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

Cold Drinks Bar - OAXAN PRINCESS, WILD HONEY PIE - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We loved this bar! It's perfectly hidden away, the vibe is cozy and high end. The drinks are delicious, I got the Rabbit New Year one, I was a bit skeptical about the greek yogurt, but it was extremely good and refreshing (it's like a hint of greek yogurt, you can barely notice it) and I also got an Omakase. I asked for a sweet drinks with strawberries and rum, the bartender killed it. Will definitely come again :)) read more

Cold Drinks Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I feel taken away into a modern and chic Chinese themed bar with drinks! It's upstairs from China Live restaurant and marketplace in Chinatown, which makes this place even more hip from the outside wanting to experience Chinese boho culture. Adore the lounge area! Peruvian Satchel was refreshing with a swell lemon punch to it! They have snacks too that compliments the cocktails. Refined cocktails and the decor sets the mood here! read more

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Stopped for drinks with my wife on Thursday night before dinner (at another restaurant). Cold Drinks Bar is above China Live (same ownership), up the stairs and to an unlabeled door with just an icon on it. Behind the door is a decent size space with couch and casual table seating. The cocktails are exceptional. We had three different ones, and each was a delight - from each description, you get a mental image of what you think is coming...and you are surprised each time. What we found is while the drinks are strong, because of the size of the square ice cube and the resulting volume of liquor, none of the drinks were overly-formidable. At present, there's no food being served up there, so ask for a bowl of peking duck popcorn. At first it seems like caramel corn, but get the right kernel and there's a Peking Duck finish - awesome. My only thought is the brightness level of the illumination could be reduced just a bit for the sake of intimacy and ambiance, but perhaps that's a niggle. Overall, we were delighted and will be back. read more

High 3 stars for me! The best thing about this place is the ambiance that . The speakeasy is dark and dimly lit inside and provides a super upscale environment. Service was standard but I could tell the bartenders were super knowledgeable with the menu and drinks. I could also tell they use higher quality and premium ingredients for their drinks. Personally, I just didn't think it was worth it. Prices are a bit higher than your average bar which is fine given the premium ingredients and upscale environment, but it also comes with an automatic 20% service charge. With that automatic charge, I hoped to love my drink but I thought it was ok. Overall the ambiance and interior is a perfect, the service is good, but the value just isn't there for me. If you're super knowledgeable around spirits and a connoisseur, then I'd say this place perfect. If you're more on the casual side like me, I'd pass. read more

Cold Drinks Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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To begin our night, our friend recommend this place which was above the very popular China Live restaurant. The vibes here are totally fancy and speakeasy-like; I was very pleasantly surprised about how awesome the interior was since it looked nothing like this on the outside. We got one of the whiskey flights as well as a couple of the famous "Sometimes Old Fashioned". The flight came with the bottles (for show, though we jokingly thought we could just keep pouring) so that you can read and understand what you're drinking. The cocktail (for which they're famous for) was very delicious and subtle. I can see this as a fantastic place to come with a group of friends to chill or to have a date night! read more

Cold Drinks Bar - Drinks - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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It is easy to miss this bar. It is on 2nd floor of what appears to be mixed used building. Seating is on comfortable sofas or sofa chairs. The drink menu is out of this world with some of the most creative cocktails I have seen. I tried the rabbit year resolution which included rum, pineapple juice, lime, compari and guess what Greek yogurt. The taste is unique but perfectly blended ingredients. Nothing less than 5 stars. read more

Cold Drinks Bar - Rabbit year resolution - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

