The Layover Music Bar & Lounge

After my friend’s horrific experience this weekend, I will not be patronizing this establishment. Sadly, based on previous reviews, this type of behavior does not appear to be out of the ordinary for this bar. I hope the ownership takes note of his staff’s horrific and unacceptable treatment of women, and customers in general. There are plenty of businesses in Oakland that will appreciate your patronage and treat you with respect. Don’t waste your time or money here.

I will NEVER step one foot back into this bar. The level of pure disrespect to me and my friends was astonishing. We started our night at this bar for a quick drink. After 30minutes of us being at this bar, a lady (description: about 5’2, short dark pixie hair cut) approached my friend and told her the dive bar has a dress code and that she was showing too much skin. Just to paint a clearer picture, my friend was wearing a halter top. If it were a dress code, the proper protocol would to have NOT let us in; however, the lady conveniently waited until we bought drinks and spent money at this establishment before she addressed the «dress code». A few words were exchanged and
she then called over the bouncer who weighed at least 200 – 300 more pounds to put us out the bar. Before we could leave on our own, the bouncer snatched the full drink out my friends hand and aggressively pushed her out the club. The bouncer then came back in the bar and deliberately shoved my other friend into the metal barricade leaving her bruised on the ground. This was completed unnecessary behavior from this bar. Please think twice before supporting this business as I wouldn’t want anyone to be yet another victim.

Terrible! Don’t ever go here if you have a choice. Rude dj (Max Kane) and bartenders that support his bad attitude.

I just had the worst experience of my life at this bar.
After a wonderful day in Jack London Square, a couple of girl friends and I grabbed drinks at the Layover, and were on the dance floor when a woman with a pixie cut who works at the bar came up to my friend and told her she needed to leave because she was out of dress code.
First, if anyone was in violation of dress code, good business practice would be to communicate that at the door — not conveniently after we spent our money.
I asked the woman how my friend was out of dress code, to which she replied «I know what a halter top is, and that’s not it. She is showing entirely too much skin and needs to leave.» (See photo and be bewildered with us.) I expressed my disgust, at which point she tells the bouncer, «Get her out of here.»
The bouncer, who weighs at least 200 lbs more than me, grabbed me, carried me out and threw me into the metal barricade outside. The barricade fell over and I hit the ground skinning my knees and elbows. Layover security then called the police to pretend I initiated the altercation, and we called the cops to report the assault.
Several customers left the bar when they saw the bouncer assault me, saying they didn’t feel comfortable there anymore and wanted to be a witness for me if I called the cops.
When Oakland police arrived, they took the bouncer’s statement and put me in handcuffs and in the back of the squad car, saying, «you’re not under arrest, we’re just detaining you for your own safety.» They keep me in the car for 30 minutes and refused to speak to the witnesses.
As I read other Unilocal reviews about the Layover, I’m alarmed to see how many women have been assaulted by the bar’s pixie-​cutted female employee and the bouncer (one got a bloody nose for dancing «like a strip club»), with some wondering if the behavior is related to customers’ race and sexual orientation.
I woke up completely bruised, and I am still processing the assault, as well as how misogynistic and authoritarian the staff at the Layover must be to shame a woman for a crop top and then assault me for expressing myself. We will never return and I am sorry I made the mistake of spending money here for the first (and last) time.

Cheap drinks, great dj’s, and you get to dance your ass off! It’s a place the boyf and I go when we are walking around and feel like a good time. There’s not much room to sit unless you get there a bit early or wrangle one after someone else vacated. Grab a slice of pizza at Hi-​Life on your walk home so you don’t go to bed on an empty stomach

So that previous review definitely was from an off night. I’ve had some really fun times here. I’ve met some really cool people. There are great dancers and people are generally friendly enough to let you dance with them. You have to create your own party though sometimes which in my mind is positive. If you can dance you will meet people. DJ’s are meh at best to be honest. I will say yea you probably want to pregame if you go here because the pours are not the business. I probably will not be back often because reasons.

Came here for some dancing.
I wish they had more of variety of music rather than just hiphop.
Drinks are cheap and good.
$ 5.00 cover charge around 10 pm.
Couches and seating against the wall which was nice.
Bathroom is upstairs and could have long lines.

This place gets packed, but I love coming here to drink and dance. Expect to wait in line, as security checks everyone before entering. They have some delish cocktails inside (and a full bar for whatever else you might want). Bathrooms are upstairs. Pro tip: if you manage to grab a seat in the lounge area, there are outlets to charge your phone!

