50 Best Cocktail Bars near San Carlos

“Really fun place a lot of l great people will definitely go back“

“The new management (Carlos Galvan) is great! We felt welcome from the moment we walked through the door! Looking forward to the Friday Night Blues Jams. Great music...great people. Thank you Rail Club!!“

“Beautiful for a quick outdoor lunch. I’m sure it’s amazing for dinner.
I had to grab a quick to go to hop on a train but next time I will be back for a proper meal!
Gio made the whole process fast but also warm and welcoming!
Tiramisu was phenomenal :)“

“amazing food wonder staff“

“Went for lunch on a weekday. The menu is mostly breakfast-oriented, so options for a more traditional lunch were limited. Cubano sandwich was kinda unremarkable; not bad, lots of meat on it. Atmosphere and service were nice, but unless I was going out for breakfast specifically I probably wouldn’t go back.“

“Sat at the bar, by choice. Good selection of fine spirits, especially Japanese whiskey and tequila. Cocktails were very well made and balanced. We also asked for a mocktail modified to be “less sweet” than normal and it came out perfect. Food was great, not outstanding, but I would absolutely eat here again. The truffle fries were a miss for us since the white sauce makes them soggy. Burger and NY steak were exactly as advertised, possibly sous vide on the medium rare steak. The tempura mushrooms stood out to us as one of the best small dishes we ate. The Spanish Octopus was an unusually large tentacle, made me wonder how tender it would be. I prefer to have octopus more on the grilled side and that seemed to be lacking here but the favor was decent. The oysters were delicious!“

“By far was this is the best Mexican food I've ever had. A bit on the pricey side, but well worth it!“

“Met my wife here how can I not love it!“

“Hannah is so amazing! She’s so attentive and checked in on us even before our drinks were on L (bottomless who?!) and on a Wednesday! She has amazing recommendations! But if you’re a beer bottler like me, make sure to have a cocktail list on the roster because they only have 3 beers on rotation 🫠 we also need to help the owner fill up the rest of the liquor shelf!
Suggestions: Sailor Jerry’s: who doesn’t love a good spiced rum?
Buzz ball bash?! Fall is near us and ya need to do some BOO-zie drinks to entice the crowd 👻
NINERS FANS WHO?! The DEEBO Daiquiri will have you bleeding red and gold at the end of the day 🏈 🍹“

“good chill place to hangout and have drinks and shoot pool with the locals. everyone there is chill“

“(Translated by Google) I like it a lot because you can listen to the music you like and dance and have fun with the artists. It is a place where you forget your sorrows.(Original)Me gusta mucho porque puedes escuchar la música que te gusta y bailar y te diviertes con los artistas es un lugar donde olvidas las penas.“

“Good food and great customer service. Do recommend“

“Home away from home. 🏈🍺🎉💕“

“Los Altos needed a place like this. Everything was on point, from beautifully crafted drinks to the timeless elegance of the space. I specifically wanted to shoutout Josh, who made our experience even more incredible, helping us find the perfect drinks to suit our tastes while still pushing our comfort zones. His passion for his craft really shone through. I will be returning and hope to see Josh again!“

“👌👌beautiful the place and the drinks“

“Amazing food and excellent service - highly recommend“

“We found this bar at the last minute before closing thank goodness. They have 4 big tv for sports and a Great selection of beers and wines. The Bartender Jason was very helpful and welcoming. So glad we are not having to deal with those stupid annoying kiosks popping up everywhere else. Would definitely recommend stopping here while in SFO.“

“Nice place but one guy close early on sundays.around 9;30 pm“

“Chef Marcus’ dishes are full of flavor & fresh ingredients that make for a spectacular culinary experience. 😋“

“Delightful and delicious lunch with excellent service. They accommodated our request for separate plates so we could split a couple of dishes. Service was attentive without being intrusive. It was so pleasant to have some quiet classical music in the background while dining.“

