Location is great. Interior is cool. Bartender was friendly and working hard. Drinks -tho based on creative ideas, were simple, uninspiring and overpriced. Music was so outdated that I became uncomfortable listening to music I associate with boring frat bros of yore. read more

A semi hidden spot tucked inside/behind Curry Up Now (walk through Curry Up Now to get there). It gives off a cool speakeasy vibe since you have to go through the restaurant to find it. Interior is dimly lit, small tables and a mix of seating styles to choose from. This was my first time visiting, but my party had a great time here. I went with their namesake drink, the Mortar and Pestle. Great and served in an actual mortar, with a lit cinnamon stick, which was a fun touch. Server was fun and friendly; loved his hat! The real standout for me, though, was the Summer Whip which I got to drink as my friend ordered one too many. It was amazing with the coconut cream making it super smooth. A mabye "dangerous" drink where you can barely taste the alcohol but feel it a few minutes later with how well rounded the taste is. We really wanted to try the After Hours at the Teahouse, as it was recommended, but sadly it wasn't available for our visit (out of pandan). Our server mentioned it doesn't even taste like alcohol (like the Summer Whip), so I'll be back to try that one. Cool bar, fun atmosphere, and solid drinks. Feels like it's best for drinks in a small group as the tables don't go too large. read more

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This was my first time at this cocktail bar, I was planning on meeting up with friends at A2, but this Thursday 12/18/25" A2 was closed at 8p, so we walked down here.... Drinks were very unique with a somewhat Indian twist. I got a Mango Tango-something and then some "After Hours at the Tea House" coconut cocktail. That coconut drink was DELICIOUS! I wish I had two of those! Service was quick and we were lucky to snag a table. I love their light up marble bar.... Perfect y for foodie pix! Too bad it was packed with people! Hee. Since this spot is right next to the garage, I would definitely come back! read more

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Enjoyed a drink here with a friend, very cozy spot. Not too many people can fit. But bartenders are friendly and they serve curry up now's whole menu there too. Will be back. read more

Mortar & Pestle Bar - Golden State Margs - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

Mortar and Pestle is a bar located inside the Curry Up Now shop in downtown San Mateo. They have multiple locations across the United States and they offer Indian food and Indian-inspired cocktails. They even have punny cocktail names that pay homage to their California / tech roots (like Chaatgpt). My first drink was the mortar and pestle ($17) which was their signature and most popular drink. It was a balanced drink with cinnamon flavors along with a piece of lit cinnamon as a garnish. On brand, it was served in a mortar. My second drink was the bandit queen ($17) which was a Manhattan but with Indian whiskey. You can either get to the bar by walking through the Curry Up Now restaurant or go around the back in the alleyway. The bar was not too loud like a brewery but wasn't too intimate or dim like a speakeasy. It had a lounge-y vibe with bar tops, smaller tables, and a big communal table. The music was not too loud which made it easy to talk to the people around you. read more

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Came here late night once for a few drinks. It's a little hidden in the alley next to the parking garage if you're not familiar with the area. We sat by the window and ordered at the bar. They were kind enough to bring the drinks to us at our seats. We tried a few different drinks and they were all delicious. I loved the environment and the way the drinks were presented. It's a bit dark in there, but it feels like a great date spot to grab a couple drinks before or after dinner in the area. I will definitely be returning. They have a food menu as well, but I did not try any of these. I wonder how the food pairs with the drinks. The drink menu is also quite cute! read more

10/10 Amazing service. Awesome drinks. Great ambiance. If you hate this bar it's because you don't have good taste. 10s all around! read more

Interesting drinks and friendly staff. Came by on a weekday evening to try to get some work done outside of the house, and it's been a few years since I last visited. I got a fruity sangria that wasn't too sweet and an order of the paneer sexy fries. Portion is definitely big enough to share amongst 2-3 people, and the only thing the fries needed was a little bit of spice. Added some hot sauce, and it was so much better!! Did have 1-2 annoying gnats flying around, which made us scarf down the food and drinks. Otherwise, we would have probably taken our time instead of needing to swat away these tiny pests. read more

