78 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {food coloring} something to drink,” says Barrelhouse co-owner Juan Loredo. With its prime location across from Burlingame’s train station, Barrelhouse sees its fair share of Caltrain commuters and San Francisco Giants fans pre-gaming on the way to the ballpark. It’s also ideal for people who want the train to serve as their designated driver. “We’ve definitely participated in plenty of Caltrain bar crawls,” Juan shares. Open until 2AM, Barrelhouse sees everyone from post-wedding reception revelers to 21-year-olds celebrating a rite of passage. Juan started out bartending Sometimes, you want to go to a bar where everybody knows your name. And sometimes, you just want to meet some new people. Barrelhouse in Burlingame, a local favorite that pulls in a steady stream of out-of-towners, offers the best of both worlds to anyone seeking well-crafted cocktails in hip-yetunpretentious surroundings. Known for its charming downtown, Burlingame is also a major hub for hotels serving San Francisco International Airport. “People will pull up at 1AM who have just gotten off a flight and want words by ANDREA GEMMET WATERING HOLES all aboard PHOTOGRAPHY: PAULETTE PHLIPOT with his friend Jose Natividad while they were students at San Jose State University. The pair created the Burlingame nightclub Vinyl Room, then opened Barrelhouse in 2011 after deciding that downtown needed a place that served great cocktails, Juan says. In 2021, they launched Persona, a subterranean cocktail bar in Lower Nob Hill. “You’d think San Francisco is not a sleepy city, but sometimes we’re busier in Burlingame than SF,” he confides. Juan won’t cop to having a favorite drink—“All our cocktails are delicious”—but concedes that Barrelhouse regulars tend to love its twists on the classics. Take
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