They double charge for the tip (they auto include the 20% tip but did not mention it when handing bill and I gave them another 20% tips).and the drinks and service didn’t deserve a 40% tips. I called in and the staff said that it’s my fault that I didn’t read the slip but said they will take care of it and followed up but they never did. Money is small but very shady practice, left a very bad taste. If you are the owner, please follow up. I’m pretty upset about this.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Anjali Vahalia
New favorite bar in the city, worth every dime. Really unique cocktails, quiet ambience, beautiful interior and great staff.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dock of the Bay
Wilfred Cho
Upstairs on the second floor hidden behind a golden door is where you would find a bar with hidden fees. SF mandates plus 20% service fee is included in the bill even if you are visiting by yourself.Drinks are not bad, but be prepared to bring your fat wallet cause two drinks is probably going to cost you around $60.The silk degrees is quite good, enhanced by the aroma of the toasted coconut. Make you you breath in as you drink to enjoy the flavor.Bring a friend, nice spot for a chat, but not to meet people.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Silk Degrees
Elizabeth N.
Cold Drinks Bar is a hidden gem located above the China Live restaurant in Chinatown. The setting is dark, romantic, and intimate, with plenty of bar seating sofa lounges for couples or smaller groups. Behind the bar, the bartenders expertly and creatively crafted drinks that tasted as good as they looked. Although they specialize in Japanese whiskies, they provide a variety of different chef's choice cocktails. I sipped on the Summertime, a gorgeous pink drink with hints of fruit and florals elevated by fine bubbles. We also had an 'omakase-style' (chef's choice drink) after asking for her take on a classic martini, and what Angel delivered was a symphony of flavors that showcased her creative talents. It was cold, refreshing, and the perfect mix of a unique gin with the fresh zest of a lemon. Beyond the drinks, the staff provides excellent hospitality in this intimate space. For distinctive cocktails as creative as they are delicious, Cold Drinks should top any list for must-try cocktail bars in San Francisco!
Michelle D.
This still bothers me months later--not only feeling like I was drugged here but receiving a pretty callous response to a serious accusation.
Tim W.
Stopped for drinks with my wife on Thursday night before dinner (at another restaurant). Cold Drinks Bar is above China Live (same ownership), up the stairs and to an unlabeled door with just an icon on it. Behind the door is a decent size space with couch and casual table seating. The cocktails are exceptional. We had three different ones, and each was a delight - from each description, you get a mental image of what you think is coming...and you are surprised each time. What we found is while the drinks are strong, because of the size of the square ice cube and the resulting volume of liquor, none of the drinks were overly-formidable. At present, there's no food being served up there, so ask for a bowl of peking duck popcorn. At first it seems like caramel corn, but get the right kernel and there's a Peking Duck finish - awesome. My only thought is the brightness level of the illumination could be reduced just a bit for the sake of intimacy and ambiance, but perhaps that's a niggle. Overall, we were delighted and will be back.
Sunil S.
Popped up after date night at China Live for a post dinner cocktail. They were able to seat us at the bar (~ 7:30pm). This is a very classy and peaceful cocktail bar up on the second floor of the China Live building, it took us a minute to find the entrance after taking the elevator up (just head towards the stairwell and you'll see a door on the right hand side). Large amount of whiskey. It's not usually my jam but I've put on a list for when my whiskey connoisseur friend next visits the city! I enjoyed a Sometimes Old Fashioned, which was perfectly mixed. They made a mocktail for my wife, who was driving us home, which utilised a number of their housemade syrups and cost almost as much as a real cocktail (but I guess the labour is the expensive part of each drink here!). Although it's a little on the pricier side, at $18 a drink, we had a great time and will be back - both for the drinks and the ambience!
Sara M.
