Great, unique drinks, friendly service & posh vibes. They even have zero proof liquor to make legit mocktails! read more

Cold Drinks Bar - Silk degrees is amazing - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came on a Sunday night after grabbing dinner in the area. Try Silk Degrees (coconut Johnnie Walker, pineapple) if you go, it might be one of the best cocktails Ive had. It looks like water, is on the sweeter side, and liquor forward. Goes down so smooth! Also had a wild honey pie, a very chill and easy to drink (brandy, cherry). Bartenders were very kind and made sure to check on you throughout your visit. read more

Love this sexy cocktail bar. Total Blade Runner vibes. My husband and I came here for a nightcap after an exquisite meal and didn't want to leave. We had fun getting lost and not being able to find the front door for awhile. The bartender was very authentic and friendly, not what I expected for a hard to find refined cocktail bar. Love Scotch so seeing the Scotch centric menu and bar was what lured us here. We ordered the 'Gold & Crimson' and 'The Waltz' and enjoyed each sip, though my nod goes to 'The Waltz' as it felt more balanced than the other. Each cocktail looked incredible and I can't wait to return to slowly sip some more. read more

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The ambiance is fabulous and the same for the service. Drinks are amazing. The place is a must. When in town for a weekend dressed up or after a game supporting our Giants in our jerseys and hats. Such a cool vibe. read more

I would highly recommend this place for a post dinner drinks place. I came here with friend on a Saturday night, didn't have reservation. The host was super accommodating and we put our name down. After half an hour or so, we got seats at the bar. The drink menu is creative with a good of variety. The ambiance is sexy, a bit business like, and very New York east coast in general type without feeling too uptight. Perfect spot for a date night or post dinner drinks. I like that the music is not too loud, so it's perfect for conversations. The drinks are delicious and the price tag is not bad at all for the quality you get! read more

Cold Drinks Bar - OAXAN PRINCESS THE UNPLUGGED - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Great space and great cocktails! Duck fat old fashioned was a treat. Feels like you're in a Hong Kong bar.

I've been here several times now and absolutely love it. It is an upscale cocktail bar with comfortable lounge seating. Make sure you have a reservation as it is always busy. We tried the silk degrees last time I was there and it was by far the best cocktail I have ever had. read more

Cold Drinks Bar - SILK DEGREES - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Wow. Step inside & it really doesn't feel like you're on Broadway right at the foot of Chinatown, but you are! Clandestine entry up the stairs, guided by a mural of bats, to a back door that is actually the front door...the whole experience is different & memorable. SO glad there's not a secret password (sorry, not sorry Bourbon & Branch & then everyplace else that followed); but despite the lack of that very tired trend, it still has that exclusive feeling. The space, from floor to ceiling, is gorgeous. The glassware says more 5 Star Hotel Bar or Malibu Country Club more than restaurant bar. This is, in fact, the bar for the restaurant China Live, only upstairs & w its own private entrance. Scotch is king here, & it holds its royal court w only the finest ingredients in elixirs that are the definition of artisan mixology. The staff is top shelf, too. Supremely prolific & knowledgeable in their craft, the only less than perfect aspect is the wait. From order to execution, it could (& does) take awhile, but remember you are getting only the best ingredients. Excellence takes time. And, it will be worth the wait. Scotch is not my cup of tea. I had the bartender make me the "smoky" scotch drink. Just 2 sips in, & I was ready for a smoking jacket, a pipe, & contemplating this scotchtail for a future book club gathering. Super sexy. The best thing to happen to Broadway, & maybe scotch whisky, in decades. 5 stars. read more

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I wish a half star or negative 5 star option was available. The bartender I had was Extremely rude. No hi are you. The first words out her mouth were if you don't have a reservation it's a 1 hour limit. I've been to countless bars in SF. Never Have I EVER felt so unwelcome. If the hostess let me in without a reservation what was the bartender concerned? They weren't even that busy! I don't usually leave negative reviews but why patron a place that treat customers so poorly. Also my drink felt watered down and was nothing to right home about. By the time I actually got my drink they could have melted a chocolate bar in there but after how I was treated nothing would have tasted good. I don't understand how this place has such high ratings. Unless you want to be treated like crap and pay a premium for lackluster cocktails..don't go here. read more

