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    CHARADE ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Charade

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    Randall B.

    A truly original and fun place. Been going here since the day it first opened. Last night the show was over the top fun but the bar service was terrible. Full house. One bartender and one server. And.... We could not order from the bar. Just really made the night less than it could have been

    Alex S.

    The experience was alright. It's definitely unique.. We made reservations for this place close to 7pm when the show starts. The place was empty except for the host and the bartender. We could choose anywhere to be seated and the seats are arranged such that you're facing the stage. The drinks menu is limited; about 5-7 cocktails, beer and wine. There is a 2 drinks minimum policy. I had the Perfidia and white jazz and they were both good. If you're looking for a unique, more adventurous cocktail, you probably won't find that here. The first show was a little.. odd. It reminds me of David Lynch's Mulholland Drive for some reason. Weird but I was strangely drawn to it. Come 8:15ish, that's when most people came in. Now it makes sense, the burlesque show starts at 8:30 and that was fun and hilarious. I enjoyed that. No food. But go outside the room and enjoy the burgers at The Balboa.

    Elizabeth A.

    Without much context to this bar except that it was a speakeasy vibe, I was surprised and excited that it was a burlesque show night which started at 7pm! There is a 2 drink minimum which is not bad especially with a show included. Tucked away in the back of The Balboa, I liked the contrasting vibes of the speakeasy which was more cozy and intimate. The cocktails were just okay and too sweet for my taste. I tried the lavender vodka cocktail and an old fashioned, both were sweeter than I prefer. The show itself was fun with intermittent acts every 20 mins or so. The venue was just the right size so you can still see even from the way back. Make sure to make reservations as we got lucky to get seated by showing up early during a lull period. It got packed within the hour!

    Stand Up Comedy
    Snowflake J.

    We ate dinner at The Balboa and realized the speakeasy was getting ready to open that evening; so I decided to plant some entertainment into our night unknowingly what we were going to see. We scoured the website for a password and found just a reservation on OpenTable will get us in the door. The entry of the speakeasy is behind one of the walls of the arcade and it looks like an industrial wall of pipes and brick to showcase a glass french door that looks into a very colorful, mysterious, low lit room. Once seated, you're offered beverages of your choice and before the music starts, they collect $10 per person and on the drink menu indicated at the bottom is the two drink minimum. An unexpected evening of delight and cheer. A small intimate crowd with a unique offering of a visual stimulating atmosphere with beverages for all to include (non alcoholic) beverages that range from $9 to $16. You have one server and friendly staff that's committed to make sure you have a good time. We met Sip & Curl, two beautiful voices Danielle and Ruby G and one drummer referred to as Cab Driver on the drums / guitarist. We also enjoyed some stand up comedy too.

    Tiffany T.

    I recently stumbled upon this new speakeasy & was beyond pleasantly surprised to find out that it's a new speakeasy in one of my favorite spots ever, the Balboa Bar & Grill in Bankers Hill! The Balboa is definitely my favorite burger in San Diego, as well as my family's, so us finding out that they incorporated a new performative bar only meant one thing... we had to go immediately. A few weeks ago, a few of us had visited the Balboa & had noticed that they created a new spacious arcade game room area that included a new pool table. However, we had no idea the speakeasy would be part of this area as well. The expansion is awesome! We were able to experience Charade's first week of opening & upon entering, it was seriously so cool, intimate, & I love the projectors that display unpredictable, but captivating scenery (e.g., random aquariums, aurora borealis-looking visuals, & etc). Lighting in here was super ambient & really nice too, which is something I appreciate! Since they're in their beginning stages with recently opening, they have a limited menu for now, but they have a full bar & are flexible with drink orders off the menu. For instance, martinis were not on the actual menu, but they made a mean one upon request :) Drinks were great & service was great too! We really liked the bartender (I didn't quite get his name), but we also thought that our server, Shine, was really sweet & welcoming, & he really cared to make sure we had a drink in hand & that we were enjoying our time there. The most cool & unique thing about this new establishment though is that they have a stage with a curtain where throughout the night (~8 PM - 1AM ish), artists take turns to perform any type of art that they'd like. You really never know what you're going to get & during our visit, we got to see epic guitar playing & singing, a ventriloquist, & another singing bit with comedy mixed in. It's definitely an unpredictable & exciting performative journey & makes the night more interesting & exciting. Overall, I am super happy to see that the Balboa (which was already amazing as is) is evolving & supporting San Diego's local talent, & being an open platform for artists to do their thang. They even let us know that if we, or if anyone that we knew, was interested in performing there, that they would love to learn more about our art & to give us a chance to be a part of the experience. I totally recommend this place & the even better part about it is that after you get some nice drinks in here & you step on out, you can continue the fun by treating yourself to the best burger ever at the Balboa! ;)

    Ann V.

