best cocktail bar north of GGB by far ... just pick a spirit and let the bar tenders just make you what they like. can't go wrong.

Kinda looks like an antique store thrift shop. The interior is kind of groovy. However, if you're not a 23-year-old girl with exposed cleavage, you're not gonna get a drink for about three hours- ha ha! I mean, seriously I've been there several times and it gets real frustrating trying to get a drink as a senior male. There's a nice group of regular young people there that really dig it which is nice. I'm glad they have a hip spot to hang out. However, I do think they should have more servers or at the very least more efficient service. They also have NO items that resemble food so a lot of people bring food in from nearby spots, in fact, this establishment encourages it. (Loss of revenue but most likely their license must be restricted?) I'll walk a block and visit the "FLAT IRON" any day for killer elevated bar food and the great beer offerings and I'll retire my bustier! read more

California Gold - Just what it says - Beer Bar Near Me - San Rafael, California

Best of Marin. Best Bar. Best Cocktails. Best Bartender- Christian Clark. Best Happy Hour. As Voted in the Pacific Sun. Stay GOLD. read more

See all

Food was ok. Service was poor. Sat for 15 minutes before I had to get up and find the waitress to even take our drink order. Ordered drinks and food and food came out before the drinks. Expected better. read more

WOW. Just WOW. **California Gold in San Rafael** is an absolute gem, and our experience was taken to the *next level* thanks to the incredible bartender **Víctor**. From start to finish, he was beyond amazing--warm, welcoming, insanely knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about his craft. Every single drink was PERFECT. Not one miss. We enjoyed **all** the drinks, and each cocktail somehow got better than the last. On top of that, Víctor is just an awesome human being who makes you feel genuinely taken care of. The **location is beautiful**, the atmosphere is fun, vibrant, and incredibly enjoyable--one of those places where you instantly feel relaxed and excited to be there at the same time. Great vibes, great energy, great people. This place is a MUST, and Víctor is the reason we'll be coming back again and again. Do yourself a favor: sit at the bar, trust his recommendations, and enjoy an unforgettable night. read more

I did feel like I struck gold when I came across this corner bar in downtown San Rafael. Loved the historic feel to the place and unique paintings throughout. Can't miss that buffalo head on your way to the restroom either! There is booth seating, bar seating and tables. Unfortunately I was not in a cocktail mood (I know, I know) so I can't speak to the cocktails. They do have "Golden Hour" every day from 4:00 to 6:00 where certain cocktails are only $12. I was just wanting a glass of red wine and there were only two choices on the drinks menu. So I had the rioja for $10, their normal price. Bartenders were fun and attentive. Would totally come back for the drinks again. read more

Excellent bar! The themed decor reminds me of the fascinating inside of a pirate ship, also adorned with gold rush memorabilia, and themes of tiki bar sprinkled around. Classy and fun vibe. Drinks- -the jungle bird: a tiki classic. Rums, pineapple and lime. fruity, fresh, sweet and slightly bitter note. Delicious -English scotch sour: 5 year old scotch shaken and topped off with egg white foam. Like a pisco sour but made with scotch. Delightful taste. Lemon peel to top it off, gives the drink a fresh sweet lemon aroma. Incredible Service was so friendly and welcoming! Choose anywhere to sit. Back area you will feel more immersed, away from the windows where you can see the sunshine outside and cars driving by. Though at the front you get to sit in the pirate ship booths, which is fun too take your time to slowly sip on a drink and forget everything from the outside world, if just for an hour. read more

See all

This place is super chill if you're going on a date. But, not social. Drinks are really great. read more

California Gold - Beer Bar Near Me - San Rafael, California

We went on a Saturday night for our 1st time here and we had a good time. They check IDs in the front. Plenty of street parking. They don't serve food here only drinks. Chill vibes inside. Very spacious and you don't feel so cramped up like you're bumping into people. Bartenders were cool and the drinks were delicious! Would like to come back next time and try other drinks! read more

See all

Tastiest frozen pina colada I've had. So glad the hubby and I came back. Happy Love day!! speakeasy vibes and tasty rum cocktails! read more

