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    Wunderbar

    4.6 (201 reviews)
    ModerateCocktail Bars
    Closed 4:30 pm - 11:00 PM

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    WUNDERBAR ATMOSPHERE

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    King Louie
    Jason X.

    Great cocktail bar that adds a vibe that San Mateo downtown is low on. Great service and love how the menu is structured in pairs with a traditional cocktail and a similar-but-creative cocktail. Only complaint is that the entrance hallway can smell like trash at times since it's the basement of the above restaurant

    Laura O.

    Ok, this was actually a couple years ago. I just forgot to do a review then. This place is really fun. Inside is very dark and moody and the drinks were delicious. The servers were pretty quick and the bartenders made some nice drinks! It was fun getting inside the speakeasy!

    Den area
    Michelle K.

    This place is usually pretty great! The popcorn is nice and fresh, not stale, and they have a popcorn maker. The drinks are good, very traditional with slight twists. It's underneath another restaurant so the entrance is hard to find, but it's got a very Alice in wonderland theme - just rub the rabbit at the door and you're in. 4 stars because the service is a little slow - but everyone was very kind, will continue to come back here

    Intimate bar, well-stocked with good liquors
    Bennett L.

    Stumbled upon this bar purely by accident while searching for something else to do in downtown San Mateo on Yelp! and I'm glad that I did. It is a tiny, hidden treasure nestled underneath the [former] Würsthall beer hall (now the Whisper breakfast spot) on the corner of B Street & Baldwin Avenue in the heart of downtown San Mateo. Half the fun is just finding the place. I had no idea it even existed until I randomly found it on Yelp! but once I discovered it, I made a reservation to find out what it was about. First of all, it has no outside entrance. You have to access it by going through Whisper/Würsthall, then proceed down stairs into the basement- follow the white rabbit clues to discover the entrance. Admission is by reservation & online booking only. You book a 2-hour block at a table or at the bar, and you have to start drinking & get down to business right away. You are on a timer, and they remind you that your time is about to expire, so finish up and leave. It's not the kind of place that you can hang out at and relax and not care about time and get wrapped up in conversation or company, it's sort of like a version of speed-dating, speed-drinking, so order, drink, and leave. Kind of weird, never experienced anything like this before, but it was fun and had a nice atmosphere, I just wished that i could enjoy it a little bit longer. I guess the strategy here would be to book back-to-back two-hour blocks to ensure your spot for the night. Hard to get settled in, when they remind you that your time is about to expire. Almost felt stressful & a bit rushed, two hours at a bar can go by very quickly! Anyways, it's an Alice in Wonderland-themed establishment. It's a private speakeasy bar, only available by reservation and notice, you can't simply walk in off the street and sit down for s drink. Almost feels exclusive. It's dark, cozy, and well-decorated, clean, and warm. There are real books, trinkets, and decor to gaze around at & interact with. Felt like the setting of a Harry Potter book, with books, statues, pictures, and bookcases, like a library in Hogwarts. Music is good, volume is conducive to conversation & mood (not too loud, upbeat, and modern). The leather chairs at the bar were comfortable, and the side tables were small and cozy. In thr back, there's larger round tables for gatherings of 3-4. There's even a private nook that you can book for more intimate, larger parties of 5-6. The place was mostly full of 20-40 year old techie professionals unwinding from a long day at the office. Dress code seemed casual, yet also upscale & professional. No ball caps, athletic jerseys, sweatpants, or flip flops here, but I suppose that you could get away with it, but then you'd stand out. We sampled some pilsners & lagers from Scrimshaw & Almanac. They were priced very well from $4-8 per can. We also tried some of their terrific cocktails such as Shogun (Japanese whiskey), Poison Apple (brandy & scotch apple), and the Spirit Animal (spicy margarita with reposado tequila). Everything was made quickly, efficiently, and with a bit of pizzazz from a cordial, friendly, and attentive bartender. The rest of the support staff were busy bussing tables, cleaning utensils, and prepping ingredients. Everybody working here was really hustling to serve the ever-revolving crowd of thirsty patrons and customers. The drinks were delicious and price well for the level of service, atmosphere, and exclusivity here. Other than feeling a bit rushed to keep under our 2-hour reservation to make way for the parties, I really enjoy Wunderbar. It felt magical, cozy, enchanting, and intimate, and it really felt like an escape from the world above. It was so removed from everything above at street level, that I felt like I was in another world. And I was. I felt like I was in a book, on a journey, through time, space, and fantasy, and I enjoyed the escape. To top it off, they provide free popcorn to soak up all the alcohol that you can binge in two hours. The containers were nice & sturdy, and made to keep messes down to a minimum. Bathrooms also extremely clean, as were the bar surfaces, floors, and chairs. I can't wait to go back to try new cocktails & beers, and I want to bring other friends to share this experience. Ive been in San Mateo for over 50 years and I never knew such a wonderful place even existed, it's simply Wunderbar!

