Mimosa Champagne Lounge

If mimosas are your cocktail of choice, then Mimosa Champagne Lounge won’t disappoint – they’ve got more than just your orange juice and champagne variety. Mimosas here are served a medley of ways, with traditional, non-alcoholic, lemon ginger, amaretto, lime, cherry moon, honeydew, and many more mimosa varieties on the “Sip” list.

Of course, mimosas aren’t the only thing on the menu. You’ve also got mojitos, bubbletinis, sangria, and an extensive wine and champagne list. The crowd here is ready to unwind at the end of the work day, and on weekends, Mimosa is a favorite venue for birthday and office parties. Located on Broadway in the Uptown District, it joins Era, Luka’s, Pican, Mua, Ozumo, and a growing list of bars and restaurants on the thriving Oakland strip.

If you’re coming in from the Art Murmur, Mimosa shows local art on First Fridays, and a friendly doorman will greet your entrance to the bar. You can choose between a marble countertop surrounded by bar stools or more intimate leather seating arranged like a series of lounges along the perimeter of the spacious, dimly-lit establishment. These lounges seem ideal for enjoying your more intimate conversations, but depending on the evening, the Hip Hop music may be playing so loud you’ll need to yell into your friends’ ears for them to hear you.

Located in a historic loft space, Mimosa is designed in a classy, upscale style, with details like intricate handmade chandeliers, candlelight, ironwork designs, wood-beamed ceilings, walls bedecked with wine bottles, and floor-to-ceiling windows. Appetizers, salads, and small plates like tacos, panini sliders, and grilled chicken are tasty treats, along with a raw bar selection, but desserts taste store-bought and may fall short of expectations.

If you’re walking between Downtown and Auto Row, Mimosa’s loveliness will catch your eye as you walk by, and you’ll probably find a lively, diverse crowd already enjoying their time inside. Overall, it is well worth spending at least part of a night on the town here.

HelloOakland tip: Enjoy happy hour at Mimosa between 5 to 9 p.m., when small plates are $5 and mimosas $4.

- by Renee M. Rutledge, San Francisco Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Renee M. Rutledge

Renee M. Rutledge currently writes articles on local travel and culture for Red Tricycle, Parents' Press, Oakland Magazine, and Alameda Magazine.