The Office Speakeasy

This place is the home for cocktails galore!! Imagine it, they have it! If not, they will imagine…read moreit with you and they make it come true. They have good selection of drinks hoping they will surprise you. Service = bar-tendering. They hire high caliber bartenders from all over the place. So you are sure your cocktail will be excellent! Ambiance? It's Martinez, nothing lounge-y here where you sit on a comfy chair. Place is designed more for company and good conversations.

Apparently Martinez is a ghost town after 10pm on Fridays. We ended up here this past weekend and…read morewere pleasantly surprised. The bar is connected to a coffeehouse and is located in the back, a very small area, but there was enough space and seating for the handful of visitors on this quiet evening. A clean and inviting setting with simple decor. Staff was friendly and helpful. We had the Tom Collins and Belixir and agreed that the cocktails here are pretty good. This cool and casual spot was perfect for spending time with family and friends after celebrating a birthday at a nearby venue.

Speciality drink

Improved Mule

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Old Fashioned

Brix & Craft

4.6(284 reviews)

All stars Went to Brix & Craft on a Friday night and had…read moregreat drinks. The bartender was very friendly and even made a bartender's choice special for my friend, which was delicious. The place was busy, but she handled it well and kept checking on everyone. I always enjoy coming here for good wine, drinks, and conversation. Great spot to meet up with friends or coworkers!

These guys are awesome!! Being in hospitality more then half my life and most…read moreOf my friends are too, we are pretty aware of all things happening! I can honestly say we always felt taken care of and in a very genuine way'! That goes so far right now! Thanks you guys for making me Forgot the bullshit happening in the world For a couple hours, you all are appreciated! (But don't look Twice for the bottle I asked for lol) Take care D

Napoleon + caramelized onion and tomato. Excellent! Crispy bottom

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Tom Collins with mint

Nu-Rays

4.0(46 reviews)

•$

As I'm normally a frequent customer of Whisky Lane because of Marli, I decided to stop by Nu Ray's…read morefor a change of pace and I'm so glad I did. I was warmly greeted by Meagan aka Olivia (She's a hottie)! Wow, Meagan provided exceptional service, tells witty jokes, will cut the rug (dance ) when I good song is playing, and always has a smile on her face....good vibes all around....come in with a good joke and the party begins.....do yourself a favor and check out Nu Ray's and have yourself a PBR!

Two words.... Perfectly Imperfect!!!…read more Every time that I go to this establishment I am taken back by the old school Cheers vibe! To be honest, I have only been there a handful of times, but when you know, you know! Unfortunately, I missed the owner, Kathy, tonight, but every time I see her there she greets me with kind words and a hug. It makes me feel like a regular or even a long lost best friend! I probably visit this business about 3 times a year. Yet, every time I do I ask myself why don't I go here more often! On this visit, I was lucky enough to see one of the old bouncers, Daniel and met the new bouncer, Bobby. They were both very cordial and welcoming, while their wandering eyes and presence seemed to remind us patron's that our conduct was being monitored. Tonight, Danielle was behind the bar. She slayed it!!! It seemed like there was not an empty cup in the house (unless by choice). She was very attentive and efficient. It was as though each and every person in the bar was her most important customer! It was refreshing (much like the tasty drinks that she poured). This is not the first time I left Nu-Rays feeling this way, as Rose may be one of the best bartenders I have come across... always quick to welcome new arrivals with a friendly smile when the time allows, but when the sh*t hits the fan and the clients are circling the bar ready to pounce on a drink like a cheetah on an antelope.... Rose is all business passing out drinks like Rich Gannon to Tim Brown. Lara is another bartender that come to mind. I was very impressed with Lara. She was quick to answer questions with a recommendation for a drink that may change your life.... Or at least your mood for the night. In fact, I have been impressed with all of the bartenders that I have met there. I own a business in Martinez and have found myself at a couple of the drinking establishments in the area and none of them... and I mean none of them... can hold a candle to Nu-Rays! I've tried them all at one time or another and I must say Nu-Rays is top notch! I Love the old school down to earth feel... and you know what... after thinking about the cheers vibe.... I'm going to try and make them yell "COREY!!!" when I come in the bar. That my friend is what they call icing on the cake!

