Gin-Tilating

Close your eyes, enhale deeply from the delicious drink in front of you, and take a luxurious bite of the Pintxos skewer. Then take a moment to soak in the happy bustle and patter of the wait staff, mixing easily with the appreciative clientele. Then rinse and repeat and you have a very special place indeed, one that's a welcome break from some of the more tourist trapping locations dotted around  Pier 39 to the north.

I first discovered Coqueta (to 'flirt' in Spanish), about five years ago and it's now become my must visit bar on the Embarcado in San Francisco.

At first sight it's easy to miss, a low set exterior bar built in coral tones with central wooden seating - but don't be fooled. Michael Chiarello's Spanish enterprise offers tapas & family-style plates in classy digs, with a huge range of mouth-watering gins to boot.....and that's why I continue to return.

Besides, for the bar that introduced me to the divine St George Terroire and tonic....that's a lifetime of appreciation locked in.