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A Zuni bloody in the making.
A Zuni bloody in the making.
Photo: foodhoe_pix/Flickr

Our Favorite San Francisco Brunch Cocktails

by Allie Pape
1 comment / new
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A Zuni bloody in the making.
| Photo: foodhoe_pix/Flickr
by Allie Pape
1 comment / new

hangoverPH.jpgBrunching in San Francisco is not for the faint of heart. While a few may sleepily jot their name down on the 3-page wait-list without batting an eye and go grab coffee, others ruthlessly stake out which table might get up next, hounding the host and hoping to beat out the weary and those less-determined. Bloody Marys and bottomless mimosas are clichés of the past in this town, where the line out the door demands an expectation for exciting and innovative AM libations. To help Cocktail Week ease into Cocktail Weekend, Eater presents a list of brunch cocktails to help nurse your hangover, whether you're looking to get woken up or put back to sleep.

Sophia Lorenzi contributed to this article.

· The Brunch Heatmap: Where to Brunch NOW [~ ESF ~]
· All Hangover Power Hour posts [~ ESF ~]
· All Cocktail Week 2013 posts [~ ESF ~]

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Bar Agricole

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The aptly named Sleepyhead wakes drinkers up with brandy, fresh ginger, mint from Agricole's patio garden, lime and a splash of sparkling wine. It was developed by owner Thad Vogler and bartender Eric Johnson. (Sundays only.)

355 11th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 355-9400
(415) 355-9400

Also featured in:

Beretta

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The Pamplemousse, French for “grapefruit,” may be just as lovely as the favored Lonsdale cocktail on Beretta's dinner menu. It's a tart but boozy concoction with gin, lemon and grapefruit juices, basil, and elderflower liqueur.

1199 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 695-1199
(415) 695-1199

15 Romolo

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Romolo's waffle shot is complimentary at brunch, and with its combo of black rum, coffee liqueur, and a sugar-dusted waffle chunk, it's bound to get you on the right foot for enjoying a Pimm's Cup, Bloody Hammer, or other brunch cocktail.

15 Romolo Pl, San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 398-1359
(415) 398-1359

Also featured in:

Outerlands

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After a two-hour wait in the wind and fog, there’s no better way to warm up than with Outerlands’ housemade hot ginger-lemon-apple cider, spiked with Buffalo Trace Bourbon. (Sundays only.)

4001 Judah St, San Francisco, CA 94122
(415) 661-6140
(415) 661-6140

Also featured in:

Park Tavern

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Ditch the couch and get your Saturday Morning Cartoons on in beverage form with Park Tavern's creamy cocktail. With Ron Zacapa 23 rum, brandy, milk and cereal, it'll have you hopping through Washington Square Park like Bugs Bunny.

1652 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 898-7300
(415) 898-7300

Also featured in:

Zuni Cafe

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Zuni's brunch options are choose-your-own-adventure: go savory with the much-vaunted balsamic bloody mary, or keep it sweet with the delicate elderflower cocktail, combining Hendrick's gin, St. Germain, prosecco, and lemon. (Sundays only.)

1658 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 552-2522
(415) 552-2522

Also featured in:

Maven

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Those who've been dying all morning should head straight for Kate Bolton's take on a Death in the Afternoon, which subs cooling absinthe sorbet for the traditional straight shot of green fairy. Tarragon tea, lemon and lime round out a drink that was a favorite of Ernest Hemingway--no stranger to the hangover.

598 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 829-7982
(415) 829-7982

Also featured in:

West of Pecos

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Ditch the standard bloody and opt for Pecos' Mezcal Mary, which subs in the smoky agave spirit for boring old vodka. You'll be back on your horse in no time. (Saturdays & Sundays)

550 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 252-7000
(415) 252-7000

Also featured in:

Nopa

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The Buena Vista may make SF's most iconic Irish coffee, but they don't serve brunch. Thankfully, Nopa does, and their brown sugar-molasses version pairs nicely with the famed custard French toast. There's also the Blue Bottle martini, for warmer days that call for a coffee cocktail.

560 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 864-8643
(415) 864-8643

Also featured in:

AQ Restaurant & Bar

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The Heart of Maguey is a simple drink: mezcal, horchata, mix. But with its sweet smokiness, cinnamon kick, and punch of alcohol, it's a lighter take on a milk punch, and a solid foundation for an aggrieved stomach. (Sundays only.)

1085 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 341-9000
(415) 341-9000

Also featured in:

Brenda's French Soul Food

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Given that it's beer and wine only, cocktails aren't typically found at Brenda's, but there's one quirky exception: the Coup de Café, which brings together espresso, chocolate, and Underberg bitters to, as the menu puts it, "calm the stomach from the night before's debauchery."