    Had a great time here! There was no entertainment the night I went which was fine cause there was karaoke. Staff was awesome too. Overall great experience

    drink menu
    Roxanne H.

    I have no idea how this place is as low key as it was when I went last night, it was great! The speakeasy is located near the arcade in the back of the restaurant. The bartender was super friendly and made us custom drinks that were delicious and well priced. Mine were about $14 each, which, for a custom drink is super good. The ambiance is incredible, great low lighting, cool displays, small and intimate. The act last night was also interesting. They went on at 7pm and we were there for 2 hours and he did two shows. For the price, location, and quality of drinks this place was amazing. Will 100% be coming back, and during a weekend next!

    Jose P.

    Charade is one of those places where you walk in and immediately think, "Okay, this is gonna be interesting." It's definitely unique part cocktail lounge, part live show, part "where am I and how did I get here?" vibe. The concept? Super fun. The execution? Ehh... still deciding. It feels like one of those movies you kinda like but know you probably need to watch again to really get it. Service was great though friendly, fast, and nobody gave you the stink-eye for not knowing what was happening, which is always a plus. Cocktails? Solid. No complaints there. They know how to mix a drink, and they don't skimp on the good stuff. Plenty of parking (bless) and yes, they take reservations so you can feel fancy for a hot second. Honestly, if you're looking to switch things up from the usual "drink at a bar and stare at your phone" night, Charade's a fun option. Come for the cocktails, stay for the what-is-happening-right-now entertainment. Might need a round two to really appreciate it but hey, any excuse for more drinks, right?

    G F.

    We walked into the wrong room but we still found the place. The ambiance is great and the staff were helpful and well dressed. The drinks were delicious but they were out of some of the food options and the drinks took a minute to come out

    Back room at the Charade

    Great service- Chloe was great & so is the atmosphere. You have to Walk in thru the Balboa and head to the back through the 2 little red doors. Grab a burger before & head here after!

    The ambiance is intimate, with dim lighting and plush seating that encourages conversation and connection. The decor artfully combines retro elements with modern touches, creating a unique atmosphere that is perfect for unwinding after a long day.

    Craft cocktails

    Stumbled upon this place and we were blown away!! Delicious drinks, awesome atmosphere, great service and really talented acts!

    . What an unforgettable experience! The energy was incredible from start to finish -- everyone was laughing, singing, and just having the best time. The hosts made everyone feel comfortable and confident, whether you were a seasoned performer or just having fun with friends. The song selection was fantastic, the sound system was on point, and the crowd was so supportive. It wasn't just karaoke -- it was pure joy, community, and good vibes all night long! I can't wait to come back. 10/10 would recommend to anyone looking for a fun, welcoming night out filled with music and memories.

    The best vibes, drinks, and staff!! If you're looking for an entertaining and exciting night, come to Charade!!

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    Great ambiance very chill vibe with some amazing drinks and the Bartender CHLOE was PHENOMENAL

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Charade

    Do they have shows on Thursday nights?

    Is there a specific start/end time for the performance? Trying to determine what time to make a reservation

    Nope. They just sort of happen. On the weekends it seems to be about every 30 minutes or so. Not sure about weekdays.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Charade

    The ambiance is incredible, great low lighting, cool displays, small and intimate.

    Mentioned in 6 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    False Idol - Isn't it gorgeous?!

    False Idol

    4.4(1.4k reviews)
    0.6 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

    Starlite - Pistachio ice cream sandwich

    Starlite

    4.1(2.6k reviews)
    1.2 miMiddletown, Mission Hills
    $$$

    We had an incredible date night at Starlite! The different…read moresections each had a cool vibe, we got sat in the mirrored seating area right next to the waterfall. I enjoyed a delicious mocktail and my husband had one of the house cocktails. The twice baked potato was amazing! Honestly couldn't go wrong with anything off there menu. Would highly recommend. (Definitely get reservations)

    I wish I had the capacity to let y'all get the full experience that I did. I booked my reservation…read morethrough the Opentable app (highly recommend). Please keep in mind, if you do book through Opentable that they ask you to put a card down on file. The reservation was for 5:30, luckily a block away there's a parking lot (you do have to pay) as their personal parking lot fits 5-6 cars. The hostess was a sweetheart and super accommodating, as we were a few minutes late due to the parking situation and we had a great seat that showed the open layout with the chandelier, the back panel by the entrance with all the stars, etc. Overall: Service, exceptional. (5/5) Our waitress: Kelly, was a sweetheart, informative, mindful on consistent check-in's for refills, drinks, going over steps of the menu (e.g. - small bites, entrees, dessert, didn't feel rushed or too pushy, and considerate on time, and promptness). The waiter that came by mid-video to do the torch component of the butters we added on to our meats was great, I love that it's table side because it enhances the experience to the ambiance and you can squeeze a little video in. If you do go for your birthday, as I did, they provide you with a dessert outside of their choices, however, we did overindulge a bit. Overall, I had a phenomenal experience for my birthday dinner, the music/ambiance was great, service was great, and the food quality for both the meat choices we got, sides (caesar salad, broccoli, and macaroni) we're all SO yummy! I will definitely be back!

