7 Chilly Weather Drinks and Where to Get Them

By San Francisco Limousine Specialist on March 7, 2016

Even though San Francisco is notorious for their unpredictable climate, it’s safe to say there’s still enough chilly days left to knock out all seven of these chilly weather drinks before we’re in the full-fledged summer heat. Try some of these tasty treats while you’re exploring the city this month. Even if you’ve had them before – you’ve never had them like San Francisco makes them, trust me.

1. Irish Coffee
   If you’ve recently been a rider on the city’s famous cable cars, then you’ve probably stopped (or at least seen) Buena Vista Café. This cozy cafe has been a tourist attraction and local favorite for decades and is supposedly the first place in America to serve a real Irish Coffee (according to the historical plaque). Their method of aging and frothing the cream so that it floats dates back to 1952.
2. Hot Buttered Rum Smuggler’s Cove in Hayes Valley has long made it on to Bay Area bucket lists everywhere for one unique reason: it’s devoted entirely to rum. And with 400 varieties in stock, there is no better place for a hot buttered rum than at this internationally recognized, Caribbean-inspired bar.
3. Hot Toddy A hot toddy is an uncomplicated drink you can practically order anywhere, but if you want the genuine article, head to Elixir in the Mission district. This neo-Victorian saloon serves more than 330 different whiskeys, meaning your basic hot toddy can take on any additional taste from vanilla notes to a serious peaty flavor.
4. Afternoon Tea Perhaps the most traditional way to warm your sightseeing is with afternoon tea at The Slanted Door. The James Beard Award-winning restaurant in the famous Ferry Building serves afternoon tea every day from 2:30-4:30 p.m. with options that range from herbal blends and oolongs, black Hong Kong milk tea and Thousand Days red jasmine. An afternoon dining menu also gives you a chance to sample some of Chef Charles Phan’s extraordinary dishes.
5. Loose Leaf Tea Samovar has three tea lounges in San Francisco: one at Yerba Buena Gardens, one in the Mission and one in the Castro. Each serves up a selection of organic, single origin and direct import teas in a seriously Zen atmosphere. In the words of the founder and CEO, “Samovar is an alternate reality. A place where we can step out of the rat race. A place where we invite people to slow down, to inhabit the present moment, to disconnect in order to connect.” Sounds like the perfect place to unwind with a warm drink, if you ask me.
6. European Hot Chocolate In a city where an entire block is dedicated to a Chocolate factory, you might think the best cup of hot chocolate is in Ghirardelli Square. No. It’s actually in the Ferry Building Marketplace at a little place called Boulette’s Larder and it’s actually a European-style hot chocolate. It’s thick, satisfying and served straight out of a copper kettle. Boulette’s Larder also boasts a recently refurbished bar and is now open for dinner five nights a week.
7. Mexican Hot Chocolate But since this is San Francisco, Mexican hot chocolate must not be overlooked. No taquería has the bragging rights to authenticity that La Oaxaqueña has. Made with ground almonds and noticeable notes of cinnamon, the Mexican hot chocolate here is the real deal.

For all of your sightseeing, food touring, wine tasting, and bar hopping needs, remember NLS Limo for your transportation. Our classic and luxury automobiles make going anywhere in the Bay Area a breeze, while providing a safe and stylish way to get around town. For rental rates and reservations, contact us today at 800-339-8936!