I'm not an often a cocktail drinker. So when the bartender asked what I'm looking for I was ill prepared. From his view, it probably sounded like "I'm Ron Burgundy?" (It definitely did). His questions guided my indecision towards a Berkshire Old Fashioned that was fantastic despite my fumbling to get there. With the warm up round over and the old fashioned loosening up my creativity, round two was set to be a knockout. I love coffee (specifically strong espresso drinks), so I asked for a strong, coffee infused, punchy cocktail, but with a different base of alcohol from the old fashioned. What came out was the best cocktail I will probably ever have in my life. The bourbon cocktail with coffee liqueur (and a number of other garnishes I will never remember) hit the bullseye. Flavorful, strong, bold, delicious all at the same time. Unfortunately (?), this was a noble experiment so I'll forever be chasing the white whale of what this drink was. But that's the allure. read more

My brother-in-law and I were looking for places to drink....And we just wanted somewhere chill. We knew 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! read more

The Noble Experiment: 9/10 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! read more

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Stumbled upon this speakeasy bar in downtown SD, and I am glad I found this place. It is located inside the Neighborhood restaurant. The ambiance is a spooky, cool vibe; it is very small with very little seating. Highly recommend making a reservation; otherwise, it is a 1-2 hour wait. I would say this experience was the highlight of my trip. What makes this bar unique compared to other bars is that there isn't a menu. Instead, you would just describe your ideal drink or what you're in the mood for, and the bartender will just make you a drink. The bartender, Quintin killed it with my order. I told him to make me a fruity strong drink, where I can't really taste the alcohol. Amazing experience, i will be back! read more

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Truly a noble idea--and an even better experiment. Noble Experiment is a must-visit in San Diego if you're tired of the same old cocktail menus. Instead of picking a drink, you just describe your "ideal" vibe--the flavors you're into, the spirits you like, and the mood you're after--and the bartenders whip up something unique just for you. My drink was spot on; it's rare to find a place that actually listens and nails the profile that perfectly. The vibe inside is incredibly cool and intimate, but the best part is the "secret" transition from the outside restaurant. Speaking of which, the food at the main restaurant is actually top-tier, so it makes for a solid full night out. If you want a bespoke drink in a space that feels genuinely hidden away, this is the spot. read more

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This is a cool downtown speakeasy located inside The Neighborhood restaurant and bar. The entrance is hidden behind a door that looks like a wall of kegs. No reservations are needed for this experience, however there is usually a wait. The decor inside is really cool and every inch from floor to ceiling is decorated. There are no menus here. Your bartender will ask you a series of questions to find out what your tastes are and then will perfectly craft a cocktail that is tailored to you. I went with two friends this time, and we each had two drinks. Every drink we got was perfect for us and fit our individual tastes dead on. Go check this place out for yourself if you haven't already! read more

Noble Experiment - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Worth the wait! An amazing experience coming here, loved the ambiance, great for smaller parties or date night. I really liked the experience, and i applaud the bartender on his knowledge and creativity with making drinks. We chatted for a bit to discussion my preferences and he came out with an amazing drink! Definitely bookmarking this place and coming back read more

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Amazing experience! Besides the very cool decor and vibes, our bartender, Nicole, was wonderful. There are no menus here. You describe what you like in a drink, and the bartender will make you a drink based on those preferences. My friends and I have very different tastes, and Nicole absolutely nailed all of them. Highlight of the weekend and definitely recommend if you're in the area. read more

