This sort-of-hidden (in that it’s up an easy-to-miss staircase and there’s not a sign—just a gold door with a black bat) lounge on the second floor of China Live is pure swank and sophistication. From the high-end scotch cocktails to the sleek decor, the luxurious experience you’ll find at Cold Drinks feels out of place in San Francisco (that’s a compliment, we promise). If you’re not a fan of scotch, don’t fret; many of the cocktails use it in a way that may change your mind.

Like Sundays and brunch and Cheech and Chong, pizza and beer are just better when they’re together. Confirm that theory for yourself at SSP Beer Hall, a chill new spot from the guys behind Namu Stonepot and Sunset Squares Pizza. The word “hall” is appropriate because the space is huge and has a lounge, bar, and dining room with communal seating, a thing we’re apparently doing again. There are ten beers on tap, plenty of cans, and food from a few restaurants, including those just mentioned.

Like the meaning of life or a pile of Legos, 15 Romolo can be whatever you need it to be, whether that’s a cozy spot for a first date, a place to go with out-of-town friends, or just a neighborhood bar that serves impressive handcrafted cocktails. The Pimm’s Cup is a must, as is feeding dollar bills to one of the best jukeboxes in SF and staying much longer than intended.

Right above Mister Jiu’s is a former banquet hall transformed into a stylish salon with mid-century modern flair, a retro color palette that was modern at the time, cushioned seating, and moon gates throughout. The space is, dare we say it, sexy (at least for SF), and almost makes you wish you’d worn something other than sneakers and a puffy jacket, a thought that will likely dissipate as soon as you start sipping the Chinese lunar calendar-inspired cocktails.

Walking into Wildhawk is like being invited into the stylish sitting room of a fabulous friend with a flair for the dramatic. Think: floral wallpaper, mid-century modern furniture, low lights, and lots of patterns and textures. And while hanging out in a room that’s reminiscent of a living room may not sound like something you want to do after hanging out in your own for over a year, this living room doesn’t have crumbs in the couch, and you can cozy in a corner with other humans!

We can’t drink at Pacific Cocktail Haven (P.C.H.) right now due to a fire that inspired a move to a new space that’s being built, but we can still get drinks from bartender extraordinaire Kevin Diedrich at Kona’s Street Market, a spacious street market-inspired lounge complete with booths, lanterns, and string lights. The drinks at this spot are inspired by places around the world, and you don’t have to wait a long time to get them thanks to a bar setup created specifically for speed.

There’s a time and a place for a super crafty cocktail, but the folks behind Propagation, a dog-friendly bar in Lower Nob Hill that opened earlier this year, know that more often there’s a time and a place for cocktails that are a little less fussy (but still delicious, of course). The bar is filled with lush green plants and bamboo walls that create a chill vibe, but the plants aren’t only for atmosphere; many of the cocktails are also plant-focused.

It’s a little hectic to travel to Spain right now, but you can still experience a little taste of it at Red Window, a new low-proof cocktail bar and Spanish-inspired restaurant. The colorful spot serves cocktails that will rotate seasonally but are always low-proof (which we figured out means you can enjoy more of them without any next-morning regrets), as well as Spanish tapas and pintxos (the patatas bravas are the best we’ve ever had) that pair perfectly with the drinks.

Polk Street’s been stepping up its game in recent years and Macondray is definitely helping. Choose between the stylish, plant-filled indoor space and the perfect-for-Polk Street people-watching parklet, both excellent environments to enjoy very drinkable cocktails, like the Bunny Poison (gin, rhubarb, celery, cucumber, mint, blanc vermouth, lemon), as well as its seafood-focused menu, with highlights like a Maine-style lobster roll.

Whatever your feelings about this over-a-century-old Cow Hollow establishment and the patrons who frequent it, there’s no denying that there’s a reason there’s often a standing-room-only crowd in the bar during peak hours. Sure, a part of that is its reputation for attracting singles of all ages, but a bigger part of that is the professional bartenders in white coats who manage the crowds with a smile while making stellar martinis.