The recipe
for your table
Add the orange juice, pineapple juice and lemon juice to the shaker with ice 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.
The story
Despite what its name suggests, this cocktail does not come from California but from Europe. In German, Austrian and Dutch hospitality, the San Francisco has been on the menu for decades as the quintessential 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. That the 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 gradient from deep red at the bottom to orange at the top — and that calls for a tall, narrow and perfectly clear glass. A highball glass of 33 to 40 cl is ideal: tall enough for the layers, narrow enough to keep the transition sharp. Avoid tinted or faceted glass, as it breaks up the gradient. Serving it as an alcohol-free alternative alongside cocktails? 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 tool
For a San Francisco, besides the glass you need a shaker, a jigger for precise measuring, a citrus juicer and glass straws. These are the bar tools we use ourselves; you can find everything in our bar tools & cocktail sets.
Glass set (our choice 01) + 4 bar tools — together € 76,75.
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 highball. Also delicious: replace the grenadine with raspberry syrup for a fresher sour-candy note. Want more alcohol-free options? See the Virgin Mojito and Shirley Temple, or browse all cocktail recipes.
Serving tip
Really shake the juices — especially in 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, very slowly along the inside of the glass; do not stir afterwards, or the gradient will disappear. 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 of 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 will hardly ever come across it here.
How do you create the red gradient?
Grenadine contains a lot of sugar and is therefore heavier than the juices. Slowly pour it in last along the rim, and it will sink to the bottom by itself. Do not stir afterwards.
Can you make it in advance for a group?
Yes: mix the three juices in a jug and keep it chilled. Only pour over ice when serving and add the grenadine per glass — otherwise everything turns pink and you lose the effect.
Everything for your bar,
to one address
Glasses in hospitality quality, supplied per set. Order today, delivered quickly.
Shop the glasses →