Summer sunlight illuminates the room at Fort Oak, where Bar Manager Jess Stewart offers a warm welcome. Royal blue surfaces pop against crisp white tile, gold details, and earthy accents such as a vase of …

Arriving at Sandpiper just in time for happy hour, I find I can’t resist ordering a tempting Tiramisu Martini that General Manager Evan Vallée says is his twist on the extremely trendy espresso martini. “It …

“Inspiration comes from a cocktail I had in Oaxaca, Mexico,” says Sarah Block, Bar Manager for J & Tony’s Discount Cured Meats and Negroni Warehouse. A well-traveled colleague recommended visiting a bar called Sabina Sabe …

Spring has finally sprung — some might say it’s sprung a leak — so it feels seasonally appropriate to start with a lighter shade of cocktail before enjoying dinner at North Park’s RustiCucina. Bartender Vincent …

"One unique part about our cocktail program,” says Dallas Juanes, General Manager for Verbena Kitchen, “is that we’re changing what it is to be a low-ABV cocktail bar. We have only a beer and wine …

The new-ish rooftop bar Cococabana is what lures me to the Brick Hotel in Oceanside. But the Q&A bar below is where I start things off — by trying an oyster for the very first …

“Bienvenida a la selva,” reads a neon green sign inside one of Gaslamp’s newest restaurants, Zama. Greeting me with an exuberant smile, Bar Manager Gerry Bedolla explains, “That’s our theme here, our vibe. Our concept …

It’s that time of year: the time when Polite Provisions transforms from an alcohol apothecary into a Miracle on 30th Street. Surrounded by kitschy holiday décor, general manager Alicia Perry patiently talks me through this …

My latest craft cocktail discovery comes — somewhat unexpectedly — from a sushi restaurant at the Del Mar Highlands’ Sky Deck. Bartender Jennifer Hamilton explains the name of Glass Box’s popular cocktail, the Local Shito: …

“All our drinks are named after songs by strong, fabulous women,” says Moe Girton of Barrel & Board’s cocktail menu, which I note doubles as a fire playlist. I hit play on drink/song number one, …

There’s no doubt you’ve seen their logo on delivery trucks. They might supply one of your favorite local restaurants. And if your drink is garnished with edible flowers, it probably came fresh from their fridge. …

Captain’s log: Earthdate 2022. A man wearing a NASA hat welcomes me inside the newly-launched MOTHERSHIP. I traverse the cavernous interior, noticing the gorgeous stained-glass egg pods hanging from the ceiling. “They’re like the ‘fruits’ …

They say you learn something new every day. Today, I’m learning about two things: aquavit and aquafaba. Jack Reynolds welcomes me to Starlite, where he serves up The Stockholm, named for aquavit’s traditionally Scandinavian origins. …

I’ve just grabbed dinner with a friend at Liberty Public Market, and now I’m meandering toward the sound of a band coming from The Bar at Moniker General, where we are bound to stumble onto …

I have come to Linda Vista to scope out a friend’s favorite neighborhood bar, The Cordova. After perusing my drink options, I decide that a Passion Fruit Daiquiri sounds just right for this toasty summer …

The last time I met with Rob McShea, he was showing me how to smoke a cocktail using a cloche at Louisiana Purchase. Now I’m visiting him at the newly opened Coco Maya in Little …

“We put a lot of emphasis on providing a very welcoming environment,” says Beverage Director David Tye about the ambiance that Kingfisher has so lovingly curated. “A place where you come in, being like, ‘Alright, …

Bare brick walls, faux fur bear skin rugs, green velvet booths, copper-painted bar top... I’m stealing glances at the scenery of soon-to-be-opened Madam Bonnie’s while I chat with all-smiles bar manager Dakota Godden. “Madam Bonnie …

I’ve done it again: found my way inside another speakeasy. This time, it’s Realm of the 52 Remedies, where Chris Lee tells me how the Saigon Dreamer cocktail was inspired by an Asian coffee shop. …

I can’t tell you how to get here, exactly, but I’m inside Neighborhood’s speakeasy, Noble Experiment. And I can’t give you the exact name of the cocktail, but you could call it a tequila sour. …

The cool, crisp air inside Herb & Sea restaurant rescues me from a warm afternoon in downtown Encinitas. Behind the bar, Laz Jiminez greets me with a spirited smile before recommending the Mezcal & Spice …

