Words by Andrea Gemmet
Sometimes, you want to go to a bar where everybody knows your name. And sometimes, you just want to meet some new people. Barrelhouse in Burlingame, a local favorite that pulls in a steady stream of out-of-towners, offers the best of both worlds to anyone seeking well-crafted cocktails in hip-yet-unpretentious surroundings.
Known for its charming downtown, Burlingame is also a major hub for hotels serving San Francisco International Airport. “People will pull up at 1AM who have just gotten off a flight and want something to drink,” says Barrelhouse co-owner Juan Loredo.
With its prime location across from Burlingame’s train station, Barrelhouse sees its fair share of Caltrain commuters and San Francisco Giants fans pre-gaming on the way to the ballpark. It’s also ideal for people who want the train to serve as their designated driver. “We’ve definitely participated in plenty of Caltrain bar crawls,” Juan shares. Open until 2AM, Barrelhouse sees everyone from post-wedding reception revelers to 21-year-olds celebrating a rite of passage.
Juan started out bartending with his friend Jose Natividad while they were students at San Jose State University. The pair created the Burlingame nightclub Vinyl Room, then opened Barrelhouse in 2011 after deciding that downtown needed a place that served great cocktails, Juan says. In 2021, they launched Persona, a subterranean cocktail bar in Lower Nob Hill. “You’d think San Francisco is not a sleepy city, but sometimes we’re busier in Burlingame than SF,” he confides.
Juan won’t cop to having a favorite drink—“All our cocktails are delicious”—but concedes that Barrelhouse regulars tend to love its twists on the classics. Take the Maverick, which spices up a negroni by infusing the Campari with lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves and cardamom.
Another crowd favorite is the Horse Trader’s Daughter, which blends Four Roses bourbon with Earl Grey tea, lavender, lemon, egg white and simple syrup. “It has a lot of depth to it, a lot of texture because of the egg white,” Juan reveals. The deep red Hibiscus Haze, mixed with lime, agave and reposado tequila, is poured over a towering rectangular ice cube, its intense flavor tempered as the ice slowly melts.
While he likes to switch things up, Juan says they’ve dialed back on making too many big menu changes. “We always do tweaks, but we have crowd favorites that we wouldn’t be able to pull off the menu because people would not be too happy about it,” he confesses. It doesn’t go unnoticed when the Frozé Spritz, a summertime Aperol-spiked drink that mixes rosé wine with Velvet Falernum and lemon, takes its seasonal hiatus. “It’s always nice to hear from people that they liked it and want it back.”
caltrain crawl
Don’t have a designated driver? The Peninsula is flush with a range of watering holes conveniently located near train stations. Pick one and make an evening of it, or gather some friends and combine several of these stops to craft a custom Caltrain-enabled bar crawl.
Barrelhouse, Burlingame
Looking for some grown-up Halloween fun? Barrelhouse is one of the stops on downtown Burlingame’s annual Halloween Costume Crawl, this year on Sunday, October 27. 305 California Drive. Open daily.
barrelhouseburlingame.com
Wunderbar, San Mateo
Tucked beneath a German restaurant, follow the white rabbit to this intimate basement speakeasy known for quintessential cocktails like the Manhattan, martini and French 75, as well as its inventive riffs on the classics, like the Ursa Major, Lost at Sea and Frog Prince. Free popcorn will keep you thirsty; heartier fare is available upstairs at Wursthall. Staying on theme, Wunderbar is reservation-only and groups of six or more will need to make special arrangements. 310½ Baldwin Avenue. Open Wednesday-Saturday. wunderbarsm.com
CRU Wine Bar, Redwood City
Find plenty of tempting treats to pair with the drinks at this sleekly rustic wine bar and bottle shop. Offerings range from pizza alla romana, charcuterie and small plates like gnocchi, eggplant parmigiana and pate de campagne. Sip artisan wines or buy new favorites by the bottle or case. On Thursdays, live jazz sets the mood for tasting flights with three pours from a single winery. If the fruit of the vine’s not your tipple of choice, there’s a good selection of beers and a handful of low-alcohol cocktails and non-alcoholic options. 900 B Middlefield Road. Open daily. cruredwoodcity.com
Barebottle Brew Co., Menlo Park
Serving up sours, hazy IPAs, kombucha and more, this brewery always has 20-30 of its beers on tap at its location in the buzzy Springline complex. Sample a few brews with a tasting flight, or opt for one of Barebottle’s wines, non-alcoholic housemade sodas or root beer. While bar snacks are basic—empanadas and pretzels—find more options at nearby Canteen, which will deliver your food. It’s a place where you can bring your crew for trivia night, unwind after work with colleagues or hang out with the whole family playing pinball and board games. 550 B Oak Grove Avenue. Open daily. barebottle.com
San Agus, Palo Alto
Tequilas and smoky mezcals are the highlight at this lively watering hole that also serves up Mexico City street food like tacos, quesabirria and ceviche. Try seasonal cocktails by the glass or the carafe, like the Mariposa Traicionera made with colorful butterfly pea-infused gin and lavender syrup. Try a 1-ounce pour from the botella del momento, featuring a different agave-based spirit every month. On weekends, the mata crudas menu features hangover relief like chilaquiles and mezcal bloody marys. 115 Hamilton Avenue. Open daily. sanagus.com
Cascal, Mountain View
This twist on the tapas bar fuses Spanish and Latin American cuisines. Sip seasonal cocktails and sherries, or choose from a variety of mojitos, margaritas and caipirinhas, plus sangria: red, white or sparkling with Spanish cava. Tuesday through Friday, nibble on fried olives, patatas bravas and panko-crusted shrimp during happy hour, and stick around for live music and dancing on Friday and Saturday nights. 400 Castro Street. Open Tuesday-Sunday. cascalmv.com