San Francisco Chinatown May 2022 Walk Grant or Stockton through Chinatown until you hit Broadway, then cross the street, and you're there. To find the actual location and entrance is a little bit more tricky but this is not a secret speakeasy kind of place, it's actually more of an unexpected pleasure. Follow the bats. They say they serve Scotch-centric cocktails and snacks from 8 Tables by George Chen. The house cocktails and glassware are good. The bartenders have their mise en place together and craft cold drinks efficiently without taking shortcuts. If you want to enjoy straight brown spirit you can try one of their Scotch flights. Not feeling like cocktails? There are alternatives to boozy cocktails and straight spirits. My idea of coming to a good cocktail bar for wine or beer or mocktails is like having chicken or asking for vegan alternatives in a seafood restaurant ... but I understand it if you're there only for the atmosphere or company. And speaking of food ... China Live is downstairs so don't come here looking to put together a meal with your drinks. The interior overlooks Broadway and there are nice plush sections where a bunch can sit together. The bar is divided in two so there are two working stations and you'll get proper attention if you choose to sit there. It is not a large space so a make a reservation if you can plan ahead. Don't be upset if you're turned away or ignored when they're busy. A proper casual jacket is a good look here but this is San Francisco ... they'll accept you even if your edgy fashion is college grunge or TikTok shop-at-Ross. Just remember to follow the bats. read more

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I've visited the Cold Drinks Bar a couple of times now - once with a smaller group and another time with a larger group. It's a great place to stop by before or after dinner. I love that it's hidden/speakeasy style. The interior is gorgeous and a great place to catch up with friends or a date. We didn't get food here. The drinks are delicious but more whiskey/gin- based than vodka-based. You can also ask them to make you a drink based on your preferences. Make a reservation if you can. It gets busy! read more

Though I've been to the restaurant China Live before, I had never been to the connected Cold Drinks Bar before and was curious to check it out. We came on a Sunday night so thankfully it wasn't too crowded and we just waited around 5 minutes to get seating for a group of 5. I have to say, the interior is quite striking and I was really impressed by the decor. While the space itself isn't the largest, it is very well designed and it definitely looked like a lot of effort was put into curating the space. For my drink, I decided to get the Silk Degrees and I thoroughly enjoyed it! It had such an interesting smoky flavor to it, and as a fan of sweeter drinks it really went down smoothly. It was probably one of the most unique cocktails that I've had in a bar, and I would highly recommend it if you aren't a big fan of bitter drinks. If you are, they also have a wide variety of drinks to satisfy your cravings. We also received some free shots (as someone had ordered a round for the whole bar apparently), which was a nice bonus. If you're looking for a luxury bar to check out for some great drinks, Cold Drinks Bar is the place to go! read more

Cold Drinks Bar - Silk Degrees - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Easily the best cocktails in the city. Hidden above China Live with no signage, so you have to know it's there. Not a lot of seating, but the drinks make it worth it. Every cocktail is unique and well-crafted. Best move is to go with friends, order different ones, and share--because you'll want to try them all. read more

This bar has such a nice ambiance, very classy yet you don't need to dress up for it. It's a great bar for a date night! The drinks are super strong but on the pricier side (~$20). I give it a star down because of the food. We got their Mala chicken wings but it did not have an ounce of mala flavor kind of tasted like bbq. Also ordered their Peking duck fat popcorn but it just tasted like caramel ): read more

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Clarified Milk punch review Rabbit year resolution (still.on menu from last time) Worthy Park rum, pineapple, campari, lime, Pea flower tea, Greek yogurt. This was a fun riff on the jungle bird. The purple color from the Pea flower tea really gives it a unique esthetic. The campari was very balanced and mellowed out by the clarification. Great cocktail. The silk degrees still on menu and is always smooth and delicious. read more

Cold Drinks Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Loved this place. It's right above China Live. Follow the bats until you see the golden door. It's a super high end cocktail bar. Not huge, but we were able to get seats at the bar on a Saturday night after only waiting a few minutes. Specializes in whiskey, but the mixologists can make you drinks with pretty much any spirit you might desire. read more

Cold Drinks Bar - Menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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One of the best cocktail programs I've experienced. Went on Sunday evening after dinner. Derek took excellent care of us. Intimate, sexy environment. Comfortable bar stools. Went with family and friends but will be back for date night. read more

