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 service. Wonderful atmosphere and very eclectic. Tacos and ice cream wow.. prices are reasonable. I haven't sat outdoors yet read more

The Botanist - Tacos plate.. wonderful and not over filling - 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

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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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 was good, Not too pricey. Smash burger was especially good. Service was also good and helpful. Ambiance was nice and trendy.

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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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

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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Cute vibes in here!! So yummy and delicious!! Service is absolutely amazing! I visited on Sunday and loved it!

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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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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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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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

Great Restaurant And Bar! Great Atmosphere Nice Decor Great Menu Some Items Are Priced Well And Some Items Are Pricey! Expensive Drinks In Small Glasses! But Tasty Service was good Food was great! Shrimp burger was awesome Fish and chips were good. A little heavy on the tarragon in the tarter sauce Fries were good Definitely recommend read more

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I came in Friday afternoon for some drinks, the restaurant/bar is beautiful for pictures. They have vintage items displayed. It's a super calm and easy going atmosphere. The servers were very pleasant and polite. The drinks were on another level, a great place for high quality cocktails to sip and savor. I will definitely come back to try the food next time. It is more on the pricey side, just something to keep in mind :). read more

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

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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TL;DR Great food, drinks,vibe,decor and service. Loud music drove us away. We walked in and it was dark and quiet and awesome. I almost squealed I was so happy we found such a cool place with speakeasy vibes. Seated in a nice booth and we ordered the seasonal Apple Pie Cocktail and their Old Fashioned. Both were very nice and we would happily order them again. Ordered a Burger and Wedge Salad and they came out super fast. We would wait to order food next time as we barely had time to try our drinks before the food came. Super fast service! Burger was excellent and even had some crispy patty edges! Wedge came with crispy onions which I'd get on the side next time. Combined with the blue cheese crumbles, the saltiness overwhelmed the salad. I added the red onion and tomato from Mike's burger fixins and it was the freshness the salad needed. The added shrimp were huge and tasty, too! BUT. . . almost as soon as the food came out, the music was turned up. We could no longer have a quiet conversation. The poor bartender had to almost yell across the bar. This was before 5:30pm on a Wednesday and the place was maybe at 15-20% full. Sounded more like a club than a speakeasy. I had read a review mentioning live music that was loud, but this was recorded music of an unknown genre. Would've like to have hung out and enjoyed a couple more drinks but the music drove us out. We're just passing through but The Botanist could be a fave hangout for us with less and/or different music. read more

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WOW! I walked into the most perfect date night bar/dining room. The ambiance and lighting was intimate and sexy. But since I was with my children, we opted for the patio. The seating was comfortable and the music was on. The menu is well curated. As a vegan I was excited for the vegan loaded fries and vegan smash burger. We also had the hummus plate along with fish and chips, steak tacos, and regular loaded fries. And a couple of drinks. Everyone enjoyed their food. And it was all served by the most personable and funny waiter. read more

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

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We decided on The Botanist after landing in Bakersfield. What a gem!! Food was great, service was amazing and the atmosphere is so cool. Speakeasy for sure and i would think the nightime vibe is awesome. read more

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Vegan burger and dukka fries were both delicious. We stop in Bakersfield for just one night at a time on road trips sometimes so it's awesome to have this place as a dinner option read more

The Botanist - Vegan smash burgers and dukka fries (with vegan dip) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Very pleasantly surprised by this place. We were driving through Bakersfield and wanted a bite to eat. It was a Sunday afternoon so was quiet, but looks like they get busy in the evenings with different events and live music on Saturday's. Anyway, cool atmosphere and friendly service. The cocktails were really good and all the food we ordered was delicious, We had- Marinated Flatbread, Yellowfin Tuna Tartar (on the sweeter side, but really good), Fish and Chips and Steak Tacos (flavorful and tender meat). Cocktails- Encanto, Muerte and the Botanist Fashion Would go back. read more

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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.

This place is chefs kiss. We were in Bakersville from Ventura and picked the right place! The seasonal cocktails were great, as was the Brie appetizer, smash burger and halloumi salad. We sat at the bar and our bartender server was great. Also what a cute place, very cool! Will definitely return when in the area! read more

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Had some business up in this area. My usual haunt is down in L.A. I was done for the day and was looking to grab a quick bite before heading back. Now I cannot speak for the average busy times but 14:30 in a Saturday it was a comfortable level of busy so, I could tell the locals liked it. Had the Smash burger and fries with a Gin and Tonic to help chase things down. The Bartender was very confident in her choices of spirits and mixed a great complimentary drink to go with the burger and fries. I asked her to surprise me with the Gin. I just let her know what I usually drink. It was St. George's Gin. A great drink for the meal. The Ambiance is a little dark with rich accents and a solid design on the inside. Very inviting and relaxes you as soon as you step through the door. I usually have business up there and I have found a new place to add to my list read more

