This cavernous and historic bar, ballroom, and events space has gotten a big revamp, with a full food menu and an offering of cocktails like the Nola Derby, with rum, citrus, and coffee liqueur. Read more.
This swank Basque joint has the bonus of The Bon Vivants on drink duty, whipping up concoctions like gin and tonics on tap, Basque cider and Irish whiskey combos, and sherry a-go-go. Read more.
All 16 cocktails on the menu (organized by spirit) feel thoughtful and smart. Highlights include Whiskey in Church (smoky scotch, oloroso, maple, smoked pear bitters) and the Sutro Swizzle. Read more.
It's a hefty tasting menu that won't leave you feeling hungry (or overly indulgent); they've got a robust loophole cocktail program and solid wine list as well. Read more.
The hotspot from Adriano Paganini has touched down in Cow Hollow's former Cafe des Amis space, complete with Belgian-inspired cocktails from Lolinda's Nora Furst, including several beer cocktails. Read more.
The adventurous drinks are ever-changing, but you may encounter anything from a bottled riff on Zima to a cocktail incorporating rice wine vinegar or salted chili oil. Read more.
Boxing Room just got full liquor, which means lots of New Orleans-inspired cocktails from Jonny Raglin, including a milk punch, frozen daiquiri, Pimm's cup, and gin fizz. Read more.
Newly opened Calavera has more than just amazing tacos— their bar program is filled with Mexican-inspired cocktails, wines and a huge selection of mezcals. Read more.
The latest offering from Bar Dogwood's Alexeis Filipello, located right next door, has a soda-fountain theme, complete with housemade soda concoctions, phosphates, and lactarts in many of the drinks. Read more.
Former Kimpton higher-ups Jacques Bezuidenhout and Ken Luciano are behind the creative drinks, with combos like cumin-infused vodka and passionfruit, or Irish whiskey and a strawberry-chamomile shrub. Read more.
Daniel Parks and Justin D’Olier are heading up the project as managers, offering crafty tiki drinks like a mai tai on the rocks, and the “bird of paradise” made with passion fruit whipped cream. Read more.
This post-Prohibition themed bar is fully committed to their concept, with 1930's music, decor and drinks. Classics like the Negroni, Vieux Carre and Aviation. Read more.
The Alembic is one of those bars where the drinks take time to make, but they're also hands-down the best in the hood, perhaps in the city.
The new Uptown Oakland spot from Ali Tahsini features a huge patio outside and concoctions include a namesake drink with Old Tom gin, rye, lime, and raspberry, and a clarified-grapefruit Paloma. Read more.
Arnold Erik Wong (E&O), Phil West (Range, Third Rail) and barman Carlos Yturria (A-16, Range, Absinthe) have delivered a classy, day-to-night bar with upscale snacks, like caviar and oysters. Read more.
Housed in (and named for) a former music shop, it has a cheerfully musical theme and an encyclopedic menu of more than 70 drinks, both classic and freshly devised. Read more.
