DrinkedIn Trends

Between the cooking, cleaning, and hosting duties, having Thanksgiving at home can be a major undertaking. From hours spent checking on the turkey to hours spent gathering plates and cups from every table, bookcase, and ottoman in your home, hosting a holiday meal is an impressive feat, and one that’s hardly for the faint of heart. Fortunately, just because you want to enjoy a nice meal with your friends and family doesn’t mean you have to spend the day slaving over a hot stove or scrubbing up at the sink. Take a trip to one of these New York eateries hosting Thanksgiving dinner and take the stress out of Turkey Day:

Má Pêche | 15 West 56^th Street

Head over to Momofuku-branded Má Pêche this Thanksgiving for one of the city’s most delicious holiday meals. In lieu of a traditional turkey, guests can enjoy a Turducken, mashed potatoes with bacon, scallions, and sharp cheddar, focaccia stuffing, pumpkin pie, and mulled apple cider.

Carmine’s | 200 West 44^th Street

This popular Italian restaurant is serving up some of the best Thanksgiving meals in the city. Each year at Thanksgiving, Carmine’s offers a special Thanksgiving menu with roast turkey, Brussels sprouts with caramelized onions and bacon, sausage and sage stuffing, homemade cranberry sauce, marshmallow-topped sweet potatoes, and a choice of apple, pumpkin, or pecan pie for dessert.

With Columbus Day weekend providing an extra day to stay home, there’s no better time to reconnect with your inner circle over a great glass of wine or a cocktail. While the city is replete with places to grab a beer, the Upper West Side has some of the city’s best restaurants for daytime drinks, from sangria to bellinis. If you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy a drink or two this Columbus Day, look no further than these Upper West Side hotspots:

Le Pif

Part wine bar, restaurant, and entirely charming, Le Pif is ideal for when you’re looking to enjoy some fancy French wine, but don’t feel like braving the crowds at Balthazar. Pick from one of the 65 bottles of French wine available or the 40 Le Pif serves by the glass and, if you’re feeling peckish, try out their tempting fare, like French toast or a decadent brie and truffle honey sandwich on toasted brioche.

Maison Pickle

With over 80 wines, 18 beers, and a wide variety of cocktails, from the Earl Gray-infused Maison Punch to a grapefruit-accented Tom Collins, there’s a drink to suit every taste at Maison Pickle. Fortunately, there’s also plenty of hearty fare, from French dips to mac and cheese, to stave off a hangover.

Brunch, the ubiquitous weekend meal, gets an extra day of the week devoted to it when holiday weekends come around and you can stay home or go out. This October, Columbus Day weekend offers brunch aficionados an extra opportunity to enjoy a plate of pancakes or some huevos rancheros with some friends before the work week starts over again. But who are we kidding? The best part of brunch is the booze. This holiday weekend, enjoy a tasty meal and a cocktail or two at one of these Tribeca eateries:  

Two Hands Bar and Restaurant

This charmingly intimate eatery offers one of the best brunches you’ll have anywhere in the city — and the best drinks, too. Start your day with a gluten-free ricotta hotcake with smashed berries and honey-roasted pecans or enjoy a sweet potato waffle with bacon, Brussels sprouts, and a soft-boiled egg. If you’re feeling thirsty, a long list of wine, beer, and cocktails is sure to fit the bill.

After a long week at work, the weekend provides the perfect opportunity to catch up with your friends. Fortunately, for those who aren’t big on the city’s nightlife scene, Manhattan’s inimitable brunch spots provide the perfect place to enjoy some downtime while catching up with the members of your inner circle. For those lucky enough to live in or near the East Village, the neighborhood is a particularly perfect location for some weekend hang time, thanks to the wealth of incredible eateries that call this neighborhood home. If you’re looking to enjoy a great meal with your friends this weekend, look no further than these East village hotspots:

Café Mogador | 101 St. Mark’s Place

Add a little spice to your morning meal by stopping into Café Mogador on St. Marks Place. In the 34 years since this New York City icon opened, little has changed on Café Mogador’s menu, which boasts breakfast and brunch classics, like eggs with smoked salmon, eggs with roasted tomato and halloumi, buttermilk pancakes, and cheese omelets, as well as an all-day menu with merguez sausage, kebabs, Moroccan tagines, and couscous prepared a variety of different ways. For those who enjoy a cocktail with their brunch, you can also choose from two different types of mimosas and Bloody Marys.

