Girlfriend Saturday brunch at the Botanist. Emily our server was so friendly & accommodating. She helped make this a brilliant lunch for us. If you go for brunch on Saturday definitely get there early as they fill up fast and don't take reservations. As the place fills up the noise does escalate. But it's a happy fun atmosphere. We all had the breakfast smash burgers which were juicy and delicious! We ordered a side of the Green Dukkah Fries, Yum Yum! I had the Lime & Lechee cocktail, my friends had sparkling wine & red wine. Everything was scrumptious! As always a fun place to go for fine cocktails & good grub! read more

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Speakeasy vibe. An absolute must check out when spending time in Bako. Food is excellent, consistent and reasonable pricing. Service attentive and waiters/waitresses pleasant and happy to serve. This is a go to spot for anyone traveling through Kern County. read more

The Botanist - Awesome mule and old fashioned to top the night off. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Bar review- came in for a few night caps after dinner at a different location. The old fashioned was perfectly crafted, and one of the best I've had. Even though we came in close to last call the service was great and the Ambiance was amazing. The decor definitely ties into the name. Will come to try the food. read more

We went into The Botanist on a Thursday for dinner before seeing a movie so we were a little early, but it was a good thing because this place is popular - for good reason! We came in the doors and it's very low light inside so I had to take a minute for my eyes to adjust. The decor is so cool! Our food and drinks were so good. Our server and all the staff were so nice and seemed like they were happy to have us. I recommend the 9:30 tea time drink for sure! read more

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I was taken on a date here on Valentine's Day . It's such a beautiful vibe , the music was great , and the wait time wasn't bad at all surprisingly. They had VEGAN tacos and many other vegetarian alternatives. The drinks were very popular , I ended up loving the cocktail pineapple drink. I will come back again soon ! If you love dark / dim / romantic/ and vintage... THIS IS YOUR NEW FAVORITE SPOT read more

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Super cute place. Great place to enjoy a nice cocktail . Great service. They also serve some great food items

I don't know how I've missed making a review of this place. Wonderful downtown location. I believe the owners are the same owners of Smitten. One of our favorite date spots. I believe it's more an intimate location but they'll serve ya, even if you're wearing board shorts and flip flops. I believe we have been to this location 4-5 times now and have never been disappointed. I've lacked on date nights to give you photos and videos of some locations but I'll be better about it in 2026. The place is dimly lit, very dark and moody atmosphere, which makes the place feel very nice and romantic. They have a little parking spot on the east side of the building but plenty of street parking. Their menu is very neat and they prepare the few things on their menu very well. Their bar menu is very simple but elegantly prepared. We have yet to have anything we wouldn't recommend. Great steaks and other entrees, great appetizers and an all around drink menu. Great date night place or a great place to get the night rollin. More pictures and videos to come in 2026 and have a great one and see you at the next spot. read more

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Four of us had drinks appetizers and dinner here on Wednesday march 18. Our friends were passing by from San Diego to Sacramento. I picked here to meet up and they arrived before us. They absolutely loved the vibe and establishment in whole. We have been here before and I knew they would love it. Music was perfect volume and was not drowning out conversations. Food was excellent. Siena was our main waitress and was great and aware of menu choices we asked about. We had a great evening. We were there chatting after dinner a while and did not feel rushed. read more

The Botanist - Our enjoyable evening - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bakersfield, California

First time here and we had a great time. The place was small inside but the food and drinks were really good. The service was slow. The service was slow all night I even had to take our check to the hostess up front to pay because our server never came back to get it. Prices are on the high side. read more

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This was such a nice surprise while in Bakersfield overnight. Located in the arts district and parking was easy. I was so happy to find tasty vegan options in Bakersfield. Warning - the portions are huge. You can split with two to three people. Food was really good and I enjoyed my meal. Service was good but sitting at the bar, I heard all the personal convos between staff and now I know their entire lives. I usually don't mind but awareness would be nice. Being able to order took a little longer because of the conversations. Maybe I just chose the wrong seat because it was all the staff huddled in one area chatting. (So if you're wanting to sit at the bar, avoid the left side where orders are being placed.) Other than that. The ambiance was great but if you have a hard time seeing be aware, it's VERY dim lighting. Cute and elegant atmosphere that gives an intimate cozy vibe. read more

