You’re walking down Broadway in Oakland, the neon of the Fox Theater humming in the background, and you look toward the corner of 19th. For years, that was the spot. It wasn't just a bar; it was a mood. If you lived in the East Bay during the 2010s, Plum Bar Oakland CA was likely your default for a first date, a post-show nightcap, or a "treat yourself" burger that actually lived up to the hype.
But things change fast in the Town.
The story of Plum Bar isn't just about a menu or a list of artisanal cocktails. It’s a snapshot of the massive culinary shift that turned Uptown Oakland into a legitimate destination. When Daniel Patterson—the Michelin-starred mind behind Coi—first opened Plum and its sibling bar, he was betting big on a neighborhood that, at the time, was still finding its footing. It worked. For a decade, it was the gold standard. Then, the world tilted, the industry morphed, and the space evolved into something entirely different.
The Daniel Patterson Era and the Rise of the Plum Burger
When Plum Bar first landed, it had this specific, moody aesthetic. Think dark wood, dim lights, and a back bar that looked like a mad scientist’s apothecary. It was sophisticated but didn't feel like it was trying too hard. Most people came for the drinks, but they stayed because the food was coming out of a kitchen helmed by some of the best talent in the country.
The burger. Honestly, we have to talk about the burger.
In a city obsessed with ground beef—competing with the likes of Trueburger and the now-shuttered KronnerBurger—the Plum Bar burger was a distinct beast. It was rich. It was salty. It had that perfect structural integrity where the bun didn't give up halfway through the meal. People would sit at that long bar, ignore the fancy tasting menu options next door at the original Plum restaurant, and just dive into fries and a house cocktail. It was the quintessential "high-low" experience that defined Oakland dining.
Why the location mattered
Uptown isn't just another neighborhood. It's the heart of the city's arts district. Being right next to the Fox Theater meant Plum Bar Oakland CA was the epicenter of "The Surge." You’d see roadies from whatever band was playing that night rubbing elbows with tech workers from the nearby Pandora offices and locals who had been hanging out at The Layover or Cafe Van Kleef for years. It was a melting pot. It felt alive.
The bar survived several iterations. At one point, Patterson merged the restaurant side and the bar side, creating "Plum Bar + Restaurant." It was a move toward sustainability in an industry where margins are razor-thin. They simplified. They focused on what people actually wanted: accessibility.
The Transition: From Plum Bar to Friends and Family
Nothing stays the same forever, especially in the Bay Area restaurant scene. By late 2019 and early 2020, the whispers of change were getting louder. Eventually, the space at 1901 Broadway underwent a total transformation.
Enter Friends and Family.
If Plum Bar was a dark, moody jazz record, Friends and Family is a bright, vibrant pop anthem. Founded by Blake Cole and Gaby Maeda, the new iteration of the space moved away from the masculine, dark-toned vibes of its predecessor. They painted, they added plants, and they leaned heavily into an inclusive, queer-friendly atmosphere that resonated deeply with the modern Oakland crowd.
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It’s interesting to see how the "soul" of a location survives a rebrand. You can still feel the bones of the old Plum Bar when you walk in, but the energy is different. It’s less about the "celebrity chef" aura and more about community. They kept the high standards for cocktails—Blake Cole is a veteran in the scene—but the focus shifted.
The impact of the pandemic on 19th and Broadway
We can't ignore the elephant in the room. The transition period for any business in downtown Oakland during 2020 and 2021 was brutal. Plum Bar’s departure marked the end of an era of "pre-pandemic" dining. The closures of nearby staples and the shift to remote work for downtown offices meant that the foot traffic Plum Bar relied on vanished overnight.
While many spots folded, the evolution of this specific corner proved that there was still an appetite for quality. Friends and Family didn't just replace Plum Bar; it adapted to a world where people wanted more than just a stiff drink—they wanted a space that felt intentional and representative of the city's diverse culture.
What People Get Wrong About the "Plum" Legacy
There’s a common misconception that Plum Bar failed. It didn't. It lived a full life. In the restaurant world, a ten-year run is basically a century. It saw the rise of the Uber headquarters (and the subsequent drama there), the renovation of the Uptown Station, and the explosion of the First Friday street fair.
