Remember 2016? Specifically, November 2016? Yeah, that was rough. One night soon after the election, my husband and I decided over drinks that we needed a simple win for the year ahead — an achievable low-stakes goal. The answer turned out to be literally right in front of us: cocktails.
Since we knew 2017 was going to be a year that would require many drinks to get through anyway, we figured we might as well do it right. So we set out to make it our “Year of the Cocktail.” Our goal: every week, commit to making a craft libation at home and/or go out for a drink at a bar or a restaurant.
As we get ready to celebrate San Francisco Cocktail Week (September 17–23) and Oakland’s first-ever Cocktail Week (September 15–23), this seems like the perfect time to reflect on our voyage.
Our number-one takeaway? Always sit at the bar, as you’ll get a front-row seat at the cocktail show, where you can see how the pros do it and make ephemeral friends with your barstool neighbors. The second realization: oftentimes the most hyped bars aren’t the stars—the real magic happens at the hidden gems.
To get you into the cocktail-week festivities, we’ve rounded up our favorite bars (and liquor shops). Let’s raise a glass to all the world-class bars, bartenders and local spirits that are right here in our neighborhoods.
The Cat House, Oakland
Female co-owners Hortensia Mitura and Hana Hayashi have created our idea of a good time at the Cat House on Lakeshore Avenue in Oakland. With a casual neighborhood atmosphere and jazz-era vibes, it’s hands down one of the most underrated cocktail bars in all of the Bay Area. I hesitate to even mention it here because part of what makes it so perfect is that it’s never overly crowded.
It opened a couple of years ago at about the same time we moved into the neighborhood, so you would think that it would be easy to miss it at a time when everything was new to us. Yet we didn’t miss it, and for good reason: the drinks are exceptional, and it’s extremely cozy in any seat in the house. This is the place to go when your brain wants to go out but your body wants to stay in pajamas.
It typically doesn’t serve food—aside from the occasional weekend food pop-ups—but you’re welcome to bring your own (pro tip: Arizmendi is right next door.) I’m looking forward to their love letters to Oakland in cocktail form during Oakland’s first-ever Cocktail Week.
Must order: The E&E (mezcal, tequila, pineapple gomme, jalapeño, cilantro, lime) Like your spicy really spicy? Ask for an extra dose of jalapeño extract.
This vibrantly spicy drink reminds me of a taco party we once threw in which we served shots of BYO tequila with a punchy chaser made of pineapple, jalapeño, cilantro and lime. The rise and fall of this gathering was more dramatic than any other we’ve ever thrown—this cocktail is even better.
thecathousebar.com, 3255 Lakeshore Avenue (Oakland)
Wildhawk, San Francisco
At stylishly low-lit, bohemian-esque Wildhawk, tucked in between Mission and Valencia Streets, you’ll find refined cocktails and sleek presentation. Take a seat on the lush upholstery among the bar’s funky wallpaper and Victorian-era patterned tin ceilings. Take in all the details in whatever pocket of the room you’d like to, but you’ll find me, at least, at the bar watching the cocktail magic as it goes from ingredients to their signature cheeky presentation.
That’s the beauty of Wildhawk: you get a damn-good drink, but they don’t take themselves too seriously. Each drink has a personality. For example, the Enter the Ninja (comprised of toasted coconut Japanese whiskey, ruby port pear eau de vie, hibiscus and egg white) is served in a glass with ninja silhouettes. The vermouth selection is probably their most prized. Don’t miss the Breakfast Negroni, a cocoa-puff-infused Negroni with Beefeater Gin, Campari, Cinzano 1751 Vermouth and chocolate-salt bitters—all served in a bowl with orange peel cutouts in the shapes of hearts and flowers.
Must order: Proper Cup (Earl Grey Tanqueray No. 10 Gin, amontillado sherry, Amaro Nonino, Carpano Bianco, bergamot)
I ordered this out of curiosity about what a tea-infused gin would be like—and the answer is delicious. There are no divas in this cast of ingredients. Instead, the ensemble melds together to parallel the ebbs and flows of a tea blend. Served appropriately in a teacup with shortbread, this makes for my kind of tea time.
wildhawksf.com, 3464 19th Street (San Francisco)
East Bay Spice Company, Berkeley
Often, cocktail bars give you a lot of the same old, same old. No so at East Bay Spice Company, a funky and trendy restaurant and bar that opened in downtown Berkeley in 2013. Its Indian-inspired food and drink menu is incredibly creative. Friendly bartenders expertly craft cocktails like the Golden State Curry, made with sweet and spicy ingredients that include coconut curry cream and white crème de cacao, and the Fireside Chaat, which is comprised of Carpano Bianco, Ancho Reyes Verde liqueur, passion-fruit, lime and spicy biryani masala. Pair your drink with the restuarant’s Northern Indian fare — think samosas, tandoori plates and modern twists on street tacos.
I can’t forget to tell you about the best part about their drink menu—a travel around the world of cocktails that launched earlier this year. Ambitious patrons can take part in the Imbibe the World in 80 Days program, which includes 13 regionally inspired drinks. You’ll get a stamp in your “passport” once you try each of the drinks. The full 80-day, 20-challenge program will run you upwards of $450, including tips — no sharesies. To be fair, that’s less than an trip around the world.