Nuray's outside sign with a Martinez sunset

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Baxters Restaurant & Bar

4.6(211 reviews)

0.0 mi

•$$$

Delicious food, Service was friendly, took his time with us, we were first time customers. And was…read moregreat with our bill to pay separate. Jazzy warm feeling place to come and eat good.

Let's discuss! I had heard about Baxter's through a friend who hinted that we should give it a try,…read morebut I hadn't yet had the opportunity. The husband and I were hungry on Wednesday evening, so we decided to stop by Baxter's while heading to our destination. Upon arrival, the location was nice, quiet, clean, and had plenty of street parking. We were able to park directly in front, so we figured the visit was meant to be. As we entered, we were immediately greeted by a very pleasant staff member. He was gracious, friendly, warm, and loads of fun. After seating us, he displayed great knowledge of the menu and available specials. After selecting our bottle of wine and appetizers, we were acknowledged by the owner, Ken, who was friendly and hospitable. He offered information about the restaurant and ensured that we had everything we needed. We inquired about their group events and offerings, and he had plenty to share. Baxter's is a great place for quaint events--they are very creative and have a lot to offer. The food was great, my steak was cooked to perfection, and the mood was just right. The hubs and I were definitely pleased and truly enjoyed our time at Baxter's. We will certainly be back. If you're looking for a nice night out, this is a great choice.

The Bar , the curtain in the far right center is the entrance to the speakeasy seating area

Tuxedo

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Lemon Drop & Baxters margarita

Six Eleven

What a great find! Another place was full, early, so we stopped in. SO glad we did. Food,…read moreservice and atmosphere were great. Burger was fantastic! Really fresh bun on a 1/2 lb patty, that tasted flame grilled. Fries were really tasty. Pizza with prochutto was really tasty. Salmon on mash potatoes was really well done. Drinks were really fantastic. Burgers were fantastic, 1/2 lb.

Ambiance is really nice and cozy. We went for family dinner and the place looks fancy…read more Service is good, the staff always check what we need, they greeted us with warm welcome. Food is too salty for our preference. First for the appetizer chicken wings (I thought maybe due to the marinate process of confit), but when I got my steak I can taste more of the salt than meat. Meatlover pizza is usually meat but was surprised it was garnished with peppers and onions. It still tasted good though not what we expected. I hope they can manage the sodium on their food for the health of their customers.

Inside the restaurant

Short rib parpadelle

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Chicken sandwich

MARTINEZ SMASH BURGERS

3.0(5 reviews)

Absolutely love this little spot! It's a great option when sitting at Five Suns. The burger was…read morefreshly prepared in front of us and the seasoning was absolute perfection. The cook was also taking orders and never skipped a beat! He did an incredible job dealing with everyone by himself. Can't wait to go back!

Had trouble finding this place tucked in the courtyard behind the marketplace. It is a cute picnic…read moretable set up in the brick courtyard with an umbrella and a patch of artificial grass for games. We ordered three single smashburgers. They were out of pickles but we got everything else on them, grilled onions and sauce etc. They don't sell fries or sodas, only burgers. I always eat fries with my burgers so that was disappointing. We went back inside to order sodas at the oyster bar. Got back and the burgers were done. The staff served them and then literally packed up, threw bags on their shoulders and walked away for good. It was a little weird since they still had an hour to go until closing according to their web listing. Burgers were delicious, except mine was pink in the middle and that's not my thing. Since the staff had already packed up and left there was nothing to do but eat around the edges. So that's what I did.

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Cullen's Tannery Pub & Saloon

4.6(74 reviews)

0.0 mi

Nice hole in the wall bar. Good vibes. The bartenders a good guy. I forget his name but I would…read moredefinitely come back and visit.

