Pleasant Hill may be a family friendly suburb in the East Bay, but there are still plenty of places for locals to grab a cocktail or a glass of wine around the city. Browse through our selection of the best sports bars, taprooms, and cocktail bars to whet your whistle.
Farrington’s is an Irish sports bar located in the shopping center across the street from Downtown Pleasant Hill. The bar has been around for 40 years, built right after the old drive-in movie theater was torn down. Inside you’ll find 25 HD flat screen TVs, making it the perfect place to watch any number of sporting events. Otherwise, you can play a variety of bar games, thanks to Farrington’s four pool tables, two dart boards, and shuffleboard. You can enjoy live DJs very Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night, or come out on a Wednesday or a Sunday for karaoke.
Jack’s Taps is a taproom attached to Jack’s Restaurant and Bar, which has quickly become one of the most popular spots to grab a bite or a drink in Pleasant Hill. The restaurant is classy but casual, featuring a full bar with a wide selection of wines. Happy hour deals are available every Monday through Friday. The taproom itself is behind the restaurant, featuring a rotating selection of 20 craft beers on tap. You can order food from the restaurant to be served in the taproom as well.
Mr. Lucky’s is a great spot for casual dining and cocktails located just off of Alhambra Avenue near the Virginia Hills Shopping Center. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served here daily, accompanied by a full selection of wine, beer, and spirits. We recommend you come out to Mr. Lucky’s to celebrate Wine Wednesday every week, during which all wine bottles are available for half of their listed price. The atmosphere is very laid back, service is always with a smile and there’s a friendly clientele.
A few blocks away from Sunvalley Shopping Center, Magoo’s Grill doubles as a neighborhood diner and sports bar. Originally a biker bar, the restaurant has made a number of improvements over the past 25 years to evolve into a foodie haven. Now it’s a great spot to enjoy multiple happy hours and to visit with locals while watching sports across the bar. If you prefer a more calm atmosphere, bring your family to the dining room instead. The bar is welcoming to large groups, and sports teams can often be found convening there after games.
Bar, Cocktail Bar, Restaurant, Italian, Beer, American, $$$
WiseGirl is a newly opened Italian restaurant and cocktail bar located off of Oak Park Boulevard. The bar has an atmosphere designed to make you feel like you’re in a 1920s speakeasy with an Italian twist, resembling ‘a meeting place between Jay Gatsby and Al Capone.’ Try a host of signature Italian dishes and Italy-inspired cocktails in a swanky, relaxed ambiance. Customers love the sausage sliders, the wedding soup, and the fried calamari. For cocktails, try the Cielo Rosso or the Dolled Up Drop.
