Cold Drinks Bar Photos
Cold Drinks Bar Popular Drinks
COLD DRINKS BAR ATMOSPHERE
More like Cold Drinks Bar
Recommended Reviews - Cold Drinks Bar
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
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
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
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.
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.
4 years ago
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
Business owner information
George C.
Thank you…we’re very proud of our bar. We travel a bit and this is…
Love this sexy cocktail bar. Total Blade Runner vibes. My husband and I came here for a nightcap after an exquisite meal and didn't want to leave. We had fun getting lost and not being able to find the front door for awhile. The bartender was very authentic and friendly, not what I expected for a hard to find refined cocktail bar. Love Scotch so seeing the Scotch centric menu and bar was what lured us here. We ordered the 'Gold & Crimson' and 'The Waltz' and enjoyed each sip, though my nod goes to 'The Waltz' as it felt more balanced than the other. Each cocktail looked incredible and I can't wait to return to slowly sip some more. read more
4 years ago
Great, unique drinks, friendly service & posh vibes. They even have zero proof liquor to make legit mocktails! read more
Business owner information
George C.
Best kept secret…kind of! We’re more in demand than pre-pandemic.…
4 years ago
I would highly recommend this place for a post dinner drinks place. I came here with friend on a Saturday night, didn't have reservation. The host was super accommodating and we put our name down. After half an hour or so, we got seats at the bar. The drink menu is creative with a good of variety. The ambiance is sexy, a bit business like, and very New York east coast in general type without feeling too uptight. Perfect spot for a date night or post dinner drinks. I like that the music is not too loud, so it's perfect for conversations. The drinks are delicious and the price tag is not bad at all for the quality you get! read more
Business owner information
George C.
Thanks Amber for your patience! Glad you were able to enjoy our bar…
4 years ago
Business owner information
George C.
Any night is good night at CBD :). Thank you!
2 years ago
Business owner information
George C.
Giants hang here when off…thank you!
9 years ago
Wow. Step inside & it really doesn't feel like you're on Broadway right at the foot of Chinatown, but you are! Clandestine entry up the stairs, guided by a mural of bats, to a back door that is actually the front door...the whole experience is different & memorable. SO glad there's not a secret password (sorry, not sorry Bourbon & Branch & then everyplace else that followed); but despite the lack of that very tired trend, it still has that exclusive feeling. The space, from floor to ceiling, is gorgeous. The glassware says more 5 Star Hotel Bar or Malibu Country Club more than restaurant bar. This is, in fact, the bar for the restaurant China Live, only upstairs & w its own private entrance. Scotch is king here, & it holds its royal court w only the finest ingredients in elixirs that are the definition of artisan mixology. The staff is top shelf, too. Supremely prolific & knowledgeable in their craft, the only less than perfect aspect is the wait. From order to execution, it could (& does) take awhile, but remember you are getting only the best ingredients. Excellence takes time. And, it will be worth the wait. Scotch is not my cup of tea. I had the bartender make me the "smoky" scotch drink. Just 2 sips in, & I was ready for a smoking jacket, a pipe, & contemplating this scotchtail for a future book club gathering. Super sexy. The best thing to happen to Broadway, & maybe scotch whisky, in decades. 5 stars. read more
4 years ago
Business owner information
George C.
Sorry….we ARE a very discreet bar :)
We came here after catching a standup at Cobb's after 10 pm on a Wednesday. It's a hidden cocktail bar above China Live, and you have to walk down a little bit from the restaurant and get to the bar on the 2nd floor from the stairwell, which is also kinda hidden. The security guard at the restaurant was very helpful and showed us the directions. We tried 3 drinks at the bar - Sometimes old fashioned, Night & Day in Chinatown, and Shanghai Mai Tai. Sometimes old fashioned is not your regular old fashioned, as they put duck fat to balance the flavors in the drink, which is novel and interesting. The night & day in chinatown is just amazing if you're into something spirit forward. It was pretty quiet since it's a weekday, but we enjoyed the vibe and the drinks a lot. It's definitely considered on the more expensive side, even for SF prices, as most drinks are around $18 - $25. Still, I would love to come back and try more drinks again! read more
Business owner information
George C.
Yes sometimes we like to be a hidden gem for that reason :)
4 years ago
Business owner information
George C.
No standing room nowadays as we want to cars for your experience -…
Did not expect to find this super swanky hidden lounge in a seedy party of Chinatown, so was thrilled at the scene when we climbed the stairs at China Live and opened the unmarked door. The space is beautiful with good lighting and sharply dressed bartenders. The menu focuses on scotches and scotch cocktails. I'm still developing a taste for this, but trusted our servers recommendation and ordered the Mai Tai. As he promised it was a well-balanced drink, if not my typical style. B ordered the ying & yong (scotch, tonic, seltzer, amaro) which tasted like smokey soda water to me. Though scotch is clearly the specialty, the bar is stocked, so you can order a basic manhattan if you are really scotch adverse. There's also a short wine list- though no Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Merlot, or Cabs. Have to say, while mom was annoyed, I love that they aren't trying to be every other bar. Five star scene, would recommend if you are a scotch fan. And even if, like me, you're not, you can trust the staff to make you something tasty. read more
I've been here several times now and absolutely love it. It is an upscale cocktail bar with comfortable lounge seating. Make sure you have a reservation as it is always busy. We tried the silk degrees last time I was there and it was by far the best cocktail I have ever had. read more
Business owner information
George C.
