Area. The book, GrassRoutes Travel Guide to Oakland: The Soul of the City Next Door, said of The Alley that it was "an old-time alternative to karaoke" and that it represented "Oakland at its friendliest." The bar attracted "a wacky mix of hams and crooners", said the Lonely Planet, and there were no beers on draft but the mixed drinks were "strooooong." Rough Guides listed The Alley as a bar in 2003 then as a live music venue in 2011. A guide to dive bars in the San Francisco Bay Area listed The Alley among five of Oakland's best dive bars, the group including Smitty's, a local bar several doors up the street from The Alley. See also Ordinaire (wine bar) — a wine bar and shop on Grand Avenue across the street from The Alley References External links The Piano Bar, a 2013 film about The Alley The Alley Cats, a 2012 film about The Alley 1933 establishments in California Culture of Oakland, California Food and drink in the San Francisco Bay Area Music venues in the San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants established in 1933 Restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area Drinking establishments in the San Francisco Bay Area