An Inside Look At Cavaña, Mission Bay's Hottest New Rooftop Oasis

Perched regally above the sleek and serene Mission Bay neighborhood is Cavaña, your new favorite high-flying rooftop lounge. With its official grand opening set for Thursday, February 2nd, this captivating cove atop the fashionably striking LUMA Hotel boasts a Latin-inspired theme with irresistible tapas, vibrant decor, trendy music, and ingeniously creative cocktails, with their components all culturally-authentic and personally handpicked.

Replete with both luxurious amenities and rich stories in every detail from committed travels by co-owners Anthony Parks and John Park, this lush tropical oasis is breathtakingly panoramic, genuinely familial, and quite literally, exceptionally elevated.

See also: The Best Rooftop Restaurants In San Francisco

Immediately upon exiting the elevators on this sky deck, you are whisked away to an upbeat and swanky getaway that feels like a hidden resort all to itself. Cavaña presents a magnificent multicultural microcosm showcasing the best Latin comfort classics, aesthetics, ingredients, and sounds, all precisely curated and modernized with devoted care.

“Cavaña is our ode to Central and South America," elucidates Anthony Parks of True Hospitality, "and we look forward to highlighting its beauty, culture and design through elevated cocktails, bites, artwork and music." From the abundance of live plants, natural rattan furniture, to the fabulous artwork and built-in dj booth for live sets from local Latin djs, the entire cozy space feels airy, green, and passionately reverent towards their team's culture and proud heritage.

Also working brilliantly with powerful cocktail visionaries Emilio and Miguel Salehi of prior Beehive fame, this dynamic duo was able to formulate a libations menu that is as clever and creative as it is comforting and familiar. Aside from the traditional staples of the mojito and caipirinha, the expansive list aims to all deliver a distinct experience, both from the physical drinking experience, and from discovering the story behind each one.

As the Salehi brothers explain, "we always ask ourselves- what are the stories we want to tell, and how can we say it through our flavors?" We like to take 'theoretical' or 'conceptual' flavor pairings and express them literally without over complicating them." From the delicate experimentation to the driven purpose, each creation becomes unique yet still approachable. As Parks supplements, "with the cocktail program at the forefront, we look forward to bringing San Francisco a cocktail experience that showcases artisanal and original cocktails inspired by unexpected and locally sourced ingredients, in an unpretentious way."

Stunning examples of this artisanal accessibility are evident in their milk-clarified Kiwi Hoja with mezcal and Bolivian brandy that leaves an effortlessly smooth mouthfeel. The beverage is topped with a leaf sourced from a heartwarming partnership with a woman right in the Mission who grows them in her backyard.

The Elote Pasilla is also outstanding, adding toastiness from blackened corn with pasilla chile and mexican corn whiskey. The Palo Mandarina includes palo santo, while the Mole Crema is rich with Puerto Rico rum, chocolate, mole spices, and toasted sesame.

For those who prefer zero-proof, Cavaña also inclusively offers a non-alcoholic Chicha Morada- a classic refreshingly spiced drink with purple corn and pineapple rind. There is also the cultural alternative to sparkling wine with their bright Biutiful Cava Brut from Spain.

As for the food by Executive Chef Alex Reccio, shareable plates not only highlight the story of many Latin backgrounds, but also elegantly pair with the crafted cocktails. Fresh seasonality is at the forefront for these indulgent tapas, which include a perfectly spiced Aguachile de Manzana, complex sweet Corn Esquites Tostadas, and slow-roasted fall-off-the-bone Costillar de Res beef short ribs with brocollini and chimichurri. Also as a fond tribute to Emilio Salehi’s mother are the crisp must-try tres queso or pabellón (brisket) arepas.

"Arepas are part of my Venezuelan heritage," Salehi gleams, excited to share his childhood favorites within a menu and rooftop atmosphere that's charming, hip, and cutting-edge. Such homestyle fare makes for perfect nourishment when out admiring the endless waterfront views with their innovative heated banisters, or when dancing in their central room with living moss walls and a retractable patio glass door for an even breezier convivial feel.

Every chic aspect of Cavaña is honest and powerfully true to its identity and mission, evident in their sourcing their liquor via actual international visits, and in featuring black mud clay drinking vases handmade in Oaxaca. The sky is truly the limit for Cavaña's success and for the amount of fun and impressive photos you'll have, all you have to do is look up.

Cavaña is located at 100 Channel Street, and you can view their hours and menu here.

Cheers, or, Dixeebe!

See also: The Most Unique, Creative, And Inventive Cocktails To Try In San Francisco