Like other reviewers, I was happy to see there is a cool bar in downtown San Mateo. When I got there to meet my friends, the only seats were at the bar and it was not a comfortable bar stool. The bartender and hostess were nice and did work to try and get us a seat at a table nearby when it opened up. As for the drinks, I had one good drink and one bad drink. The bad drink was a punch of some kind and it was pretty bad until I let the ice melt to water it down. Cool place, but I hope they change their drink menu soon. Responding to the kind response by the owner, the Oaxacan After Midnight was a good drink and the Fogbird Milk Punch was a definite miss. read more

Stopped by here for drinks after dinner and it's such a cute & aesthetic place. It feels so cozy and comfy here -- a great place to grab drinks and talk with your friends. We sat on a booth area by the front window. The staff was really nice as well. I got the Orange Dreamsicle which was delicious. Definitely tastes like an orange dreamsicle and it actually masks the the tequila taste well. But it didn't feel that strong so maybe that's why you don't really taste the tequila lol. Still delicious though. The Espresso Martini was so gooood. Strong, sweet, and packs a punch. Actually came back here a few weeks later for drinks and it's still such a vibe. read more

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really love the cocktails here, brought a couple friends and they loved it too. Great service and a cute atmosphere. Great location.

Interior is cool; very crowded so service is limited; also got noted their kitchen closed at 8:30pm.

Unique cocktails and a nice patio. The chip and dip was good and so was the lemonade coctktail.

Good place for drinks. Nice decor. They have indoor and outdoor seating. We wanted outdoor seating but their server for the patio had already finished his shift so we sat indoors which was fine but just noisy. My companion and I ended up just texting each other because because we couldn't hear amidst the noise. They have a respectable offering of cocktails, wines & beers and bar food here. The cocktails are the stars of the show here. We had the Eyes of the Osprey and the Corpse Reviver #2. Both were good. Cocktails are on average about $15. We didn't order any food but the table next to us ordered garlic fries which was served in a generous portion. We appreciate this place and that it has a nice ambiance. read more

Fogbird - Nice interior. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

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My boyfriend and I stopped by Fogbird for the first time on Valentine's Day. We did not have any reservations and got lucky with the amazing service. We were seated right away with a private corner table. The restaurant's interior design felt cozy as the lights were dim. I had the Angry Birds cocktail and he got a Shirley temple. I would recommend making reservations! read more

Fogbird - Angry Bird and Shirley Temple - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

Came here with a friend recently to hang out for a few hours and I'm glad I got to check out this new cocktail bar! It was fairly busy when we came in on a late afternoon with most tables being filled up! Service was great here with the staff being prompt and checking in on everyone to make sure they were enjoying their food and drinks! I got the Pacific Paloma and my friend got the Angry Bird. We also ordered the Spinach & Artichoke dip to munch on. We both enjoyed our cocktails and they make a great paloma here. It was refreshing and tasty. I liked the Del Maguey Mezcal they used which made it quite a strong cocktail. I tried my friend's Angry Bird and that was also great. I enjoyed the addition of pineapple and coconut cream to the rum blend. Both of our drinks were carefully crafted and I could tell the staff enjoyed making the drinks. Fogbird is a great cocktail bar for a nice hangout or date and I would recommend coming here if you need a place to wind down and enjoy some time off! read more

Fogbird - Pacific Paloma - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

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We had a fabulous cocktail hour at this elegant new place in San Mateo with a lovely atmosphere and knowledgeable and attentive staff! We enjoyed delicious old fashionds in several varieties, guided by our great server Dani. Chips and salsa were a nice compliment. Atmosphere is beautiful and elegant. Can't wait to come back! read more

Fogbird - Laser etched holiday tree ice cube in the "like old times" old-fashioned! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

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This place is pretty loud for an intimate setting. There's outdoor and indoor seating, however still not much space inside to sit larger parties. I came here at 8pm on a Thurs and unfortunately they're last call was at 8:30. It was difficult to order drinks during last call since there was only one bartender, and the worker who came to tell us about it wasn't allowed to take our order. The paloma was pretty good though, just a tad too sweet. There's also a drink on the menu with bourbon, and although I don't normally drink that, it was delicious. It had some sweetness from the strawberries and lemon and I would absolutely order that drink again. My first experience here was alright, however I'd come by earlier to grab a seat and try their other drinks. read more