It's a chill and more intimate vibe. The cocktails here are definitely on the pricier side with an automatic 20% service fee. Montenegro - I've never had a drink with five spice in it before but it wasn't bad. It's pretty unique. Wild Honey Pie - tasted like a fruity cocktail you can get anywhere else so I'd recommend trying something unique at this price point. It's still a solid cocktail. read more

Cold Drinks Bar - Montenegro & Wild Honey Pie - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Cold Drinks Bar wasn't planned on our itinerary, but I'm very glad we stumbled in here. It's a much cooler bar than the name would suggest. The decor and ambience are both on point. Service was great too. I'm really not a cocktail person, but I felt inspired to order the Peruvian Satchel. It was delicious. Although a little pricey, the quality of their drinks and the elevated atmosphere make it worth it. If you are in the area looking for a nice bar to grab a drink at, this place definitely figures to be one of the best options. read more

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Vibe, drinks, music.... #Saturday night #whisky vs. #whiskey Walked in and found a gem! read more

Cold Drinks Bar - Silk degree & Montenegro- Come see THE mixologist Signore Davide SILK DEGREES MONTENEGRO - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Great spot above China Live in Chinatown. Been meaning to come here for a while, so I was worried the anticipation/hype would create unrealistic expectations about drink quality, pricing, etc. but was pleasantly surprised. Service was attentive and friendly. We ordered 4 drinks total, enjoyed all of them, and they were all pretty unique. We also ordered the chicken wings appetizer, and the wings were de-boned and seasoned well. Definitely not a cheap place to get drinks, but given quality, taste, service, and location, we enjoyed it. read more

"Hidden" gem of a true craft cocktail bar. Definitely recommend. We went early in the evening on a weekday and found it to be perfect for a quiet, upscale, cocktail experience. read more

This place is heaven on earth. This is essentially a speakeasy above a Chinese restaurant with a slightly gothic/art deco theme. It's just plain out freaking cool, and exactly up my alley in every way. It's everything you want out of a good speakeasy-style place - not too many seats, good bartenders, comfy seating, and a chill vibe. The drinks here are, needless to say, superb. Everything I tried was to die for, and I'd basically trust the bartenders here with whatever they wanted to make for me. You can tell there's a lot of passion put into the drinks here, and they're worth every penny. read more

The whisky selection here is exceptional. Though, I assume that because the bartenders had come from Nihon Whisky Lounge there's no surprise there. While I am not so acquainted with the qualities of whisky, my friends who were, had a great time chatting up the bartenders while I sipped what I would call a decent cocktail. A few things of note, the bar is richly decorated is dimly lit. A popular spot for dates as several couples came in and out during our time there. It grows louder as the night grows on and then quiets down after peak service. There are some issues with cleanliness. There were cocktail ingredients out in the open on the bar. At one point, we noticed something movement, only to find a small cockroach dancing across the bar...no idea whether or not it had been in the ingredients themselves but we were shocked to see it. Especially given the appearance of cleanliness. read more

Recently visited this bar above China Live and was thoroughly impressed by the creative drink selection and fantastic vibes. The "Sometimes Old Fashioned" deserves a special mention - it's hands down one of the best drinks I've ever had. read more

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A super cool and classy speakeasy hidden away in Chinatown just on top of China Live. If you don't know about this place, you just might never find it. Walk pass China Live and up the stairs, follow the bats on the wall, and you will find yourself in front of a large gold door. Open this door and you will get transported out of SF and into a trendy bar in Asia. The interior is really nice, dimly lit, a little glitzy. Love the black and gold contrast. Definitely worth a post on IG. We got lucky with bar seating so we were able to see our drinks being made. Prices are a bit steep, but you're paying for the ambiance. I ordered the Harry "Starlite" while he ordered a "Unplugged" and "Sometimes Old Fashion". I enjoyed mine, but he was just okay with his. He thinks they are a little too watered down and might have sat in ice for too long. He later ordered a shot of Dalmore Cigar Malt and he enjoyed it. They have a wide selection of scotch which made him happy. They also have a few of the high end bottles here if you are into these. The only downside to our whole experience was our bartender was drunk and slurring her words the entire time which I found to be unprofessional. She still made our drinks fine, but just seeing her knocking down things and kept forgetting our order just didn't quite made me feel like it's worth the premium cocktail prices we're paying, and also made the whole vibe felt well... less enjoyable. read more

