Whether it\u2019s shaken, stirred, dirty, or dry, the martini remains one of the world\u2019s most iconic and timeless drinks. While there\u2019s debate about where the drink originated, San Francisco\u2019s fingerprints are all over its rise, the precursor \u201cMartinez\u201d drink, borne from the Bay Area\u2019s Gold Rush and saloon era. Now, the city is honoring this legacy with “The San Francisco Martini Trail,” a new, first-of-its-kind initiative celebrating San Francisco\u2019s cocktail history and its modern mixology culture.<\/p>\n
Stretching across the city\u2019s diverse neighborhoods, from the Embarcadero\u2019s waterfront to art-filled SoMa and the tree-lined avenues of The Richmond, the Trail invites visitors to sip their way through San Francisco\u2019s most notable bars. \u201cThe Martini Trail is both a toast to San Francisco\u2019s history and a taste of its future. This is where the martini found its swagger and where it continues to be reinvented,” Anne Marie Presutti, president and CEO of San Francisco Travel, said in a press release shared with Travel + Leisure.<\/p>\n
Curated by San Francisco\u2013based food, drink, and travel writer Omar Mamoon, the Trail also showcases the artistry of the city\u2019s bartenders. Visitors can enjoy everything from gin-and-vermouth classics to innovative contemporary cocktails. Mamoon describes the trail as a starting point for visitors to explore San Francisco<\/a> while inspiring them to craft their own adventures.<\/p>\n With 23 participating restaurants, the Trail offers a comprehensive range of cocktail styles and flavors. True Laurel<\/a>, recently named one of North America\u2019s 50 Best Bars in 2025, serves its signature Laurel Martini, a refined blend of London Dry and Islay gins, vermouth, and California bay tincture. Martuni\u2019s<\/a>, a beloved downtown piano-bar, takes a more playful approach with a colorful quartet of fruit-forward martinis, from sour apple and watermelon to pineapple and creamsicle. At Starlite<\/a>, nostalgia comes alive in the Dirty 90\u2019s Martini, crafted with Grey Goose Vodka infused with extra virgin olive oil and house brine vermouth. Together, these stops provide a self-guided tour of San Francisco, one drink at a time.<\/p>\n To learn more about The San Francisco Martini Trail and access its interactive map, visit sftravel.com\/san-francisco-martini-trail<\/a>.<\/p>\n