    bengal tiger + holy water
    Donna T.

    I'm so sad that we didn't discover Wunderbar sooner, as they are expected to go on hiatus starting on 9/27. It feels like the kind of speakeasy you'd expect to see in a film, or the way you'd imagine a "true" one might be. Enchanting vibes start at the entrance, which is below Wursthall and behind a red set of velvet curtains. When you see a glowing rabbit amongst a bookshelf wall, you push the door to transcend into the magical Wunderbar that awaits. What struck me most was the sheer artistry of the drinks. Their menu is represented by a set of tarot cards: the white side consists of their traditional drinks and the flip dark side depicts their more inventive and unique cocktails. We sampled 6 different drinks and each of them were so distinct and exquisite; especially the bengal tiger. Once you've experienced cocktails crafted at this level, it's impossible to see cocktails the same way again. Service was fine; our server was pretty on top of noticing when we needed more drinks. We had a timed 2-hour reservation window for our high-top table and they definitely kept track of it. Lastly, they have a retro popcorn machine for you to grab free popcorn from which is a super cool feat. I really hope they return back from their hiatus!

    Vibe
    Norris T.

    Nestled under Wurst Hall, this hidden speakeasy is a hidden gem where half the fun just to find it. You genuinely feel like you're stepping into another world when that secret bookcase door swings open (a tip: look for the interactive bunny!). The vibe is incredible: whimsical, magical, and utterly unique. Every detail, from the funky decor to the intimate, low-lit setting, makes you feel like you've stumbled into a fairytale. But the real stars are the drinks. As many of my group raved, these are top-tier craft cocktails. The bartenders are artists, mixing up "fantastical concoctions" that are as delicious as they are creative. It's easy to see why it's been called one of the best cocktail bars in the Bay Area. Perfect for a special night out or just when you need a little enchanting escape!

    Temple gate
    Rucha S.

    To enter Wunderbar, walk through the Wunderhall and head toward the area marked "Restroom." That's actually the hidden entrance! You'll find a small white rabbit on the staircase, a large red curtain, and a glowing rabbit tucked into a book nook. Wave at the rabbit, and the secret door unlatches--such a fun touch! You'll be greeted by the host once you enter. This is a reservations-only speakeasy, and bookings must be made through their website. The reservation is also tied to specific seating areas within the bar, so make sure to pick carefully. The space is quite small with limited seating, adding to the exclusivity. We had a 7:30 PM reservation and arrived around 7:20. The host wasn't very pleasant--he asked for the name on the reservation and pointed out that we were a bit early, though he did seat us. A little while later, he returned to explain the bar's concept: they offer both traditional cocktails and their modern interpretations. Unfortunately, we didn't find him warm or welcoming, which affected our overall impression. As for drinks, we tried the Sidewinder's Fang, Dusk Till Dawn, Temple, and Bengal Tiger. The drinks were decent, with Temple and Bengal Tiger being our favorites--subtle yet with a nice kick. There's also a cute little popcorn stand in the corner where you can grab complimentary popcorn. Overall, it was a good experience with creative presentation and ambiance, but we wish the host had been more friendly. That definitely impacted our rating.

    Bengal Tiger
    Amanda Y.

    My friends and I love visiting this speakeasy, which sits below J. Kenji Lopez Alt's Wursthall (great spot). You enter the bar behind a curtain and a bookshelf door - so fun - and you are greeted with the dimly lit and cozy mysterious vibes of Wunderbar. Service is good, and the drinks and popcorn are great! Haven't had a bad drink here yet!

    Free birthday shots
    Roselyn D.

