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Ask A Bay Area Bartender: Your Best Tropical Drink Recipe

When you think of the best bars for tropical drinks in San Francisco, a few places come straight to mind. In Cow Hollow, the popular Caribbean-inspired Palm House has earned itself a spot on that list since its 2014 opening. The Palm House encourages a year-round summertime vibe, instantly instigating relaxation for customers who feel they have stepped into the tropics before even stepping up to the bar. Noting influences from Brazil, Cuba, Hawaii, Indonesia and the Caribbean, choose from a hefty selection of tropical cocktails, a frozen slushy and two seriously fun punch bowl house specialties for four to six to share that are both flavorful and fanciful ... with "a California point-of-view."

Bar Manager Duncan Wedderburn says the Palm House chipotle mango margarita made with tequila is currently the most popular cocktail, calling it "a perfect balance of spicy and sweet, yet still refreshing, perfect for any time of day." However, he's got a personal favorite cocktail in mind as well.

Duncan Wedderburn, Palm House, San Francisco

Duncan Wedderburn
Bar Manager/Beverage Director
Palm House
2032 Union St.
San Francisco, CA 94132
(415) 400-4355
www.palmhousesf.com

Nobody ever says, "Remind me, what's the name of that place again?" when it comes to Palm House. You walk into the restaurant past a giant palm tree, said to be the second oldest in the city, growing in the front garden off of Union Street. Even Lyft drivers can tell you that it's one of the most popular destinations on their circuits.

"The owners wanted to create a restaurant that made every guest feel like they're on vacation." Wedderburn says. It worked.

"The neighborhood has really fallen in love with the place. After all, who doesn't love vacation?" he adds. So, for a virtual escape to the tropics, skip the jet and upgrade your happy hour (3-6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday) by settling in under the hanging birdcages in this vibrant, light-filled space.

For a bit of insight about what goes into the in-demand Palm House Slushy signature drink created in the machine behind the bar, Wedderburn tells us more.

"We use Mt. Gay black barrel rum, cruzan light rum, fresh lime juice and cane sugar to create a drink that transports you to the islands. Try it with passion fruit, strawberry or prickly pear, and don't forget the dark rum float for an utmost leisurely experience," he suggests.

Getting to the heart of the palm, as it were, Wedderburn is ready to reveal his own personal favorite tropical cocktail on the Palm House menu — The Commodore.

"It's a seasonally inspired cocktail combining rosemary infused gin, blood peach, sweet vermouth and lemon juice," he says. "It's a unique flavor profile that tastes phenomenal."

The Commodore, Palm House

The Commodore

Ingredients:

  • 1.5oz Rosemary infused gin
  • 1.0oz sweet vermouth
  • .75 lemon juice
  • .5 simple syrup
  • .5 blood peach purée

Instructions:

Add all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Shake and pour into a Collins glass. Garnish with a lemon wheel and a sprig of fresh rosemary, and serve over ice with two straws. Of course, if you're serving at home, the paper umbrella is optional.

As Palm House says, "Stay tropical, San Francisco."

Laurie Jo Miller Farr loves walkable cities. A tourism industry professional and transplanted New Yorker by way of half-a-lifetime in London, she's writing about the best of the bay and beyond for Yahoo, USA Today, eHow, and on Examiner.com.


 

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