The whisky selection here is exceptional. Though, I assume that because the bartenders had come from Nihon Whisky Lounge there's no surprise there. While I am not so acquainted with the qualities of whisky, my friends who were, had a great time chatting up the bartenders while I sipped what I would call a decent cocktail. A few things of note, the bar is richly decorated is dimly lit. A popular spot for dates as several couples came in and out during our time there. It grows louder as the night grows on and then quiets down after peak service. There are some issues with cleanliness. There were cocktail ingredients out in the open on the bar. At one point, we noticed something movement, only to find a small cockroach dancing across the bar...no idea whether or not it had been in the ingredients themselves but we were shocked to see it. Especially given the appearance of cleanliness.
Grace Z.
Showed up without a reservation and was told there would be a 1hr 30 minute wait. Joined the waitlist and came back after I received the text that my table was ready. I love the ambiance of this place - the decor is gorgeous! The bar is located upstairs from China Live. The noise level was just right - great for conversations We got a variety of drinks Silk Degrees, Montenegro, Oaxacan Princess, Jasmine Tea Lager and the Wheat Beer. As for cocktails, my favorite was the Silk Degrees - was a warm flavor that mixed very well with whiskey! My second favorite was the Montenegro - citrusy and refreshing. Only downside during our visit was the service, there was only one bartender working so it took quite some time before we received our drinks.
Grace H.
Really terrible service, overpriced drinks that aren't that good, and ambiance is not as nice as the photos look! The long hair guy that works there smells like a porta potty. I gagged when he came by!
Came here to celebrate a Birthday. Loved the ambiance and vibes of the place. The drinks were delicious and the bartenders were very knowledgeable on drinks and recommendations. Will definitely be back again .
Lisa Z.
Recently visited this bar above China Live and was thoroughly impressed by the creative drink selection and fantastic vibes. The "Sometimes Old Fashioned" deserves a special mention - it's hands down one of the best drinks I've ever had.
T.J. Sevilla
Silk Degrees was the best cocktail I've ever had!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Kun Hu
The cocktails were impressive. The bartender was nice and even replaced one after finding out I didn’t enjoy it that much, he also shared his experience and recommended me other bars and books I can read. We definitely need more creative bars like this.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Silk Degrees
Hu K.
The cocktails were impressive. The bartender was nice and even replaced one after finding out I didn't enjoy it that much, he also shared his experience and recommended me other bars and books I can read. We definitely need more creative bars like this.
They double charge for the tip (they auto include the 20% tip but did not mention it when handing bill and I gave them another 20% tips).and the drinks and service didn’t deserve a 40% tips. I called in and the staff said that it’s my fault that I didn’t read the slip but said they will take care of it and followed up but they never did. Money is small but very shady practice, left a very bad taste. If you are the owner, please follow up. I’m pretty upset about this.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
New favorite bar in the city, worth every dime. Really unique cocktails, quiet ambience, beautiful interior and great staff.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dock of the Bay
Upstairs on the second floor hidden behind a golden door is where you would find a bar with hidden fees. SF mandates plus 20% service fee is included in the bill even if you are visiting by yourself.Drinks are not bad, but be prepared to bring your fat wallet cause two drinks is probably going to cost you around $60.The silk degrees is quite good, enhanced by the aroma of the toasted coconut. Make you you breath in as you drink to enjoy the flavor.Bring a friend, nice spot for a chat, but not to meet people.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Silk Degrees
Cold Drinks Bar is a hidden gem located above the China Live restaurant in Chinatown. The setting is dark, romantic, and intimate, with plenty of bar seating sofa lounges for couples or smaller groups. Behind the bar, the bartenders expertly and creatively crafted drinks that tasted as good as they looked. Although they specialize in Japanese whiskies, they provide a variety of different chef's choice cocktails. I sipped on the Summertime, a gorgeous pink drink with hints of fruit and florals elevated by fine bubbles. We also had an 'omakase-style' (chef's choice drink) after asking for her take on a classic martini, and what Angel delivered was a symphony of flavors that showcased her creative talents. It was cold, refreshing, and the perfect mix of a unique gin with the fresh zest of a lemon. Beyond the drinks, the staff provides excellent hospitality in this intimate space. For distinctive cocktails as creative as they are delicious, Cold Drinks should top any list for must-try cocktail bars in San Francisco!
