Search higher for a water view

It was a quiet and private cocktail on the bay that day - and one of the happiest margaritas that anyone ever had on the tourist trap that is San Francisco's wharf. Taste a good margarita and you’ll be convinced; margaritas are what happiness would taste like if happiness was tangible.

The numerous waterfronts in San Francisco are rich in restaurants that cater to the tourist (ie. me) and I would imagine house a few select spots loved by locals. But as ‘in with it’ as I pretend to be - I wouldn’t be the one to recommend the best spot to find locals having cocktails with a water view. Especially if you are looking to avoid the interruption of stranger's extendable selfie sticks.

So I find myself at Coqueta, a large restaurant with a small glass enclosed cocktail bar that sits adjacent to the restaurant. Tucked into the boards of the waterfront walk, stools sit within the confines of the bar’s walls as well as outside the windows of the bar where the server simply leans out to serve. I walked in apprehensively, the first customer of the day. The restaurant was full but suspiciously the side bar was empty. Empty of people but full from the sun pouring through the glass walls and glass ceiling. It was also bustling with bartenders catching up over the lunch shift while chopping everything from lemons to red peppers for speciality drinks they would prepare for the next 10 hours. I took a good 45 minutes to sip a smokey margarita while I watched the bartenders continue the day prep. Looking up through the glass to the bay.

Eventually I closed out my bill and a young couple walked in, in search of their own happiness with a view.

Location: Coqueta, San Francisco