My partner and I had talked about visiting Cold Drinks Bar for ages, but didn't make it happen until a Saturday night a few weeks ago around 9. We didn't have a reservation but were seated in about 5 minutes. The vibes are perfect for an after dinner drink -- just dark enough, low music. Sitting at the bar gives you a glimpse into what goes behind each drink, and made me want to try everything on the menu. I had the Silk Degrees and was wowed. Cold Drinks Bar isn't cheap, but it's very worth the price tag. read more

Swanky. Swanky AF. Pros: + Again, swanky + Discrete entrance/location + Friendly service + Creative mixed drinks + Loud and hip music but not crazy loud Cons: - Gentrification at its finest :( - Holy shit expensive (am I still in Chinatown?) Pro-Tip: + Scotch focused + Wine, beer, non-alcoholic drinks available + Couch seats do not require rezzies, despite looking like they might Rosé was $14, tasted just fine. Not a scotch fan so no comment on that, but all the mixed drinks looked worthy of trying. As for my friend, she did not appreciate her whiskey concoction tasting all sugary and weak. Just as swanky as Ozone Bar in HK (try this spot if you're bad and bougie). Just as hidden as Ginza S in Tokyo (try this spot if you're bad and bougie, or if you love whiskey. Good luck finding it though!). Even the door makes you question if it opens up to the bar or some janitors closet. Seriously! Old Shanghai feel? Nahhh. More like New Shanghai Bund life. Great place to lounge and catch up, but not turn up. Will be back to try some of their mixed drinks. read more

A sit down Chinese speakeasy with really cool furniture and vibe!!! (I tell everyone I meet they need to try coming here at least once) I came last year though and they had a pretty strict reservation guidelines and a time limit for how long you could stay which was the only downside. Otherwise the drinks are great and it's somewhere I try to take my out of state friends whenever they visit read more

Not only the best whiskey list in all of San Francisco, but also incredible ambience and wonderful staff. The cocktails are on point, and the attention to detail cannot be overstated. Already planning my next trip back! read more

We came here after catching a standup at Cobb's after 10 pm on a Wednesday. It's a hidden cocktail bar above China Live, and you have to walk down a little bit from the restaurant and get to the bar on the 2nd floor from the stairwell, which is also kinda hidden. The security guard at the restaurant was very helpful and showed us the directions. We tried 3 drinks at the bar - Sometimes old fashioned, Night & Day in Chinatown, and Shanghai Mai Tai. Sometimes old fashioned is not your regular old fashioned, as they put duck fat to balance the flavors in the drink, which is novel and interesting. The night & day in chinatown is just amazing if you're into something spirit forward. It was pretty quiet since it's a weekday, but we enjoyed the vibe and the drinks a lot. It's definitely considered on the more expensive side, even for SF prices, as most drinks are around $18 - $25. Still, I would love to come back and try more drinks again! read more

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Did not expect to find this super swanky hidden lounge in a seedy party of Chinatown, so was thrilled at the scene when we climbed the stairs at China Live and opened the unmarked door. The space is beautiful with good lighting and sharply dressed bartenders. The menu focuses on scotches and scotch cocktails. I'm still developing a taste for this, but trusted our servers recommendation and ordered the Mai Tai. As he promised it was a well-balanced drink, if not my typical style. B ordered the ying & yong (scotch, tonic, seltzer, amaro) which tasted like smokey soda water to me. Though scotch is clearly the specialty, the bar is stocked, so you can order a basic manhattan if you are really scotch adverse. There's also a short wine list- though no Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Merlot, or Cabs. Have to say, while mom was annoyed, I love that they aren't trying to be every other bar. Five star scene, would recommend if you are a scotch fan. And even if, like me, you're not, you can trust the staff to make you something tasty. read more

