In addition to making amazing alcoholic drinks, Nari has a non-alcoholic beverage program. I thought it was really interesting that they’re going through all these steps to make zero-proof drinking feel special. They use cool glassware, and pour tableside, and they have a drink similar to a gin and tonic.
Bar Agricole in the South of Market (SoMa) neighborhood is my favorite place for drinks. It’s sleek and pretty hip: a super-modern loft with a contemporary dining room and two bars. There’s a patio with an organic vegetable garden out front, and it’s very tranquil.
They make a great Old Fashioned, using cognac—even though I usually just do it with bourbon. It’s so hard to make an Old Fashioned. It seems easy, but there are many ways for you to screw it up—every part of it! Too much syrup, or the wrong spirit, too much bitters, or the wrong kind of ice. If you don’t use a big ice block, it’ll melt too fast, and you’ll have a watery drink. (And I’m a fast drinker, by the way. Imagine if you’re a slow drinker!) In any case, you just can’t go wrong with Bar Agricole.