Fogbird - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

Cute and trendy bar in downtown San Mateo. Cozy atmosphere with plenty or bar or table seating. Very nice and eclectic cocktail options including signature drinks, house cocktails, and nice selection or beers and wines. Bar bites were delicious too especially the warm spinach and artichoke dip. Would definitely come back. read more

Fogbird - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

Went here on a Saturday night for quick drinks. This place is really cute and the ambience is perfect for a date night! They also had a lot of different options to choose from for cocktails, including a mocktail selection. The place is small so it seems to get packed quickly read more

Fogbird - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

Was excited to try this place but their host(?) needs to change his attitude otherwise they're going to lose more customers. Half our group arrived first and sat at the bar. When the remaining 2 showed up, we got a lecture that we're technically not allowed to stand at the bar because everyone needs to have a seat. We were one seat short. Aren't we at a bar? I've literally never heard of this in my life. When a table opened up, we headed over because we figured they could transfer our tab since this is a bar after all. Instead, the host said in the most sassy, rude (and unnecessary) way, "Uhm excuuuse me???" And rolled his eyes. He then proceeded to tell us that we are not allowed to change seats and are only allowed one seat/table for the night, which were the bar seats we were at. So I guess that means technically we can leave, then walk right back in to get the table big enough to accommodate our group? Make it make sense. If it wasn't for his unnecessary attitude, we wouldn't have been so upset and would actually want to come back. But now we no longer feel comfortable ever coming back. As someone who has worked in customer service for many years, I am shocked we were talked to this way. Someone working in customer service shouldn't have such an attitude! read more

Cute modern area to grab drinks with your friends in the San Mateo area. Service was sweet and quickly accommodated our big party of 8 during a weekend. Their drinks are also pretty strong and tasty. The white winged dove was yummy! read more

Trendy cocktail bar! I've been meaning to visit here for a while, it was always closed when I passed by it. Finally tried last weekend. Nice venue, prompt service. I tried Angry Bird and Corpse Reviver No. 2. Corpse Reviver was ok, nothing unusual. (I make it better). Angry Bird was refreshing, I'm quite interested to try the other cocktails in the menu. Note: they also give cocktail classes. read more

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Drinks 5/5 Definitely a spot for all drink lovers alike. I like that the menu is thorough but the bartenders are still able to make drinks off menu. The menu also includes non-alcoholic drinks as well which were fun to try and let's everyone enjoy a little something. Location 5/5 The downtown location is perfect and offers a nice atmosphere. The bar is well decorated and the street outside is closed to traffic. My team came here on a wednesday and it wasn't too busy. When tables get full, there is a queue for new customers coming in. Doesnt hurt to make a ressy if you have a larger group. Food 3.5/5 The food was decent, but definitely not a place I would go to get a proper meal. The food is mainly bar finger food. A bit of a sticker shock for me, but the food menu has a good variety. The fries tended to be on the drier side (total guess is that its oven baked and not fried) but who knows. read more

We didn't order any food because we went to daeho and it was amazing. Service was good but the mixologist was swamped and may have forgotten about us. Ambiance was chill and relaxing. read more

Fogbird - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

Fogbird's been on my fiancé's radar since they first arrived in San Mateo, but we've never been since I'm not much of a drinker. Well, fast forward to this past weekend and we were hanging with some friends and wanted to check out Fogbird after dinner. We didn't have any reservations, but a group actually left right as we got there so we were able to be seated promptly which was nice. I didn't take a peek at their menu, but we got whiskey sours for the whole table and it was my first time having it with egg white on top, although one of our friends said it wasn't made as frothy as it should be. There's one bathroom in the back and it was very clean. The service, and our waitress, was friendly and helpful. Overall, the ambiance is good, albeit somewhat pricey as 5 drinks cost us $85. read more

We arrived and we were the first ones on the wait list so they said start outside and we will get you in first when something opens up. We ordered drinks and while we were drinking we saw others getting seated. We checked the wait list and our name was gone. So we finished our drinks and left. Disappointed since it was so cold outside. read more