California Gold - Yummy Pina - Beer Bar Near Me - San Rafael, California

Service was terrible. Ordered a drink asked for an adjustment due to food allergies. Was told it would be well balanced. Bartender was annoyed and was rude. Had a food reaction and I asked if I could choose a replacement. They told me no and wanted me to pay for another drink. A patron offered me a replacement drink and he shouldn't have to do that. Was excited to check this place out from out of town. The entire drink was left at the bar and I left the establishment. The bartenders had terrible customer service skills. read more

Date: Saturday, April 29th, 2023 Time: around 6pm Party of: 4 *Voodoo Western ($15) *Lion's Tale ($15) *House Boulevardier: Elijah Creek ($16) *Singapore Sling ($15) *El Diablo ($15) *Bennet ($15) *EB Scotch Sour ($15) *Gold Rush ($15) On the way back to SF from wine country, my group decided to make a cocktail stop. I looked around and found California Gold. We walked in and easily found a table. If memory serves, there was no table service. We went up to the bar to get drinks. I adore a good cocktail. And these are so pretty! We were here for a good 2.5 hours and had two rounds. I can't recall which cocktails I ordered, but I'm pretty sure I did the scotch sour. I love a good scotch and pisco sour, so this was a good combo of the two. What a great find! If you like your cocktail bars, I highly recommend this spot. REVIEW #3551 Part I *for some reason my review count did not update on my next review read more

California Gold - Saturday, April 29th, 2023 - Cocktails - Beer Bar Near Me - San Rafael, California

See all

My partner took me here on my birthday weekend to celebrate and I was pleasantly surprised at how good everything was here. I didn't catch our bartender's name but he was the kindest and friendliest bartender I ever met. He was really knowledgeable with his drinks and knew how everything blended and paired with one another. They also have a happy hour/golden hour every day! We both got 2 drinks each and I don't recall which ones but I really enjoyed the slushy drink. I prefer sweeter drinks and that was just perfect. My partner also really enjoyed his drinks. We were also surprised that they had Singapore Sling on their menu! We had tried the drink on our trip to Singapore and haven't really seen a bar in the Bay Area have this drink. We didn't get to try it this time, but we both will definitely return to give their other drinks a try when we are in the area. read more

See all

Excellent cocktails! The bartenders work hard to get out them out as fast as they can. Place tends to get pretty packed. Has a bit of brown bar feel - very cozy! I wish they had food, but a drink at California Gold followed by food at Flat Iron makes for a great date! read more

WOW! Could not more highly recommend. This cocktail lounge is next level. It is a perfect spot to go with a friend or date and catch up over great drinks in a wonderful atmosphere. The bartenders we had, Isaac & Manuel, are professional artists. Watching them create the most amazing cocktails with such expertise was half of the experience (while also so friendly & kind!). The wood bar itself is from 1908 and has such beautiful intricate wood. Cannot believe this lounge has been here for 6 years. New favorite!! read more

Very nice cocktail bar located in San Rafael. They don't serve food here but they allow you to bring outside food. Very festive bar with great bartenders that help you figure out what drink you're looking for. They have booths, tables, and couch seating. I opted for the seasonal hot toddy, my friends got an espresso martini and the bartenders choice/whiskey. Parking is fairly easy as there is street parking but can get busy. It was pretty busy for a Thursday night when we came by. They also have good drafts too. Would recommend if you're looking for a nice drink while in San Rafael. The workers were super friendly and recommended other bars in the area too. read more

See all

Downtown San Rafael has a gem. You can't tell from the outside, but once you step inside California Gold it feels like you're stepping back into time. It is one of my friend's favorite bars. She first introduced me to this establishment a few years ago and we've grabbed a drink several times before getting dinner. They have a long menu of different cocktails. The bartenders do a great job making each cocktail that I've ordered. It doesn't hurt they're pretty too! I've had the Singapore Sling, Tropical Daiquiri, and the Pina Colada. They recently came out with a non alcoholic menu. The next time you're in San Rafael, stop by and grab a drink. They also have happy hour. There's a parking garage directly across the street as well as street parking. read more

