The San Francisco recipe
for your table
Add the orange juice, pineapple juice and lemon juice with ice to the shaker and shake for 10 seconds.
Fill a highball glass with ice cubes and strain the juice mixture into it.
Slowly pour the grenadine down the side; it will sink to the bottom on its own and create the red gradient.
Garnish with an orange slice and a cocktail cherry. Do not stir.
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The story
Despite what the name suggests, this cocktail does not come from California but from Europe. In German, Austrian and Dutch hospitality venues, the San Francisco has been on the menu for decades as the ultimate alcohol-free classic, the drink you ordered when you had to drive, at a time when the rest of the mocktail menu still consisted of cola. The combination of orange, pineapple and grenadine is deliberate: the sweet juices provide the body, the lemon juice keeps it sharp and the grenadine creates the visual effect. The fact that its name refers to an American city where no one knows it is simply part of its story by now.
The right glass
The entire effect of this cocktail lies in the transition from deep red at the bottom to orange at the top, which calls for a tall, narrow, and completely clear glass. A highball glass holding 33 to 40 cl is ideal: tall enough for the layering, narrow enough to keep the transition sharp. Avoid tinted or faceted glass, as it disrupts the gradient. Are you serving it as an alcohol-free alternative alongside cocktails? Then choose the same glass as for your highballs. No one at the table should be able to tell who is drinking what.
Bormioli Rocco Diamond Highball Glass 47 cl (6 pieces)
Onis Icon Highball Glass 47 cl (6 pieces)
Twelve highball glasses together € 57,90.
The right tools
For a San Francisco, besides the glass, you need a shaker, a jigger for precise measuring, a citrus juicer, long ice sticks, and cocktail picks. These are the bar tools we use ourselves; you can find everything in our bar tools & cocktail sets.
Glass set (our choice 01) + 5 bar tools together € 107,70.
Variations & twists
Add passion fruit juice for a fuller, more tropical version; in Germany, that is even the standard. Adding sparkling water makes it lighter, while a splash of vodka turns it into a Sex on the Beach-style long drink. Also delicious: replace the grenadine with raspberry syrup for a fresher, tangier note. Want more alcohol-free options? Check out the Virgin Mojito and Shirley Temple, or browse all cocktail recipes.
Serving tip
Really shake the juices. Especially with an alcohol-free cocktail, that makes all the difference. The foam created by the pineapple juice gives the mocktail the body it would otherwise lack. Add the grenadine last and very slowly along the inside of the glass; do not stir afterward, or you will lose the gradient. Serve with a straw so your guest tastes the red layer first.
Frequently asked questions
Which glass do you use for a San Francisco?
A tall, clear highball glass holding 33 to 40 cl. View our highball glasses.
Is the San Francisco really alcohol-free?
Yes, in the classic European version. This is a mocktail. There is also an old American cocktail with the same name made with sloe gin, but you almost never come across it here.
How do you get the red gradient?
Grenadine contains a lot of sugar and is therefore heavier than the juices. Pour it in last, slowly along the rim, and it will naturally sink to the bottom. Do not stir afterward.
Can you make it ahead of time for a group?
Yes: mix the three juices in a carafe and keep them chilled. Pour over ice only when serving and add the grenadine per glass; otherwise everything will turn pink and you will lose the effect.
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