Few drinks are more debated—or 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 and refined in the city’s pioneering saloon scene, the martini’s simplicity captures San Francisco’s spirit: refined yet unpretentious, endlessly reinvented, and impossible to forget.
In honor of this potent potable, the San Francisco Travel Association has unveiled The San Francisco Martini Trail, a curated journey highlighting 23 standout martinis and local establishments in the City by the Bay.
“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. 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 and make your own trail, too. There’s so much to uncover and explore in SF.”
The 23 establishments highlighted on the San Francisco Martini Trail include:
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, and Lillie Coit’s.
San Francisco Travel held its launch event for the trail within the cocktail’s alleged place of origin: Le Parc Bistrobar in the Galleria Park Hotel. 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 to access an interactive map, visit sftravel.com/san-francisco-martini-trail.
Photos courtesy of San Francisco Travel