Some regulars still lament the loss of the specific "Plum" atmosphere. There was a certain gravity to that bar. It felt like the kind of place where a significant conversation—a breakup, a job offer, a conspiracy theory—was supposed to happen.
- The Cocktails: They were pioneers of the "salt in cocktails" trend before it was everywhere.
- The Staff: Many bartenders who cut their teeth at Plum went on to open their own spots across the East Bay.
- The Aesthetic: It proved you could be "fancy" in Oakland without being "stuffy."
Honestly, the legacy of Plum Bar Oakland CA is visible in every high-end cocktail lounge that has opened in the city since. It set the bar for the "Oakland Style"—unpretentious but technically perfect.
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Navigating Uptown Oakland Today
If you're looking for that old Plum Bar feeling, you have to look a little harder, but the spirit is still there. The neighborhood has become a dense cluster of options. You have Viridian just a few blocks away, bringing incredible Asian-inspired flavors and neon vibes. You have the classic dives like Ruby Room (RIP to the original vibe, but the spirit lingers) and the upscale polish of places like The Wolf or Duende.
The corner of 19th and Broadway remains a litmus test for the health of Oakland’s nightlife. When that corner is busy, the city feels invincible. When it's quiet, you feel the weight of the challenges the Bay Area faces.
Where to go if you miss Plum Bar
- Friends and Family: This is the direct successor. Go here for the vibes, the incredible Sherry-based drinks, and a sense of belonging.
- Low Bar: Located on 19th, it captures that "neighborhood spot with elite food" energy that Plum used to have.
- Bar Shiru: If it was the dark, audiophile atmosphere of Plum you loved, Shiru is your sanctuary. It's a high-fidelity listening bar where the music is as important as the Japanese whisky.
- The Kon-Tiki: For something completely different but equally "Oakland," this spot offers the best tropical drinks in the city with a kitchen that knows exactly what it's doing.
The Reality of Running a Bar in Oakland
Let's be real for a second. The overhead in Oakland is astronomical. Between rising rents, labor costs, and the "broken window theory" reality of downtown, running a spot like Plum Bar was a Herculean task. Daniel Patterson’s Alta Group had to make tough calls across their entire portfolio, and Plum was part of that restructuring.
It’s easy for us as patrons to get sentimental about a bar. We remember the first date we had there or the time we stayed too late talking to the bartender. But these spaces are also businesses. The transition from Plum to Friends and Family is actually a success story—it’s a story of a space staying relevant and local rather than being turned into a bank or a chain pharmacy.
How to Support the Current Scene
If you want to keep the spirit of great Oakland bars alive, you have to actually show up. The "discoverability" of these places on Google and Instagram is great, but it doesn't pay the light bill.
- Check the hours: Many places in Uptown have shifted their schedules. Don't assume they're open until 2 AM on a Tuesday anymore.
- Tip like a pro: The service industry in the East Bay is a tight-knit community. Word gets around.
- Explore the side streets: Broadway gets the glory, but the spots on 17th, 18th, and 19th are where the real character is hiding.
Plum Bar Oakland CA might be a memory now, but it’s a foundational piece of why Oakland is a world-class food city. It taught us that we didn't need to cross the bridge to San Francisco to get a world-class cocktail or a burger that changed our lives. We had it right here, on a dark corner in Uptown.
Practical Steps for Your Next Night Out in Uptown
To get the most out of the area where Plum Bar once reigned, start your evening at Friends and Family to pay respects to the space's evolution; their seasonal menu is constantly rotating, so ask the bartender what they’re currently excited about. Afterward, walk a block over to The Fox Theater—even if you don't have a ticket for a show, the architecture alone is worth the stroll.
If you're looking for a specific taste of the old Plum Bar "high-end" feel, book a table at Duende for Spanish-influenced dishes that match that level of culinary ambition. Finally, always have a backup plan. Uptown is popular, and the best spots fill up fast on show nights. Keep an eye on the marquees at the Fox and the Paramount; if a major act is in town, your "quick drink" at 19th and Broadway will likely turn into a 45-minute wait. Plan accordingly and embrace the chaos. It’s what makes Oakland, Oakland.