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This seems like a really cool bar for rich businessmen. Since my friend and I were neither of those things, we felt a little out of place. It has a roaring 20s sort of vibe (makes sense since there is a speakeasy event you can buy tickets to just downstairs). I think we happened to catch the happy hour of co-workers after hours and it was mainly the demographic I mentioned above (also slightly smelly). We still had a good time and the drinks were delicious. I would say $25 a drink is around the lower end of the drinks on the menu. I saw some as much as $60. But you get what you pay for, the best whiskey and spirits are in those expensive cocktails. Atmosphere: 5/5 Drink: 5/5 Service: 5/5 (they were friendly) Overall: 4/5 (due to our experience) read more

Cold Drinks Bar - drinks at the bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Cold Drinks Bar is a Shanghai inspired cocktail lounge above China Live that also features food from the 8 tables by George Chen kitchen. They are known for their top-shelf Scotch drinks and were named one of the six best cocktail bars in SF by Newsweek. Every drink we ordered was PHENOMENAL. The "Sometimes Old Fashioned" uses Peking duck fat washed scotch and they get the duck fat from downstairs! read more

The cocktails were impressive. The bartender was nice and even replaced one after finding out I didn't enjoy it that much, he also shared his experience and recommended me other bars and books I can read. We definitely need more creative bars like this. read more

Really terrible service, overpriced drinks that aren't that good, and ambiance is not as nice as the photos look! The long hair guy that works there smells like a porta potty. I gagged when he came by! read more

Ultra cool spot to grab pre-dinner drinks. The drinks are imaginative and perfectly executed. Beware, the drinks are strong! Highly recommend! read more

Cold Drinks Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Had two drinks here that came out to $56 before tip. Some of the worst cocktails I've ever had.. just didn't taste good at all and way too strong. I love strong drinks, but there's definitely a way to make them without making it taste like you're chugging moonshine The bar itself also feels cramped and too hot the night I came, definitely not the kind of space I was expecting from the pictures read more

This was definitely one of the coolest bars that I visited when in San Francisco. It's almost like a secret speakeasy type bar, but really isn't... that's if you can find the stairs to go up (just follow the bat signs...). The bar is pretty intimate and definitely can pack up fast. It has nice lighting and a good vibe. The staff are dressed up in tuxedos. The drinks are carefully crafted and are spendier than your normal bars. We ordered several different drinks and also tried some interesting whiskey. The "sometimes old fashioned" was definitely interesting as it was made with duck fat infused speyburn 10... it made the drink super smooth... and definitely a must try! The other drinks I ordered also tasted good.. along with the anCnoc Blas whisky and the Royal Brackla 12 year. The service was wonderful and super friendly, which made the experience even better. read more

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My group of five first stopped by this bar on Friday, August 4th around 8:45pm. We had shown up early for our reservation at China Live, so we decided to head upstairs for a drink. If you're looking for this place, walk past the doors to China Live and whatever bar is to the right of it. (I can't recall it's name to save my life. Maybe Joe something?) You'll see a staircase past the bar on your right. Just head upstairs and you'll see a gold door. There are fake birds to lead the way. That is Cold Drinks. It was pretty packed when we showed up. Standing room only. We basically had time for one round, so there was really no reason to find a spot to sit down. We quickly had a drink (I think it was a small pour of whisky?) and headed down to dinner. They also gave us some shrimp chips which I thought was a nice snack. After dinner, I met up two girlfriends and we headed back up to Cold Drinks. Wanting to keep it simple, I just ordered a round of red wine for the three of us. I had met them up for a second dinner, so all my friends from dinner number one were already here. By now, it wasn't as busy, so we grabbed the tables to the right of the entrance, tucked next to the bar. It was a comfy area to enjoy our drinks and talk as I hadn't seen my gfs in a while. Not sure if you'd consider this a secret bar, but I loved the vibe. Very secluded and intimate. Almost like a speakeasy, but brighter as it's not underground. Very much my kind of bar. So glad we decided to stop by. And twice in one day! I'll definitely be back! read more

