Maybeck’s returned to the Marina in June, now boosted by the talents of wife-and-husband duo Lori Baker and Jeffrey Banker (Baker & Banker). Of course, that means the food and desserts are worth your while, but the bar remains a great place to order a classic cocktail and a solid burger. The cocktail list includes options like the Summer Sour, a mezcal-based concoction that spins through summer strawberry flavors with a touch of cinnamon.

The Marina’s new retro cocktail destination grooved into the neighborhood with wood paneled walls, glittering disco balls, and a menu of drinks inspired by songs from the late 1960s through the mid ‘80s. Former Liholiho Yacht Club and Good Good Culture Club bar director Janice Bailon channeled the free wheeling energy of Marlena Shaw’s California Soul into a layered drink made with vodka, Lillet Blanc, honey, bubbles, and Campari. Food comes from chef Frank Hua (Unco Frank’s) with options like smoked trout roe-topped deviled eggs and fish sliders.  

As of July 28, the Solaire Terrasse featuring Veuve Clicquot has arrived at the Ritz-Carlton, an oasis for anyone looking to sip Champagne and enjoy fresh seafood in the warm summer air. Now through September 30, the terrace is open for reservations; guests can order Champagne by the glass or bottle, as well as spritzes featuring Veuve Clicquot Rich and herbs from the hotel’s garden. Pair it with an uber-luxurious seafood tower for two ($160) or a scoop of gelato while you take in views of the city.

As of March 16, Pacific Cocktail Haven is back. The bar has migrated just a fews doors down from its original location, which was lost to a fire in 2021. Bartender and owner Kevin Diedrich, known for infusing ingredients like shiso, calamansi, and pandan into his cocktails, has brought back some of the bar’s original drinks including the Thrilla in Manila made with Evan Williams bourbon, shiso, calamansi, coconut, absinthe, and li-hing mui.

Come to Pie Punks for the crispy-edged Detroit-style pies, but stay for the menu of tiki cocktails including a frosty Hennessy-based pina colada served with a giant slice of fresh pineapple and the Zombie Punk Drink, blending light and dark rums with 151 and absinthe. If you’re aiming to stay away from the hard stuff during a working lunch, there’s also a list of natural wines available by the bottle or glass.

The latest venture from the Future Bars team rolled into the former Olympic Cafe space on Geary in mid-March. Bottle Club Pub is a throwback to the heyday of American whiskey, with a world-class collection of vintage ceramic decanters and a one-of-a-kind backbar made so rotating shelves showcase an impressive selection of brown spirits. Enjoy one of general manager Jayson Wilde’s cocktails — categorized as either “reviving and refreshing” or “bold will hold” — along with a plate of fish and chips, smashburger, or wedge salad. 

Ascend to the roof of the Hyatt Place hotel in SoMa for Nikkei cocktails and stunning views that stretch from downtown San Francisco all the way to Alameda. Kaiyo Rooftop brings vacation vibes to the neighborhood around Oracle Park with a cocktail list that includes umbrella-topped, tiki-like concoctions and a food menu that marries vibrant Peruvian flavors with Japanese culinary techniques. 

The Madrigal shimmered open in early December, debuting a new cocktail bar for symphony and opera goers. It’s the latest project from the Hi Neighbor group (the Vault, Trestle, Mama), replacing their own former restaurant Corridor. There are still sweeping windows at the front and a mezzanine up above, but there’s also now a walnut bar, serving cocktails, steak tartare, and duck smashburgers.

The Mission has a new cocktail bar to explore and Dahlia Lounge comes courtesy of a motley crew of industry veterans including Paul Volfovski (Copyright, Trademark) and Kingston Wu (Westwood, Thriller Social Club). Volfovski hopes to make the dark and moody bar, decked out with cheeky neon signs and other highly Instagrammable decor, a neighborhood destination for solid cocktails, happy hour, and live music.

Bar Nonnina is a new addition to the Fiorella Sunset location, a small bar on the rooftop patio of the restaurant, hidden behind a sliding pocket door. Expect a fun drink menu featuring items such as the Slushie di Modena, a lambrusco slushy, or Galileo’s Gaze, the bar’s take on a white negroni with strawberry-infused gin, as well as an abbreviated food menu if you need a bite. The space is tiny — it’s standing room only, and hits capacity at 14 guests — so reservations are suggested.

After drinking hard for a couple of decades and going dark for a couple of years, Dalva reopened at the beginning of January, with a whole new look for the storied Mission bar. Longtime owner Erik Reichborn-Kjennerud (Dalva, ABV) and new partner Eric Ochoa (Elda) added warmth and style while preserving the Art Deco bar back, along with other details. The new drinks list includes all new cocktails, lots of agave spirits, craft beer, natural wine, and vermouth on tap, as well as snacks from chef friends (think spicy peanuts from Mister Jiu’s).

Though it’s not actually accessible from the adjacent Hotel Castro, Lobby Bar continues the long legacy of great bars located underneath great hotels. This swanky lounge, decked out in a peacock-inspired color palette, comes from business partners Jesse Woodward (Hi Tops) and Blake Seely and offers a lengthy list of drinks that riff on classics — for example, the Lobby Bird is a play on a Jungle Bird made with rum, amaro, falernum, pineapple, lime, and cinnamon. Bringing big dinner party energy to the room, the menu includes all finger foods, from Scotch quail eggs to a turkey burger. 

Buddy is a friendly new neighborhood bar that opened in the Mission in November. It’s from a crew of industry veterans Alvaro Rojas (Elda), Nicolas Torres (True Laurel), Nora Furst (Uma Casa), and Claire Sprouse (Hunky Dory in Brooklyn), and the cocktails are expertly crafted, featuring wine, vermouth, and sherry. Plus, the natural wine list is popping off with bubbles, pinks, and oranges. Chef Sean Thomas (Blue Plate) also debuted a fun menu, starring a serious-looking fried mortadella “sammy.”