Martinis, sidecars, and Irish coffees usually get top billing as San Francisco's most iconic cocktails.
But if you're out and about in the city any given weekend morning, you'll come to find how much SF is in love with a good ole Bloody Mary (maybe it's all the hangovers?).
But foodies that we are, we're rarely content with just tomato juice and horseradish. Rather, we lace our brunch beverage of choice with everything from tomatillos to carrots to balsamic vinegar. As for garnishes, well, let's just say that sometimes there's no toothpick large enough to hold all the crab fritters, artisan bacon, and pickled veggies piled on top of the glass.
From classics to crazies, here are our 16 favorite Bloody Marys in San Francisco.
Scoma's
(Courtesy of Scoma's)
Scoma’s appropriately named new bloody, The Don, commands the attention of a mob boss. Its sky-high stack of seafood tops a glass of Ketel One and housemade bloody mix, which half a dozen treats including a crab cake fritter, bacon-wrapped scallop, chilled prawn, and fried castelvetrano olives. It takes some time to make—all of the goodies are cooked to order—so they even give you a little something to keep you happy as you wait: Your choice of a glass of prosecco or a short lager. At $30 a pop, The Don is an investment, but one that’s well worth it. If a regular Bloody Mary is a meal, this charmer is nothing short of a feast. // 1965 Al Scoma Way (Fisherman’s Wharf), scomas.com
Zuni Cafe
(Courtesy of @zunicafe)
Zuni Cafe's Balsamic Bloody Mary has earned a well-deserved spot on virtually every roundup of the city's best bloodies—and once you try it, it's crystal clear why. The key is how Zuni swaps out Worcestshire for a touch of balsamic vinegar, providing a sweet and tangy kick to the whole tomato and vodka situation that's irresistible. // 1658 Market St. (Hayes Valley), zunicafe.com.
Hog Island Oyster Co.
(Courtesy of @hogislandoysterco)
The secret to Hog Island’s bloody is hogwash. That’s what the oyster company calls the classic mignonette served alongside their signature oysters on the half shell, a marriage of rice vinegar, shallots, jalapenos, cilantro, and lime. A healthy scoop tops off their universally beloved bloody, which is made with a proprietary mix and crowned with castelvetrano olives. If you need more tomato-based cocktail in your life (who doesn’t?), you can also order up a bottle of their Bloody Mary mix to go or online. // 1 Ferry Building (Embarcadero), hogislandoysterco.com
Kaiyo + Kaiyo Rooftop
Start the day with a ceviche-inspired Bloody Mary.
(Courtesy of Kaiyo)
The proprietary mix used in Carl's Bloody Mary at Nikkei cuisine siblings Kaiyo and Kaiyo Rooftop may be a secret (rumor has it, ceviche-inspired leche de tigre is among its ingredients) but the brunch cocktail's deliciousness is well known. Booze options are highbrow vodka, tequila, gin, or mezcal and since there's already some smokiness going on, this is the time to opt for the latter. The whole thing comes growned with housemade Japanese pickles. // 1838 Union St. (Cow Hollow) or 701 3rd St., Fl. 12 (South Beach), kaiyosf.com
Zeitgeist
It'd be a crime to talk about SF Bloody Marys without giving Zeitgeist a shout-out. Yes, Zeitgeist is best known for its astounding local beer selection (well, it's known for other things too...) but trust us, the Mission bar's vodka-heavy recipe is the perfect balance of spicy, smooth, and strong, with a generous amount of vegetable garnishes to balance it out. Of course, it's best enjoyed outside on the biergarten patio. // 199 Valencia St. (Mission), zeitgestsf.com
Foreign Cinema
One of the prettiest, zestiest bloodies in town.
(Courtesy of Drunken Tomato)
The Madras Bloody Mary makes it clear from the get-go that you won't find a generic tomato and nondescript spice mix stocked at this gorgeous Mission favorite. A touch of sherry vinegar and south Indian curry, plus a sumac-coated rim, makes this one of the most unique and universally beloved Bloody Marys, heck cocktails period, in town. // 2534 Mission St. (Mission), foreigncinema.com.
