Even if you've been going to Causwells since forever, get ready to reacquaint yourself with the Marina neighborhood favorite. The restaurant got a big makeover and a new menu (don’t worry, the burger isn’t going anywhere), plus a cocktail list from star bar talent Elmer Mejicanos. There’s a crystal clear clarified ube cocktail topped with purple cream, a large format frozen martini that’s poured tableside, and a sesame-decorated riff on a jalapeno margarita.

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.  

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.

Members Only is the new bi-level bar and restaurant taking over the former Saratoga spot, but with a fun bonus: a sister bar called Finders Keepers located in the basement, with its own distinct drink menu. Finders Keepers found inspiration from Haight’s now-closed Loved to Death, so expect some fun quirk alongside your cocktail.

With a prime location just off Patricia’s Green in the heart of Hayes Valley, it’s little surprise that new restaurant and bar Hazie’s seems to have found a niche as a solid spot for an after-work drink and light bite in the neighborhood. The cocktails keep things relatively simple with few enough ingredients to count on one hand, plus a trio of large format options to share among a group of friends.

After more than two and a half years away, owner Thad Vogler’s James Beard Award-winning Bar Agricole resumed shaking and stirring single-origin spirits into refined cocktails on August 3. The bar returns in a new SoMa space wrapped in warm woods and painted cool blue-and-grey tones. In addition to a menu of cocktails starring thoughtfully sourced spirits, chefs Will Napoli and Nick Balla offer seasonal and ingredient-driven plates like tomatoes with yellow wax beans and grilled chicken in green olive salsa.

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.

Dalva reopened with a sleek aesthetic and new menu way back in January, but it wasn’t until August that owners Erik Reichborn-Kjennerud and Eric Ochoa began inviting guests back into the not-so-secret back bar the Hideout. For longtime fans, it’s a bit of a flip-flop from the previous iteration; now the dark and moody Hideout is your destination for classic cocktails and high-end spirits, while the front bar, Dalva itself, caters to the craft cocktail crowd.

A little piece of Spain has installed itself in the Mission with the opening of El Chato, a self-described “Spanish-style taberna” with a menu of small plates and an intriguing list of European (mostly Spanish) wines. Choose between a full glass or a smaller “chato” pour so you can explore less-common varietals like merseguera and listán negro while you snack on jamon Iberico or gazpacho.