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    Bar Kamon

    4.6 (275 reviews)
    ModerateCocktail Bars
    Closed 5:30 pm - 11:00 PM

    Bar Kamon Photos

    BAR KAMON ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Bar Kamon

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    Matcha croissant
    Michelle P.

    *fun ambience *great tasty cocktails *fun customer service It was a downtown speakeasy kind of night ... This spot definitely gives date night or girls night vibes, so I highly recommend making reservations! The ambiance was fun, cozy, and such a vibe from the moment we walked in. We came for drinks and appetizers, and this place did not disappoint. The cocktails were unique, fun, and tasty I had the Matcha Croissant which was perfectly balanced and not too sweet, and also tried the Hello Pandan For appetizers we had the zuke tuna tostadas, Korean cucumber salad, and the mochi fries (my favorite). Everything was flavorful and fresh. Customer service was great and made the whole experience even more enjoyable. Definitely will be back!

    Sojiros Sprotini and Tokyo Banana
    Julie B.

    Great pricing, unique drinks with Asian flavor profiles, and such an intimate vibe that transports you away from Market Street for a bit. Service is friendly, and I recommend reservations in advance. Last call for food is around 9p for weekdays & 10pm friday/sat. They were sold out of the matcha croissant, but some favorites were the Tokyo Banana and Hello Pandan, and their chicken karaage was filling for 2 people. Sojiros Sprotini was unique but reminded me of a spicy curry. It overpowered the drink towards the end.

    Cindy L.

    Bar Kamon is a must visit in San Diego. It's a classy Japanese style bar with inventive Japanese inspired cocktails at an affordable price. Our server was super kind and knelt down to take our order which is i believe a custom in Japanese service. I got the Tokyo banana cocktail and I loved how it was not super sweet and did not have an overwhelming artificial banana flavor. The banana cream and sugar cookie on top cancelled out any bitterness of the alcohol. A must visit in San Diego. I'm already planning my next trip back for this bar

    inside
    Vivian L.

    Such a beautiful speakeasy!! Located in Asa bakery, this bar has such a creative selection of drinks and a large variety of whiskey (it is a whiskey bar). Service was great, vibes were great, and the space was intimate. Definitely want to come back and try other drinks. I enjoyed that they classified certain drink so even if I didn't recognize half the ingredients, it made it easy to pick what drinks I did want. Definitely do not skip this place if you love speakeasies like me!

    Zuke tuna tostada (reccommend!) shiitake oyster mushrooms, 2 orders of Hokkaido karaage
    Ash I.

    Set inside a bakery, Bar Kamon is a cute little cocktail bar serving the finisest Japanese cocktails. My old NY roommate was in town and highly recommended to meet at this spot. We loved a solid speakeasy while living in New York, and I judge a cocktail spot based on how they make their old fashions, and this place did not disappoint. We ordered Cocktails - Hibiki Old Fashion - LOVED it - the Stash - liked it - Hojicha Negroni - liked it - Umeboshi Sour - liked it - Ube Jungle Bird - liked it - trash Panda - LOVED it - Mojito - hubby's go to drink lol Food - Hokkaido karaage - average and wasn't as crispy - shiitake oyster mushrooms - good, and actually preferred this to the karaage - zuke tuna tostada - loved it and was a nice light bite! Our server was really friendly and recommended a variety of really good drinks Overall, it's a nice night out with friends for a solid cocktail in a swanky little spot!

    Merry L.

    Behind the hidden door is a really cool Japanese cocktail bar. This is not a dimly lit speak easy. It is open and lit with high ceilings and a classy vibe. Our waiter Amadeus was the best. He knows his drinks and was so helpful and friendly. He is a pro at what he does and elevated the experience! I tried a few different gin drinks and my husband had a whiskey flight. All very enjoyable. The chicken Karage slider were our fave, on those milk buns, omg!! We splurged for the oysters (2 for $19). The presentation was amazing, but they were sadly tasteless. The tuna cannoli was a hit however. Only other downside was a wobbly table which isn't great with a martini. Spilled a bit but Amadeus made it right immediately and had a new one made.

    Rice and pork belly bowl
    Monique L.