Silk Degrees is the bomb! :))
7 years ago
This seems like a really cool bar for rich businessmen. Since my friend and I were neither of those things, we felt a little out of place. It has a roaring 20s sort of vibe (makes sense since there is a speakeasy event you can buy tickets to just downstairs). I think we happened to catch the happy hour of co-workers after hours and it was mainly the demographic I mentioned above (also slightly smelly). We still had a good time and the drinks were delicious. I would say $25 a drink is around the lower end of the drinks on the menu. I saw some as much as $60. But you get what you pay for, the best whiskey and spirits are in those expensive cocktails. Atmosphere: 5/5 Drink: 5/5 Service: 5/5 (they were friendly) Overall: 4/5 (due to our experience) read more
4 years ago
Business owner information
George C.
Ok we’ll dilute and make some off-balance cheap drinks next time! :(
9 years ago
This was definitely one of the coolest bars that I visited when in San Francisco. It's almost like a secret speakeasy type bar, but really isn't... that's if you can find the stairs to go up (just follow the bat signs...). The bar is pretty intimate and definitely can pack up fast. It has nice lighting and a good vibe. The staff are dressed up in tuxedos. The drinks are carefully crafted and are spendier than your normal bars. We ordered several different drinks and also tried some interesting whiskey. The "sometimes old fashioned" was definitely interesting as it was made with duck fat infused speyburn 10... it made the drink super smooth... and definitely a must try! The other drinks I ordered also tasted good.. along with the anCnoc Blas whisky and the Royal Brackla 12 year. The service was wonderful and super friendly, which made the experience even better. read more
My group of five first stopped by this bar on Friday, August 4th around 8:45pm. We had shown up early for our reservation at China Live, so we decided to head upstairs for a drink. If you're looking for this place, walk past the doors to China Live and whatever bar is to the right of it. (I can't recall it's name to save my life. Maybe Joe something?) You'll see a staircase past the bar on your right. Just head upstairs and you'll see a gold door. There are fake birds to lead the way. That is Cold Drinks. It was pretty packed when we showed up. Standing room only. We basically had time for one round, so there was really no reason to find a spot to sit down. We quickly had a drink (I think it was a small pour of whisky?) and headed down to dinner. They also gave us some shrimp chips which I thought was a nice snack. After dinner, I met up two girlfriends and we headed back up to Cold Drinks. Wanting to keep it simple, I just ordered a round of red wine for the three of us. I had met them up for a second dinner, so all my friends from dinner number one were already here. By now, it wasn't as busy, so we grabbed the tables to the right of the entrance, tucked next to the bar. It was a comfy area to enjoy our drinks and talk as I hadn't seen my gfs in a while. Not sure if you'd consider this a secret bar, but I loved the vibe. Very secluded and intimate. Almost like a speakeasy, but brighter as it's not underground. Very much my kind of bar. So glad we decided to stop by. And twice in one day! I'll definitely be back! read more
7 years ago
Randomly picked this spot to meet up with an old friend. Was worried during the JPM conference week would be busy but it's sufficiently off the beaten path being out in Chinatown. Entrance is unassuming/nothing special, gold first door you see when you hit second floor using the stairs - unmarked outside of a black decal of their logo (for some reason felt like a hallway or decor in an elementary school during Halloween for me ha...their logo reminds me of a bat). The bar itself is classy - super chill vibe with plush couch seating and dim (but not tooooo dim) lighting. There are some fun accents that remind you that you're in Chinatown without being blatant/loud. When I came (5:30pm on a Tuesday and 8:00pm on a Thursday) there were other patrons but plenty of space for our group to pick / choose our spot. Both times we ultimately stuck with bar seats for easy access to more drinks, which were on the whole delicious and served quickly (as well as very photogenic). Highly recommend the sometimes old fashioned, and if you like something sweeter, the night/day in Chinatown. The Italian job was cool to watch her make but my personal preference was for the former two. Also tried their Negroni and it was an elegant version of a classic. read more
Business owner information
George C.
Awesome…please come back and see us! We’re reopening Tues-Saturday…
3 years ago
Business owner information
George C.
