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The Treasury

14 Refreshing Summer Cocktails Around the Bay

Embrace those summer vibes as the days turn long with highball cocktails

by Noelle Chun
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by Noelle Chun
The Treasury

Highballs are traditionally made with one base spirit (most often whiskey) and a big pour of soda in a tall Collins glass brimming with ice, making them the perfect, refreshing drink for summer — whether it's to mentally escape from the fog or soak up the midday rays. Today, Bay Area bartenders are stretching the classic definition with interesting spirits and little additional bursts of flavor from citrus, oils, and more. Here are 14 places serving excellent highballs so you can get in on all that refreshing, bubbly action.

Check out the San Francisco Cocktail Heatmap for more great places to grab a cocktail.

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ABV

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World-renowned ABV in the Mission adds to its roster of modern classics with the Casino Highball, a slightly funky glass of tequila blanco, cappalletti (a red aperitif), orange bitters, and soda.

3174 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 400-4748
(415) 400-4748
ABV

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Alchemist Bar & Lounge

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For a richer, less traditional take on the highball, Alchemist Bar and Lounge whips up The Graceland, mixing Jack Daniels, peanut creme liqueur, Giffards banana liqueur, hickory liquid smoke, and cream soda. The location makes it a convenient stop after a Giants game.

679 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 746-9968
(415) 746-9968
Alchemist Bar & Lounge

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The Bywater

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David Kinch's highly lauded New Orleans-inspired restaurant in the South Bay hired Claire Sprouse and Chad Arnholt (Tosca Cafe) to concoct its opening cocktail menu. Among other easy, imaginatively executed sippers is the Celery Highball, a clean blend of vodka or gin (your choice), celery, fino sherry, lemon, soda, and a touch of salt. Add in an open patio and more reliably warm South Bay weather, and it's almost like a staycation.

526 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos, CA 95030
(408) 560-9639
(408) 560-9639
The Bywater

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Cadence

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Available as part of Cadence's newly-added happy hour (weekdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.), the Chartreuse and Tonic ($7) is an herbaceous, but clean blend of monk-distilled green Chartreuse and house tonic. The cocktail celebrates the house's favorite spirit — proven by the Chartreuse logos tattooed on both executive chef Joey Elenterio and bartender Andrew Calisterio.

1446 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 851-8561
(415) 851-8561
Cadence

Delarosa

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For sun drenched summer days, Delarosa's patio in Yerba Buena provides a relaxing al fresco setting to sip on its savory Cybar Highball, a blend of Cynar (artichoke liqueur), seltzer, grapefruit, and salt.

37 Yerba Buena Ln, San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 872-7363
(415) 872-7363
Delarosa / Instagram

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Laszlo

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Bar manager Nicky Beyries spotlights highballs on a rotating basis, since the light, fizzy drink provides such a ready companion to the food, which is run in from the revered Foreign Cinema kitchen next door. She currently features the Pink Flamingo, made from spicy Lofi gentian amaro, soda, and a little grapefruit juice.

2534 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 648-7000
(415) 648-7000
Laszlo

Liholiho Yacht Club

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Slip into island time at the extremely popular, Hawaii-influenced Liholiho Yacht Club, which serves the light and refreshing Clifton Special, made with Belgian spirit Diep 9 Genever, coconut water, coconut syrup, and soda.

871 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 440-5446
(415) 440-5446
Liholiho Yacht Club / Instagram

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Mr Tipple's Recording Studio

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For a spicy version of the highball, bar and live music venue Mr Tipple's Recording Studio integrates Lairds apple brandy, pluot shrub, lime, soda, and habanero pepper for its Kind of Purple cocktail.

39 Fell St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 851-8560
(415) 851-8560
Mr Tipple's Recording Studio

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Novela

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Book-themed Novela in Yerba Buena presents a more complex version of the highball with its Frank Carmody, a blend of six ingredients instead of just two: mezcal and tequila mixed with beet juice, orange juice, and grapefruit soda, all garnished with a cranberry salt rim.