    Wow, just wow. Started the night thinking we were gunna go to Punchbowl Social but they were closed for an event. So my friend brought up Kamon Craft Bar. We didn't know it was a speakeasy so imagine our surprise as we were standing outside trying to get in. We eventually figured it out and went inside Asa Bakery. The bartenders were so nice! They were knowledgeable and helpful. I ordered a Tokyo Banana for my drink. The way the bartender explained what my drink order was, bartending is a true science. The drink was really good. On the sweet side and has a little kick that sneaks up in you. The alcohol really comes through at the end. Apparently the ice is flown in from Japan! Ask the bartenders to tell you about it. The bartenders told us we can order anything from Asa Bakery and have it in the speakeasy. I ordered a rice and pork belly bowl. We went around 6:30p and there were no tables available. Make reservations prior to coming. But the bar was clear so we sat there. 100 % Coming back

    Cocktails and Christmas lights
    Wendy G.

    When you step into this immersive speakeasy, you feel far removed from the East Village in all the right ways. The entrance to Bar Kamon, inside Asa Bakery to the right of the front door, is one of the most hidden I've ever seen as the door blends seamlessly into the bakery wall. The 1920s Tokyo vibe here is pleasant. We sat by the zen garden, which was extra relaxing. As SD speakeasies go, I really liked the layout itself - high ceilings, ample space and just enough statement decor pieces to add visual appeal without looking cluttered. Service was extra friendly. The Tokyo banana cocktail was a delectable standout to me, the simple appearance of which belied the sophisticated depth of flavor within. The Hello Pandan, by comparison, was less successful but still hit the spot. The complimentary, house made chips provide the perfect savory bite to help soak up the alcohol.

    Clarified Ube Jingle Cocktail
    Jane A.

    LOVE ME A GOOD COCKTAIL BAR (5 stars) - SIPPIES/BITES: so good - PRICE: expect to pay for quality - SERVICE: average - AMBIANCE: intimate lounge The older you get, the more refined spaces you like! This place has got to be good for us to even come to downtown and hang. It's best to get reservations in advance - they open reservations two weeks in advance of the day you are inquiring. Originally our reservations were set for 2 but another couple was joining and last minute I was able to increase our reservations to 4. The bar is located INSIDE Asa Bakery, walk in and immediately take a right and there is another door to the lounge. The space is very intimate with a very chill mix of people crowd. :: SIPPIES :: TOKYO BANANA ($16) - Toki, Bacardi Ocho, Braulio, Banana, Hojicha, Banana Foam. The perfect drink, I think I can drink this cocktail forever. Will say it was the best of the three. I am a banana lover and this just hits the banana notes well - not too artificial tasting yet just an overall nice balance of banana. Presentation was also eye catching with a leaf designed wafted and one big ice cube which helps moderately sip on the drink instead of chug it. HIGHLY RECOMMEND CLARIFIED UBE JUNGLE BIRD ($16) - Pineapple Rum, Campari, Lime, Cinnamon, Ube Black Strap Foam. Allergens: Egg, Coconut, Dairy. I've been getting into clarified drinks (non-alcoholic and alcoholic) the past two years and will order any I see on the menu. Also, I'm Filipino so I'm going to try the Ube cocktail although I do feel ube is abused in so many levels LOL. This was good too, the ube was not too sweet and the clarified part of the cocktail made it lighter, cleaner, yet milkier... in basic terms "watered down flavor" lol. HIGHLY RECOMMEND TRASH PANDA ($15) - Coconut Infused Shochu, Creme de Banana, Durian, Lemon, Cinnamon. I only ordered this to be different because it said banana (which I love) but also durian (which I'm scared of). I wasn't too crazy over the cocktail as it was very citrusy with an after note of durian and a hint of cinnamon. :: BITES :: About this.. they change up their menu yet their own website can't keep up with current menu items. COMPLIMENTARY CHIPS - I love that they offered this because it is always nice to drink, have conversation, and nibble on something. The chip flavor was salty? Umami, and at the bottom of the batch there was some heat. I couldn't tell what kind of root they used if that be potato or taro or something else. MOCHI FRIES - whoops forgot to take a picture of them. They were about 5 big blocks of fried Mochi topped with Parmesan and served with the Japanese Curry ketchup. The Mochi texture was crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside and hard to cut into smaller pieces using your chopsticks LOL. Dipping it in the ketchup made it even tastier. Either I was hungry or I really liked this dish because I munched on it the entire time we were here. RECOMMEND Yes, I'd love to come back! My kind of vibe. Until the next sip....

