San Francisco's AAPI Cocktail Week is back and bigger than ever.

The annual SF AAPI Cocktail Week kicks into high gear Memorial Day weekend, and it's more enticing than ever.

A celebration of Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander culture and contributions to the bar, the week features parties, pop-ups, guest shifts from wine and drinks talent from all over the world, and educational classes for those in the trade.

Now in its fourth year, the event's co-founder Kevin Diedrich of Pacific Cocktail Haven (PCH) says this year, they are going a little bigger: "At the opening party, we'll have two bars. Since we have four wells, we will have two of Asia's best bars, Penrose from Malaysia and Bar Us from Bangkok, plus us [PCH].”

(Courtesy of AAPI Cocktail Week/Allison K)

This year, there’s a mix of new events and returning favorites, including a big kick-off Opening Party, a Sunset Luau, a Night Market at Splash, and the Pandan Party, featuring six domestic bars joining forces at PCH, which will turn into a green grotto for one night only. At the chef-style Mix Master Competition, six to eight bartenders will compete to make a cocktail with a mystery ingredient.

“We're moving the Sunset Luau off the boat and it's growing, too,” Diedrich continues. “This year it will be at Press Club, and there will be a live band, a Tahitian dance group, and an arts and crafts marketplace." He’s particularly excited about this event, which will also include shave ice and pupu platters, and where Abacá’s Francis Ang will be roasting two pigs.

The 2026 program brings in bartenders from top bars in Asia, several of which are ranked among the World’s 50 Best Bars and Asia’s 50 Best Bars. In addition to Penrose and Bar Us, there will be mixologists from Night Hawk from Singapore and Alice Cheongdam from Seoul.

Local talent will be involved, too, like at another returning event, a double pop-up at two of San Francisco's best bars, Trick Dog and True Laurel.

(Courtesy of AAPI Cocktail Week/Allison K)

"In collaboration with Trick Dog, we threw a block party–style pop-up with Sip & Guzzle [from NYC] about a year and a half ago,” says True Laurel bar director Nicolas Torres. “It was a hugely successful and communal way to bring people together, so when AAPI Cocktail Week reached out to us last year, we saw it as a great opportunity to build on that energy. We partnered with multiple bars within the AAPI community to create a layered, collaborative event—bringing that same block party spirit back in a new way. It was a great success. When they asked us to do it again this year, we were more than happy to participate."

The pop-up will also have representatives from standout North American bars, namely 52 Remedies from San Diego, Bar Leather Apron from Honolulu, Nickel City from Austin, Thunderbolt from Los Angeles, and Laowai from Vancouver. Since it’s a free event, Diedrich recommends coming early or late to avoid the crowds.

With so many great events, it may be a challenge to decide which to attend. Tickets to the Opening Party and Pandan Party go really fast due to capacity, according to Diedrich, so don't sleep on those. This year, there's also a two-day pass and a week-long pass that offer a lot of value.

(Courtesy of AAPI Cocktail Week/Allison K)

"If you buy them, you get access to the magnum party, too, which is an invite-only event,” says Diedrich. “The after-party is always packed. Having six sommeliers with magnums will be an awesome vibe. That's the hidden value."

Look out for other AAPI events going on all over town to complement Cocktail Week’s offerings. Right after it concludes, Sip & Guzzle, which was recently named the number one bar in North America, will take over Bar Iris for one night only on June 1st.

Cheers to all!