Whether it's the weekend and you want to party or you've had a long stressful day at work, sometimes you desperately need to just wind down and relax. And hitting a bar with friends can really help you not only to relax but to have fun too! But let's face it: San Francisco has a lot of bars to choose from. The problem is that you won't know whether you'll want to avoid a certain bar until you're already there. You won't be disappointed visiting one of these five bars in San Francisco.

Best Bars in San Francisco No. 1: The Knockout

The Knockout is located at 3223 Mission St. in the Bernal Heights neighborhood. They are known for having live DJs throughout the entire week. The Knockout offers a full bar to their patrons with Happy Hour from 5 to 8 p.m. ($1 off every drink). One of the fun aspects of The Knockout is their photo booth. There is nothing like taking a picture of yourself and your friends while you are intoxicated so you'll all have something to laugh at later. You can also play pool or video games while sipping your drink. The Knockout is usually more packed on the weekends, but you'll find many people going for their Thursday Bingo night. For every drink you order on Thursday nights, you get a new bingo card and have the chance to win prizes. Some of the prizes may be cheesy but it's still a lot of fun. The Knockout is open Monday through Sunday 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Best Bars in San Francisco No. 2: Lucky 13

Lucky 13 is a great dive bar to go to, especially if you like to think of yourself as a beer connoisseur. They have a wide selection of beers on tap (as well as a full bar). Drinks are affordable with beers starting at $4. There is a patio you can go out on to smoke so you won't have to leave the scene for a smoke break. Lucky 13 has on scene entertainment such as a jukebox, games, a photo booth, pool table and a television. If you get a case of the munchies, they have free popcorn available to bar patrons. Happy Hour runs every day from 4 to 8 p.m. Lucky 13 is located at 2140 Market St. in the Castro neighborhood.

Best Bars in San Francisco No. 3: EZ5

The EZ5 bar is located at 684 Commercial St. in the Financial District area. They have a full bar, Happy Hour drink specials and a DJ. If you're looking for something fun to try, EZ5 Jell-O shots are only a buck. The EZ5 also offers complimentary snacks.

Best Bars in San Francisco No. 4: Wish

Wish is a small intimate bar in the Soma neighborhood located at 1539 Folsom St. Happy Hour is from 5 to 8 p.m. with certain drinks and draft beers only $3. Free popcorn is available for hungry patrons. There is a live DJ, though there isn't really room to dance. If you like a busy scene, go on the weekends when it is packed.

Best Bars in San Francisco No. 5: Tunnel Top

Tunnel Top is a moderately priced bar located at 601 Bush St. in the Union Square neighborhood. Tunnel Top has a DJ and an upstairs dance floor for those who want to get their groove on. The décor is cozy with an alcohol bottle chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Tunnel Top is acash-only bar so make sure you have plenty on hand.

Written by Shannon Wilson

Home to some of the world's trendiest clubs, upscale bars and lounges, Miami boasts a round-the-clock party scene with plenty of opportunities to sample unique concoctions from professional mixologists. Local bars fill up well before happy hour to toast the day with bar drinks you won't find anywhere on the coast. Be prepared for a lineup of tempting martini recipes, fresh flavor infusions and classic drinks made with a twist of exotic fruit; the latest trends from the local mixology scene include eco-friendly alcohols, organic liquors and specialty beers from around the globe.

Mixologists at local bars in Miami have become cocktail designers extraordinaire with their lineup of exotic bar drinks infused with fresh flavors from the tropics. Head over to venues like Sushi Samba Dromo on Lincoln Road to try the samba dragon, a mango rum, guarana and ginger cocktail that will take you on a brief trip to the far east. Or, try your luck at the M-Bar on Brickell Key Drive to pick out one of hundreds of martinis from this signature martini bar. This place hits the spot with creative cocktails fit for a king (or queen). From the sunrise martini to the chocolate raspberry dessert-like 'tini,' you'll have plenty of ways to experience the best of Biscayne Bay.

If it's a poolside experience you're after, the Bahia at the Four Seasons will give you plenty of reasons to toast to the sunset. The venue serves up exotic mojitos and martinis by the pool after 5 p.m. And when the night calls for a glamorous bar-hop, don't miss the Opium Garden and Prive lounge on your route. The Asian-inspired club and modern lounge feature some of the best bar drinks in the city. Make table reservations for signature mixed drinks, bottles of champagne and liquor brands from around the world.

