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In San Francisco, it’s the cocktail crawl, not the pub crawl

California is swapping beer tourism for cocktail tourism

Martini
Aleksandar Nakic/Getty Images / Getty

Most of us are familiar with the traditional pub crawl, a jaunt that tends to drift from one pub to another in group format. They can happen on foot, on bike, or some means in between, but they all tend to offer a good taste of the craft beer movement. In San Francisco, they’re changing up the game.

But what route to take in a busy Bay Area bar scene? Well, the newly-created Martini Trail is a fine option. It includes some 25 bars making very creative Martinis.

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Sure, you can get a classic made of gin or vodka but the trail caters to more inventive riffs too. Bars involved are using things like mezcal, sake, and seaweed to tweak the classic Martini recipe. It should be on your list if you appreciate mixology and it’s one more great excuse to visit the Bay Area.

Participating bars on the trail range from convivial watering holes to high-end, award-winning cocktail joints. Given the spectrum of Martinis on display, there’s likely something for everybody on the route. And the journey winds in and around the city, near incredible views and major attractions.

This is a great opportunity to see just how versatile the iconic cocktail is. You won’t get the same drink twice and you might even come away with a favorite new template. You can even have a hearty debate with fellow bar-goers about whether the drink was invented in New York or San Francisco.

Ready to get out there? Check out our SF travel guide before you go. Be sure to check out all the city has to offer, from an amazing arts scene to incredible crafts and food in neighborhoods like Chinatown.

Mark Stock
Mark Stock is a writer from Portland, Oregon. He fell into wine during the Recession and has been fixated on the stuff since…
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