I didn't even know this place existed, but I'm glad I found it. The bartenders were great and attentive. The drinks were excellent as well. I especially loved the two mezcal cocktails! It is a small space, so a reservation is definitely helpful, and there isn't much room to walk around, which can make getting to the bathroom a bit tricky. Overall, though, it's a great spot and I'd definitely come back. read more

This place is calm, creative, and has the right low lighting without feeling too dark to see. The drinks are pricy, but very unique, and they have a special emphasis on aesthetic. The bartenders are nice and give good recommendations. It is attached to an art gallery and is supposed to have art displays in the bar area, but unfortunately they were all turned off when we were there. read more

See all

The drink names are catchy names, they play homage to Anime characters. The food, um, stick with the truffle fries only. The fries are bussin'. We did arrive toward the end of happy hour. We did however get a nice variety of food. Now the food looked pretty, but that's it. The food, minus the fries was definitely palatable say maybe 3pm but not at 6pm and of course we got there close to 6pm. I even mentioned that the chicken was a bit on the jerky side and got a blank stare, which made its own suggestion. Our experience was very similar to some reviews, meaning we had to ask one of our servers about the status our food. The vibe and service was a bit too relaxed. The outdoor area needed some attention, like a vacuum and a broom and duster as there was pet hair everywhere. As we enjoyed the evening skies, periodically a pet hair would fly by from the gentle breeze and not a pet in site, just whatever hair rolled off the booths. I felt like I was more at someone house at the end of the evening, somebody who had a lot of pets and I was leaving their house covered in pet hair. read more

See all

Came here at 5 pm and was seated quickly at the bar: With hardly anyone there, we still didn't get our orders in until about 15 minutes sitting down at the bar. We waited another 20 minutes to get just 2 drinks. With the slow service aside, our drinks just weren't it. The Yume was decent but the Misa Misa tasted like a margarita I would get from an open bar. Love the idea of this spot and the vibe, but the quality wasn't there. read more

See all

Botanica is such a gem. The staff are incredibly welcoming, and they even cleanse the energy hourly so the vibe stays nothing but positive from the moment you walk in. The cocktail menu is very gin-forward with a cool Japanese influence, which makes it feel unique compared to most spots around town. The space is small and intimate, surrounded by art, which adds to the experience. Happy hour starts at 5 with $10 cocktails and $8 snacks (don't skip the truffle fries). We tried the gyoza and the unagi sushi roll both were solid and flavorful. Definitely a spot worth checking out if you're into creative drinks and cozy atmospheres. read more

See all

Creative drinks and I really liked the food, particularly the skewers. We were still ordering things but then the servers rushed us out? That really dampened the experience. It wasn't like we were sitting there lingering without ordering food and drinks... 3 of us each had 2 drinks and ordered 5 appetizers and they basically shooed us out when my 2nd drink arrived. They said they have 90 minutes per table, but they were the ones taking forever with making the drinks... read more

I stumbled upon Botanica during a night out on North Park, & Iam sooo glad I did! Such a beautiful, intimate cocktail bar with a dark/romantic feel. I ordered the 'After the ball' martini. It had an aesthetic presentation, and came with extra chilled serving on the side. Bartenders were very friendly, and gave great reccs for our first time. Definitely would come again :) ! read more

See all

Cute and trendy bar. I had the witch's brew (kinda like an espresso martini) and the pomona (not pictured). Both drinks were decent, but on the sweet side. Also for some reason they put glitter on everything which made it feel a little cheap. The karaage was juicy and had good flavor. Everything a bit overpriced though. Service was fine, but the front person was a little cold. Overall, it's a decent spot, especially for a date, but nothing that really stands out. read more

Botanica - Karaage tender - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Came for their Xmas holiday pop-up "Miracle" -- and again, impressed! I usually find that holiday bars are a bit gimmicky with drinks with artificial flavors. But no! Their holiday cocktails were quite delish, well-balanced with the hint of holiday cheer. From their holiday menu, the Dancing Sugarplums cocktail was very good. Cheery cheery chocosaurus cocktail was so cute in the Christmas dinosaur mug, and a fun play on the name (as a cherry-chocolate flavored drink). The Snowball Old-Fashioned was easy to drink (and I'm not a whiskey person). So overall, happy with their holiday menu! Botanica vibes are on-point (good music volume, cute place to drink & dine in a more intimate setting without feeling overwhelmed, good service) and small bites were pretty tasty. read more