Local mixology trends in Miami go one step further with eco drinks and green cocktails for a fresh spin on the classics. Make your way to the Rose Bar inside the The Delano hotel where they serve Veev, the first eco-friendly liquor. It is made from the Brazilian açaí berry and rich in antioxidants. Ask for a cosmopolitan - or nearly any other cocktail - to be made with it and you'll be plesantly surprised with the unique flavor you discover.

The Miami Vice cocktail isn't the only drink you'll want to track down at the nearest bar. South Beach is home to dozens of tropical concoctions that make partying in the city an extraordinary experience!

Written by Sabah Karimi

The local scene in Los Angeles is an eclectic mix of star-studded celeb hangouts complete with paparazzi-littered sidewalks, local bars that serve celebrities and normal mortals alike and, of course, the nightclubs, lounges and hot new bars with a twist.

Clientele of the local bars is as varied as the L.A. scene, but there is a unique undercurrent you won't find anywhere else in the country: bar drinks and local mixology are of decisive importance and may turn a humble watering hole overnight into a bar of renown.

A hot new drink is making the rounds and already there are local bars catering to the clientele that demands it by name: VeeV. Made from the Brazilian açaí berry and mixed with prickly pear and Acerola cherry, this alcoholic beverage is taking local mixology by storm. Local L.A. scene insiders ask for VeeV by demanding it neat, or in the alternative trying it in a plethora of concoctions.

Bar drinks found in the many South America-inspired cantinas throughout the City of Angels have begun serving the VeeVARita, a takeoff on the traditional margarita. VeeV replaces the conventional Triple Sec - both VeeV and Triple Sec are 60 proof - and prickly pear puree substitutes for the strawberry fruit mixture.

Even the Southern institution of the mint julep has bowed to the açaí berry revolution. VeeV now replaces the bourbon whiskey, and even the occasional discrete bit of prickly pear puree is added to the ice and crushed mint leaves.

Certain to soon become incorporated into the L.A. scene's famous Sunset Boulevard institution that is the Key Club, VeeV has already changed the face of local mixology at bars and restaurants, and if the buzz about the exclusive Sky Bar at the Los Angeles Mondrian Hotel is any indication, even the velvet rope cannot keep out the VeeV-inspired açaí berry revolution in the bars of Los Angeles.

Sources:
http://www.veevlife.com/
http://www.keyclub.com
http://www.mondrianhotel.com/mondrian_hotel_skybar.asp

Written by Sylvia Cochran

While coffeehouses and clubs will never go out of style, Chicago's local scene undoubtedly revolves around bars. Chicagoans take pride in neighborhood bars, and often drop names of favorite bars as a means of giving clues about their personalities. Whether you prefer a rock-and-roll bar, a hipster dive or an upscale lounge, Chicago has a bar for everyone.

One thing that bar-hopping, eco-conscious Chicagoans can agree on is VeeV. VeeV is a trendy new alcoholic drink on Chicago's local scene, catching on for both its taste and commitment to sustainable practices.

VeeV is made from the açaí fruit, a Brazilian berry that grows on palm trees and is also used in energy drinks. Açaí has gained popularity in recent years (thanks, Oprah!) as a superfood, and some people believe açaí contains healing and weight-loss properties. Mixologists use VeeV much like vodka, although it has a sweeter taste from the açaí and other fruit ingredients.

As a member of the green organization Business for Social Responsibility, VeeV is an ethical choice as well as a way to take part in what's current in Chicago's local scene. VeeV donates a dollar from every bottle sold to help sustain the Brazilian rainforest, uses sustainable packaging and is a carbon neutral company. VeeV sales representatives even drive hybrid cars.

Recently released in Chicago, VeeV is available at more than 40 local bars and restaurants. If you prefer a dark, upscale lounge setting, find VeeV at Wicker Park's new Violet Hour. The Violet Hour is known for its velvet-draped, speakeasy style, master mixology and lack of signage. Find them at 1520 N. Damen Ave. behind the decrepit wooden door.

For dinner to go with your drinks, try VeeV at De la Costa at 465 East Illinois St. on Chicago's North Side for Latin food, or Avec at 615 West Randolph St. in the West Loop for Mediterranean-inspired dishes served at communal tables.

You don't have to spend a lot of money or get dressed in your finest to partake of VeeV, though. If you prefer a night on the couch to a night on the town, a bottle retails for about $35 in Chicago.

Sources:
"VeeV, Drink Your Acai" by Deidre Woollard. http://www.luxist.com/2007/07/10/veev-drink-your-acai/
http://www.veevlife.com/
"VeeV, the World's First Acai Spirit, Announces Carbon Neutral Certification," Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS121674+11-Feb-2008+PRN20080211

Written by Esther November