Novela

Novela is a bar in San Francisco, CA. The bar draws inspiration from classic and modern literary heroes, weaving that theme into both its design and its cocktail program. House cocktails are named for characters from beloved literary works, and the venue hosts Jazz Nights every Monday along with themed gatherings such as World Cup viewing parties. The space caters to post-work mixers, first dates, and birthday celebrations, with a seasonally rotating menu of handcrafted cocktails and historically inspired punches on tap.

The cocktail program is built around original house libations that draw on locally sourced fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Bartenders incorporate ingredients not typically found in traditional punch, including egg foams, bitter elements, and house-made sodas. Punch itself has roots traced by scholars to English merchant sailors in Indonesia in the early 17th century, who balanced citrus, sugar, water, and spices with locally distilled palm, sugar, and cane spirits. The bar also accommodates private events and table reservations alongside general service, with hours running into the early morning on weekends and a Sunday closure.

Novela sits on Mission Street, with Annie St Plaza just steps away. The California Historical Society Museum and Bookstore, the Museum of the African Diaspora, and the Academy of Art University are all within a short walk of the entrance, and the bar is close to the intersection of New Montgomery Street and 3rd Street.

With a 4.40 rating from customer reviews, Novela offers a literary-themed cocktail experience in downtown San Francisco that is difficult to find elsewhere in the city.