Cold Drinks Bar

Lovely quiet bar above China Live, not too loud of a place (good for dates), but the menu was heavily focused on Whisky! That being said, despite not being a whisky lover, their cocktails were really well done and I surprisingly liked their whisky based cocktails too!

A bit on the pricier side but a nice ambience to chill and talk. Really nice waiters too.

Cold Drinks Bar is a hidden gem located above the China Live restaurant in Chinatown. The setting is dark, romantic, and intimate, with plenty of bar seating sofa lounges for couples or smaller groups.

Behind the bar, the bartenders expertly and creatively crafted drinks that tasted as good as they looked. Although they specialize in Japanese whiskies, they provide a variety of different chef's choice cocktails. I sipped on the Summertime, a gorgeous pink drink with hints of fruit and florals elevated by fine bubbles. We also had an 'omakase-style' (chef's choice drink) after asking for her take on a classic martini, and what Angel delivered was a symphony of flavors that showcased her creative talents. It was cold, refreshing, and the perfect mix of a unique gin with the fresh zest of a lemon.

Beyond the drinks, the staff provides excellent hospitality in this intimate space. For distinctive cocktails as creative as they are delicious, Cold Drinks should top any list for must-try cocktail bars in San Francisco!

Stopped for drinks with my wife on Thursday night before dinner (at another restaurant). Cold Drinks Bar is above China Live (same ownership), up the stairs and to an unlabeled door with just an icon on it. Behind the door is a decent size space with couch and casual table seating.

The cocktails are exceptional. We had three different ones, and each was a delight - from each description, you get a mental image of what you think is coming...and you are surprised each time.

What we found is while the drinks are strong, because of the size of the square ice cube and the resulting volume of liquor, none of the drinks were overly-formidable.

At present, there's no food being served up there, so ask for a bowl of peking duck popcorn. At first it seems like caramel corn, but get the right kernel and there's a Peking Duck finish - awesome.

My only thought is the brightness level of the illumination could be reduced just a bit for the sake of intimacy and ambiance, but perhaps that's a niggle.

Overall, we were delighted and will be back.

Popped up after date night at China Live for a post dinner cocktail. They were able to seat us at the bar (~ 7:30pm). This is a very classy and peaceful cocktail bar up on the second floor of the China Live building, it took us a minute to find the entrance after taking the elevator up (just head towards the stairwell and you'll see a door on the right hand side).

Large amount of whiskey. It's not usually my jam but I've put on a list for when my whiskey connoisseur friend next visits the city! I enjoyed a Sometimes Old Fashioned, which was perfectly mixed. They made a mocktail for my wife, who was driving us home, which utilised a number of their housemade syrups and cost almost as much as a real cocktail (but I guess the labour is the expensive part of each drink here!).

Although it's a little on the pricier side, at $18 a drink, we had a great time and will be back - both for the drinks and the ambience!

Showed up without a reservation and was told there would be a 1hr 30 minute wait. Joined the waitlist and came back after I received the text that my table was ready.

I love the ambiance of this place - the decor is gorgeous! The bar is located upstairs from China Live. The noise level was just right - great for conversations We got a variety of drinks Silk Degrees, Montenegro, Oaxacan Princess, Jasmine Tea Lager and the Wheat Beer.

As for cocktails, my favorite was the Silk Degrees - was a warm flavor that mixed very well with whiskey! My second favorite was the Montenegro - citrusy and refreshing.

Only downside during our visit was the service, there was only one bartender working so it took quite some time before we received our drinks.

! Warning: automatic 20% service charge added to the bill regardless of party size so beware not to double tip!

Cold Drinks Bar is tucked away behind the front desk of China Live and is a sexy, intimate spot that's great to bring friends before/after dinner downstairs.

We came on a Wednesday night around 6 and I have to give major props to the bartender as he held down the whole fort by himself. The bar was very crowded with a lot of groups but he made sure to take care of everyone.

I ordered the Silk Degrees and thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the subtle hints of pineapple and coconut with the Smokey liquor. Pro Tip: if you come to Cold Drinks Bar before your China Live reservation, you can bring your drink with you to your table after you close out.

The whisky selection here is exceptional. Though, I assume that because the bartenders had come from Nihon Whisky Lounge there's no surprise there. While I am not so acquainted with the qualities of whisky, my friends who were, had a great time chatting up the bartenders while I sipped what I would call a decent cocktail.

A few things of note, the bar is richly decorated is dimly lit. A popular spot for dates as several couples came in and out during our time there. It grows louder as the night grows on and then quiets down after peak service.

There are some issues with cleanliness. There were cocktail ingredients out in the open on the bar. At one point, we noticed something movement, only to find a small cockroach dancing across the bar...no idea whether or not it had been in the ingredients themselves but we were shocked to see it. Especially given the appearance of cleanliness.

Recently visited this bar above China Live and was thoroughly impressed by the creative drink selection and fantastic vibes. The "Sometimes Old Fashioned" deserves a special mention - it's hands down one of the best drinks I've ever had.

I expected this "hidden" little bar to be a bit stuffy, but my expectations were quite wrong. The staff is warm and welcoming and extra helpful explaining some of the very unique drink offerings. Our small party started our evening here, with most of us ordering their signature cocktail, Sometimes off the menu bartender special, which were absolutely to die for.

Drinks are well executed, balanced and creative. Let's be honest, it's on the pricey side but I its well worth the extra $ for quality. I'd highly recommend this place to end the night after grabbing dinner at near by place or kick off your night out at this place. you won't regret it!!

Loved this place. It's right above China Live. Follow the bats until you see the golden door.

It's a super high end cocktail bar. Not huge, but we were able to get seats at the bar on a Saturday night after only waiting a few minutes.

Specializes in whiskey, but the mixologists can make you drinks with pretty much any spirit you might desire.