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Must try bar in SF Chinatown. I recommend coming earlier to avoid the long waitlist. All of the lounge areas were reserved, but they seemed like a great place to hangout with a group. We ordered the Sometimes Old Fashioned (founder's cocktail!) and the Strawberry Fields Forever. Sometimes Old Fashioned tasted pretty standard, and I didn't love the bitter hint of Strawberry Fields Forever. I would still recommend both drinks though - just depends what you like! Definitely coming back again to try the rest of the menu. read more

Cold Drinks Bar - SOMETIMES OLD FASHIONED, STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Great ambiance, tasty drinks, interesting bites. Popular night time spot for drinks and chats with friends. read more

Cold Drinks Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Enrique was an amazing bartender. He elevates the place. Knowledgeable, friendly. Made over the top cocktails. Very cool place and worth a stop. He made the night for us! read more

Great collection of scotch, & whiskey. Friendly & swift service. Ambiance allows for conversations to flow without effort. We also ordered some of their delicious peanuts - was spicy and felt fresh. Make sure you give yourself time to find parking if you are driving, not easy to find open spots in that part of town. Will definitely return for happy hour scotch with friends. Hope you all enjoy the place as much as we did. read more

Swanky cocktail bar above China Live, just down the hallway from 8 Tables. We made a reservation (recommended for weekends) and our group of 4 was seated in a nice large area which could easily fit 2 more. Really like how they kept everyone socially distant and checked vaccination status. Cocktails were on the pricey side -- averaging $20, plus they have a nice selection of whiskey flights. A small snack menu was also offered. I ordered: - Silk Degrees ($22): Coconut washed Johnny Walker Black, coconut, pineapple. Nothing wrong with this but it could have been benefitted with more layered flavors at this price point. 3/5 - Ma La Chicken Wings ($15): Barely any ma or la flavors here. Wings were deboned which made them easier to eat. Maybe a tad of ma (numbing) but definitely can have more punch. 3/5 - Peking Duck Fat Popcorn ($8): the pieces of popcorn honestly looked like shrimp chips, they were so large! Mild flavor but the duck fat gave them an interesting umami flavor. 4/5 - Sichuan Edamame Beans ($9): these beans tasted likely were boiled in the same flavorings as Chinese boiled peanuts, namely with lots of star anise and soy sauce, and with a touch of Sichuan peppercorns. While we appreciated the strong flavor, we also wished it was a bit more unique. 3.5/5 My friends ordered the Sometimes Old Fashioned which received so-so reviews, and the Recovery Milk Punch which received better reviews. Perhaps we were influenced since we went to True Laurel after this which had much better cocktails, plus service at Cold Drinks Bar was a bit slow too. We love the space but not sure we'll return. read more

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Want to feel like you're in the know? Have a thing for high end cocktails? Looking for a place that can mix with scotch? Maybe you just finished dinner at China live and don't want the night to end? No matter what the reason, make sure to check out cold drinks bar. Walk right past the hostess for China live and go up the stairs to your right. Once up a level you'll see an unmarked door. Pause there, mask up, provide your info, then get ready for a great night. I had 4-5 cocktails which really means I had 7 but who's counting. I started on the menu - everything perfectly balanced. Then I just started talking to the tender. He spun up some off menu attractions (I love interesting plays on Negronis and Manhattans) and then we shared a mescal shot. The vibe here is ultra cool so come dressed to impress with an open mind to higher prices. The decor is mid-century meets art deco with a splash of neon. read more