Noble Experiment - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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So, I'm not usually into bars that aren't also restaurants, but this place is amazing. First, it's fun to go through the "secret" entrance in the back. We had hear that if you get there right when they open at 6PM there won't be a wait and we found this was correct! It is a small place and fills up fast. The atmosphere is fun with a "spooky" vibe with the skull wall, cobwebs on the chandelier and portraits on the ceiling. The bartenders are amazing. There is no menu; you describe what you like and they run ideas by you to create your ideal cocktail and my gosh do they nail it. I am not exaggerating when I say these were some of the best cocktails I've had in my life. They make a lot of the ingredients in house and it shows. The flavor combinations are amazing. I had an herb-citrus negroni like first round and a gin, herb, cucumber second round. I almost never have a second cocktail but this was such a unique experience. Cost is the same for anything they put together so no worries about ending up with a $50 cocktail based on what the bartender makes. Definitely a must visit place if you're in the area and in the mood for a creative cocktail or two. Lots of options for food nearby for before or after your cocktail experience! read more

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Noble Experiment was a unique experience, no doubt. After the Padre's game, we walked over to Neighborhood to grab some appetizers. Youngblood was booked for the night, but we were able to grab a reservation for Noble. The ambiance gave "libation library" and they have framed paintings all over the ceiling. The music was ON POINT, and they played some of my favorite artists - Larry June, Badu, Dom Kennedy (Just so you know what type of time they on). The concept is dope! You tell the mixologist your favorite spirits, fruits, or spices, and they curate a cocktail for you. The mixologist made me a cocktail that taste like a boozy fruit roll up, and it was fantastic. Definitely add this to your "must try" speakeasys in downtown San Diego. read more

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This place was pretty cool, there was no menus and the bartender will ask you questions of what flavor profiles you enjoy, and he will make up a cocktail for you right in front of you. Ambience was nicely dimmed. They didn't have any food, but we definitely enjoyed the drinks. read more

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Place was so good I came in on back to back days! Service is impeccable, staff are very helpful and talkative and make drinks very, very strong. read more

Noble Experiment - Bar area - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Parking is super tough in the area, better to rideshare or pay for parking in an ACE lot nearby. We were able to walk in without a reservation for bar seating. Walk in through Neighborhood and they will point you to the speakeasy which is behind the barrel doors near the restrooms. The interior is beautiful. Don't forget to snap a photo of or in front of the skull wall! Very impressive. The space is very small, not good for large parties. They have bar seating and bench style seating. Some of the seats at the bar are directly facing the AC vent so I got very cold very quickly. There is no menu. You let your bartender know your spirit of choice and flavor profile and they craft the drink in front of you. Each drink was $18. I asked for a sweet drink. My drink was rum based but was a tad too bitter. Friend asked for something light and refreshing. They said theirs tasted like medicine, very herbally, but they liked it. It was very bitter. Both drinks were very strong. Be sure to eat before coming as they do not offer food. read more

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I thought the vibes were really cool and the concept of the bartenders making drinks based off what you're feeling was interesting. However, I'm not too sure if I'd come again. Maybe we went on a really busy night because it took like an hour to get sat as a party of 4 without reservation and our bartender only came to us to get vibes for our first and only drink, drop it off, and give us the check. It did seem really busy as the bartenders were entertaining the people sat at the bar counter, but my group at the table were down to order more given we waited that long to get sat. Parking in the area is also pretty rough as other people say. Despite all that, our guy really did a phenomenal job making my drink LOL read more

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I had such a wonderful experience coming here with my friend on a Saturday night. I can't recommend the bartender, Josh, enough! He was so attentive and made delicious drinks. The inside is so unique and decorated well, it's dim and trendy. I really liked the walls. I would come again for a date night! read more

This could be a unique first date idea but was really fun with a group because we got to try different drinks and see what they came up with. I hadn't heard of this place before and didn't have any expectations but was extremely impressed with the the bartenders' prowess. We all had very different preferences and flavor palates in my group but every drink was spot on. Then considering the location, the aesthetic and the experience provided, I expected to go home broke but the price per drink was comparable to standard downtown prices. I've been raving about this place ever since and will definitely be back. For larger groups, try to get there at open/earlier for a shorter wait time. read more

