6 Degrees on Solano - Albany, CA

Thank the heavens that the good folks behind 6 Degrees transformed both the physical and spiritual essence of 1403 Solano Avenue. Before they took over, the place offered the kind of prix fix twilight specials that always included Clam Chowder and Baked Filet of Sole. And the clientele seemed to match the retirement home/cruise ship ambience.

I’m not going to say that the clientele is vastly improved, but the food and furnishings certainly have. 6 Degrees is the kind of place that looks extravagant but doesn’t have extravagant prices to match. The kind of place you can go with your parents, take care of the tab, look like a mensch, and not have to eat ramen the rest of the week.

Their current happy hour is very happy indeed, especially when it comes to bar food. The well cocktails are 2-for-1, which translates as $3.00 a drink. So as you take the last sip of your first drink, you have a prearranged freshie already coming down the pipes. They have the usual four or five standard M-drinks: mojitos, martinis, margaritas, manhattans, etc. House wine and beer are four bucks, and all other drinks are $1 off.

But the small plates are where the bargains really begin. Their bar food is priced from one to three dollars. In a world of ever-escalating inflation, it’s a source of joy to see that a buck can get you a lovely tomato-and-cheese Pizzetta, and that three dollars brings an even lovelier Mediterranean Spread plate with several multi-colored dips arranged around a roasted head of garlic.

Warning: come for the grub, not the crowd. But hell, it’s Albany, whad’ya expect? Just relax, sip on an icy cold one and share a plate of Pomme Frites (hell, at two bucks a pop, order a few plates) and then head down to Oakland to get your groove on.


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6 Degrees on Solano (Reviews & Map)
1403 Solano Ave, Albany, CA 94706
510.528.1237
Happy Hour: 5pm-7pm Daily; 9:30pm-11pm Fri & Sat