I have been popping in here for years. It is a small bar with lots of regulars. They also have…read moreoutdoor seating and you can buy food from Char's hot dogs and they will deliver to you. There is a room in back that feels like a speakeasy. They do alcohol tasting and education. There are a lot of bars on First St but their business model makes them stand out from the rest

Tasting events in Cullen's Saloon

Inside the bar

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Lagunitas IPA

The Chill

4.4(126 reviews)

0.0 mi

Really disappointed with my experience today. I'm a local in Benicia and have been here before, but…read morethis visit completely changed my perception. I was not allowed with my 5 month old baby to have a glass of wine in the patio. I was told there's a "no under 21" rule that apparently includes babies. That honestly didn't make sense to me. this is an infant, not even eating solid food yet. I've been to wineries in Napa with my baby and never had an issue, so this felt unwelcoming. This felt like a made up rule to protect non-mother customers, and Benicia is known for that. Horrible. What made it worse was how it was handled. The waitress(blonde, short hair mid-aged lady) came off rude and said, "no under 21, sorry--unless it's a dog haha," and then told me I could go to the taphouse on the corner. It felt dismissive and unprofessional. I even tried calling afterward to speak with a manager, but no one answered. Overall, it left a really bad impression, and I don't feel comfortable coming back after this.

A perfect little hangout on First Street -- laid‑back vibes, great pours, and a cozy patio that's…read moreideal for sipping wine or beer with friends. The staff is friendly, the wine list is solid, and it's just the right kind of casual spot to unwind after a stroll downtown. Perfect for easy conversation and people‑watching on a warm afternoon or evening.

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Bella Siena

4.3(1.7k reviews)

0.1 mi

•$$$

Had a LOVELY lunch today with Woodland as our server. We were a walk in lunch and he was so…read morepleasant and helpful! I ordered the special which was delicious!! We enjoyed the views and the atmosphere for sure, and the food was really wonderful. Fresh flavors and wonderful ingredients. I tried a lavender mixed drink, but wasn't a fan. Woodland didn't hesitate to remove the item from the bill. Really loved the place!!!

Well! Bella Siena is a jewel! Perfect location (right in the water), windows everywhere, so there's…read morehardly a bad seat in the house, great food, great drinks, and even better service! We went yesterday for my husband's birthday. I made a reservation on Open Table and called to request a window seat. We arrive and were greeted warmly, and taken to our window table. Yusuf was our server, and he is so much more than a server. He is family. He made superb recommendations, and every drink, entree and dessert he recommended was mouthwatering! We had the Misto salad, mushroom soup (soup of the day), saffron pappardelle, chicken Parmesan, and mushroom ravioli (we took plenty home!). The house-made noodles and sauces were delectable! We also ordered the apple crumb for dessert made the Yusuf way, AND Yusuf brought us a raspberry basil sorbet with candle and sang happy birthday with me to my husband. We will be back soon and will be bringing friends and family to experience the greatness of Bella Siena. Thank you Yusuf and team!

Roughly 10 parties waiting 30+mins in a corner with RESERVATIONS!

Linguine Frutti di Mare!!!! My FAVORITE!!!!! It is loaded with seafood

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Pappardelle

T'zunun

4.1(460 reviews)

7.4 mi

I went to T'zunun for Easter brunch and honestly I was a little hesitant since holiday dining can…read moresometimes be hit or miss, and the food isn't always as good as usual. But T'zunun was great as always! We were able to get in right before the brunch rush without a reservation and sat outside on the patio, which was really nice. Our waiter was very friendly and made sure we got the chicharrones, which were delicious. The food presentation was beautiful and everything was flavorful and well prepared. What I really appreciate about T'zunun is the consistency, whether you come on a regular weekday, a Friday night, or for brunch, the quality and service are always solid. Everything was wonderful and it made for a great Easter brunch experience. Definitely recommend!

It's a beautiful place. Decor is delightful and not overdone. Service was impeccable. And the food…read more- where to begin? I had the corn and the house salad with grapefruit and pear and the mussels. I'm used to mussels in broth, but not with this flavor profile. It was like kiss your fingers exquisitely good. Probably the best mussels I've eaten. A+. Very reasonably priced for what it is. Next time I'll try the ceviche. Oh my god there's a happy hour too, and the mussels are on the happy hour menu! Next time I'm in tinez / pleasant hill, I'm going to beg my wife for us to go here. And also there's even a kid menu. The Mexican chocolate cheesecake was impossibly good. My sons apparently looked tired because we were sitting here a while. So the server popped out with complimentary churros for them. Not just amusement park churros. These were gourmet churros with a spoon of gelato. Love this place.