If Japan’s refined drinking culture has always intrigued you, San Francisco offers a chance to explore it—glass by glass. Bars here are embracing Japanese spirits and techniques, creating cocktails that are rooted in tradition but tailored to California creativity. Here are five cocktails worth planning your next night out around.

Okinawa – Bar Iris 

Bar Iris, known for its avant-garde approach, presents the Okinawa cocktail—a vibrant blend of Japanese rum, Okinawa purple yam, calamansi lime, oat milk, and plum. This magenta-hued drink offers a tropical yet earthy profile, delivering a unique and refreshing experience.

Source: The Bold Italic

Tokyo Banana – Bar Kamon 

At Bar Kamon, the Tokyo Banana cocktail combines Toki whisky, Bacardi Ocho rum, Braulio amaro, banana, hojicha tea, and banana foam. This layered concoction balances the richness of banana with the roasted notes of hojicha, creating a dessert-like drink that's both indulgent and nuanced.

Source: Instagram

Pretty Bird – Yokai 

Yokai offers the Pretty Bird, a cocktail made with Kiyomi Japanese rum, coconut water, Luxardo Bitter Bianco, and lime. This drink captures the essence of a tropical escape, blending the smoothness of rum with the refreshing qualities of coconut and citrus. 

Source: Eater SF

Green Eyes – Bar Shiru 

Bar Shiru, a Tokyo-inspired hi-fi vinyl bar in Oakland, serves the Green Eyes cocktail—a refreshing blend of vodka, lime, cucumber shrub, elderflower liqueur, and mint gomme. This drink offers a crisp and invigorating experience, perfect for those seeking a light yet flavorful cocktail.

Source: Yelp

Ichigo Ichie – Bar Shoji

Bar Shoji introduces the Ichigo Ichie, a cocktail that harmoniously blends pickled plum liqueur, strawberry, and mezcal. This drink starts with the sweetness of strawberry and transitions to an umami, woody finish, showcasing the bar's innovative fusion of Japanese and Thai flavors.

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Turns out, you don’t have to go far to get a taste of Japan—just head to one of these bars. These cocktails are packed with flavor, fun, and a little flair. Grab a seat, take a sip, and enjoy the Japanese twist on your usual go-to.