The Botanist is such a vibe. From the outside, The Botanist is unassuming. But don't be fooled, a hidden oasis lies just beyond the front door. The food was toptier. I was especially surprised by how great their chicken wings are! They also make a mean old fashioned. Our server was very welcoming and attentive. If you're looking for a nice, positive, and slightly secluded/intimate vibe with great drinks and food, I definitely recommend The Botanist. read more

The two stars are for the delicious food they provide, the great cocktail options they have, and the beautiful atmosphere inside the restaurant. The service is questionable. Last year I made a large reservation for about 10 ladies to celebrate someone and on the way to the restaurant they called to confirm the reservation (about 30 minutes before), but I did not hear my phone. When I arrived, a distraught friend told me that they did not have our reservation so I asked what the issue was. The manager told me because I did not confirm, they were not sure they were going to hold the table. I apologized that I had not recieved a call, but asked if we could still have the table (I was there on time and could see the large table with the reservation note on it). The manager begrungenly said they would allow us to still dine with them, but they said they would not seat us until more of our party arrived. I asked if we could wait for our party at the bar, but they said they would not because every seat at the bar was taken. So just a heads up, you cannot stand at the bar, you cannot stand around the restaurant, and they do not have a place to sit and wait for your table, you just have to stand outside (I'm sure it has to do with safety or firecodes, I didn't argue, we waited outside until people at the bar left). Once we were seated, the staff was not friendly. Wondering if we should leave or not, I called a friend who works near the building who frequents this place often on what I should do. He told me to go back inside and that the staff would be nice. When I returned, a new server came to our table with a tray of shots and said they would be taking care of us for the rest of the evening. I figured maybe the manager and that other server was just having a bad day, my friend must have called the restaurant and asked his most trusted server to help us, and enjoyed the rest of our evening. I didn't want to risk it another bad experience, so I haven't returned since. A few months ago during the whole Cesar Chavez news broke out, that friend who frequented the place went with another friend to the Botonist and was talking about the news while they were dining. The manager overheard. Later when my friends were getting ready to leave, the manager started becoming upset with my friends and told my guy friend, "I HOPE SOMEBODY R*PES YOU". Stunned, he asked her to repeat herself and she did. My friends left. The chefs and building are wonderful, but obviously something needs to be done about the management and staff with being professional and treating customers with respect. I've worked in the service industry and understand how stressful it can be, but I have always been able to keep my cool around people who are trying to enjoy a nice meal. Hoping they recieve the help they need as I love to see my community thrive. read more

The atmosphere The service she was attentive, got everything right. The food the menu is pretty limited. The NY steak wasn't worth the price- The tacos were nice and well seasoned. The fries were amazing. The drinks- craft cocktails read more

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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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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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The Botanist is one of my favorite spots in town! The vibe is effortlessly chic, stylish, and welcoming; perfect for a night out with friends or a casual date night. What keeps me coming back though are the drinks. Every cocktail feels thoughtfully crafted, and they're always delicious with unique flavor combinations you don't find at most other places. read more

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From cool decor to amazing freshly made food! Tried The Botanist Smash burger, perfectly made with fresh pickles, tomatoes, & lettuce. read more

The Botanist - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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The service is quick and timely and the aesthetic of the place is just nostalgic. It really gives that vintage upscale feel without doing too much. I've only had the drinks here I've yet to try the food but every drink was delicious. IF YOU DO COME FOR FOOD I was told kitchen closes at 9PM just a FYI. 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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Service and ambiance were great. Fabulous drinks. I got their house made earl grey infused gin. Yum! read more

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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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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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

My first time here. I've heard a lot of good things about this spot, so when I was recently invited for drinks I gladly accepted. (Ready your ID at the door, 21 and over only) The entrance kinda blends in with the neighboring buildings so if you've never been it might be kinda easy to overlook, but the interior definitely stands out in terms of style and originality. It definitely gives off vibes of an upscale and classy social lounge. I love all of the vintage pictures, frames and decor. The lighting is also really well done which adds a kind of mysterious or spooky ambiance. Really beautifully done, you've got to see it for yourself. The drinks were also a work of art in themselves. Great flavor without skimping on the good stuff. Also, I absolutely loved the dehydrated fruit! I felt like they had included a piece of candy with every drink They offer a wide selection of various tastes and spirits sure to quench even the most refined of palates. We just came for drinks (which were fantastic) but I've heard that the food is also outstanding. At some point I'll definitely be back soon to confirm read more

The Botanist - Highly recommended their seasonal drink menu! Can't go wrong - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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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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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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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

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

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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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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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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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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I visited this spot for dinner and the Crunchy Shrimp Burger was absolutely delicious. The restaurant has a very relaxing atmosphere and the staff was super helpful. read more

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

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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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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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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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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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

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

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

Drinks were the highlight! 10/10 very unique and delicious. The atmosphere was beautiful and there was no wait time when we arrived.

We visited The Botanist as a party of four and had a very disappointing experience. When we arrived, I specifically asked the hostess if it was okay for us to sit at a table off to the side of the bar since we were only planning to have drinks. She said yes, so we sat down. Shortly after, we noticed the hostess and another employee looking and pointing in our direction. It made us feel uncomfortable. I walked over and politely explained that I had asked permission to sit there because I noticed staff talking and pointing toward us. As I approached, I overheard the hostess telling the bartender that "they just sat themselves at the table," which was frustrating because that was not true--I had asked first and was told it was fine. After I brought it up, she reassured me that it was okay. My husband then went to the bar to order drinks. The bartender said it was "too much to keep track of" and that he would send a server instead. We waited several minutes and no server came. By this point, the interactions with staff had already made us feel unwelcome and as though we had done something wrong simply by sitting where we had been told we could sit. We decided to leave and spend our money somewhere that actually wanted our business. As we were walking out, we heard staff say, "they have a tab," making it sound like we were trying to leave without paying. I immediately explained that we had not ordered anything--especially since we were told the bar could not take our order. It turned out my brother-in-law had arrived earlier and ordered a drink at the bar. He had given them his credit card, but staff returned it without telling him the tab had not been closed or charged. Instead of acknowledging the confusion, they blamed him for coming over to sit with us. He had to hand over his card again and close the tab himself. Overall, we felt treated like criminals rather than customers. From being talked about and pointed at, to not being served, to being questioned while leaving, the experience was uncomfortable and disappointing. Unfortunately, we did not feel welcome or valued as customers. read more

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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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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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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