Top 5 Cocktail Bars in California

420 3rd Ave, San Diego, CA 92101, United States

“They’ll serve the higher paying customers before u. We went on our last night in San Diego, had a burnt burger that I ordered medium, wife’s pork chops were dry, Mac and cheese were ok and fries were very hard. Was very surprised that the waiters had zero knowledge of anything, was surprised a wellers was like $40-90 but buffalo trace was $12 for both their kinds. The drink menu is insane but the way it’s all priced is just weird. Some shots cost the whole price of a bottle and more. The thing that made me upset the most was that I ordered a buffalo trace white and a group sat after I ordered next to us and ordered 2 $150 taste of Japan flights. I waited and waited and never got my drink, but here came my waiter with 10 drinks and said they were having a hard time finding the buffalo trace, but they could find the 10 different Japanese whiskies? Overall, terrible experience, if u want whiskey go there, but I spent $240 and I also left a $45 tip for 4 meals 2 apps and 6 drinks to leave upset, don’t go there for the food at all. If u wanna drink whiskey, come here, but the food was just terrible, none of us felt it was worth the price for the food”

4 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94103, United States

“Excellent martinis and probably any other cocktail you could wish for. Love love love Martuni's and have done for many years! Have a perfect cocktail (I recommend the French martini, my new favorite) and amble over to Rocket Sushi! Life is good.”

1116 25th St, San Diego, CA 92102, United States

“Very fun date night spot. You cook everything, even your burger. Big grill, everyone gathered around. Red light ambiance helps to disguise meat that maybe isn't cooked exactly how you like it. We had a blast. Hot dog was these best. Ribeye not too fatty, just right. Wish we tried the filet, watched others cook theirs and looked amazing.”

701 E Main St, Ventura, CA 93001, United States

“Only tried 2 things here…the spicy tuna roll was delicious! The pork sliders not so much. I’d have to try more items to truly rate the food. Loved the atmosphere and the waitress was very friendly. I didn’t like the dogs however..barking and servers petting them and then bringing me my food, not hygienic. Will definitely try it again tho!”

1936 E 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90021, United States

“Came and met friends here the other day for happy hour. The hosts and the bartenders are very welcoming and so is the staff. Everyone is very helpful and pleasant. Especially when we come in with someone in a wheelchair and they have to set tables up. We were very appreciative. The food was bar food. A little disappointed on taste of the drinks and the food but we enjoyed the atmosphere and music and the personality of our server. We would definitely give it a second chance.”

3174 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94103, United States

“Good drinks and great food. The cheese board and shrimp tacos are my personal favorites”

1621 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94612, United States

“I came here for the ambiance. This place sure is eclectic! Some of the other bars in the area feel... well... sterile. But then again, they aren't art bars. I came on a Friday night, and it was quite busy. I kinda wish I came here more, but duty calls (by that, I mean work .😮‍💨) I don't think they offer food here.”

710 Garnet Ave, San Diego, CA 92109, United States

“Love it as a real nice beach spot to go and eat as well of getting happy hour eats. As very friendly customer service and nice place to social with your hang out buddies on the scene to enjoy your best moments there at the beach. Love the live karaoke there to. Good thing now you can go on Friday, for $7 all you can eat tacos which is so cool and karaoke. No more allyoi can eat tacos.”

550 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94108, United States

“While the setting exudes a hint of tiki allure, it falls just shy of fully immersing patrons in an authentic tiki experience. The drinks, though generally commendable, flirt with greatness but miss the mark on a couple of occasions. Despite this, a visit to Pacific Cocktail Haven is still well worth it for the discerning cocktail enthusiast. However, for those seeking a truly immersive San Francisco tiki adventure, it might be best to explore other options.”

155 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133, United States

“I did not try any food, but went with off menu classics like a Manhattan, and asked for a floral but not sweet gin cocktail and was given the Pegu Club, along with some great background of the drinks origin. Everything you'd want out of a small corner saloon with 6ish bars seats and 5 or so tables. I saw someone enjoying what looked like oysters, but did not get a chance to browse the menu. From the looks of it, we are talking about a refined cocktail bar with a wide array of potions at their disposal. I see lots of rum, gin and other spirits you'd expect in a place like this. Well done, thank you for the pick me up. Update: came back again on a Friday night. Super friendly staff, friendly patrons and a wonderful Pimm's cup!”

