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False Idol

4.4 (1.4k reviews)
Closed • 5:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)
Updated over 3 months ago

False Idol Photos

FALSE IDOL ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Trendy
Loud
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - False Idol

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Reviews With Photos

Ashley A.

I absolutely LOVE a tiki bar and a speakeasy so this one did not disappoint! Literally the perfect combination. We got lucky since we did not have a reservation. We walked in right around opening and was able to snag a small table. The space itself is decked out with decor and tiki vibes, there's a handful of tables and a bar seating area. They had a live band playing during our stop in to add to the vibes too. The menu itself was long and has so many good options, we had a hard time choosing. Our waitress was great though and gave great suggestions based on what we were looking for. The cocktails turned out great and we will definitely be back next time we're in San Diego!

ube bae malambo
Stephanie N.

I LOVE SPEAKEASIES! The vibe and the decor here is amazing- you go in through a hallway of skulls, and there are pufferfish and all sorts of sea creatures and taxidermy like an underwater grotto! The menu is thoughtful, decorative, and descriptive. Staff can explain the drinks very well. Had the pandan and the blue coconut drink- Malambo, Wayfinder, Ube Bae and Saigon Sipper and they HIT!!! Excellent craftsmanship!

Penicillin
Cody P.

False Idol is a tiki bar and speakeasy hidden away at the back of Craft & Commerce. Although indistinguishable from the outside, the entrance to the speakeasy is clear once you enter Craft & Commerce. Our hostess was really nice and let us sit although a couple of our party members were running late. On that note - reservations for a table are quite hard to get here. My friend just happened to see one pop up on OpenTable and immediately grabbed it. If you don't have a reservation, it's standing room only.  After walking through a cavern of glowing skulls, you emerge into a lively Tiki atmosphere. Colorful glass baubles hang from the ceiling suspended by a rope netting while Tiki effigies stare at you from the walls. There's even a small waterfall in the back corner. The atmosphere inside is lively and busy. The floor is packed with standing patrons chatting about. Lucky for us, we got to sit at one of the few tables they had available. Every once few minutes, the ceiling thunders because one of the groups orders a punch bowl, complete with sound effects and pyrotechnics. My favorite drink of the night was the Mac Nut Chi Chi. It was sweet and creamy, which contrasted very nicely with the salted macadamia nut. I liked it so much, I even asked for the recipe. Another drink I enjoyed was the Saturn, which is a classic Tiki drink. In comparison to the other drinks of the night, this one felt a bit more posh. It was served up and simple and elegant in its presentation. On the nose, it was very refreshing and citrusy, and on the palate, it was light and refreshing with floral notes. I also enjoyed the Reserve Mai Tai, which was quite strong. I can definitely see why it's so hard to get a table at False Idol. I had an amazing time and would totally come back.

Decor
Joey D.

We ate at Craft and Commerce and decided to jump in line for False Idol as walk-ins. Luckily we lined up near opening because there were quite a few reservationists that showed up on a Friday night. We were led into a dimly lit speakeasy soon after lining up. Fortunately we got bar seating. The bar then quickly filled up with many standing as the bar got crowded. As far as drinks, their menu had many listed drinks. Wifey and I started with Rum Old Fashioneds and they were delicious. Our second drink was a King Kong Old Fashioned and it too was yummy. The bartenders were very friendly and attentive. The place was hopping and packed. We will definitely return.

Missionary Downfall and Jet Setter
Stacey I.

