While most of my reviews are about restaurants with some mention of wine, if I’m not at a restaurant, I can imbibe most anything, but I do tend to focus on cocktails. Cocktails are a very personal matter, as for me, I prefer cocktails that are less sweet and generally have as few mixers as possible. A martini or a negroni is pretty much my go-to beverage, but I do love checking out places to see what interesting things they may have created for their menu. So when a friend mentioned wanting to meet up for a drinks, I decided we should check out Novella, as I had passed it on several occasions, and the library/book themed bar seemed like an excellent fit for my personality.
Novella Menu 
Inside Novella
The cocktails are all literary themed, and of course, I had to order the most ridiculous sounding cocktail on the menu to start: Mr. Fickelgruber. Based on a character from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, it is comprised of
Reposado, Maple, Ancho Reyes Verde, Lime, and Anise Meringue. I was concerned about the sweetness of the drink, but I am a huge fan of the Ancho Reyes Verde, so I decided to jump right in. Overall, it was a pleasant drink with a bit of spice and liquorice flavors that I love, so I was really happy with my choice, even if it was a bit sweeter than my standard.
Mr. Fickelgruber
Next, I decided to give some of their house punches a try. I was prepared that they were going to be sweet, but I was surprised by the previous drink, so I figured I should give them a try. I opted for a flight of three with with the Hemingway punch, gin punch and tequila punch. Of the three, the tequila was my favorite as it had a bit more to it than the others, and the gin punch was my least favorite as it got a bit sickly. However, my friend loved the gin punch, and it was by far her favorite.
Finally, I tried the Billy Bones (from Treasure Island) consisting of
Spiced Rum, Agricole Rum, Cacao, Applewood Smoke and Bitters. It was a very hefty and boozy drink, but the rums did make is lightly sweet. Luckily they served it with some curried peanuts and all the flavors together were fantastic.
Punch flight 
Billy Bones
I did actually try more drinks, but I stopped remembering to photograph them, and I just had a good time. They do tell you which are more spirit forward which was nice, even though they still were on the sweeter side of spirits. They also have an extensive food menu, and I tried some of my friend’s arancini and mushroom croquettes, and they were pleasant, but not spectacular. I did also enjoy the table service, but we went on a less busy night, so I’m not sure how that works out when it gets as packed as I’ve seen it when I have passed by.
Overall, I was pleasantly happy with the atmosphere and drinks, although I would have preferred a few on the menu that were less sweet. I would probably return if someone wanted to go, but sadly, I’m not sure it would be something I would make a regular spot for me. But if you enjoy a wide selection of drinks with a literary theme, this may be the bar for you!
Score: 3.5/5
Recommendation: Mr. Fickelgruber (but it’s seasonal, so who knows how long it will stick around)
Novella
662 Mission Street
San Francisco , CA 94105
What a fun place to review!
As a diabetic lit major, it sounds like their theme caters more to me than their menu. Too bad! If they had more non-sweet options, I’d make a special trip to visit this place.
Thanks for the review, Mr. Thiltgen! 🙂
Yeah, sadly most cocktail places seem to err on the side of sweet drinks. Although I suppose one could probably order off the menu and get something they like…