662 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 896-6500
(415) 896-6500
Novela

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PABU

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Highballs are all the rage in Japan, and Pabu serves a classic Japanese version of it using the floral Hakashu 12 Japanese whisky with Perrier.

101 California St, San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 668-7228
(415) 668-7228
Noelle Chun

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Prizefighter

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With a large outdoor patio, well-executed cocktails, and the option to bring in pizza from next door, Prizefighter embodies some of the best ways to kick back. The Emeryville bar dedicates an entire portion of its menu to "The Soda Fountain," a variety of mostly classic cocktails with soda or sparkling wine. This includes the Cubre Libre (rum, lime, cola), the Whiskey Apple Soda (rye, apple, lemon, soda), and the Paloma Fresca (tequila, grapefruit, lime, soda).

6702 Hollis St, Emeryville, CA 94608
(510) 428-1470
(510) 428-1470
Prizefighter

Also featured in:

Ramen Shop

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Fit for the Oakland ramen bar, bar manager Chris Lane's formidable cocktail program has always paid tribute to both the Japanese traditions and the local context. His five-drink highball menu is no exception. He offers more traditionally-inspired drinks like the Harmony Highball (Hikibiki Harmony, seltzer, and mint leaf) and the Pure Malt Highball (Taketsuru Pure Malt Whisky, seltzer, and lemon oil) using Japanese spirits. At same time, he brings to the forefront a few highballs that leverage locally-made St. George whiskey and shochu, spirits on which Lane and the distillery collaborated.

5812 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618
(510) 788-6370
(510) 788-6370
Noelle Chun

Also featured in:

Tosca Cafe

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For a little sip and a plate of pasta, check out the newly-revamped menu at North Beach mainstay Tosca Cafe. The savory Even Steven plays off one of executive chef Josh Even's favorite ingredients — marjoram, which is paired with gin or vodka (your choice), lemon, dry sherry, and soda.

242 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 986-9651
(415) 986-9651
Noelle Chun

Also featured in:

The Treasury

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One of San Francisco's trendiest bars, the Treasury makes a self-aware nod to the highball with The Selfie, a Tanqueray Bloom gin and tonic highball spiced up with housemade cherry and ginger-infused ice cubes.

115 Sansome St, San Francisco, CA 94104
The Treasury

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ABV

3174 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94103

World-renowned ABV in the Mission adds to its roster of modern classics with the Casino Highball, a slightly funky glass of tequila blanco, cappalletti (a red aperitif), orange bitters, and soda.

3174 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 400-4748
(415) 400-4748
ABV

Alchemist Bar & Lounge

679 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94107

For a richer, less traditional take on the highball, Alchemist Bar and Lounge whips up The Graceland, mixing Jack Daniels, peanut creme liqueur, Giffards banana liqueur, hickory liquid smoke, and cream soda. The location makes it a convenient stop after a Giants game.

679 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 746-9968
(415) 746-9968
Alchemist Bar & Lounge

The Bywater

526 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos, CA 95030

David Kinch's highly lauded New Orleans-inspired restaurant in the South Bay hired Claire Sprouse and Chad Arnholt (Tosca Cafe) to concoct its opening cocktail menu. Among other easy, imaginatively executed sippers is the Celery Highball, a clean blend of vodka or gin (your choice), celery, fino sherry, lemon, soda, and a touch of salt. Add in an open patio and more reliably warm South Bay weather, and it's almost like a staycation.

526 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos, CA 95030
(408) 560-9639
(408) 560-9639
The Bywater

Cadence

1446 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Available as part of Cadence's newly-added happy hour (weekdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.), the Chartreuse and Tonic ($7) is an herbaceous, but clean blend of monk-distilled green Chartreuse and house tonic. The cocktail celebrates the house's favorite spirit — proven by the Chartreuse logos tattooed on both executive chef Joey Elenterio and bartender Andrew Calisterio.

1446 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 851-8561
(415) 851-8561
Cadence

Delarosa

37 Yerba Buena Ln, San Francisco, CA 94103

For sun drenched summer days, Delarosa's patio in Yerba Buena provides a relaxing al fresco setting to sip on its savory Cybar Highball, a blend of Cynar (artichoke liqueur), seltzer, grapefruit, and salt.

