Overall great experience. Entering the bar room while sitting by the rotating wall was a wow…read morefactor. Vibe was pleasant with dim lighting and some music to jam to, overall not too rowdy or loud. I was able to have a conversation with my group. Most importantly the drinks were great. Jade Pagoda, and the non alcoholic Golden Afternoon were my two favorites.

The food, the service, ambience, evening was absolutely impeccable. I want to personally thank…read moreISAIAH for the absolute legendary service. This was above and beyond. I couldn't thank you enough for making our date night one for the books. Thank you again, it is this type of service that makes these nights unforgettable and memorable.

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!

False idol is a tucked away Hawaiian themed speakeasy behind a restaurant. Reservations are…read morerequired so be mindful of that before going. Once inside seating is first come first served so the place is insanely crowded with people trying to get drinks. Service is a little confusing as the waiters will come up to you with a menu asking for your order instead of an order at the bar type of thing. Once we actually got a seat things were okay. The menu is mostly rum drinks since this is a rum bar however since I'm not the biggest fan I ordered the only thing with tequila on the menu. My drink was actually really good, it was refreshing, not too sweet or strong at all. I just wish there would be more variety.

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.

A hidden speakeasy tucked inside Common Theory Brewery in Convoy -- such a fun concept. They have…read moretheir own parking lot, so no stress there. The entrance experience is really creative (I won't spoil it!), and our host was incredibly enthusiastic, setting the tone for the whole night. You do need a reservation, and they charge a per‑person deposit. There's also a time limit, which is a bit of a bummer, but understandable given how popular the place is. The space itself is gorgeous -- dark, cool, and atmospheric with tons to look at. Anime is projected on the wall, and the décor is super detailed and immersive. Each table has a QR code so you can browse their extensive drink menu. They do serve food, but our group of six came just for drinks. The cocktails are unique, beautiful, and definitely on the pricier side, but there's something for everyone. You can only order one drink per person at a time, and there can be a bit of a wait, but honestly the presentation makes it worth it. I tried the Kasato Maru and the Seoul City Hipster -- both vibrant, refreshing, and stunning. A cool, quiet, moody speakeasy with memorable drinks and a fun reveal. A great spot for a special night out.

Bar Kamon is a must visit in San Diego. It's a classy Japanese style bar with inventive Japanese…read moreinspired 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

A great whisky bar…read more Came here for cocktails and ended up staying for food and more cocktails. Really enjoyed the quietness (it wasn't busy) and the friendliness of the staff who put up with our bad jokes and shenanigans. I had a variety of drinks and eats and liked them all. Definitely coming back when I'm in San Diego again.

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!

Great drinks, friendly bartenders and freaking cool decor. Love the vinyl records…read more They could definitely clean up the alley a bit .... we get it, it's a speakeasy.. there's literally puddles, boxes from the restaurant and dumpsters you have to walk past in heels to get into this fine establishment. I absolutely love the hot towels at entry

Convoy music bar was a cozy and fun place to catch up with friends. We had four people in our party…read moreand made a reservation ahead of time. That's the best way to get in since it really is a small space, not many people can fit inside. When we went on a Sunday night there were some people who were waiting in line outside hoping to get in. The bar is behind the plaza with the Taco Stand. You need to walk down an alleyway to find it. The drink menu is fun to read! I would definitely come back and bring friends from out of town to check out this fun speakeasy!

I loved how cozy this place was. My group of 4 sat at the bar. Super fun to watch the bartender…read morecraft the drinks. Very friendly staff and gave great recommendations. My favorite was definitely the Sloth. The marshmallow was out of this world. Pride is also good. Tastes like a healthy morning juice with a hint of alcohol. Lust was unique. Love how frothy and smooth it is with the egg whites. Also the hint of cheese! Surprisingly delicious. Gluttony was super smoky and loved the presentation.

The self-appointed king of speakeasies is back at it with another one. I stopped by Oculto 477 on a…read moreWednesday evening an hour before close. Located in Old Town San Diego, we had dinner at a restaurant within walking distance from Oculto. I parked for free on the street and made a reservation day of. It's a pretty small speakeasy so if you're going on a weekend, you're probably going to have to make a reservation in advance. Ambiance (4.5/5): Oculto has the seven deadly sins theme going which is pretty cool. I've been to a similar speakeasy in St. Pete, Florida. Once you arrive at the mezcal bar that houses Oculto, check in with the host, and he will bring you to a "confessional." There, you must confess one of the seven deadly sins before the door to the speakeasy is opened for you. Naturally, I went with "lust." Once you get inside, it's a charming speakeasy. Service (2.5/5): This is one of the areas that leaves a little to be desired. There was only one bartender working when I was there. Since speakeasies have elevated cocktails, service was quite slow. They definitely needed two bartenders there to speed up the process. They also have a two-drink minimum which I was annoyed about on principle. I often have multiple drinks at a bar, but I never feel like I'm forced to do it. Food (N/A): I'm not sure if they have food, I don't believe they do. Regardless, I was on a liquid diet. Drinks (4/5): Pretty interesting menu of craft cocktails. When I'm at a speakeasy, I look for unique drinks that have an interesting combination of ingredients and flavor profiles. In addition to a nice list, they also have a dealer's choice cocktail where you can tell the bartender what you're into and they will craft a custom cocktail for you based on your taste. Another cool thing about Oculto is that it's located next to the cemetery in Old Town. That adds to the spooky theme.