See all

I went on a date night with my GF and it was Christmas themed. The bar was decorated and they had specific Christmas themed drinks as well. I ordered the Hot Chocolate made with Jamaican rum and coconut whipped cream. It was definitely on the boozy side and not nearly on the hot chocolate side which made it hard to drink. My drop in stars was due to the fact the bartender in front of us (we sat at the bar) pretty much ignored us the whole time we were there. Another bartender who may have been the manager that night was the one that came over and served us. We also had to have another bartender get us our check. Near the end of our visit the main bartender who was ignoring us asked if we have been helped yet. At this point we were at Botanica at least an hour before she even acknowledged us. I'll have to come back when they are serving their regular drinks. read more

Botanica - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Every time that we come here we say the same thing to ourselves... we need to come here more often. If you are a fan of craft cocktails, this is a must try spot in North Park. While they don't have a full entree menu, the small bites that they do serve are delectable. Every staff and bartender we have encountered has been friendly and welcoming. The star of the show is obviously the cocktails. We've experienced multiple menus now and they have all been delightful. read more

Botanica - Spirited Away - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Been wanting to try this place out for a while, and glad we finally did. It has a pretty small interior, but it means the guests get more attention from the staff, which was greatly appreciated. Definitely recommend having reservations. It can get pretty loud when it's full, which made sitting at the bar a lot easy to talk. The mezcal focused drinks were delicious, but to be honest, all the drinks being ordered around us looked delicious. read more

See all

Came here on a Thursday evening and sat at the bar -- not many people there, which made for a nice, relaxed atmosphere. I started with a glass of rosé that was just okay, and later had a glass of red wine that was also fine but nothing memorable. For food, I ordered the crispy tuna rice, karaage fries, and New York strip skewers. The tuna rice was fine but a bit bland. The skewers were small with not much meat -- and since they came with mushrooms (which I'm not a fan of), that was probably just a bad choice on my part. The karaage fries were pretty underwhelming -- mostly fries with just a few pieces of chicken and not much sauce. On the plus side, the service was great. The bartender and host were both super friendly and attentive. The decor and vibe are really cute -- definitely a great spot for a date night drink or a girls' night out. I didn't try any cocktails this time, which I know is what Botanica is known for, so I'd come back to give those a try. But as for the food, I'd probably skip it next time and just stick to drinks. read more

Botanica - Kaarage Fries and New York Strip Skewer - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Botanica is a delightful gin focused cocktail bar in North Park! They also did a great job decorating it for the holidays! Our servers Charlie and Trisha were excellent and very attentive! We really enjoyed "the dream" cocktail! read more

Botanica - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

It's an automatic for me when a place gets festive! This was actually my second time here. I had won a prize from their Halloween anniversary night and came back to enjoy their very holiday themed establishment. It looks like the North Pole exploded, and there's a suite of very cheery cocktails with some non-alcoholic concoctions for people like me While this place is mostly a cocktail bar, I came in for some light snacks. We ordered crispy rice tuna and disco fries. The plates were a little on the small side but very tastefully made and yummy. Service here is attentive too and they made sure we were taken care of. Please continue to decorate for all the holidays I love it! read more

See all

A hidden gem for Christmas cocktails. Came here on a weekday for the Miracle at botanica art & cocktail bar menu and it was delicious! We had the dancing sugarplums and Rudolph replacement. Both drinks were delicious and easy to drink without any harsh feelings of the alcohol. ~Dancing sugarplums is the perfect balance of refreshing and creamy, it's almost like drinking a refreshing plum/lemon creamsicle. I LOVE plum wine and have never seen it included in a cocktail so I was eager to try this one and not disappointed, it wasn't too sweet and was delicious. ~Rudolph's replacement was also delicious, it's almost like a boozy chai latte. I also love chai and was pleasantly surprised by the flavor. Service was really good, our bartender was the sweetest and kept checking in on us the whole time we were there! The Christmas decor was actually better than I expected! There isn't a lot of hype for this bar as a Christmas bar but it was actually super cute. The front has nutcrackers and Santa on the roof then inside there are presents/ornaments hanging from the ceiling and inflatables hanging on the walls (Santa, gingerbread family, etc). Parking wasn't too bad given that it was a weekday we were also seated right away. read more