Prune | 54 East 1^st Street

One of the city’s most celebrated eateries really brings it when it comes to brunch. Founder and chef Gabrielle Hamilton has created not only an intimate setting perfect for a catch-up session with your closest friends or a date, she’s also created a decadent brunch menu that includes everything from Monte Cristo sandwiches to spicy stewed chickpeas to plates of sausages and oysters.

Cornerstone Café |17 Avenue B

This popular eatery on Avenue B has one of the most diverse brunch menus in the city, offering sweet and savory treats sure to please even the pickiest patrons. Whether you order one of Cornerstone’s famous three-egg omelets, a plate of Nutella and banana crepes, a cobb salad, or elote, there’s something to suit every customer on this menu.

Café Orlin | 41 St. Mark’s Place

Even if you’re not an early riser, you can still catch brunch at Café Orlin this weekend, where the weekend meal is served from 8:30 to 4 on Saturday and Sunday. Just make sure to bring your appetite; dishes like the goat cheese sandwich with red peppers, eggplant tapenade, and tomato on baguette, huevos rancheros, and eggs benedict are sure to please.

Manhattanites may be the first people to jump on the latest diet trends, but even the healthiest eaters can be swayed into a cheat day when there’s sugar involved. For those with a sweet tooth, few areas can compete with the Upper West Side, with West 72nd Street serving as a nexus around which some of the city’s best dessert purveyors sell their wares. Whether your passion is candy, cookies, or cake, you’re sure to find something that suits your taste in this neighborhood.

Sugar and Plumm | 377 Amsterdam Avenue

Known for their delectable macaroons, Sugar and Plumm has become one of the city’s foremost dessert hotspots in recent years. Enjoy one of Sugar and Plumm’s signature sundaes, like the Monkey Business, a combination of peanut butter ice cream, bananas, and chocolate covered pretzels, or the Mish Mosh, a mixture of chocolate ice cream, fudge and caramel sauces, Oreos, blondies, potato chips, and gummy bears. For those eager to enjoy a more adult treat, the Plummtini, a combination of vodka, plum jam, lemon juice, vanilla, and prosecco, is sure to hit the spot.

IT’SUGAR | 1870 Broadway

Work can be its own refuge for those who love their job, but it’s an undeniable pleasure to take a bit of time away from the daily grind and enjoy some sights other than the four walls of your office. Those who call Chicago home are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to make the city their office, at least temporarily, thanks to the wealth of work-friendly bars that provide the perfect environment for meetings with clients. If you’re eager to take a break from the office, head to one of these hotspots where business and fun are always on the menu.

The Violet Hour | 1520 North Damen Avenue

Intimate, elegant, and an ideal destination for anyone who loves a well-mixed drink, The Violet Hour is a well-earned break from the traditional office setting. Grab a seat with your colleagues and enjoy a relaxed meeting over drinks like the Must Confess, a margarita with cinnamon grenadine and egg whites, a Velvet Flip, a malted egg nog, or a massive batch of Violet Hour Punch to serve the whole table.

A long day at the office is often best capped with an evening of Netflix in your pajamas, but occasionally, a bit more fun is in the cards. For the lucky residents of Oceanside, California, the city is full of great bars to enjoy an after-work drink with friends or co-workers, from high-end lounges to sports bars where you can grab a burger, a beer, and watch the game. Regardless of your personal style, you won’t have to go far to find the perfect bar for you. Here are our favorites:

Barrel Republic

Craft beer connoisseurs will feel right at home at Barrel Republic on North Coast Highway. Bartenders at this local hotspot pour more than 48 varieties of beer on a daily basis, including a wide variety of local brews. Grab a stool and enjoy some of Orange Blossom Mead from Golden Coast Mead, brewed right in Oceanside, or a glass of Here’s Your Damn Stout from San Diego’s Benchmark Brewing Company. If you’re hungry, you’re in luck, too — from bacon-wrapped pork belly to vegan flatbread, Barrel Republic’s eclectic menu of delicious treats will fill you right up.

Oceanside Sports Bar & Kitchen

Eager to enjoy a stiff drink in a relaxed environment? Look no further than Oceanside Sports Bar & Kitchen. With 25 beers on draft, another 40 in bottles and cans, and a diverse array of wines, ciders, and cocktails, this casual bar is a great place to relax with your friends after a long day. Fortunately, for those who could use a break from the monotony of office life, pool tables and flatscreen TVs provide welcome distractions.

