Change at The Bank: Longstanding Saratoga bar gets a facelift

While it may occupy the same footprint as the dive bar of old, The Bank in downtown Saratoga has undergone a much-needed refresh.

The Bank Lounge & Wine Bar, as it is now known, features a cozy little fireplace and upgraded seating in its 1913 brick building. There are large-screen TVs above the bar, visible from all corners of the tiny place.

Another significant change at this longstanding watering hole is that it’s no longer cash only, so don’t worry about finding an ATM before you stop in.

Other changes are being made to Saratoga’s dining landscape. After many years of sustaining the traditional French food restaurant his parents started at La Mère Michelle in 1972, executive chef and co-owner Marc Masek has sold the building to Parviz Sahbaee, who owns a Negeen, a Persian restaurant on Hamilton Avenue in Campbell.

The former Cinnabar Winery tasting room in downtown Saratoga recently became a specialty coffee spot called Pop Haus. Featuring fun cold and hot drinks like orange marzipan latte and ube matcha latte, along with a variety of fancy toasts and pastries, Pop Haus assumes a wine bar format in the afternoons featuring Georgian wines.

Other rumored changes are not in fact happening. Bella Saratoga is not changing hands, says owner Clyde Zaya, who has operated the place since 2007 with his business partner Claudio Nicosia. He welcomes all the positive changes they’ve seen since 2020.

“The town is definitely becoming more lively,” says Zaya. “Things are definitely getting better since the pandemic. You’re seeing more businesses coming in, which is good. The more, the merrier.”

One new business is Scarlett Cocktail Room & Lounge, which opened on May 22 next to to the Bell Tower Café on Saratoga-Los Gatos Road.

Silvia Petrova and her family, longtime residents of Saratoga, acquired Bell Tower Café last year and transformed the adjacent building into a riff on a speakeasy, featuring craft cocktails. The space formerly operated as Claudine’s Wine Experience, which closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our vision was to create a Prohibition-style speakeasy cocktail lounge with an intimate, timeless feel,” says Petrova. “The centerpiece is a 100-plus-year-old Irish back bar imported from Dublin.”

Petrova says lead bartender, Jacqueline (“Jackie”) Aguirre is an experienced and creative mixologist known for her passion and attention to detail. “Some of our most popular cocktails include the Scarlett No. 9 and Velvet Orchard, both bourbon-based favorites,” says Petrova. Other guest favorites include the Golden Mirage, Sin and Silk and Crystal Garden.

Popular food items include corn riblets, the Scarlett slider trio and bruschetta. As for wine, Petrova says they currently serve California wines, but nothing from area wineries. However, she says they are always looking for opportunities to collaborate with local wineries as they continue to grow and enhance their wine program.

They offer live music on Fridays and Saturdays, with the performance schedule at https://www.scarlettroom.com.

Petrova says she hopes that Scarlett will be more than just a place to enjoy a cocktail, but can be a welcoming destination where people can gather, connect and experience something memorable.

“Saratoga needs to focus on attracting more visitors to remain a vibrant village, by promoting its rich history, natural beauty and local businesses,” she says. “Encouraging tourism and supporting community events can help bring more people to the area while preserving Saratoga’s unique character.”