The Botanist - Display of a good selection of spirits. Nothing overly pretentious. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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What a great place. Really busy but we happen to get a few bar seats for our group. The food was good. The bartender was fun. There were a bit of tables so I'm assuming wait would be short. I had the chicken wings and the smash burger. All good stuff and the cocktail menu are unique. The bartenders will customize and recommend anything you palet wants. read more

The Botanist - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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

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

Brunch was great. Good, drinks and service was top notch! Was so glad Luigi's had a 3 hour wait time!! We left and decided to try something new!! The Bontanist was definitely a pleasant surprise!! Definitely recommend and will definitely go back!! The bar had a nostalgic feel, we loved it! read more

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Service was great and drinks were fantastic. My group also had food and highlights were the burger and wings. Try the seasonal drinks if you can. read more

The Botanist will always be THAT place I take friends and families to. It has great ambience, food, and drinks. This time, we got the loaded fries (as per usual), chicken wings with chimichuri, 9:30 tea time, matcha lemon drop, and a cranberry sour. Everything and I mean everything tasted fantastic. You'll always catch me during their happy hour (2-5 pm everyday). Also to add to our always amazing experience, service has been great everytime we dine in :) read more

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Drinks were mediocre. Last call for drinks was at 10:22 when the bar closes at 11 (WHAT) You're also not able to order any food past, idk, 9:30 ish. Worth a try maybe once because of the decor and then not ever again. Blah. read more

Walking into this spot feels like stepping into a whole different world. It's stylish, cozy, and effortlessly cool--one of those places that works just as well for a casual catch-up as it does for a date or a small group hang. It just nails the vibe every single time. The menu is put together with real intention. Every drink feels like its own little creation, and the food is just as impressive. The veggie grilled cheese is one of those comfort dishes you keep thinking about long after you leave.What really makes the experience special is how welcoming the place feels from the moment you walk in. The design is unique in a way that makes you want to slow down and actually take it all in. It has that cinematic, almost transportive atmosphere you don't come across often. If you're looking for somewhere that delivers great energy, thoughtful drinks, and an all-around memorable experience, this is absolutely the place. Definitely worth checking out for yourself--you'll get why people keep coming back. read more

This place has all of the looks and the setting that sets you in a calm, chill mood. It's a darker environment with spot lights around the bar and has the feeling of a high end cocktail restaurant. The food that I did have was great! The drinks were also very spot on! I really wanted to give this place 5 stars! But I couldn't.... I had to do 4 stars because of the bar service. Don't get me wrong, they were very polite. The issue was getting them to pay attention to you and to check on you. When I first sat down, I was the only one at the bar and it took a good 10 minutes to be asked what I wanted. There were two bartenders at the time and the place was almost empty. Throughout my time there, the two ladies would follow each other from one end of the bar to the other, talking something. Once one would leave the bar, the other would check their phone prior to checking on the now 2 of us at the bar. It was a little disappointing but it is what it is. So I will give this place 4 stars and would still come back. read more

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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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I like this place. I don't live near Bakersfield but I was cycling near the Kern Riverway and stopped to get lunch here early afternoon. First off- it is super dark inside compared to Bakersfield daylight. That, along with it's prohibition-era/ speakeasy/ old-timey decor (see photos) gives it a cool ambiance. Because I had to drive back to LA, I didn't partake of the alcohol libations. The smash burger and the separate smothered fries were quite tasty and I would definitely come back for them. I would love to have a drink here some evening to enjoy socializing with folks with the ambiance. I know they have live music sometimes on the weekends so that's an additional draw. read more

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The dude and I came on 05/03/24 and 05/05/24. We came here initially due to this place having food and cocktails. We arrived late around 10:30pm not knowing that their kitchen closes at 9pm. We were bummed out but tried cocktails while we were there anyways. The Early Grey cocktail is out of this world so tasty and delicious 9/10. Taste just like the tea beverage but better. The dude got him a whisky looking drink don't remember what it was but he liked it. The staff was so attentive when we first came and second time as well. This place is absolutely beautiful. I like how dark and cozy it is with the decorations. It's so trendy. There's ample seating inside, bar or covered patio. It is nice . We came again on 05/05/24 as I wanted to try the Matcha Cocktails and it was yummy but earl grey was better. Definitely enjoyed it so much. The jam and toast was such a yummy treat too! Very flavorful. Overall, we love this place. Stunning. Affordable cocktails and tasty treats ! I'm sure the food taste as good too!!! read more

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