10149 Riverside Dr, Toluca Lake, CA 91602, United States

“I just want to give the biggest shout out to Tasha and the entire Forman's team. I've been setting up events here for a couple of months now and Tasha has been absolutely AMAZING. Always answers my questions in a timely manner, and offers suggestions when something may not be available or can be improved. This is now the go-to place for a lot of new people in our group! The food is amazing, the vibe is chill, the drinks are superb, and of course the staff provides the best customer service. Thank you for always being good to me and my group, truly appreciated in our hard times during the strikes. We even had the joy of celebrating the end of the strikes at Forman's and wouldn't have had it any other way!”

7777 University Ave, La Mesa, CA 91941, United States

“Definitely come for Happy Hour prices on select cocktails and the Happy Hour appetizer menu. We had a party of 5 and ordered many of the appetizers. Some of them were a hit somewhere a miss? Maybe a bit too salty. I personally did the barata salad and it had too much balsamic to the point that all you could taste was the basalmic dressing. Husband got the French onion soup. He said it was good, not the traditional kind that he was expecting. He wouldn't order it again but it was good. The steak kebabs were a hit and the chicken wings were also a favorite. As happy hour was ending live music was starting and it was starting to get more crowded. It's a fun atmosphere. Maybe find a booth a little further away from the live music (which is right near the entrance) if you want to be able to hear your dining companions.”

20 Yerba Buena Ln, San Francisco, CA 94103, United States

“Mohsen (MO) the bartender, is straight up legit, good people. I came in early hot and fast for a 1&2 and ended up here longer because of MO. Decent wines by the glass, nice atmosphere, I will see Mo again for sure on my next drop in.”

2424 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94612, United States

“This place is super cool inside and out. They have it all decked out for Christmas and it’s a must see bar. The redwood trees on the back patio are a nice vibe. The drinks were also very very good! Get the marshmallow unicorn drink !”

2315 K St, Sacramento, CA 95816, United States

“Everyone was so nice to us. They were so sweet and even tho the back wasn't open, they let my daughter take pics of me on the swing and the other guy was able to take our pictures on the swing. Super nice! Great cocktail menu Street parking. 9pm Sundays are silent disco nights. Absolutely 💯 love the decor and photo booth! 📸 Super cute theme too!”

10708 Los Alamitos Blvd, Los Alamitos, CA 90720, United States

“Food is really better than I expected! From basics such as the iceberg wedge salad to a juicy burger to a grilled salmon salad. They hit all their marks. Great selection of craft beers and cocktails and plenty of TVs with games I'll definitely be coming back! Service was also excellent and attentive.”

679 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94107, United States

“Went here for a conference associated event. The drinks were good although had some unusual flavors and the servers were quick. The DJ set a good mood as well throughout the night. It was decorated Halloween themed. They had some snacks like chicken tenders, melted cheese and honey sandwich, and pizza sandwich which was tasty. Overall a good impression and I would be back!”

3730 Main St, Riverside, CA 92501, United States

“I recently had the most amazing time at the Lobby in Riverside. Let me tell you, this place is fantastic! As soon as I walked in, I could feel the lively energy in the air. The drinks were absolutely amazing! 🍹 The mixologists really know their stuff. But wait, there's more! They have this awesome lounge upstairs that takes the experience to a whole new level. It's the perfect spot to chill and enjoy your drinks with friends. 🎉 And let's not forget about the location. It's right in the heart of Riverside, which adds to the overall charm. The atmosphere is just fantastic, creating a vibe that you won't find anywhere else. If you're looking for a place that's lively music, serves incredible drinks, and has a great lounge, the Lobby is the spot to be. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!🌟”

8932 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069, United States

“We had such a great time here as we always do. Mu husband had the drink called Nutcase which he gets every time we go. I got the tuna on crispy rice and it was delicious. The bartender Ethan was fantastic. We had a great time sitting at the bar and chatting with him.”

800 W Olympic Blvd Ste 250 Ste 250, Los Angeles, CA 90015, United States

“We had an event for Adobe Max here, the catered food was great, it was a fun evening with bowling and pool. Loved the ambiance and the cocktails were delicious.”