Honestly, for it being a random Wednesday night I was able to book pretty easily with a gal pal. The place booked up quick too! I made a reservation on open table, and the service was great. I thought the ambiance was very classy and chic. It was a lovely little spot to talk with a girl friend of mine. We had some food, but they are small bites read more

Botanica - Drinks and mocktails - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Came here on a rainy Saturday, we were on the early side so no problem getting a table. It's cute, cozy and aesthetically pleasing, great for dates and such. Our waitress was helpful and friendly. We had a few drinks along with California rolls, karaage chicken fries, wings and crispy rice tuna. We enjoyed the wings and crispy rice, the other stuff is average but we came here because of the ambience. If you bar hopping, be sure to include Botanica on your list. read more

See all

Had a really great experience here! Picked a random place for a quick date night and really had a nice time. All of the cocktails were complex and creative and the small bites were all tasty. The vibe was pretty cool and the art around the walls matched up with the (not too loud) housey music. Loved the Menoirs of a Geisha which was a gin egg white floral drink that I loved! Looking forward to bringing other friends here read more

See all

Loved the ambiance, drinks, and food! The menu style is all small plates which makes it easy to share with friends and try a bunch of different things. We really liked the chicken yakitori and tuna with crunchy rice. Definitely save room for dessert because the smores inspired churros are absolutely insane. The drinks were super interesting (mainly gin based). There's both outdoor patio seating and indoor, the decor inside is really fun. Everyone who works here is super sweet and you'll definitely have great service. I recommend getting here a bit early if you have a reservation because parking in this area can be tough depending on the day. read more

See all

I made a reservation at Botanica on a Thursday night after seeing it pop up in a bunch of North Park recs, and I can definitely see why it's popular. The space is really cute inside - intimate and well-designed - but just a heads up: it's pretty small inside. Most of the seating seemed to be 2-tops around the bar, so it's better for date night or catching up with a friend than a group outing. Unfortunately, we waited 30 minutes before being served. It looked like our server was the only server which makes sense. As for the food - it was good, but not mind-blowing. Our favorite dish was the karaage fries. The fries themselves were perfectly crispy and seasoned, but the karaage came in small bites and was a little overcooked IMO. We also tried the spicy tuna crispy bites since they had tons of love on Yelp, but honestly, the rice was too crispy for me and overpowered the tuna. Where Botanica shines is definitely the drinks. Creative, well-balanced, and just fun to sip in such a pretty space. Lots of gin options and a section for seasonal cocktails too. I'd definitely come back here just for cocktails. Overall, it's a solid 4 stars... Great vibes, good drinks, and decent food, but not necessarily a go-to if you're coming just for the tapas. If you go, maybe aim for during the week when it's not as busy as well or hopefully there's more than one server when you dine in. read more

Botanica - Spicy tuna crispy rice, Salmon 2 Ways Roll, University Ave Roll and karaage fries - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

I got the Martini and was a little confused my the presentation of my drink. It was so unique! I absolutely loved the vibes and the bartender was super engaging. She even recommended us some other bars in the area which we did end up checking out. We were not disappointed by her drink and bar recommendations! read more

Botanica - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

So sad to be writing this, but I feel it needs to be shared. Myself a few other vegan/veg friends ordered the veggie gyoza (after asking the server if it was vegan, and they said yes). After we each ate one, the server tried to bring us another dish that was wrong and I got a weird suspicion that what we were eating wasn't the right order. When we used a phone flashlight to look at the last remaining gyoza, the filling was clearly meat. Mistakenly serving pork to a group of vegan/vegetarians feels violating. The servers didn't really own up to it and claimed they couldn't confirm but we knew. They comped our two apps (maybe $20 total) but that doesn't make up for anything. Not sure how this happens but I was disappointed with how it was handled. You won't find me in there again read more

