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Cool spot for drinks & appetizers before you start or end the night. The service was great, bartenders gave recommendations. Reservation is recommended because the place gets busy (it's not too big). Check it out
Nice ambience! Lots of moody wood and velvet plush sofas. The drinks were good (standouts included the Montenegro and Silk Degrees, which is like a smoky version of a piña colada) and the bartenders were very friendly. We could walk in and get seats without a reservation on a Friday night, which was fantastic.
Came here with a friend for pre-dinner drinks and it was a great experience! We came here around 5:15pm and were able to snag some seats at the bar right away. Service and Staff: - Ordered our drinks at the bar after discussing potential options with the bartender (helpful) - If you come during happy hour time (5-6pm), you get a complimentary bar bite with the purchase of 2 adult beverages (excluding caviar) Food and Drinks: - Montenegro: wanted something in a similar-ish vain to a pisco pinch, so got the Montenegro. It was fun, fruity, and what I needed - Sometimes Old Fashioned: my friend ordered this and really enjoyed it. As someone who doesn't like whisky or an old fashioned, I thought this was pretty good. - Lobster Imperial Roll: comes with six slices and a generous amount of lobster in each slice. The sauce on top was great as well Miscellaneous: - Coat rack in the front available for use - Bathrooms are located outside and down the hall a bit - Elevator or stair access to the bar - Good for groups of one to about seven (thinking how many could comfortably sit on a couch in each "section") - Could be cute for a small office party
Stopped by on a whim on a Saturday before a dinner reservation and was able to be seated immediately. We were just a party of 2, got there a few minutes after opening and we weren't staying long so they were able to accommodate us. Unsure how packed this bar gets into the night, but it was easy to get seated early on. The bar is located above China Live and owned by the same establishment. I've gone to China Live a few times but did not know about this bar until recently! I really liked the ambiance; it feels sophisticated and classy with the mood they set with the lighting, furniture, and spacing. A great spot for a date. I ordered the tuscan spritz, and it was fine. The cocktail was on the light, refreshing side but as a result it didn't do much for me. Didn't taste much of the alcohol but I guess that's most spritz's. Pricing is a bit high, but you should expect it since this is a 3 dollar sign bar. I'd come again if in the area and try some of their other, stronger drinks.
I really dig this place, the few times I've gone have always been a pretty nice time. Went on a date here last time and coupled with the good playlist, I was having a ball. I left out one star because the drinks imo are a bit too pricey but other than that, it's usually very accessible and a fun place to get a pregame going. Service was pretty prompt and nice too, guy offered to take a picture of me and boo because we kept taking obnoxious ones of ourselves but we humbly declined lol. I'd definitely come back sometime.
We had an amazing time last night! Our bartender (forgive me but I didn't catch her name) was super nice and attentive. We also loved all the drinks that we had Silk Degrees, Smoke On The Water, Montgomery Street Shuffle (ordered this drink a few times!), and Sometimes Old Fashion. We love the overall vibe of the place. We highly recommend making a reservation as this place gets packed especially on a Saturday.
Walked in at about 8:30pm without a reservation on a Wednesday night. We were immediately sat at the bar. Very cozy and intimate atmosphere. They have a really great cocktail menu and extensive whiskey selection. Will definitely be back!
We love coming out of our way come to Cold Drinks Bar, one of our regulars now :). Great whisky selection. It's also a treat to see our favorite bartender Derek!
Good vibes inside and very attentive servers. I also like how it's quieter so you can actually hear people talk The drink that stood out the most for me was the silk degrees you cant taste the alcohol at all and it's so smooth. i love the rice taste and burnt coconut chips on top are so good. I would literally come back just for this drink.
Delicious drinks, a beautiful interior, and friendly, efficient service. The drinks aren't out of this world creative, but it's a bar that I would be happy to go to again.