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The Good? Cool Gothic Speakeasy vibes. The bad? The volume of the music. Makes conversation difficult. My friend asked the waitstaff if they could turn the volume down. Their response was the boss prefers it. Good choice of music, though. Also, it is a little too dark. I used my phone's flashlight to look at the menu. The mediocre? The food. Small menu. Limited choices. Additionally, separate charge for French Fries unless you're ordering fish & chips. Which I did. Average. Good tzatziki, though. The portions are small for the price. All in all, nice set-up. Pricey but perhaps that is intentional as they want to extend the bougie atmosphere. read more

The Botanist - Fish & chips - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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It's so cute and intimate here and the drinks are good! I had Tea Time and Golden Rabbit and the way they are served is so unique. read more

Always love it when Bakersfield gets cool things! Botanist is a good fancy place for hanging out, taking out business partners, or feeling like you don't live in Bakersfield. I really admire the decor in this place as I bet sourcing everything took a lot of work! The bar looks insane, and I would really like to know if most of this stuff was DIY. Immaculate vibes. This place gets full fast so make sure you come early! They have limited seating, so you may have to be close to some other patrons. The bartenders were the nicest. Feel free to ask them questions about their seasonal creations! read more

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Can I just say, I am absolutely obsessed with the vibes and aesthetic of this place. The overall atmosphere is cozy, romantic, and fun. Vibe service is friendly and truly caring. We got such a nice and helpful waiter. She was amazing. Now the good part. The drinks and food! The tea time for two was so good, flavorful, and such the perfect combination of flavors to really feel like you're just sipping on tea with a kick. The food was delicious and I absolutely need to come back to explore more of their menu. Overall a great place for a night with your girls or romantic date night! read more

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The Botanist is chic, special and very intimate. It's a place that is great to go with a friend or date or group. It checks all the boxes. An added plus is that it is open every day. The drinks and food are amazing and ingredients are extremely well thought out. I have a lot of favorites but really love the grilled cheese with veggies. Amazing!! Everyone is inviting and friendly from the moment you enter. I always feel as if I entered through a special portal. It is so uniquely decorated and arranged. You sometimes feel as if you are in a movie. Again, the smallest details are well thought out. I really encourage you to have your own experience and I know it will be a good one! read more

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Definitely like the vibes here, cool dark and moody but not that high school hair flip style, more of the hide from the government during the great depression kind of vibes The craft drinks are very tasty and will get you where you need to be relatively quickly. Of course, you could always walk across the street to bill lees and hammer down a mai tai. My favorite appetizer is the cheese with the honey, something so simple yet done well. I can't tell if I'm just being nicer to these places because they're part of my typical bar crawl but for me this a must to go! read more

Stopped by the place before dinner at home. Placed an appetizer flatbread and had a few drinks. The dimmed light was a vibe, the decor was off the wall. The service was great. I would definitely come back for drinks and dinner. read more

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Instantly seated on a Friday night. I ordered the botanist loaded fries and my friend ordered the buffalo chicken fries (not pictured). Both were so good. The strawberry margarita was amazing. read more

The Botanist - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bakersfield, California

The food, the atmosphere & service were phenomenal! The food was amazing! I can't believe I waited so long to try this! The service was fabulous! Our server Emily was so kind and suggested the best brunch dishes. We had the jam & toast with garlic butter, the breakfast smash, & green dukkah fries. I had a blackberry basil spritz & my hestie had the pineapple mint fizz. Wonderful choices! Definitely will be back! I want to try the coffee old fashioned. read more

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Worst experience ever. The place is dark, but that was fine. It goes with the ambiance of the place. Food? What food. I had to cancel my order because my wife's food came and 10 minutes later, she's almost done eating and I'm still sitting waiting on my food. No one checked on us. No one asked us. Hell, they didn't even bat an eye when I told them to cancel my order. Then we had to flag our waitress down just to pay our bill and get out. What little food we did get was ok. $42 for my wife's steak was not worth it. The appetizers weren't bad. Would we eat here again? Probably not. Service was one of the worst. If you like being ignored while you wait for your food, this is the place. Otherwise, there are so many better options in the downtown area. read more

The Botanist - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bakersfield, California

I came here because I was recommended to. First of all, the vibes are so cute. I love the decor. It has this fun vintage vibe that is full of character. It's just colorful and very fun. The ambiance is awesome. The hostesses and bartenders are all really pleasant and wonderful as well. I got the Smash burger and the Green Dukkah fries along with the Lady Gray Mocktini. I also asked for the bartender to make me another mocktail however she wanted to and that one was yummy too. Everything was delicious. Highly recommend all of it. The burger is a big burger, definitely a messy eat but super good. I think the fries are super yummy too with the aioli. I honestly even wanted more aioli. It was so yum. I really enjoyed my time there and I would definitely come back again. This is a gem. PS: We came during Happy Hour so there was a good bit of parking in their designated lot off to the side but I am not sure how it gets during peak hours. However, there looks to be tons of parking around from what I seen. read more

