San Diego-born beverage catering and mixology experts Snake Oil Cocktail Company is opening a full-service bar & restaurant at San Diego's incoming Manchester Pacific Gateway high rise currently under construction on downtown's bay front.
Founded by Michael Esposito in 2010 as the beverage partner for the opening of celebrity chef Brian Malarkey's now-defunct Searsucker restaurant, Snake Oil Cocktail Company is now one of Southern California’s most sought after beverage catering companies and cocktail consulting firms. Snake Oil specializes in creating mixology menus and beverage experiences for select bars, special events and restaurants nationwide.
In 2019, Snake Oil became the exclusive food and beverage management partner for La Jolla's The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, but they are no longer working with the music hall and private event space. Later that year, the company took over the former 57 Degrees building off the I-5 minutes from downtown San Diego for the opening of Julep, a 12,000 square-foot multifunctional cafe and event center that features a full service restaurant, an event banquet hall and onsite cafe.
Public records show that Snake Oil Cocktail Company has filed a liquor license application for the opening a new bar & restaurant at "Papa" Doug Manchester's incoming Manchester Pacific Gateway compound currently being constructed in downtown San Diego's bay front district across from the Navy Pier. Once complete, the 12-acre Pacific Gateway project will have a total of seven buildings, including the 1,035 room, 34-floor One Broadway Hotel, five office buildings, and a 17-story Navy Headquarters office. There are also plans for a 1.9-acre public waterfront park, an internal pedestrian paseo, including public art, plazas, cafes, and entertainment venues, and approximately 3,000 below-grade parking spaces.
Specific details on Snake Oil Cocktail Company's incoming bar & restaurant remain unclear and very much in development. We reached out to Snake Oil's CEO Michael Esposito and Director of Mixology Frankie Thaheld for more information, but they did not respond by the time of publication.
Snake Oil Cocktail Company's new bar & restaurant will open on a yet-to-be-determined date at 975 Waterfront Place, Unit 400, in downtown San Diego. For more information, visit snakeoilcocktail.com and manchesterpacificgateway.com.
