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Eater

12 Winter Cocktails to Warm Up Chilly Nights

There may be no snow on the ground, but you can still warm up with a drink.

by Ellen Fort
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by Ellen Fort
Eater

With the sun setting at 5 pm and the fog rolling in thick, drinking at this time of year isn't just fun: it's functional. Whether you're looking to warm up from the rain, get in a festive mood, or blot out all memories of an excruciating office holiday party, one of these winter warmers will do the trick. An over-the-top hot chocolate with your choice of booze? A cocktail that tastes like a Christmas tree? Hot buttered rum, complete with free snacks? This list has it all.

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1313 Main - Restaurant and Wine Bar

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1313 Main's new winter libation, the Valrhona Hot Chocolate ($12) is something of a DIY affair. Diners receive a mug of hot milk and cream, a hardened block of spiced Valrhona chocolate and a mini-flask filled with a choice of bourbon, Bailey's, cognac or other spirit. This little gem is only available at Sunday brunch from 10am-2pm. Add an accompanying two-tiered plate of sweets, like salted caramel and brioche donuts, for $12.

1313 Main St, Napa, CA 94559
(707) 258-1313
(707) 258-1313

A16 Rockridge

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It's not the Winter Solstice yet, but that's no reason not to enjoy a Solstizio cocktail at A16 Rockridge. It walks the line between fall and winter with persimmon-ginger syrup, lemon juice, and Jardesca (an SF-based aperitif), topped with Prosecco and garnished with a slice of candied persimmon.

5356 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618
(510) 768-8003
(510) 768-8003

Blackbird

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Obviously, winter is coming. But at Blackbird, winter is bringing a boozy menu of Game of Thrones-themed cocktails along with it. Wrap yourself in furs and sip the Milk of the Poppy ($9), a Mexican style eggnog with cognac and cinnamon mulled wine. It's warm and cozy and most likely not poisonous.

2124 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 503-0630
(415) 503-0630

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Hopscotch Restaurant & Bar

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Shop around Old Oakland, then stop into Hopscotch for a Wagonwheel, a charming little concoction of bourbon, maple syrup, hot coffee, and scotch cream that will fortify the spirits. It has enough caffeine to keep you going and just the right amount of bourbon to numb you for more mindless consumerism.

1915 San Pablo Ave, Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 788-6217
(510) 788-6217

Also featured in:

Lazy Bear

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Lazy Bear's new brick-and-mortar location in the Mission is a hot ticket. If you manage to gain admission to this magical dining experience, you'll have the unique pleasure of enjoying a Douglas Fir Negroni, made with St. George Terroir Gin, Bonal, Americano Bianco, and Clear Creek Distilleries Douglas Fir Eau de Vie. Garnished with orange-flamed pine needles, of course.

3416 19th Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 874-9921
(415) 874-9921

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Presidio Social Club

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Presidio Social Club is located in the thick of the fog's wet embrace, making it the perfect location for a hot and spicy tequila cocktail. The Café Jalisco contains Espolon Reposado, Aleppo chili, chocolate, coffee and whipped cream, which sounds pretty deadly.

563 Ruger St, San Francisco, CA 94129
(415) 885-1888
(415) 885-1888

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Tosca Cafe

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The bar at Tosca Cafe is cozy and warm, and your bloodstream will be too after consuming their take on the famed House "Cappuccino" ($12). A potent blend of Armagnac, Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Dandelion chocolate ganache and organic milk, the first sip of this frothy brown drink will certainly wake you up, even though there's no actual coffee involved.

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

Also featured in:

Dirty Habit

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Dirty Habit has no problem taking their high-end cocktails down a peg with the "Get Me a Juice Box!" cocktail for two ($20). Hot buttered rum in a Thermos, housemade bar nuts and two Miller pony bottles arrive in a lunch box.

12 4th St, 5th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 348-1555
(415) 348-1555

Also featured in:

15 Romolo

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It's a "Sherry Christmas" at 15 Romolo. Try an Emerald Tablet from their special menu of sherry libations, a concoction of London gin, Manzanilla sherry, yellow chartreuse, rosemary honey, lemon, egg white and fennel pollen. For the purist, they also have 17 sherries available by the glass.

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

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Tony’s Pizza Napoletana

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During the holidays, North Beach is the most festive neighborhood in town. Keep up with all the older Italians with a hot drink so chock full of booze that you'll get lost in Washington Square Park. The Smooth Killer combines Wild Turkey rye whiskey, fresh lemon, honey, amaretto, hot infusion-siphon tea with cinnamon, vanilla, orange, jasmine, and cloves for a comforting winter elixir.

1570 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 835-9888
(415) 835-9888

Also featured in:

Trick Dog

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Craving 'Nog? Trick Dog applies their standard upgrade to the traditional holiday treat with the Egg Dog. Bartender Morgan Schick's creamy concoction is composed of Appleton Estate Reserve rum, brandy, Amontillado sherry, cream, egg and a dash of nutmeg. It's served in a vintage Fireking mug, which makes it even cozier.

3010 20th St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 471-2999
(415) 471-2999

Also featured in:

Clock Bar

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Check in here for a break from aggressive shopping (or whatever it is you do in Union Square). If the crowds have you feeling weak, it might be time to Grow A Pear. This cheeky cocktail is a bitter-sweet combination of SKYY Vodka, Montenegro, pear and cranberry.