I had one of the worst experiences of my life at this bar. It was a Saturday night and raining. I patiently waited in the line outside of the bar for 20 to 30 minutes with two of my friends. We eventually got to the door and realized there was a $ 5 dollar cover. We had 10 in cash so my two friends went in without me as I talked to security to go next door to get cash from the atm. When I returned the security ushered me to the front of the line. When I stepped inside the venue the «owner» is staring me down like I am doing something wrong. I had $ 60 in cash in my hand and I am paying the person at the door. As I am getting my change in return I feel the arm of the «owner» pressed up against me. She is literally forcing her arm into my stomach. I have never been violated like that at any bar by a bouncer let alone a supposed «owner» of the bar. She says something under her breath that she wanted to make sure I wasn’t sneaking in. But that is bogus because she can clearly see that I am paying the price of admission. I then proceeded to politely ask her why she was touching me and I expressed that I felt that it was inappropriate. She then comes within inches of my face and yells at me proceeding to tell me she is the «owner» of the bar. All I replied with was that I am simply paying the $ 5 to join my friends who have already entered the bar. She then continues to yell and tells me to take my $ 5 back and leave the bar. It was the worst customer service I have ever witnessed in Oakland. This experience makes me feel that this «owner» might want to reconsider «owning» a bar in Oakland. As an «owner» you must have trust in your security to manage the flow of people and the traffic at the door. I suggest staying away from this power trip/​control freak of an owner. Really disappointing to see an «owner» of a bar act in such a manner. I will be reporting this to the city. Thanks for your time.

I remember how it all began I used to be a Layover fan, back then the music kept the place packed. But that was 3 years ago Oakland had a different flow no cover charge at the door.
I reminisce I reminisce of the love I had for this place. So many fond memories this place was Organic! Well I went there recently and it does not feel the same. Different bartenders, different crowd of folks. The music selection was tough for me to get into… Layover you used to be Crazy, Sexy, now you are just cool. I still love ya though…

So much potential for this place but the music the past few times I went was not played well. I appreciate all the throwbacks and gladly welcome them but when the DJ switches songs after 15seconds it kills the mood. Unfortunately because of the lack in good, consistent music, I probably won’t come back or recommend the Layover :/
Dear Mr. DJ,
Please chose a song, preferably one with lyrics and preferably one that at least 40% of your audience knows. Now that you have chosen this song please continue playing through at least 2 – 3 choruses. Then you can safely switch to another song. Also, please limit the amount of talking into the microphone, you aren’t a radio DJ.
Sincerely,
Everyone that just wants to Dance.

Love this place when DJ is playing hip hop. Low key spot for good drinks and some good beats. I’ve been here a few times and it does it crowded, eclectic group of people but everyone is alway friendly and having a good time.

I complained about how weak my vodka soda was to the only female bartender working and she responded, «Next time order a double.» Shocked at such a condescending response, I just ordered a Trumer Pills on tap as my immediate thought pointed to the fact that this female bartender could not subjectively control the potency of any beers on tap.
Outlandish how I subsequently ordered drinks through a white male friend with drinks much more potent upon the analysis of several of my peers. Don’t like calling out implicit racism, so I won’t. However, it’s very peculiar how my drink came out weak upon a test taste of several individuals. I order vodka soda waters to asses the potency of my drinks. Why is that my Moscow Mule ordered through my white male friend, even though sweetened, was stronger in alcohol content? Peculiar and eye brow raising if you ask any one of the several individuals engaged in my taste test.
For the first time in my life I tipped $ 0 with a giant slash through the $ 0 to denote my dissatisfaction with not only my drinks but the bartender’s «pisspoor» (pun) attitude. Next time when a customer complains, maybe apologize rather than try to justify your purely subjective handle (another pun) on your ability to pour. If you really want to go above and beyond in customer service, offer to make another drink when the customer is clearly dissatisfied. Conceited bartenders deserve $ 0 for tip and a public shaming if you ask me.
When I go out, do I really need to stand and think, «Maybe Asian female hipster bartenders treat their Asian American male patrons much worse than any other customers in service and drink quality.» Well these are my lingering thoughts, and I will encourage my fellow Asian American patrons to assess disparate treatment, unfortunately from even Asian American employees in the service industry. I will probably never go back to this establishment and should my bill for some unknown reason exceed the amount of drinks I paid for with no tip, then you will hear from both my credit card company as well as BBB if I must file a formal complaint. I will file a complaint if I must, so please do not test me and just charge my card the $ 31 under my tab for one Trumer Pills on tap, one Racer 5 on tap, two bottles of Lagunitas, and one pisspoor vodka soda.
In summary, if I under 170 pounds, can logically construe the events which took place within just moments of my exit from this establishment, then I am clearly too sober especially after having consumed several drinks. Maybe if my Vodka Soda were more than just a few drops of vodka diluted with soda water, then I would be too elated and perhaps inebriated to make such a review. I’m clearly sober and clearly frustrated with these types of establishments that get away with poor quality service.
This is my home, Oakland. We actually have high standards in Oakland and not all of us are entitled hipster wannabes that will settle for anything less than what we pay. If I have to pay $ 31 for 4 beers and a cocktail, then make my cocktail suitable. Treat me equally — I would gladly have paid $ 40 (more than $ 1 per drink) as I would in my typical go-​to Castro SF bars.
I truly do always tip unless a bartender pisses me off with a pisspoor pour and moreover, a pisspoor attitude.

