50 Best Cocktail Bars near Albany

“Low key, relaxed vibe, cool tunes, best drinks. And a stellar taco truck in the parking lot. Very friendly staff. 5 stars all day, every day.“

“I have been here about 3 times now. The bar tenders are friendly, and the general vibe is welcoming. Every time I have gone, I have enjoyed the music choices. There are 2 floors with a bar on each floor and a very nice patio. They have pool tables on both levels as well. My favorite part of the venue is the big stone fireplace. It's a cool feature.“

“I love this bar,! it’s a classic dive bar with decor of top notch classic musicians hanging on walls. The atmosphere is comfortable and the bartenders are so attentive and know their stuff (drinks) what’s really cool is they introduce an eclectic stream of good live music groups. The owners are also top notch friendly classic woman who look amazing!“

“Delicious food! Great Bar and desserts! Super friendly staff and owners.“

“It’s the best Restaurant in town came with Family and we had a great time! Food was great and drinks 🍹 we all loved the dessert as well! Just amazing service and food! My Favorite for sure! 2914 College Ave Berkeley Ca“

“There’s something magical about this bar and I just kept going back to it in the 2 months I stayed in SF. Def my fav bar in the area. They have such creative menu of cocktails and update the menu every 6 months. Super busy on Friday and weekend nights but bartenders make sure you’re taken care of. Just need a little time for them to get to you. Fun vibe and just so good drinks. Outdoor seating is pretty nice.“

“Amazing food and wine, great view“

“Arrived solo while waiting for a mate and was instantly looked after by the lovely bartender & manager—genuinely great chat and brilliant drink recs. The “punch special” is chaos in a glass (a mix of whatever’s going—but cheap and fun if you’re brave). Music was random, the pool table was lively, and people were even sending drinks to strangers, which gave the whole place a buzzy, friendly feel. It’s the perfect mix of dive bar energy with proper service and solid drinks. Not polished, not trying to be—just effortlessly cool. Definitely worth a visit, and I’d happily go back.“

“Lovely place with a great space.“

“The food in this restaurant is delicious, I hope you have time to try it.“

“Bring on the funny 😁 happy anniversary Lisa good times great atmosphere!!!“

“We walked in on NYE without a reservation and they graciously found us a spot in the bar area. Service was on point and staff were festively dressed! I love a crafty cocktail but most are too sweet. I had the Smokey mezcal cocktail 🍹. Perfection. Appetizers were delish as well. Perfect way to start our NYE celebrations.“

“Lavay Smith sings there on Sunday evenings“

“Great environment, lively, and tasty food!“

“Beautiful and intimately small location to hear some great jazz music! The musicians were all very into the music, bumping along with each other and having a great time making some great music. The food was great as well, definitely recommend the bao! The cocktails were all very diverse, something really for anyone's taste, and were really quite tasty. There is a 90 min limit at a table before they move you to a bar, which makes sense. I also loved how the smaller location and unique entrance made the location feel welcoming but secluded. Would definitely visit again!“

“Stumbled into this pub after a show in the theatre district and experienced a rush akin to what the first prospector must have felt finding golden nuggets in the Sacramento Valley - EUREKA! We have struck gold!!

Bottle Club Pub really IS gold — killer cocktails, mouthwatering food, suave atmosphere, and reasonable prices. It’s almost too good to be true.

The rotating liquor shelf is the star feature of this lounge, and it’s incredibly mesmerizing to watch it spin around as the red lighting dances on the bottles. It was fun to watch each new group notice it the first time it moved for them — it seems a pretty ubiquitous experience that everyone enjoys watching it.

The decor is kitschy Americana but in a classic, timeless way — very Norman Rockwell-esque. It gives off a masculine atmosphere with a warm, sensual vibe.

The cocktails were excellent and sit around $15 (affordable by SF standards, for sure). The TL crush was bright and fruity, while the Plum Daisy was surprisingly robust. Plenty of options for cocktails as well as draft beer and a small selection of wine.

The real standout however was the food — the fish and chips were PHENOMENAL. They were incredibly crispy and dusted with a type of chicken salt that added a unique layer of umami. The fries were lightly battered (which I loved) and the tartar sauce had fresh dill in it.

The Nashville Chicken sandwich was about as authentic as you can find in the Bay — it was dripping in that classic Nashville sauce and had just the right amount of spice.

The service was excellent and friendly. They initially mistook my fish and chips order for a burger, but when they brought out the wrong dish they quickly made it right and we didn’t have to wait long at all for the right order.

Can’t wait to come back and try more things on their menu. We’ll be showing this hidden gem to all our friends for as long as they keep that cool rotating liquor shelf maintained!“

“We applaud all those who help PCH become Miracle @ PCH, it’s amazing!“

“Love this spot! Great cocktails, cool vibes, and the patty melt is amazing. Also really love the mushroom tempura dish. I've been coming here for years and while a lot of other places have gone downhill over time this place is consistently solid. Make a reservation if you can to avoid the wait!“

“Tiki Bar with a definite 50’s vibe. Love the rum selection!“

“Great atmosphere! Bartenders were great and able to make a variety of unique drinks. The back patio was arranged to accommodate 2-4 at a small table, and benches or high tops for groups. There was also an option to sit under the covered or outside part of the patio.“

“Really cool local bar…..the first time I ever tried Flor de Caña was from here…..all the proofs! Nice crowd, service, atmosphere, good drinks, vibe & bar bites! 👍🏿“

“Nice bar and really like the roof fan“

“We brought our friend here to celebrate his birthday because we wanted to gift an experience. We saw you featured on Check Please . . . And you guys WOW’d us beyond our expectations!! Amazing staff! And amazing food . . And yes, amazing cocktails!! Down to the last finishing touches ! We will definitely be back !“

