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The scene at the Madera bar at Rosewood Sand Hill in Menlo Park during happy hour

After all the recent talk about cougars and venture capitalists canoodling at the Rosewood Sand Hill's Madera bar, I was left with one staggering question: How are their cocktails?

It turns out they are certainly part of the allure of the swanky lounge attached to the Madera restaurant, which just received a Michelin star.

The lounge takes advantage of its location at the spacious Rosewood Sand Hill resort in Menlo Park and is separated into three distinct areas. There's the bar proper, which is decorated, naturally, with a lot of redwood touches and has bar seating, low cocktail tables and some very comfortable leather couches, which are great for groups. This is where your major power players are hanging out, whether they're watching baseball on the one TV or trying to close a deal, be it business or romantic.

The bar opens up to an expansive L-shaped patio, where seats quickly fill up on any day or night with decent weather. There's a lot more lounging and conversation going on out here, with an awesome view of the mountains overlooking Interstate 280.

Finally, there's a quieter library/lounge that's connected to the main bar by an open doorway (the spaces share a two-sided fireplace). Here's where people can have real conversations on a comfy couch or enjoy a drink while working away on a laptop.

Both male and female patrons at Madera run the gamut agewise, and all the women dress smartly, even when looking casual. For men, the standard uniform seems to be a dress shirt and blazer, without a tie, but I saw everything from jeans to suits on different visits.


Madera is the kind of place where you can celebrate a promotion with a $120 glass of Johnnie Walker King George scotch, or an even better promotion with a dram of Macallan 30-year single malt scotch for an eye-popping $195.

Those are the high extremes, but make no mistake: Madera is like Las Vegas. If you're going there, you should expect to spend some money. If you're not comfortable paying $14 for a cocktail or $18 for an appetizer, you won't enjoy the experience here.

To be honest, I'm not usually comfortable paying that much, either. If I am, I expect cocktails well beyond what I can make at home -- or at least ones that I wouldn't think to make on my own. Madera delivers in this respect.

The Madera Manhattan ($14) uses Bulleit rye whiskey that has been infused with vanilla, orange and lemon to bring an unexpected flavor to a drink I'm very familiar with. Using a brandied cherry as a garnish was a good touch; skewering the cherry with bamboo clinched it.

Perusing the menu, I was intrigued -- and honestly a little scared -- by the Bufala Negra ($14), a bourbon and ginger ale drink served on the rocks that includes balsamic vinegar among its ingredients. After a little hand-holding by my server, I decided to leap in and was more than pleasantly surprised. The vinegar smoothed out the bourbon and was virtually unnoticeable, allowing the ginger ale and basil flavors to really blossom. It's a hidden gem that I'll be returning for.

Another sublime martini discovery was the San Francisco Cocktail ($14). The main spirit here is No. 209 gin, but whether you like it or not will depend on your taste for absinthe, which is used here subtly. Lemon juice and orange bitters round it off very nicely.

There are several other interesting selections on the menu, including the popular vodka-based Asian Pear ($14), which I found to be a little too sweet for my taste, thanks to a sugared rim on the martini glass, and the Rangpur Lime Cosmopolitan ($13).

The beer menu grabbed my attention next because I didn't even recognize three of the five beers available on draft. I settled on a Kwak Belgian Amber Ale, which had a flavor much closer to a nutty brown ale like Newcastle than a hoppy pale ale like Sierra Nevada. There's an extensive wine list of sparklings, reds and whites from all around the world -- glasses start at $10 and quickly go up.

Foodwise, a clear favorite is the Fresh Rock Shrimp Tempura ($18), which is lightly fried and much more spicy than you'd expect. There's more than enough for two people. The Niman Ranch Beef Sliders ($18) are another good option for sharing. Four sliders are served on a wooden paddle, and they're topped with two tasty condiments -- a bacon onion marmalade and arugula pesto.

Overall, Madera is an impressive place to visit for a special occasion, even if it's just a date night with your spouse, though being a regular there seems like it would require a hefty expense account.

Details: Madera

2825 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park; 650-561-1540

Hours: Open daily 11 a.m. to midnight