    We came here to celebrate two of our friends' birthdays and we all had such a wonderful time! My favorite drinks were the bengal tiger (if you're into dark spirits) and the temple (lighter drinks, the base for this one was gin). Both the pho spices (Bengal) and the Sichuan spice (Temple) were really nice hints and not overpowering at all. Very innovative if you're looking to try something new and unique. They also gave us all free birthday shots, which were very yummy! (Other drinks we ordered were the ube one, and holy water which you could taste the spirits more, but definitely the temple one was my favorite) Free popcorn in the main space was very nice to have with the drinks, especially since one of our friends didn't have a chance to eat much beforehand. Also despite being in a semi-private area, service was great and they checked on us frequently. Booking is very easy through their website (reservation only, not sure if you could just walk in), and I booked the nook, which is a semi-private little space in the corner, near the entrance. We really enjoyed the space (a bit dark so you'll need your phones to look through the menu in there, but it's a really cool space!

    French 75
    Viji S.

    Love the ambience here. It very dark and has great vibe. Bartenders are usually wry nice but sometimes you might find a chip here and theretheir drinks are never watered down , they do not skimp on alcohol.. love their cocktails

    Angela C.

    Their drink menu is very creative and full of surprises. They also offer free popcorn which makes for a great snack. We were able to walk in and get seated without a reservation.

    Temple gate 9/14/24
    Alex J.

    Looking for a bar to wow a date or friends? This is the place. The only downside is that it is reservation only. To get to Wunderbar...walk into Wursthall and head to the bathrooms and look behind the drapes. Rub the glowing bunny's stomach and the door will open. We have reserved the Nook, lounge, and the bar and so far the bar is our favorite spot to go. The nook is semi-private and all-dark. It was very hard to see the actual cool decorations on the wall or even the menu in the nook. The lounge is good because it is close to the (FREE) popcorn and you get to see all of the decorations on the wall. The bar was interesting to sit at because you could talk to the bartender and based on your favorite flavors, the bartender can semi-customize your drink (or even revive some old cocktails). My favorite cocktail is the dream catcher. It goes down so easily and is so delicious. It may not be ube forward, but it tastes damn good. A close second has to be the morning after (which happens to be a "featured cocktail" so I am unsure how long it will be on the menu. The other drinks that I have tried are all very well balanced and are yummy.

    Be my fantasy,  Holding back nothing. Are we agreed? What this is for? Be my fantasy, Be my everything. We don't need, Anything more!
    Grey R.

    Wunderbar San Mateo CA Thur 11/14/24 ETL Tech Invite: Eat, Talk, Laugh! Accelerate your AI! Alluxio Happy Hour downtown! Underground cocktail bar under Wursthall! © What a lively night in Downtown San Mateo! Thank you Wunderbar for providing your space for this terrific event! Networking, happy hour, and a short series of lightning talks as we all learn about optimizing your data stack for efficient and reliable data pipelines! This event was hosted by Alluxio, an AI Acceleration platform to empower AI builders with a fast, scalable & reliable compute & data infrastructure. Doors opened at 5pm! Here's the abridged agenda: - 5:00pm: Check-in, grab a snack and mingle! - 5:30pm: 3 lightning talks and open Q&A - 6:30pm: More mingling, food and drinks! Wunderbar opened in the basement of San Mateo's Wursthall beer garden in the Fall of '21. It was slated to open a couple of months before the pandemic hit, so the team had to shift gears a bit and had extra time to test cocktail recipes! It's a sort of an underground cocktail bar inspired by Brothers Grimm fairy tales! This is not a hidden speakeasy, no! This means that classic cocktails like Old Fashioned will be whipped up into Wunderbar-original with a twist, one made with bourbon and another with rye whiskey, which I prefer of course! This cocktail lounge is reservation-only, but we had a private event & entire space to ourselves! The venue is pretty small, so it's really easy to meet new people & mingle! I got to meet developers from Meta, Expedia, Walmart, Comcast & Uber who use Alluxio technology and talk about their work! Prost! * King's daughter, youngest, Open the door. Hast thou forgotten Thy promises made At the fountain so clear 'Neath the lime-tree's shade? King's daughter, youngest. Open the door! * Babey be my fantasy, Holding back nothing. Are we agreed? What this is for? Be my fantasy, Be my everything. We don't need, Anything more! [ Review #813 w 3 pics Jan 11, 2025 ] Prost! @Wunderbar underground Wursthall San Mateo CA Thur 11/14/24

    Holy water & dreamcatcher(?)