Finnegans Wake
The Bloody Mary at this ultra fun and relaxed Cole Valley bar is so good, it won the best traditional Bloody Mary at SF's Bloody Mary Festival twice. Its "house-made secret" ingredients include Marz vodka, horseradish, Tabasco, Worcestershire, and Sacramento tomato juice. // 937 Cole St. (Cole Valley), finneganssf.com.
Causwells
(Courtesy of @causwells)
Causwells keeps it classy with an organic Bloody Mary that’s as fresh as they come. On a base of Tito’s vodka, they layer housemade bloody mix, horseradish, and seasonal farmers market veggies pickled to perfection. Served into the evening hours, this is the place to break out of the bloodies-are-only-for-daytime mindset and do as the Canadians do: Order up a glass of tangy, spicy goodness to go with dinner. // 2346 Chestnut St. (Marina), causwells.com
Waterbar
Many say that a Bloody Mary is like a meal. This is definitely true of the Ultimate Bloody Mary at Waterbar. The mighty drink includes Grey Goose vodka, tiger prawns, a house-made spice blend, artisan bacon, and tajin. It makes you want to ask, what about oysters in the garnish too?? // 399 Embarcadero (FiDi) , waterbarsf.com.
The Ramp
(Courtesy of @theramprestaurant)
With good spice and a hefty pour of vodka, the photogenic Mission Bay-Dogpatch waterfront favorite is the perfect place to alternate between bites of celery and sipping a vintage-style, award-winning Bloody Mary, all while enjoying some of the premier Bay views anywhere. Don't just go for a Giants tailgate. Any morning/afternoon is a grand time to visit the funky, 50s-era bait shop turned locals' bar. // 855 Terry A Francois Blvd. (Dogpatch), theramprestaurant.com
The St. Regis Bar
(Courtesy of @stregissf)
The Bloody Mary is the mascot of the St. Regis brand and every hotel around the world has a different take. At the SF outlet, their signature is the Golden Gate Mary, a cocktail made with tequila, chili peppers, and a red-and-orange hue a la the famous bridge. Taste some other St. Regis-born varieties with weekend brunch's Bloody Mary flight. // 125 3rd St. (SoMa), marriot.com
Early to Rise
(Courtesy of @earlytorisesf)
Just like everything from the bagels to the smoked bacon, Early to Rise’s bloody is made from scratch. The low-proof eye-opener’s tomato paste, dehydrated peppers, even the hot sauce are made in house—not to mention the garnish’s farmers market-fresh pickled veggies. And now, just in time for summer, the breakfast and brunch purveyors are pre-bottling the whole shebang to go for next level picnics at the park. //1801 McAllister St. (NoPa), earlytorisesf.com
Rooftop at 25 Lusk
(Courtesy of @25lusk)
The Rooftop at 25 Lusk squeezes every last eye-opening drop out of their Bloody Mary. Instead of a pre-made mix, they use rich, roasted tomatoes and garlic as a base, and combine it with horseradish, Worcestershire, and thyme. A few generous splashes of tomato gin (yeah, apparently that’s a thing) and you’ve got the makings of a beautiful morning spent high above the city. // 25 Lusk St. (Mission Bay), 25lusk.com
Thee Parkside
(Courtesy of @theeparkside)
Possibly the most affordable pint-glass bloody in town, Thee Parkside starts cranking out the goods weekdays at 8am (weekends at 11am). With a mix and pickled veggies made in house, the generously-sized zinger will warm you up on foggy days and cool you down on bright, sunny mornings in the beer garden. // 1600 17th St. (Potrero Hill), theeparkside.com
Peacock Pansy
Leave it to a brunch specialist to get a bloody done right. Hayes Valley’s Peacock Pansy, a sweet, botanically-inspired spot with a living wall of colorful blooms, fills their glass with tons of spice to pair with their eclectic menu of benedicts, croffles, and classics with a Southeast Asian twist. // 392 Fulton St. (Hayes Valley), peacockpansy.com
Lost Resort
(Courtesy of @lost_resort_sf)
Escape the tyranny of the city for Lost Resort, the seaside-inspired Mission oasis. They change things up here by adding carrot juice to their bloody’s tomato base, and give you a choice of tequila or vodka. A squeeze of lemon and a dash of “delicious spices” and viola, a bloody you’ll come back for again and again. // 2736 20th St. (Mission), lostresortsf.com