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We had drinks at the bar on Friday night. I have been to cold drinks many times pre COVID. First time back post COVID. The service was atrocious. And the service did not mention that a 20% gratuity was included lead us to double tip. We called and left a voicemail for the bar on Sat morning. We also send an email and no one has contacted us. Previous reviews on Yelp state that others have experienced this as well. This maybe a common practice to trick customers to tipping more. At the very least they should notify guests that the tip is included. We would appreciate someone contacting us please. read more

Cold Drinks Bar - Double dipping - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I'm not sure if we had bad luck the Friday night we went out, but this place did not live up to our expectations based on all the great Yelp reviews. We were late for our reservation but they were nice enough to get us seated right away. The vibe was a bit pretentious so I didn't feel welcomed in there. The drinks are also very pricey but stronger than other bars. We got the Oaxan Princess ($18) which was very strong so I felt like I was sipping on a shot. read more

Cold Drinks Bar - Oaxan Princess ($18) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Love this hidden gem in San Francisco. I stopped in here with two friends for a nightcap after libations elsewhere. The drinks didn't disappoint at all. One thing to note is that it is upstairs above a different business, so it may be hard to find but you will see the host stand outside for the other restaurant and they will point you in the right direction. read more

My friend brought us here for real good drinks. It's similar to a speak easy bar but not exactly is. This bar definitely has a lot of Asian influences- which they mix five spice, duck fat... in the cocktails. I just love to taste the complexity of each drink and how they balance the flavors. I recommend you to stop here to give a try, it's like a place to have a drink experience. You can taste the personality of the bar and the bartenders. read more

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Been here a couple of times and every time it gets better. Great service, great ambiance, great drinks and great location. If you're looking for drinks on the sweeter end, I'd recommend the Cindy and the Sometimes Old Fashioned. The Cindy's base is vodka but has a sweet & tart taste w/ a fusion of fruit juices and bitters. The Sometimes Old Fashioned is your standard old fashion but a little sweeter because it's mixed w/ cane sugar. If you're w/ a group of 6 or more call and check-in ahead. The bar is very small and may be limited for large groups. read more

Cold Drinks Bar - The Cindy (Left) and Sometimes Old Fashioned (Right) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

The unplugged and the feeling lucky flight were delicious. Ambiance is a 10/10. Service was great - they were attentive and thorough. Will definitely be back! read more

Cold Drinks Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

The decor here is on point! Came here on a Wednesday, didn't have reservations but still no wait. Sat at the bar, ordered a few cocktails (they were strong but still tasty) and the bartender gave all 3 of us free champagne since it was one of our friend's birthday. Cocktails on the pricier side ($16+) but expected nothing less in sf. Great vibes Amazing service 10/10 would come again read more

Cold Drinks Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

After dinner downstairs at China Live, headed up to this awesome little bar upstairs. I was digging the decor (minus the neon signs on the wall) and the vibe. My advice, get there early. We were able to score a couch spot on a Thursday night at 8:00, but about an hour later the place was packed. They seemed to be understaffed, so by the time the tables starting filling up it was impossible to get another drink. We ended up moving to an open space at the bar, which was the best idea we had all night. Met the bartender (wish I could remember his name) who was an absolute delight! We chatted about our flavor palettes and he made some great recommendations (try the milk-washed cocktail, and ask how it's done - it's fascinating!) and he customized a drink for me that was spot on! I'll be back again to try their other cocktails... but maybe on a random weeknight to avoid the crowds! read more

Cold Drinks Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

This place lives up to every award given !!! They know how to design cocktails and you can tell how much thought has been put into it. The ambiance is 10/10 and perfect place to grab drinks with friends or a date. The coffee drink blew our mind for uniqueness and presentation. read more

Cold Drinks Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came on a Sunday night after grabbing dinner in the area. Try Silk Degrees (coconut Johnnie Walker, pineapple) if you go, it might be one of the best cocktails Ive had. It looks like water, is on the sweeter side, and liquor forward. Goes down so smooth! Also had a wild honey pie, a very chill and easy to drink (brandy, cherry). Bartenders were very kind and made sure to check on you throughout your visit. read more