With the holiday season officially in full swing, there’s a chill in the air, the vivid displays in department store windows are shining like beacons in the night, and parties celebrating the spirit of the season are well on their way. While intimate gatherings ringing in the holidays are often best left to the comfort of your own home, larger events require an elegant atmosphere where your guests can enjoy the celebration and company. Fortunately, for those who call Chicago home, the city is replete with stylish lounges perfect for your holiday get-together. Whether you’re partying with co-workers or your closest friends, check out these celebration destinations this holiday season:

Gilt Bar

If you’re looking for an elegant environment for your holiday party this winter, look no further than The Library. With vintage-inspired décor, from tufted red velvet banquettes to stately chandeliers casting low light across the room, this River North hotspot exudes an intimate charm. Luckily, The Library’s drinks are just as enticing. If you’re in the mood for something fizzy, try the Bar Germain; if a sweeter cocktail is more your style, opt for the honey-infused Bee’s Knees.

Rogers Park Social

The feel of a low-key lounge and the mixologist know-how of a high-end cocktail bar combine seamlessly at Rogers Park Social. This popular Rogers Park institution, outfitted with a large communal table, comfy seating in the back, and board games to mitigate those awkward lulls in the conversation, makes for an ideal spot to get your group together to celebrate the holidays in style.

Presidio

Presidio’s urban rustic design scheme may give it a bit of a hipster vibe, but make no mistake: this Wicker Park watering hole is anything but pretentious. With plenty of room for larger parties and a menu boating everything from bison strip loin to their own take on the Big Mac, cheekily called a “Royale With Cheese,” in a nod to either the French rendition of the sandwich of “Pulp Fiction,” this is one party destination that’s sure to please. Even if dinner isn’t on the menu for your gathering, your guests will have fun ordering horror trope-inspired drinks, like the Wickerman’s Punch and The Babysitter and the Man Upstairs.

The Aviary

Although it’s regularly named one of the best bars in Chicago, The Aviary claims that a night with this West Loop lounge is more than another trip to the pub, it’s an experience. Home to indulgent small plates, from foie gras with rhubarb and lavender to cheesecake with balsamic vinegar and strawberries, The Aviary is a sophisticated destination your guests will appreciate you seeking out. With drinks like boozy hot chocolate, a popcorn-inspired elixir made with real butter, and a long list of craft beers, there’s something to suit every thirsty guest’s palate, as well.

Miami is known for having some of the most exiting nightlife in America, but for those seeking a low-key night on the town, the city delivers, too. As relations between Cuba and the United States continue to improve now that the travel ban has been lifted, more and more Miamians are finding themselves able and eager to enjoy the luxury of a Cuban cigar. While the number of cigar bars around the country is dwindling, here are five spots where you can still relax with a Cohiba near South Beach:

Mi Cuba Cigar Lounge | 1742 NW 7th Street, Miami

This cozy bar and lounge provides an intimate atmosphere for anyone who likes to enjoy some good company with their cigar. You may come for the Cubans, but it's the friendly conversation with regulars that will have you coming back time and time again.

Rooftop Bar | 2341 Collins Avenue, South Beach

Enjoy some of the best views of Miami while puffing on a Cuban at the 1 Hotels Rooftop Bar in South Beach. Rub elbows with the who's and who of Miami, enjoy a well-mixed cocktail, or simply sit back and enjoy your smoke.

No matter where you live, the dating scene can be scary. Trying to discern whether the people you're matched with online are right for you with only the benefit of a dating profile to go off of can be a daunting experiment, even for the most intrepid daters. Fortunately, for those fortunate enough to call Brooklyn home, neighborhoods that attract young residents, like Williamsburg, are great places to meet people without the uncertainty of internet dating. While you can head to virtually any bar in this hipster enclave, not all watering holes are created equal when it comes to finding your match; here's where to head:

Hello Bklyn | 234 Union Avenue

Some of the city's best snacks, beer, and cocktails have all found a collective home at Hello Bklyn on Union Avenue. A mellow bar and eatery that doesn't give off any hint of the sleazy pick-up vibe you'll get at other establishments, Hello Bklyn is a great place to start the night with friends over some food and beers and end it with a phone number in your pocket. Hello Bklyn's young crowd, friendly waiters, and great food and drink, from fried guacamole bites to perfectly proportioned mimosas, make it an unintimidating spot to spend the evening with old friends or meet new ones.