Cute intimate bar, we arrived close to 5pm so it wasn't crowded. As the night went on it got packed. Lots of fun and creative drink options. I was told its speciality is gin but they have something for all tastes. We also ordered food but somehow they forgot and we had to remind them. As an apology they gave us a fun cocktail served on a platter. I would def go back! read more

See all

Had such good drinks. Loved the bartender Ricco #botanica_sd @botanica_sd #buzzybooth

So I decided to hit a tapas spot for dinner and after some research I decided on this spot. I made a reservation for the bar and was immediately seated upon arrival. I started with an All that glitters and it was a very mellow drink and not too sweet and started the night just right. Then I started with a university roll which was non standard as it featured cooked toppings. It was a curiosity for me and I was somewhat impressed. The flavors were bold, but I would have e preferred standard roll. Next I grabbed an elephant stamp and it was not what I was expecting. It was very subtle as well and not overly sweet or featuring a strong flavor profile. It was almost refreshing and very nice to sip on. For food I continued on with the shrimp skewers, salmon 2 ways roll, and the New York strip yakitori. The shrimp skewers are unique as they are blackened with squid ink, but they are delicious. They have a nice outer crunch, but the shrimp remains moist. The salmon 2 ways roll was a little better than the university, but still outside the traditional realm. Tasty, but I'm a simple guy. The New York strip yakitori was a bit different than I was expecting. It was more of a shish kabob than meat on a stick as it has veggies on the stick as well. Delicious, but different. I closed out the night with a pearade. The marshmallow paired very well to this subtlety sweet drink. The pear flavors were very present and made for a perfect night cap. This is an awesome and unique spot. Definitely deserves a visit. read more

See all

We went there for drinks. Unfortunately we did not find the drinks to be very good. They were watered down and did not taste good. So disappointing since it's a cute space. Maybe they had a bad night. read more

One of my fave cocktail spots in San Diego. Perfect for girl dinner. The disco fries & pot stickers + a viva la vida, hits every time. Plus, every single staff member is a gem of a human, especially Bodhi. I don't love the mega bright Christmas lights on the front patio, would much prefer to sit inside. Aside from that, run don't walk here! read more

Very cute bar with delicious and unique cocktails all served in cool glasses with fun garnishes! They do have a 2 hour time limit for larger groups on weekend afternoons/evenings. read more

Botanica - Prima Donna - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

We went here for a girls night out but the overall experience was so disappointing. We had the set menu, it was lacking in a lot of different ways. The dessert was really overcooked. read more

See all

Officially my favorite bar in North Park!! Waltzed in here on a Saturday night and sat at the bar, where all the bartenders who I just met felt like close friends. They are all so warm and friendly. I really enjoyed the Dream and Heads Will Roll cocktails - the polenta mushroom haloumi bites were also a big win. Loved the DJ throwing it down in the background, too!! 10/10. read more

Botanica - The Dreamer - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Honestly the place is just ok. I will say im a sucker for aesthetic places and botanica is a cute but small restaurant. The food and drinks were ok aswell, the food is basically over priced asian fusion. The host with the septum is high key rude tho. She was kinda condescending to our party when we asked a question and quite honestly slow, no sense of urgency. read more

Botanica - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

I came here around 7:15 PM on a Saturday night and honestly left pretty underwhelmed. Parking was easy enough--there's street parking just a short walk away, which was a plus. The space itself is really small. There's a patio outside, and inside you'll find bar seating, a few tables, and some sofa-style lounge areas. I ordered the sticky rice spicy tuna and the spring roll. The sticky rice came with five small pieces, which felt awkward for sharing between two people. It would've made more sense to serve an even number. Flavor-wise, it was underwhelming--tasted more like a hash brown with avocado sauce than anything else. The spring roll had a tiny amount of shrimp and was basically one big roll sliced in half--hardly worth the $14 price tag. The cocktails were actually great, but pricey, with most starting around $17. Also, it took about 20 minutes to get our first drink after ordering, which didn't help. The staff were friendly, and the drinks were solid, but the food really didn't deliver--small portions, bland flavors, and overpriced across the board. I wouldn't come back. I forgot to mention they're listed on the paid subscription app Walkabout, where they were promoting a free drink. That's actually how I found out about the place and decided to check it out. But when I got there, they said they were out of that drink and refused to offer any kind of substitute. Feels like false advertising. Says a lot about how they run their business. read more