What a fun nightlife spot! If you're looking for a fun place to grab cocktails, this is definitely a spot worth checking out! **Located inside Craft & Commerce Walking into False Idol honestly feels like you've been transported somewhere else. It's hidden behind Craft & Commerce, and once you step inside, the immersive tiki atmosphere really sets the mood. The decor, lighting, and sound effects all come together to make the experience feel fun and memorable. Just know, if you are hoping to sit down, good luck! A lot of reservations are made in advance. However, at the bar, if you see a reservation sign and they're not there yet, staff will let you sit down once it's time to get up for the reserved party. DRINKS: 9/10 The cocktails were creative, well crafted, and definitely strong enough to make you feel like you were getting your money's worth. I also loved how much attention they put into the presentation. Every drink looked like a piece of art and added to the whole tiki experience. SERVICE: 9/10 The staff were friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. They took the time to answer questions and made great recommendations without making us feel rushed. AMBIANCE: 10/10 This is easily the highlight of the experience. The entire space is beautifully designed, and every little detail makes it feel like you've escaped into a hidden tropical bar. It's cozy, intimate, and unlike any other place I've been to in San Diego. Reservations are definitely worth making since the space is on the smaller side and fills up quickly. The only reason I'm giving 4 instead of 5 stars is that, while the experience and ambiance were amazing, the drinks are definitely on the pricier side. I understand you're paying for the craftsmanship and atmosphere, but it's probably not somewhere I'd visit regularly because of that. It's common for tiki bars to be pricey so it was to be expected. Overall, I'm really glad I finally got to experience False Idol. If you're in San Diego and enjoy creative cocktails in a one-of-a-kind atmosphere, I'd definitely recommend checking it out at least once!

Menu item for the 151 Swizzle.
Stephen M.

Went here with advance knowledge of the place during our PHX to SD whirlwind vacation to see Bob Dylan at the Rady Shell. Had to put in our names, as there is only so much space on an early Saturday evening. Took all of 10 minutes before entry was granted. Led inside to a standing room-only table. Lady friend got the Saturn, myself the 151 Swizzle. I probably did the wrong thing and didn't allow the ice packed on top of the swizzle to melt thoroughly enough into the drink to dilute the 151 overproof black Demerara's rum. Nae worries, brah. It was delicious. Affordable tiki-theme cocktails, decor(!) and atmosphere is why this place will remain popular and a must visit when in Sandy Eggo. Top notch!

Michelle V.

We LOVED this spot Drinks were all amazing - sidewinders fang was my favorite - I love passionfruit and it was so good! The interior is super immersive - huge tiki vibes with sound effects included too Def get a resy bc it's not super large and gets busy fast - we walked in around opening time and were able to sit at the bar Service was great / bartenders are so nice and even gave us stickers

Mai Tai, Ube drink, and funny named drink
Rachel M.

Ambiance was amazing, it was like I was in a cave! Great customer service, there was a bit of a wait to get inside and then get a drink order but it was worth it. The drinks were yummy, the Mai Tai was really strong too! I came on a Sunday evening so parking was a bit challenging but I had such a great time. So glad my friend and I made the trip

Bar
Annabelle R.

This place is hidden inside Craft & Commerce which is a quirky little bar itself. There was a wait for entry this past Sunday after 9pm. Staff was also not very attentive to guests' needs, rather just going through the motions. For instance, they noted "standing room only" and that they would eventually seat our party of two. They walked us to an exact spot on the floor to stand and view the menu in the dark (we used our phone flashlights, but it wasn't easy while carrying our belongings too), and they instructed us not to order at the bar in this colorful but dimly lit tiki lounge. We essentially ordered from staff who took our order in the middle of the floor, then we had to hold our drinks, some that came with additional shot glasses, in full hands, as we were never seated. We did find a barrel to set our drinks on later, but their process and expectations for guests was just really weird and impractical. The theme and decor of the setting was lovely, with moments of a lightning and thunder effect that made the experience more immersive. But we were not impressed by the sticky menus and sticky floor, nor the lack of service and minimal help from staff while there. We made the most of our time at False Idol regardless of their shortcomings. The bombay sling and enigma de muerte were pretty decent in quality and flavor, so it's safe to say the drinks aren't the problem here. And though we probably won't return, it was cool for a one-time experience.

Bar

Great drinks, GREAT SERVICE AND BARTENDERS!!! amazing ambiance that is very classic tiki. Loved this place a lot, probably the best drinks in San Diego.

Original Mai Tai
Matthew A.

