50 Best Cocktail Bars near Albany

“Amazing atmosphere, especially around Christmas. It has two floors of cozy log cabin bar space and two tiki-themed outdoor patios with fire pits. Drinks are super reasonable, most cocktails are about $12. You may have to wait for a while for a pool table, even on slow nights.“

“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.“

“Fun, relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Cozy and comfortable. A really good place to see local and touring bands. Meeting up with other people who share the same music likes is excellent. Door greeters are welcoming also. You feel like you belong here ! I recommend it highly. Recently, I enjoyed seeing one of my favorite California bands, Haunt, and a favorite L.A. band, Intranced, at Ivy Room. Easy to find also, with room to park nearby. Am looking forward to going back soon.😀💕🎤🎸“

“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“

“Amazing food and wine, great view“

“3.5/4 A dark ambiance bar known for creative, themed, and seasonal menus. The cocktails were fun and playful but taste wise, they were just ok. The decor leans casual and relaxed - good for both friend groups and dates. Honestly I don't remember too much bc I was busy canoodling so safe to say it was dark enough, vibey enough and I had great company:'). A fun place, not too packed on Sat past midnight, would recommend.“

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

“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!!!“

“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! 👍🏿“

“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.“

“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“

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

“Enjoy the atmosphere and the tasty food !“

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

“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.“

“Nice bar and really like the roof fan“

“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.“

“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 !“

“Fantastic concept, fantastic cocktails“

“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!“

“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!“

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

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

“Novela is such a great spot. The library-themed decor is super cozy and gives the bar a really intimate, laid-back vibe—perfect for a chill drink that can easily turn into a longer night. It feels stylish without trying too hard.

The drinks are amazing, especially the punch-on-tap flight. Fun flavors, generous pours, and definitely worth sharing. Easily one of my favorite bars in SF and a place I’d always come back to.“

“Looking forward to the grand opening!“

“The seafood here is absolutely superb in both flavour and service, with exceptionally fresh ingredients. It ranks among the finest seafood I've ever tasted😃😋“

“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!“

“Sorella is one of our favorite restaurants in SF. We're moving out in March, so we had to come back to it one last time, and, as with all the other times we have been there, it did not disappoint. 5 star service 5 star food and drinks 5 star setting What more could you ask? Shoutout to Jocyln for bringing us an extra treat at the end of the night and for being a great waitress. :) Timo“

“H a wonderful evening at Holbrook House with friends. Great food and amazing cocktails. We tried the martini cart and the champagne cart (for dessert). Katie and Adriana gave us perfect service and Marco gave good champagne advice. They made the experience feel elegant but so warm and easy. We cannot wait to come back. It felt like old school San Francisco; upscale, but for the people. 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.“

“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.“

“Food is delicious. Place is very nice. Service is great. Here is everything we tried and our rating:
- Sweet potato gnocchi : very flavorful! The eggplant and hazelnut sauce base is creative! Solid 5/5
- Empanadas: must try. We ended up ordering 2 rounds of these. The frying makes it a little heavy but the taste and the aioli dip are divine. 6/5 …awesome!
- Tumaco ceviche: interesting acidic flavors. The crispy plantain chips were the highlight for us. 3/5 …the acidity wasn’t hitting right but it’s still really good.
- Carpaccio: the sweet tangy sauce makes this really nice. 3.5/5“

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

“Tony is the fantastic bartender“

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

“Top notch drinks and personalities behind the bar, we will back. My only regret is that I waited this long to go there.“

“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.“

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

“I don't go to Julia's for lunch very often but had lunch there with two good friends recently. The food was excellent (echoed by my two friends) and the atmosphere was relaxed and relatively quiet even the the restaurant was quite busy. I'll be back for lunch.“