I wouldn't quite call this a speakeasy since it's just up the stairs from China Live, but the ambiance is quite swank with a very high-end cocktail vibe. Having arrived just after opening, we were the only customers in the bar when we were seated. I ordered the Sometimes Old Fashioned while my partner ordered the Oaxan Princess. The Sometimes Old Fashioned was an interesting rendition on the classic cocktail, and had a lot of complex flavors from the duck fat washed scotch, black pepper and mushroom. The Oaxan Princess was interesting as well, and had a nice smokiness from the mezcal that was balanced nicely with the sweetness from the Lilet Rose and Maraschino liqueur. Overall, the drinks were good, but a bit steep price wise.
Cold drinks bar is a vibey, warm atmosphere that's very young and hip. The music isn't too loud and the crowd is very fun. One of my favorite cocktails of all time is the Silk Degrees which is a toasted coconut and pineapple based drink. You wouldn't think it's flavorful at first glance but the depths of flavor will blow you away. Servers are very attentive and the bartenders are the coolest around. Will gladly gatekeep this place if it means I get a seat whenever I arrive!
What a hidden gem in Chinatown. Great ambiance, great drinks, great service! Would definitely be back.
5 days ago
4 months ago
**you may need a reservation !! We were so lucky to get in for 2 and then 4. Kinda confusing us to where you enter, you go upstairs to get in to this place. Server, was ok,, no clue of his name. I have the Oaxaca princess, and hubby had the old fashion (sometimes) Really nice place for cocktails!!! read more
10 days ago
Cool spot for drinks & appetizers before you start or end the night. The service was great, bartenders gave recommendations. Reservation is recommended because the place gets busy (it's not too big). Check it out read more
4 months ago
Nice ambience! Lots of moody wood and velvet plush sofas. The drinks were good (standouts included the Montenegro and Silk Degrees, which is like a smoky version of a piña colada) and the bartenders were very friendly. We could walk in and get seats without a reservation on a Friday night, which was fantastic. read more
Came here with a friend for pre-dinner drinks and it was a great experience! We came here around 5:15pm and were able to snag some seats at the bar right away. Service and Staff: - Ordered our drinks at the bar after discussing potential options with the bartender (helpful) - If you come during happy hour time (5-6pm), you get a complimentary bar bite with the purchase of 2 adult beverages (excluding caviar) Food and Drinks: - Montenegro: wanted something in a similar-ish vain to a pisco pinch, so got the Montenegro. It was fun, fruity, and what I needed - Sometimes Old Fashioned: my friend ordered this and really enjoyed it. As someone who doesn't like whisky or an old fashioned, I thought this was pretty good. - Lobster Imperial Roll: comes with six slices and a generous amount of lobster in each slice. The sauce on top was great as well Miscellaneous: - Coat rack in the front available for use - Bathrooms are located outside and down the hall a bit - Elevator or stair access to the bar - Good for groups of one to about seven (thinking how many could comfortably sit on a couch in each "section") - Could be cute for a small office party read more
1 year ago
Stopped by on a whim on a Saturday before a dinner reservation and was able to be seated immediately. We were just a party of 2, got there a few minutes after opening and we weren't staying long so they were able to accommodate us. Unsure how packed this bar gets into the night, but it was easy to get seated early on. The bar is located above China Live and owned by the same establishment. I've gone to China Live a few times but did not know about this bar until recently! I really liked the ambiance; it feels sophisticated and classy with the mood they set with the lighting, furniture, and spacing. A great spot for a date. I ordered the tuscan spritz, and it was fine. The cocktail was on the light, refreshing side but as a result it didn't do much for me. Didn't taste much of the alcohol but I guess that's most spritz's. Pricing is a bit high, but you should expect it since this is a 3 dollar sign bar. I'd come again if in the area and try some of their other, stronger drinks. read more
Business owner information
George C.
Spritz like you stated, are lighter in general. Most people think we…
I really dig this place, the few times I've gone have always been a pretty nice time. Went on a date here last time and coupled with the good playlist, I was having a ball. I left out one star because the drinks imo are a bit too pricey but other than that, it's usually very accessible and a fun place to get a pregame going. Service was pretty prompt and nice too, guy offered to take a picture of me and boo because we kept taking obnoxious ones of ourselves but we humbly declined lol. I'd definitely come back sometime. read more
Business owner information
George C.