Sort Of Wine Bar | 639 Driggs Avenue

Wine bars can be intimidating to anyone, particularly the amateur sommelier eager to find a date to pair with their pinot. Fortunately, Sort Of Wine Bar doesn't take itself too seriously and provides a comfortable environment for anyone who wants some good company along with their glass of wine. While the bartenders can help you find the perfect wine to suit your palate and talk to you about bouquets and finishes until the cows come home, their relaxed, non-pushy style conveys friendliness without a hint of snobbery.

New York’s bar culture is the stuff of legend, with later last calls and more bars per capita than virtually anywhere else in the country. While the city’s crowded streets may not afford much room for the breweries and distilleries you’ll find in other parts of the country, what you will get in abundance in the Big Apple is beer bars catering to every taste, with everything from small batch craft brews to Bud being served. However, there’s no neighborhood in the city with a better selection of beer bars to choose from than the East Village, so head downtown, grab yourself a barstool, and enjoy one of your favorite brews at these watering holes. 

Dorian Gray | 205 East 4th Street

Low lighting, eclectic art, and an intimate feel have made Dorian Gray a massive hit in the East Village. This Oscar Wilde-inspired classic pub serves up everything from pints of Guinness and Six Point to bottles of Corona, as well as a short list of wine and numerous cocktails named after the literary greats, from the Tom Wolfe to Tennessee Williams. If you’re peckish, you’re in luck, too — Dorian Gray also boasts a menu of British-influenced small plates, like beans on toast and curry chips. 

Alphabet City Beer Company | 96 Avenue C

Combining a specialty beer store and bar, Alphabet City Beer Company does what so many other establishments in the area have tried and failed to do: create a hybrid business model that works. Beer connoisseurs can pick up some bottles to go in the shop’s refrigerator-lined front of house, take a seat at the bar for one of the six beers on tap, like Boulevard Funky Pumpkin or Sixpoint Skol, have their growler filled by the bar’s knowledgable staff, or head to the back of the bar to find a seat at the massive communal table or one of ABC’s comfortable leather chairs and couches. Even if you’re more interested in the company than the craft brews, you’ll find plenty of it here; activities like trivia night and vinyl appreciation night make this a great scene for teetotalers, too.

As many workplaces implement telecommuting policies and freelancing becomes an increasingly viable means of making a living, the actual location of your office seems to matter less and less. For many people, that means the comfort of a couch at home, and for others, a cozy corner of a coffee shop. The luckiest remote workers, however, get to pack up their things and hit their local bar for a productive workday that can quickly evolve into an evening on the town with friends. If you’re looking for somewhere to work and grab a glass in the Oakland area, here’s where to head: 

CommonWealth Cafe | 2882 Telegraph Avenue

This Pill Hill hotspot is a great place to call home for the day. Intimate and quiet, with a decidedly un-barlike feel, CommonWealth offers small tables perfect for getting work done and food and drinks that will make you want to stay. Try out the freshly baked steak pot pie with field greens or treat yourself to a glass of Golden State Cider and relax when the workday is done by checking out one of the soccer matches regularly screened on the bar’s TVs. 

Room 389 | 389 Grand Avenue

A cozy place to enjoy coffee or cocktails, Room 389 takes the initial edge off the idea of working in a bar. Every bit as comfortable as your local coffee house, this eclectic eatery is a calm enough place to meet your deadlines but a fun enough one that you’ll want to stay even when you’re off the clock. If you’re in need of some sustenance while you’re there, try their freshly-baked pretzels or enjoy a glass of sangria or cocktail, like the whimsical and sweet Erik Estrada. 

A great cup of coffee can get your morning off to a great start, it can provide you a much-needed afternoon pick-me-up, or help keep your energy high through a late night at the office. Fortunately, for those lucky enough to call Davis, California home, there are countless great coffee spots ready to pour you a cup. Check out our top picks:

Temple Coffee Roasters | 239 G Street

Whether you're a coffee aficionado looking to try the latest cold brew or are just grabbing lattes and pastries with friends, you won't go wrong with a trip to Temple Coffee Roasters. Boasting coffee and tea from countries around the world, there's a cup to suit every palate at this charming coffee house.