Cold Drinks Bar - Drink and Shrimp Chips - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Randomly picked this spot to meet up with an old friend. Was worried during the JPM conference week would be busy but it's sufficiently off the beaten path being out in Chinatown. Entrance is unassuming/nothing special, gold first door you see when you hit second floor using the stairs - unmarked outside of a black decal of their logo (for some reason felt like a hallway or decor in an elementary school during Halloween for me ha...their logo reminds me of a bat). The bar itself is classy - super chill vibe with plush couch seating and dim (but not tooooo dim) lighting. There are some fun accents that remind you that you're in Chinatown without being blatant/loud. When I came (5:30pm on a Tuesday and 8:00pm on a Thursday) there were other patrons but plenty of space for our group to pick / choose our spot. Both times we ultimately stuck with bar seats for easy access to more drinks, which were on the whole delicious and served quickly (as well as very photogenic). Highly recommend the sometimes old fashioned, and if you like something sweeter, the night/day in Chinatown. The Italian job was cool to watch her make but my personal preference was for the former two. Also tried their Negroni and it was an elegant version of a classic. read more

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Gorgeous bar above China Live. Very very pricey. (expect $20/drink) Quality drinks. Friendly and laid back service. Great decor. Hidden upstairs location. Cold Drinks Bar accepts credit cards including Amex. read more

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What a cool little secret! It's not the most noticeable or easiest to find bar, but it's definitely one of the most atmospheric in the area. It's got a classy intimate feel to it, definitely a place where you can enjoy a conversation with a group of friends. More so than that, it's a place that you can enjoy a conversation over a nice drink. The bartenders really know their stuff here. My friend and I were on the hunt for good whiskeys, and the bartender was able to listen to our tastes and allowed us to sample several whiskeys he thought we'd like. He was on point and they were all good! They do get a bit pricey though, we dropped about $80 on three drinks. read more

Love the swanky, modern Shanghai meets old school SF vibe. They're located on top of of China Live and to get there, you have enter the door on the right next the entrance of China Live and go upstairs to the second floor. Cocktails are pricey but delicious. They seem to be known for scotch. They also serve bites. My favorite is their bbq pork char sui Dutch crunch based buns. read more

Cold Drinks Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

This speakeasy is amazing! My first impression walking in was being transported into the 1900s era. It has a westernized Chinese vibe and the décor is upscale and classy. This has been the only bar in SF that I felt matched the classiness of bars in New York. We had a group of 12 and managed to grab the long couch in the back early on in the night. It was extremely comfortable, relaxing, and not overcrowded at all. The drinks are the priciest I've seen in SF, but the old fashioned I had was so smooth and tasty. Highly recommend this place if you're looking for the classiest bar in SF! read more

Cold Drinks Bar - Old fashioned - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Woooweee this place is neat! I probably would have never found it, but luckily a friend brought me here. I have to say, this is more speakeasyesque to me than B&B or any of the others. I was skeptical at first as my friend led me up the stairs next to China Live, but when he opened that giant door for me, I was instantly impressed. The decor is lush and the bartenders in their white jackets add a great touch. Although I'm not a fan of scotch and the peaty flavor, there were still multiple cocktails on the menu without it that I enjoyed. I had the French Concession (put into the pineapple cup usually reserved for the Long Islay, because I'm such a SUCKER for cool cups). It was refreshing and tasty! I also tried the Nothing Sacred which was also quite good. I liked the firing of the chili pepper - added that "haha my drink is cool" aspect. Friend had some smokey ass drinks that I've chosen to block out of my mind so will not be reporting on those. The only thing I didn't like was the paper straws. I hate those things! I know they look super cool and all, but they basically melt in your drink unless you CHUG real quick. I'm excited to come back because a couple of the bartenders were working on cocktails for the lunar new year. Each day will feature a new cocktail for its corresponding sign. Year of the Dragon better be aweeesome!! read more

Cold Drinks Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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They do add a 20 percent charge automatically . Kind of rude . The drinks are good . Definitely worth going to if you can expense it . read more