My wife and I went on a limb and tried to make a last minute reservation but couldn't snag one. So we showed up an hour before our dinner reservation in Little Italy to try our luck -- best decision yet! We were told we could go in but it was going to be standing only. We went for it, ordered some drinks and really only stood for maybe 15 minutes before the hostesses came back and got us set up at a barrel with two barstools. That kind of attentive service right there set the tone for the whole visit! The mai tais are absolutely delicious. Not too sweet, ice cold, refreshing, and strong (word to the wise ) Exactly what a tiki cocktail should be. And the vibes and ambience are amazing! This place is the real deal. Worth the effort to get in however you can!

Tracy M.

They don't serve food here anymore. But the service is very nice. The ambience is like as if you were at Disneyland, which means you're having the best day ever and it's all fun.

Kathleen D.

My False Idol experience was memorable, albeit blurry toward the end! My boyfriend and I had been on 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!

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1 year ago

Absolutely gorgeous bar and splendid drinks and service - definitely a great place to check out

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2 years ago

Amazing ambiance. The drinks are disappointing. Everyone was well meaning. I'm being made to write this, the puffer fish are very inflated.

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Love the great new effects, with terrific effects lighting, but way, way, way too LOUD!

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Page 7 of 36

False Idol Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - False Idol

Are kids allowed?

No. 21+ only.

Coming from Wisconsin (where we are used to some pretty lax rules) next month and wondering if we come around opening time on a Wednesday evening, are school - age children allowed inside?

I would say no, because it's a bar. But you could call and ask just in case.

Are there tiki mugs available for purchase?

Yes! Currently we have 4 different mugs for purchase only at the bar.

Are the reservations still available? It looks like the site on opentable is down on my end

Yes! We do book up quite fast. We always run a waitlist, nightly. The waitlist can be for standing room, the bar or a table if we have any cancellations.

Can't get a reservation! What's the chance of getting a walk in? Late on a Friday night for 2.

They'll let you in on a space available basis. It's tight in there, and weekends are usually packed. You may have to just stand the entire time you're in there. If you're only planning to have a drink or two, it won't be too bad.

How do I make reservations? I tried sending a DM on Instagram because I can't find a phone number? I'm trying to make a reservation for 12 people but the website leads me to open table and it says my party is too big and doesn't allow me to

https://falseidoltiki.com/

Do I need a reservation or you take walk ins?

Reservations are recommended but not required. Walk-ins accepted.

For Dec 2022 Xmas, when is the Xmas decor put away? Please say February 😬

February

If I come on a Friday between 8-9pm with 4 people, what would be the estimated wait time?

Anywhere from 30-60 minutes, and you'll very likely be standing. If you want to sit, you need a reservation.

Are you having special hours this week for Tiki Oasis?

Normal hours.

Would like to visit, but have 2 people in our group who do not drink. Do they serve any mocktails or non-alcoholic beverages?

They have mocktails

Can you take drinks to go?

I don't think you can. They don't have prepackaged ones to go

Is there entrance fee?

Nope! Free to enter

When do they release reservations?

30 days in advance.

Hello - I am trying to book a table for 8 people but OpenTable does not allow for that large of a party size. There doesn't appear to be a phone number anywhere to reach them. Any ideas on how to get that booked?

This number was on their OT page. +1 (619) 365-8454… 

Are they open Christmas Eve?

Yes

Do we need a reservation on Wednesday nights?

Yes and no. It is highly recommended to get a reservation but I was able to walk up (party of 2) and get accommodated for less than 45 minutes. Note that when you get in, you might not get a seat until a spot opens up. We were standing near a… 

Does this place have a phone number? If not, is there someone to talk to for larger reservations?

No phone number. You can try calling Craft and Commerce (False Idol is inside the restaurant) but I'm not sure if they can help.

Does anyone know if they do reservations for 2? I've been trying but it says that there are no tables available, but when I put 6 people it says there are several tables available?

Two tops go pretty quickly via Opentable! The waitlist is a great tool. We fill the bar and our high tops then move to standing room. Just come in any day during service and add your party size, name & number. We’ll text you once we have any space.… 

Do they take walk-ins?