Brunch can be a relaxing diversion after a long workweek, but when you're forced to wait on what seems like a never-ending line to get to it, enjoying yourself is a much trickier proposition. While many Soho restaurants have lines halfway around the block every Saturday and Sunday afternoon, the neighborhood is also home to plenty of hidden gems that won't make you wait. Whether you live nearby, like the residents of luxury condo 10 Sullivan, or are just passing through the neighborhood, make sure to check out these no-wait brunch spots.

BoCaPhe

Try something new at brunch this weekend with a stop into BoCaPhe on Lafayette. This Vietnamese-French fusion restaurant offers brunch options like rice noodles topped with vegetables and eggs, tempura, and even a breakfast bahn mi. For those looking for a more traditional brunch, don't fret — you can still get granola, burgers, and beer, too. 

Cupping Room Café

A classic brunch menu with made-to-order omelets, fresh pastries, and a variety of waffles, pancakes, and French toast makes for a great way to start your Saturday or Sunday morning right. Fortunately, the Cupping Room has ample charm off the menu as well with low lighting and an eclectic art collection hung on its dark brick walls.

Parigot

This French café will transport you right to the streets of Paris with its intimate atmosphere and charm. Enjoy a wide variety of omelet options, with influences ranging from Norway to Basque counry, as well as a bottomless brunch with unlimited mimosas, bellinis, bloody Marys, or sangria. 

NOMO Kitchen

Bright, airy, and elegantly peppered with plants, this charming brunch spot is a great choice for vegetarians, with numerous veggie-based and meat-free dishes on the menu. Try the avocado toast with Meyer lemon and sea salt or dig into a plate of lemon ricotta pancakes with macerated berries and candied pistachios.

Depending on who ask, brunch represents a variety of things: an end to the workweek, a chance to catch up with friends, or sometimes just an excuse to have a cocktail before noon. For those whose weekend plans involve sleeping in and enjoying a great meal, there's no better place to do it than New York City, where you'll find pancakes and mimosas on the menu at virtually every brunch joint in town. With so many options to choose from, we've narrowed down the best Saturday brunch in the city for you:

Friedman's

Head over to Chelsea for a meal at Friedman's, home to one of the best brunches in town. In addition to pancakes topped with berry compote and Vermont maple syrup and mimosas, their weekend brunch menu is packed with comfort food favorites like Eggs Benedict served on potato pancakes, chicken and waffles, and homemade granola.

Tribeca's Kitchen

This Tribeca hotspot is a godsend for the gluten-free, serving up fluffy stacks of gluten-free pancakes along with perfectly proportioned mimosas every weekend. For those with less of a craving for carbs, there's plenty to enjoy as well, from a make-your-own omelet menu to Greek yogurt with berries.

Café Petisco

Café Petisco may be unassuming, but it serves up one of the best brunches in the city every weekend. In addition to brunch cocktails like mimosas, bellinis, and bloody Marys, this Lower East Side eatery makes some of the city's most delicious pancakes in flavors like blueberry, banana, and pecan.

Pardon My French

If you're looking for somewhere to enjoy an excellent and boozy brunch in the East Village, try Pardon My French on for size. Each weekend, this charming café serves a bottomless brunch with mimosas, pancakes topped with fresh fruit and whipped cream, and other French favorites including croque monsieurs and brioche French toast.

Whether you're meeting up with friends after a stroll through Central Park or grabbing a cocktail before a show at Terminal 5, Columbus Circle's bars and restaurants offer a wide variety of drinks and food that appeal to virtually every palate and price range. The hardest part about choosing where to go when you find yourself in this uptown enclave isn't the lack of options, it's how many you'll find within walking distance of where your evening plans will take you. Don't waste your time trying out bars you'll end up bailing on; instead, head out to these watering holes for the perfect prelude to what the night has in store.

Tanner Smith's

Old world elegance and a charming bar staff muddle together as well as the ingredients in the expertly-executed cocktails at Tanner Smith's. Live music, a sophisticated crowd, and playful décor create an atmosphere you'll be eager to enjoy time and time again.

Lillie's Victorian Establishment

Step back in time with a trip to Lillie's Victorian Establishment. This Victorian-inspired bar is packed with era-specific design, as well as a lengthy list of beer, wine, and cocktails. As you take a seat on any number of velvet fainting couches, treat yourself to one of Lillie's 50-plus beers or indulge in a period-appropriate libation, like the absinthe-misted Clockwork Orange or the rosemary- and clove-infused Jean Marie.

