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A bottle of BACARDÍ Ocho with a cocktail in a coupe glass Courtesy of BACARDÍ

10 Places to Celebrate National Rum Month in the Bay Area

With redwoods, on rooftops, and in jungles (neon and otherwise)

By Robert Spuhler Updated
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By Robert Spuhler Updated
Courtesy of BACARDÍ
This advertising content was produced in collaboration between Vox Creative and our sponsor, without involvement from Vox Media editorial staff.

Rum is a spirit of relaxation, one that can instantly transport you to the Caribbean, the South Pacific, or any one of a number of other tropical locations. So, it makes perfect sense that August would be designated as National Rum Month, as the last full month of summer is often the final chance to get those trips and vacations in before the sprint to the holiday season begins.

The good news: A smooth Puerto Rican rum like BACARDÍ Ocho can take you on that trip without the hassle of airports or hotel bookings. And these 10 Bay Area bars utilize the unique flavors of the eight-year-aged spirit to their fullest potential. Here’s where to (responsibly) celebrate this month.

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Causwells

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The hamburgers may be the oft-cited stars of this Marina favorite, but what’s a burger without a drink? The appropriately named Baycation, with its blend of smooth BACARDÍ Ocho, pineapple and other citrus, and chocolate bitters, is a staycation served in a fresh coconut, and it works both as a bunch cocktail (alongside the famed brunch burger, topped with an egg and bacon) or an after-work relaxation sipper (sitting next to the Americana smash cheeseburger). Either way, take the rest of the day off after imbibing.

2346 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 447-6081
(415) 447-6081
The Baycation at Causwells Courtesy of Causwells

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Last Rites

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The Duboce Triangle tiki bar bills itself as a “Polynesian Noir adventure,” and that’s not just because of the rum-heavy menu and dark lighting. Flashing lights, sound effects, and manmade haze make the experience less tropical paradise and much more deserted island castaway (the bar is styled to look like an airplane’s fuselage). Plane crashes usually require more than a medical professional, but the No Doctor On Board is still a sufficient warning — and the complex combo of BACARDÍ Ocho, sherry, brandy, gin, cream, and almond extract is strong enough to cut through the fog.

718 14th St, San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 295-2965
(415) 295-2965
The No Doctor on Board at Last Rites Courtesy of Last Rites

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The Beehive

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Geometric patterns, sputnik chandeliers, vintage ads on the walls: The Beehive is a time capsule of mid-20th century drinking culture in the Mission, only missing a conversation pit and a laissez-faire philosophy on smoking. The espresso martini, though, is a modern touch, taking the symbol of ‘60s business lunches, substituting BACARDÍ Ocho for the vodka or gin, and adding cold brew and Demerara sugar. Couple it with some pigs in a blanket for a fully transportive experience.

842 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 306-8209
(415) 306-8209
The Espresso Martini at the Beehive Courtesy of the Beehive

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Abacá

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When chef Francis Ang set up his first brick-and-mortar Filipino-Californian restaurant inside the Kimpton Alton at Fisherman’s Wharf, dishes like his fried rice and the assortment of skewers were the selling points (this was before the national “best restaurants” list accolades, of course). But don’t look past the cocktail menu here, either, with both fun combinations of flavors and great names (the Lady Gago is a favorite). Take the ube colada, for example: Adding the purple yam to the colada’s coconut cream not only gives the drink a different hue, but also a touch of vanilla that plays nicely with the spices of the BACARDÍ Ocho.

2700 Jones St, San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 486-0788
(415) 486-0788
The Ube Colada at Abacá Courtesy of Abacá

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Pacific Cocktail Haven

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To point out that Pacific Cocktail Haven is a Bay Area hot spot for drinking culture is akin to saying that, on occasion, there are tourists along the Embarcadero. Pacific Cocktail Haven has won awards from around the world, including “Best American Cocktail Bar” from the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, thanks to its inventive menu. After devastating fire in 2021, the bar reopened in a new location three doors down with a front courtyard that makes for a gorgeous drinking spot. The bar’s Naked Painkiller is a play on the traditional version of the tiki standard: instead of adding pineapple juice directly to the drink, Pacific Cocktail Haven infuses BACARDÍ Ocho with the tropical fruit in advance.

550 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94108
The Naked Painkiller at Pacific Cocktail Haven Courtesy of Pacific Cocktail Haven

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Pagan Idol

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Located inside the bones of the famed Tiki Bob’s Mainland Rendezvous (where the Tiki Bob mug design was born), Pagan Idol roared to life in 2016, with a commitment to theme not always seen in the Financial District — but almost always seen within the portfolio of Future Bars Group. The boozy takes on tiki classics here include the Day Walker, a version of the Zombie with BACARDÍ Ocho named for the similarly powerful vampires unaffected by daylight.

