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    Bar Kamon

    4.6 (270 reviews)
    ModerateCocktail Bars
    Closed 5:30 pm - 10:00 PM

    Bar Kamon Photos

    BAR KAMON ATMOSPHERE

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    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Casual
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    Recommended Reviews - Bar Kamon

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    Reviews With Photos

    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.

    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!

    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.

    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!

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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!

    Arthur E.

    Old school Japanese bar vibes and service with amazing cocktails. Went for after dinner drinks - had a couple high balls and a black sesame old fashioned. Everything was fantastic - continue to talk about the drinks a month or two since visiting. Would def come back when I'm back in town.

    Ambar A.

    Super cute place! Hidden inside the bakery, small place, super fun drinks, great service, and a nice ambiance! Stopped here after dinner and was treated to such a nice surprise! Got the matcha croissant cocktail and it was good! Def want to go back and try more!

    Janai Sazerac, Mizunara Negroni, Matcha Croissant

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    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

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    Noble Experiment - Strawberry cucumber Gin cocktail

    Noble Experiment

    4.5(1.9k reviews)
    0.3 miEast Village
    $$

    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!

    The Noble Experiment: 9/10…read more Aesthetic & Ambiance: 9.5 - This place gives "speakeasy haunted mansion" vibes. You walk into the barrels, down the mirrors, and into the skull room...IYKYK no less. The waits to get very deadly so make sure to put your name on the list early. Service: 9/10 The host was chill, and we had Quintin as our mixologist. There are no menus he told us, he just went off of our flavors, and palate, so I can't really speak for how to order the same drink. First drink: 9/10 (profile) Vodka bases with cucumber and strawberry. Second drink: 8.5/10 (profile) Smokey, deep old fashion. Overall a MUST-GO to if you're in the area stopping by!

    Photos
    Noble Experiment - Spiced banana flip! Delicious!

    Spiced banana flip! Delicious!

    Noble Experiment - Bartenders creations.

    Bartenders creations.

    Noble Experiment - Skull wall

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    Skull wall

    False Idol - Isn't it gorgeous?!

    False Idol

    4.4(1.4k reviews)
    1.1 miLittle Italy
    $$

    My False Idol experience was memorable, albeit blurry toward the end! My boyfriend and I had been…read moreon a half-day tour beforehand, but I saw that False Idol was near our hotel and I insisted we stop in for a cocktail before calling it a night. I knew it was a speakeasy but he did not. I was trying to double-check on my phone that Craft & Commerce was the right restaurant its housed in (yes) when he tried to jet set off down the block "to keep looking" rather than listen to me. I yelled, "MOTHER!" by accident and then he did truly leave me hahaha. He resurfaced a few minutes later, and then we walked in. It was 5:15 at the time, so 15 minutes after opening. I had NO IDEA how popular this spot was, nor anything about its nation-wide reputation. I actually didn't know that until two days ago when a Yelp-friend at home here in Richmond, Virginia, exclaimed excitedly when I told her we stopped in. The host who greeted us was kind, informed us there had been a line to get in that day, but that they had one barrel left; we jumped on it of course. It was happy hour, so the first cocktail I ordered was dirt cheap at $9. It was the Imperial Hawaiian with gin, rum, lemon, pineapple, and orgeat. I really shouldn't have ordered a second drink after that one, but I did have the classic Saturn later on in the night and it was absurdly good! Definitely my favorite of the two. The moody tiki vibe was so cool and fun. They even had frogs you could play on the tables. We had some fun neighbors too, which livened up the experience even more. We had a great time and both walked out heavily buzzed. We were asleep by 8 that night, but it was worth it!

    Stopped by Falls Idol this past Saturday on our way back from Panda Fest, and it turned out to be…read moresuch a fun, spontaneous experience. We arrived about 10-15 minutes before opening, let the staff know we were walk-ins, and they were super accommodating--they gave us about 60 minutes at a table despite reservations coming in. The space itself is very small and tucked inside another venue, but that honestly adds to the charm. It's dimly lit with a unique, immersive vibe--think jungle-inspired with eclectic decor. At one point, there were rumbling sounds and subtle vibrations through the chairs, which made the whole experience feel interactive and different from your typical bar. The drinks were creative and fun (one of my friends even kept the drink garnish as a collectible), and the staff was friendly and welcoming throughout. It's definitely more about the ambiance and experience than anything else. I'd come back again--especially around the holidays to see how they switch up the decor. If you're looking for something a little different and don't mind a cozy, darker setting, it's worth checking out.

    Photos
    False Idol - Tiki themed decor

    Tiki themed decor

    False Idol - Rum barrel

    Rum barrel

    False Idol - Back bar rum selection

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    Back bar rum selection

    Books & Records - Table setting

    Books & Records

    4.4(398 reviews)
    1.3 miBanker's Hill
    $$

    beautiful restaurant, i went there for my bday celebration and it was the right choice…read more the service is fast and friendly ! it was happy hour so there was some mix in the appetizers that were ordered but they were nice enough to waive the cost for the one that arrived late. overall every delicious i love coming here !

    My wife and I took a day trip down to San Diego to celebrate our 4 year anniversary, and somehow we…read morestumbled onto one of the highlights of the whole trip. We had spent most of the day around Bankers Hill and decided to grab an early dinner at Books & Records. Getting reservations was easy, but from the moment we walked in, the ambiance alone already had us sold. The place was still pretty quiet when we arrived, and to our surprise it was happy hour, so naturally we ordered a bunch of items off the menu along with drinks. Everything was ridiculously good. Not one miss. What really stood out though was the attention to detail. The host brought us a complimentary glass of champagne after hearing we were celebrating our anniversary. Small gesture, big impact. Stuff like that matters. As the night went on, the restaurant filled up, live music started playing, and the whole atmosphere just came alive. Our waiter never rushed us once, which made the experience feel even more intentional and relaxed. We were able to actually enjoy the moment instead of feeling pushed through dinner service. Good food is one thing. Great hospitality is another. This place gave us both. Next time we're in San Diego, we're absolutely making it a point to come back. Lovely spot. Lovely experience.

    Photos
    Books & Records - Interior

    Interior

    Books & Records - Bao buns

    Bao buns

    Books & Records - Blueberry Beret ($14)

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    Blueberry Beret ($14)

    Charade - In house artist during the jazz performance

    Charade

    4.5(78 reviews)
    1.0 miBanker's Hill

    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
    Charade - Burlesque fridays

    Burlesque fridays

    Charade - The jazzy sound of Sip & Curl

    The jazzy sound of Sip & Curl

    Charade - Back room at the Charade

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    Back room at the Charade

    Bar Kamon - cocktailbars - Updated May 2026

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