San Francisco and its surrounding cities have always been known for innovation and creativity when it puts its mind to something. And spirits are no exception.

While a few distilleries in the bay area have been around for decades and shine in the traditional styles, others are just pipe dreams that come alive in a day when rents are high and being noticed in the sea of options is tough.

This list is a mix of both.

Always remember to double-check dates, opening times, and weather conditions before traveling.

Some are bay area distilleries that not only offer delicious spirits but a fun experience to try them in-house. And some are just a few local darlings to have some familiarity with.

This way, when you’re taking a break from your epic road trip on the Pacific Coast Highway 1 and it’s time for a cocktail, you can give them a try without having to make an outing just to see what all the hype is about. Or go see them in person and make a day of it.

Whatever your itinerary will allow, it’s always a good idea to check the best distilleries in San Francisco and the nearby towns.

Always remember to double-check dates, opening times, and weather conditions before traveling.

Top Distilleries in San Francisco

Seven Stills Brewery & Distillery

• Address: 100 Hooper St Ste 4 San Francisco, CA 94107 (Missin Bay)
• Website

A San Francisco fan favorite, this brewery and distillery is everything that is genius about distilling these days. Their whiskeys are distilled from their beers. Yes, you heard that right. Love a good stout or IPA? Check out what a refined whiskey would taste like from it.

And their food is ridiculously good too. They offer public and private tours but you can also just saddle up and do a tasting with a burger if that’s more your style.

Pro Tip: Plan to take some home with you. We don’t see them in stores nearly as often as we like and they sell out fast. Stock up on some 6 packs and a few bottles to show off to friends or to do a pairing at home. It’s always a fun host trick.

Distillery No. 209

• Address: 401 Terry Francois Blvd Pier 50, Shed B San Francisco, CA 94158 (Mission Bay)
• Website

Named after its given number when it was first created back in 1882, this was the 209th distiller in the US. This gin-centric distiller is always focusing on the traditional styles of gin with the integration of playful ingredients such as bergamot and cardamom along with the more common hints of juniper. They also make a kosher gin & vodka line.

Their flagship No. 209 Gin is forward on the citrus notes and makes one of the best Negroni’s (Gin/Campari/Vermouth) I’ve ever had. They have offered tasting and tours in the past, while now you need to contact them via this page ahead to see if this is an option. Or just order at any local SF bar, as it’s a popular staple in the Bay.

Hotaling & Co.

• Address: 550 Montgomery St Ste 300 San Francisco, CA 94107 (Financial District)
• Website

This interesting company that was formally known as Anchor Distillers is now not only a distiller themselves but a curator with an outstanding portfolio of spirits and liquors from around the world. Book ahead of time for tasting and tours.

They also offer a great space is for events, with a gorgeous view of the city and open spaces to host a fairly big crowd.

Treecraft Distillery

• Address: 849 Avenue D Treasure Island San Francisco, CA 94130 (Treasure Island)
• Website

Considered one of the best distilleries in the bay area, Teecraft offers an open range of options, from creative gins like lavender & hibiscus, and earl grey tea to whiskeys, vodka, and rum.

Located on the beautiful Treasure Island, this could be a fun day for a group. They offer flight tastings or delicious cocktails depending on your preference. Open on the weekends only.

Bender’s Rye Whiskey

• Address: Treasure Island
• Website

A delicious distiller that is also located on Treasure Island but unfortunately has no tasting room. You can check them out while either at Treecraft Distillery (above, see a bottle at the end) or at many saloons around the bay and beyond.

Best served neat or over. Their Small Batch 5 is a personal favorite if you see it around.

Raff Distillery

• Address: 1615 Innes Ave, San Francisco, CA 94124 (Bayview)
• Website

The very French-inspired line-up from Raff Distillery includes the very recognizable Bummer & Lazarus Gin to their Absinthe Dieu, and Agricole Rhum. While the tasting room and tours have paused until further notice, you will see many of their labels sitting on shelves around the city.

Fun fact, their beautiful artwork labels depict real-life stories of the Victorian age in San Francisco. Including the famed Bummer & Lazarus dogs that lived in the streets and were famous for their rat hunting and strong bond. Rarely seen without the other.

