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Best Restaurants with a Vibrant Bar Scene in Kensington

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20 restaurants available nearby

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A photo of ACRE Kitchen and Bar restaurant
4.5
Awesome(766)
Price: Moderate
• Mediterranean • Oakland
Booked 42 times today
Right in the heart of Rockridge, Oakland, ACRE Kitchen & Bar is all about simple, seasonal food done right. Led by Chef Dirk Tolsma, we source from the best Northern California farms and purveyors to create dishes that are fresh, honest, and made to be shared.Our fresh ground brisket burger on a house-baked bun? A local favorite. The berbere-spiced fried chicken? Crispy, bold, and packed with flavor. Some dishes rotate with the seasons, but the commitment to great ingredients never changes.We work with FEED Sonoma Co-Op, Star Route Farms, Full Belly Farm, Monterey Fish, and Rocky’s Chicken to bring you the best of what’s local.Proudly awarded Gold for Best New Restaurant in the East Bay Express Best of the East Bay Awards, we’re here to serve up great food with a true taste of Northern California.*20% gratuity will be added to all parties 8 or more.
A photo of Juanita & Maude restaurant
4.9
Exceptional(1811)
Price: Very Expensive
• American • Albany
Booked 27 times today
An intimate neighborhood restaurant, Juanita & Maude features Chef Scott Eastman's personal take on American Cuisine. The daily changing menu highlights classic dishes including Michelin Guide's top 5 hamburger in California. His refined comfort food is matched with seasonal craft cocktails and an international wine list. Juanita & Maude's lively dining room or serene outdoor patio is the perfect spot for a night out, celebration or special occasion. Conveniently located near the corner of Solano and San Pablo Avenues.
A photo of Revival Bar+Kitchen restaurant
4.5
Awesome(2829)
Price: Expensive
• Californian • Berkeley
Booked 25 times today
Revival Bar+Kitchen is serving distinctive, locally sourced, farm-to table, snout-to tail, utterly delicious food for brunch and dinner. The full bar is mixing original, hand-crafted cocktails, and our bar menu is available to satisfy after-the-show appetites. The entire dining room is available for meetings and buy outs.
A photo of Agrodolce restaurant
4.5
Awesome(1473)
Price: Moderate
• Italian • Berkeley
Booked 15 times today
From the family that brought you Trattoria La Siciliana—a fixture of Berkeley’s Elmwood district for the past twenty years—Agrodolce is a sister restaurant located in the heart of Berkeley’s Gourmet Ghetto. We are housed in a beautiful brick building that is equipped with a full bar and outdoor seating. Serving authentic Sicilian food, the type you’d only expect to find in the alleys of Palermo, Agrodolce features unique and truly authentic food.
A photo of donato&co. restaurant
4.7
Exceptional(1774)
Price: Expensive
• Italian • Berkeley
Booked 18 times today
Rustic Italian cuisine with a contemporary twist,featuring house made pastas & locally sourced seafood & meats.Well-situated in Berkeley's lively Elmwood district, Donato & Co. offers rustic Italian cuisine with a contemporary twist.Chef Donato Scotti has partnered with longtime friend Chef Gianluca Guglielmi to bring his third restaurant concept to the Bay Area.Anchored by a warm and sophisticated setting with a natural and authentic Italian vibe, the dynamic menu reflects the chefs' culinary philosophies of using fresh, simple ingredients in inventive ways, drawing upon each region of Italy with a sensitivity only natives can express.
A photo of Original Joe's - San Francisco restaurant
4.7
Exceptional(4369)
Price: Moderate
• Italian • North Beach
Booked 111 times today
Original Joe’s is the quintessential, classic San Francisco dining experience. A fabric of the City for over 80 years, it is located in the heart of the historic and majestic North Beach, a mecca for natives, tourists, and culinary aficionados alike.Original Joe’s is the oldest of all existing Joe’s restaurants in the country and is the innovator of what is now nationally known as the “Joe’s Concept”. With its signature red leather booths, legendary smooth cocktails, and renowned Italian American menu, Joe’s has come to signify its own Northern Californian category of food and symbolizes classic Italian American comfort food at its finest.
A photo of Wayfare Tavern restaurant
4.7
Exceptional(7916)
Price: Moderate
• American • Financial District / Embarcadero
Booked 131 times today
Chef Tyler Florence brings his passion for quality and timeless style to the heart of San Francisco with Wayfare Tavern, now located at 201 Pine Street. Designed by Jon De La Cruz, the space blends the charm of a classic SF tavern with elevated details while honoring the city’s rich culinary history. Wayfare Tavern features authentic American fare inspired by local cuisine at the turn of the 20th century, offering dishes that range from rustic delicacies to classic comforts. The beverage list showcases local wines, quality draft beers, and timeless cocktails. Spanning two floors, the new location features a spacious main dining room, a large central bar, an intimate Chef’s Alcove, and a hidden Cellar Dining Room. The second floor includes four distinct private dining rooms, ideal for celebrations, meetings, and special events. Wayfare Tavern continues to offer a dining experience that feels both nostalgic and entirely new—a timeless San Francisco classic.