Snacks on us next time :). Thanks, Chef Chen
1 year ago
We had an amazing time last night! Our bartender (forgive me but I didn't catch her name) was super nice and attentive. We also loved all the drinks that we had Silk Degrees, Smoke On The Water, Montgomery Street Shuffle (ordered this drink a few times!), and Sometimes Old Fashion. We love the overall vibe of the place. We highly recommend making a reservation as this place gets packed especially on a Saturday. read more
Business owner information
George C.
Ana…She thanks you and so do I :). Chen Chen
2 years ago
Walked in at about 8:30pm without a reservation on a Wednesday night. We were immediately sat at the bar. Very cozy and intimate atmosphere. They have a really great cocktail menu and extensive whiskey selection. Will definitely be back! read more
We love coming out of our way come to Cold Drinks Bar, one of our regulars now :). Great whisky selection. It's also a treat to see our favorite bartender Derek! read more
Business owner information
George C.
Thank you Hannah…always great to have you in! :)). We’ll Derek know :)
Good vibes inside and very attentive servers. I also like how it's quieter so you can actually hear people talk The drink that stood out the most for me was the silk degrees you cant taste the alcohol at all and it's so smooth. i love the rice taste and burnt coconut chips on top are so good. I would literally come back just for this drink. read more
Delicious drinks, a beautiful interior, and friendly, efficient service. The drinks aren't out of this world creative, but it's a bar that I would be happy to go to again. read more
Business owner information
George C.
Yes we surely agree! Thank you ;). Chef Chen
I wouldn't quite call this a speakeasy since it's just up the stairs from China Live, but the ambiance is quite swank with a very high-end cocktail vibe. Having arrived just after opening, we were the only customers in the bar when we were seated. I ordered the Sometimes Old Fashioned while my partner ordered the Oaxan Princess. The Sometimes Old Fashioned was an interesting rendition on the classic cocktail, and had a lot of complex flavors from the duck fat washed scotch, black pepper and mushroom. The Oaxan Princess was interesting as well, and had a nice smokiness from the mezcal that was balanced nicely with the sweetness from the Lilet Rose and Maraschino liqueur. Overall, the drinks were good, but a bit steep price wise. read more
2 years ago
Cold drinks bar is a vibey, warm atmosphere that's very young and hip. The music isn't too loud and the crowd is very fun. One of my favorite cocktails of all time is the Silk Degrees which is a toasted coconut and pineapple based drink. You wouldn't think it's flavorful at first glance but the depths of flavor will blow you away. Servers are very attentive and the bartenders are the coolest around. Will gladly gatekeep this place if it means I get a seat whenever I arrive! read more
Business owner information
George C.
Yea Silk Degrees is a must-try wonder :). Thank you
3 months ago
2 years ago
Business owner information
George C.
Unfortunately drinks are pricy these days..we’re average for SF -…
8 months ago
1 year ago
Perfect , lite and delicious. Highly recommend this bar. Had to visit alone and seated promptly and felt safe. Thank you read more
Business owner information
George C.
Thanks for being a regular…says a lot that you like if always :).…
Lovely quiet bar above China Live, not too loud of a place (good for dates), but the menu was heavily focused on Whisky! That being said, despite not being a whisky lover, their cocktails were really well done and I surprisingly liked their whisky based cocktails too! A bit on the pricier side but a nice ambience to chill and talk. Really nice waiters too. read more
Business owner information
George C.
Yes…but whiskey is so versatile…I even learned that when I opened in…
Popped up after date night at China Live for a post dinner cocktail. They were able to seat us at the bar (~ 7:30pm). This is a very classy and peaceful cocktail bar up on the second floor of the China Live building, it took us a minute to find the entrance after taking the elevator up (just head towards the stairwell and you'll see a door on the right hand side). Large amount of whiskey. It's not usually my jam but I've put on a list for when my whiskey connoisseur friend next visits the city! I enjoyed a Sometimes Old Fashioned, which was perfectly mixed. They made a mocktail for my wife, who was driving us home, which utilised a number of their housemade syrups and cost almost as much as a real cocktail (but I guess the labour is the expensive part of each drink here!). Although it's a little on the pricier side, at $18 a drink, we had a great time and will be back - both for the drinks and the ambience! read more
Business owner information
George C.