We want to see you soon Frank! :))
Love the swanky, modern Shanghai meets old school SF vibe. They're located on top of of China Live and to get there, you have enter the door on the right next the entrance of China Live and go upstairs to the second floor. Cocktails are pricey but delicious. They seem to be known for scotch. They also serve bites. My favorite is their bbq pork char sui Dutch crunch based buns. read more
This speakeasy is amazing! My first impression walking in was being transported into the 1900s era. It has a westernized Chinese vibe and the décor is upscale and classy. This has been the only bar in SF that I felt matched the classiness of bars in New York. We had a group of 12 and managed to grab the long couch in the back early on in the night. It was extremely comfortable, relaxing, and not overcrowded at all. The drinks are the priciest I've seen in SF, but the old fashioned I had was so smooth and tasty. Highly recommend this place if you're looking for the classiest bar in SF! read more
Woooweee this place is neat! I probably would have never found it, but luckily a friend brought me here. I have to say, this is more speakeasyesque to me than B&B or any of the others. I was skeptical at first as my friend led me up the stairs next to China Live, but when he opened that giant door for me, I was instantly impressed. The decor is lush and the bartenders in their white jackets add a great touch. Although I'm not a fan of scotch and the peaty flavor, there were still multiple cocktails on the menu without it that I enjoyed. I had the French Concession (put into the pineapple cup usually reserved for the Long Islay, because I'm such a SUCKER for cool cups). It was refreshing and tasty! I also tried the Nothing Sacred which was also quite good. I liked the firing of the chili pepper - added that "haha my drink is cool" aspect. Friend had some smokey ass drinks that I've chosen to block out of my mind so will not be reporting on those. The only thing I didn't like was the paper straws. I hate those things! I know they look super cool and all, but they basically melt in your drink unless you CHUG real quick. I'm excited to come back because a couple of the bartenders were working on cocktails for the lunar new year. Each day will feature a new cocktail for its corresponding sign. Year of the Dragon better be aweeesome!! read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
4 years ago
Ultra cool spot to grab pre-dinner drinks. The drinks are imaginative and perfectly executed. Beware, the drinks are strong! Highly recommend! read more
So I visited this spot because the place I intended on visiting was closed for an employee meeting. I had a group of friends from out of town visiting and I stumbled across this cocktail bar on yelp. This place is totally hidden! It's in what appears to be a office building that is full of business suites. It took sometimes to find, as we weren't sure of the exact location. A lot of attempts, opening wrong doors haha. After we finally located the correct door in the building, we walked in and we were totaled shocked at the nice bar/lounge we had discovered. The ambience is super chill reminiscent of a hidden gangster lounge in a movie. It's dim lit, big comfy chairs, shag fur rugs, brass accessories- plush lounge feels. It's definitely has the underground secret bar vibe going. The bartenders are outstanding, they can definitely whip up some innovation & tasty cocktails. Their menu has a list of great craft cocktails. If you're into super chill lounge vibes, just looking to kick back, this is your spot. It's a quiet and relaxed atmosphere... not a super bustling loud bar. read more
This speakeasy bar is upscale, beautiful, and sophisticated. The bartender was great, offering his recommendations on drinks. They do not skip out on the alcohol here! Overall, I love the ambiance and the vibes. It's pretty common to pay a pretty penny for cocktail drinks in SF, but I think this place is worth it! read more
5 years ago
Business owner information
George C.
We have taken action on his behavior…you won’t see him again!
5 years ago
One of my favorite speakeasies in the city! Such nice interior and ambiance! You get to the bar through a stairway on the right side of China Live restaurant entrance (most of the time there's a line to China Live, but you should walk pass the people and head straight upstairs for the bar). I haven't been here since Covid started, and was glad that when we arrived at a Wednesday evening there were plenty of seats available. Love their cocktails! Food was unique (we got the salt and pepper beef tendon chips) but the portion was small. Would recommend coming for a drink or two but get food either downstairs or somewhere else. read more
Business owner information
George C.
We really appreciate your patronage! Thank you!
2 years ago
3 years ago
Business owner information
George C.
It’s pretty standard nowadays. My team does notice the guests as…
Solid little hidden bar above china live. Ambience as great and service was nice. The drink prices were pricey - more like New York prices between $16-20 a drink. I got the Cindy which was vodka, gooey grapefruit jam, peat, etc. the sometimes old fashioned was interesting as it had some duck fat read more
5 years ago
If you're looking for a unique, upscale, (kind of secretive) bar, this is the place for you! Have never met nicer bartenders in my lifetime. Thank you for the free birthday shots! read more
3 years ago
Business owner information
George C.
We’re exactly like it as you described it…hidden, lux in a relax way,…
More info about Cold Drinks Bar
644 Broadway
San Francisco, CA 94133
North Beach/Telegraph Hill, Russian Hill
Directions
(415) 788-8188
Call Now
Visit Website
http://chinalivesf.com
Full menu
Hours
Payment methods
Food & Alcohol
Services
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
Other Amenities
From the Business
Cold Drinks Bar Reviews in Other Languages
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
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
3 years ago
9 years ago
5 years ago
9 years ago
7 years ago
2 years ago