“Ottimo cibo, servizio veloce, locale molto carino.“

“Excellent, creative dishes! Good service!! 10 stars!!!“

“Cocktails and Wagyu - soooo good!“

“Wonderful, as always. We get there about every 3 or so years when we are in town. Our server Alejandro was extremely helpful and highly knowledgable about the menu and potential allergy issues. Don't fill up with gas at the station across the street it was $6.39 a gallon.“

“Amazing food and excellent service!“

“🎉 Just had an unforgettable evening at Ettan! Cozy vibes, top-notch service, and every dish was a masterpiece. 🍽 The chef's special? Mind-blowing! 🤯 Whether it's for the ambiance, the flavors, or the amazing staff, Ettan's a must-visit. Left with a full belly and even fuller heart. ❤️ Can't wait to go back! #EttanMagic #FoodieDream #BestDinnerEver“

“We love coming to Wunderbar, and whenever we bring friends here, they love it too, and we have a blast.

Kiernan is always an incredible host from the moment we walk through the door. He is warm, fun and thoughtful. He knows his drinks and delivers a phenomenal level of service and sets a high bar - not just for Wunderbar, but for all high-end cocktail establishments.

All the bartenders are fantastic, from Selina, to Andrew, to Brandon. The drinks are always on point. And of course, the endless supply of warm buttery popcorn is a great bonus!“

“An exceptional culinary experience at Protégé in Palo Alto. Every dish showcased masterful technique and impeccable flavors. The A5 Japanese Wagyu Ribeye was perfectly marbled and melted effortlessly, while the Crab and Caviar delivered a luxurious balance of brine and sweetness. The lobster toast was crisp, buttery, and indulgent, and the Black Bass—flawless in execution—was the best I’ve encountered. The Ricotta Dumplings , delicate yet deeply flavorful, rounded out an unforgettable meal. The shigoku oysters with whipped ponzu were indescribably fresh and flavorful. The sunflower Caesar, with its preserved tomato jam, was a unique and unforgettable twist on a classic. As for the brick chicken that we took to go, it was so delicious that it barely made it home before being devoured. The experience was elevated even further by the outstanding service—every person was kind, attentive, and genuinely dedicated to creating a memorable evening. A true showcase of precision, creativity, and hospitality“

“Yummy food. Highly recommend“

“I’ve been there a few times and is always very good I highly recommend“

“Just went in for lunch and wow they've leveled up! Overall a solid 4.5!

The things that we used to like were all still yummy, and some things that I hadn't been impressed by were really good!

In particular:
- The youtiao 油條 deep fried doughnut stick was freshly fried and amazing. Maybe a smidge on the heavily crispy fried side but yummy and chewy. The best youtiao I've had in years (but I don't really go out of my way to order this normally since it's often stale). Will definitely get this again!
- the soup dumplings Xiao Long Bao had a nice delicate skin and were tender and flavorful.
- the ground chicken skewer and chicken heart skewer and chicken porridge were really good still. Porridge is still a little salty for my taste but yummy.
- service was fast, friendly, and attentive.

They had a sizzling meat dish on a cast iron that smelled amazing - will look for it on the extensive menu next time.

Great job! Hope to be back often.

Previous review from Feb 2025 or so:
Really like the porridge and the skewers. Consistently good. I like to get the chicken heart. Tsukune ground chicken is pretty good!

The scallion pancake is pretty good.

Kid likes the XLB but I think they're mediocre

Noodles pretty mediocre in my opinion.

Would recommend avoiding the fried stuff (fried shrimp tasted frozen but maybe it's improved in a year?).

