Fogbird is a cocktail bar located on South B Street in downtown San Mateo. They opened a couple years ago and aim to be a period of relief similar to when you breathe in the salty Northern Californian air. Their cocktail menu is separated by flavor profile: carbonated, shaken & refreshing, and spirit driven, stirred & stiff. Further back they also have house classic cocktails, altogether encompassing a very comprehensive list with a lot of variety. My first drink was the eyes of the osprey ($15) whose specs reminded me of a scotch daiquiri with green chartreuse. It was balanced and smokey at the end from the Ardbeg. My second drink was the angry bird ($15) which was citrusy and creamy from the coconut cream. It definitely had a tiki flavor to it. The decor was warm with the brick along the back wall and the large light spheres dangling from the ceiling. It was a cool spot for some nicely-made and delicious cocktails and the service was good too. read more

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Been here a couple of times. Creative drinks, awesome decor, great location. Their whiskey collection is excellent!

Fogbird is one of the best bars that I've been to! When you walk in, the first thing you'll notice is that the atmosphere is very cozy, with candles at every table and dim lighting throughout the bar. The seating is very comfortable, and it's usually quite busy! Not only is the vibe great, but the cocktails are really tasty as well! There is a wide variety to choose from, and we enjoyed all of the ones that we ordered. read more

Fogbird - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

Because they're the only cocktail bar in the area I feel like they're kind of coasting. While cute inside, the cocktails are just not inventive and the cocktails that are more unique are poorly executed. I ordered the sesame washed whiskey bevvie and it literally tasted like drinking sesame oil straight from the bottle. There was no subtle pairings, no other flavors, just sesame. I disliked it so much I wasn't willing to risk a different drink for the $$. The server was nice but I dont know, kinda disappointed after having come before with a super long wait and just super eager to get in. read more

I love the vibe here. Second time coming back. This time they have outdoor sitting. Love it. read more

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

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LOVE THE DRINKS HERE! We always come here for cocktails but this time did a cocktail making class. First hand experience and the teacher was so helpful. read more

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My friends and I came here on a Friday night with reservations at 6. We were quickly seated with the menu. It was a busy night so the service was a bit slow. Although the place has a very classy ambiance, it was very loud. My friends and I were practically yelling in order to hear each other. The drinks we got were good. I really enjoyed my milk punch and thought it was very well crafted with the perfect amount of alcohol. read more

Fogbird - Milk punch - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

Terrible, idk how the bartender is making the drinks taste this bad but he/she must be inexperienced

Terrible the cocktails tasted nothing but straight vodka but the description said that there was many things going on. I could taste none of those things. They even brought out a bottle to show me where the flavours were coming from and I could taste it in the bottle but not in the cocktail. I don't know what the bartender is doing back there. read more

This place was really nice. Great drinks and also a lot of mocktail options! I would recommend.

This is my second time here, and I forgot to write review the first time. For my recent visit, they switched out to a new cocktail / mock tail menu to welcome the fall season. My hot alcohol free drink has more spices that match the chill weather. My friends enjoyed both the Paloma drinks. There were orders of whiskey cocktail as well (unfortunately I forgot the name but the aroma was very good). The staff were so friendly and knowledgeable. They would give recommendations based on your liking. We didn't order food this time unlike the last time. However, I remember the food was pretty good as well. There is no happy hour here, but with the service and quality of food / drinks, I would totally suggest you to visit. read more

Fogbird - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

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great for happy hour until 6pm! you can choose from an array of cocktails and bites and it's quite the spot for a meetup with the girls after work. service was good, our waitress checked on us throughout the time there and always asked about drink refills. not very loud, low lighting, small groups are ideal. it's a tight space but for downtown san mateo, it really works. read more

I'm only leaving a one start review because I'm not able to leave 0 stars. The tinker bell looking server is genuinely so rude. She was super condescending with the way she was asking if we're okay and was completely rushing us to get out (mind you, there was genuinely no rush to get us to leave, there was no customers waiting to be seated). She was so rude, I would ask her something and respond her with "you're good" with a rude tone. I don't like her. The food was bomb tho! It was just disgusting because of her dog shit attitude. we were there on Friday, June 5 during happy hour. 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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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

Quaint, delicious place and the perfect spot for date night. We enjoyed everything we ordered-- escargot, gnocchi, lime beef, pork belly, paella-- and our favorite was potatoes bravos! read more

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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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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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.

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

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

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

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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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

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

Hmm...it's my 2nd time here and unfortunately it's no bueno. The host wasn't friendly. The party ahead of us left. My husband and I sat at the bar. Felt awkwardness and tension from the bar tender. Ordered our can beer but was not served. read more

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

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

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

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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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 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

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

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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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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