Bar Loretta

Sleek cocktail bar and lounge extension of Bistro Vida on Santa Cruz Avenue with craft cocktails, a curated wine list, small plates, and a sophisticated evening atmosphere.

Bar Loretta gives a cocktail stop in downtown Menlo Park an unexpected connection to music history. The Santa Cruz Avenue bar occupies the former Magoo's Pizza Parlor site associated with the Grateful Dead's first performance as the Warlocks. We like that the connection continues into the drinks, with song-inspired names such as Friend of the Devil, a combination of rye, amaro, Scotch, and maraschino. The bar comes from Bistro Vida owner Ali El Safy and pairs its lounge setting with food from the neighboring French bistro. That relationship brings appetizers into the evening alongside cocktails, making it possible to gather over more than a round of drinks. Bar Loretta's appeal is the combination of a distinct local story, a dedicated cocktail identity, and a connection to an established neighborhood restaurant.