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    Gao Viet Kitchen & Bar - San Mateo - Snails

    Gao Viet Kitchen & Bar - San Mateo

    (2.2k reviews)

    $$

    We got here right before they opened and maybe waited about 5 mins for the line to move. We had…read morebeen wanting to try this place for a while but timing never worked out. Menu is scan by phone. Ordered the big gao pho. Broth was good and the meat fell right off the bones. Also ordered the pho rolls as it was different. Wasn't bad but probably wouldn't get it again. Husband got the wha da duck garlic noodles and the duck was cooked pretty good. We would both come back and try other items. Maybe after payday to afford the gaozilla, seazilla or phozilla. They're definitely on my list. Seen the table next to us get one of them and they are in larger bowls. Upstairs also has a bar and their drinks look good. Was busy but the ambience was good and about normal level of chatter and music. Garage parking is available literally right next door too. Constant flow of people leaving and coming in. Also looks like the owner added a new item on the menu from his fitness diet journey too.

    I've tried Gao Viet Kitchen before, first time I had it the food was great, server was very…read moreattentive, the ambiance was lovely too. So I was very excited to show my other friends this spot. I wanted to take my friends from SoCal here as they've been wanting to try this for a while. We were a party of 6 people and came here on Friday 5/1 at 5pm. We were the first in line and was seated immediately! We then ordered our drinks, some drinks were okay. Mine was the Sua Bap w/ Mezcal. I only recommend if you're okay with drinking mezcal and like smokey/stronger drinks. Two of my friends got the Hanoi sour and it was too sweet for their liking. This is where my 3 star review comes in: - We asked the server if the bar can remake the drinks stronger. The server took my friends drinks, but gave it back and said they couldn't remake it because it was the set recipe ???? Did not understand why he took the drinks only to give it back... but there wasn't an offer to swap it out; something that's usually standard in similar dining experiences :/ - We ordered 1x duck pho, 1x filet mignon pho, 2x filet brisket pho, 1x bun rieu, and 1x shaking beef (to share). The pho was only... okay. I didn't try the pho last time I came, and thought there could have been more flavor in the soup. The bun rieu w/ soft shell crab was my fav dish, but it was also okay, maybe I went on a bad day? :( - Of course the price is pricier side for Vietnamese food. Definitely not fine dining but an elevated experience. However the service + hype around made the overall experience this time disappointing. :/

    Avenida Restaurant - CHICKEN AND PORK ADOBO

    Avenida Restaurant

    (1k reviews)

    $$

    Came here for happy hour and had a wonderful time! The food is probably some of the best Filipino…read morefood I've had lately in the bay. You can tell the quality of the food with each bite. The pinakbet was not skimping on the bagoong and was delicious. The kare kare was tender and the bangus sisig had a perfectly crispy bottom. The high quality of the protein here really makes each dish taste worth the price. The cocktails were also really good, I enjoy the purple jeepney which was an ube based cocktail. They do have smaller sizes for entrees that you can order so you can sample more of the menu. Will be back to try to crispy pata! The service was also very warm and friendly, they first asked if we've had Filipino food before (which we have many times) to see if they could help make any suggestions from the menu.

    Bustling on a Friday night - great food and great vibes! We had a reservation for the evening and…read moreluckily so, as the restaurant was packed. Located in downtown San Mateo, it can definitely be difficult to find parking, even in the garages. We had to circle around a couple of times until finding a street parking spot. Keep that time in consideration and come early if you have a reservation. The inside has relatively dim lighting and is quite spacy, and there's plenty of seating both upstairs and downstairs. Service was pretty quick despite how busy it was, and the servers were great! We ordered: - hot calamansi tea - thai chili & garlic wings - inihaw na pusit - pork sisig - sinigang - garlic rice The food came out pretty quickly and mostly all at once. Standouts of the night were the inihaw na pusit (super tender and chewy, and grilled with a great char) and pork sisig (super umami and tender). With that being said, was very satisfied with all the dishes, and there wasn't one that left a negative impression. I will say that this restaurant does lean on the pricier end, but there's a great ambiance for good food and conversations with friends. Would come back!

    Wunderbar - cocktailbars - Updated May 2026

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