5 of us Sat down on the couch area for 25 mins, bartender/server wouldn't help us. Helped a couple next to us and 2 other groups that sat down after us and took their orders.Didn't say hi or even try to help us. Ended up walking out after 30 mins of no service. 10:30pm may 9th read more

We went through Curry Up Now to get to the bar and it certainly felt like a speakeasy. It had a nice moody vibe to it and the bar felt artsy and lit up. The bartender was so awesome - he let us know some of the tables might feel a bit stickier so we ended up sitting at a long middle table. I asked for a custom drink - a passionfruit, egg white cocktail and he sure delivered. I even got a spicy margarita after and as I swigged the drink, the bartender asked if I noticed the glitter. I certainly didn't at first but definitely loved the nice touch! I didn't even need to apply lip gloss after that. The best part of the experience was that the drinks were in chilled glasses. Normally I see that with beers but felt like it was a cool and personalized touch. Appreciated that the bar was open late and that it wasn't too busy on a Tuesday night. Would definitely come back! read more

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This is quickly becoming our favorite go-to place for great cocktails and apps. Karmyn has great drink recommendations. She really knows the specials and there is a full bar if you want something more traditional. We always get the Punjabi 69 chicken bites, because, yum. Otherwise , we are slowly making our way through the menu. The Chole Bhature is another great option if you like sweet and savory. This is a great place for a date night or to meet up with friends. Excited to bring our friends here soon! A real hidden gem. read more

Mortar & Pestle Bar - The "Mortor & Pestle" cocktail. The smouldering cinnamon stick! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

Damn, this place is good. Very solid cocktails, but come during happy hour for $11 a cocktail- it's almost unbeatable. Lee's a really good bartender who made great drinks and service was good. read more

3.5 STARS Date: Saturday, May 18th, 2024 Time: around 9:45pm Party of: 5 What: After Dinner Drinks I had to leave about 30-45 mins after dinner. Since my group wanted an after dinner cocktail, I went with them to Mortar & Pestle. It was busy, but not packed. We managed to find two tables by the railing / walkway. I had to leave not too long after we walked here, so I just tried some of an espresso martini. It was fine. Very light tho. So if you like your cocktails boozy, I'd ask for an extra shot or for them to make it a double. It wasn't only me who thought this. Everyone who tried it thought it was hard to taste the liquor. I wouldn't mind coming back to try more cocktails when time permits. I saw a few that were more up my alley. REVIEW #3426 read more

Mortar & Pestle Bar - Espresso Martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

Lovely innovative drinks, friendly service and good food options. Maybe some more desi music?

Loved the drinks, they're so well-balanced! Great customer service and really cool vibe in here. read more

Mortar & Pestle Bar - Such well-balanced drinks, yummy! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

Brian was a great bartender, very professional, great service and some more! I'll definitely be back , i love a good service ! read more

Mortar & Pestle Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

Our review for @mortarandpestlebar in San Mateo: - Price point: $$ (~$10 per item) ***Pro tip: They have happy hour every day 4-6 pm when signature drinks are 10$!! - Cuisine: Indian-American fusion snacks - Ambience: Amazing vibes!! Not too loud, great music - Food review: All the cocktails we tried were amazing, highly recommend the unique panipuri cocktail!! For 10$, the deal is unbeatable! Golden state margarita was also delicious! I love that the cocktails are not too sweet, very well balanced and they are generous with their alcohol (10/10) Punjabi 69: Its like the very popular chicken 65, but better! Pls try it if you are there! It pairs perfectly with the drinks! (10/10) Bhel Puri: A signature Indian snack, this was good to munch with the cocktails. The amount was enough for 3 of us! This is definitely one of our favorite happy hour places in San Mateo. The bar tenders are super friendly! Give them a try, if you are local! OF COURSE, WE WILL BE BACK ! Overall experience: 10/10 Recommended for: Happy Hour read more

