(Courtesy of Bar Bocce)
Games + Booze: 7 Adult Playgrounds in the Bay Area
21 June 2019
When the mood strikes for a competitive game of bocce or cornhole paired with cocktails and snacks, head to these seven bars, restaurants and wineries.
SF weather acting up? You can still escape to Oakland or Treasure Island. Game on!
Lost & Found
This beloved uptown Oakland beer garden comes complete with a cornhole court and ping pong table set up among the patio's picnic tables. Bar bites like spicy buffalo cauliflower "wings" and sandwiches like daily-changing specialty sliders go perfectly with Lost & Found's 21 taps of California craft beer and cider. Not in the mood to cavort outdoors? Lost & Found's indoor space is a bright, spacious and laid back escape from the competition outside. // 2040 Telegraph Ave (Uptown Oakland), lostandfound510.com
MerSea
True to its name, MerSea, which means "island oasis" in Old English, is a destination for fun and relaxation at the heart of Treasure Island. The restaurant and adult playground is constructed of shipping containers with two dog friendly patios, one with views of the city in front and a massive space with tons of dispersed seating in back, and lawn games including bocce ball, cornhole and a full putting green. Along with brunch, lunch and dinner bites like the Jersey Girl sandwich (pork roll, fried egg and kimchi) and crispy shitake mushrooms, MerSea serves hyper-local beer and wine from the island's many craft producers. // 699 Ave of the Palms (Treasure Island), mersea.restaurant
Teeth SF
Any bar/restaurant whose name pays homage to the Muppets' "house band," Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, would be incomplete without some games to delight its patrons. There's shuffleboard indoors, and Monday night trivia, but on a sunny day, the place to be is on Teeth's tiered back patio playing a take-no-prisoners game of cornhole. When you've taken down your opponent, treat them to a worthy consolation prize like totchos (tater tot nachos), wings or a sandwich from the grilled cheese bar. // 2323 Mission St (Mission), teethbarsf.com
Vie Winery
Set in a charming, rustic metal and wood "barn," Vie captures a bit of the rural wine country vibe in the middle of the San Francisco Bay. Vie's wine portfolio is eclectic—with mourvédre and grenache from Santa Barbara, pinot noir from the Sonoma Coast, and sauvignon blanc from Lake County. Taste what they're pouring, like the 2017 Belle Amie Rosé with its notes of rose on the nose and aromas of fresh strawberries and rhubarb, then get a bottle of your favorite and head outside for a friendly game of bocce ball with unbeatable views of the Bay Bridge (reservations strongly recommended). // 448 Clipper Cove Way (Treasure Island), viewinery.com
Plank
Nothing says summer like carnival fare and games. Spend a sunny afternoon at Plank in Jack London Square, where 18 bowling lanes, a video game arcade, and billiards tables inside—plus a beer garden, three bocce ball courts, and fire pits outside—guarantee a full day of fun. In addition to their usual beer garden fare, this summer Plank is serving grown-up versions of carnival favorites—think shrimp in a cone, funnel cake fries, and a cotton candy margarita. Look out for live music on Thursdays, carnival decor, and clown and magician appearances. // 98 Broadway (Oakland), plankoakland.com
// 98 Broadway (Oakland), plankoakland.com
Foundry & Lux
This casual restaurant and play space has just about anything a grown-up kid could want including a basketball court, a putting green, horseshoes, cornhole and, of course, a full bar. Open weekdays only from 7am to 9pm, Foundry & Lux is perfect for blowing off some happy hour steam or doing justice to a weekday staycation. Lunch and dinner menus specialize in wood fired pizzas and classic sandwiches and burgers with an emphasis on sustainably raised meats and responsibly caught seafood. Fuel up while you play or head inside to eat in one of the lounge's many quiet nooks. // 151 Oyster Point Blvd (South San Francisco), foundryandlux.com
Bar Bocce
If you're hankering for a game of bocce, Sausalito's Bar Bocce will not lead you astray. The waterside bar and restaurant sits on the Richardson Bay, just a stone's throw from Belvedere Island, with a bocce ball court running the length of its back patio. While you're waiting for your turn, take in unbeatable views of the water and munch on sourdough-crust pizza like the speck with burrata, kale and capers. // 1250 Bridgeway (Sausalito), barbocce.com