See all

Best cocktails in Marin, I go there every month with a friend before dinner and enjoy trying different drinks from the Golden Hour menu each time. The drinks are complex works of art! My go tos are the Jungle Bird and the piña colada. The staff are excellent and the environment is sophisticated yet chill on a weeknight before dinner. read more

California Gold - Shanghai Buck - Beer Bar Near Me - San Rafael, California

See all

This is the place to go for your cocktail fix. Kevin was entertaining to watch as he Crafted each cocktail to perfection. Nothing Pretentious about this place. It's home town hospitality. You get greeted upon entering, given awesome Beverage menus and their ice selection for your cocktail needs is definitely addressed. No dilution here. Give it a go you won't be disappointed. read more

See all

Splendid table with spectacular drink suggestions! Warm, fun ambiance inside. Rich in history appearing to be originally from the Gold Rush era. read more

Lucky night at California Gold. Shark Alley Hobos played! Best St. Patrick's NIGHT, ever.

Best drinks in Marin hands down. The atmosphere is hard to beat as well. Has a sort of Pirate/tiki bar vibe. The drinks are pricy, but I feel that the price is pretty warranted given the quality. Show up early to get a seat. read more

Love this place. I went into it for the first time and felt I was transported back in time to the late 1800s. The ambience is classic, well kept frontiers saloon. There are well to do people and good looking couples. The bartenders did a wonderful job with carefully curated Vieux Carres and made us feel welcomed. Victor was the star of the show and was especially welcoming. If we could stay longer, we'd definitely samples his Mezcal selections. I will tell my friends about this hot spot. read more

Honestly, I like finding hidden gem bars mainly for the SO, who really likes trying different whiskeys. I'm usually just there for a cocktail and the ambiance. In this case, we were trying to kill some time before our dinner reservations and I found California Gold on Yelp. SO was super interested in their whiskey selection so he was sold. Booths are super cozy and you can bring outside food to eat since they don't serve any! I went out and grabbed some nachos from the block down to supplement our drinks. (I saw a party celebrating a birthday there that brought in boxes of pizza!) Note: whiskey menu was not online, but they did have an extensive menu in person they can provide. Just know that the bartenders are not super knowledgeable about the whiskey they have available and you'll need to be a bit patient with them while they check. All in all though, a great place to chill with friends, kill time, and have drinks. read more

California Gold - Selection - Beer Bar Near Me - San Rafael, California

See all

Excellent food and atmosphere. My kids love the fountain in their outdoor dining area. Karen RM is always helpful in the drive through. Her recommendations turned me onto delicious items I never would have tried. If you're a fiend for mojitos, the bar is second to none and a local favorite. Their secret sauce is an often overlooked item in Mexican restaurants: they make their own chips and salsa. El Gallo doesn't miss any details! read more

Love this place! The best Bartenders and drinks. Feels like home. Or West Coast Cheers! Great music and lighting. No food but extreme pizza down the street. read more

California Gold - Hanging out with some friends! Modelo time. - Beer Bar Near Me - San Rafael, California

See all

Local bar scene where you're always welcome. The staff is always friendly. This is a super casual spot. I've always enjoyed great times with friends. It's a San Rafael must. read more

Great experience with Cali gold, the bartender, manny helped me out. He was awesome hooked me up with a great coconut drink. Tasted great and the company was awesome read more

California Gold - Mystery Drink - Beer Bar Near Me - San Rafael, California

First time visiting. Quality cocktails and great vibe. They have a very descriptive menu of cocktails which makes it interesting.