37 Yerba Buena Ln, San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 872-7363
(415) 872-7363
Delarosa / Instagram

Laszlo

2534 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Bar manager Nicky Beyries spotlights highballs on a rotating basis, since the light, fizzy drink provides such a ready companion to the food, which is run in from the revered Foreign Cinema kitchen next door. She currently features the Pink Flamingo, made from spicy Lofi gentian amaro, soda, and a little grapefruit juice.

2534 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 648-7000
(415) 648-7000
Laszlo

Liholiho Yacht Club

871 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94109

Slip into island time at the extremely popular, Hawaii-influenced Liholiho Yacht Club, which serves the light and refreshing Clifton Special, made with Belgian spirit Diep 9 Genever, coconut water, coconut syrup, and soda.

871 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 440-5446
(415) 440-5446
Liholiho Yacht Club / Instagram

Mr Tipple's Recording Studio

39 Fell St, San Francisco, CA 94102

For a spicy version of the highball, bar and live music venue Mr Tipple's Recording Studio integrates Lairds apple brandy, pluot shrub, lime, soda, and habanero pepper for its Kind of Purple cocktail.

39 Fell St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 851-8560
(415) 851-8560
Mr Tipple's Recording Studio

Novela

662 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94105

Book-themed Novela in Yerba Buena presents a more complex version of the highball with its Frank Carmody, a blend of six ingredients instead of just two: mezcal and tequila mixed with beet juice, orange juice, and grapefruit soda, all garnished with a cranberry salt rim.

662 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 896-6500
(415) 896-6500
Novela

PABU

101 California St, San Francisco, CA 94111

Highballs are all the rage in Japan, and Pabu serves a classic Japanese version of it using the floral Hakashu 12 Japanese whisky with Perrier.

101 California St, San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 668-7228
(415) 668-7228
Noelle Chun

Prizefighter

6702 Hollis St, Emeryville, CA 94608

With a large outdoor patio, well-executed cocktails, and the option to bring in pizza from next door, Prizefighter embodies some of the best ways to kick back. The Emeryville bar dedicates an entire portion of its menu to "The Soda Fountain," a variety of mostly classic cocktails with soda or sparkling wine. This includes the Cubre Libre (rum, lime, cola), the Whiskey Apple Soda (rye, apple, lemon, soda), and the Paloma Fresca (tequila, grapefruit, lime, soda).

6702 Hollis St, Emeryville, CA 94608
(510) 428-1470
(510) 428-1470
Prizefighter

Ramen Shop

5812 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618

Fit for the Oakland ramen bar, bar manager Chris Lane's formidable cocktail program has always paid tribute to both the Japanese traditions and the local context. His five-drink highball menu is no exception. He offers more traditionally-inspired drinks like the Harmony Highball (Hikibiki Harmony, seltzer, and mint leaf) and the Pure Malt Highball (Taketsuru Pure Malt Whisky, seltzer, and lemon oil) using Japanese spirits. At same time, he brings to the forefront a few highballs that leverage locally-made St. George whiskey and shochu, spirits on which Lane and the distillery collaborated.

5812 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618
(510) 788-6370
(510) 788-6370
Noelle Chun

Tosca Cafe

242 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133

For a little sip and a plate of pasta, check out the newly-revamped menu at North Beach mainstay Tosca Cafe. The savory Even Steven plays off one of executive chef Josh Even's favorite ingredients — marjoram, which is paired with gin or vodka (your choice), lemon, dry sherry, and soda.

242 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 986-9651
(415) 986-9651
Noelle Chun

The Treasury

115 Sansome St, San Francisco, CA 94104

One of San Francisco's trendiest bars, the Treasury makes a self-aware nod to the highball with The Selfie, a Tanqueray Bloom gin and tonic highball spiced up with housemade cherry and ginger-infused ice cubes.

115 Sansome St, San Francisco, CA 94104
The Treasury

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