By day this place is good for almost any occasion, but come sun down it gets insanely busy and freaking loud. Beretta has quickly become a destination for thin crust pizza with fresh, local ingredients and cool cocktails. The young and affluent gather at long communal tables after a beautiful sunny day at Dolores Park, take refuge under exposed light bulbs and dark wood.

With the kitchen open late, laughter and conversation drift to the old school metal ceiling while cocktails flow. Beretta was recently a semi-finalist for The James Beard Foundation’s Outstanding Bar Programme award, aka the Oscars for the US food scene. They take a huge amount of pride in the heritage of cocktails, taking classics and adding their own spin using homemade sodas, tinctures, bitters, cordials and a healthy dose of imagination. Take the Old Pretender, a creative take on a Price Edward, replacing Lillet with Cocchi Americano mixed with scotch and Drambuie. Light and slightly bitter, it packs a punch and keeps on swinging.