Since opening in 2009, Smuggler’s Cove has become a pilgrimage site for rum and tiki lovers worldwide. The multi-floor hideaway in Hayes Valley marries vintage Polynesian-pop artifacts with weather-beaten nautical relics, creating the feeling that you’ve ducked below deck on a pirate brig tossed onto a tropical reef. Behind the bar, staff tap what the owners tout as the largest rum collection in the United States—hundreds of bottles spanning three centuries of history—while the menu revives classics like the Zombie and Jet Pilot alongside modern originals served in flaming mugs or seashells. Despite its fame (World’s 50 Best Bars alumni, multiple James Beard and Tales of the Cocktail accolades), the vibe stays welcoming: no reservations, just first-come camaraderie over meticulously crushed-ice drinks. Crowds gather as soon as doors open at 5 p.m., so arrive early or be ready to queue outside the porthole-framed entrance. Once inside, wander up the rope-lined staircases to explore each level’s unique vantage, join the “Rumbustion Society” passport program, or simply sink into the low light and let the island soundtrack carry you away until last call at 1:15 a.m.
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