Mayan Sidecar, Nopalito

Nopalito in the Western Addition neighborhood of San Francisco serves traditional homestyle Mexican cuisine. I was instantly intrigued with the Mayan Sidecar with the Xtabentun ingredient. Luckily with smartphones, I didn't need to wait until the server came by to find out more. Xtabentun is an anise flavored liqueur with fermented honey from the Xtabentun flower. I absolutely loved sipping this licorice flavored soothing libation. The Drink...

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Light Breeze, Fifth Floor Harvey Nichols

The Fifth Floor is located in the Harvey Nichols department store in the Knightsbridge neighborhood of London. The Light Breeze was a bright refreshing mid-day libation in the middle of a tourist packed day. Next stop, perhaps LaDuree at Harrods for some French macaroons? The Drink, Light Breeze, £5.50 Fresh raspberries, pineapple juice, lemon juice and grenadine The Place - Fifth Floor at Harvey Nichols London, Knightsbridge Daily...

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Vanilla Ice T, Another Monkey

Another Monkey is a Thai restaurant/lounge located in the Mission District of San Francisco. I've had several memorable nights at this restaurant location as Another Monkey and when it was Conduit. The cocktail menu with Monkey Mixers and Monkey Specials contains a list of fun named cocktails. If you are looking for an adult version of a Thai iced tea, you've found it at Another Monkey with the Vanilla Ice T! If you have one too many of these,...

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Agua de Serrano, Julian Serrano

Julian Serrano is a Spanish Tapas restaurant in the Aria Hotel in Las Vegas. I booked a last minute weekend trip to Las Vegas in July because I was tired of the cold and the fog from a typical San Francisco summer. After an early morning flight, we were lucky enough to check into our room by 8AM. We then headed straight to the pool to nap a bit before the heat from the sun settled in. But by 9AM, it was already 91F. Before an afternoon meeting,...

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Artesian Punch, Artesian Bar

The Artesian Bar is located in the Langham Hotel just off of Oxford and Regent Street in Central London. I just love this award winning bar with their award winning staff. The Artesian Punch is the signature rum drink found in the Rum De Luxe section of the cocktail menu ("Something special from the source of indulgence. Chic, sexy and deeply glamorous rum cocktails.") What a beautiful presentation along with the sugar cube on fire (can...

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Virgin Hakka, Hakkasan

Hakkasan is a modern Chinese restaurant which has several locations in London, Middle East, the US and India. With Hakkasan headed to San Francisco, I wanted to check out the food and more importantly the cocktails. Hakkasan Mayfair is located just around the corner from my old office in London. My research partner that evening couldn't make up their mind what cocktail (or perhaps what spirit) to start with and eyed the Virgin Hakka on the non-alcoholic...

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Karmakaze, Dobbs Ferry

Dobbs Ferry is a restaurant located in the the Hayes Valley neighborhood of San Francisco. The Karmakaze teased me with it's name. Per the cocktail menu, "A kamikaze featuring Karma Blanco tequila and Cointreau. Kind of sounds like a margarita…". I probably haven't had a Kamikaze since I was in college. Dobb's Ferry's twist on this classic was Kamikaze sweet. But a squeeze of lime smoothed out the sweetness. It felt like...

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Oye Mi Canto, Artesian Bar

The Artesian Bar is located in the Langham Hotel just off of Oxford and Regent Streets in Central London, United Kingdom. I just love this award winning bar with their award winning staff. The Oye Mi Canto cocktail was not yet on the cocktail menu when I was there. They said they would make me anything if I didn't see anything I like on the menu. I must admit that this was never the case at the Artesian. In fact, there are so many intriguing...

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Dixie Triple S, Dixie

Dixie is a restaurant with Southern cuisine located in the Presidio of San Francisco. I enjoy going to happy hour there and sitting in the bar area on the comfy built in leather sofas. As you can guess, I gravitated to a drink with tequila and jalapeno in it, The Dixie Triple S. I just loved the frozen watermelon jalapeño ice cube which as it melted made it feel like I was drinking an adult version of a slushie. I do wish the serving size...

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Three Seasons Daiquiri, DSTRKT

Dstrkt is a new restaurant just a few steps away from Piccadilly Circus in  London. I didn't know what to expect with a venue that cost £25 Million. The walk down the stairs past the lounge had a dark clubby feel which continued all the way downstairs to the restaurant. Is it a club, is it a restaurant, is it a bar? It's all three! It was dark, but luckily I managed to snap a few photos while there weren't too many people dining...

