Cavaña — Restaurant in San Francisco

Cavana, located within the new Luma Hotel in Mission Bay, San Francisco, is a rooftop cocktail bar worth its weight in liquid gold. Imbued with a charisma that harks back to the golden age of cocktail craftsmanship, the ambiance at Cavana offers a delightful paradox of the intimate and the extravagant.

This cocktail bar balances a nuanced retro aesthetic with modern comforts, delivering a uniquely inviting and stimulating experience. It's where timeless elegance and innovative spirit meld seamlessly, creating an ambiance that enthralls the senses and invites patrons to step forward in time while still keeping a foot in the present. It is truly a gem in San Francisco's vibrant cocktail scene.

Upon taking the elevator to the rooftop, one will immediately notice the thoughtful decor, beautifully curated to deliver an experience reminiscent of a Mexicanique gallery. The bar, from the ceiling to the walls, is an amalgamation of retro 3d-printed furnishings with hanging plant pots intending to resemble art, creating a cozy ambiance that feels elegant and inviting. Yet, the modern touches are not lost: chic industrial accents, velvety furniture in jewel tones, and tasteful contemporary artwork add a touch of 21st-century flair.

The steady hum of Latin music swirls around the room, emanating from a live band from South America playing from the corner of the room, elevating the atmosphere without overpowering conversations. The guests' murmurs and cocktail glasses' clinks form a pleasant symphony that enhances the bar's convivial mood. The serene lighting adds an element of mystique, casting shadows that dance upon the carefully curated vintage details and provide the perfect foil for the glittering bottles lining the bar.

Despite being located in one of the busiest parts of the city, right around the corner from the baseball and basketball stadiums, Cavana remains an oasis of calm. The rooftop feels and the high you get from the expansive view, insulates the inner sanctum from the bustling city life, allowing patrons to enjoy the mesmerizing city lights without the accompanying noise.

Cavana's cocktail mixers are artists in their own right, as comfortable creating classic concoctions as they push the envelope with imaginative new blends. Each drink is a spectacle, served with an attention to detail that mirrors the overall ambiance of the bar. The commitment to craftsmanship is evident from flaming kiwi peels in mezcal to custom-made ice cubes.

The classic and imaginative cocktails that Cavana serves are more expensive than other San Francisco bars. However, only some of these bars can match the view offered here. If you visit during peak hours without a reservation, be prepared to stand in line. The bar has a limited capacity, and the average wait time could extend to approximately 45 minutes.

Service is remarkably warm and knowledgeable, adding another layer to the comfort of the space at Cavana. Staff is well versed in the language of service, from the elevator guide to the hostess to the waitpersons and...

Venting on what I went through, why I'm giving a 1 star review. A party of 4:,myself, my husband, my sister her husband. We made a reservation for Friday night at 9:30. We saw Cavana all over social media and thought this would be the perfect start to a weekend getaway. Didn't want the hassle of searching for nearby parking so decided to go with the valet parking offered at the hotel. It was $125.00 - flat rate. Sweet Jeezus! Oh Well.. We paid for convenience that night. One would thing if you charge that kind of price, the level of service should be exceptional. Right?! Well....not in our experience

For Sure - get a reservation to avoid the line. 2 lines at the hotel for Cavana, reservations and walk-ins. Obviously with a Rez. you bypass any waiting in lines, go straight to the roof top and check in. The music was great, totally tropical vibes. Loved it all. I was told our table wasn't ready but would be soon, the hostess suggested to grab a drink at the bar or just hang out until we were called. We decided to wait it out and get drinks ordered when we got our table. 15 minutes passed, still waiting to be called. I had to ask about my 9:30 reservation and like many customer service people do - apologized for the delay and say they will be with us shortly. We waited about 5 more minutes before our party was called. No problem.. things happen. It's busy, it's Friday night.. we totally got it. Once we were seated, the hostess said our server would be with us shortly. Okay cool, vibing the music, the outdoor seating was cozy, comfy chairs and we were seated at a fire pit! It all goes down hill from here...we waited 20 minutes before we were approached with a beverage menu. Another 20 minutes goes by before a server comes to take our drink orders. We were offered water - it never came. We finally get our drinks after 30 minutes. Still no water - it was offered again - still didn't come. Another 30 minutes goes by, no water, we finished our drinks and no one was checking on us. We noticed other tables getting water once they were seated, other groups tables of water was being refilled, drink orders coming, second and third drink orders coming, but no service for our table. We couldn't even enjoy the city view anymore after being ignored or forgotten this long. Total disappointed was the overall feeling. We paid $125.00 for valet and $20.00 drinks..we were going to try to make the best of the night. Finally after 45 minutes of waiting, a server comes to take our second drink order and we finally got WATER! Our experience was not the best. Disappointed, irritated and a little mad was our Friday night at Cavana. Maybe a better experience during the day vs the night. Who knows... the service did not match the prices. So much for a city...

I was very excited to dine here when I was staying at the Luma hotel. I made a reservation a week in advance just for it. Now the ambiance of it was great, the food was amazingly delicious and the drinks were so good. But then there is the service, which was my biggest issue during my visit. First off, I made a reservation, and when we got there, they didn't really have a place to seat us at which made no sense to me. They offered seating at the bar, which would have worked if I was by myself, but I was with my partner, so that wouldn't work cause there weren't 2 seats together. Then they offered outside seating, but it was cold from the wind, and none of the warmers were turned on. Finally, they offered a table but stated that we would have to leave the table in 45 minutes. We said ok, but we were caught off guard by that, considering we made a reservation and we weren't just walking in. Now we enjoyed our food, and we were on our 2nd drinks when the hostess came saying they needed the table now and were going to move us outside. I felt like we were getting kicked out. And we were explained that they prioritize large parties. But if I made a reservation, why does that matter. Also there was a large party next to us and they were there as long as we were but they weren't moved. They even took chairs from where we were seated. So me and my partner were very upset about being treated that way, considering that we were not only paying customers who made a reservation, we also were guests at the hotel. I feel like hotel guests should have some type of consideration over just the walk-in guests, but maybe that's just me. So when we were forced outside, no one came to check on us, ask if we wanted anything else or anything like that, so we just asked for the check being disappointed by what happened.

In any case, the food and drinks were great, but the service was unacceptable. If you're going solo or in a large party, you might be fine, but if you're a couple like we were anticipate getting moved to the bar or outside despite having a reservation or beinf a guest at the hotel just...