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Top Happy Hour Spots in Burlingame

09/7/26  |  Stephanie Nash

From Craft Cocktails to Local Restaurants With Fantastic Food.


By Stephanie Nash

Burlingame packs two walkable dining strips and a bayfront row of restaurants into a town most people just pass on their way to SFO. I have met clients over an early drink on California Drive more times than I can count, usually right after a showing.

The Peninsula's after-work crowd knows this town rewards anyone who lingers past five. These are the rooms I send friends and clients to when the workday winds down.

Key Takeaways

  • Downtown cocktails: Barrelhouse pours craft drinks on California Drive.
  • Italian classics: Il Fornaio runs a bar happy hour on Lorton Avenue.
  • Broadway staple: The Broadway Grill keeps its own strip lively.
  • Bay views: Benihana adds waterfront seats near the shoreline.

Craft Cocktails at Barrelhouse

Barrelhouse holds a corner of California Drive near the Caltrain tracks, steps from the heart of downtown Burlingame. The spot pairs a full cocktail and wine program with New American pub food in a warm, brick-lined room.

Why Locals Start Here

  • Craft cocktails: A bar list built around fresh ingredients.
  • Wine selection: A broad by-the-glass lineup.
  • Pub plates: Shareable New American bites.
  • Central spot: Steps from the Caltrain station.
A bar this central makes an easy first stop after work or a showing. I often meet people here to talk neighborhoods over a drink.

An Italian Happy Hour at Il Fornaio

Il Fornaio anchors Lorton Avenue with a long-running Italian kitchen and an in-house bakery. The bar keeps its own happy hour, pairing Italian cocktails and wine with antipasti in a handsome dining room.

What the Bar Offers

  • Italian cocktails: Classic aperitivo-style drinks.
  • Wine list: Regional Italian bottles and pours.
  • Bar bites: Antipasti and small plates.
  • Bakery draw: Fresh bread and pastry on hand.
A proper aperitivo hour fits Burlingame Avenue's upscale mood well. I point visitors here when they want a classic Italian setting.

A Broadway Staple at the Broadway Grill

The Broadway Grill sits on Burlingame's Broadway strip, the older and more neighborhood-feeling of the town's two main streets. The kitchen runs contemporary American plates, and the bar keeps a regular happy hour for the after-work crowd.

What Draws Regulars

  • Happy hour menu: Discounted bites and drinks by the bar.
  • Contemporary plates: Seasonal American cooking.
  • Broadway setting: A relaxed neighborhood strip.
  • Patio seats: Sidewalk tables in warm weather.
A neighborhood grill like this rewards anyone who lives on the north side of town. I steer people settling on the north side toward it as their local.

Bayfront Seats at Benihana

Benihana occupies a waterfront spot along Burlingame's bayshore, with tables that look out over the water toward the bay. The teppanyaki restaurant keeps a bar and happy hour that make the most of the setting near the hotel row.

Reasons to Head to the Water

  • Bay views: Tables along the Burlingame shoreline.
  • Bar happy hour: Drinks and bites away from the grill.
  • Hibachi show: Teppanyaki cooking at the table.
  • Near the hotels: An easy stop off Bayshore Highway.
A waterfront table trades the downtown bustle for open sky and calm water. I mention it to anyone who wants a view with their drink.

How to Plan a Happy Hour Crawl Downtown

Some of the best happy hour spots in Burlingame sit within a few blocks of each other across the downtown core. Burlingame Avenue, Lorton Avenue, and California Drive form a tight grid that makes an easy evening on foot.

How to Map Your Evening

  • Start central: A first drink near the Caltrain station.
  • Walk the avenue: A stroll past shops between stops.
  • End on Broadway: A short hop to the north strip.
  • Skip the car: Parking and transit both close by.
A walkable core turns a single drink into a relaxed progression through town. I use that same walkability to show off what downtown living offers.

FAQs

Where should I go for happy hour on Burlingame Avenue?

The downtown core around Burlingame Avenue and Lorton holds several options, with Il Fornaio and Barrelhouse among the easiest to reach on foot. Both sit steps from the shops and the Caltrain station.

