Raise a toast to Oaktown beer and wine

Local flavor is what Oakland is all about, and the city’s urban wineries and craft breweries, many housed in renovated warehouse spaces, warmly welcome patrons with well behaved dogs.

On the wine front, producers with dog-friendly tasting rooms (or lounges) showcase small-lot wines sourced from California vineyards up and down the state. Brooklyn West on Jack London Square, for example, is known for its Rioja-style wines. Rosenblum Cellars, one of the oldest players in Oakland’s urban wine scene, is conveniently situated next to the Oakland Ferry Terminal. (If you have a small dog that can be transported in a carrier, you might arrive or depart from here).

The city’s dynamic beer culture finds expression with a new breed of makers developing styles and flavors all their own. Head over to Drakes Dealership, a full-service restaurant and taproom in a complex that once served as the parts and service department of a Dodge dealership. The highlight: a large and very dog-friendly beer garden outfitted with fire pits and a live-music stage. Another favorite: at Jack London Square is Oakland United Beerworks, with their dog-friendly taproom and patio with fire pits, good eats, and treats for your dog.