I was so excited to hear there was a new cocktail bar in downtown San Mateo. However, my 2 experiences at Fogbird were disappointing. 1st visit was a Wednesday night about 30 minutes prior to closing. Service was friendly and fast, but the cocktails tasted extremely watered down. 2nd visit was a Thursday evening after dinner. We were a group of 6, including some visitors from the East Coast. We were seated in the back corner lounge area. The server was friendly, but it took her over 20 minutes to come over to our group and take down our orders, and another ~30 minutes for our drinks to be served. On the plus side, the drinks that night tasted better than before and were decently strong. Our group did not appreciate the automatic 20% service gratuity for such a long wait time. I wish we could order at the bar instead of having to wait for a server to come to us. It is cute and roomy inside, but the inconsistencies with the drinks and the poor service makes me not want to return. read more

Fogbird - Carbonated signature cocktails as of June 2022 - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

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This is the bar I dreamed of creating myself for years and now I can just enjoy all of the hard work the Hunsaker's and their team put into creating an amazing cocktail and bar bites destination! The cocktails are varied, seasonal, and so tasty. I've only tried two of the dozen+ bar bites (the French fries and the crispy hen of the woods mushrooms) and they hit the spot. We attended one of their whiskey tasting and old fashioned making events and it was great. Learned a lot and enjoyed some excellent whiskey. As you can tell I'm a huge fan, this is my destination when I'm enjoying a night alone or with my wife or friends. I loved the Hunsaker's last downtown San Mateo restaurant (31st Union) but I love their latest creation even more. read more

Love the vibes here, really chill and quite expansive drink menu. Tried out the La Quinta Lemonade, and that was pretty good. read more

Fogbird - Drinks - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

The bar itself is super cute, love the decor. When we arrived they said the wait was 90 minutes so we went to grab ice cream next door. When we came back we got seated and started checking out the menu. I'm not sure if it was cause it was the end of the night or what but our server was so rude. We went around to order drinks and my husband was last and while he was about to order, she just walked away. He didn't even get to order his drink. We waited for quite some time and got our drinks, my husband finally got to order his at this time. When we got our check, we were looking at it so we could figure out who we would be sending money to and how much since we put it all on our friends card, and the same waitress came back and just grabbed the check from us. The drinks were pretty good but the service we receive was just not it. read more

I got the old sparrow and it's perfect! Very lively ambiance. Packed and great music. A perfect date night an place to get a well made cocktail. Service is amazing. read more

Fogbird - Old sparrow - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

I really hate giving businesses bad reviews because I really root for Bay Area business owners and want to see them thrive, but I have to say, I was so incredibly disappointed and annoyed by the way my friends and I were treated when we tried to enjoy the experience at this lounge. A group of about 10 of us came here after attending a show at Hillbarn not too far away and walked in to ask about the possibility of getting seated. The hostess informed us that it wouldn't be likely, so we decided we'd just order drinks and hang out standing and keep an eye out on possibly scooping up a seat. We all drove separately, so we came in chunks and waited there as others in our party arrived, but by the time the last of us got there, the hostess came over and told us we couldn't stand there and were likely not going to be able to get seated. She had no ounce of sympathy, warmth, friendliness. Nothing. She was, as a matter of fact, a bit rude, very cold, and made me personally feel like I was beneath her. Like that Pretty Woman scene where the sales ladies snub Julia Roberts. That was the exact vibe this lady was putting out and I was not having it. Feeling incredibly judged and unwelcome, we all decided to leave. Left such a sour taste in my mouth and had to leave this feedback. read more

Get your drinks from the bartender, Liz. She'll hook you up with something unique. A true creative that lives what they do. Liz made the best extra dirty, extra spicy vodka martini with some special additions. read more

I love the vibe of this place so really wanted to like this place. Service was lacking - our server (female but don't know her name because she never introduced herself) was extremely rude. When we first sat down she said "ready?" and we thought we misheard her so said "sorry what was that?" She repeated "ready?" again. She seemed annoyed. I was honestly surprised since we had just sat down. Fogbird Paloma - thought I would get more of the grapefruit. Overall, cocktail was very watery. The Land of Eternal Spring - I could get more of the watermelon. Overall this drink was less watery than the other one. read more