See all

Such a nice place! I loved the vibe, our waitress was amazing, the food and drinks were also great! Will definitely be back! read more

Botanica - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

This cute artsy bar in Northpark is the perfect place to stop by for a cocktail. It features a lot of gin but they also have some other spirits if gin isn't your thing, and they also have tapas and dessert if you're wanting a snack. As you walk into the cozy space, there is a large bar that greets you and a fabulous large chandelier-like fixture that really adds to the space. Also lining the walls are art displays which I read are rotated-very cool. There appeared to be two people working and the bartender provided quick service. She did however check her phone about 3 times, maybe her shift was almost over? In any case, I was quite impressed by all of the creative gin-based cocktails and the food also looked good. As we had already eaten dinner, we went for the "some more" churros which are little churro bites with a chocolate and melted marshmallow dip. Probably the best churro topping I've had! For my cocktail I went with the "heads will roll" which was a lovely blend of gin and passion fruit in a unique glass. I will definitely return to try some of the food items and maybe go with a gin flight. read more

See all

Came for my friend's bday. Parking can be tough but it's in the center of North Park so it's easy to bar hop. The inside is small and intimate, so definitely make a reservation if you have a party bigger than 4! The finger foods are very good and super shareable. I was really satisfied with the drink I got (Operation Wednesday). It wasn't too strong and had a good amount of sweetness. Our server was also super nice and accommodating! read more

See all

Service was horrible!! Host was so rude to begin with and our server emi was nice enough at the beginning but then ignored us towards the end. I made eye contact with the servers multiple times in attempts to get our bill but she was occupied with chatting up the other coworkers behind the bar. My friend eventually had to waved his hand to get her attention. The only redeeming quality about this night was the drinks were good. read more

The vibes and ambiance of this place are super nice. Perfect for date night! My partner took me here for our anniversary and we had the Botanica Kaiseki Dinner Experience-5 course meal and drinks. Plus fries on the side which were great! All of the food we had was super good and the drinks were tasty and strong. I think the price of this place is a little much but honestly with the service and vibe, it makes sense! Would come again! read more

Botanica - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Came here for Galentines a couple of weeks back and it was so much fun! The drinks are so unique and well made. We weren't sure about the tasting note of the drinks and our server was so friendly and accommodating. I didn't love my drink and let my server know and she insisted on me trying another one of the house (which i ended up loving)! We ordered a bunch of food to share and everything was a slap. My only complain is there the food portion is usually 5 so there's a party of 3, it's an awkward "who doesn't get one more". Overall 10/10 food and vibe. read more

The Valentine's Day prefix menu was a complete ripoff. First they gave away our reservation (we were literally in line and said we weren't there), waited another 30 minutes for a table, waited another 15 to be acknowledged (they were under staffed but nice for the most part) at our table, then the food and drinks came out. The only edible item was the two pieces of crispy rice that was considered our appetizer. A sushi roll followed that neither of us could get down. It clearly had been made HOURS before and the rice was hard enough to break a tooth. Then the saddest, most overcooked and flavorless little two yakitori skewers that were supposed to be the main course came out, and later followed by a strange "dessert" of a cut out square of what they described as chocolate mousse (spoiler alert it wasn't). I was so disappointed because I had really wanted to make our Valentine's Day special. Every couple that we spoke to were also so disappointed with their meal as well. We were the only ones who were dumb enough to buy the drink package though (2/4 were ok). Although we understood about the staff being overwhelmed, the food was inexcusable for $300 especially when we couldn't eat most of it. read more