Nestled by Lake Merritt, Ordinaire is a cozy wine shop-bar hybrid that celebrates natural wines, with a rotating selection and a welcoming vibe perfect for locals.
"One of the Grande Dames of the Oakland wine scene, Ordinaire has been an East Bay favorite since opening in 2013. Like other Oakland wine bars Ordinaire shines a spotlight on natural wines and those who make them, with a rotating selection of by-the-glass offerings to complement the extensive bottle selection in the shop." - Dianne de Guzman, Matt Lardie
"Wine and cheese, what more do you need? This charming wine shop and bar has a rotating selection of wines by the glass each day. Ordinaire specializes in natural wines from France, Italy, Spain and California. A special treat: they occasionally host pop-ups and special events, so sign up for their newsletter for the latest!" - Huge
"Purity Wine and its collective have gotten placement in local wine shops such as Oakland’s Ordinaire." - Dianne de Guzman
"This popular Grand Lake-adjacent wine bar is a bit headier than most others. It embraces the spiritual, mystical side of natural wine and encourages learning about natural winegrowing and winemaking practices. The shop also has one of the best wine clubs around." - Sam Chapple-Sokol
"Ordinaire is a wine shop in Oakland on Grand Ave. near Lake Merritt with an impressive selection of natural wines. Yes, you can pop in and peruse the long shelf stocked with local and European reds, whites, ciders, and more (you can also order online). But you should plan to post up for a while, because this place doubles as a wine bar with reasonably priced wines-by-the-glass, and a selection of snacks like cheese, charcuterie, and fancy almonds. Since Ordinaire has been around since 2013, expect a well-oiled operation run by knowledgeable wine people. There's limited seating inside, so the probability is high that you might be huddled around a wine barrel outside. This wine bar is as chill as they come." - Lani Conway