375 Bush St, San Francisco, CA 94104
(415) 985-6375
(415) 985-6375
The Day Walker at Pagan Idol Courtesy of Pagan Idol

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Barbarossa Lounge

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The wood-and-brick interior, massive chandeliers, and red color scheme at this Jackson Square favorite pay tribute to the bar’s history. The building predates the 1906 earthquake and the neighborhood was once home to the infamous Barbary Coast, one of San Francisco’s earliest red-light districts. The Beach X Hyde, meanwhile, is a form of tribute to the sailors who were often the district’s patrons; BACARDÍ Ocho, pineapple, guava, and bitters create a mix that would taste familiar to any tropical adventurer.

714 Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 434-4204
(415) 434-4204
The Beach X Hyde at Barbarossa Lounge Courtesy of Barbarossa Lounge

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Heartwood

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The latest effort from a team that, combined, has been behind bars like the Beehive and other Bay Area mainstays, Heartwood feels like an ode to California’s natural beauty — in particular, the forests north of the city. The brick-and-wood interior has been open to the public only since April, but its drink menu tastes like a list of classics, thanks in part to a reliance on natural spices and flavors. That comes through in the Pulp Fiction, which combines a blend of spiced rums (including BACARDÍ Ocho), mango, citrus, and Makrut lime into a smooth mixed drink that balances both tropical and earthy tones.

531 Commercial St, San Francisco, CA 94111
The Pulp Fiction at Heartwood Courtesy of Heartwood

Cavaña

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The rooftop lounge of the Luma Hotel is now six months into operation, and the views of Mission Bay prove to pair beautifully with Cavaña’s pan-Latin tapas and spirits. The Guava Colada is a star here, with the titular fruit and BACARDÍ Ocho adding an extra dimension to the oft-made drink. Sip this, order some tacos de pescado and – if you squint – maybe the Bay will start to look like coastal Mexico. If not, have a second Guava Colada.

100 Channel St 17th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94158
(415) 757-1470
(415) 757-1470
The Guava Colada at Cavaña Courtesy of Cavaña

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Viridian

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A standout of Uptown Oakland’s food and beverage scene, Viridian features a cocktail menu with an Asian influence that comes through in the spirits, the mixers, and even the containers. The Taiwan Love Boat, for instance, features a mix of BACARDÍ Ocho and a Japanese rum, a Chinese cooking wine, and a Chinese liquor (along with a Spanish sherry, lime, and even pineapple cake), all poured into a ceramic vessel shaped like a takeout container. The only thing flashier is the neon-inspired décor.

2216 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612
The Taiwan Love Boat at Viridian Courtesy of Viridian

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Causwells

2346 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA 94123

The hamburgers may be the oft-cited stars of this Marina favorite, but what’s a burger without a drink? The appropriately named Baycation, with its blend of smooth BACARDÍ Ocho, pineapple and other citrus, and chocolate bitters, is a staycation served in a fresh coconut, and it works both as a bunch cocktail (alongside the famed brunch burger, topped with an egg and bacon) or an after-work relaxation sipper (sitting next to the Americana smash cheeseburger). Either way, take the rest of the day off after imbibing.

2346 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 447-6081
(415) 447-6081
The Baycation at Causwells Courtesy of Causwells

Last Rites

718 14th St, San Francisco, CA 94114

The Duboce Triangle tiki bar bills itself as a “Polynesian Noir adventure,” and that’s not just because of the rum-heavy menu and dark lighting. Flashing lights, sound effects, and manmade haze make the experience less tropical paradise and much more deserted island castaway (the bar is styled to look like an airplane’s fuselage). Plane crashes usually require more than a medical professional, but the No Doctor On Board is still a sufficient warning — and the complex combo of BACARDÍ Ocho, sherry, brandy, gin, cream, and almond extract is strong enough to cut through the fog.

718 14th St, San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 295-2965
(415) 295-2965
The No Doctor on Board at Last Rites Courtesy of Last Rites

The Beehive

842 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Geometric patterns, sputnik chandeliers, vintage ads on the walls: The Beehive is a time capsule of mid-20th century drinking culture in the Mission, only missing a conversation pit and a laissez-faire philosophy on smoking. The espresso martini, though, is a modern touch, taking the symbol of ‘60s business lunches, substituting BACARDÍ Ocho for the vodka or gin, and adding cold brew and Demerara sugar. Couple it with some pigs in a blanket for a fully transportive experience.

