WALNUT CREEK, CALIFORNIA – “Meet us upstairs!”
That was the message this week from one of Walnut Creek, California’s most popular local breweries, as it prepares to open a new “upstairs” taproom and cocktail lounge above Va De Vi in downtown Walnut Creek.
Calicraft Upstairs is slated to open this coming week. Until recently, though, we only had this single rendering of how it would look:
Now, new photos posted by Calicraft show much more of how the new space will look. These come right from the taproom–we’ve asked to come take our own as well, but haven’t gotten the invite yet. Hopefully soon!
A first look at Calicraft Upstairs
Calicraft Upstairs sits on the roof of the Va de Vi building on Mt. Diablo Blvd, in the same block as Teleferic Barcelona and Rooftop, turning that stretch into a true cluster of elevated patios.
“It’s been a long journey, but we have finally reached the moment – join us Friday 12/12 at 3pm for the soft opening of Calicraft Upstairs!” the brewery said in a Facebook post.
“Located at 1511 Mt. Diablo Blvd in Walnut Creek on the 2nd floor – Calicraft Upstairs is the next evolution of Calicraft! We have been working hard on creating the neighborhood cocktail bar of our dreams – great drinks, fun small plates, and welcoming vibes.”
Along with those sentiments, the company also posted this photo showing the view from the new location:
We’ve got string lights, colorful metal chairs, and nice elevated wooden tables. You can see the Rooftop restaurant across the way.
As the original renderings show, there appears to be an interior section, too.
This seems to have more of a classic look, with darker wood paneling befitting the concept of an upscale cocktail lounge, rather than just a beer-oriented taproom.
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The rooftop bar will pour from 20 taps, showcasing Calicraft’s full range of craft beers — from hop-forward IPAs to easy-drinking lagers and fruitier, California-inspired brews.
But the real curveball is the cocktail program. Calicraft is bringing its own housemade spirits upstairs and using them in drinks that lean into sustainability and creativity. The “Pink Caddy” is a zero-waste riff on a strawberry margarita, designed to use the whole fruit instead of tossing scraps.
“Caprese” takes the flavors of the classic salad and turns them into a drink, built on tomato and basil vodkas, clarified tomato water, and finished with a tiny caprese skewer as the garnish. Then there is the “Tokyo Cosmo,” Calicraft’s take on the 1990s standby, brightened up with a touch of Japanese flair.
Leaning into spirits instead of beer is a bold new direction for the brand. And it’s also probably a good way to differentiate Calicraft from the MANY other taprooms opening locally, from Western Flyer in Lafayette to the Barebottle taproom that just opened in WC.
We’ll head over to take our own photos–and share a full review–as soon as Calicraft Upstairs opens for business (or sooner if they’ll let us). Make sure to join our free 925 News newsletter so we can keep you updated.