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Dani was the absolute best and very accommodating to my pregnant wife and I on a FRIDAY NIGHT. Thank you Dani for the N/A drink recommendatios. We will be back because of the entire staff. The drinks came out super fast as well as the food. 4 people working and all super attentive and efficient. Thank you for the great service/experience! read more

I had the Wimbledon drink and it was so good! The ambience was nice if a bit loud (but it didn't also have loud music playing which is a huge pet peeve of mine) and the service was excellent. Our waiter (Danny I think?) was really nice and made sure we were taken care of Definitely coming back here. read more

4.5 stars really! Lovely and lively. I've been a few times, by myself and with friends, and it's great either way. I've been with just me and a book on a weekday (pre dinner time) and it was lively but not distractingly so. Drinks are fairly strong and the interior is nicely decorated. Another time was with a friend and we spent maybe two hours talking and catching up. There's a good mix of people: colleagues grabbing drinks after work, first dates, friend dates, older folks, young people, etc. -- it's a nice combination of people who come in. Staff is welcoming and they don't rush you to order or try and kick you out. Lovely! read more

Nice spot to grab a drink of 2 when in the area. We had just come from AYCE sushi down the street, so just needed a place to walk it off & enjoy some cocktails. They had comfortable couches & lounge chairs for us to relax on. I enjoyed my Irish Whiskey Old Fashioned. They probably need another bathroom though, as 1 gender neutral option isn't enough for a bar lounge I would think. read more

Came on a busy Saturday night and it was really fun. Drinks are quite tasty and I really enjoyed their spirit forward drinks. I'm a sucker for good negronis and the Grey Matter did not disappoint. It was the two bartenders last day so we got a special shot of tequila and it was probably one of my favorite tequilas. Drinks: 8/10 Service: 7/10 Experience: 8/10 Value: 6/10 read more

Fogbird - a bar with bottles of alcohol - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

If you're looking for unique cocktails with creative names, look no further then Fogbird! I'm slowly starting to warm up to cocktails (I'm more of a beer, wine, or whiskey on the rocks/straight up kind of person), and I appreciated that Fogbird had a large variety of cocktails to choose from. They weren't busy on a Thursday night at 8pm, and I tried The Land of Eternal Spring (Herradura Silver Tequila, Campari, Watermelon Syrup, Lime, Boy Drinks World Serrano Bitters, Spicy Salt Rim, $16, https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=k_NTGRrsduMAzWpfnXhayQ&userid=76vIFZcC7owykCBjMfGVXg). I've been avoiding tequila for a while, but the Herradura Silver was really smooth. All of the components of this cocktail worked well together, and it wasn't too sweet. The spicy salt rim was a perfect accompaniment, and added a nice contrast. I ended up going for a glass of wine after, and the cab ($14/glass) was jammy and smooth. Service was great, and their servers are friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. I'll be back to try their other cocktails! Some staff were wearing masks despite the mandate being lifted. Only indoor seating was available, but their ceilings were high and we were spaced apart from other customers. Parts of B Street are still closed off to cars, so you'll need to park on nearby streets or at the lots available throughout downtown San Mateo. read more

Fogbird - The Land of Eternal Spring (Herradura Silver Tequila, Campari, Watermelon Syrup, Lime, Serrano Bitters, Spicy Salt Rim, $16)- 4/5 stars - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

I've been here 6-7 times and try different drinks each time. Their cocktail options are quite extensive and I've never been let down on balance, flavor, and presentation. Fogbird is the perfect place to start or end a night out. read more

Came here after dinner with a group of friends and was pleasantly surprised by the cocktail menu! Ambiance: Cute interior ... 'candlelit' light-volume at night with plants to liven up the hardwood floor/brick wall interior. We were sat right by the door / window onto B street so i dont remember too much of the interior. do note- if you get sat by the door the breeze is strong and it can get chilly. 4.5/5 Drinks: 'Chai spice', 'mango', .. 'whey'?!? i wasn't sure what to expect but the drink was incredibly smooth and so good that i ordered a second and got 3 others to order it as well! The paloma was nice and acidic. Follow the white rabbit is also a good one for those who prefer their liquor taste hidden. Otherwise most of the other drinks are pretty spirit forward. ...5/5 Service: Service for my group was good. Our waitress made sure to bring water and grab drinks/ask about second orders when cups became empty. Didn't go out of her way to make suggestions or small talk. Not outstanding, but no complaints. 4/5 Overall: 4.5/5 (part of me wishes it was bigger, but then that may take away from the atmosphere) Overall- I would go back read more

