Lit Libations Across San Francisco

Not all San Francisco cocktails are created equal — these are on a shelf above the rest

With over 500 bars within city limits, it can feel like good cocktails in San Francisco are a dime a dozen, though they certainly cost more than a dime. The city’s expansive drinking culture can be traced back to the Barbary Coast neighborhood, a red-light district of saloons, performance halls, jazz clubs and brothels that catered to some of the Bay Area’s most notorious individuals, and a few still stand to this day.

For a more contemporary libation experience, we've rounded up some of the most vibrant concoctions that mixologists from the dives of the Mission to the rooftops of Market Street can shake, stir and pour. Cheers to sipping spirits fit for the social media feed!

This downtown restaurant and bar has been serving some of the city’s best Indian food and complementary beverages since 1988, and counts former Gov. Jerry Brown and even President Clinton among its patrons. The bar comprising the front of the restaurant stays open until 2 a.m., with two (yes, two) happy hours in case you miss the first one.

Recommend: The lychee martini hits the perfect balance between sweet and dry, and their rum-based Madras Madness has added mango pulp for flavor and texture.

It's unlikely most of us will be able to meet our literary heroes, but downtown at Novela, maybe we can drink like them. This cozy bar’s specialty cocktails are concocted and named for historic literary characters, like the Earl Grey-infused Atticus Finch or the Tomoe Gozen, made with yuzu and Japanese whiskey. 

Recommend: The vodka-based, fruit-laden Aster Grey, and the Hemingway-inspired flight of punches on tap.

This Laotian eatery has a vibrant drink menu to evoke a sun-soaked summer vacation, and wants you to be loud about it. Their drink menu includes classic tropical potations like mai tais alongside surprises like the Zombie, with 99 secret ingredients, or the no-frills rum in a coconut. Truly, they will all make you want to use that paid time off you’ve been saving. On the weekends, sneak upstairs to their tucked away bar, Holy Mountain to roll from tiki to speakeasy vibes. 

Recommend: The interestingly-named Penicillin, with the option to choose scotch, mezcal or gin with ginger, basil and lemon, or Painkiller #2, a “tiki classic” with rum, orange and pineapple juices and nutmeg.   

Atop this Market Street Hotel is a bar with a view, and drinks to match. Charmaine's evokes the birds-eye view of looming skyscraper cities and an open floor layout that allows for breezing around the building’s perimeter — and straight to the bar. 

Recommend: Fifi the Flea, a twist on the bare bones paloma drink with the addition of chile-infused liqueurs and honey.

This jazz club turned millennial watering hole toes the perfect line of mystery and comfort. Since the pandemic’s onset they’ve established a parklet outside in addition to the arcade games and photo booth within. There are also punch bowls for those who want to share.  

Recommend: Original Sin, a verdant mix of mezcal and green chartreuse topped with celery, kiwi, pineapple and vanilla.