A new cocktail and nightlife concept has debuted in San Francisco’s SoMa neighborhood. Bella, a bar and lounge, has officially opened following a full renovation of the former Bergerac space. The venue will mark its debut with a grand opening celebration on Friday, January 30, and Saturday, January 31, 2026.
Mediterranean-Inspired Cocktail Lounge
Located at 316 11th Street, Bella channels a Mediterranean-inspired aesthetic, drawing from the mid-century Italian Amalfi Coast.
The cocktail lounge is operated by the team behind the former Bergerac space, Jeff Davis, Bruce McDonald, and David Brinkley. Bergerac was shuttered in November 2025; the owners retained their whole team during the renovation and are now welcoming guests to their new concept, Bella.
The cocktail lounge soft opened over the holidays with select events and will host its official grand opening on January 30 and 31.
The redesign of the lounge was led by Sean Carino Designs, with construction by Fuad Dayyeh and IY Development. The new space is intended to shift throughout the day, functioning as a relaxed aperitivo lounge in the early evening before transitioning into a late-night cocktail and music venue.
In the early hours, Bella features vinyl-focused listening sessions and a soundtrack of Italian lounge, jazz, and soul. As the night progresses, the venue moves toward a club-style atmosphere with dimmed lighting and rotating DJs.
Bella’s music programming is curated by partner and talent director Peter Dukakis of All Day All Night Events, along with marketing and talent buyer Maj Skouti. Guest DJs will be featured regularly.
Menu and Bar Highlights
The food and beverage program in Bella is designed to be approachable and consistent in pricing. All cocktails and food items are priced at $15, with happy hour specials available Tuesday through Friday from 5 to 7 p.m., when items are offered for $8. The food menu was developed by Chef Jake Lucas, formerly of Palm House Hospitality and Off the Grid at Google. The offerings consist of Italian-inspired small plates and shareable dishes, intended to support all-day dining from early evening through late night.
Meanwhile, the cocktail menu is overseen by Beverage Director Antonio Ricardez, another former member of Bergerac. The bar menu also highlights the Mediterranean flavors, with a focus on spritzes and spirit-forward cocktails, including variations on martinis, mezcal-based drinks, and citrus-forward aperitifs.
Excited about the new beginning, Jeff Davis said, “We are thrilled to introduce Bella and to bring this reimagined concept to this vibrant neighborhood.” He added that the goal is to create a comfortable, welcoming space where locals can enjoy spritzes and small bites during the day and vinyl and DJ sets at night. “We are grateful to be part of the neighborhood’s revitalization and to offer a place that feels both familiar and new,” he added.
Bella’s opening highlights the growing vibrancy of San Francisco’s dining scene. With its Italian-inspired design, music program, and innovative food and cocktail menu, Bella marks the beginning of a fresh new chapter.