Excellent drink selection and love the interior design! Switches up with the seasons. The server…read morewas great at discussing the menu and helping me choose the best drink for me

I love a bar with a curated vibe, and Mothership is definitely it. My friend booked a reservation…read morehere and our table was ready when they said it would be! I got the Tracking Device, and my friends got the Mindkiller and Away Mission. The Tracking Device was zeroproof and a very delicious mocktail! The tang from the lime and floral taste from the hibiscus made it very pleasant to sip on as the night went on. The cocktails here are STRONG, so drink accordingly lol. My friend couldn't finish his entire Mindkiller drink because it was so strong, but he did enjoy it. The bathrooms are super cool, and the interior is very trippy and chic. I'm a big fan of how much effort and attention to detail the creators put into this location.

The self-appointed king of speakeasies is back at it for another one. I stopped by Young Blood for…read moresome drinks on a Wednesday night. Given the name, I was expecting this to be a vampire hangout or for some animal sacrifices of sorts to take place, but I'm happy to report that Young Blood is none of that. It's a top-notch speakeasy in line with some of the best I've been to. Ambiance (4.5/5): Young Blood is a relatively small speakeasy with some great vibes. To get there, walk inside Neighborhood and find your way. There are actually two speakeasies inside the same restaurant, with the other being The Noble Experiment. Young Blood seats 20-30 people or so. We made a reservation to be safe. If it's a weekend, it's probably a must. On a week day, who knows. It depends on how much you'd like to roll the dice. One of the coolest parts of the ambiance is that they have these huge six foot candles or so. One was right by us at the bar. My only complaint about the bar area? Back-less bar stools. I need some support for my old man back! Service (4/5): Overall, the service was quite good. There were two bartenders working that both served us. They were both attentive and pretty efficient at their jobs. They also hook you up with a little amuse bouche which is always much appreciated. Food (N/A): I was on a liquid diet on this visit. I don't think they have food anyway though I'm not 100%. Drinks (4.5/5): Think of this as a tasting menu for drinks. It's three courses. Meaning you're required to get three drinks. Normally, stuff like this annoys me, but the drinks are so well made here that I was cool with it. While Young Blood isn't cheap, given the sophistication of the cocktails, it's worth it. For your first course, you have your choice of eight or so cocktails. What's interesting is that they leave out the main spirit in the description purposefully. So as to not sway you to go for your poison of choice and instead focus on the flavor profile. It's rolling the dice a little bit but it worked out. My first course was gin-based which was right up my alley. The second course is dealer's choice. You tell the bartender about what liquors you like, flavor profiles, what to stay away from, etc. and they will craft a cocktail to your taste. Well done yet again. And finally, the third course is a "desert course" and you have your choice of four or so options. I went with the lemon meringue cocktail which tasted as good as it sounds. They even toast the meringue with a blow torch. Impressive. I've been to a lot of speakeasies in my day nationwide. Young Blood is in the top 10. Hands down.

If you're a fan of personalized crafted bespoke cocktails, I highly recommend coming to Young…read moreBlood! They're typically reservation-based but it doesn't hurt walking in. Young Blood is located behind the Neighborhood, and is one of two speakeasies here. We lucked out and was able to come as a walk-in on a Sunday. While waiting for our turn, we had a drink at their other speakeasy (the Noble Experiment, which I also highly recommend). Ambiance is sophisticated and elevated, with great mood lighting. Generally, the menu consists of 3 drinks - with one being a bespoke cocktail. Since we only stopped by, we opted for getting one drink. We wanted a different variation of the Manhattan and was asked several questions before concocting the drink (i.e. more bitter, floral, what whiskey do you typically like, etc.). The result? Magnificent! They used Nikka from the Barrel, chocolate bitters, along with other ingredients to provide a different depth in the Manhattan. Also had a pleasure to try the Floral+Juicy+Elegant cocktail from their first course menu. It consisted of juniper, lychee, grapefruit, bergamot, and sakura cherry blossom. They used sakura cherry blossom powder on the rim so you can change the drink profile as you take a sip. It's floral, refreshing, and light. Service was wonderful! You can tell that the bartenders really care about their craft. Remember to book a reservation in advance!

Room 56 is an amazing speakeasy you could go to! The element of surprise is definitely there and it…read morefeels like this place should be kept secret in fact. Service here is amazing, the servers are very knowledgeable about their menu, everyone is very friendly and attentive. The vibes on the inside are immaculate, very upscale and intimate. The drinks are also good yet strong. It is on the pricier side however I didn't mind since the vibes of this speakeasy and drinks were equally as great. I'd definitely recommend!

Been twice now in the last month or so. First class hidden gem. The staff treat you like a human…read morebeing. They are very attentive and super accommodating. They explain everything regarding the menu and venue really well. The drink menu is like a short novel. So many options to choose from and described in detail down to the flavor profile you should expect from each creation. I will not say much more to spoil any surprises.