Pros —
— good music
— diverse group of people
— relatively friendly patrons
— short wait to get drinks at the bar
Cons —
— expensive (2 beers and a small vodka red bull = $ 27 + tip)
— cover charge on weekends (that was pocketed by the door guy)

We stumbled upon this place after eating dinner at Analog (which was delicious by the way). Literally stumbled, haha. I was looking for a bar that liquor since Analog is strictly beer and wine and this was the first one we saw. I went here on a Thursday and there was literally 5 people there, including the bartender and the DJ. The DJ played good music, definitely brought me back. And the drinks were stiff, just the way I like it.
I enjoyed the laid back ambiance and the literal representation of «lounge» since this couple was literally laying in a pile of pillows in the corner, PDA to the max, but it made for excellent people watching.
I’d definitely come back! It was an interesting experience and I’m all for that.

Heard great things about the layover. Finally decided to give it a shot. At 11:00pm I showed up with 10 of my coworkers. There was a cover that night. That’s fine. I approached the guards and began to ask «is there»…she rudely interrupted «five dolla a person».I started to state. there are ten of us… She rudely stated «five dolla a person»…“
Look I know how much cover is… but have some decency. I wasn’t drunk and I politely tried to ask her about cover. There was no line and every time she interrupted me.
I had 10 – 14 people standing in your line and you had some rude ass person not listening to what was going on. Good customer service is listening to your audience. And when I approach you asking about 15 ppl getting in and your threaten me with the cops. that raises a major flag with me.
No wonder people dont go out in Oakland. The sad part is that I was so excited and open to it. All she needed to do was politely say. oh no it’s still 5 $ a person or something else.
We went to bar 355 instead

The Layover was awesome. I don’t tend to venture out to Oakland but man, this place is great. So fun. We came on their anniversary night. Great girl dj and a performer. Awesome 90’s hip hop/​r&b hits. Totally my scene. Drinks were reasonable. The whiskey house drink is delicious. Super fruity taste like juice, which means it’s always a creeper.
Overall, small but fun place. Be prepared to sweat, man oh man do you sweat. But loads of fun. A plus that they sell food outside too :)

Anti-​Veteran Bar!
The bar tender is an anti-​veteran asshole.
Ten years ago today, I got out of the military. Since then I have called the bay aria my home. I got an education, and used that education to make the world a better place. Tonight I went out to celebrate with an old friend.
However, I went to the layover, and thought I was safe from judgment until I let the bar tender know what we were celebrating. I told him that I was ten years out of the military, and this guy called me a murderer, and kept insisting on it.
I would imagine that a progressive bar would not be adverse towards war veterans, even give class issues. Having employees like this is endemic of bad management.
This incident happened around 5-​PM on July 29^th. It took me 20 minutes to get served by this guy, and if I owned this business, I would get rid of that guy. Furthermore, this guy was in the back room when I walked in and was not attending to his bar tender duties.

I love the layover! It’s definitely one of the chillest places to go out dancing in the bay area. My friends and I aren’t into the dance scene/​spots in San Jose or SF (except the occasional event) but we love it here.
The music is ALMOST always on point. old school hip-​hop, funk, rnb with some reggae seems to be the usual here. It seems like a lot of djs will end the night with edm, I think it’s to get everyone off the dance floor so people can go home and what not. It works haha.
It’s pretty cool. While guys just going out to creep on girls is inevitable you actually see groups of doods just dancing with their friends having a good time like everyone else. Not something you see often but that’s how fun this place is: D
The whiskey buck is good and the owner makes yummy drunchie food and sells them right outside the bar. It’s cash only though so be sure to bring it!
Out of all the times that we’ve been here we’ve never had a problem with stolen goods. It’s kind of bound to happen at any club though and security can’t really do anything about it. That’s just how it is, not really a reflection upon the business. Just hold onto your shit, and you’ll be good.
This place is super small for how popular it is. You’re pretty much bound to sweat, even if you’re not dancing a lot. If you’ve got a good buzz you tend to not notice the lack of space much though =p
If you’re into edm and top 40 this is not your spot. this is for people with that chill east bay vibe and hip-​hop/​funk/​soul lovers. Just be sure to check the events for the night because it can be a miss sometimes!

The Layover is a great place to go with my good friends to go dance like I am back in high school. Great old school hip hop music. It gets SUPER PACKED and SWEATY in there on a good night.
The place could use a few more fans around the room.
Inexpensive drinks and they are pretty strong so if you are looking for a stiff drink. Wait until after dinner. If not, order from their beer selection.