Swanky lil speakeasy in Mission hill, delivering solid cocktails with deeply complex yet balanced flavors. You can reserve ahead via Resy, no deposit. The only issue is the location is so busy, there's ever any available street car parking space. Located inside the mother restaurant, hidden discretely until the host lets you in. We tried their clarified milk punch variant, Phoenix rising which is their take on spicy marg, and a dessert drink - think tiramisu but with thai tea and coconut foam. We loved them all. Service is impeccable, space is immaculate. Overall 10/10. read more

Carlo - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

I really loved this speakeasy! I ate at Cardellino before & if you can, definitely make a reservation to dine here after. & check out their ice cream window too! Friendly bartenders. Intimate speakeasy with a couple of cozy tables & bar seating. Their cocktails are Greek mythology theme which was super cool, & they were delicious & strong. read more

Carlo - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

I booked a spot here through Resy for a Tuesday at 11 PM. We arrived about 15 minutes late, and it wasn't a problem at all. They were very flexible, probably helped by it being a weekday. Their last call is around 11:30 PM, and there were only a handful of people, so it felt relaxed. The seating options are great with both bar seating and comfortable sofa seats. We were brought water right away, and we both went with the dealer's choice. The bartender made an excellent cocktail for the two of us. The space is lovely, right behind a wine wall in a restaurant - super cute and full of fun energy. Will definitely be back! read more

Carlo - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

What a great speakeasy! We made a reservation for before dinner and it was so nice! The drink list is great, the drinks we all had were good and the place is dark lit with great ambiance. The server was nice and we really enjoyed ourselves. I believe you have to make a reservervation so be prepared. It's worth it. read more

Carlo - Inside - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Marina and Reuben are AWESOME!! To start, ambiance was dark, intimate, and intentional - on par with many of the high quality SD speakeasies. Music fit the mood and furthered the experience as well. Service was great from check in to check out. We had a great time getting to know our bartenders (Marina & Reuben) who were super personable and knowledgeable, so we're glad we snagged seats at the bar to watch the magic happen. Drinks definitely ranged on the pricier side, but we've come to expect that in these settings. Having come a month after the opening of Carlo, we are excited to see how things grow and expand here! Coming here on a Wednesday night gave us the energy to get through the week! read more

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We went on a Friday evening. They were ready right on time with our reservation. We went behind the secret wall and were sat at a table. It was very pretty in there, but the tables aren't very comfortable. The seats are low, and some are just tiny stools with no back. The tables are very small and hardly have enough room for everyone's drinks and waters. Our server was nice and helpful with suggestions. I ended up trying two of their signature cocktails - the Celestial Being and Amongst the Cosmos. The preparation did take awhile. I know with people throughout the space all getting different drinks, it can be hard to be fast. The Celestial Being had beet in it, which I was a little worried about, but our server assured me it was balanced. She was right. I did enjoy the drink, and the beet was not overpowering. As far as the Amongst the Cosmos, I wasn't overly impressed. I think I would rather just have a traditional Cosmo. The other 3 with me all felt kind of the same. The drinks were decent, but expensive. While the space felt private and unique, it's not high on my list to return to at this point. read more

Carlo - Amongst the Cosmos - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Carlo Speakeasy in Mission Hills is such a cute, intimate spot. It's located inside a restaurant and tucked behind a wall of wine bottles -- super cool hidden entrance. Great selection of drinks, nice and attentive staff, and the music was good without being too loud. The atmosphere is cozy and perfect for a date night or low-key night out. I would definitely go again and would probably eat at the restaurant before or after next time. read more

Carlo - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

I am a sucker for a speakeasy and after a great dinner at Cardellino this was a great decision. The myth and mist was excellent and I loved the foam. The Thai tea cocktail was excellent and I missed the picture for the Rum coffee cocktail but I loved that too. It's a classy, intimate little environment and was great for an afternoon dinner night extender read more

Carlo - Myth and mist Thai Tea cocktail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Loved my first experience at Carlo! Made reservations and snagged seats at the bar which is the best experience to watch the cocktails be made and learn from the bartenders. Both were very attentive and helpful as we decided what to order from the menu. Everything was quite unique and inspired in part by Cardellino's menu. I first tried the Medusa cocktail which was a clarified funky drink that went down so smooth. Then I ended with the acihilles which is a vegan spin on a carrot cake. The space itself was a classic speakeasy - cozy and dark with enough light to see who you're conversating with. I'll absolutely be back to try other cocktails! read more

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The service and quality of the cocktails are definitely 5 star. The bar stools and the price points - yikes. Let's start with the stools. I am an average size human and was falling off the stool. They are stiff and small and just weird. The drinks range from $18-30. I usually get Negronis but $30 here! The space is beautiful as are the cocktails. We started with the Medusa's Medallion which has a rare rum from Haiti called Clairn. It's a little funky but in a good way. I had the Achilles Heel for dessert which was made with geneveer. Tasted like carrots cake. My girlfriend tried the Devil's Whim. Think espresso martini. Both were a little rich to finish. I'm not sure I'll go back but I love that it's in the neighborhood. read more

