In the spirit

Sacramento is freezing these days (by West Coast standards, anyway), and we’re also staring down a political ice age. You shouldn’t have to face this chilling reality nonstop, however. After a day of fighting the good fight, reward yourself with a boozy escape to paradise. Wash away drab surroundings with a sugary drink, a tropical umbrella and a license for lushness. Here are four recommended watering holes in Sacramento where you can fly away in spirit—by guzzling spirits:

You’re in the jungle, baby

Behind a neon parrot sign lies a portal into a tropical dream. The Jungle Bird restaurant and bar just opened this past October, and the decor sets the scene for a tropical jaunt. Banana-leaf wallpaper, towering totem poles and a thatched-roof bar provide a fitting backdrop for tiki cocktails in their own funky glasses. (Check out the macaw mug and the enormous $100 bucket of alcohol in the shape of a swan.) To retreat to an imaginary island resort, try the smoothly blended and creamy piña colada ($7), served in a cute ceramic coconut. 2516 J Street; (916) 476-3280.

Cast off that cold funk

Get away to the Mexico City of the mind at Azul Mexican Food & Tequila Bar, with its punchy-colored artwork that will lift drinkers out of any winter funk. The Paloma Picante ($8.50) snaps you to attention with a bite of serrano pepper, balanced out with sharp tequila silver and real raspberries. The rim is lined with Tajín seasoning (a mix of chile peppers, lime and salt) for an extra sparkle of flavor. It hits all pleasure centers: spicy, salty, sweet and alcohol. When you can’t afford a plane ticket, this is an alternative getaway vehicle. 1050 20th Street; (916) 447-4040.

Hella chill East Bay

Local artist Irubiel Moreno painted an ode to greenery on the wall of Fieldwork Brewing Co., which opened locally last year. The mural transports beer lovers to the urban lushness of the East Bay, where the craft brewery is headquartered. The wooden draft menu uses hiker symbols to show beer styles, echoing its Berkeley-esque dedication to the outdoors. Try King Citra ($7) for a double IPA that surprises with its hella chill smoothness. If you feel more comfortable in the middle of the hoppy spectrum, Pulp ($6) fuses a pleasant acidity of citrus with a light touch of bitterness. Get a sample at $2 to $4 per beer to discover a hyphy craft brew. 1805 Capitol Avenue; (916) 329-8367.

Summer in wine country

Arden-Arcade might seem like an unlikely escape from all that is Sacramento, but inside the Insight Coffee Roasters at the Pavilions Shopping Center, you’ll find the flavors of Sonoma. Bailarín Cellars offers tastings of six wines for $10 (which, bonus, can count toward a bottle purchase), from Friday to Sunday, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. It’s the Sonoma-based company’s only tasting room because the owners live in Sacramento. Pull up a bar stool and try unpretentious varietals made by a group of wine enthusiasts turned vintners. Crisp and bright, the 2012 Keefer Ranch Chardonnay ($36 a bottle) was aged in steel, not oak, giving it a clean finish. After a few sips, you’ll feel like you’re in summertime wine country. 566 Pavilions Lane; (916) 905-7904.