I was wowed by this elegant, quiet (in the good way), and sophisticated but friendly bar. It's easy enough to find but remote enough to make it feel properly speakeasy-ish, and that makes it feel like a little getaway. The bartenders were personable and attentive, though the drinks take awhile - they're complicated! And the food was good but...I can't remember it a month-ish later. BUT THE DRINKS. Our group had several and liked them all. I particularly LOVED my two wholly unique and very memorable cocktails, Rabbit Year Resolution and Montenegro. They're not cheap but MAN you have never tasted anything like them! Can't wait to visit again. read more

After having dinner at Original Joe's and not being able to have a really good cocktail, we decided to check the area and we found this gem. Open for 5 years now / and thankfully survived COVID. Oscar is by far one of the more experienced Mixologist I've met in this lifetime. His background personally and in education is truly extensive and makes for an authentic experience which cocktails should be. Definitely returning. read more

Cold Drinks Bar - THE UNPLUGGED and another drink off menu (on the left). - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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So I visited this spot because the place I intended on visiting was closed for an employee meeting. I had a group of friends from out of town visiting and I stumbled across this cocktail bar on yelp. This place is totally hidden! It's in what appears to be a office building that is full of business suites. It took sometimes to find, as we weren't sure of the exact location. A lot of attempts, opening wrong doors haha. After we finally located the correct door in the building, we walked in and we were totaled shocked at the nice bar/lounge we had discovered. The ambience is super chill reminiscent of a hidden gangster lounge in a movie. It's dim lit, big comfy chairs, shag fur rugs, brass accessories- plush lounge feels. It's definitely has the underground secret bar vibe going. The bartenders are outstanding, they can definitely whip up some innovation & tasty cocktails. Their menu has a list of great craft cocktails. If you're into super chill lounge vibes, just looking to kick back, this is your spot. It's a quiet and relaxed atmosphere... not a super bustling loud bar. read more

Cold Drinks Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This speakeasy bar is upscale, beautiful, and sophisticated. The bartender was great, offering his recommendations on drinks. They do not skip out on the alcohol here! Overall, I love the ambiance and the vibes. It's pretty common to pay a pretty penny for cocktail drinks in SF, but I think this place is worth it! read more

Cold Drinks Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Worst bar ever . The bar tender was rude with us from the beginning. Avoid this place if you don't want to ruin your vibe read more

One of my favorite speakeasies in the city! Such nice interior and ambiance! You get to the bar through a stairway on the right side of China Live restaurant entrance (most of the time there's a line to China Live, but you should walk pass the people and head straight upstairs for the bar). I haven't been here since Covid started, and was glad that when we arrived at a Wednesday evening there were plenty of seats available. Love their cocktails! Food was unique (we got the salt and pepper beef tendon chips) but the portion was small. Would recommend coming for a drink or two but get food either downstairs or somewhere else. read more

Cold Drinks Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Solid little hidden bar above china live. Ambience as great and service was nice. The drink prices were pricey - more like New York prices between $16-20 a drink. I got the Cindy which was vodka, gooey grapefruit jam, peat, etc. the sometimes old fashioned was interesting as it had some duck fat read more

Cold Drinks Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

If you're looking for a unique, upscale, (kind of secretive) bar, this is the place for you! Have never met nicer bartenders in my lifetime. Thank you for the free birthday shots! read more

Cold Drinks Bar - Custom absinthe tiki drink - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Cold Drinks is a bit small, but has a nice vibe and a decent selection of drinks. It's located right above China Live on Broadway and wasn't the easiest to spot right away on arrival. When we got there, we had to wait a while to be seated, which is a bit surprising given the time of day and the fact that the place wasn't packed full. After sitting down, everything was good - the service, the drinks, the environment. I got the old fashioned w/ duck fat and it was pretty good. The other drinks we got were good too. Our bartender was friendly and pretty quick with the drinks. Overall everything was solid, but not amazing. read more

This place is sexy as hell. Get a spirit-forward drink, enjoy the scenery and the smooth lounge music. Not for the unsophisticated.