Dutch Fred's

Smartly uniformed servers who know their way around a bar and a vintage vibe have made Dutch Fred's a welcome addition to the Columbus Circle area. This cocktail bar celebrates its proximity to the city's theater scene with a wide variety of Broadway-inspired drinks, like the Ginger Rogers, a bourbon and ginger combo, and the Kinky Boots, a mixture of vodka, St. Germain, raspberries, and lemon.

Library Bar at Hudson

Low lighting, roaring fireplaces, and buttery leather furniture give the Hudson Hotel's Library Bar the feeling of a cozy study. Add in the bartending know-how of their master mixologists and you've got a bar where you'll wear your repeat customer status as a badge of honor.

Chicago's culinary scene is second to none, with some of the world's most respected chefs bringing their talent to the Windy City. While Chicago's fine dining establishments are perhaps best known for their multi-course dinners, the weekends offer up yet another culinary treat for the city's gastronomes: brunch. From Edgewater to The Loop, Mayfair to Margate Park, the city is replete with some of the best brunch restaurants you'll find anywhere in the world.

Mortar & Pestle

Lakeview hotspot Mortar & Pestle's eclectic menu draws influence from everything from Midwestern to Middle Eastern cuisine. On the menu, you'll find a wide variety of delicious dishes like beer-battered cheese curds served with Romesco aioli, biscuits with Merguez gravy, and eggs benedict served with Alaskan king crab and sriracha hollandaise.

Arbor

Anyone with an affinity for local cuisine would be wise to set their sights on Logan Square's Arbor for brunch. From their own apiary and garden and other local vendors, Arbor creates homestyle fare like GoGo Oatmeal, a mixture of oats with espresso, hazelnuts, and brown butter cream, and the Machacha Breakfast Burrito with beef, onions, peppers, potatoes, and Arbor's own hot sauce.

Bryn Mawr Breakfast Club

North Park's Bryn Mawr Breakfast Club mixes the intimacy of having lunch at your very own breakfast table with the fine fare Chicagoans have come to expect from chef Manny Mejia. Mejia's menu finds inspiration in everything from his Mexican heritage to North Park's significant Korean population, offering dishes from breakfast burritos to pajun, a scallion pancake, with eggs, pork belly, and Brussels sprouts.

The Publican

If you find yourself in Fulton Market over the weekend, make sure to stop into The Publican for brunch. This New American eatery keeps visitors on their toes with different menus of innovative treats for both Saturday and Sunday brunch. If you stop in on Saturday, make sure to try the grilled olive oil cake and the chicken liver pate, and on Sunday, treat yourself to the Cajun sausage with grits and sunny side-up eggs and a Smokin' Maria, the restaurant's chipotle-infused take on the traditional Bloody Mary.

Everyone knows that a 40th birthday celebration is one for the books, and the rolling hills of northern California are home to some of the best hot spots for hosting an “over the hill” celebration. Whether you want to host a mega party in an atmosphere celebrating classic films and craft cocktails, or sling prohibition style cocktails in one of the city’s oldest hotels, there’s a perfect place to honor mid-life’s arrival.

Foreign Cinema

Fans of classic films will love Foreign Cinema, a stylish Mediterranean restaurant and bar located in San Francisco’s Mission District where diners can enjoy cheese plates or full entrees alongside signature cocktails like the Chamomile Sour, made with chamomile infused Singani 63 brandy, lemon, simple syrup, frothy egg whites and real gold, while watching a black and white movie projected onto the building’s side. For those who want to go especially big on their 40th birthday, Foreign Cinema is also a hot spot for exclusive brunch or evening parties, with private dining options that can accommodate whopping 350 guests.

STEM

When planning a gathering for the ethically conscious partygoer, there’s no better spot than STEM, a popular farm-to-table restaurant that features ample seating in their garden patio which can be reserved for groups. After dining on seasonal dishes like Roasted Black Cod with sunchoke puree, cabbage and trumpet mushrooms or a Roasted Cauliflower and Red Quinoa Salad, pick teams and duke it out on the Bocce Ball court. Don’t forget to let the special birthday person win a match, or five.