Friendly staff but sometimes need to work to get their attention (but I appreciate the friendliness).“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Absolutely Wonderful Dinner at TwelthMonth! I had a wonderful time at TwelthMonth! The food was excellent and the service phenomenal — our waiter was truly outstanding. The elderflower drink was incredible, such a refreshing start to the meal. The dumplings were amazing, the lumpia was okay, but the mushrooms were absolutely delicious! For the main dish, the risotto was perfection — rich, creamy, and full of flavor. And dessert was the perfect ending: the cake with matcha ice cream was amazing, followed by a comforting chai latte to close out the evening. Everything about the experience was thoughtful and beautifully done. Highly recommend!“

“Last night my wife and I were in downtown Menlo Park and we went to Loretta's Bar. Thank you, Loretta's team, for making our time so enjoyable. Your service, attention, and products were very pleasant. We'll be back soon. Thank you.“

“We have been here several times now. It is a cozy and relaxed restaurant. The menu is somewhat limited however everything we have tried has been delicious. The staff are very pleasant. We will be back.“

“Staff are friendly. They’re pet friendly. My Ribeye steak was the best!“

“Twelvemonth Bakehouse is an absolute gem! 🥐✨ I loved everything I tried. Each bite feels fresh, thoughtful, and made with so much care.
It’s the kind of place that makes you want to come back every single day (and honestly, I would if I could!). The atmosphere is cozy, the staff is welcoming, and the quality is just outstanding.
If you love good bread and pastries, this is a must-visit. 💛“

“太棒了，肉品沒吃多少，倒是吃了好幾磅的櫻桃🍒“

“Excellent service, atmosphere and food. We were celebrating our wedding anniversary and the staff went above and beyond with wishing us a happy anniversary. They surprised us with table decorations, a card and a delicious crème brûlée to top off our meal. We ordered the cheesy garlic bread with crab meat, truffle stuffed gnocchi and a beef filet entree, everything was delicious. We also had an old fashioned and espresso martini that looked amazing and tasted even better. Thank you for making our anniversary special!“

“Beautiful place, nice service! It’s my first this place,maybe soon again!“

“We were weary travelers stopping by Scotty's in hope of a more chill vibe with some good food, and Scottys delivered! Our bartender, Sergio, was so friendly and fun! We got some inside knowledge about the town as we are from Oregon. The drinks were perfect and the food was top notch! I would have expected to pay a lot more for the quality of food and service we received at literally any of the surrounding places. We will visit Palo Alto again if only to go back to Scotty's as a new tradition! Thank you, Sergio, for making our anniversary dinner a great one! Someone give him a raise!“

“I’m Thai and my family was in the restaurant business so I know Thai food. Our group of over 10 people dined here today. Food was great. It was a team event so we requested a prix fixe menu and budget control. The restaurant was very responsive and go above and beyond to help us with the arrangements. The menu options was good. We had some vegans in the group and vegan options were good too. Everyone in my team loved it. Thank you for a wonderful evening!“

“Hadn’t been here in nearly 30 years, we moved to Seattle, but back for vacation. Had to have the Cancun platter. Just like I remembered!!“

“Such a lovely bespoke atmosphere and the cocktails and bar bites are so artfully crafted. My only disappointment was that I only had time to visit once during my time in San Mateo but I hope to return. Cheers!“

“I ate there last week for the first time in several years. The menu is large and many different styles of food. I had the Prime Rib and it was EXCELLENT. There was 2 others in my party and they were equally impressed. Another benefit is that there are no parking problems. I will definitely eat there again.“

“Enjoyed their Hamburger and fish & Chips Fries are excellent. Lovely surroundings, the ducks enjoyed the pool.“

“A beautiful Spring lunch & afternoon! Delicious entrees!“

“Great food❤️Great service, great atmosphere.“

“Such a great place. Beautiful outdoor dining! 🥰🥂💕“

“My recent stay at the Hilton Garden Inn was nothing short of fantastic. From the moment I arrived, the staff was welcoming and attentive, ensuring I felt right at home. The room was clean, comfortable, and equipped with everything I needed for a relaxing stay.

The highlight of my stay, however, was the exceptional service at the hotel bar. José, the bartender, was amazing! Not only did he craft delicious drinks, but his friendly and genuine approach made every visit to the bar feel personal. His knowledge of cocktails and attention to detail were impressive, and he went out of his way to ensure guests were taken care of.

Overall, the hospitality at the Hilton Garden Inn exceeded my expectations, and the staff, particularly José, made the experience memorable. I’ll definitely be returning!“

“The Cowboy and chili cheese tots!“