California Gold isn't just a bar, it's an experience. I haven't had the food here but I've had many of their craft cocktails. What I appreciate the most is that they have pictures for what the cocktail looks like, that way I don't order a drink that comes in a skinny glass (I like my volume!). Christian isn't a bartender, he's a friend that's making us drinks. He is very knowledgable not just about liquor, but about local spots and recommendations. Great vibes and cocktails make this place this much more that just a bar! read more

Hands down the absolute best drinks in the Bay Area. Really cool vibes and ambience and the bartenders are knowledgeable and amazing. Be patient as their drinks are an expression of art and delicious. Highly highly recommend stopping in!!! read more

Drinks are bomb! Bartenders are amazing mixologists, totally recommend. It's a hot spot, seats may not always be available. read more

California Gold - Drinks are bomb! - Beer Bar Near Me - San Rafael, California

This is a very, nice, traditional cocktail lounge. Drinks are straightforward with a large drink menu of options. A lot of a tropical options, but that's a personal preference. Bartenders were super friendly and took time to chat with us about the drinks and the bar. Highly recommend this for a late night spot with friends. Plenty of seating options and the decor is spot on. As it's a bar and not a restaurant, the guys were cool with us placing a DoorDash order. Not sure if they allow it all the time, but Thursday night at 10m, it wasn't an issue at all. Definitely recommend. Very close to the AC Marriott Hotel. read more

California Gold - Bar area. - Beer Bar Near Me - San Rafael, California

Hubby did a good job finding this place at which we could kill some time in the event our flight landed on time and we had an hour to kill before dinner reservations. TBH, I didn't give him any credit until I walked in and saw just how amazing this place was. We walked in when it was kind of not busy but within 30 minutes, the crowd started to gather. Pretty amazing considering it was dinner time (7pm'ish) and this place doesn't serve food. But I mean...their cocktails were pretty fantastic so who needs food? Hubby called this place a Tiki Western lol. I had to agree. There's no other place like it, that we've been to. We're big tiki fans but this was something altogether different. I ended up ordering two drinks during our stay there - the Oaxacan Firing Squad (easy on the eyes and the palate, yum!) and the Voodoo Western. Hubby was dd'ing but they made him a delicious, dessert-like concoction that had a bajillion ingredients. It was very coconut/pineapple/vacation-forward. The interior is super cool and I could totally see myself spending all afternoon here. I have zero chill when it comes to places like this, ngl. Thankfully for hubby, we had dinner reservations to get to so we had to tear ourselves away, resolving to come back again whenever we're in the area. Cheers! read more

See all

Great beer selection. well crafted cocktails and wonderful atmosphere. Music was a bit loud for my taste late on a Friday night, but I think most people like that. (I just like things to stay kinda chill.) We wen back early evening and it was perfect. read more

What a fun, interesting and curious bar. A gem of a concept for this area. The drinks are tiki inspired drinks, but there is a mega wall full of bottles behind the bar. There also are about 12 beers on tap. There are booths, tables and of course bar seating. Interesting artifacts on the walls and lining the upper windows. The varied music playing contributes to the special vibe this place has. A treat for locals and for visitors. Mahalo! read more

See all

This is my favorite kind of bar. Great liquor, amazing cocktails, and bartenders who are passionate and knowledgeable. I immediately felt like a regular even though it was my first time. I could recommend cocktails, but based on what I saw, follow your heart and you can't go wrong. I couldn't decide and went with the Bartender's Choice. It was fantastic. I also had the Choke Hold- so tasty. It looks like they have a killer happy hour, too! read more

California Gold - Beer Bar Near Me - San Rafael, California

See all

It's been a while since I visited this establishment, but now that my son is 21, we have been exploring many different bars in Marin. The drinks, the atmosphere, and our mixologist were all OnPoint. We tried many different cocktails, and they were all delicious. Christian, the mastermind behind our refreshments, is highly knowledgeable in the history of various beverages. Not only did we get to experience the art of creating these fabulous libations, but we also had the pleasure of enjoying them. We look forward to our next adventure back. read more

California Gold - Beer Bar Near Me - San Rafael, California

If you're looking for a craft cocktail done properly, this is a great place. Their senior bartender Christian will not only make it right but can explain the history and pedigree of the drink - he's both expert mixologist and historian... be sure to see if he's around. The place is a great balance of casual and upscale. Had a great time here passing through town and will definitely be back! read more

A gem in San Rafael for a great cocktail. Loved the vibe and aesthetic of the bar. Cocktails were well-balanced and well priced during happy hour. Also dog-friendly, which is always a plus. read more