842 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 306-8209
(415) 306-8209
The Espresso Martini at the Beehive Courtesy of the Beehive

Abacá

2700 Jones St, San Francisco, CA 94133

When chef Francis Ang set up his first brick-and-mortar Filipino-Californian restaurant inside the Kimpton Alton at Fisherman’s Wharf, dishes like his fried rice and the assortment of skewers were the selling points (this was before the national “best restaurants” list accolades, of course). But don’t look past the cocktail menu here, either, with both fun combinations of flavors and great names (the Lady Gago is a favorite). Take the ube colada, for example: Adding the purple yam to the colada’s coconut cream not only gives the drink a different hue, but also a touch of vanilla that plays nicely with the spices of the BACARDÍ Ocho.

2700 Jones St, San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 486-0788
(415) 486-0788
The Ube Colada at Abacá Courtesy of Abacá

Pacific Cocktail Haven

550 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94108

To point out that Pacific Cocktail Haven is a Bay Area hot spot for drinking culture is akin to saying that, on occasion, there are tourists along the Embarcadero. Pacific Cocktail Haven has won awards from around the world, including “Best American Cocktail Bar” from the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, thanks to its inventive menu. After devastating fire in 2021, the bar reopened in a new location three doors down with a front courtyard that makes for a gorgeous drinking spot. The bar’s Naked Painkiller is a play on the traditional version of the tiki standard: instead of adding pineapple juice directly to the drink, Pacific Cocktail Haven infuses BACARDÍ Ocho with the tropical fruit in advance.

550 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94108
The Naked Painkiller at Pacific Cocktail Haven Courtesy of Pacific Cocktail Haven

Pagan Idol

375 Bush St, San Francisco, CA 94104

Located inside the bones of the famed Tiki Bob’s Mainland Rendezvous (where the Tiki Bob mug design was born), Pagan Idol roared to life in 2016, with a commitment to theme not always seen in the Financial District — but almost always seen within the portfolio of Future Bars Group. The boozy takes on tiki classics here include the Day Walker, a version of the Zombie with BACARDÍ Ocho named for the similarly powerful vampires unaffected by daylight.

375 Bush St, San Francisco, CA 94104
(415) 985-6375
(415) 985-6375
The Day Walker at Pagan Idol Courtesy of Pagan Idol

Barbarossa Lounge

714 Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA 94111

The wood-and-brick interior, massive chandeliers, and red color scheme at this Jackson Square favorite pay tribute to the bar’s history. The building predates the 1906 earthquake and the neighborhood was once home to the infamous Barbary Coast, one of San Francisco’s earliest red-light districts. The Beach X Hyde, meanwhile, is a form of tribute to the sailors who were often the district’s patrons; BACARDÍ Ocho, pineapple, guava, and bitters create a mix that would taste familiar to any tropical adventurer.

714 Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 434-4204
(415) 434-4204
The Beach X Hyde at Barbarossa Lounge Courtesy of Barbarossa Lounge

Heartwood

531 Commercial St, San Francisco, CA 94111

The latest effort from a team that, combined, has been behind bars like the Beehive and other Bay Area mainstays, Heartwood feels like an ode to California’s natural beauty — in particular, the forests north of the city. The brick-and-wood interior has been open to the public only since April, but its drink menu tastes like a list of classics, thanks in part to a reliance on natural spices and flavors. That comes through in the Pulp Fiction, which combines a blend of spiced rums (including BACARDÍ Ocho), mango, citrus, and Makrut lime into a smooth mixed drink that balances both tropical and earthy tones.

531 Commercial St, San Francisco, CA 94111
The Pulp Fiction at Heartwood Courtesy of Heartwood

Cavaña

100 Channel St 17th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94158

The rooftop lounge of the Luma Hotel is now six months into operation, and the views of Mission Bay prove to pair beautifully with Cavaña’s pan-Latin tapas and spirits. The Guava Colada is a star here, with the titular fruit and BACARDÍ Ocho adding an extra dimension to the oft-made drink. Sip this, order some tacos de pescado and – if you squint – maybe the Bay will start to look like coastal Mexico. If not, have a second Guava Colada.

100 Channel St 17th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94158
(415) 757-1470
(415) 757-1470
The Guava Colada at Cavaña Courtesy of Cavaña

Viridian

2216 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612

A standout of Uptown Oakland’s food and beverage scene, Viridian features a cocktail menu with an Asian influence that comes through in the spirits, the mixers, and even the containers. The Taiwan Love Boat, for instance, features a mix of BACARDÍ Ocho and a Japanese rum, a Chinese cooking wine, and a Chinese liquor (along with a Spanish sherry, lime, and even pineapple cake), all poured into a ceramic vessel shaped like a takeout container. The only thing flashier is the neon-inspired décor.

2216 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612
The Taiwan Love Boat at Viridian Courtesy of Viridian

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