bar hopping in the bay

To celebrate my new job me, my sister Lauren, and her boyfriend Brad did some major bar hopping around North Beach in San Francisco. We started out with cozy drinks at Tosca. We ordered their Specialities: House Cappuccino (Ghiradelli Chocolate, Steamed Milk, Brandy) as well as the White Nun (Steamed Milk, Kahlua, Brandy). Since it was the first bar that we stopped in; it was a bit quiet, but we enjoyed our drinks nonetheless.

Tosca 

Next up we toodled next door to Specs where I ordered the San Francisco classic Fernet with a ginger back. Specs' was definitely a place worth stopping. Besides enjoying my new favorite go to drink, I also loved looking at the different nautical and hunting decor.

Fernet-Branca and Ginger Ale

After a couple of Fernet's we were starting to get hungry so we headed to Comstock Saloon, which was also ranked as one of the 50 best bars by Food and Wine Magazine. As we sipped our amazing cocktails we also shared a bunch of munchies such as the Pretzel with Mustard and Cheddar Mayo, Corn Hominy Fritters with a smoked pepper dip, the Smoked Salmon Plate as well as the Ricotta Gnocchi with Squash. Everything here was perfection. I adored the bartenders with their suspenders and handlebar mustaches. The decor was antiquely, which fit well with the classic cocktails and old-timey feel. 

Comstock Saloon

After some more cocktails and some food to coat our bellies, we were ready for more. Our finale was Vesuvio. I have been wanting to go to Vesuvio for years and was so happy to finally get the chance to do so. It's located right next to the famous City Lights Books aka where lots of Beat Generation writers would congregate. Being there felt like I was a part of history. I could picture Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassady sitting down for some brewskies where they were later joined by Allen Ginsberg or William S. Burroughs. 

Fernet labels in the bathroom at Vesuvio

self portrait in the bathroom at Vesuvio

All in all, the night was pure perfection.