San Francisco’s vibrant culture of cocktails traces its roots to a rich culinary evolution through traditional and modern mixology techniques, resulting in the creation of complex flavours and different alcohol blends.
San Francisco shares a deep bond, especially with martinis, which form a building factor in the city’s progress as an important cocktail destination. With different variations and iterations developed across kitchens, San Francisco’s love for this signature drink has led to considerable pop culture relevance with the San Francisco Martini Trail, highlighting different spots that serve a delicious mix of the drink.
Check out these six martinis and six cocktail stops in San Francisco that should definitely be on your list!
- Absinthe Brasserie & Bar
An upscale, Parisian-style brasserie and bar serving French-Mediterranean cuisine and creative cocktails, with martinis adorning the menu featuring bases like Broker’s London Dry Gin or Marin Coastal Gin from Sausalito Liquor Co., Absinthe Brasserie & Bar is one of the shining jewels of the Martini Trail.
- Bix
Bix is a supper club with a swanky 1930s ambience, with live jazz serving American-French cuisine. A giant, ice-filled, metal bucket topped off with martini glasses in the middle of the long bar, welcomes you into the world of martinis, with your own customisations, vodka, olive or twist. Additionally, the gratis snack mix pairs amazingly well with the richness of the drink.
- Martuni’s
Martuni’s version of the iconic drink comes strong, without vermouth, unless you request otherwise. A classic combination of a martini and music at this piano bar is a melodic union, where the delicious martini flows endlessly with the tunes and voices of fellow patrons, resulting in a mini celebration of its own.
- Tadich Grill
Experience old school vibes at Tadich Grill, the oldest, continuously run restaurant in California, running its business since 1849. Here, your martini of choice, shaken, stirred, extra dry or with a twist, pairs excellently well with a crab cake appetiser or a plate of oysters Rockefeller. Located in San Francisco’s iconic Financial District, the European bistro-style atmosphere of the restaurant and its continuing legacy as a seafood institution is the perfect setting to savour a martini.
- True Laurel
Turn towards one of the most celebrated drink spots in San Francisco, where the co-founder and bar director, Nicolas Torres, makes a mean freezer martini with a proprietary blend of multiple gins, dry vermouths, and a hint of quinquina wine for a bittersweet complexity. It is finished with a tincture made from freshly picked California Bay Laurel and Meyer lemon oil to further brighten the flavours of the cocktail.
- Zam Zam
Assyrian-born Samson Mooshei’s Zam Zam has been a shining spot on Haight Street, which has been operating since 1941, running a legacy of 80+ years. Before the martini experience begins, immerse yourself in the Persian Art Deco red-walled interior, its back bar mural, neon sign, and the round bar with the antique wooden cash register, which are all reminiscent of the rich past. Opt for a dry or espresso martini, or even a sampling of mini ones.
Apart from the martini’s city-wide popularity, San Francisco has led the way for innovation in cocktail-making with some of the most talented and creative mixologists creating world-class flavour notes with their concoctions and recipes.
- Balboa Café
In the Marina, the timeless Balboa Café stands out as one of the most sought-after places serving a delectable menu featuring cocktails, beers, wines, margarita pitchers, and more. Also, known for their Espresso Martinis, Balboa sources single-origin cold brew along with vanilla vodka for their stand-out concoction.
- The Buena Vista Cafe
In San Francisco, you can actually start your day with a cocktail, namely the iconic Irish Coffee from The Buena Vista Café. Easily one of the city’s signature drinks, grab one to go, and explore the Powell-Hyde Cable Car and Fisherman’s Wharf, located just nearby.
- Brickhouse Bar & Grill
Experience the intimate notes of a cosy neighbourhood kitchen far from the noise of the city, at Brickhouse Bar & Grill, operating since 2000. Their cocktail kit offerings range across a wide variety of classic drinks such as Negroni, Martini, Old Fashioned, and gin and tonics.
- Burma Superstar
A hotspot of the Richmond neighbourhood, Burma Superstar offers different cocktail kits for guests to mix their spicy ginger lime margaritas on their own. These kits are shareable and offer a taste of their distinctive flavours.
- The Ice Cream Bar Soda Fountain
A unique cocktail remediation, taste, try Ice Cream Bar Soda Fountain’s boozy milkshake, Dublin Honey milkshake: a float made with Guinness stout, caramelised honey ice cream, house-made Valrhona dark chocolate syrup and Graham’s 10-year tawny port, for an unexpected flavour palate.
- Nopalito
If you are looking for refreshing margaritas, sangrias, and Bloody Marys, look no further than Nopalito’s Broderick Street location. Here, you may also practice your bartending skills with their michelada kits
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