335 A Visit To Smugglers Cove And A 4th Of July Hangover

This episode originally posted July 2015. After realizing the drink mentioned on the show, The Ladies Man was never posted on our blot we have decided to push this one out again. Hope you enjoy this trip back to 2015.

There is no reason we should deny that we are nursing a hangover.  Kalani and Sunshine celebrated July 4th Independence Day with cocktails, BBQ and plenty of exploding objects.  Starshine joined us for the festivities but was not available to record this episode of the podcast.  To soothe our heads we keep the exotica nice and light, the lights are extra dim and our cocktail is full of citrus and vitamin C.  Thats how we do hangover.  

When planning a trip to San Francisco for the 2015 Pride event we made sure to put a few cocktail destinations on the menu.  At the top of our list was Smuggler's Cove.  For a couple of years we have wanted to spend a few hours with the Bay areas most well trained mixologists and very ample cocktail menu.  We were lucky enough to have Melissa and Justin taking great care of us in the lower reaches of this nautical themed tiki watering hole.  Drink after drink I watched as only the best rums, house made syrups and infusions were used to make spirits so balanced you can't help but sip them while all your cares melt away.  Port Royal, Demerara Dry Float and The Expedition were some of our favorites.  A big Mahalo to Melissa for crafting excellent cocktails from memory and making time to talk to us while she busily made sure everyone received great service and a memorable drinking experience.  Mahalo to Justin for taking a moment to talk and show me some of the bottles behind the bar.  We had a great time and will be back.  

Melissa is mixing another tiki drink masterpiece at Smugglers Cove

Sunshine sips her first cocktail at Smugglers Cove and is instantly transported to a nautical paradise.

A view of the main bar at Smugglers Cove from the balcony. Be sure to visit all three levels of this wonderful tiki experience in San Francisco

Visiting the Hurricane bar at the Tonga Room is a visual experience.  The bar itself is covered in bamboo and volcanic rock with ambient lighting that gives the place just a touch of mystery.  Each of the guys behidn the bar were very friendly and showed off their mixing skills.  We stuck with the bowl drinks, trying the zombie bowl and a luau bow.  Both tasty, throgh we sucked through them far too fast.  Get there at 5pm when they open and step up to the bar.  It fills up quickly.  We recommend one of tables along the water so you can be closer to the rain storms.  Order the pupu platter.  This plate is filled with ribs, chicken, crab rangoon and probably the best egg rolls I have every eaten.  

Sunshine and Fiancee sip a Zombie bowl at the Tonga Room within the Fairmont Hotel San Francisco

Harlow, Chrissy Pants and Sunshine get lit up in more than one way for Independence Day. Cheers to America! This is the evening before the hangover. It happens to all of us once in a while.