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.“

“Great night at Casements during SF Carnaval’s Fat Tuesday Season Kickoff! Free live music, fantastic vibes, friendly staff and Pliny the Younger on tap. Our Finnish friend (a serious beer lover) called it the “holy grail of beers” and has been dreaming of trying it his whole life.“

“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.“

“Lavay Smith sings there on Sunday evenings“

“Great environment, lively, and tasty food!“

“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!“

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

“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.“

“5 Super vibey bar - perfect for dates imo. The drinks are interesting - they keep half their menu seasonal and constantly changing. That being said, while the drinks are good, Cold Drinks is prob still better in terms of nuance. This place is def more vibey than Cold Drinks tho - fun aura and is very lively (without being too loud to hear each other). Overall, excellent date spot and plenty of good bars around in case you need to wait. Definitely make a res on the weekend because you will wait for over an hour or not get in. Good set up for canoodling.“

“Had a lovely time both times I went. The speakeasy has very chill vibes and the board game room is really nice. Drinks were immaculate. Can't wait to try the escape room.“

“Enjoy the atmosphere and the tasty food !“

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

“This is a classic Italian restaurant with a lively atmosphere and excellent service. The portions are generous and the food is delicious. We ordered the classic pepperoni pizza, the classic cheese and bacon pizza, as well as the lasagna and carbonara. The pizzas were cooked to perfection, with a crispy and delicious crust. The pasta was cheesy and filling.“

“The decor was festive and abundant in the best way possible, and the cocktails looked unique and curiosity-piquing. I narrowed my choices down to a Cafe Sua Daddy and the Soy Sauce Old Fashioned.

I love a savory drink and the sweet caffeinated espresso martini-esque drink had a thick blanket of just-salty-enough foam reminiscent of the salt cream that tops a boba drink. The Soy Sauce Old Fashioned catapulted me back to my childhood, eating slabs of tofu drenched in shoyu at my grandma's house. I loved the custom soy bottle presentation, it was just strong enough to tolerate being poured over a large rock while maintaining its flavor.

My partner had the Umami Tots and Mapo Tofu. I couldn't resist the siren song of some crispy potatoes dunked in chili oil cream, but managed to hold myself back on the tofu- even though it smelled amazing.

Can't wait to return and try the new seasonal drinks, along with more snacks.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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 !“

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

“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!“

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

“The ambience doesn't feel a lot like a speakeasy but the drinks are totally worth it!
We tried the jinzuh from holiday menu, hot & sour, cold chrysanthemum tea and monkey king.
All were beautiful but my fav was the hot & sour“

“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.“

“This spot is something special. The atmosphere is really what makes it stand out—it’s lively, welcoming, and just a great place to hang out for a while. You can tell it’s the kind of place locals probably come back to again and again. Honestly, I’d be surprised if you found a better vibe anywhere else.

Just a quick heads-up though: they don’t serve food here. It’s definitely more about the drinks and the atmosphere than sitting down for a full meal. Once you know that going in, it actually makes the whole experience feel more relaxed. You just show up, enjoy the space, and have a good time. It’s the kind of place that makes you wish you lived nearby so you could stop by whenever you felt like it.“

“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.“

“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😃😋“

“Looking forward to the grand opening!“

“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.“

“discovered this spot recently! think it's an older crowd (i might be wrong though, only been here once). either way, still great vibes. pretty small place but you won't feel suffocated!

- drinks: it's ok, need to give another try
- music: 9/10
- vibes: 10/10“

“Finally came and was pleased with service! Expectations is low from previous experiences but the vive ans ambiance is so nice, I stopped by for a stiff drink (I knew to stick to shots...actually had a beautiful and it was perfectly beautifully) and service was pleasant! To bad Google don't have stars for beverages...lol“

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

“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“

“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.“

“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.“

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

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

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