Thanks…glad you to
This place was just okay. The ambiance is nice and aesthetic but there is definitely limited space inside. We got the summertime and the wild honey pie. The wild honey pie is delicious and i would definitely get it again but the summertime was not a favorite. The service was just okay as well. read more
Showed up without a reservation and was told there would be a 1hr 30 minute wait. Joined the waitlist and came back after I received the text that my table was ready. I love the ambiance of this place - the decor is gorgeous! The bar is located upstairs from China Live. The noise level was just right - great for conversations We got a variety of drinks Silk Degrees, Montenegro, Oaxacan Princess, Jasmine Tea Lager and the Wheat Beer. As for cocktails, my favorite was the Silk Degrees - was a warm flavor that mixed very well with whiskey! My second favorite was the Montenegro - citrusy and refreshing. Only downside during our visit was the service, there was only one bartender working so it took quite some time before we received our drinks. read more
! Warning: automatic 20% service charge added to the bill regardless of party size so beware not to double tip! Cold Drinks Bar is tucked away behind the front desk of China Live and is a sexy, intimate spot that's great to bring friends before/after dinner downstairs. We came on a Wednesday night around 6 and I have to give major props to the bartender as he held down the whole fort by himself. The bar was very crowded with a lot of groups but he made sure to take care of everyone. I ordered the Silk Degrees and thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the subtle hints of pineapple and coconut with the Smokey liquor. Pro Tip: if you come to Cold Drinks Bar before your China Live reservation, you can bring your drink with you to your table after you close out. read more
Business owner information
George C.
Thanks…see you all soon :)
2 years ago
This spot has been on my try-list for a while and wow, what a letdown! I called the phone number that was on their yelp page and made a table for a Friday night. When I arrived, the host/bartender/our server approached us asking if we had a reservation. When I said we did he was quick to snap and say "no you don't" because he did not see it. I think it's very weird that the phone number linked on the yelp page does not even connect to this business then or their reservations weren't updated. The place was only 1/3 full, one table and the bar seating were the only people there when we arrived. Luckily he was able to seat us and he directed us to the middle of the long booth right in front of the tv (not facing the tv) with one tiny coffee table. Either side of us had two coffee tables which said "reserved" so I understood why we were put there. When it came time to order, my friend tried to order an espresso martini and the server said "we don't serve those here". I assumed they would because it's literally a bar and that's a common drink, but I guess they specialize in whiskey (learned that from the menu, not the server informing us). This was alright with us so we ordered cocktails off the menu instead since it was not safe to assume they had a full bar. After 15-20 minutes waiting for our three drinks in a 1/3 full non busy bar, two people were seated next to us. I do think it's weird that two people got to have two of these tiny coffee tables and for us three we could only have one. Not only that, within 5 minutes of being seated, this party of two was immediately served their drinks. At this point we had waited around 20 minutes and been seated before them and still didn't have ours. One of them did order a cocktail so I find it weird that theirs was so quick. I truly believe that this difference in service is due to us not being their ideal clientele since we were three young Asian adults and the other party were two older white men. Also, one of the people in that party wouldn't stop staring at me which was really uncomfortable. We finally got our drinks which were fine. We didn't bother getting a second round because the drinks or service did not make it worth it. Especially since all three of us were crammed on a booth area of around 2.5-3 feet wide and our table was so little. Overall, this is definitely a gorgeous bar with beautiful light structures and art deco influence, but the bad service and just ok drink list is not enough for me to come back. Save your time and go somewhere else. read more
Business owner information
George C.
Well look into the Yelp contact number. First impressions make a…
I expected this "hidden" little bar to be a bit stuffy, but my expectations were quite wrong. The staff is warm and welcoming and extra helpful explaining some of the very unique drink offerings. Our small party started our evening here, with most of us ordering their signature cocktail, Sometimes off the menu bartender special, which were absolutely to die for. Drinks are well executed, balanced and creative. Let's be honest, it's on the pricey side but I its well worth the extra $ for quality. I'd highly recommend this place to end the night after grabbing dinner at near by place or kick off your night out at this place. you won't regret it!! read more
Business owner information
George C.