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The vibes here are always great! I have been here a couple of times now and the service is consistently good. The earl grey martini was so delicious. While the street tacos were good, they were not the best I have ever had. The highlight for me is the tea time cocktail which is not pictured. It is meant for sharing and comes in a very cute tea kettle. Each glass includes a flower ice cube which is such a beautiful touch. read more

The Botanist - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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The Botanist is a cocktail bar/restaurant serving a variety of hand-made cocktails/drinks as well as some American cuisine. I came here for dinner after work with a fellow co-worker. We were seated pretty quickly on the outside. Ordered the smash burger and had a Hugo Spritz, was not in the mood for a strong cocktail. Thankful they had an open bar option. Food Quality: One of the best restaurant burgers I had. Very tender and flavorful as well as the bun. Drink's taste is as expected since I had the drink before. A Price: Decent price for the burger and the drink, considering the downtown location. A/A- Ambiance/Service: As expected for this type of establishment, no complaints. A Overall Rating: A+. The food was excellent, and had a good time catching up with my coworker. I would come back if I live in Bakersfield. Would I come back: Not really, but only because I usually don't live in this area. read more

The Botanist - smash burger - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bakersfield, California

It was my second time visiting the Botanist! The location is in what you'd call "Eastchester" with other trendy breweries and cafes nearby. The building is cute and with plenty of capacity. The interior decor is dark and full of ambiance. I appreciated the interesting decor pieces unlike anything else in Bakersfield. Our bartender was friendly and helpful, explained ingredients and answered our questions. We opted for a Cranberry Sour and an Encanto. Both delicious with fresh ingredients! All staff members were attentive to our needs I also enjoyed the chill music and overall vibe. The Botanist also has a kitchen which I would love to try next time! read more

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Diamonds to The Botanist for providing a memorable dining experience and making me feel right at home during my overnight stay in Bakersfield for Memorial Day weekend. The well-designed atmosphere immediately transported me back to an award-winning speakeasy that I frequented during my time living in Baltimore. The food and craft cocktails were impeccable. Additionally, the service was absolutely top notch. It was the perfect ending to a long travel day that involved driving from Vegas/Henderson to Los Angeles to Bakersfield. Tens across the board! read more

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Food quality is pretty top notch for Bakersfield. Great ambiance and the drinks were really good. Plenty of parking available via street or their lot. Food/Drink- 5 stars Crunchy shrimp burger- this was really good with a good amount of shrimp to go with the batter. Great hearty meal to go with a nice cocktail Lady Lavender- simple but really well mixed. I really enjoyed my meal and drink Service- 5 stars Servers were all pretty attentative despite the busy weekend Bottom Line Love the revitalization of Downtown Bakersfield with more modern restaurants. Worth the hype with the quality food read more

The Botanist - Shrimp burger - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Great food and phenomenal staff. Took a recommendation from our server for a shared plate of the Mezze Plate and it was delicious! Smash burger was one of the best and the loaded fries were excellent. Great vibes! read more

Beautiful dark ambiance, really neat lantern decor. Felt like a library in a speakeasy. Food was delicious. I ordered the Brie which was melt in your mouth amazing, and of course couldn't pass up the steak tacos. Definitely returning. read more

The Botanist - Blackberry cucumber lemon mocktail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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This super cool, low key spot is a must!! Their drinks are amazing and the food was delicious. Definitely will be back with more friends.

LOVED. I was just passing through bakersfield on a national park road trip so it was a quick drop in here, but I came around 9 after dinner on my way to my airbnb and got a very girly, lavender colored seasonal cocktail (the lady lavender) which hit RIGHT. The bartender rec'd it when I asked for something floral, and it was perfect ($14.75). The vibes inside are low light and kinda old school-Tudor looking. Would be perfect for a date night, but I also really enjoyed just sitting at the bar with my cocktail in peace Would def come back the next time I'm in Bakersfield!! read more

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Valentine's date night began with a hit. We went for some drinks and appetizers before a comedy show. We didn't have to wait so that's always a plus. Drinks came quickly and the food followed just as fast. The botanist fries were so delicious and the tuna tartare was a great contrast. Savory and fresh. With a crème brûlée to round it ok out. We'll definitely be back. read more