One of two small speakeasy's in The Neighborhood. Noble experiment has a wall covered in skulls across from its bar. There is bar seating and a row of small tables. They don't take reservations for parties less than four, but we had no wait going on a Sunday evening. There is also no menu and you just tell the bartenders what flavors and spirits you like. There were two bartenders working. I was underwhelmed by my first drink as it tasted like Moscow mule to me. My second drink was more unique, but I didn't love it. It is a cool place to go for a drink and it wasn't too expensive for what it is. It was about $19 per cocktail before tip. read more

Noble Experiment - Drinks - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

We did not have reservations on a Saturday night, so we made sure to arrive close to opening and we were able to walk right in. Noble Experiment is tucked inside of Neighborhood, so you have to walk past the bathrooms and go through the 'secret' keg door to get to NE. The concept is there is no menu and the bartender comes up with something for you on-the-spot. They asked questions about spirit of choice, do you like fruity, floral, sweet, bold etc. We each enjoyed the drinks that we got and felt that the bartender did a good job in listening to our order. That being said, I do think your mileage varies with this 'no-cocktail menu' concept. While the bartender did a good job of navigating through different drink profiles/asking questions to help narrow things down, I think the drinks that we all got respectively were 'limited' in terms of the number of elements/flavor/how far they can go. In comparison to a bar with a pre-set menu where the drinks have been thoroughly thought-out and designed where they are confident that the drink on the menu is worth putting on the menu, this style makes more sense to not go 'too' far off the beaten path. To be fair, we didn't explicitly ask for 'unique ingredients' or anything to that effect because we were all open to anything the bartender crafted, but something worth noting. I'm sure that if someone in your group was really knowledgeable about mixology, then they could really go all out for something truly unique that would be a stand-out, but for our group of regular drinkers, I understand that our drinks were what they were (not a bad thing!). read more

Noble Experiment - Inside - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Tip: Make a reservation!! It's a small bar and San Diego bars always have long waits especially on those weekend nights. One really cool thing about this speakeasy is that they make your drinks based off of your personal taste preferences. There is no menu! The bartender will have a conversation with you and then make a drink from your responses. The no menu concept, ambiance/decorations, and location of the speakeasy all added to the super cool vibes. I felt like I really was immersed in the 1920's Prohibition Era. I would recommend any SD local, or anyone visiting SD to check it out! I knock off one star because our bartender seemed pretty upset when she first came to serve us. I'm not a professional alcoholic, and I don't know simple terms like "spirit-foward" and I still don't know what a mezcal is. She seemed impatient when trying to ask what flavor profiles I enjoyed. My friend and I were side-eyeing each other the whole time because she seemed so mad but she maybe was having a bad day or didn't like our yappy vibes. FINAL tip (spoilers! don't read of you don't want to know how to easily get in haha): The yelp address is correct! You have to walk through another bar (Neighborhood), to the door of barrels in the back, to get inside Noble Experiment. read more

Noble Experiment - Drinks! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

This place is amazing! We went for young blood but instead ended up here. It's dark and sinister in all the best ways. 90s hip hop in the background. It's a dealers choice bar meaning the bartender asks you what you like in a cocktail and makes something unique for you. At first we were skeptical about that but it was spot on! Mine was the perfect vodka drink- refreshing with cucumber, a hint of spicy, and something else amazing that made it truly unique. A hidden gem read more

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First time here and was quite delighted. I've been to Youngblood with its 3 course cocktail service. However I love that we could order as many or as few cocktails as you'd like. Same story, bartender asked us each a few questions and then she worked her magic. We were served amazing cocktails completely custom to each persons taste. My friend said to our bartender "this is one of the best cocktails I've ever had!" Huge compliment. Inside the space is dark and moody which I love. Wall of skulls sure, but be sure to look up, amazing art. Seating could be more comfortable as my backside started to ache after about 30 minutes. Still worth it! read more