On a windy, overcast day on the boardwalk of Mission Beach, I make my way up to Cannonball’s rooftop bar. Alvaro Cruz recommends Midnight in Tokyo as the perfect drink to help warm up. “With …

“Berries and cream, berries and cream, I’m a wee little lad who loves berries and cream,” sang a colleague of Nick Gergen’s when he told her about the strawberries-and-cream-flavored cocktail he was creating for Juniper …

On a cool day in Carlsbad, Nick Sinutko presents me with one of Campfire’s current menu cocktails, the Over/Under. He describes the drink as “a super juicy, refreshing, and herbaceous cocktail that utilizes grape as …

“It’s beautiful, it’s purple, and it’s probably the one you’ve seen the most of all over Instagram,” anticipates Tina Heschke when I arrive seeking the specialite de la maison. She’s describing the Fleur de France …

New to the neighborhood, Wormwood introduces itself as an absinthe-focused bar. After greeting me, Ben Marquart busts out a beginner’s lesson on absinthe. He decides Le Frappe is a good place to start. “It’s an …

It’s a Saturday night in University Heights, and groups of friends are pouring into Park & Rec. Busy bartender Alex Rodriguez is slinging cocktails left and right, keeping pace with the crowd as they order …

Claire Sexton Kettner Exchange 2001 Kettner Boulevard Little Italy “It’s like a Thin Mint Girl Scout cookie,” says Claire Sexton, Bar Director at Kettner Exchange, about her cocktail, the Scouts Honor. The recipe was partially …

Caroline Wilhelm The Corner Drafthouse 495 Laurel Street Banker’s Hill Drawn by twinkling lights and decorations, I duck into The Corner Drafthouse during their Christmas Pop Up, and bartender Caroline Wilhelm offers to help me …

Justin Greenwood 619 Spirits North Park 3015 Lincoln Avenue North Park A pretty candy-red cocktail adorned with a sprig of green, the Blood of the Scorpion comes served with a warning. “It’s based with our …

Anthony Belcufini Animae 969 Pacific Highway Downtown “Every single night, it’s probably the top seller,” says Anthony Belcufini about Animae’s A5 Old Fashioned. “And it ties into what we do in the back of the …

Ramon Torres Barleymash 600 Fifth Avenue #6916 Gaslamp It’s a summerlike day in the city, but my desire for festive autumnal libations rages on. Thankfully, I’m not alone in wanting to soak up the season’s …

Scott Slater Understory 12841 El Camino Real, Suite 209-210 Carmel Valley The hunt for a spooky cocktail brought me to Understory, the central bar within Sky Deck at Del Mar Highlands Town Center. Explains bartender …

Josh Blanton The Rabbit Hole 3377 Adams Avenue Normal Heights Feeling festive, I make my way down to The Rabbit Hole in Normal Heights, where they’ve curated a fall-themed drink menu. There, bartender Josh Blanton …

Danny Kuehner Madison 4622 Park Boulevard University Heights “What’s your most interesting drink?” I ask Danny Kuehner, bartender for Madison in University Heights. His answer, the Queen of Crowns, does not disappoint, in part because …

Katiee Mitchell Metl Bar Creamery & Cafe 2835 University Avenue North Park Metl Bar Creamery & Cafe may have gained a reputation as the House of Boozy Ice Cream, but I want to shake things …

YVette Lara Romesco Mexiterranean Bistro 4346 Bonita Road Bonita “The Tamarind Martini is our top selling drink,” says Yvette Lara about Romesco’s signature fusion-inspired cocktail. “It’s very tasty, because it has that spice — we …

Erick Zenteno Gaslamp Breakfast Company 551 J Street Gaslamp ”The pink is kind of our signature color here,” says Gaslamp Breakfast Company’s bartender Erick Zenteno. One glance at the restaurant’s perky pink decor and bright …

Ashley Pelletier Bub’s at the Beach 1030 Garnet Avenue Pacific Beach The cruel summer heat draws me toward Pacific Beach for a cooling drink. Open and airy, Bub’s at the Beach promises a variety of …

Alex Ramos The Smoking Gun 555 Market Street Downtown On a bustling corner of the Gaslamp Quarter, I’m chatting with The Smoking Gun’s bartender Alex Ramos, who tells me to give the Smith ‘n Wesson …

Jeff Mackay Shake & Muddle 303 H Street, Unit 109 Chula Vista “People were so excited, especially the residents of Chula Vista, to have something like this in their neighborhood,” says Shake & Muddle’s lead …