You might even see their famous label on a line of hand sanitizer they launched during the pandemic, in a response to supplies being hard to find… Ain’t this a smart move for this San Francisco distillery?

Tip: Order an Absinthe Mule or a Gin & Tonic when you see their fun labels.

Sequoia Sake

• Address: 50 Apparel Way San Francisco, CA 94124 (Bayview)
• Website

A true hidden gem in the city, sitting a little on the outskirts is this brewery and sake distiller. If you’re in the mood for something a little different you can set up a private tour and tasting, or check them out on Saturdays when they are open to the public.

Recently winning gold and silver for best sake produced outside of Japan, this small husband/wife team is offering some of the most unique styles of sake not often found outside of Japan. With a drive and passion to create what they needed for the perfect ingredients, their story is fascinating and even documented on this PBS Documentary, if you are so inclined to watch.

St. Georges Spirits

• Address: 2601 Monarch St Alameda, CA 94501 (Alameda)
• Website

Just across the bay, one of the oldest and most popular distillers is clocking in at almost 40 yrs old. This company has grown to epic proportions and with good cause. Offering a multitude of spirits including obvious ones like gin, whiskey, vodkas to more fun things such as absinth, an apertivo, and NOLA Coffee Liqueur.

During their move into the current massive 65,000 sq ft airplane hanger location in Alemeda, they relented how they would ever fill such a space. It happened quickly as their dedication to artisanal spirits paved the way to an incredible portfolio of spirits and liqueurs since then.

They are also the founders of the next in the line-up, Hanger One Vodka, which they sold in 2010.

Pro Tip: If you are staying in San Francisco and would like to avoid driving, take the SF ferry to Alameda, and then walk, bike, or Lyft the ½ mile to St. Georges, this is the easiest way to reach this bay area distillery.

Hanger One Vodka

• Address: 2505 Monarch St Alameda, CA 94501 (Alameda)
• Website

Just a little down the road from St. Georges is Hanger One Vodka. A fun albeit smaller production, the variety in their selection and smoothness is hard to beat.

Make a reservation for a tasting just to be on the safe side. On beautiful weekends this place can be popular. They do offer limited qty’s during the tasting and tour, but there is a great bar upstairs where you can try their libations in true cocktail form afterward.

Wright & Brown Distilling Co.

• Address: 2715 Magnolia St. Oakland, Ca 94607 (Oakland)
• Website

While they don’t do tastings in-house, rumor has it that they are building a tasting room and bar to open as soon as things re-open. This is great news as you might be pretty familiar with their whiskeys and rum if that is your thing. They are very popular, and many don’t know that they are a Bay Area distiller.

Known for being “grain-to-table”, meaning that they work with local California farms who gear towards non-GMO and organic as much as possible, this small production house is making a name for itself. And quickly. Opening in just 2014, they’ve become a staple in bars and restaurants throughout California and the U.S.

They offer curbside pickup until their tasting room opens, but you can easily try them as you lounge in a swanky hotel or check out one of the many whiskey bars in San Francisco.

Tripp Distillery

• Address: 1121 Palmetto Ave Pacifica, CA 94044 (Pacifica)
• Website

Heading south from SF, right off Highway in Pacifica is Tripp Distillery. This is the quintessential essence of a small proprietor that makes small batch spirits from the heart.

A little over 5 years old, this little gem of a business is all full of love and what dreams are made of. He currently does Gin, Rum, Vodka, and Brandy. If you step inside and say hi, he will gladly do a flight tasting or make you a yummy cocktail to show off his pride and joys. Staying in the area? They even do delivery.

A fan favorite is the supper smooth vodka or the award winning Gin. A unique blend of botanicals create a natural emerald green color that turns blue when mixed with an acidity. Making this a great gift or party trick with friends.

Staying in Pacifica and eager to know where to eat? Then check the best restaurants in Pacifica!

Please Remember to Drink Responsibly

The great thing about San Francisco and the Bay Area is that it’s relatively small. SF is only 7×7 miles and surrounding cities rarely take long to get to.

So if you are visiting our beautiful city, leave the car behind (without any bags or personal item). There are plenty of Ubers & Lyfts and other modes of transportation like Bart and the ferry to get you around safely. Routsey is a great app to help you get around the city.