Make reservations or try a walk in. Enter neighborhood restaurant. Check in by the far back doorway just next to the bar. The waiting area is in the restaurant bottle section with barstools. Wait to be called back and Hidden behind the keg wall is the check in station. It's a fun experience. A Dune sort of feel to it. Unique for sure. Our mixologist asked what flavor profiles we were looking for and she made our drinks based off of it. It was a nice attempt, a little too sweet and pretty basic but an A for effort. Though the drinks weren't as up to par we did enjoy the experience and unique atmosphere. Paid parking lots within walking distance. A bookmark visited. read more

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Managed to grab a table for a beverage on Friday evening and was very impressed with the atmosphere and talented staff. I had not heard of this speakeasy but my friend has had it on her list for a while and it exceeded her expectations as well. The bartender was able to perfectly craft our beverages to our preferences after just a quick conversation. He even shared the recipe for mine because it was one he had to make up. Highly recommend if you're a cocktail person, 10/10. read more

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This was just something I saw on Yelp when I searched bars ! But it's a speakeasy so you have to go through a restaurant/bar and find the entrance after the restrooms. The food smelled amazing walking through wherever we walked through .. not sure the name. But this was our first stop straight from coming from Orange County. When you enter through there's someone waiting there and asks how many in your party and you go to a different area very small but there's no menu. They talk to you and get an idea of your likes and make you a special drink based off that! Such a unique experience. I highly recommend this place. I said I like chocolate lava cake and I had a drink that was created to taste like it with a raspberry topping. He said he likes whiskey sour but wanted to to be more on the citrus side and it's exactly what we got. So amazing! read more

Noble Experiment - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came here with our friends tonight and had a great time! Love the weird Paris noir vibe, catacombs, wax laden chandelier, and roof portraits , awesome! The drinks are curated based on your likes and sometimes that's hard to define if you are a person like myself that is up for anything. Whoever the male Bartender was tonight absolutely killed it! We regret not getting his name but boy oh boy were we all absolutely stoked about our drinks, he got all of them on the nose. My friend ordered a creamsicle and it was spot on... I ordered creamy fruity and got a wonderful raspberry drink, my husband likes spirit forward and tropical banana ish and got something called King Kong. And our other friend got a tiki drink... drinks are $18 a pop but worth it. Thank you! Will be back! read more

Noble Experiment - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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I'm a fan of this spot! Prepare for a wait if it's a weekend. The vibe is moody and the drinks are yummy. They ask you what you like and come up with a drink for you, so try to think about what flavors you're into before sitting down. read more

Amazing speakeasy experience. Really enjoyed the "bartender's choice" experience. All of our drinks were delicious. Quiet and intimate space. read more

Speakeasy in a not so easy location. Should I reveal the secret doorway to this lavish experience... everyone has a price! I liked how I stumbled in and had one of the best handcrafted cocktails. I had to work some Sama magic to get in here being that I did not have a reservation. Nonetheless, I asked for something with tequila blanco and walaa... the tastiest drink you can put your lips on and give your tastebuds. It's very small in size and space, but impressive. I liked the feel, the look, and the mixologists. They know what they are doing here, because there is no menu. You ask for it and they will serve you something in that realm to WoW you. It was reasonably priced, under $20 per drink. You will not be disappointed by coming here, and even better, you'll impress your date as it has an intimate feel. FYI: It's best to make a reservation. read more

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No menus and no fuss in this Gothic themed speakeasy that feels like I'm a in a secret room in Castlevania. The bartenders ask about your taste and craft you a ~$20 piece of liquid art you can take your time on and enjoy. Service was good to make sure I was taken care of despite the rush. I hope to have another reason to come back to SD and try out more... libations? read more

Noble Experiment - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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-Located in Neighborhood (look for the keg wall near the bathroom) -No menus: bartender asks for your preferences and it's their choice! -$18 per cocktail -Make a reservation because it's small Now that we've got the logistics out of the way, would highly recommend Noble Experiment. A great San Diego speakeasy mixing up delicious drinks. I love the concept and the bartenders were able to make me drinks that I absolutely loved despite my less than coherent likes and dislikes! The place is beautiful and I was shocked that the drinks were so reasonably priced for how nice it was. read more

