Cavaña

The world is full of horrible hotel bars, so Cavaña stands out. A rare rooftop spot in the city, it’s the one place we’re excited to go and pretend we live in Miami or LA. The tropical-inspired Latin American bar is at the top of the LUMA Hotel in Mission Bay. It’s packed with locals, tourists, and random Giants fans who are trying to peek at Oracle Park from the corner of the rooftop with a view of the field. It’s a funny sight, contrasted with Cavaña’s lush green wall and plants on every corner. Heaters will remind you that you’re totally in San Francisco and not in the tropics. The cocktails are fun and bright, and showcase savory Latin American ingredients such as hoja santa, mole, and poblanos. When it comes to the food, which ranges from corn esquites tostadas to aguachiles and carne asada plates, it's surprisingly good, especially for a hotel restaurant. Get the arepas—the perfectly cooked brisket works in harmony with corny masa, black beans, and cotija cheese. They’re the perfect bites to go with the live music and DJs who play Latin hits on weekends.