    Andrew S.

    Amazing speakeasy and it's currently my favorite in San Diego. It is located inside Asa Bakery and requires a reservation. Yes, you can buy baked goods from Asa Bakery and eat them inside the speakeasy which is what we did. Check out my Asa Bakery review for the tasty Japanese goods, but we grabbed a bunch and went inside. We had a reservation for 8 and was able to get the lounge room which was secluded and private, seemed much better than the open area and highly recommended. They even had our own record player and great selection of vinyls to play. It was much quieter in the lounge so we could converse with each other. I really enjoyed most of the drinks, they were not only tasty but looked amazing too. There was 1 drink I did not like, but it was because of personal preference, I don't like licorice and one of the drinks had a strong licorice flavor. In addition, all the food was amazing as well and pairs great with the drinks.

    Sugar Plum Fairy (left) and Tokyo Banana (right)
    Francisco D.

    Bar Kamon, "if you know, you know". This was our first time at this bar. We celebrated nye here. Small and intimate setting with lots of drink and food selection. This was one of the first few bars where we left with curiosity for other drinks on the menu. So what did we order? We started with Tokyo Banana and sugar Plum Fair (seasonal). For round 2 we got Hello Pandan and Trash Panda. We couldn't stop there for the night, so we followed up with Winter Melon (seasonal). Of these 5 drinks, the Winter Melon was my favorite, however its a seasonal drink. Runner up would be Trash Panda. The Tokyo Banana was a good start, but I wish it had more banana taste. I had a creamy and sweet preference for the night. We got Mochi Fries and the Mediterranean Harumaki. Both were good, but we really wanted the Katsu Sando instead. The bakery was out of bread for their sando. Oh well... We only had 90min to enjoy the bar, which was plenty of time to enjoy 2 rounds of drink. The staff are super friendly reminding you of the time. The entrance was well concealed sonreally fun. The decor was easy to enjoy and not overly the top. Overall, get yourself on their reservation list and give this bar a try.

    mochi fries
    Cindy C.

    I've been wanting to try this place for so long because the drinks intrigued me, and I absolutely loved this bar! It was cozy and not too loud where I can have good conversation. All the drinks that I tried were so good. We got the matcha croissant, hello pandan, trash panda and the ube jungle bird. My personal favorite was the trash panda and reminded me of a pina colada. We also tried the mochi fries that came with a curry ketchup sauce. The texture was very interesting and I personally enjoyed it. The server was also very helpful in their knowledge of the drinks and gave recommendations to our preferences. I can't wait to come back :D

    Umeboshi Sour
    Roger P.

    Japanese-themed speakeasy in the sense that it's hidden away but not very hard to find. Bar Kamon is located inside Asa Bakery and you can either ask the workers to open the door for you or press the handicap button. Be sure to make reservations on OpenTable because this place was packed the whole night! Located in East Village, the bar doesn't have its own parking lot. We had to find street parking a couple of blocks away. To check-in, speak with the hostess and if your table isn't ready, you'll be asked to wait in the bakery until someone gets you. It's not too dim inside and the music wasn't too loud. It's a really great spot to have an intimate moment or to catch up with some friends. Not fancy at all so don't worry about dressing up. They also serve food but we were here for the drinks and ordered a couple of rounds. I got to try the Umeboshi Sour, Tokyo Banana, Clarified Ube Jungle Bird, The Stache, and The Sojiros Sprotini. A lot of interesting flavors, where some I'd order again and some I wouldn't recommend. The entire group's favorite was the Ube drink as it was very creamy and smooth. Second was the Umeboshi sour, which was tangy and sweet, very refreshing! The Stache was a bit creamy and fruity, where the creaminess came from the cheese foam. We couldn't really taste much banana flavor in the Tokyo Banana. The Sojiros had a unique curry flavor but it really reminded me of a Chinese herb medicine drink. Overall, I enjoyed most of the drinks and I'd love to come back and order off of their food menu!