    Photos
    Starlite - Bar area after entering

    Bar area after entering

    Starlite - Herb Scalloped Potatoes

    Herb Scalloped Potatoes

    Starlite - Cocktails are fun!

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    Cocktails are fun!

    Noble Experiment - Strawberry cucumber Gin cocktail

    Noble Experiment

    4.5(1.9k reviews)
    0.9 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

    Part Time Lover - The bar at PTL San Diego

    Part Time Lover

    4.3(506 reviews)
    2.4 miNorth Park
    $$

    Fun speakeasy in North Park. Probably the most popular bar in the area. The DJs are unreal and this…read morespot always has the best music. The drinks are creative and fun. The vibe is immaculate: dim-lighting, wooden furniture, nice wallpaper, and dark curtains. Cute but very overpriced vinyl shop in the back, it's more for show. It gets insanely busy here every night. There will always be a wait after 9 PM. Wait isn't long, but it's essential as it gets PACKED inside. Seating is always full and people will throw hands for a table. There is minimal room to stand. Unfortunately, there is NO DANCEFLOOR :,( The bar lines are INSANE and can be hard to follow. But the bartneders are patient and helpful when it's finally your turn. While I warn about the crowds, this place is awesome. 10/10 one of the best spots in San Diego, the staple of North Park.

    This is a nice establishment, especially for lounging with a date. Very clean and nice drinks too…read more A little pricey however that's the norm in this area for the more popular out of towner type spots. The servers are friendly. But you have to be patient as they are often quite busy. The record store and records theme is what they present online but to be honest that is only a minute section of the establishment. It definitely doesn't describe the theme of the place neither. The worker in the record section simply ignored me when I tried to purchase a record and after a minute I had to ask for him to please ring me up. No apology from him. No biggie, I still had a decent time drinking here.

    Photos
    Part Time Lover - Bikini Kill (Serrano tequila blanco, mango, guava, tamarind, xila, lemon)

    Bikini Kill (Serrano tequila blanco, mango, guava, tamarind, xila, lemon)

    Part Time Lover - Record store to the left. Bathroom straight ahead

    Record store to the left. Bathroom straight ahead

    Part Time Lover - Record Store inside the bar

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    Record Store inside the bar

    Realm of the 52 Remedies - Clouds over Thailand

    Realm of the 52 Remedies

    4.4(866 reviews)
    7.2 miKearny Mesa
    $$

    Realm of the 52 has been on my SD bucket list since I've moved here. So pretty hyped to get to…read morefinally go! Its located inside Common Theory. The entrance is pretty cool but I'll let you experience it :). The interior is definitely a vibe and intimate. Its definitely for smaller groups. They actually recommend to stay in your seat unless you need to use the restroom, which I appreciated. The service was all around very good! I got the Saigon Dreamer and it was so good! It had such a good mouth feels with the clarified milk. Highly recommend if its still on the menu. For food, I got the charred gai lan and the KFQ. The gai lan had a nice smoking taste and very tender. KFQuail was succulent and was fried to perfection. The only downside would be it was pretty expensive what you get. Will definitely be back for the cocktails but may get food somewhere.

    Heard about this place for so long and finally got to try it out. We went on a Mon and made…read morereservations but it wasn't too busy when we got there around 6. The vibe inside is dark, tropical and cozy. It's a decently large space and tables are spread out nicely. Because it was our anniversary they gave us complimentary sparkling wine to start which was a nice touch. I know they're known for cocktails but I ended up getting wine to drink as well. My partner got The Saigon Dreamer that was coffee based. He really liked it. For food I got the burger (bunless as they didn't have option for a lettuce wrap) and my partner got the quail. We split the gailan (Chinese broccoli). All the flavors on everything were great. Seasoned but not overly so and a good balance of savory and sweet. Portions are not huge and a bit pricey so docking a star for that. Service was great from start to finish and they were patient with all the questions I had before ordering.

    Photos
    Realm of the 52 Remedies - Sitting area

    Sitting area

    Realm of the 52 Remedies - Main dining area

    Main dining area

    Realm of the 52 Remedies - View from my table

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    View from my table

    Charade - venues - Updated May 2026

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