This still bothers me months later--not only feeling like I was drugged here but receiving a pretty callous response to a serious accusation.
Stopped for drinks with my wife on Thursday night before dinner (at another restaurant). Cold Drinks Bar is above China Live (same ownership), up the stairs and to an unlabeled door with just an icon on it. Behind the door is a decent size space with couch and casual table seating. The cocktails are exceptional. We had three different ones, and each was a delight - from each description, you get a mental image of what you think is coming...and you are surprised each time. What we found is while the drinks are strong, because of the size of the square ice cube and the resulting volume of liquor, none of the drinks were overly-formidable. At present, there's no food being served up there, so ask for a bowl of peking duck popcorn. At first it seems like caramel corn, but get the right kernel and there's a Peking Duck finish - awesome. My only thought is the brightness level of the illumination could be reduced just a bit for the sake of intimacy and ambiance, but perhaps that's a niggle. Overall, we were delighted and will be back.
Popped up after date night at China Live for a post dinner cocktail. They were able to seat us at the bar (~ 7:30pm). This is a very classy and peaceful cocktail bar up on the second floor of the China Live building, it took us a minute to find the entrance after taking the elevator up (just head towards the stairwell and you'll see a door on the right hand side). Large amount of whiskey. It's not usually my jam but I've put on a list for when my whiskey connoisseur friend next visits the city! I enjoyed a Sometimes Old Fashioned, which was perfectly mixed. They made a mocktail for my wife, who was driving us home, which utilised a number of their housemade syrups and cost almost as much as a real cocktail (but I guess the labour is the expensive part of each drink here!). Although it's a little on the pricier side, at $18 a drink, we had a great time and will be back - both for the drinks and the ambience!
The whisky selection here is exceptional. Though, I assume that because the bartenders had come from Nihon Whisky Lounge there's no surprise there. While I am not so acquainted with the qualities of whisky, my friends who were, had a great time chatting up the bartenders while I sipped what I would call a decent cocktail. A few things of note, the bar is richly decorated is dimly lit. A popular spot for dates as several couples came in and out during our time there. It grows louder as the night grows on and then quiets down after peak service. There are some issues with cleanliness. There were cocktail ingredients out in the open on the bar. At one point, we noticed something movement, only to find a small cockroach dancing across the bar...no idea whether or not it had been in the ingredients themselves but we were shocked to see it. Especially given the appearance of cleanliness.
Showed up without a reservation and was told there would be a 1hr 30 minute wait. Joined the waitlist and came back after I received the text that my table was ready. I love the ambiance of this place - the decor is gorgeous! The bar is located upstairs from China Live. The noise level was just right - great for conversations We got a variety of drinks Silk Degrees, Montenegro, Oaxacan Princess, Jasmine Tea Lager and the Wheat Beer. As for cocktails, my favorite was the Silk Degrees - was a warm flavor that mixed very well with whiskey! My second favorite was the Montenegro - citrusy and refreshing. Only downside during our visit was the service, there was only one bartender working so it took quite some time before we received our drinks.
Really terrible service, overpriced drinks that aren't that good, and ambiance is not as nice as the photos look! The long hair guy that works there smells like a porta potty. I gagged when he came by!
Restaurantji Recommends
Came here to celebrate a Birthday. Loved the ambiance and vibes of the place. The drinks were delicious and the bartenders were very knowledgeable on drinks and recommendations. Will definitely be back again .
Recently visited this bar above China Live and was thoroughly impressed by the creative drink selection and fantastic vibes. The "Sometimes Old Fashioned" deserves a special mention - it's hands down one of the best drinks I've ever had.
Silk Degrees was the best cocktail I've ever had!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
The cocktails were impressive. The bartender was nice and even replaced one after finding out I didn’t enjoy it that much, he also shared his experience and recommended me other bars and books I can read. We definitely need more creative bars like this.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Silk Degrees
The cocktails were impressive. The bartender was nice and even replaced one after finding out I didn't enjoy it that much, he also shared his experience and recommended me other bars and books I can read. We definitely need more creative bars like this.