Smuggler's Cove

"There’s an ongoing push to reconsider the cultural implications of tiki bars — but for those who seek a tropical cocktail or a deep selection of rum, Smuggler’s Cove makes a logical choice. The bar, convincingly designed to look and feel like the inside of a ship, has won just about every award the bar and cocktail world has to offer including being named one of the best bars in the world by World’s 50 Best, Playboy, and Esquire on top of earning nods from both the James Beard Foundation and Tales of the Cocktail." - Dianne de Guzman, Eater Staff

"The best place in SF for an education in rum and Tiki tradition is this award-winning, almost-decade-old spot on the Hayes Valley/Civic Center border where no expense was spared on the kitschy decor. With over 400 rums available to try, you can be assured that the cocktail selection is deep as well, with just about every classic and obscure Tiki concoction represented. There are a few drinks you can get as bowls here, but only if you’re lucky or patient enough to snag a table, given how tight things can get in the bar area. Also, these bowls are not the hugest, and are really only good for 2 to 3 people, so bear that in mind. Still, this is the place to find out what a Scorpion Bowl should actually taste like." - Jay C. Barmann

"What better way to avoid the sports fans than to immerse yourself in tiki culture at Smuggler’s Cove? It's way easier to rid yourself of playoff-induced stress after a few of these deceptively strong cocktails." - Eloise Porter

"To the pantheon of Tiki talents like “Trader” Vic Bergeron on Don the Beachcomber, add Martin Cate, whose recent book Smuggler’s Cove: Exotic Cocktails, Rum, and the Cult of Tiki received a James Beard Award. Smuggler’s Cove, which Cate owns with his partner Rebecca, provides a trip from Hayes Valley to a fully-realized fantasia: It’s like a small, three-level treehouse full of incredible decor (including artifacts from now-closed Tiki classics). The Smuggler’s cove menu could win a Beard Award, too: It’s a lengthy exploration of rum, Tiki drinks, and American bar history. Read and drink up." - Caleb Pershan

"Though it’s not the original (for that, you’d need to head across the bridge to Trader Vic’s), the Smuggler’s Cove Mai Tai holds a special place in the hearts and minds of both San Franciscans and cocktail lovers around the world. Credited to rum expert Martin Cate, this version of the drink marries rum, orange curacao, lime, oregat, and sugar." - Lauren Saria