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LMAO could not find the entrance hahaha! Ended up opening a random closet door to find a mop thinking it would be a lever to open the secret door Was a very cool experience where bartenders will come to you after being seated and ask what you are looking for in a drink whether it be flavor/taste preferences or palates. Ended up getting 4 different drinks all were flavorful and unique Dark and nice room full of skulls! All the workers were super chill and cool read more

A catacomb inspired speakeasy. Inside of the restaurant Neighborhood. Push the drum barrels near the restroom to get into Noble Experiment. There is no menu, the bartender asks you what you like and makes something based on what you tell them. I told bartender Zac that I loved Chi Chi's and Pina Coladas and he made me "Coughlin's Diet" which was amaro, rum, coconut, banana liqueur, and lime. It was light and refreshing. Highly recommend making a reservation, because it was packed on a Saturday night. I was a walk in and they had 1 spot at the bar, so I was lucky. read more

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On a Saturday night the wait time was over an hour. The decor has one wall of floor to ceiling skulls and the other side is a long bar more of a shotgun vibe. The ceiling has portraits decorated to give your eyes something to look out while partaking in the experience. It was a great night cap if you can get in. read more

Noble Experiment - We asked for a rye whiskey and out came these beautiful creations - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Be transparent about your waitlist--we were originally told 29-30 minutes and then when I followed up I was rudely told an hour and a half.

Quite sad about this place, especially because I love me a bar that's *supposedly* a good dealers choice. You go through the Neighborhood (Yummy Bone marrow here!) and walk straight back to get to Noble Experiment. We had no reservations and came around 615 on a Saturday. We were seated right away. Interior has a wall full of skulls, its dimly light, there's a large alcohol selection on the bar wall, and small seating sect. I was incredibly specific in the drink I had wanted. Creamy, frothy, whiskey forward, nutty and chocolatey. Bartender asked if I wanted a sour, and I was clear in that I do NOT like tart and sour flavors, but I do like egg whites. When my drink was presented to me, it had all tart fruits in it and was super acidic/sour. Not at all what I asked for. I'll leave it at that. Would personally not come back here when the whole point of dealer's choice is to curate based off what you say. Totally missed the mark :( read more

Noble Experiment - Me and the drink that was a complete miss. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

10/10 thanks for a great night. We waited well over our provided wait time, and we ALMOST DITCHED- so glad we didn't. Garrick? Derrick? (Apologies!!) was top-notch. Thanks for being so great to a few out-of-towners. This was one of our favorite spots while in SD. Had SUCH the opportunity for pretentiousness and we didn't know quite what to expect- but ended up having just an all-around sick time. read more

Noble Experiment - Espresso-based cocktails - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Nothing bad to say about this place at all, our bartender was amazing and drinks were even better. Ambiance is very prohibition themed and music was good. Definitely one that I will visit again. read more

Pretty good healthy food. First time coming here, I'm glad they are on Manchester which is considered a Main Street. read more

Noble Experiment - Salt n smoke colab substitute the pork. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

We've been coming to the Noble experiment for like, 15 years, but it's been a while, and we had the opportunity to return for a visit last week. My husband was actually a little worried - maybe it was a moment in time from when we were younger and we wouldn't love it anymore? Oh no, he was wrong. This place is as amazing as ever. Wonderful drinks, wonderful vibe, wonderful mixologist. Highly recommend sitting at the bar if you are able to - we've done both now and the experience is far better sitting at the bar getting to watch the magic happen. Can't wait to keep going for years to come. read more

Lil speakeasy hidden in the back of Neighborhood. Small spot featuring a dark, moody interior and interesting catacomb wall. They typically require a reservation, but my boyfriend and I were lucky they were able to accommodate us as a walk-in on a late Thursday night. There's no menu -- servers ask what you like and the bartenders will craft a special cocktail based on your preferences. Fun concept and made for a unique experience! Will have to come back and try the other speakeasy next door! read more

Noble Experiment - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California