The Martini was Likely Invented at the Occidental Hotel in San Francisco

In late 19th-century San Francisco, the Occidental Hotel’s grand barroom was a celebrated fixture of the city’s vibrant social scene, renowned for its luxurious atmosphere, elegant clientele, and talented bartenders. Located prominently at Montgomery and Bush Streets, the Occidental was a bustling hub surrounded by the thriving financial district, theaters, and fashionable shops—a vivid reflection of a city in the midst of rapid expansion, innovation, and cultural refinement.

Though the Occidental Hotel itself was tragically destroyed during the devastating earthquake and fire of 1906, its legacy endures largely because of one remarkable contribution: the birth of the Martini cocktail. The precise origin of the Martini remains intriguingly uncertain, shrouded in lore, yet many historical accounts place its invention squarely at the Occidental’s ornate barroom.

At the heart of these stories is bartender Jerry Thomas, affectionately known as the “father of American mixology.” Thomas, an innovative figure in cocktail history, was famous for his theatrical flair and meticulous craftsmanship. Inspired by the diverse tastes of the cosmopolitan clientele frequenting the Occidental, Thomas is believed to have created a drink initially known as the “Martinez”—a sophisticated combination of gin, sweet vermouth, bitters, and maraschino liqueur. Documented in his influential 1887 cocktail guide, this elegant concoction quickly became a sensation.

The Martini’s origins are further colored by an enduring legend involving a traveler who stopped at the Occidental bar while en route to Martinez, California. Requesting something memorable for his journey, he unknowingly sparked the creation of a cocktail destined to symbolize elegance and refinement worldwide.

At the time, Montgomery Street was known as the “Wall Street of the West,” lined with banks, stockbrokers, and merchants driving California’s booming economy. The Occidental’s barroom served as a sophisticated retreat for influential patrons—businessmen, politicians, literary figures, and socialites mingled nightly, discussing commerce, culture, and politics. The hotel attracted a who’s who of San Francisco’s social elite, including prominent authors, journalists, and civic leaders, all eager to partake in the city’s burgeoning cocktail culture.

While the exact recipe evolved rapidly, the Martini soon emerged as a distinctively San Franciscan invention, symbolic of a city rapidly modernizing yet deeply connected to refinement and tradition. The 1906 earthquake and fire ultimately claimed the Occidental Hotel, erasing the physical site but amplifying its mystique in historical memory. The Martini, however, survived and flourished, transcending its local origins to become an international icon.

Throughout the 20th century, celebrated figures like Ernest Hemingway, Winston Churchill, and even fictional heroes like James Bond adopted the Martini as their beverage of choice, further embedding it into global culture and imagination. Debates over the proper ratio of gin to vermouth, stirred versus shaken, olives or lemon twists became nearly as famous as the drink itself.

Reflecting on this rich history, I imagined standing near where the Occidental Hotel once stood, picturing the elegance of the long-gone barroom where the Martini was first shaken into existence. Although the original building no longer graces Montgomery Street, its spirit remains vivid in San Francisco’s cocktail culture and in the collective memory of a city continually reinventing itself.