Is there a plant-based option for drinks and small plates?

Twelvemonth on Lorton Avenue runs a plant-based restaurant with its own bar and bakehouse. The room works well for a lighter drink and a bite downtown.

Can I get to these spots without driving?

Downtown Burlingame sits right on the Caltrain line, so many happy hour spots fall within a short walk of the station. Broadway has its own stop a bit to the north. I often highlight this transit access for buyers who commute up the Peninsula.

Reach Out to Stephanie Nash Today

A Burlingame address puts craft cocktails, an Italian aperitivo, and a bayfront view all within a short drive of your door, and that everyday access shapes what a home is worth here. I know which blocks near Burlingame Avenue let you walk home from dinner and which quieter Easton streets still sit minutes from the action.

Contact me, Stephanie Nash, when you want an agent who knows the Peninsula's rhythm as well as its listings.


Stephanie Nash

Stephanie Nash

About The Author

For more than three decades, Stephanie Nash has been one of the Peninsula’s most trusted and proven real estate advisors, serving Woodside, Portola Valley, Atherton, Redwood City, Emerald Hills, San Carlos, Half Moon Bay, and the surrounding communities from Burlingame to Los Gatos.

Born and raised on the Peninsula, Stephanie brings true insider knowledge of the region; its micro-neighborhoods, school corridors, country-property enclaves, and the lifestyle features that make this area so coveted: sunny weather, an easygoing spirit, hiking trails, large-parcel retreats, ocean-view hillsides, and world-class food and culture.

A career built on experience, ethics, and results

Stephanie began her real estate career in 1987 working in local title companies before becoming the assistant to a top-producing agent. She earned her real estate license in 1991, and since then has built a reputation as a solutions-driven, ethical, and steady negotiator who guides clients through every complexity of a California transaction.

Her track record includes everything from luxury estates to rural acreage to trust and estate sales, including the successful sale of a 500-acre property, a transaction requiring extensive due diligence, jurisdictional navigation, and long-term strategy.

Nationally recognized performance

Stephanie has been recognized multiple times by RealTrends as one of the “Best Agents in America,” most recently in 2024; an honor reserved for the top tier of agents nationwide based on verified production.

Expert Witness in Real Estate Matters

In addition to client representation, Stephanie now serves as a retained Expert Witness in California real estate cases—including valuation disputes, fiduciary sales, marketing standards, agent performance, disclosure practices, and industry-standard care.

What clients rely on her for

Whether you are buying, selling, downsizing, expanding, or handling a trust/estate sale, Stephanie offers:

  • Deep regional expertise across multiple Peninsula micro-markets

  • Strong negotiation skills grounded in fairness, strategy, and consistent communication

  • Experience in complex transactions (trusts, estates, multiple-heir negotiations, title defects, rural land issues)

  • Compassionate guidance rooted in decades of hands-on client service

  • Unmatched availability and responsiveness

Clients praise her listening skills, honesty, and ability to navigate even the most emotional or complicated sale with clarity and professionalism.

A life built around community and care

Stephanie is deeply grateful for her family, her life on the Peninsula, and the meaningful relationships formed through her work. 

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Work With Stephanie

Stephanie respects residential real estate’s dual role as a personal investment and chief financial one. Whether you are buying or selling a home, it will likely be one of the largest financial decisions you make. Stephanie will be with you every step of the way to expertly guide you.

Let's Connect

Address

2930 Woodside Road
Woodside, CA 94062

CA DRE# 01104524

Stephanie Nash

(650) 995-3820

[email protected]

Get in Touch

By providing your contact information to Stephanie Nash, your personal information will be processed in accordance with Stephanie Nash's Privacy Policy. By checking the box(es) below, you expressly consent to receive marketing or promotional real estate communication from Stephanie Nash in the manner selected by you. For SMS text messages, message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Consent is not a condition of purchase of any goods or services. You may opt out of receiving further communications from Stephanie Nash at any time. To opt out of receiving SMS text messages, reply STOP to unsubscribe. SMS text messaging is subject to our Terms of Use.