Yes they do take walkins. For small parties of one or two. Only if they do have room. The earlier in the night the better. I think they open at five or six.

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Raised By Wolves

4.3(2.3k reviews)
10.8 mi•University City
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RAISED BY WOLVES @ UTC LA JOLLA…read more Raised by Wolves is located inside UTC La Jolla, tucked away in the very back of the mall near the Din Tai Fung area. I would definitely recommend parking around Corner Bakery or near 24 Hour Fitness for the closest way in. This was my very first time going to Raised by Wolves. I made a reservation on OpenTable, and if you are reading this right now, I highly recommend booking one. When we got there, the wait was two hours for people without a reservation. I booked for 9 PM on a Saturday night with my friends after dinner. We actually arrived at UTC earlier than expected, so we let the host know and they let us in about 20 minutes early. As for parking, they do not validate here. Parking is free for the first hour and then two dollars per hour after that, so just be aware that you may end up paying for parking when you visit this bar. It is set up like a speakeasy, which is really cool. You get to see where the actual bar is hidden. We ended up ordering a bunch of cocktails and the drinks were super great. I really loved the vibe overall. It was lively and chatty, and the staff was super friendly. The ambiance is very dark and classy. Keep in mind they do not serve food here. It is purely drinks only. Overall, I would definitely recommend stopping by.

Finally came to visit this bar, after reading other reviews both good and bad, I figured wth. We…read morewaited about 10 minutes for reservation, sat on the revolving fireplace and sat at the bar. You can essentially sit wherever, but the bar is the best seat in the house IMO. The scenery was cool and had the prohibition era feel to it, however the music was current and WAY TOO loud. There is nothing more annoying to have to shout to the person sitting over the next barstool for a conversation. So there's that. We ordered the Island Old Fashioned, which sounded interesting, but...alittle disappointed. I wanted to order another cocktail, but we had dinner reservations. The bartender(s) barely spoke and if they did, we wouldn't have been able to hear them, you know, because of the loud music. Maybe we'll come again for other cocktails when we visit San Diego again. Until then, RBW is a "check off the list" kind of thing.

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Bar Kamon - Hokkaido White Lover

Bar Kamon

4.6(290 reviews)
1.1 mi•East Village
•$$
Family-owned & operated
Women-owned & operated