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This place is really cute and pretty reasonable with their pricing. The menus were super cute in little bound notebooks with little illustrations on some of the items. The bartenders seemed to be pretty knowledgeable on their spirits and what's available. I wish the drinks were a little bigger but definitely fun for little drinks to not get blasted on. They were also pretty cute with a breath of tiki bar essence going on. Seating is kinda small but they didn't seem crazy busy on a Thursday night so it worked out. The Summer Whip was tasty but didn't really capture the dole whip flavor profile since it was a thinner drink and less sweet. The Escape from the Bay was my favorite. It was crisp and refreshing and delivered on the tiki theme. read more

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Super fun spot to visit for happy hour! My friend and I were really happy to discover that Mortar and Pestle had a weekend HH that runs until 6! The bartender made great recommendations and was super kind. They ran out of ingredients for a drink on the HH menu and he let us know that we could sub it out with another of our choice, which was so nice of him! There were tons of fun cocktail options as well as great dishes to snack on as well. Loved it and will be back! read more

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Took a visiting friend to try out unique Indian style signature cocktails. Hadn't been here in a while...their signature cocktails are kickass..my friend tried the Pani puri Cognac based and I had their whisky based (bandit queen). Quick service and we ordered few bites like French fries, yummy pav bhaji and gobi manchurian. Since it was pre thanksgiving week, it wasn't crowded and could easily have a conversation and attentive service. read more

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I came here for a date last week. It was cozy and intimate. The drinks were good. The waiter gave good recommendations. Can't speak for the food, but curry up has delivered in the past in their SF spot. read more

Such a cute bar with great vibes! Cozy corners and a larger table in the middle for groups. Parking is easy too with a parking lot by the area and there's food with Curry Up Now too. Lee was super awesome, we had a big group and he took care of us. Will definitely be back, especially just for him! read more

First time trying this bar out! We entered through Curry Up Now, and was confused where it would be, but someone directed us to the back. 7pm on a Saturday night was bustling, but we got seats right at the bar. tried out a bunch of their drinks: Bangalore Old Fashioned, Ambika's Grove, Espresso Martini, and Pornstar Martini! My fiancé liked the Bangalore Old Fashioned & I liked the Pornstar Martini the best. We had amazing service from Anthony! He took great care of us, and we'll definitely come back for the friendly service, great drinks, cool atmosphere! read more

Mortar & Pestle Bar - Pornstar Martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

Great atmosphere and really high-quality drinks. The service was awesome and the ambience was very fun.

This place was a cute find! They had a wide selection of unique cocktails - there was even a rum old fashioned on the menu, which I love. I ordered the namesake Mortar and Pestle first, which was delicious and it was even served in a mortar. They also had a number of flights available, and I was excited to try out four Indian whiskeys I had never even heard of. The staff was also so nice, Lee and Karmyn specifically went above and beyond answering all of our questions, providing great insight into the bars offerings, and just generally providing great service. Will definitely come back! read more

I came with some friends after school and loved the music and vibes. Lee was amazing an amazing bartender and provided great suggestions for drinks and food. The bar is conveniently located next to the parking garage which is great. read more

Lee is a king at the bar great halloween costume and happy hour vibes. 10/10 will come back

Karmyn was an excellent server! The drinks were really yummy and it has a great vibe. I loved the furnishings too! read more

Mortar & Pestle Bar - Mules are yummy! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

Amazing service from our bartender Carmen! We had very good drinks from Zach he makes amazing green shots. Definitely recommend this place. read more

Mortar & Pestle Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

This place is tucked away at the back of curryup now. My buddy was showing me some of the bars in San Mateo and we dropped by here for a drink. Their menu is very descriptive with photos. LoL flavor combinations were very nice. We ordered two gin based cocktails and absolutely loved them. Service was very friendly. This place is super small though and it is a bit interesting to find. We were able to find some seating on a Friday evening. It was a good time. read more

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@karmyn - come and visit this bar. Feels like a speak easy and the service is great. One of the best spots in San Mateo.

