San Francisco residents might love an early morning run across the Golden Gate or a hike out to Stinson Beach but don’t let that fact fool you: this is also a city with a deep affinity for a stiff drink. Classic cocktail bars specialize in everything from perfect margaritas to award-worthy craft cocktails. But there’s also pretty much always a handful of newcomers entering the scene with fresh menus and stylish spaces. Here you’ll find the most exciting and interesting places in San Francisco to knock back a drink — whether your beverage of choice means a funky wine, a rare sake, or a solid cocktail.
Read More15 Hot New Bars to Try in San Francisco Right Now
This city has something for every kind of drinker from cocktails and beer to wine
Golden Sardine
Golden Sardine swam into the North Beach neighborhood in late January, with a list of wines that shines a big spotlight on Reisling (though there are other varietals available as well) and lots of tinned fish. It’s part wine bar, part wine shop, and part poetry hangout, with owner Andrew Paul Nelson bringing deep connections to the city’s literary scene to the table. “We’re all super excited about the upcoming generation of poets,” Nelson tells Eater SF.
Left Door
The Bus Stop might not be the first place that comes to mind when looking for a good cocktail in Cow Hollow. But as of late 2023, there’s a swanky lounge upstairs called the Left Door and it’s a destination for ice-cold martinis infused with Monterey Bay seaweed, olive brine, and Hog Island sea salt brine with a side of caviar. The bar encourages customers to dress to impress and limit phone usage.
Céleste
The team behind hit wine bars Bodega in North Beach and Key Klub in Lower Nob Hill has taken their talents to Union Street with the opening of their newest project Céleste. It’s another wine bar, of course, this time moving into the former West Coast Wine & Cheese space. Alongside a list that veers between funky, naturally produced selections from the New World and Old World and California standards, there’s a menu of Greek-inspired bites such as dips and grilled skewers.
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Holbrook House
Holbrook House, the uber-luxurious new restaurant and bar on the ground floor of the One Sansome building, serves coffee by day and a full food menu at night — but it also hopes to be a destination for post-work drinks. Case in point: some tables come equipped with switches to summon either a Champagne or a martini cart. Customers can then choose from a selection of gins and vermouths, a rotating cast of bitters, and house-made garnishes.
Starlite
Harry Denton’s Starlight Room makes a comeback on February 2, now called simply, Starlite, but still perched atop a hotel near Union Square. Head to the top of the Beacon Grand for a cocktail menu by talented local bartender Scott Baird and a menu of small bites from Washington, D.C.-based chef Johnny Spero. The space has been updated with lush green chairs, ample velvet, and many tassels — and, of course, the views cannot be beat.
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Dawn Club
Downtown San Francisco might be struggling to rebound from the pandemic, but Dawn Club, a stunning new bar and jazz club could be a sign that some sectors are thriving. Open since May, the bar comes from prolific local nightlife company Future Bars, who invested in reviving the historic Monadnock building on Market Street. Swing through – though you’d be wise to make a reservation — for regular live music and an extensive selection of whiskey including high-end options such as Pappy Van Winkle, if you’re into that.
The Harlequin
New SoMa bar the Harlequin brings big Gatsby vibes to the historic Mosser Building on 4th Street between Market and Mission. Bar pro Phil Chen, also behind Members Only and the Alchemist, aimed to set the backdrop for a 1920s-style party, one where customers can enjoy a pizza or Thai shrimp pasta with a cocktail. The bar shakes up some of the usual suspects including an espresso martini and an ube colada, but there are also drinks unique to the Harlequin such as the Rhinestone Cowboy made with Jack Daniels, Meletti amaro, sasparilla, lemon, and Ceylon tea.
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The Felix
Felix is the underground cocktail spot associated with hit Vietnamese restaurant Bodega. Owner Matt Ho flipped the basement into a bar where classic cocktails come prepared with Asian spirits, the Chronicle reports. If you didn’t have dinner upstairs, there’s also a food menu below including options such as tom yum-flavored Chex mix and shrimp chips.
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Movida
You can certainly have a full dinner of Mexican and Persian fusion fare at this dark and moody SoMa lounge, but the swanky atmosphere also makes it a great destination for happy hour or post-dinner drinks. The cocktail list includes drinks such as the Chilosa, which blends St. George green chile vodka, cilantro, lime, coconut, and gol gav zaban, a purple flower used in Persian teas. Pair a drink with sharable plates including chips and dips or mini skewers.
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Trad'r Sam's
In late 2023, Trad’r Sam’s reopened following a months-long closure during which owners and siblings Dorothy Riedel and John Munguia took some time to update the classic tiki bar in the Richmond District. The bar remains as pleasantly retro as ever, the San Francisco Standard reports, with glowing lights and thatched roofs shading customers inside — though the somewhat problematic names over the booths are gone. Open since 1937, the divey mai tai destination claims to be the oldest tiki bar in America.
CAVAÑA
There’s another swanky rooftop bar open now in Mission Bay from some of the same folks behind SoMa’s Kaiyo Rooftop. Cavaña pulls inspiration from across Latin America meaning cocktails lean into flavors including hoja santa, papaya, mole spices, and poblano peppers. On the concise food menu, highlights include flaky pastel de carne, two kinds of arepas, and an asado roca — essentially a meat-filled board weighted down with steak and sausages. Make a reservation for heading over.
Stoa
The Lower Haight’s newest watering hole comes from a foursome of hospitality industry experts who helped grow Nopalito. Now they’ve turned their attention to the corner of Haight and Pierce streets, where they’re serving a menu of lean cocktails intended to straddle the line between being exciting and not too fussy. The list includes the Holy Smoke, a cocktail of Manzanilla sherry, Benedictine, and Ardbeg scotch, as well as the Katana made with Suntory Toki whiskey with Dolin Blanc vermouth and ginger eau de vie. Food comes in the form of bar bites such as peanuts brined and tossed with MSG and mala spice, potato chips dusted in dried seaweed powder and served with a miso onion dip, and a grilled beef salad.
GluGlu
Chris Gaither and Rebecca Fineman, the husband-and-wife Master Sommeliers behind Ungrafted, opened a second project at Thrive City, steps from the Chase Center. The wine bar’s globetrotting menu focuses on bottles produced with sustainable farming practices in mind, while the food selections draw inspiration from the Mediterranean.
Bar Gemini
If you’re looking for a chic spot for natural wine and well-done bar snacks, then consider Bar Gemini, the new Mission District bar from owners and partners Dominique Henderson and Alex Pomerantz. They also own Gemini Bottle Shop, and Pomerantz is the mind behind Richmond-based natural wine company Subject to Change Wine Co. At this stylish spot, they’re pouring a powerful lineup of natural wines, which can be enjoyed with snacks such as marinated Rancho Gordo gigante bean or a decadent grilled cheese sandwich. Chef Brandon Rice of Michelin-starred Ernest developed the menu.
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The Bar at Osito
Liliana is out and the Bar at Osito is in as of January 21. The new iteration of the cocktail spot next door to Michelin-starred restaurant Osito specializes in cocktails, seafood, and house-made charcuterie, which means alongside a single-origin spirit, you can enjoy a seafood tower or fondue. Reservations can be made on Tock.