Fogbird - Skeleton key - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I went to this great place to have some cocktails with my boyfriend yesterday . We got there around 10:20pm but we still had time to try their delicious cocktail. The place is absolutely cool and beautiful. Also, the staff is super friendly. I'm crazy about cocktails and they have great options. I want to try more of their menu soon :) We ordered three different cocktails: Oaxacan After Midnight, Grey Matter, and Angry Bird. I highly recommend all of them. My favorite was Grey Matter, even though I love refreshing cocktails and I felt like I was by the beach while drinking Angry Bird. Grey Matter is a mix of Rye whiskey and Campari. Super tasteful! Oaxacan After Midnight is an amazing name for a cocktail. That's why I ordered it. It doesn't have a strong flavor, it is smooth and tastes so good. I am looking forward to coming back soon! read more

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I came here for the first time ever with a group of friends almost two months ago. It was a weekday evening and we wanted to try this place out before dinner. We were seated at a table against the back wall and the place was full of patrons already at around 6pm. The interior is simple but cozy with red brick and warm wood furniture throughout. The bar pretty much occupies all of the right side of the hallway shaped space. Our friends had arrived about 20 mins before us and they were still waiting for their drink. It wasn't too long before I realized that the poor young lady was the only staff on the floor taking orders and delivering them to the whole place. I ordered the La Quinta Lemonade and it was ok, a bit pricey for what I received. I'm not sure I would come back in the future, and especially if they only have one waitress during the evening hours. read more

Drinks taste really good we will definitely come back and try more drinks from the menu! Our drinks were ready within 5 mins so it was pretty quick. We really like the wallpaper and the layout of the bar. read more

Fogbird - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I went on a Friday night. Made reservations online through Tock, but when I got there they did not ask for my name but still sat me. Place was pack during their soft opening. The good: the decor of this place is extremely inviting and reminds me of SF bars. The drinks are very beautifully presented. Staff was really nice. The bad: My drink was overly sweet. Waiter recommended the Paloma but it was way too sweet, I had to let the ice water down the drink for it to be bearable. It's not made of grapefruit juice but rather grapefruit cordial (syrup). So maybe it was my fault. The other two drinks my partner ordered were just ok... The waiter's shift ended and he didn't tell us (I only knew because I seen him leave) and I felt like the bartender who took over took a while to check up on us. I gave it 4 stars because I believe the place has potential and this is just their soft opening, so they're still working out the kinks... read more

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I went on a date here on a Wednesday night and this place is so cute! Ambiance: 5/5 If it's for a girls night out or after work drinks or date night, the vibe is so nice. The music is at the right level where you can get lost in a conversation but faintly hear it playing. The lighting is put at the perfect dimness to not overpower the decor. Decor: 5/5 Honestly, I'm a tad biased because I love peacock blue/teal. The designs along with furniture/decor is tastefully done. Not too overpowering but worked with the layout. Libations: 5/5 I love whiskey and scotch. So I tried the Baller Manhattan and Flight Risk (from their Signature cocktails/House Classics menu) Baller Manhattan - Whistle Pig Rye, Vermouth Blend, Bitters. Tastefully done and each time you savored a sip, your tastebuds heightened. Also, it was garnished with cherries - new fave! (If you do not enjoy whiskey/scotch, this may not be for you) Flight Risk - James E Pepper Rye, Amontillado Sherry, Nardini Amaro, Bitters. Our attendant recommended this drink and she hit it on the nail! (Forgot her name but she has perfected the cat eyeliner!) This drink complimented the previous one as it was a bit milder. Overall, I'm definitely coming back with more friends! read more

Fogbird - Inside Fogbird - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

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