335 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 397-9222
(415) 397-9222

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1313 Main - Restaurant and Wine Bar

1313 Main St, Napa, CA 94559

1313 Main's new winter libation, the Valrhona Hot Chocolate ($12) is something of a DIY affair. Diners receive a mug of hot milk and cream, a hardened block of spiced Valrhona chocolate and a mini-flask filled with a choice of bourbon, Bailey's, cognac or other spirit. This little gem is only available at Sunday brunch from 10am-2pm. Add an accompanying two-tiered plate of sweets, like salted caramel and brioche donuts, for $12.

1313 Main St, Napa, CA 94559
(707) 258-1313
(707) 258-1313

A16 Rockridge

5356 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618

It's not the Winter Solstice yet, but that's no reason not to enjoy a Solstizio cocktail at A16 Rockridge. It walks the line between fall and winter with persimmon-ginger syrup, lemon juice, and Jardesca (an SF-based aperitif), topped with Prosecco and garnished with a slice of candied persimmon.

5356 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618
(510) 768-8003
(510) 768-8003

Blackbird

2124 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94114

Obviously, winter is coming. But at Blackbird, winter is bringing a boozy menu of Game of Thrones-themed cocktails along with it. Wrap yourself in furs and sip the Milk of the Poppy ($9), a Mexican style eggnog with cognac and cinnamon mulled wine. It's warm and cozy and most likely not poisonous.

2124 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 503-0630
(415) 503-0630

Hopscotch Restaurant & Bar

1915 San Pablo Ave, Oakland, CA 94612

Shop around Old Oakland, then stop into Hopscotch for a Wagonwheel, a charming little concoction of bourbon, maple syrup, hot coffee, and scotch cream that will fortify the spirits. It has enough caffeine to keep you going and just the right amount of bourbon to numb you for more mindless consumerism.

1915 San Pablo Ave, Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 788-6217
(510) 788-6217

Lazy Bear

3416 19th Street, San Francisco, CA 94110

Lazy Bear's new brick-and-mortar location in the Mission is a hot ticket. If you manage to gain admission to this magical dining experience, you'll have the unique pleasure of enjoying a Douglas Fir Negroni, made with St. George Terroir Gin, Bonal, Americano Bianco, and Clear Creek Distilleries Douglas Fir Eau de Vie. Garnished with orange-flamed pine needles, of course.

3416 19th Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 874-9921
(415) 874-9921

Presidio Social Club

563 Ruger St, San Francisco, CA 94129

Presidio Social Club is located in the thick of the fog's wet embrace, making it the perfect location for a hot and spicy tequila cocktail. The Café Jalisco contains Espolon Reposado, Aleppo chili, chocolate, coffee and whipped cream, which sounds pretty deadly.

563 Ruger St, San Francisco, CA 94129
(415) 885-1888
(415) 885-1888

Tosca Cafe

242 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133

The bar at Tosca Cafe is cozy and warm, and your bloodstream will be too after consuming their take on the famed House "Cappuccino" ($12). A potent blend of Armagnac, Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Dandelion chocolate ganache and organic milk, the first sip of this frothy brown drink will certainly wake you up, even though there's no actual coffee involved.

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

Dirty Habit

12 4th St, 5th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103

Dirty Habit has no problem taking their high-end cocktails down a peg with the "Get Me a Juice Box!" cocktail for two ($20). Hot buttered rum in a Thermos, housemade bar nuts and two Miller pony bottles arrive in a lunch box.

12 4th St, 5th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 348-1555
(415) 348-1555

15 Romolo

15 Romolo Pl, San Francisco, CA 94133

It's a "Sherry Christmas" at 15 Romolo. Try an Emerald Tablet from their special menu of sherry libations, a concoction of London gin, Manzanilla sherry, yellow chartreuse, rosemary honey, lemon, egg white and fennel pollen. For the purist, they also have 17 sherries available by the glass.

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

Tony’s Pizza Napoletana

1570 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94133

During the holidays, North Beach is the most festive neighborhood in town. Keep up with all the older Italians with a hot drink so chock full of booze that you'll get lost in Washington Square Park. The Smooth Killer combines Wild Turkey rye whiskey, fresh lemon, honey, amaretto, hot infusion-siphon tea with cinnamon, vanilla, orange, jasmine, and cloves for a comforting winter elixir.

1570 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 835-9888
(415) 835-9888

Trick Dog

3010 20th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Craving 'Nog? Trick Dog applies their standard upgrade to the traditional holiday treat with the Egg Dog. Bartender Morgan Schick's creamy concoction is composed of Appleton Estate Reserve rum, brandy, Amontillado sherry, cream, egg and a dash of nutmeg. It's served in a vintage Fireking mug, which makes it even cozier.

3010 20th St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 471-2999
(415) 471-2999

Clock Bar

335 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Check in here for a break from aggressive shopping (or whatever it is you do in Union Square). If the crowds have you feeling weak, it might be time to Grow A Pear. This cheeky cocktail is a bitter-sweet combination of SKYY Vodka, Montenegro, pear and cranberry.

335 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 397-9222
(415) 397-9222

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