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Grab a Cocktail at These 13 Hot New Bars in San Francisco

This city has something for every kind of drinker from cocktails and beer to wine and sake

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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 frothy beer, a rare sake, or a solid cocktail.

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Causwells

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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.

Stephanie Amberg

Dento Union

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The Mins Group — as in the people behind Sushi Sato and Sushi Hon — introduced twin bars to the city in February. Dento Union serves the Cow Hollow and Marina neighborhoods with sake and wine, while over in SoMa, Dento Coffee & Wine pours lattes by day and sake and Champagne by night.

Mitinunwong

Blind Pig Speakeasy Lounge

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Experienced barman Derrick Li brings boldly flavored baiju cocktails to Bling Pig, the bar found on the second floor of the historic Cathay House in Chinatown. Many of the drinks showcase Asian ingredients, like the Pink Leaf drink, which incorporates bitter melon with Patron reposado tequila. Open since October, the lounge sports “a lot of 1930s Shanghai-style decorations,” Li describes, with floor-to-ceiling windows that provide a grand view of California Street.

Blind Pig

Harlan Records

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Bar Fluxus is out and Harlan Records is in, and the new bar is bringing tons of vintage vinyl and a list of music-inspired cocktails to downtown San Francisco. The bar comes from a team of experienced industry folks and takes inspiration from Japanese-style listening bars. So pick a record from the collection of more than 2,000 options and sit back to enjoy a dirty martini or classic Negroni.

Will Herrera

Wine lovers who want to drop $90 on a glass of cabernet sauvignon (or, perhaps, explore more inexpensive options) can head to the new Mili Wine Bar on the ground floor of the Mira luxury condo tower. The wine bar comes from owner Shubhra Sarkar, who previously worked in tech but loves to travel and collect wine with her husband. 

Chika & Sake

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Anyone looking to explore the wide world of sake should head over to the new Chika and Sake, a tiny new bar and restaurant pouring an ever-changing selection of sake along with a menu of Japanese small plates. Chika Ohata worked for a number of years at Hayes Valley shop True Sake and now hopes to help educate drinkers with a selection of about 15 to 20 sakes poured by the glass or carafe, plus sake flights.

Sluts, the suggestively named wine bar from the team behind Oakland’s Hi Felica, swung open its doors at 1116 Folsom Street in early February. It’s a vibe-y wine bar specializing in natural selections including bottles from Richmond’s Purity Wines and TyTy Wine, Lula, and Everwild. If you want something to eat after swinging around the bar’s stripper pole (yes, really) there’s a menu of “convenience store favorites” like Lean Cuisines, Flaming Hot Cheetos, Cup Noodle, and Lunchables.

Jeremy Chiu

Hazie's

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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.

Hardy Wilson

CAVAÑA

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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. 

Anthony Parks, Emilio & Miguel Salehi (Equal Parts Media)

The Hideout

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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.

LUNA Kitchen & Cocktails

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It’s only been about a year and a half since Luna rose up on Valencia but already the owners have given the bar and restaurant a new beginning. It’s all about serving the neighborhood now with affordable and unfussy food and drinks including a Bee’s Bonnet made with gin, yuzu, blueberry, and lavender. Importantly for any good neighborhood watering hole, there’s also a happy hour on weekdays from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday nights from 9 to 10 p.m. at the bar.

Shandru Photography

Olfactory Brewing & Blending

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The Dogpatch is home to a new brewery with the opening of Olfactory Brewing on Third Street. The brewery comes from a team of beer industry veterans and focuses on pales, lagers, funk, and barrel-aged beers. It’s a dog-friendly scene with about a half-dozen fresh brews on tap including a light lager called Easy Plateau made exclusively with local malt from Admiral Maltings.  

El Chato

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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.

Causwells

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.

Stephanie Amberg

Dento Union

The Mins Group — as in the people behind Sushi Sato and Sushi Hon — introduced twin bars to the city in February. Dento Union serves the Cow Hollow and Marina neighborhoods with sake and wine, while over in SoMa, Dento Coffee & Wine pours lattes by day and sake and Champagne by night.

Mitinunwong

Blind Pig Speakeasy Lounge

Experienced barman Derrick Li brings boldly flavored baiju cocktails to Bling Pig, the bar found on the second floor of the historic Cathay House in Chinatown. Many of the drinks showcase Asian ingredients, like the Pink Leaf drink, which incorporates bitter melon with Patron reposado tequila. Open since October, the lounge sports “a lot of 1930s Shanghai-style decorations,” Li describes, with floor-to-ceiling windows that provide a grand view of California Street.

Blind Pig

Harlan Records

Bar Fluxus is out and Harlan Records is in, and the new bar is bringing tons of vintage vinyl and a list of music-inspired cocktails to downtown San Francisco. The bar comes from a team of experienced industry folks and takes inspiration from Japanese-style listening bars. So pick a record from the collection of more than 2,000 options and sit back to enjoy a dirty martini or classic Negroni.

Will Herrera

Mili

Wine lovers who want to drop $90 on a glass of cabernet sauvignon (or, perhaps, explore more inexpensive options) can head to the new Mili Wine Bar on the ground floor of the Mira luxury condo tower. The wine bar comes from owner Shubhra Sarkar, who previously worked in tech but loves to travel and collect wine with her husband. 

Chika & Sake

Anyone looking to explore the wide world of sake should head over to the new Chika and Sake, a tiny new bar and restaurant pouring an ever-changing selection of sake along with a menu of Japanese small plates. Chika Ohata worked for a number of years at Hayes Valley shop True Sake and now hopes to help educate drinkers with a selection of about 15 to 20 sakes poured by the glass or carafe, plus sake flights.

Sluts

Sluts, the suggestively named wine bar from the team behind Oakland’s Hi Felica, swung open its doors at 1116 Folsom Street in early February. It’s a vibe-y wine bar specializing in natural selections including bottles from Richmond’s Purity Wines and TyTy Wine, Lula, and Everwild. If you want something to eat after swinging around the bar’s stripper pole (yes, really) there’s a menu of “convenience store favorites” like Lean Cuisines, Flaming Hot Cheetos, Cup Noodle, and Lunchables.

Jeremy Chiu

Hazie's

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.

Hardy Wilson

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. 

Anthony Parks, Emilio & Miguel Salehi (Equal Parts Media)

The Hideout

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.

LUNA Kitchen & Cocktails

It’s only been about a year and a half since Luna rose up on Valencia but already the owners have given the bar and restaurant a new beginning. It’s all about serving the neighborhood now with affordable and unfussy food and drinks including a Bee’s Bonnet made with gin, yuzu, blueberry, and lavender. Importantly for any good neighborhood watering hole, there’s also a happy hour on weekdays from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday nights from 9 to 10 p.m. at the bar.

Shandru Photography

Olfactory Brewing & Blending

The Dogpatch is home to a new brewery with the opening of Olfactory Brewing on Third Street. The brewery comes from a team of beer industry veterans and focuses on pales, lagers, funk, and barrel-aged beers. It’s a dog-friendly scene with about a half-dozen fresh brews on tap including a light lager called Easy Plateau made exclusively with local malt from Admiral Maltings.  

El Chato

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.

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