Kamon is a craft cocktail bar inspired by the Taisho era of 1920's Japan. It's also a speakeasy…read morehidden inside a Japanese bakery on a corner of San Diego's East Village. Reservations can be made on OpenTable if you are fast enough. We weren't... on our last trip to San Diego. So when I found availability for 2, I made a special trip down to San Diego just for this speakeasy. After 2 and a half hours of driving, I reached San Diego. I miraculously found street parking on the same block as the bar and made my way inside Asa Bakery. My friend was already waiting for me at a table. He, a San Diego local, told me that he took the bus to avoid the parking situation entirely. Smart man. We were still quite early for our reservation, so I had a latte from Asa Bakery while we waited. During this time, we were trying to figure out where the speakeasy was located. Then we saw a couple enter Asa and press a handicap assistance button near the door to the bakery. A big section of the wall opened up and revealed a swanky looking bar behind it, complete with hosts wearing sleek black vests, button ups, and bow ties - a complete vibe change from the modern bakery we were sitting in. Once it was our seating time, we also made our way over to the secret entrance. Kamon itself felt like a rift in time, as if we were stepping straight into the 1920's. The room was heavily inspired by the Taisho Roman era, the period when Japan was influenced by European romanticism. Decor featured visual harmony between traditional Japanese motifs, such as screen doors and woodblock prints, and influences of the Western Roaring 20's, such as glamorous Art Deco chandeliers, red carpet, and lounge chairs. We were seated next to a beautiful zen garden. The concept of the menu is "omiyage" or souvenirs from different regions of Japan. My friend started with the Tokyo Banana, inspired by the iconic Tokyo Banana cream pastry found all over souvenir shops in Tokyo and Haneda Airport. The spirits in this cocktail were Suntory Toki and rum. I started with the Yame Matcha, inspired by the city of Yame in Fukuoka prefecture, which is reveled among matcha snobs for producing matcha with nutty flavor. The matcha was prepared as a cream top, a nod to matcha lattes, and sat on top of a spirit base of mezcal, Mizu green tea shochu. This drink was so fun and creative. I would've never thought about pairing matcha with mezcal, but surprisingly, it worked very well. The smokiness of the mezcal paired well with the creamy, nutty matcha top and roasted genmaicha flavor.  Because of the amazing theme of the menu, we couldn't resist ordering a second round. My friend got the Ao Ichigo, featuring strawberries from the Tochigi prefecture. The spirit for this was a reposado tequila and vodka. This is good if you want a light, refreshing, sweet drink. My second drink was the White Lover, inspired by Hokkaido and its dairy and pastry culture. The spirit for this drink was Sotol, which was also quite smoky. The body of this cocktail was composed of kefir and Calpico, with notes of yuzu and croissant as well. This drink also comes with a "surprise," and to maintain the integrity of said "surprise," I won't tell you what it is! This was probably my favorite drink of the night. As an alum of Asian American college party culture, I have had many drinks mixed with Calpico, so this was my favorite drink of the night because of how close to home it felt. You could almost call it an "omiyage" of USC ahaha... However, I was not the biggest fan of the food here. We both weren't that hungry, so we just got some appetizers, but honestly, I don't remember the food menu being that big anyways. We got the tuna tartare cannolis and the karaage. The tuna tartare was a bit weird for me. I kinda expected it to be fresh and light and silky, as a tartare should be, but I would describe this as more of a... tuna salad? Heavier than I expected... and creamy. And strange. I think it's the mayo. I just didn't like it very much. And the cannoli presentation was fun, but I don't think it's needed. I think just a classic tuna tartare would have been more enjoyable. And the karaage was fine. Not good, not bad. I wouldn't get food here again though.The drinks at Kamon, however, are phenomenal. I love the theme of 1920's Taisho Japan. The ambiance is impeccable. The theme is even integrated into the menu's concept. There's a story behind each of the signature drinks, giving you a glimpse into what makes each featured region of Japan unique. I definitely want to return to Kamon one day.

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Bar Kamon
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7.2 mi•Kearny Mesa
•$$

Overall: 4.5 / 5 Everything I'd want from a speakeasy bar…read more They have delicious drinks, great service, and a phenomenal ambiance with great speakers. Will def be going back for a special night out. Drinks: They have various drinks with different strengths to appease most any appetites. I loved the Vanna White. I love vodka martinis, and this was just the right bit of a twist to make it refreshing, strong and nicely mixed. Their addition of olive oil at the top was a unique touch. Will def. order another. Ambiance: It feels like a true speakeasy at the back of an ally with a small 'on air' sign. Also, standing out there for a few min. gives that exclusivity, but the service inside was delightful. After both visits with different servers, I do truly appreciate them taking the time to chat with the customers about their drinks, their desired flavor profile, and what makes the drink ordered particularly unique. The one drawback is their $30 per person requirement. While I understand from a business perspective, it does make it a bit restrictive and a bit 'boozy' cuz essentially that means each person is required to order 2 drinks, which can be quite strong. But, then it's just another excuse to have another.

So comfy and a sweet intimate spot!…read more A little tightly packed but didn't mind it. Parking on the street or nearby lot. Great music and every drink we got was so good. We loved that they tell you how strong the drinks are, based on how many diamonds they have. Also all are reasonably priced with fun names and illustrations. - Goblin (super strong) comes with gummies inside the fake apple - Lemon sour! delicious, not strong so great for light drinkers - Jonny loves you, comes with alcoholic infused boba - Plum highball, tart and delicious as well They also have a super fancy Japanese toilet Highly recommend coming here with friends, I had never heard about it before until a friend recommended it to me!

