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We believe that life is a celebration, providing us with innumerable
excuses to make a toast. We have searched high and low for the
best places to toast in the world's Cool Cities.
Best Places to Toast in....
Best Places To Toast
San Francisco
Orson
508 4th Street, San Francisco, 415-777-1508 www.orsonsf.com
The Scene: Orson is one of the rare breed of restaurant that actually have it all: playful food, stylish staff, a chic atmosphere, and a buzzing bar scene with sexy regulars and cocktails like works of art. With multiple lounge areas for socializing, Orson sets an energetic tone. Don your hippest threads—the patrons here are serious competition. Mon-Sat 6-11pm (bar menu 5-6pm, 11pm-midnight). The Clincher: Magazines including Food & Wine have touted the avant-garde creations of house mixologist Jacque Patterson. With dramatic drinks—the wicked “Long Hot Summer” has a chili-salt rim—the lounge at Orson is perfect for boisterous birthdays and seductive dates.
The Scene: Cocktail enthusiasts of all stripes regularly fill the high-backed narrow booths to sample the bar’s famed culinary concoctions. Tables for four in the seductive front-of-house generate a nice low buzz, while the back room turns the volume up a notch and is ideal for larger celebrations. Mysteriosos will relish the password-protected front door and the bookcase that opens to a “secret” yet lively library at back. Mon-Sat 6pm-2am. The Clincher: Also home to the Beverage Academy, Bourbon & Branch is the French Laundry of cocktails. Enjoy an aperitif (gratis) while choosing from more than 100 unique drink recipes chock-full of exotic ingredients. Couples clinking glasses on an anniversary might opt for two different potions—and share.
The Scene: This glamorous restaurant and nightspot boasts a Champagne theme, always-exquisite French-Cal cuisine, gracious service, and numerous French sparklers chosen with romantic celebrations in mind. Downstairs, the cosmopolitan venue is well-suited to a toast with lots of friends; upstairs, Jardinière’s elegant dining room invites you to don your evening best for more intimate occasions. Sun-Mon 5-10pm, Tue-Wed 5-10:30pm, Thu-Sat 5-11:30pm.The Clincher: Wine-loving couples toasting special occasions should request a two-top overlooking the vibrant bar. With proximity to the urbane sommelier station, you’ll have ample opportunity to chat up wine director Eugenio Jardim, who can enlighten you on the benefits of decanting an oldie but goodie.