Thank you. It’s a hidden gem :). Chef Chen
Came here during opening hours and the place was pretty empty but it filled up about an hour in. I'm a huge coconut fan so my favorite drink here was the silk degrees (not pictured). Overall,, would highly recommend you make reservations since the place got pretty busy by the time we left. read more
1 year ago
Thanks Yelp for another great find! This bar is upstairs so it's easy to miss. It's a really nice bar perfect for smaller groups. My husband and I walked in and sat at the bar since it was just us two, but you can reserve their larger seating areas. These drinks are not your average cocktails. They have their own twist and are absolutely unique. They also have a HUGE whiskey selection if that's your jam. I ordered the silk degrees and it was the best cocktail I've ever had in my life! It was smooth and smelled amazing. We're looking forward to coming back here someday. The bartender was so kind and welcoming. I wish I got her name. We enjoyed talking to her. Another note - there's no food. So don't come hungry! read more
Business owner information
George C.
Angel! She’s great…thank you!
1 year ago
Business owner information
George C.
Hey that’s not us! I’ll look into it…thanks!
3 years ago
Cold Drinks Bar is a hidden gem located above the China Live restaurant in Chinatown. The setting is dark, romantic, and intimate, with plenty of bar seating sofa lounges for couples or smaller groups. Behind the bar, the bartenders expertly and creatively crafted drinks that tasted as good as they looked. Although they specialize in Japanese whiskies, they provide a variety of different chef's choice cocktails. I sipped on the Summertime, a gorgeous pink drink with hints of fruit and florals elevated by fine bubbles. We also had an 'omakase-style' (chef's choice drink) after asking for her take on a classic martini, and what Angel delivered was a symphony of flavors that showcased her creative talents. It was cold, refreshing, and the perfect mix of a unique gin with the fresh zest of a lemon. Beyond the drinks, the staff provides excellent hospitality in this intimate space. For distinctive cocktails as creative as they are delicious, Cold Drinks should top any list for must-try cocktail bars in San Francisco! read more
The vibe in Cold Drinks Bar is immaculate, but I felt the $20 cocktails were a bit much. My friends and I decided to check this place out on a Saturday night, and got seated at the bar right away. The place was basically a speakeasy - tucked away and not easily identifiable from the outside. The decor was beautiful - dim lighting, a neon dragon light, and a really cool geometric ceiling. I could see it being a great place for a date you want to impress because it's intimate and not too loud to have a conversation. I decided to order A Coffee Drink and my friends got the Waltz and Sometimes Old Fashioned. The cocktails ranged from $16-22 and were all fairly intricate. I wish I liked mine more than I did but it just wasn't my favorite - it was boozy but I didn't really get the coffee component in it. My friend felt similarly about the Waltz but my other friend absolutely loved the Sometimes Old Fashioned. Overall, we would still return for the atmosphere and to try more menu items. read more
Business owner information
George C.
Hate to say it…most bars this caliber charge more…glad you both came…
4 years ago
This place is absolutely amazing. The cocktails were so intricate and refined. I could barely taste the liquor in it. It's a wonderful atmosphere inside, great place to sit back to chat with friends. Service was great as well, super attentive and welcoming. No complaints. read more
Business owner information
George C.
My fav bar too…been over all the Top 50 bars almost in the would :)…
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More info about Cold Drinks Bar
644 Broadway
San Francisco, CA 94133
North Beach/Telegraph Hill, Russian Hill
Directions
(415) 788-8188
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http://chinalivesf.com
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Ask the Community - Cold Drinks Bar
Would I need a reservation for 2 if we wanted to visit around 5:00 pm on a Saturday for a pre-dinner drink?
Hello! Not usually, but always good to make one through our website.…
Do they offer any food or snacks?
We offer some Taro/potato chips on the house but will start snacks starting about early Nov so you will be able to nosh while enjoining our great drinks :)
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
6 reviews that are not currently recommended
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