The Cellar — Restaurant in Oakhurst

While in Oakhurst, my dad and I stopped into The Cellar for a quick drink—and what was meant to be a casual stop quickly turned into a memorable experience thanks to the fantastic bartenders and expertly crafted cocktails.

I went with a classic martini, and let me tell you—it was made exactly as it should be. They rinsed the glass with Dolin vermouth (as any good bartender should) and used Beefeater gin, which isn't my go-to but still acceptable. Simple, classic, perfect. The only adjustment I had to make? Asking for a third olive because, culturally, even numbers are bad luck—and I prefer to take my chances with gin, not superstition.

My dad ordered an Old Fashioned, and I kid you not—he raved about it the entire night. He said it was the best Old Fashioned he’d ever had and reminded me of this at least a dozen times. So, if you’re an Old Fashioned fan, this place clearly knows what they’re doing.

The bartenders were fantastic—super friendly, engaging, and genuinely seemed to enjoy what they do. They even introduced themselves, which was great... except I’m horrible with names, so I’ll just say: shoutout to the awesome bartenders!

At one point, my dad noticed a grandfather clock in the lobby and asked about it—only to stump the entire staff. So, for future reference (or if you ever find yourself at The Cellar wondering the same thing), it’s made by Mora and handmade in Sweden sometime between 1750 and 1850. Consider this your cocktail party fun fact of the day.

The Cellar is a must-visit if you're looking for great drinks, great people, and maybe a bit of history trivia. Would I go back? Absolutely. Would I order another martini with three olives? Without a doubt. Would my dad continue raving about the Old Fashioned? 100%.

And if you go—don’t forget to ask about the clock. Just to keep the...

This place is worth every star. I worry because of the pending sale of Elderberry House. Please, Dear God, do not change the cellar. While the restaurant upstairs is a Michelin anachronism -- excellent, expensive, stuffy -- the Cellar is like its laid back cousin recently out of rehab. The menu is small, but the food is simply fantastic. Every dish. Period. Bartender Chris is top notch and whips up the best cocktails in Central California, seriously. He's probably the best bartender I've ever experienced. Affable expertise and grace. If you are coming back through Oakhurst after seeing the giant redwoods of Mariposa Grove in Yosemite National Park, The Cellar is worth...

This might be the best cocktails and food I've had in years. If you're in the area and looking for drinks and/or food there is no better option.

The cocktails were amazing, great variety and expertly crafted.

Our apps and burgers were out of this world. Hands down the highlight of our business trip here in Oakhurst.

The service was top notch. Left my card and they ran out to return my card as we were pulling out of...