NOPA

A classy brunch is a refined way to ring in one’s 40th year, and NOPA located north of San Francisco’s panhandle is among the city’s most popular destinations thanks to its diverse menu items like their smoked cheddar and mustard scones, loukinako sausages served with saffron rice, snap peas, yogurt and poached eggs and custard French toast. Their cocktail list surpasses the monotony of the average mimosa with sips like the “toast and jam” a drink made with amontillado sherry and apricot liqueur or the “Negroni Frizzante” featuring campari, city of London gin and Dolin Rouge. Of course, their house bloody mary made with homemade-spiced tomato juice is considered one of San Francisco’s best. This spot is almost always full, so take advantage of the ability to make reservations up to a month in advance.

The Big 4

The Big 4 in Nob Hill is an excellent choice of venues for the birthdays of self-proclaimed history buffs thanks to it’s location inside The Scarlet Huntington, one of the city’s oldest hotels. Named after the legendary “Big Four” C.P. Huntington, Charles Crocker, Mark Hopkins and Leland Stanford, this seasonal French-inspired restaurant features a critically acclaimed menu boasting items like the Rack of Lamb with parsnip puree and mint sauce and rosemary jus and the Spring Onion Soup Gratinee providing reason to celebrate on their own. 

More than the pleasant weather or long hours of daylight, what we look forward to the most when the summertime rolls around are those easy days at the office where the work stops mid-afternoon and the fun begins. For those of us who stick around the city after our office hours are over, there's no better way to celebrate our time away from the office than relaxing with a well-mixed drink. If you find yourself with some time to kill after work this summer, treat yourself to a drink at one of these West Side watering holes.

Sky Terrace at Hudson: Located atop Midtown's Hudson Hotel, this elegant rooftop bar is the perfect place to take a break from the stress of the workplace. Quiet and comfortable, with lush landscaping, private settees, and fringed hammocks to relax in, the Sky Terrace feel is an ideal place to kick back with a cocktail this summer.

The Dead Poet: For cocktail lovers, the Upper West Side's Dead Poet is a dream come true. Combining a dark and cozy cocktail lounge on the inside and airy al fresco seating in its sidewalk café, the Dead Poet has ambiance that will speak to every type ofFriday afternoon drinker. While the bar is best known for its classic cocktails (named after famous deceased writers, naturally), beer lovers won't be disappointed either — the Dead Poet boasts a long list of bottles and beers on tap.

The Biergarten at the Standard: Views of the High Line and the Hudson River and a long list of craft beers form the perfect pairing at the Standard Hotel's Biergarten. After a hard day at work, cool off with a beer, a bratwurst, and a game of table tennis at this Meatpacking District hotspot.

Boat Basin Café: It's not often that New York City's waterfront feels like a quaint marina, but at the Boat Basin Café in Riverside Park, it's easy to mistake this stretch of the Hudson for the lip of the Pacific. This peaceful, shaded Upper West Side Café offers a diverse selection of food and drinks, from jambalaya to burgers and beer to frozen drinks.

As one of California's most beautiful coastal havens, Malibu is no stranger to visitors from around the world. With surroundings as picturesque as you'll find in Malibu, most visitors find it hard to find reason to head back to their hotel room at the end of a long day, opting instead to cap their day of sun and surf with a well-mixed cocktail or glass of local wine while watching the sunset over the water. If you find yourself in Malibu, treat yourself to a trip to one of these charming beachfront bars.

Paradise Cove Beach Café: Anyone who wants to enjoy a quintessential California experience would be well-advised to check out the Paradise Cove Beach Café. Unlike many other beachfront bars, where the view is the closest you'll get to the beach itself, at Paradise Cove, you can enjoy items from the café's menu of fresh seafood or an oversized tropical drink while digging your toes into the sand. 

Duke's Malibu: Located on a quiet stretch of waterfront just past Las Flores Canyon, Duke's is a pleasantly serene place to enjoy a meal or cocktail. Enjoy California cuisine like poke tacos and fresh sashimi and a long list of wines and festive cocktails at Duke's Barefoot Bar, including coconut mojitos, mai tais, and margaritas.

Carbon Beach Club: Carbon Beach Club is the closest you can come to the Malibu waterfront without getting splashed. This charming restaurant and bar is surrounded by the sparkling blue waters of the Pacific, making it an ideal destination for those who want the beach experience without having to take a dip. With food service from 7 AM to 10 PM and a wine list boasting over 100 bottles, the time is always right for a trip to Carbon Beach.