I generally prefer to stay away from wine when out at bars/clubs. There are two bars in two different cities that I always try to spend a night, great crowds and better cocktails:
Drinks at Beretta are pretty good. Food is decent. I do like the place, but for whatever reason don’t find myself going there that frequently. The drinks at Foreign Cinema are actually pretty good and it’s not always quite as nutso crazy as Beretta. But I think the best drinks I’ve found yet in the Mission are at Range. Swig on Geary is pretty good too in my experience.
But I’m far from a true mixed drink connoisseur, much more of a wine and beer guy 95% of the time.
Back in January I made a trip to Old Town (Alexandria Va) and a few of us got reservations to PX http://www.restauranteve.com/eamonns/PX/index.html. It is a speakeasy focusing on custom cocktails. Highly delectable and recommended; not inexpensive but far from ordinary.
I don’t smoke but absolutely LOVED the Smoker’s Delight which included Virginia tobacco and bourbon they served.
Rivera Restaurant - exceptional Latin inspired cocktails
Trader Vic’s - still the best mai tais in the city; recent pool-side location is very LA, but I I miss the dingy red booths http://www.tradervicsla.com/
Copa d’Oro - very well crafted cocktails utilizing farmer’s market fresh ingredients
Tar Pit Bar - Mark Peel’s venture into the uber cool cocktail scene with a moderately priced food menu. http://www.tarpitbar.com/