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Great date night spot! Make a reservation for the restaurant about 1.5 hours after your slotted time for the speakeasy. This way you can eat and have a guaranteed table. Barcelona was an amazing host at the speakeasy and was very knowledgeable and friendly. Can't forget a name or person with his hospitality. read more

Carlo - Ambiance - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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This speakeasy bar is so cool. The hosts led us to the entrance. What a gorgeous atmosphere. The heavy burgundy velvet curtains leading to the seating area. And every detail was nicely done. I love the theme. The bartenders were super warm, pleasant, and attentive as well. The drink prices were starting ~$20. This was a fun evening. Make a reservation. read more

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We absolutely loved Carlo! The speakeasy nestled inside Italian restaurant Cardellino was so much fun and the drinks were soooo good! Going into it not knowing anything, I was super interested to try the restaurant as well. It was gorgeous. For those of us that enjoy less alcohol forward drinks, this place is for us. While you could definitely still taste the alcohol it wasn't so overpowering. Each ingredient was still able to be tasted and enjoyed. I really liked the p*rn star drink which was grapefruit, lime, vanilla and vodka. Really great! Our bartender was super cool too. Would definitely return. read more

Carlo - Cornstar and Tequila/Bell pepper - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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We were excited to check out this new speakeasy and we made reservations over a week in advance for the second day that Carlo was open. Carlo is tucked inside the Cardellino restaurant and has an elegant ambiance! Service was great! Our favorite was the godfather which had a delicious smoky taste. The Trials of the Gods tasted like a fancy apple juice and was too sweet for my liking. Overall we thought the drinks were mediocre with steep price tags. Unfortunately the bar seats were also pretty uncomfortable and unstable as well. read more

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Welp, this was a one and done. Not saying don't go, but go with caution. Very nice restaurant but this new speakeasy concept was very mixed bag. Atmosphere is cool. Bartenders were attentive and helpful. Drinks? Wildly overpriced. $24 for a cocktail is insane. This is Mission Hills. Not Manhattan. We each had two drinks each. All different. Two were fine, nothing impressive. Two were awful. Like laughably bad. read more

New speakeasy in Cardellino's Restaurant. Opening is hidden door along the wall of wine. I had reservation so was seated immediately. Immediately welcomed by bartender with explanation of two different sections of the menu. Service was excellent and they had excellent recommendations based on your likes and dislikes. My favorite was the prophet. Ambiance is chic. read more

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Checked out Carlo, the new speakeasy in San Diego, and honestly I was a little disappointed. I had high expectations, especially knowing it's owned by Trust Group, who usually never miss. The space itself is cool, but the drinks were just okay nothing bad, just nothing memorable. It kind of felt like a spot that was put together because they had the space. That said, service was great attentive, friendly, and definitely a highlight of the night. I'll for sure give it another shot down the road once they've had more time to work out the details, because the potential is there. But as of now, it's a pass for me. read more

Carlo - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

We were pretty excited to try this new spot out but were pretty disappointed with our experience on multiple dimensions, and were bummed that we brought our out of town guests here. The interior and decor was beautiful, great atmosphere and the volume inside was intimate enough to have a conversation which was nice. The drinks ranged from okay to good but with having tried 7 drinks on their menu, none were great. Especially at the price point of $22+ a cocktail, the bar for mixology is high. Drinks either could have been more balanced or more interesting. For this price point, I prefer 52 Remedies and cheaper options like Bar Kamon, Animae, and Juniper & Ivy. Overall, okay drinks but room for improvement or drop the prices. The most disappointing part was the service. Our server was mildly attentive and was unhelpful when asked for recommendations as she was unable to speak to the actual drinks and profiles. She tried to clear glasses from our initial round of drinks when none of us were done, some with 1/3 of their drink left. She almost spilled an entire drink on someone in our party but luckily one of us caught it, part of it ended up spilling on the tray and she served it anyways, and she said nothing the entire time but thank you and moved on. She also kept bumping into multiple sides of our chairs throughout the evening. Overall - 2/5 Atmosphere - 4/5 Drinks - 3/5 Service - 2/5 read more

After we had dinner at Cardellino, we entered the "secret" wall where wines were placed. Expect to see something else amazing. As we entered, but it was just black tiny area and to your right was a pretty lit emblem of the place. The decore was nicely done and immediately got seated in the worse place possible, the corner of the bar by as you entered. The bar stools where we sat were very wobbly and out butts got numb the longer we sat. Horrible! I wanted to ask if they could move us, but it seemed like it was getting busy. The bartender was the best. Drinks were amazing but the Medusa was the best drink ever!! The description sounded a bit odd but guarantee you if blows your mind! So note to you, if they seat you in that corner area of the bar closest to the entry, try to ask them to put you in another area. They have a small couch area along side the wall but they are for parties of three or more. This place was great.The only thing I could say is they really need to change the seating of the bar. Our butts were completely numb as we got up to leave! You won't be disappointed with the drinks. I'm absolutely amazing! read more