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    Page 1 of 7

    Bar Kamon Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Bar Kamon

    Checking to see if walk-ins are welcome or reservations only?

    I've walked in and was able to be seated an hour later on a busy night, but I would recommend reservations

    Is there a drink or food minimum?

    No. You can just walk in.

    Is there auto gratuity?

    No there is not but the service was so good you may be tipping more than expected.

    Are there walk-ins today or reservation only?

    When I went it was reservations only

    View All 5 Questions

    Mothership

    Mothership

    4.3
    (949 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    Cool speakeasy. Haven't tried the food yet but the drinks are unique, space themed and large…read moreportion sizes. Best thing is their dedication to the theme. Lots of ambient space sounds, a menu that resembles an engineer's blueprints, and beautiful lights and seating everywhere you look. Even the bathroom has a looped audio of space commands.

    Have been wanting to try this place for a while. Having a Vegan friend in the group this was…read moreperfect. We finally were able to get reservations. Yes you need reservations. The place is very small, a couple of stand up bar top tables and around 10 total tables. I would recommend this place only for a group max of 4 people. Very interesting and cool mix of Signature drinks. They also had non alcoholic beverages. The whole menu is plant based. Drinks were very interesting and really good. Food is Spanish style tapas. Small plates to share. I think we ordered almost everything in the menu Bread, Potatoes, Rice, Tofu, Bao Bun Sandwiches and Savory Pancake. Every dish was delicious and nicely presented. Place was medium loud and it felt that you actually entered another planet like in the tv series of Star Trek. Bathrooms looked like the elevator of a starship. Outstanding decor. Service was really good until the part that they rushed us through our dinner. That is why I put 3 stars. No where I saw that seating was maximum for two hours but they even rushed us more. Our reservation was at 730pm and they took us out of our table at 9pm. Very nicely they told us that we had to leave because they had another reservation. We were not even through our second cocktail and we had to leave it half drank. That is why my 3 star rating. I think that was very rude. For four people to celebrate a bday an hour and a half is very little time to share. It was a nice one time experience but that is all. I was planning to go again with another friend but with this time limit I would not repeat the place.

    Photos
    Mindkiller
    Mindkiller
    The bar area
    The bar area
    Away Mission

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    Away Mission
    Noble Experiment

    Noble Experiment

    4.5
    (1.9k reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    I'm not an often a cocktail drinker. So when the bartender asked what I'm looking for I was ill…read moreprepared. From his view, it probably sounded like "I'm Ron Burgundy?" (It definitely did). His questions guided my indecision towards a Berkshire Old Fashioned that was fantastic despite my fumbling to get there. With the warm up round over and the old fashioned loosening up my creativity, round two was set to be a knockout. I love coffee (specifically strong espresso drinks), so I asked for a strong, coffee infused, punchy cocktail, but with a different base of alcohol from the old fashioned. What came out was the best cocktail I will probably ever have in my life. The bourbon cocktail with coffee liqueur (and a number of other garnishes I will never remember) hit the bullseye. Flavorful, strong, bold, delicious all at the same time. Unfortunately (?), this was a noble experiment so I'll forever be chasing the white whale of what this drink was. But that's the allure.

    My brother-in-law and I were looking for places to drink....And we just wanted somewhere chill. We…read moreknew that any bar by tacos el gordo would be too wild for us, so we walked a couple blocks and approached Noble Experiment. I would say this was probably our highlight of our trip in San Diego. Garrick, the bartender there, was super accommodating. Not only was he and the other bartender were making damn good drinks, they would legit talk to you. The ambiance of the place is cool too. Felt like I was going inside some continental room like John Wick. Definitely my vibe and definitely coming back. But if you ever get Garrick as your bartender, you're in for a treat!

