At long last, the tacky and depressing idiot-magnet known as Fluid Ultra Lounge (662 Mission Street) closed last year, proving that occasionally the free market does its job and there may indeed be a god. In its place this week we have Novela, a far classier cocktail establishment from the minds of bartender Alex Smith (Gitane, Honor Bar) and Kate Bolton (Maven, Michael Mina).
The theme is books, and the space has been designed as a design mag's version of a library, with shelves lined with color chromatic-arranged books, exposed brick, and plenty of soft, iridescent lighting. It's a huge space, 3,500 square feet, and will be a welcome cocktail oasis on this stretch of Mission between 2nd and 3rd.
In addition to ten original cocktails named for literary characters (e.g. Holly Golightly, Jay Gatsby, and Holden Caulfield), Smith and Bolton have created a unique punch-on-tap program, with six punches served by the pitcher ($45), glass ($10), or a flight of three ($14). Five will change seasonally, with the whiskey-based Hemingway's 'Code Hero' Punch being the house punch.
See the full menu in the slideshow.
Novela - 662 Mission Street between 2nd and 3rd - Opening Friday, May 31
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