Nosh readers cast their votes in December, and the results of the 2024 Nosh Awards are in. Here is the complete lineup of 2024 award announcements. Congratulations to all of the winners!
2024 nosh Awards
If there is one “big winner” of the 2024 Nosh Awards, it is Tallboy.
The Temescal martini-focused cocktail bar that opened in May garnered the most votes of any Nosh Award winner ever.
The bar gets rave reviews for its vibes, prices, drinks and menu of vegan hot dogs and other bites from the Lion Dance Cafe team and fellow 2024 Nosh Award winners C-Y Chia and Shane Stanbridge.
This voter comment sums up the general sentiment nicely: “Best new bar in the bay! Great atmosphere, amazing drinks for an amazing price, better people. Food by Lion Dance Cafe is the cherry on top.”
Owner Den Stephens carefully planned out what he wanted for Tallboy and the response has been even greater than he initially anticipated. Soon after opening, Stephens had to hire additional staff, including a door person to handle the crowds.
Tallboy
4210 Telegraph Ave. in Oakland; www.tallboy.bar
Hours: Sunday through Thursday 2 p.m. to midnight, Fridays and Saturdays 2 p.m. to 2 a.m.
“It exceeded any of my expectations,” Stephens told Nosh in July. “It’s been really humbling. And it’s really invigorating to put something out here and just see it resonate with so many people from so many different walks of life. One of the most encouraging things has been, over the course of a night, and at any given moment, to look around the room and see Oakland represented.”
Stephens is also the general manager of 2024 best bar overall winner North Light, and in case you were wondering, no, not everyone who voted for North Light voted for Tallboy or vice versa (we checked!). Although we did notice a couple of common threads in the comments, high praise for the quality of cocktails and the welcoming, talented staff.
“Walk into Tallboy around 10pm or 11pm on a Friday night and you’ll get a pretty good sense of what Oakland is all about,” one voter commented. “You’ll find individuals from every walk of life, everyone is welcome and accepted for who they are and the martinis are delicious!“
Other voters described Tallboy as the “the perfect low key, high end bar,” “the big comfy couch of Oakland,” “your favorite local dive but it’s a martini party bar,” and, simply, the “bar of my dreams.”
Tallboy’s fans have also even come to accept that the bar is too good to keep it a secret.
“Excellent drink menu with a super cool hip and fun vibe. The prices are friendly, as well as the bartenders. Always crowded because, well, it’s great!”
51 & Tel, Best Friends, Clio’s Books, Gold Palm and Roses on Adeline were also nominated in the best new bar category.