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Belly Dancer, Amber Dhara

Amber Dhara is an bi-level Indian restaurant located in the Mission District of San Francisco. Their aryuvedic cocktails are a fun read for names and great combination of ingredients. The Belly Dancer cocktail gets you moving from the madras spice rim and the bold flavor of the mezcal and shrubb. With that combination, it has all the makings for a cocktail fave for me. Don't drink too many of these or you'll be showing off your belly dancer moves...

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G Rated, Skool

Skool is a Japanese inspired seafood restaurant in the Design District in San Francisco. I love the play on words for many of the things at Skool. The Safe Cocktail section (aka non-alcoholic drinks), is no different. The G rated mocktail captures your attention with it's name, it's guava color, the mint garnish and most importantly it's refreshing taste! The Drink - G Rated, $4 Guava, lychee, mint and soda The Place - Skool San Francisco,...

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Birds of a Feather, Skool

Skool is a Japanese inspired seafood restaurant located in the Design District of San Francisco. It's one of my favorite happy hours and outdoor dining spots in San Francisco. With all the new places opening in San Francisco this summer and other summer travel, it's been a while since I've popped into Skool. Since I haven't been making regular visits to Skool this summer, there is no better way to discipline yourself but by showing up for Detention...

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Pecos Punch, West of Pecos

West of Pecos is a Southwestern restaurant in the Mission District of San Francisco. After a long ride on the trail or in the urban jungle of trying to find parking in the Mission, the Pecos Punch is a refreshing light pick me up for the weary eyed traveller with the gentle sweetness from a ripe cantaloupe, the low glycemic effect of the citrusy grapefruit and a hint of basil. I just love the tin cup that this punch is served in....

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Do-it-Yourself Lemonade, West of Pecos

West of Pecos is a Southwestern restaurant located in the Mission District of San Francisco. I just love coming across fun experiences with DIY drinks, most especially non-alcoholic ones. What a fun treat to watch my mocktail researchers try to balance the simple combination of lemon juice, simple syrup and a nice twist of pop from fizzy water to their desired level of tartness and sweetness. I wish I had taken pictures of the pucker of the...

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Rosemary's Baby, Pican

Pican is a Southern inspired restaurant in the uptown neighborhood of Oakland. If you are looking for a refreshing and aromatic cocktail to start your meal, order a Rosemary's Baby. I loved the rosemary aroma as you take a sip from either the straw or directly from the glass with the zing from the gin. I must admit that I wish there was more hint of rosemary in drink. Good to know, since I will ask for that next time! The Drink - Rosemary's...

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Pineapple Ginger Fizz, Jasper's Corner Tap

Jasper's Corner Tap is located in the Hotel Serrano in the Union Square neighborhood of San Francisco. They are known for the beer and cocktails on draft. If you aren't in the mood for a cocktail, they have a few mocktails on their extensive cocktail menu. The non-alcoholic cocktails (known on their cocktail menu as "The cups that cheer, but don't inebriate...") are equally noteworthy. I loved the garnish of lime and candied ginger with the Pineapple...

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Bill's Toasty Coconut, Jasper's Corner Tap

Jasper's Corner Tap is located in the Hotel Serrano a few blocks away from Union Square in San Francisco. I absolutely love this place with a great list of unique cocktails. The Bill's Toasty Coconut is a smoky collaboration with the bar and the kitchen. I knew I was going to order this drink not only based on the title, but on the wonderful writeup. The smoky touch of scotch and toasted coconut garnish puts this drink over the top. Even before...

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Ginger Ante, Dosa

Dosa is my favorite Indian restaurant in San Francisco with two locations (Fillmore and Mission districts). I just love the South Indian cuisine and the Spice Route Cocktails. The Ginger Ante is a  refreshing cocktail that awakens your senses from the zing from the ginger infusion and ginger ale to the aroma from the fresh sprig of rosemary garnish. You enjoy each sip and don't want it to end. That's when you order a second and perhaps...