Bryan was very hospitable and gave us good recs on drinks--which were amazing by the way. If you're here def try the after hours and the mortar & pestle. Ambiance is industrial but small enough to feel homey. Counter glows btw. read more

Tucked away in the alley behind Curry Up, Mortar & Pestle is a cute little bar with a decent Happy Hour and nice people. It's small, but that lends to a nice atmosphere. If you like fried food, you'll be in heaven because most everything on the menu is fried. They have a cute robot named Pepe that brings the food from the kitchen to the bar area where it's collected and served by the bartender. The music is loud, but not so much that you can't have a decent conversation. Overall, a fun little spot to pop in for a drink when passing through downtown. read more

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Came in on a Sunday night for some drinks but they seemed to be alot of items on the menu that was not available as they didn't have any more supply. Maybe it's because it's a Sunday? But the options were limited. I came a few years back and their drinks were so good so I recommended coming back but this experience was definitely different than the last. Not sure if I'll be back. Drinks were kinda cute though read more

Lee was the best bartender. Really nice hole in the wall with the best ambiance and creative drinks. The staff are very attentive of their patrons. read more

Mortar & Pestle Bar - Lee and Karmyn - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

A friend and I visited for drinks tonight - the location is hidden enough to make it feel secluded in a busy area, with tasteful (and very bright) decor and lighting. The menu is a fun mix of cocktails, beers, a LOT of whiskeys, plus some other items, and the cocktails are especially creative with fresh and less commonly used ingredients. The service is the downside here.. upon arrival, there were a few people at one side of the bar, and otherwise no one around other than the bartender, but my friend and I stood for a few minutes before being given menus. When we were ready to order, the bartender was standing facing away from us for another several minutes - on his phone and the computer, and shining a flashlight around fire extinguishers for a while. Odd and delayed, but we placed our orders, and drinks were very good. We were not checked on for at least an hour, and it took another 10-15 to receive a check. We had our cards out for at least another 10 minutes before he came by again - there had been a few big groups moving through slowly, but lack of backup staff seemed odd. The bartender kept walking back and forth to another area, messing with the music and lights for a while, but not much attention to customers. The bar is upscale and well-decorated, and the lackluster and absent service did not match in quality. The primary customer base, at least tonight, was groups of 5-6 men in their 30s going out together, if that's your thing. read more

First time checking out Mortar & Pestle Bar! I had trouble finding it until I realized that it was in the back of the restaurant. This was a fun surprise to discover! As I went in, I saw as immediately greeted by staff. Unfortunately, my friend and I had trouble ordering online, but the staff was quick to take our order. The seating arrangement is a bit tight as the room is small, but it's a wonderful atmosphere all around. I got the summer whip and the amount of detail added to the drink was crazy good! There are two restrooms that are shared with the restaurants. Parking is a hit or miss, so be on the lookout while driving on the streets. read more

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This bar is a not-so-hidden speakeasy located right behind the Curry Up Now Indian restaurant. When I visited on a Friday night, the bar was bustling with a diverse crowd, and I was greeted quickly by a server with a menu. The drinks, though pricy, were delicious and had an indian twist. I enjoyed their version of a long island iced tea, made with a spicy Indian cola, ThumsUp, instead of the standard cola. My friends ordered an electric lemonade and espresso martini, both of which they greatly enjoyed. There are two genderless bathroom, both clean and well maintained. The parking situation is not ideal and you may need to park a few streets away. read more

Mortar & Pestle Bar - Long island iced tea and electric lemonade cocktails - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

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This is the bar behind Curry Up Now in San Mateo. It's a cozy up scale cocktail bar in suburban San Mateo which is hard to pull off. The drinks are unique and flavorful and go well with Indian food they serve in the restaurant. We paired our brown drinks with Deconstructed Samosas and Butter Chicken Burrito. Both were pretty awesome. Come here modern fusion California Indian cuisine and a well-crafted unusual drink. You won't be disappointed. read more

Mortar & Pestle Bar - A drink similar to a Manhattan in the front and Bangalore Old Fashioned in the back - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

great bar with great cocktails! i expected it to be much more divey and i'm impressed by its luxe. bartenders played great music and even made specialty cocktails based on our taste. super empty on a thursday evening read more

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