    Photos
    Strawberry cucumber Gin cocktail
    Strawberry cucumber Gin cocktail
    Bartenders creations.
    Bartenders creations.
    Skull wall

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    Skull wall
    Kindred

    Kindred

    4.4
    (2k reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    Vulture is dead. Long live Kindred!…read more I'm glad my prayers were answered. I guess I prayed to the right deity, because the Vulture Martini is back. I have had a few martinis in my day, and this one may well be the best. The Dirty Martini may be the second best. I'd probably stop there, but my wife loved her Brooklyn during our last visit, and she is not even a big fan of peach. Skewers are still great. I missed out on one of the pickled things. Was it a pear? Not sure. The carrots were good. I missed out on my opportunity to try the French Onion Soup at Vulture, so I was really happy to see it on the Kindred menu. Surely this could win over carnivores. Vive la soupe à l'oignon française! Maybe I will try the Steak Frites next time, which I think is another Vulture holdover. It was great to see Kindred busy on a Monday night. Let's support the vegan places, people. Peace

    I want to start by saying I appreciate KINDRED as a place for people to get dietary restrictions…read moremet and not feel bad about it. I've gone over the past decade with friends/family alike and 60% of the time it's been solid. As I've looked around before posing, it seems the restaurant is in a steady spiral downward over the years. I've had great service here and it sucks to say this evening was such a poor experience. I hope everyone working can be on the same page moving forward to avoid this happening again to others. I decided to come by for birthday dinner and figured 8pm was a decent time to still get great food and service. We made a reservation in advance and got to a table in 5 minutes. That's wonderful, always love that for anyone. The non-alcoholic drinks are always a favorite as someone who's been sober for years. However, it all got much more complicated after that. After not hearing or getting any updates from the server for 50 mins on our appetizer, we asked if everything was ok and if they had potentially forgot about our order. It's happened before no worries. The server said no and it just takes a while. That's fine and fair, it's to be expected on a skeleton crew for a Wednesday night shift. It was odd to see at least 4 tables and groups who had been seated after us get their food before us. When we got our Doom Bloom, around 8:55pm, over 50% of it was burnt to a crisp, the smaller mushrooms had been completely blackened to a point where you could just taste charred. Something tells me this is not the best way to serve food to others but what do I know as someone who's been coming here for years. When we got our Mind Melt and BBQ Jackfruit, which was another 50 minutes later now around 9:40pm, these entrees had met the same fate. The BBQ Jackfruit sourdough was so dry and burnt it tasted like a saltine cracker left in a campfire as a joke. The fries were overcooked, super dry, and stale all at the same time. It's like it was left in the heat lamp for 30 minutes or far too long to be enjoyed for what would be great food. My partners food thankfully wasn't to the same degree as mine but still not great. We were checking with ourselves quietly to make sure the other wasn't loosing it or if we were missing out on something. People will be people and that will never change. I hope some else won't have to spend over $100 with tip included to get the same service we got. I cannot imagine how bad things are behind the scenes for this to be a standard the staff are okay with and that they perpetuate based off other recent reviews in this matter. It was embarrassing and a waste of money. I do not recommend coming here given how this situation has transpired. My stomach still hurts while typing this review on my sofa at home.

    Photos
    Bar area. Ig @mel_foodie_ventures.
    Bar area. Ig @mel_foodie_ventures.
    Torched carrots
    Torched carrots
    Camino Muerto (Mezcal Drink)

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    Camino Muerto (Mezcal Drink)
    Books & Records

    Books & Records

    4.3
    (406 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    Happy Hour is all day on Wednesdays, which is a huge plus…read more The menu has a great selection, and this place always has a solid ambiance. Everything came out quickly, including the drinks. I genuinely wasn't dressed up and still received some of the best service I've ever had at a restaurant. Dalton was an absolute all-star, even though he's a Dodgers fan. A+ service. Even when he had a good number of tables, he still checked in regularly to make sure we were happy and had everything we needed.