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Three Sheets, Waterbar

Waterbar is seafood restaurant located along the Embarcadero of San Francisco. The cocktail menu is comprised of Bartender Specialties On the Rocks and Straight Up. The Three Sheets cocktail is clear, simple and most importantly refreshing. It was perfect compliment to my meal since it didn't overpower the meal. One of the best things about Waterbar is the wonderful location. I loved the view of the San Francisco Bay and the Bay Bridge from our...

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Ferro's Perfect Lil' Devil, Mosto

Mosto is the Tacolicious Mission locations' next door tequila and mezcal bar. They offer a different food and cocktail menu. The food is Mexican street food oriented with bar snacks like chicharonnes and freshly carved Tacos Al Pastor. They offer a smaller set of cocktails than Tacolicious, but they are equally delicious. Ferro's Perfect Lil' Devil is perfect in it's pop of fizz and flavor from housemade ginger beer and beautiful color from cassis....

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Watermelon Pulque, Pulqueria

Pulqueria is the first establishment to offer the Pre-Columbian elixir Pulque which is fermented agave juice. This Mexican restaurant with a separate bar which accommodates dancing is the creation of the duo that brought us Apotheke. On a forgotten street in New York City's Chinatown one would never recognize that through an anonymous doorway and down a flight of stairs exists the world of old Mexico.  The Drink - Watermelon Pulque Watermelon,...

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Silk Route, Artesian

The award winning Artesian Bar is located in the Langham Hotel just off the Oxford and Regent Streets in Central London. The Silk Route Cocktail is from the Haute Coquetel section of the extensive list of Artesian Cocktails. What makes a Haute Cocktail? Per the menu, "Selection of exclusive, one of a kind and the very finest creations crafted by the Artesian mixologists." This cocktail does not miss a beat! I started thinking about an exotic...

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Cocky Sultan, Amber Dhara

Amber Dhara is a bi-level Indian Restaurant which recently opened along the hot Valencia Street corridor in the Mission District of San Francisco. The aryuvedic (Indian natural medicine) spin on the cocktails tempted me to check them out as soon as they opened. Per the menu, "These cocktails were designed around the Aryuvedic healing concept using herbs, spices and fresh fruits." What an entertaining list of fresh cocktails. If you like bourbon,...

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Jamaicazo, Tropisueno

Tropisueno is a Mexican restaurant located on Yerba Buena alley in the South of Market (SOMA) neighborhood of San Francisco. The Jamaicazo cocktail has a beautiful scent of cucumber and a spicy kick from hibiscus. This drink is not only pretty hue but is equally delicious. It's a triple threat cocktail with it's looks, nice aroma and wickedly delicious taste. I just love the twists on a classic margarita at Tropisueno. The Drink - Jamaicazo,...

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Single Village Fix, Beretta

Beretta is a contemporary Italian restaurant located in the Mission District of San Francisco. It's one of my favorites places in San Francisco for a cocktail. I'm sure you've heard the phrase before "It takes a village". Well, in this case, it's The Single Village Fix. This simple cocktail made with smokey mezcal, tart lime and pineapple gomme syrup gets better with each sip. Now that I found the recipe (see below), I will for sure be making...

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Without Permission, Burritt Room

The Burritt Room + Tavern is located in Mystic Hotel in the Union Square neighborhood of San Francisco. The cocktails are jazzin' at the Burritt. I ordered the Without Permission cocktail because of the Cherry Heering and chocolate bitters ingredients. Wow, this cocktail is smooth, full of flavor and well balanced. Since the room was pretty dark when it arrived, my research companion and I laughed that it looked like just plain Coca-Cola on the...

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Secret Garden, Seasons

Seasons Bar and Lounge is located in the Four Season Hotel in the South of Market Neighborhood of San Francisco. The Secret Garden is on the classic cocktails section of the menu. It's a gin based adult's gift from the garden cocktail with healthy fruit and veggie fresh squeezed juice. I loved the garnish of the big wedge of cucumber. I can't wait to make this at home! The Drink - Secret Garden, $14 Hendrick's Gin, grapefruit juice, lime juice,...

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Champagne Afternoon Tea, Dorchester

No visit to the United Kingdom is complete without having a proper English tea. I received so many recommendations from friends on where to go. There are lots of choices from casual to high end. Since I've had afternoon tea at more casual places when I lived there, I opted for the decadent Champagne Afternoon Tea at the Dorchester in the exclusive Mayfair neighborhood of London. From the service to the drinks to the food, everything was outstanding....

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