. They've obviously put together a great bartending team at the establishment. Best bar in the area. 6 stars!
(5)Laura A.
Awesome dive bar hangout spot. We always meet other locals when we're here and they have great beer and creative drinks. Wish they had a few more stools for sitting along the walls for big game days or when it gets busy.
(4)Tim G.
Very nice people. Good atmosphere. A good fireman's hangout!!
(4)Victor G.
The Doolittle suppossedly is named after a record album. interior is brighty lit. not dimmed. pics on the wall. ambience is that of a living room with an enlarged bar. g. no pinball machines, darts, no games of any variety in view. brew: "38" stout, north coast (6) -tastes like quinness -lots of named local microbrews -gin/tonic(6) nothing exciting on draught: -totally different from other bars in the valley -a sitdown place to chat and listen to vinyl music. -not a large of parking spaces in lot -wide variety of microbrews and designer liquor. -"canoe" in center on wall an eye opener. 3.5 stars.
(4)Lisa T.
I came here after dinner because everyone raved about the cocktails. So I assumed it was a cocktail bar. However, I didn't see anything on the cocktail menu that I liked, so I decided to just order a Bees Knees, which is a simple signature cocktail. However, none of the bartenders knew what it was, which is just gin, honey, and lemon. Although they were nice enough to look it up, but I decided to go with a beer instead. Ordered the north coast pilsner, which was good. This is more of a beer bar, they have a decent selection. I also overheard one of the bartenders telling a patron that they rotate out their beers when they run out of one. The space is good, but not enough tables or chairs. Plenty of standing space. Décor is pretty cool, with a canoe that they use as a shelf for the alcohol. Also, cool little fake fireplace. Parking lot is little small here, but plenty of street parking. There's also 2 TVs here for sports.
(3)j m.
Pretty cool newer spot in the CV. Wow actually something more in line with todays more modern hip movement as opposed to the more old school dive bars in CV. On the small side but, not a bad option for a drink.
(4)Sara M.
Love this new bar! I've never been to the waiting room before, but when i heard they took over and remodeled it, i came to check it out! The owners are awesome! they're friendly and can definitely have a good convo with you. They did a good job spicing the place up, the bathrooms are not your typical bathrooms, she put a flare to it and it looks good. ;) It's a nice place to come chill and actually have a conversation with your friends without the jukebox blasting in your ears. They do have a record player behind the bar and are always open to requests. They welcome food into the place, although they recommend and try to help out Palomares Cafe next door. But if you're down to just have a few drinks and chat it up this is the place to go. They are still getting their name out there, and aren't open as late as other bars, but if you've got people in there they're willing to stay open for you! Can't wait to play my Cards Against Humanity with a group of friends here.
(5)Jeff Y.
Here is a great little full service bar that is both quaint, hip, and relaxed. They took over the Waiting Room (total wreck of a bar) and made something really fashionable and friendly. The owners remember everyone and what drinks are their favorites. Their spirits and liquor/wine/beer choices are also first rate. Even better, they are supporting the local distilleries such as Hanger 1/St. Georges, Drakes, Buffalo Bill's etc. The mixes are mostly hand-made fresh. I had a rum and orange juice with freshly squeezed oranges made on the spot! What puts this place over the top is the record albums and turntable that supplies all of the music. The price points are very reasonable and they have no problem keeping the clientele low key so everyone can have a good time. This is now one of my favorite watering holes.
(5)Michelle W.
This is a great little dive bar. It is clean, the drinks are great, and the bartenders are friendly and quick.
(5)Ben M.
This place is trying but the owners need to pay more attention to detail. I live in the area and I've come in a handful of times with my girlfriend. On two occasions the bartender forgot to make one of our drinks. Also, half the stools in this place are wobbly and about to fall apart. And what's up with the theme? The decor is all over the map. Tiki room? Punk bar? Sports bar? Grandma's living room? I think they were trying to be all things to all people. IMO, it would be better to pick one theme and stick with it. Sorry Doolittle. I want to like you. It would be awesome to have a cool bar in CV. You've still got a ways to go.
(2)Garrett B.
Love this place! A regular stop in my busy schedule. From the first time I walked in I was hooked. Great staff, especially Eddie! All friendly and very knowledgeable. Anyone and everyone should pop in for an awesome cocktail!
(5)Crystal D.
Eddie is the best bartender! Kind, witty, quick, but not too quick ;) I LOVE this bar!
(5)Kem A.
Love this place, I always wanted a local bar that I can say it is mine. Doolittle is the one. Great and friendly bartenders, Ed and Justin was great!
(5)Christina L.
Wow finally found a good bar in Castro Valley! I heard from friends that the old bar in this location was shady, but this new bar is really cool! It has a homey-hipstery vibe to it and is definitely comparable to bars in SF. The servers are really nice-- one guy gave us a free sample of some beer! If only they served some bar snacks though..
(4)Jeremy S.
Updated Review: This place is great. Eddie was the bartender tonight. He knows beer and again helped me pick the right drink. The music was at a very manageable level this time which allowed me to carry on a conversation. It is a nice place to meet for a date, hang out with a friend, or meet new people. The beer selection is expansive! Try it out.
(5)Umilia M.
If you are under 40 (or young at heart) and living in Castro Valley, you should be here! There is really not a better bar in Castro Valley! I love that the owners took a chance on creating something real and fun in our little community, and they've largely succeeded. Stephanie and Derek are great bartenders and owners. They do a great job of holding the space while letting fun happen. The two cons: The drinks are a little pricier than I'd like, and no karaoke, yet. I was excited to hear about their plans for trivia night though. Walkable from Bart, from most of CV really, and a great space to meet up with friends, or to make new friends.
(5)Art O.
Cool hangout on this part of the East Bay. They had their drink menu cleverly laid out in a fold-out vinyl album cover (I believe that it was in a Kris Kristoferson w/ Barbara Streisand album)! I had passed this place before when it was a dive and wanted to check it out then. Now they apparently fixed it all up with some nice wooden booths and siding. I was trying to figure out the theme of the decor - was it some country thing going with the cowboy boots and the rodeo pics or was it some nautical theme with the boat used as a shelf for their bottles and the lake pics? Anyway, the $10 Manhattan my lady got was all right. I like them less watered down but it seemed to have good ingredients. The main problem I had was the bathroom. Normally I'm not the type to take off stars for a bathroom. Shoot, I've gone to my share of true dive bars with hellish bathrooms to match. The thing is, if you're going to have a major overhaul and do the interior nicely as they've done and then just leave the bathroom as it was before then why do the major change in the first place? Just disappointing. But overall this is a cool lounge spot for people in the area of all drinking ages. I'll be back.
(4)Johnny V.
New ownership has done a great job revamping the place from its original owners (The Waiting Room). Interior decor is very cool and they have about 4-5 TVs to watch sports. Great selection of local beers on tap and they usually change them out every couple of weeks. Pros: -Good selection of craft beers -Nice vibe, cool decor, doesn't look like a grungy bar at all -Friendly staff, bartender always shakes my hand and welcomes me before he asks what I'd like -Location: Off of Lake Chabot road, so convenient to get to Cons -No food (yet) They've rumored that food will be served in their long term plans -Can be a bit expensive. A pint can run you $5-$7 bucks so it can add up after 2 or 3. Totally hypothetical, but might be cool if they did a "Pint of the Night" and offered a certain brew for $3-$4 each night
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