Oakland’s Irish pubs are not concentrated on one street: Rockridge, College Avenue, and its BART station make one neighborhood outing; Jack London Square faces the waterfront and connects with ferries, trains, and restaurants. These are different plans, not a short walk between bars. The menus make the distinction clear: McNally’s Irish Pub keeps the classic bar format, with whiskey and beer but no food, while Sláinte Irish Pub pairs a pint with stews, savory pies, soda bread, and live music.
On College Avenue, McNally’s leans on a history its website traces to 1933 and a Rockridge neighborhood clientele. A fireplace, darts, bumper pool, and screens support a visit built around conversation and games. BART serves Rockridge Station, and the pub says it can also be reached by bus, car, or cab; its site describes parking as easy without identifying a private lot.
Sláinte is at 131 Broadway in Jack London Square. The official offer combines Irish food, whiskey, and weekly musicians; comments for this branch mention fish and chips, cottage pie, Irish coffee, and service. The district has public ferry, bus, Amtrak, and parking options, but schedules and prices should be checked separately. Maps marks the entrance wheelchair accessible. We do not use prices from older menus; check the current official menu when planning.
For a drink without a meal, McNally’s is the straightforward Rockridge choice; for a sit-down dinner and music, Sláinte is more complete. Rockridge and the waterfront have different urban settings, so choose the neighborhood before the pub. Check hours, the event calendar, and the return trip, especially on event nights or when relying on the last ferry or train.
Check current details and choose according to your budget, time and way of travelling.
Options to compare
These options relate to the question. Read each profile and check current details before deciding.
In Rockridge, College Avenue serves as the main street of a neighborhood that mixes homes, independent shops, and restaurants. McNally’s occupies number 5352 along that corridor, near cafés and local businesses; the Rockridge BART station is on the same avenue, though the last stretch should be chec
Guinness and Smithwick’s, draft beer, Irish whiskey, classic cocktails, fireplace, darts, bumper pool, and screens; no food is served.
Jack London Square changes the rhythm of an evening: the waterfront, ferry, restaurants, and Amtrak station make it a walking district whose options depend on transit schedules. At 131 Broadway, Sláinte presents an Irish-pub experience built around a sit-down meal and music. The Port of Oakland and
Stews, savory pies, soda bread, Irish whiskey, Irish coffee, live music, private gatherings, and events.
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
-
Official website of McNally’s Irish Pub ↗
Primary source
McNally’s Irish Pub · Accessed October 22, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
-
Official website of McNally’s Irish Pub ↗
Primary source
Bay Area Rapid Transit · Accessed October 22, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
-
Rockridge: tiendas y ambiente de College Avenue ↗
Primary source
Visit Oakland · Accessed October 22, 2026
Contexto turístico sobre el corredor comercial de College Avenue y el carácter residencial de Rockridge.
-
Official website of Sláinte Irish Pub Oakland ↗
Primary source
Sláinte Irish Pub Oakland · Accessed October 22, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
-
Official website of Sláinte Irish Pub Oakland ↗
Primary source
Port of Oakland · Accessed October 22, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
-
Mapa de acceso y transporte de Jack London ↗
Primary source
Jack London Improvement District · Accessed October 22, 2026
Directorio local de terminal de ferry, estación Amtrak, bicicleta compartida, autobús y estacionamientos; no implica que el estacionamiento sea administrado por el pub.
-
Official website ↗
Primary source
BART · Accessed October 22, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
-
Official website ↗
Primary source
Port of Oakland · Accessed October 22, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
-
Official website ↗
Primary source
Jack London Improvement District · Accessed October 22, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
-
Official photo: mcnallys-oakland-backbar.webp ↗
Primary source
Official business website · Accessed October 22, 2026
Official business photo converted to WebP and stored under fotoscia-/us/irish-pubs-oakland-minneapolis-bakersfield-20261022.
-
Official photo: mcnallys-oakland-on-tap.webp ↗
Primary source
Official business website · Accessed October 22, 2026
Official business photo converted to WebP and stored under fotoscia-/us/irish-pubs-oakland-minneapolis-bakersfield-20261022.
-
Official logo: slainte-oakland ↗
Primary source
Official business website · Accessed October 22, 2026
Official logo converted to WebP and stored under logoscia-/us/irish-pubs-oakland-minneapolis-bakersfield-20261022.
-
Official photo: slainte-oakland-shepherds-pie.webp ↗
Primary source
Official business website · Accessed October 22, 2026
Official business photo converted to WebP and stored under fotoscia-/us/irish-pubs-oakland-minneapolis-bakersfield-20261022.
-
Official photo: slainte-oakland-exterior.webp ↗
Primary source
Official business website · Accessed October 22, 2026
Official business photo converted to WebP and stored under fotoscia-/us/irish-pubs-oakland-minneapolis-bakersfield-20261022.
-
Ficha de Google Maps de 5352 College Ave ↗
Secondary source
Google Maps · Accessed October 22, 2026
Consulta del 2026-10-22: 4.6/5 y 245 reseñas. La ficha y los comentarios visibles mencionan Guinness, ambiente de barrio, atención, selección de bebidas y chimenea.
-
Ficha de Google Maps de 131 Broadway ↗
Secondary source
Google Maps · Accessed October 22, 2026
Consulta del 2026-10-22: 4.6/5 y 940 reseñas. Los temas recurrentes visibles incluyen fish and chips, Irish coffee, cottage pie, música y servicio.