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Came for the burger and was not let down. Taste the quality of ingredients in every bite. It was the most complete burger I've had all year. Atmosphere is a cool vibe. Went during the day but still night time vibes inside. Sat down immediately and service was on point. Would come back for sure. read more

It's trendy and it's got a line. There's tons of great reviews and people recommend it. But... The service is standard, respectful, but not very personable. I love the patio space, they've made it an insulated space away from the street, seems cozy and intimate. The music is waaay too loud, it's like they can't decide if it's a club or a place for cocktails and dinner. As a result, you wind up shouting across a small table when seated outside. I could hear everyone's conversations. So if you love eavesdropping, this is your place. They put egg whites in my whiskey sour. Unexpected, and should probably be disclosed to the customer prior to ordering, since it's not on the menu. The tacos are good! The smash burger was under seasoned and seems like it's made with 80/20 ground beef, with not enough fat cooked off. The lettuce is not that fresh and the edges were wilted and looked old. Sad times! I wanted to like this place and I was so excited, but it just didn't deliver. read more

The Botanist - Steak Tacos - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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As the old saying goes, you get what you pay for. This place is expensive, but, the food, service, and atmosphere makes it well worth it. The Botanist is a Bar and Grill, I don't know if that is right. I think it should be a Grill and Bar because the food outshines the alcohol any day of the week. My Server was great, very nice and very attentive. I have been to The Botanist twice. I have not been disappointed neither time. I eat only Vegan since December 1, 2024 and choices are few in Bakersfield. However, I was told about The Botanist and I am glad I went. The first time I got the Vegan Smash Burger and Fries. Glory be, it was great. This last time, I got the Vegan Tacos and Vegan Loaded Fries. They put the Smash Burger to shame. My friends got the regular Loaded Fries, a Chicken Burger and a Smash Burger. They loved their meal. I VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE BOTANIST. read more

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Great service and unique atmosphere.. love speak-easy feel. Tacos great. Spicy and just the right amount of food.

Found this little gem last night while we were in Bakersfield. I'm honestly going to say, one of the best meals I've had in a long time. We started off with cocktails, I had the Twin Flame and my husband had the Golden Rabbit. We ordered the Botanist salad, Smash burger, shrimp burger and fries. All of it was so good. To finish, we had crème brulee...it did not disappoint. Service, ambiance and food were all amazing. Thanks for an unexpected date night for me and the hubby. We enjoyed The Botanist. read more

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A one of a kind restaurant and bar! Everything about it is beautiful. The mixed drinks are the best I ever had in my whole 40 years of life. The Muerte is a must and you will happily die for it. Go now. read more

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Wish I could rate it higher. This place is fantastic. I got the smash burger it was the best burger I have ever had. Ambience is nice and cozy, the staff is top notch, the drinks were great. I will be going back to try more things on their menu. They have vegan options also. Very good restaurant. read more

Felt at home the second I walked into this dark, beautiful and moody atmosphere. I have found the spot in which I belong in this town. I can't believe it's taken me so long to get here. The staff is right away attentive and friendly. Not at all that fake over the top customer service act you get most places, just nice and easy the way I like it. I can't speak on the food yet, as I was here to drink my lunch today. The drink menu is fantastic and every word makes me drool, but I take a slight suggestion from staff and couldn't be happier with the drinks that were selected. Strong. Lively flavors. So incredibly delicious. The Earl Grey martini is a magical treat. The music is on point, the drinks are amazing, and the incredibly cool atmosphere has me feeling like I might not ever leave. Next time I'm in, I'll give the food a shot and update this here review. Until then, I'm low key hoping it won't blow up and become as popular as it could be because as of now, I'm completely in love. read more

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A friend was in town and I just knew The Botanist would be the perfect spot for an afternoon drink and small plates. Inside it was quiet, dark and cool - the absolute best for warm Bakersfield days. I also want to mention that I GREATLY appreciate their hours. They're open Tuesday - Sunday 11am to close with Happy Hour 2-5pm daily. And you can't forget their live music on Saturdays. The Happy Hour specials were actually really good - not that bait and switch so many establishments often do. All their seasonal drinks were half off, as well as the Tea for Two (a favorite of mine!). I had the matcha lemon drop - refreshing, bright, and just right for the afternoon. We also order some fries and hamachi - all great to munch on while chatting. With such a great Happy Hour I might be visiting more often! read more

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