Friends & Family

"Offering a special shot on the menu with proceeds going toward fire relief for the remainder of January." - Dianne de Guzman

"This explicitly women-led bar brings good food and craft cocktails — both classic and creative — to an inclusive, queer-friendly space in Uptown Oakland. Whimsically named cocktails, like the vodka-based Mom’s Rosy Cheeks, and small plates, like the Big Daddy Artichoke, are served in a cozy, soft-lit space full of antique touches, from the glassware to the table toppers." - Ellen Fort, Eater Staff

"This cocktail bar in Oakland was set to open last March, but pandemic-related reasons led them to push back the date. And after about a year of just takeout and outdoor dining on their parklet and back patio, they finally got to open their bright, high-ceilinged interior in May. Kick back with excellent cocktails and something from their brief (but still fantastic) menu of things like grilled cheeses, a little gem salad, and a snack plate with sourdough crostini and pickles, and enjoy it all while listening to great music in the warm, inviting space. Don’t leave without a slice of their carrot cake, which is some of the best we’ve had ever - it’s made fresh daily by owner Blake Cole’s mother." - julia chen 1, lani conway

"Coconuts and coffee rub elbows in the For Rei, a deceptively simple-looking number on the Friends & Family cocktail list. Not only does Toki Japanese Whisky get a coconut wash, there’s also a coconut water “popsicle” at the heart of this drink. Coffee notes, meanwhile, come from infused Cynar." - Flora Tsapovsky, Eater Staff

"Friends and Family, the Oakland bar named a James Beard Award semifinalist for Outstanding Bar Program in 2022, is headed east for the month of June. Kicking off on June 9 at Platform by James Beard, a residency space inside the new Market 57, Friends and Family will host a queer speed dating event." - Emma Orlow