True Laurel

True Laurel

From The Buildout by VinePair

June 3, 2026 · 59 min · Season 1 · Episode 29

About this episode

Nicolas Torres discusses the evolution of True Laurel, a San Francisco bar, and its rise to prominence in the cocktail scene.

Ask anyone in the cocktail world where the energy is on the West Coast right now, and one name keeps coming up: True Laurel. On this episode of The Buildout, Adam sits down with Nicolas Torres to talk about how the San Francisco bar went from beloved neighborhood spot to one of the most talked-about cocktail destinations in the country. While the techniques Nicolas and his team are using may feel perfectly suited to this current moment in drinks, many have been part of True Laurel’s DNA since it opened in 2017. Nicolas reflects on building the bar before Covid, watching it gain national and international attention after the pandemic, and what it means to receive acclaim without having to become something else. Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/buildoutpodcast True Laurel: https://www.instagram.com/truelaurelsf Nicolas Torres: https://www.instagram.com/key2_thecity VinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepair Hosted by VinePair Co-Founder: https://www.instagram.com/adamteeter Produced and edited by: https://www.instagram.com/dolldoctor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People in this episode

Host: Adam Teeter

Guest: Nicolas Torres

Topics covered

  • cocktails
  • bar culture
  • entrepreneurship
  • San Francisco
  • hospitality

Keywords

  • True Laurel
  • cocktail destinations
  • Nicolas Torres
  • San Francisco bar
  • hospitality industry

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: True Laurel, VinePair

Places: San Francisco

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