Best Cocktail Bars in California

California's cocktail bars are led by San Francisco and Los Angeles, with San Diego close behind. True Laurel in the Mission ranks fourteenth on North America's 50 Best Bars 2026, Pacific Cocktail Haven and Trick Dog, the 2025 Spirited Award winner for Best U.S. Cocktail Bar, are San Francisco fixtures, and the Buena Vista Cafe won the Timeless U.S. Award in 2024 for the Irish Coffee it has poured since 1952. In Los Angeles, Mírate in Los Feliz and Daisy Margarita Bar both hold places on North America's 50 Best Bars 2026, and the agave-led rooms of the east side share the list with the classic bars of Hollywood and downtown. San Diego adds a strong set around North Park and Little Italy, and Sacramento, Oakland and Long Beach each have entries. Every listing is verified by BarMagazine, with the address, published hours and the drinks worth ordering, and the city guides linked below rank each city's best.