Inauguration Day’s Very Big, Best Food and Drink Deals in the Bay Area

Inauguration Day comes only once every four years; surely such a rare and auspicious occasion warrants a good drink and some tacos. No matter what side of the aisle you’re on, you’re in for a hell of a year, and you deserve to treat yourself.

A swath of San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley establishments have sworn in to provide specialty cocktails and snacks this Inauguration Day weekend. Some are donating proceeds to charitable causes (if you need a break from protesting), while others have witty names (if you’re just an apolitical fan of general hilarity).

Camino/Facebook

Cocktails for a cause at Camino
What: For those thirsty — either for justice or tequila — there is a “Cocktail for a Cause,” $8 of each will be donated to Central Legal de la Raza, as well as a $65, three-course prix fixe menu with $25 going to Central Legal de la Raza.
Details: January 20 from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. 3917 Grand Ave., Oakland

“Get Happy Hour” at Tofino Wines
What: We could all use a glass of wine surrounded by friends and community on Inauguration Day, at least that’s the spirit behind Tofino Wines’ “Get Happy Hour,” when the wine bar will donate ten percent of its sales to Planned Parenthood Advocacy and Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas. Plus, on January 21, Tofino will remain open as a space for people to decompress after the Women’s March, offering grilled cheese sandwiches and $1 glasses of Cremant de Loire for demonstrators.
Details: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on January 20. 2696 Geary Boulevard, SF

Pink champagnes for a cause at The Riddler
What: Newly-opened Hayes Valley champagne bar The Riddler will be donating 100 percent of its proceeds from rosé champagnes by the glass sold on Friday, January 20 to Planned Parenthood.
Details: January 20. 528 Laguna St.

Nick Keating

Scones for Planned Parenthood at Provender Coffee
What: The tiny-but-mighty Potrero Hill coffee shop is baking special pink chocolate cranberry scones on January 20, with all proceeds to benefit Planned Parenthood.
Details: January 20. 1415 18th St.

Make eating great again at Artisan Bistro
What: Lafayette’s Artisan Bistro is tackling an oft-ignored symptom of the American political process — loss of appetite. In an effort to “Make America Enjoy Eating Again,” the restaurant is serving up “Trump’s Huge & Terrific Pork Chop,” a “tremendous chop” with a fabulous orange glaze, fantastic braised cabbage and an amazing persimmon and pistachio ragout.
Details: January 20. 1005 Brown Ave., Lafayette

Grab’m by the Pisco at The Perennial
What: The Perennial is running a special for two $12 cocktails, the “Grab’m By The Pisco!” (with Marian Farms pisquito) and the “Intelligence Briefing” (with absinthe) for Inauguration weekend. All proceeds benefit the ACLU.
Details: Available January 20-21. 59 9th St., SF

Rice gone wild at Mission Chinese and Pizzaiolo
What: In solidarity with the protesters at Standing Rock, Mission Chinese and Pizzaiolo will be serving Manoomin wild rice (you can sub it for white rice at Mission Chinese, or get a special dish at Pizzaiolo), with proceeds going to Honor The Earth.
Details: Mission Chinese is at 2234 Mission St., San Francisco. Pizzaiolo is at 5008 Telegraph Ave., Oakland.

Saul’s Restaurant & Deli/Yelp

Support Inequality Media with a trip to Saul’s
What: The Berkeley deli will be fundraising and donating proceeds to Robert Reich’s Inequality Media, which raises awareness of wealth disparities in the United States.
Details: Stop by all day on January 21 for very conscientious chicken schnitzel or brisket pierogi. 1475 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley

A joint fundraiser by Brenda’s French Soul Food and Libby Jane Cafe
What: Both restaurants will be donating ten percent of sales to Planned Parenthood and SFILEN (San Francisco Immigrant and Legal Education Network) on Inauguration Day and January 21, hoping to provide a place of comfort and solace for demonstrators in the Civic Center area.
Details: Brenda’s French Soul Food is at 652 Polk St, and Libby Jane Cafe is at 644 Polk St., SF

Corridor

Extended happy hour at Corridor
What: Corridor is extending happy hour on January 20, from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. so you can “drink away lunch”. If you still want actual food with your lunch, the lunch menu includes savory monkey bread, French onion soup, or a chicken parm sandwich.
Details: $5 glasses of wine, beer on tap, and cocktails, and the option to eat lunch. 100 Van Ness, SF

Pop a bottle with Minimo
What: The Oakland wine and retail shop will be open on Inauguration Day to raise funds for a trio of non-profit organizations that advocate for women’s rights, immigrant’s rights, and the environment. The shop will be closed on January 21 so the staff may attend the women’s march.
Details: Minimo is at 420 3rd St, Oakland

Happy hour by the beach at Half Moon Bay Brewing Company
What: If you need to put as much distance between yourself and Inauguration Day as possible, HMB Brewing company will have happy hour specials from open to close, with live music from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Details: $1.50 off well liquor and $2 off signature cocktails. 390 Capistrano Rd, Half Moon Bay

Bar Threefiftyfive/Facebook

Snack the Pain Away at Bar Threefiftyfive
What: Bar Threefiftyfive’s monthly fundraiser, an “Anti-Inauguration Benefit” will be in support of the National Immigrant Law Center, with a specialty cocktail menu and snacks provided by Litzky Catering (which include rice krispies treats, brownies, and spiced snack mix).
Details: Fifty percent of proceeds from the specialty cocktails, and 100 percent of proceeds from the snacks, will be donated to the NILC. The benefit is from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. 355 19th St., Oakland

Waste away at Zuni Cafe’s non-copyrighted margaritaville
What: This week, all proceeds from Zuni’s margaritas and bloody marys will be donated to Planned Parenthood and Centro Legal de la Raza.
Details: Stop in all week long for a drink. 1658 Market St., SF

An anti-inauguration party with Tacos Oscar and Temescal Brewing
What: The taco pop-up will be at Temescal Brewing, where pint sales will benefit Planned Parenthood of Northern California, Oakland Pride, Blackout Collective, the ACLU, and Refugee Transitions.
Details: The benefit starts at 7 p.m. at Temescal Brewing. 4115 Telegraph Ave., Oakland

Other Avenues closes on Inauguration Day in protest
What: The Outer Sunset co-op is normally closed two days a year, on MLK Jr. Day and May Day. They have opted to make a special case for Inauguration Day this year as a passive resistance, with a statement on display in the windows explaining their decision.
Details: Other Avenues will be closed on January 20. 3930 Judah St., SF