i went to this burger joint and the food was fire no cap best fries i had in a long time definitely coming back for 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

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

Great vibes, even better drinks. It is so aesthetically pleasing. The manager was also so kind. Great service.

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

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

My friends and I, visited this dark little restaurant slash bar one evening. We all got the loaded fries, which were really good, and cute tasty little drinks. That came with flowers and fruit. The vibe was dark and relaxed. We will be back! read more

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

Loved it here the service was excellent with such nice servers making sure I was enjoying my time here and that I have everything I wanted as well as making sure if there was anything else I wanted before the kitchen and bar closed since I came in pretty late but I love how she made sure to ask if there's anything last minute I wanted. The drinks were super good as well I love the blackberry drink they have it's a mocktail but added a shot of Malibu in it and it was delicious. (You should try it if you like sweet drinks) I tried the steak there too and it was absolutely amazing so tender and full of flavor! The crème brûlée was also very good so sweet! The atmosphere as well was perfect! The aesthetic of it all is amazing I love the decor it's a perfect chill spot. read more

See all

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

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

See all

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

See all

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

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

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

See all

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

Be careful tipping here. They put your "total" BEFORE they add gratuity in bold, but the actual total is not in bold. I ended up tipping way more than I should have. I will not be going back. read more

The Botanist - So my total was 51.30, not 43.30. 51.30 should be in bold. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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

See all

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

Shrimp burger, steak tacos, and fish and chips were phenomenal. This quick stop on our way to Las Vegas was totally worth the extra few minutes! Get the shrimp app read more

See all

We stayed a the convention center hotel and were able to walk easily over to the Botanist. When you walk in, you instantly feel the vibe with the lowered lights, wallpaper and decor. This gives the feeling of a social supper club, while being in the middle of downtown. We ordered several drinks, which were all delicious. There were some specialty drinks offered which were not the standard menu. Our group ordered some of the food to share for our entire time and it became more of a family style since we all wanted to try everything. We came back the next night since it was so much fun. read more

One of my favorite spots! I've been here about a dozen times and it never disappoints. Fabulous ambiance, decor and vibe. The staff is always kind. The drinks are done wonderfully (a bit pricey) and the food is great. There's a back patio as well. I'm glad we have this spot here in town. A must go to! read more

First off: service is a delight! I am never disappointed by the charming staff. The ambiance is impeccable--all the moody vibes of an avant-garde speakeasy. Delicious and unique cocktails, but classics (e.g. dirty gin martini) are also 10/10 with "less than expected" pricing for the quality, presentation, location, etc. Now, food--I love food. Food is very important to me, and the botanist never misses the mark! Brunch smash burgers, French toast, haloumi salads, fried chicken--and so much more, but l have loved every bite of it. read more

We have enjoyed coming here about once a month and have always had great experiences, which makes this review disappointing to write. A group of five of us stopped by yesterday afternoon to celebrate a friend's birthday. The restaurant was completely empty when we arrived. The hostess initially seated us at a table where the sun would be directly in the eyes of two people in our group, so we politely asked if we could move to a nearby table. At that point the hostess abruptly slammed the menus on the table and said, "This is where I sat you," before walking away. We were taken aback by the reaction. One of us said that was fine and that we would just leave. Another person in our group gently tried to diffuse the situation by placing a hand on the hostess's shoulder and saying it was alright, but the hostess angrily responded, "Don't touch me!" We ended up leaving, feeling shocked and bewildered by the interaction, especially since the restaurant was completely empty and we were simply asking to move to a nearby table. We have always enjoyed this place and hope this was just an isolated incident, but it was a very surprising and disappointing experience. read more

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

See all

Food was solid and service was reasonably good. We enjoyed a steak and fish and chips. I'd order both again. Drinks were delicious and I would definitely return for drinks and appetizers again. Our server was given a break midway through without anyone telling us and we sat for a while waiting for the check but it happens. Not a deal breaker by any means. I'd definitely come back read more

I moved back to Bakersfield and my peeps know that I am a foodie and so I had a dozen or reccomendations to try this place out when I returned. This place is exactly the kind of resteraunts the downtown scene needs in my opinion. Super cute and modern spot, great menu and they serve a mean cocktail. Came by on a Saturday around 6pm and got seated right away to my suprise. Super cute ambiance and love the vibe the resteraunt has. Simple menu, not too overwhelming so choosing the smash burger was easy. Good burger, would have to rate it a 7.5 out of 10. Tried a couple cocktails and they were all a 10 our of 10. Kudos to the bartender forsure. Overall, would defenitly reccomend those of you who have not come by to check it out! Totally worth it and it's good to support local businesses. Already looking forward to coming back and trying something new off their menu. Till next time. read more

See all

In Bakersfield I lucked onto this little gem! I'm out here for work and searched yelp for vegetarian - just to see what this town has. I expected Thai and maybe a Jamba Juice - what I didn't expect was a gorgeous setting, absolute brilliant cocktails, delicious vegan food, and Emily! I was alone today and Emily was one of the nicest servers I've met in a while. She gave great insights and recommendations. I apparently ordered a lot of the most popular but I would totally recommend everything I got! Putting pics here and ofc they don't go anything justice. read more

See all

I have been wanting to give this place a try for MONTHS! I was so excited to suggest this one as our next girls gathering venue. None of us had ever been, which makes it even better. The vibe of this place is super trendy but beautifully decorated. I love the moodiness of the dark paint, the wood textures and those green velvet curtains! My initial server was on point and so sweet! She helped me decide what my first drink should be, I wanted to give something off of their happy hour a go so I had to choose from the seasonal drinks section (matcha lemon drop). Matcha is one of those things that I want to love but I have a hard time doing so but this time around I feel like it was the perfect blend with the bitterness of the lemon drop, taming it wonderfully. The drink was so wonderfully crafted that I got 4 of them during my visit! Also wanting to keep with the happy hour pricing I tried the warm Brie from the small bites offerings and it was amazing! I loved it all. The cheese itself and the honey drizzle but the garlic confit was delicious, all of it pairing exquisitely with the garlic toast. For my entree I decided on the salmon on a bed of hominy. Hominy is my favorite part of any pozole so I couldn't wait to give it a try and it was amazing! The salmon had great flavor I just would've liked it cooked for a few minutes less than it was. The other girls in my party both had the steak and loved it. They also went with the sashimi (cut very thin) and the roasted wings (absolutely delicious flavor). I will most definitely come here again. The hubby will love this place and the food! read more

See all