    I really wanted to like Books & Records, but the service left a lot to be desired…read more After checking in, we waited a bit for our table, which was understandable. Once seated, though, we sat for about 20 minutes without anyone acknowledging us. I eventually had to flag someone down just to get water. We then waited even longer for our server to take our order. Because service was so slow, I ordered all of our drinks and food at once since I wasn't sure when we'd see our server again. What stood out even more was watching a couple seated next to us receive immediate attention. They were greeted, served water right away, and the woman was offered a purse hook. Meanwhile, we were sitting there with our purses shoved beside us and weren't offered the same courtesy. It may seem like a small detail, but combined with the lack of attention, it made us feel overlooked. The drinks came out quickly, and the chicken satay and mac and cheese were decent. Nothing was bad, but nothing really stood out food-wise either. The highlight of the evening was definitely the live music. The performers were fantastic and created a great atmosphere that honestly was the only enjoyable part of the evening.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Bao buns
    Bao buns
    Blueberry Beret ($14)

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    Blueberry Beret ($14)
    Botanica Art & Cocktails

    Botanica Art & Cocktails

    4.4
    (318 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

    Immediately fell in love with this quaint and chicly decorated speakeasy lounge. The staff was…read moreincredibly personable and helpful. The vibe was relaxed and unassuming. When I made the reservation, it was noted that there is a 1.5 hour limit on the table. Thankfully, Botanica isn't incredibly stringent about this rule as it gave us more time to eat, drink and be merry. My friend and I split the bill and I paid $87.49 with tip included. Here's what we had: Blistered shishito peppers - mild spice but flavorful New York strip yakitori - ordered two of these because they were that good! The steak was tender and the sauce rendered an umami flavor Botanika roll - tasted fine, but it ate one note. You can taste the citrusy parts but not much else. Mochi dessert - you can only get dessert if you order the pre fixe chef menu, but since our waitress didn't know this, she put the order in and gave it to us! We were incredibly grateful because it was the perfect end to a good meal For cocktails we ordered Spirited Away, Dragon of the West, Kyoko Sakura & Heads will Roll. All of the cocktails were beautifully presented and quite tasty.

    This place is calm, creative, and has the right low lighting without feeling too dark to see. The…read moredrinks are pricy, but very unique, and they have a special emphasis on aesthetic. The bartenders are nice and give good recommendations. It is attached to an art gallery and is supposed to have art displays in the bar area, but unfortunately they were all turned off when we were there.

    Photos
    Japanese Gin for the win!
    Japanese Gin for the win!
    Polenta and Wild Mushrooms
    Polenta and Wild Mushrooms
    The Dream

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    The Dream
    Charade

    Charade

    4.5
    (79 reviews)
    1.0 mi

    First time here. Definitely out of our comfort zone but enjoyed the show. Cas, Mj and Josie were…read moreamazing host and had great hospitality. Come visit!!!!!

    As the self-appointed king of speakeasies, I'm back at it with another one. After having dinner in…read morethe area, we stopped by Charade for some drinks on a Monday night. I parked on the street close to the dinner spot I went to and then walked over to Charade. Ambiance (5/5): Charade is a speakeasy so here's your clue. It's located inside Balboa. Look for the room with the arcade games and you're on the right track. Once you enter the speakeasy, you'll immediately be impressed with the old school charm. It seats roughly 20-30 people and there's a bar on one end and a stage on the other end. Old school red curtains add to the vibe. And here's the best part. On Mondays, it's jazz night. Local musicians will play which makes for a great time. Service (3/5): There was one bartender working when we were there. Overall, she provided pretty good service. There was one comment she made which rubbed me the wrong way but no biggie. Food (N/A): I had dinner prior so were on a liquid diet. I did notice that they have a few snacks available like popcorn. Drinks (4.5/5): When you think of speakeasies, you think of elevated cocktails. I look for creativity and an interesting blend of flavors and ingredients. The menu here, while not huge, has some interesting options. Outside of the menu itself, the prices are reasonable (especially for California). And they make you stiff drinks which is always appreciated. Taking into account the cocktails and the ambiance, Charade is an awesome laid-back speakeasy. Make sure to stop by on a Monday for jazz night. That takes things up a notch.

    Photos
    Burlesque fridays
    Burlesque fridays
    The jazzy sound of Sip & Curl
    The jazzy sound of Sip & Curl
    Back room at the Charade

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    Back room at the Charade

    Bar Kamon - cocktailbars - Updated July 2026

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