652 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 345-8100
(415) 345-8100

Also featured in:

The Tipsy Pig

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The Mornin' Tea isn't your grandpa's Arnold Palmer: it's more like a John Daly, combining the classic thirst-quenching combo of iced tea and lemonade with vodka and apricot-riesling jam. It's best savored on the spacious patio-- provided you've got some dark sunglasses on hand. (Open Fridays as well as weekends.)

2231 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 292-2300
(415) 292-2300

Also featured in:

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Bar Agricole

355 11th St, San Francisco, CA 94103

The aptly named Sleepyhead wakes drinkers up with brandy, fresh ginger, mint from Agricole's patio garden, lime and a splash of sparkling wine. It was developed by owner Thad Vogler and bartender Eric Johnson. (Sundays only.)

355 11th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 355-9400
(415) 355-9400

Beretta

1199 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110

The Pamplemousse, French for “grapefruit,” may be just as lovely as the favored Lonsdale cocktail on Beretta's dinner menu. It's a tart but boozy concoction with gin, lemon and grapefruit juices, basil, and elderflower liqueur.

1199 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 695-1199
(415) 695-1199

15 Romolo

15 Romolo Pl, San Francisco, CA 94133

Romolo's waffle shot is complimentary at brunch, and with its combo of black rum, coffee liqueur, and a sugar-dusted waffle chunk, it's bound to get you on the right foot for enjoying a Pimm's Cup, Bloody Hammer, or other brunch cocktail.

15 Romolo Pl, San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 398-1359
(415) 398-1359

Outerlands

4001 Judah St, San Francisco, CA 94122

After a two-hour wait in the wind and fog, there’s no better way to warm up than with Outerlands’ housemade hot ginger-lemon-apple cider, spiked with Buffalo Trace Bourbon. (Sundays only.)

4001 Judah St, San Francisco, CA 94122
(415) 661-6140
(415) 661-6140

Park Tavern

1652 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94133

Ditch the couch and get your Saturday Morning Cartoons on in beverage form with Park Tavern's creamy cocktail. With Ron Zacapa 23 rum, brandy, milk and cereal, it'll have you hopping through Washington Square Park like Bugs Bunny.

1652 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 898-7300
(415) 898-7300

Zuni Cafe

1658 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Zuni's brunch options are choose-your-own-adventure: go savory with the much-vaunted balsamic bloody mary, or keep it sweet with the delicate elderflower cocktail, combining Hendrick's gin, St. Germain, prosecco, and lemon. (Sundays only.)

1658 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 552-2522
(415) 552-2522

Maven

598 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117

Those who've been dying all morning should head straight for Kate Bolton's take on a Death in the Afternoon, which subs cooling absinthe sorbet for the traditional straight shot of green fairy. Tarragon tea, lemon and lime round out a drink that was a favorite of Ernest Hemingway--no stranger to the hangover.

598 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 829-7982
(415) 829-7982

West of Pecos

550 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Ditch the standard bloody and opt for Pecos' Mezcal Mary, which subs in the smoky agave spirit for boring old vodka. You'll be back on your horse in no time. (Saturdays & Sundays)

550 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 252-7000
(415) 252-7000

Nopa

560 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117

The Buena Vista may make SF's most iconic Irish coffee, but they don't serve brunch. Thankfully, Nopa does, and their brown sugar-molasses version pairs nicely with the famed custard French toast. There's also the Blue Bottle martini, for warmer days that call for a coffee cocktail.

560 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 864-8643
(415) 864-8643

AQ Restaurant & Bar

1085 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94103

The Heart of Maguey is a simple drink: mezcal, horchata, mix. But with its sweet smokiness, cinnamon kick, and punch of alcohol, it's a lighter take on a milk punch, and a solid foundation for an aggrieved stomach. (Sundays only.)

1085 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 341-9000
(415) 341-9000

Brenda's French Soul Food

652 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Given that it's beer and wine only, cocktails aren't typically found at Brenda's, but there's one quirky exception: the Coup de Café, which brings together espresso, chocolate, and Underberg bitters to, as the menu puts it, "calm the stomach from the night before's debauchery."

652 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 345-8100
(415) 345-8100

The Tipsy Pig

2231 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA 94123

The Mornin' Tea isn't your grandpa's Arnold Palmer: it's more like a John Daly, combining the classic thirst-quenching combo of iced tea and lemonade with vodka and apricot-riesling jam. It's best savored on the spacious patio-- provided you've got some dark sunglasses on hand. (Open Fridays as well as weekends.)

2231 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 292-2300
(415) 292-2300

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