Photos
Convoy Music Bar - Corner table view:  large JBL speakers with Macintosh amps

Corner table view: large JBL speakers with Macintosh amps

Convoy Music Bar - Interior

Interior

Convoy Music Bar - Interior

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Interior

Mothership - Amazing decor

Mothership

4.3(1k reviews)
2.4 mi•South Park, Golden Hill, North Park
•$$

We've been wanting to check out Mothership for a while, so we finally made it happen during our San…read moreDiego trip. Definitely make a reservation. It's a pretty small place, and I can see how it could fill up quickly. We lucked out with a great corner seat where we could pretty much see everything happening around us. The whole space is themed like you've stepped onto another planet or into some kind of spaceship. The lighting, the decor, even the cocktail menu fits the theme. Make sure you check out the hallway and restroom area too. They really put some thought into the details. We ordered a few cocktails and appetizers, including the bao buns, and just hung out enjoying the atmosphere. The drinks were fun, especially the Mindkiller, which came in this crazy-looking glass. The staff was friendly, and we had a good time. I will say, I was expecting a little more to happen based on some videos I'd seen online. There wasn't really anything extra going on during our visit. It was more of a cool themed bar where you sit, have drinks and some food, and enjoy the surroundings. Nothing wrong with that, just a little different from what I expected. Would we go back? Absolutely... It's a fun spot, especially if you love themed bars. I'd definitely give it another visit and see what the experience is like next time.

Very cool concept bar, one of those places you can visit once and check off your list. It can be…read moretough to get a reservation here so just plan ahead. Staff was friendly and informative about the menu, had good recommendations. Food was tasty, we tried the bread & sandwiches + cake. I think everything on the menu was vegetarian if I'm not mistaken. Sandwiches were made with jackfruit. Really enjoyed the flavors of the dipping sauce that came with the bread. Drinks were tasty & well made. They do monitor your time pretty closely, I think for a party of 3, we had maybe 1.5 hours or 2 at the most to enjoy our time. So if you're not someone who likes to give up their table within a set time frame, I would not recommend this spot because they do make it clear they need the table back.

Photos
Mothership - Deceiving Exterior

Deceiving Exterior

Mothership - Mindkiller

Mindkiller

Mothership - Away Mission

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Away Mission

Prohibition - Our famous Prohibition Old Fashioned

Prohibition

4.0(1k reviews)
0.8 mi•Gaslamp
•$$

So came down to San Diego to celebrate my brother birthday and we decided to take a whiskey class…read morewith our ladies. So we found that Prohibition offers a whiskey class where you can make drinks yourself. Met the owner Ryan who is the owner of Prohibition Whiskey and he told us the story about how he started the business and we connected because he was from Oakland. From that moment it was on and poppin. The vibes of the class was great and conversations along with the drinks were flowing. We ended the night by making an espresso martini made with whiskey and it was amazing. Plus it was dope that I got to make the drink myself. Can't wait to come back to San Diego to patron this establishment

I went to Prohibition when I was attending a conference at the Convention Center, so I think my…read moreexperience is a little different. A sponsor had rented out the whole place and all drinks were comped with food being passed around. We had cuban sandwiches and empanadas, which I think were all from the Havana restaurant upstairs. Food was great! Drinks were good, but the menu was so confusing to me. I didn't really like how they categorized them. Sometimes I feel like just being straightforward is better. Too cute with trying to do the prohibition/speakeasy menu. It did take a while to get drinks when it was packed. Understandable. But I had a few that were good, the boats and hoes, and keffir lime tequila drink were great. I would say that the bathroom had a bit of a stink to it...not sure what it was but smelled just like coming up from the pipes. May just be a basement issue. Overall, good experience. It didn't feel super special but just like any other speakeasy. I like False Idol better in terms of overall vibe.

Photos
Prohibition
Prohibition - El Fruterio featuring Azunia GBOD single barrel reposado tequila

El Fruterio featuring Azunia GBOD single barrel reposado tequila

Prohibition - Live Jazz/Blues/Roaring 20's kinda vibe! My kind of bar/lounge! (5/5)

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Live Jazz/Blues/Roaring 20's kinda vibe! My kind of bar/lounge! (5/5)

False Idol - cocktailbars - Updated November 2026

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