San Francisco Martini Trail: exploring the city one sip at a time
The San Francisco Travel Association today unveiled The San Francisco Martini Trail, a curated journey highlighting 23 standout martinis and local establishments in the city.
Few drinks are more celebrated than the martini.
Its exact birthplace may be disputed, but San Francisco played a defining role in shaping its rise to global fame.
Conceived in the Bay Area during the Gold Rush, it was refined in the city’s pioneering saloon scene.
“The Martini Trail is both a toast to San Francisco’s history and a taste of its future. This is where the martini found its swagger and where it continues to be reinvented,” said Anna Marie Presutti, President and CEO of San Francisco Travel.
“San Francisco is always raising the bar. We’re thrilled to work with local businesses to celebrate the city’s craft cocktail scene.”
The Martini Trail spans San Francisco’s distinctive neighborhoods, from the Embarcadero to The Richmond. Featuring downtown institutions as well as chic newcomers, each stop celebrates the city’s role in shaping cocktail culture one pour at a time.
Curated by San Francisco–based food, drink, and travel writer Omar Mamoon—whose work has appeared in Condé Nast Traveler, The San Francisco Chronicle, and Esquire’s “Best Bars” and “Best New Restaurants”—the 23 selections spotlight the creativity and range of San Francisco’s bar scene.
“The list shines a light on just a fraction of the many bars and restaurants in San Francisco making excellent martinis,” said Mamoon. “The Martini Trail is just a starting point—use it as a fun way to explore the city. There’s so much to uncover and explore in SF.”
In addition to the 23 standout martinis, The San Francisco Martini Trail website features Mamoon’s favorite 11 establishments to drink a martini, plus details on the evolution of the iconic cocktail.
The 23 establishments highlighted on the San Francisco Martini Trail are:
Absinthe
Martuni’s
Balboa Café
Osso Steakhouse
Bar Iris
Pearl 6101
Bar Maritime
Sam’s Grill & Seafood Restaurant
BIX
Starlite
Brazen Head
Stookey’s Club Moderne
Californios
Tadich Grill
Club Waziema
The Progress
Hi Dive Bar
True Laurel
Holbrook House
Wildhawk
House of Prime Rib
Zam Zam
Lillie Coit’s
San Francisco Travel held its launch event for the trail at Le Parc Bistrobar in the Galleria Park Hotel in homage to martini lore.
The boutique hotel, formerly the Occidental Hotel, is where bartender Jerry Thomas is said to have popularized or created the Martinez, a martini precursor. The hotel celebrates its mixology roots with a daily Sipping Hour, serving complimentary gin martinis in the lobby to hotel guests.
To explore The San Francisco Martini Trail and access an interactive map, visit www.sftravel.com/san-francisco-martini-trail.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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