A photo of BIX restaurant
4.7
Exceptional(5088)
Price: Expensive
• American • Financial District / Embarcadero
Booked 48 times today
An exceptionally stylish supper club, civilized speakeasy, a sophisticated saloon. Each of these "personae" is housed in a soaring two-story interior distinguished by a gently curving mahogany bar, fluted columns with ornate capitals, stunning original art, plush banquettes, cozy booths, starched linens, glittering glasses, and polished flatware. Overall, the ambiance is pure 1930's and 1940's - tasteful art moderne reminiscent of the glory days of Cunard and French Line ships. Fashionable and glamorous are the hallmarks. Trendy is simply not a part of the BIX culture. The clientele at BIX ranges from San Francisco movers-and-shakers to "savvy travelers" - owner Doug Biederbeck's term for the many diners in the know from out of town who patronize his establishment. All of them step from the featureless alley into another world - a world of superb cookery and libations, of sparkling service, of stylish nostalgia, of polished live jazz. That world is BIX.
A photo of China Live restaurant
4.5
Awesome(3379)
Price: Moderate
• Chinese • Chinatown
Booked 105 times today
China Live, Eater's "Restaurant of the Year," features fresh, seasonal Chinese cuisine cooked from specialized stations that merge traditional Chinese and Western culinary equipment. Our main dining area, with views of our exhibition kitchens, plays centerpiece, appointed with chairs and tables all handcrafted in China from reclaimed Chinese elm. We also offer outside dining.
A photo of Yoshi's Oakland restaurant
4.6
Exceptional(8380)
Price: Moderate
• Japanese • Oakland
Booked 61 times today
Yoshi's has served Japan's best traditional dishes to Bay Area patrons since 1972. The menu highlights artfully arranged sushi, fresh grilled seafood, classic Japanese dishes, and vegetarian fare. Patrons can kick off their shoes in the traditional Japanese tatami seating or dine at tables. Expert sushi chefs create sushi and sashimi to order either in the restaurant or in the jazz house. Start the evening in the cocktail lounge before dinner or have a nightcap after taking in a show in the jazz house.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you
From verified diners like you
  • Simon
    4 reviews
    4.0
    Dined 4 days ago
    Service was great Staff was wonderful Food was fantastic - my friend and I shared the pepperoni pizza + fries - delicious Be back soon
    More info
    ACRE Kitchen and BarPrice: Moderate• Mediterranean• Oakland
    4.5
  • kassVIP
    San Francisco Bay Area •67 reviews
    5.0
    Dined 6 days ago
    Food and cocktails so delicious and inventive! The onion in the Gimlet was incredible. Tuna appetizer perfect. Everything is perfectly seasoned and prepared. Loved it.
    More info
    Juanita & MaudePrice: Very Expensive• American• Albany
    4.9
  • HeatherVIP
    Las Vegas •1 review
    5.0
    Dined 6 days ago
    We participated in a wine pairing and it was fantastic! Such a great experience!
    More info
    donato&co.Price: Expensive• Italian• Berkeley
    4.7
  • Leslie
    Hawaii •48 reviews
    5.0
    Dined on May 7, 2025
    Love this restaurant! Food, staff, and decor is always perfect. Been here many many times.
    More info
    Revival Bar+KitchenPrice: Expensive• Californian• Berkeley
    4.5
  • PegVIP
    San Francisco Bay Area •64 reviews
    4.0
    Dined on May 7, 2025
    What a wonderful find, this will become a regular for us. The vibe was quaint, hip, and relaxed. The service was impeccable, the wine list lengthy impressive, and the menu was unique and sooo tempting. I struggled to choose between several dished. The bartender served up a spot on basil gimlet, which was off the menu and made to order. We had the Sangiovese reserve, which was mouthwatering. Our octopus salad was unique and lovely, as was the seafood risotto and swordfish. All perfectly cooked seafood. The only reason I am not giving it a 5 stars was that the seafood dish was very salty. If I had had more time I would have sent it back. But everything else about it was spot on.. the toast potatoes were crisp, the spinach bring and firm, and the fish was perfectly cooked. Unfortunately, I heard the table next to us send back the short ribs because they were too salty as well, so I’m hoping this evening was a fluke. The waitress was generous and apologetic, comping our wines.
    More info
    AgrodolcePrice: Moderate• Italian• Berkeley
    4.5
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