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Carlo in Mission Hills - Great potential, but needs work This spot has real promise, but it's not quite there yet. I came on a date after seeing it hyped on Instagram multiple times--Instagram definitely makes it look way more polished and magical than it is in person. The location in Mission Hills is perfect, and the venue itself is cool: tucked in the rear of Cardellino restaurant, with a hidden, intimate vibe. The overall aesthetic is beautiful and moody (it feels like a nod to places like Vin de Syrah or even Youngblood's energy), but there are some glaring unfinished details. Whatever you do, don't let your eyes wander too much--there's still exposed drywall above the bar that hasn't been completed yet. The biggest letdowns were the service, seating, and drinks: * Seating is uncomfortable and unstable. Do NOT sit at the bar--the chairs feel wobbly and extremely uncomfortable. The seats behind us also gave off a cheap vibe, like they were the most budget-friendly options from Wayfair just to fill space. It became painfully obvious when a small side table a group was using for drinks tipped over completely, sending multiple glasses crashing to the floor. That moment alone made me question the whole setup. * Service lacked personality. The bartenders were dry and had zero swagger or mixologist charm. I'm a sucker for engaging bartenders, and these felt flat. * Drinks fell short. I'm a big Old Fashioned fan, so I ordered The Prophet (bourbon, cognac, dates, palo santo, bitters). It completely missed the mark--the promised palo santo flavor was nonexistent. I even asked my date if she could taste it, and neither of us could. It left me disappointed and not wanting to order anything else. The cocktail menu is on the pricier side, and honestly, the quality doesn't justify the prices, especially when the flavors don't match the descriptions. The space is very small, which adds to the intimate feel but also makes the discomfort more noticeable. My date thought it was okay, but I've been to enough speakeasies to know this one's firmly middle-of-the-pack--not the worst, but far from the best. They need to address the unfinished construction, upgrade the furniture for stability and comfort (especially the bar stools), train staff to bring more personality, and nail the cocktail execution. Once those things improve, Carlo could be a standout. As it is right now, I probably wouldn't return. read more

Carlo - The menu ... - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

We had a 6:15 reservation at Carlo for four of us on a double date, with an 8:00 reservation at Cardellino, and ordered our first drink around 6:25. What should have been a special evening turned into one of the most humiliating experiences I've had. Service was minimal from the start, and over an hour later, we were left with four empty water glasses, four empty cocktail glasses, and a water pitcher crowded onto a small table with no staff attention. While adjusting my legs due to a medical condition I manage, I accidentally broke a glass. Even after the glass broke, none of the empty glasses were cleared. For context, I live with multiple sclerosis and severe RLS, which causes me to adjust my legs frequently--this is deeply personal and something I don't often talk about. Shortly after knocking the glass over, the bartender, Havi, came over and told me he would no longer serve me, asked if I had been drinking before arriving, and said I could "cost him his license." This was completely unfounded. No one at our table was intoxicated. Meanwhile, a much louder group nearby openly discussing how intoxicated they were continued to be served without issue. The interaction felt not only inaccurate, but deeply embarrassing--leaving me wondering if I was being judged based on my age, a medical condition, or both. We were then handed our bill with the tip removed "due to the situation." The lack of service, poor judgment, and the way we were treated by staff at Carlo were unacceptable. We left and canceled our reservation at Cardellino. What should have been an enjoyable evening ended in embarrassment and frustration. read more

Javi and the rest of the bartending team were amazing. The speakeasy is dimly lit and nails the intimate ambiance on the head. The Greek inspired drink menu was fun but we had the bartenders make us some off the menu concoction which were also tasty! read more

new fave spot! love how it's on RESY and AMEX covered my entire bill. service was amazing and drinks were all delicious. no food so make a reservation at Cardellinos for that! ambiance is so nice and quiet. loved the lighting and decorations. can't wait to be back! read more

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Carlo was a great speakeasy experience. They had some of the most interesting drinks I've ever had. Winged Silhouette and Achilles' Heel are must try's but everything our group ordered was delicious. I'll be back soon! read more

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The service was fantastic -- Barcelona took great care of me and made the experience feel special from start to finish. I had the Medusa and a shot of Saint Benevolence. I was so excited to see that they offer a clairin cocktail! The Medusa was outstanding -- definitely ask questions about this one, because the description doesn't do it justice. Clairin is incredibly rare to find on a cocktail menu, and Carlo does it beautifully. If you have the chance, absolutely take the opportunity to try it. My only small complaint is that the bar stools are a bit uncomfortable, but it didn't take away from an otherwise fantastic experience. read more

Drinks were great. Atmosphere was great. Service was top notch. The bar stools were horrible - small and very uncomfortable.