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.“

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

“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.“

“Great environment, lively, and tasty food!“

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

“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!“

“Casual bar with some really great (unexpected) cocktail options (and beer too of course). They also had a variety of food on their menu. The indoor space is cozy and intimate, and they have a large back space (both covered and uncovered) for larger groups of people. We hung out at the back, there was plenty of room on a Friday night. Service was excellent (didn't have to wait too long at the bar to place orders, they also do table service if everyone is on one tab). I tried one of their gin based cocktails which was excellent. Didn't order food but what people were having looked good. Would definitely come back.“

“Lavay Smith sings there on Sunday evenings“

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

“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.“

“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“

“Food? Fantastic.
Drinks? Gorgeous (no surprise)

But a bar of this caliber providing service and hospitality this inspiringly warm is truly something special. From the front door staff and beyond everyone was exceptional. Jessie, the bartender was a true highlight of a much too short San Fran trip. First on my list to revisit when I’m back“

“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 !“

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

“Enjoy the atmosphere and the tasty food !“

“The atmosphere was great, but the real standout was the bartender Dmitry. Friendly, attentive, and clearly passionate about their craft — every drink was perfectly balanced and served with genuine care. He made the whole experience more enjoyable with great conversation and thoughtful recommendations. Easily the best service experiences I’ve had in SF.“

“Hands down the best cocktails in SF and def one of the best in America.

Love the beautifully curated menu and what it had to offer. Heavily influenced by Japanese ingredients hence offering a very unique menu of its own.

Cocktails were extremely well balanced with flavours, aroma and umami. A sip of The friend of a friend of a friend was no different to eating a bag of toasted chips with its long lingering smoked aroma. Insanely good.

Will definitely go back for the Japanese bites or even the Kaisei don.“

“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.“

“Some of the most high-quality and innovative cocktails I’ve seen in the bay. Service in general was great. William is brilliant, friendly, and not shy about nerding out with guests about his cocktails and spirits. He made the experience one to remember, and one to hopefully repeat soon. Thank you.“

“The Lore Speakeasy Alice & Wonderland Escape Room experience was Absolutely Incredible!!! Lots of puzzles that were difficult but not impossible. Our host was funny and super responsive throughout the room. The drinks were good. We had such a fun time and I highly recommend to anyone even remotely interested. Afterwards we stayed for drinks and bites and these were delicious as well.“

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

“Fantastic concept, fantastic cocktails“

“Spent my 42nd birthday here by my self. The atmosphere is amazing. The walls are covered from floor to ceiling in knick knacks that will keep your eyes searching the walls for a long time. The Bartender (Shy) was AMAZING. Kind, sweet and patient. Thanks for a fun birthday!“

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

“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!“

“Super friendly bartender (Esau, what a great dude) made our visit to „For the Record“ very special. We tried a bunch of his cocktails and they were all incredibe, then were invited to a round of shots (even though I almost broke a glass twice haha). Will definitely recommend this place to other people. Super chill music too, and they have live acts too. Thanks Esau!“

“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!“

“Wow, what a great restaurant. As soon as we walked in we were greeted kindly by the hostess. She was so sweet and even checked in on us during dinner. Our server Joselyn was very helpful and attentive. She helped steer us in the right direction of what to order since everything on the menu looked delicious. The food was outstanding. The portions aren't super big but perfect which allowed us to order a few entrees. We started with the pan seared brussel sprouts, stuffed calamari, & roasted baby carrots. We then ordered the ricotta strangulet, pumpkin caramelle, braised short rib cappellacci, and the drunken mafaldine. Wow, everything was truly amazing and cooked to perfection. We didn't have room for dessert but our bill came with a tiny assortment of cookies which was the perfect way to end our meal. Thank you Sorrella, we will definitely be back to enjoy your amazing cuisine.“

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

“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!“

“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.“

“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!“

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

“Tony is the fantastic bartender“

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

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

“We had a wonderful time here. Even though we were in a hurry, everything came out quickly and was delicious. We ordered the eggplant baba ghanoush, which was incredibly flavorful and served with warm, fresh pita bread. The steak skewers were another highlight—so tender and perfectly cooked. The service was great, and the staff were attentive. The atmosphere was beautiful and festive, making the experience even better.
If I could suggest anything to management, it would be to add a few more specialty non-alcoholic drinks, some hot beverage options, and a wider selection of desserts. Overall, though, we really enjoyed our visit and would happily return.“

“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!“