“One of the best tasting pizza I’ve tasted I highly recommend this place.“

“The cocktails on the menu are like a culinary experience. It’s very experimental. I’m not one to love savory drinks usually but I’ll say that bar iris executed its savory drinks well. The Ninjin Sour’s coriander taste is quite on the tongue, and it feels like I’m drinking a dinner. That said, I find it a very balanced drink. The menu also has less experimental and culinary flavors. I also got the Third Wheel (pictured), which is a matcha based drink and was super refreshing. It came in with a tea cup and that made it a bit more special.“

“Food was perfect. Spicy and tasty and salty and everything you want for enjoying with a cocktail. The drinks were all unique and tropical and delicious and I wish I could have tried them all. The ambiance and the staff were just awesome. Thank you!“

“Fantastic concept, fantastic cocktails“

“good drinks, good food, friendly service, outdoor dining, i'll be back“

“Historical significance with Jack Kerouac and very cool looking. Great location.“

“Awesome karaoke bar in Chinatown, SF! Definitely a Chinatown feel with the dim red lights & decor. There's a huge karaoke book to choose a song to sing. If the bar is full, they'd likely limit you to 1 song at a time so others get a chance. Space is small so it can get crowded. Loved the energy & atmosphere.“

“Really great spot with delicious and healthy options. I went for the mixed grill, and the portions were generous and satisfying. The Seedlip non-alcoholic drinks were an unexpected and delightful surprise!“

“Great cocktails and service, not a massive venue so would be perfect to have a cocktail party“

“Final date night before flight home tomorrow. Sausage plate. The British bangers are super flavorful and juicy, goes great with the spicy mustard sauce! The bratwurst is perfect with the kraut and horseradish. The smoked bison is a bit on the dry and spicy side. Reminds me of a Slim Jim. I wish I tasted more bison, but it's still good. The herbed goat cheese and lavash bread is to die for! The herbs are perfectly balanced with the cheese and spreads so easily on the bread!All paired perfectly with Zin-phomaniac red wine!“

“Terrene in San Francisco feels like one of the city's hidden gems, definitely underrated. We originally came for breakfast (which ends at 11am) and had just missed it, so we stayed for lunch and were not disappointed

The space is located within a hotel and has more of a causal service process where you order first, seat yourself and the food is brought out to your table via a number tag.

We ordered the Harissa chicken bowl, a matcha latte with coconut milk, and an açaí smoothie. The chicken bowl was fantastic, super fresh, vibrant ingredients, perfectly grilled chicken, sweet onions and veggies, fluffy grains, and a flavorful sauce that brought everything together beautifully

The matcha latte tasted like it was made with ceremonial grade matcha: smooth, rich, and not too sweet. The coconut milk complemented it perfectly without overpowering. The açaí smoothie was also a hit: fresh and refreshing

The vibe of the place is stunning, it reminds me of the Public Hotel in NYC meets The LINE in LA. Minimal, modern, and thoughtfully designed. It's right by the Embarcadero, which makes it a great spot to start a walk along the waterfront (just be prepared for SF parking chaos)

The prices are a bit on the higher end, but the quality and experience make it well worth it. 100/10 would come back, and finally try the breakfast!“

“A cute and cozy bar with a friendly bartender. I got the Escape, which is made with a rum blend, pineapple, whipped coconut clarified pina colada. The clarification improved the texture, enhanced the flavors, gave it a crystal clear look, and had a smoother and softer taste!“

“A unique place that offers a fun respite from the usual watering hole. The signature here is to serve drinks with a freshly squeezed grapefruit twist. There is also an engaging I-spy game utilizing the rich decor inside that guests can play for a chance to win a prize. The service was very friendly and we all had a great time!“

“Tony is the fantastic bartender“

“The Food is good the service was great and the entrainment was awesome“

“Why wouldn’t you kick it here????“

“One great cocktail, one not as much. Can't remember the name but collins glass was very refreshing while the smaller one (smoked mezcal) was very smoky to the point where it was harsh. Went there around midnight, it was pretty damn hot in the bar.“

“The food was delicious, especially the veggie dumplings and the vegetable dragon roll. And our server was incredibly nice! Also, the cute fish cup they served us in was for sale, so of course I had to buy it. Overall a great gem in the city.“

“Looking forward to the grand opening!“

“Hostest and barman were excellent as we waited for our table. The cocktail he recommended was perfect. This is the best dinner we have had in SF. The duck gnocchi, osso bucco pasta and focaccia were all divine. They brought out a special dessert for my sister as it was her birthday dinner. Waitress was the perfect level of attentove without interrupting us too much. I can't wait to come back“

“I work in the service industry so i’m very observant. The experience here was 10/10– this place was recommended by another industry member (server at Tripisueño another great spot!!!) everyone here is attentive. The place here is super cute & Francisco (the bartender that took care of me) will guide you to the best drinks & best spots here. 10/10 recommend.“

“Thank you, Le Petit Paris 75, for welcoming the Richard Crook trio to your delightful club. Always a friendly atmosphere, amazing cocktails, and awesome music line ups!“

“A must stop when in the area. Nothing fancy, dive bar feel, but always a good time.“

“Enjoy the atmosphere and the tasty food !“

“I have been twice and so far everything has been delicious. I need to go back a few more times to try everything on the menu. Don't forget to save room for dessert. The cocktails are fantastic.“

“Great atmosphere, great service, great music mix, and live sports!“

“Great cocktail bar. It was themed with "The Shining" for Halloween when we visited.

We got the Tony Negroni and Elevator of Blood. Both drinks looked and tasted great.

The bartenders were wearing red blazers with REDRUM pins, which added to the ambience.

Highly recommended for having a unique cocktail environment!“