Must order: Punjabi by Nature (Glasshouse Tradewinds Brandy with garam masala and Automatic Sea Gin paired with cucumber shrub and lime)
Oakland Spirits Company is on full display in this drink, not only with its beloved Automatic Sea Gin but with a special creation made just for East Bay Spice Company—the Glasshouse Tradewinds Brandy with garam masala. This refreshing yet earthy drink is sure to be unlike anything you’ve tried before and takes you on a sea voyage along the spice trade.
eastbayspicecompany.com, 2134 Oxford Street (Berkeley)
True Laurel, San Francisco
True Laurel is the composed cocktail brainchild of Lazy Bear’s chef/owner David Barzelay and bar director Nicolas Torres. Sure, this spinoff can be flashy, but the carefully crafted cocktails stand up to any amount of hipster hype that high-quality cocktail bars often attract. Take a seat in the midcentury-modern scene and peruse the menu. You might as well throw a dart to make your selection, because every cocktail is whimsical perfection, which we can definitively say because we and our friends drank the whole menu.
The cocktail menu here isn’t just hipster lip service; each element is meticulously selected to create a very specific—and very delicious—modern cocktail that draws from the bartenders’ extensive wealth of knowledge. If you’re like us, there will be many ingredients on True Laurel’s menu you may not be familiar with (Espodol, anyone?), but the friendly staff is happy to answer your questions.
Must order: Pea-casso (Aquavit, snap pea, Espadol, clarified lime, flat tonic, Arak Sannine)
Savory and citrusy is always up my alley. Aquavit supplies the aromatics, while the snap pea adds a fresh verdant touch. Espadol brings in a Spanish influence, and a cubist garnish nods to the artist — and just like Picasso, every detail is carefully considered and presented from a new perspective.
truelaurelsf.com, 753 Alabama (San Francisco)
Boot and Shoe Service, Oakland
Boot and Shoe Service has had a piece of our hearts since my husband and I moved to the Grand Avenue area of Oakland—it’s that cozy neighborhood spot that welcomes you any time of day. That’s why we were devastated and conflicted when the restaurant’s former owner Charlie Hallowell’s sexual-harassment allegations arose last spring. Thankfully, he stepped aside, and it’s now owned by Jen Cramer and Richard Clark — industry pros who are working to rebuild its culture, from adjusting their suppliers to ensuring that the employees are treated respectfully.
Boot and Shoe has always been known for its wood-fired pizzas and shared-plates menu, but my favorite piece of this place has always been its cocktail menu. My favorite spot is in the back bar, where the natural light is perfect for lighting the photos you’re not supposed to take (a note on the menu asks that you kindly refrain from using your device at the table) and puts you in the good-vibes afternoon mood, reminding you to slow down. The restaurant has a great wine and craft-beer selection as well, but when it comes to cocktails, you can expect them to have an Italian influence and to elegantly embrace ingredients with a bitter flavor profile.
Must order: Flip Your Wig (Amaro CioCiaro, mezcal, elderflower, lemon, seltzer)
What kind of nonsense is this? Mezcal, amaro and elderflower? I don’t know how it exactly works, but it does. This Italian-soda-inspired cocktail is smoky, citrusy and lightly floral, with a confident hit of bitter orange amaro, and it checks all the boxes in my book.
bootandshoeservice.com, 3308 Grand Avenue (Oakland)
Bonus: if you feel like celebrating in the comfort of your home or learning some new cocktail skills after watching the pros, we recommend these liquor stores to get you started.
Alchemy Bottle Shop, Oakland
This is your library of spirits. When you walk in, you’ll notice that they’re meticulously arranged on white shelves like the way a collector would show their knickknacks. The librarians—er, employees—of this finely selected collection are always excited to learn about what you plan to do with what you take home, even if it’s just to sip one of their foundation spirits. They offer a free tasting on Saturdays, and their various subscription clubs for handpicked selections from their special collections are worth checking out. Looking for inspiration? Pick up a copy of Death & Co.: Modern Classic Cocktails while you’re there.
What to get: Oakland Spirits Company’s Gin №5—a classic gin done, if anything, classier than ever. For best results, sip it on its own or, if you must, with a great delicately flavored tonic like Fever Tree Elderflower Tonic Water.
alchemybottleshop.com, 3256 Grand Avenue (Oakland)
Cask, Berkeley and San Francisco
We love Cask for the way it connects the shop’s spirits to local bars and sets you up with everything you need to give a cocktail a shot yourself. Throughout the store, you’ll notice displays for certain libations — complete with the recipe and everything you need in order to make it as well as information on which bar you can find the drink in and even the specific bartender who came up with it.
What to buy: Ask about their new arrivals, and seek out small-batch whiskies.
caskstore.com; 17 Third Street (San Francisco), 3185 College Avenue (Berkeley) and 101 Spear Street, Suite #A4 (San Francisco)
Healthy Spirits, San Francisco
Our trip to Healthy Spirits, located at the base of Corona Heights, resulted in a delightful surprise: finding a bottle we had been looking for for over a year—Laphroaig Cairdeas Cask Strength Quarter Cask scotch. While this shop looks like a simple convenience store, Healthy Spirits is packed full of amazing beer, wine and liquor selections. Mostly featuring base spirits rather than mixers, it’s the perfect place in which to pick up the liquor that goes the fastest — or to decide if you’d rather skip the cocktail for something neat.
What to buy: Laphroaig Cairdeas Cask Strength Quarter Cask scotch. Oooh, someone bought it all? Shame. Well, then, buy anything else that’s hidden in a corner, as it’s likely to be a real treasure and in good taste.
healthyspiritssf.com, 2299 15th Street (San Francisco)
Hey! The Bold Italic recently launched a podcast, This Is Your Life in Silicon Valley. Check out the full season or listen to the episode below featuring Hunter Walk, investor and former head of product at YouTube. More coming soon, so stay tuned!
