San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Travel Launches First-Ever Martini Trail
True Laurel in San Francisco is among the 23 locations along the new San Francisco Martini Trail.
Courtesy of San Francisco Travel
The origin of martini often stirs up disputed theories involving hotels and destinations such as San Francisco.
Yet the City by the Bay is now stirring its claim with the San Francisco Martini Trail, a curated journey highlighting 23 standout martinis and their establishments.
Having made its debut in late October 2025, the San Francisco Martini Trail marks the city’s stake in this cocktail’s history.
San Francisco’s side of the story goes like this. It’s said that the martini was created at the city’s Occidental Hotel (now the Galleria Park Hotel) by bartender Jerry Thomas, often called the “father of modern mixology,” in the late 1850s or early 1860s.
Raise a toast to Balboa Cafe’s Espresso Martini. As a stop along the new San Francisco Martini Trail, this restaurant’s version of this drink gets high marks.
Courtesy of San Francisco Travel
That concoction was allegedly prepared for a gold miner who was on his way to the Californian town of Martinez. This new drink would become known as the Martinez, a precursor to the modern martini.
“As tastes evolved and drier spirits took hold, the martini transformed into the classic we know today—and San Francisco’s innovative cocktail culture continues to influence its evolution,” said Anna Marie Presutti, president and CEO of San Francisco Travel Association.
Today, the San Francisco Martini Trail spans the city’s distinctive neighborhoods, from the Embarcadero to the Richmond. Stops range from downtown institutions to chic newcomers and from longstanding establishments to inventive modern spots.
Sip on a martini at The Progress in San Francisco.
Courtesy of San Francisco Travel/Ed Anderson
The trail’s 23 establishments are: Absinthe, Balboa Café, Bar Iris, Bar Maritime, BIX, Brazen Head, Californios, Club Waziema, Hi Dive Bar, Holbrook House, House of Prime Rib, Lillie Coit’s, Martuni’s, Osso Steakhouse, Pearl 6101, The Progress, Sam’s Grill & Seafood Restaurant, Starlite, Stookey’s Club Moderne, Tadich Grill, True Laurel, Wildhawk and Zam Zam.
Each location offers a distinct interpretation of the martini, with many planning food pairings and special promotions to complement the trail experience.
The self-guided trail was curated by San Francisco–based food, drink and travel writer Omar Mamoon. His work has appeared in Condé Nast Traveler, San Francisco Chronicle and Esquire’s “Best Bars” and “Best New Restaurants.”
Wildhawk in San Francisco, a stop on the San Francisco Martini Trail, offers a Tini Flight. Courtesy of San Francisco Travel
“We wanted an independent expert who lives in and knows the city to develop the trail,” explained Presutti. “Omar became involved through his deep background covering food and drink culture in San Francisco and other cities, and he crafted the trail as a way to spotlight the city’s talent and diversity while encouraging visitors to discover even more outstanding martinis across San Francisco.”
The San Francisco Martini Trail’s website features Mamoon’s favorite 11 establishments to drink a martini, plus details on the evolution of the iconic cocktail.
“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.”
San Francisco Travel held their launch event for the trail at Le Parc Bistrobar in the Galleria Park Hotel, in homage to its martini lore. The hotel’s daily Sipping Hour offers complimentary gin martinis in the lobby to hotel guests.
“The Martini Trail is both a toast to San Francisco’s history and a taste of its future,” said Presutti. “This is where the martini found its swagger and where it continues to be reinvented.”
Get a San Francisco Martini Trail map and more details here.
San Francisco 49ers registered back-to-back wins for the first time since September by overcoming the Carolina Panthers 20-9 on Monday.
Running back Christian McCaffrey ran for 89 yards and a touchdown against his former team as the 49ers, who are third in the NFC West, boosted their play-off hopes with victory in Santa Clara, California.
McCaffrey, 29, who also had 24 carries and caught seven passes for 53 yards, was traded from the Panthers to the 49ers in October 2022.
Starting 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy struggled in the first half as he was intercepted three times in the opening 21 minutes, which halted his side’s early offensive progress.
BART service on the Red Line and Green Line is being disrupted during the Monday morning commute due to an equipment issue, officials said.
The agency said shortly after 7 a.m. that the issue involves an issue on the track near the West Oakland station. As a result, there is no Red Line service between Millbrae and Richmond and there is no Green Line service between Berryessa station in North San Jose and Daly City.
All stations on the system are open as of Monday morning.
Green Line passengers heading to San Francisco are urged to board a Richmond-bound train and transfer at Bayfair to a Daly City train. Meanwhile passengers heading to Berryessa from San Francisco can board a Dublin/Pleasanton train and transfer at Bayfair to a Berryessa train.
For Red Line passengers heading to Millbrae from Richmond, riders are urged to take an Orange Line train heading to Berryessa and transfer at MacArthur to a Yellow Line train for SFO.
It was not immediately known when full service on the Green Line or Red Line would be restored.
Monday’s disruption comes three days after service between South Hayward and Berryessa stations was disrupted due to a vandalism incident. The agency has faced increased scrutiny in recent months over multiple hours-long service disruptions.
SAN FRANCISCO – A new production of the Broadway classic “Into the Woods” is bringing a dose of magic — and a reminder about the power of community — to Union Square this holiday season.
San Francisco Playhouse is staging the Stephen Sondheim musical now through mid-January.
What they’re saying:
Co-founder and producing director Susie Damilano said the show’s blend of childhood fairy tales and adult consequences feels especially resonant this year.
“It’s all the fairy tales we grew up with,” Damilano said. “In Act One we see the characters’ wishes come true. In Act Two, we see the consequences. It reminds us to be careful what we wish for.”
At the center of the production is a new story thread involving a baker and his wife longing to have a child.
Damilano said the woods themselves become a metaphor for the characters’ journeys — mystical and inviting in some moments, dark and tangled in others.
“I decided that having magical, mystical woods would be the way to go,” she said. “They represent our collective unconscious… beautiful, but with a lot of tangled things in there, just like our own minds.”
Damilano said she cried the first time she saw the full production come together, moved by the design team’s work and the emotional weight of the story.
“It just takes my breath away,” she said. “This show touches us deep in our soul. It reminds us how important community is.”
Big picture view:
The production arrives at a time when many theaters are still struggling in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Damilano said San Francisco Playhouse feels fortunate and energized by audiences returning to the city’s core.
“We’re filling our houses,” she said. “Union Square is coming back to life. People are out playing chess and ping pong again, the Christmas tree is up, there’s ice skating. It feels good.”
With its familiar characters and themes of family, loss, and longing, “Into the Woods” is designed to be a holiday-friendly experience for all ages.
“Into the Woods” runs through Jan. 17 at San Francisco Playhouse in Union Square. Tickets and show times are available at sfplayhouse.org.
The Source: Original reporting by Allie Rasmus of KTVU
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