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.

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.

Awesome place awesome drinks awesome food. Dynamite hand roll... take it off the menu that dynamiteread more

Loved this place!!…read more We didn't make reservations but were sat at the bar as soon as we arrived I love the Miami nice / vice drink! Love a good foam The decor is so fun - super cool tiki decor and plenty of sound effects The bartender who helped us was super friendly - suggested spots in town and always on top of it The wontons and fries were delicious The tacos were good but missing a little something

Took my gf here for a surprise and she was so stoked. She loved the decor and ambiance of the…read moreplace. We had the pleasure of being served by Jonah. This dude knew his stuff and answered any questions we had. He made us 4 different drinks in total and all were so good. Not to mention he kept the coconut shell constantly full of complimentary goldfish and pretzels. He also let us know that they got karaoke there (I think Thursday-Saturday)! Shoutout to Jonah and the Luau for making our first visit there a memorable one. It definitely won't be our last time being there

Was visiting San Diego because of a friend's theatre performance at The Moxie Theatre. After the…read moreshow we mixed and mingled with the cast who suggested going to tiki/surf bar called The Luau. This place was great. Bright, vibrant and full of tropical decor. The bar was packed. We got a four high top seater in the main area. Glad we did because it was karaoke night! In between songs the dj would play pop star music videos. There was a back patio with more seating. Surprise of the night was when Sterling the security guard sang a song from "Wicked". Will definitely go back again!

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.

Since it was on our way home.... The hubby and I tried the speakeasy Forbidden Cove. Great service…read more(they were able to squeeze us in). It was such a great experience. The drinks were top notch. The kahlua pork sliders were yummy. The atmosphere was super chill. You need a miniature tiki totem pole to enter the secret door. That was EXTRA cool. * Hawaiian Mai Tai * Lychee Moon * Banana Chi Chi * Krunky Punch * Kahlua Pork Sliders w/ Macaroni Salad & Sunomono Salad #DiningWithTheAndersons #Speakeasy #ForbiddenCove #AdultShenanigans #TryingNewPlaces

Be prepared to bring multiple forms of ID if you want to go here. I had been here once before few…read moremonths ago where I had a good experience. I came here again last night with friends and began to check in for our reservation with the bartender (the same bartender who had let me in the last time I was here). He spent a long time inspecting my CA REAL ID before going into the back. He returned and said he can't let me in since he doesn't trust my ID. He said store policy is that they have to be able to feel the imprint on your license's signature, which even he admitted that he could, but it was too faded so he wouldn't let me in. I showed him matching credit cards, Costco membership, and CA DMV mobile drivers license, but he still refused and pleaded ignorance. He gave me my driver's license back and said I'm lucky because he normally keeps fakes (thanks for the empty threat). In reality, he knew my license was legitimate and didn't want to have the cops called on him. This place really needs to update their policies and train their staff better on how to identify legitimate IDs. I'm definitely not gong to bother coming here again and will make sure I recommend others not to come here.

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.

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!

Vibes are great! Open, casual, caribbean dive feel. Couple booths with pillows that are super…read morechill. Simona was our server and she was fantastic! Checked on us regularly with a great attitude. Drinks were fast and she was sweet!

Simona took amazing care of us!! We had a great time grabbing drinks and apps here, would…read moredefinitely come back for the great vibes and good service.

Valentine's Day 2026 surprise at Bali Hai Restaurant and it couldn't have been a better pick…read more We kicked things off with one of their huge cocktail drinks and no exaggeration, it was delicious and way more fun than we expected. Definitely a "share it and take photos first" kind of drink. The fish and chips were a standout too. Crispy, fresh, and honestly something I'd go back for on their own. But the real highlight was the vibe. Gorgeous waterfront views overlooking the ocean and downtown San Diego skyline made the whole experience feel extra special. Super romantic, super chill, and just a perfect SD evening. Already looking forward to going back.

I Love Poke Festival - usually once a year out on the patio overlooking San Diego bay and under the…read morerestaurant! Tickets were $80 for early bird this year! A few pictures from some of the best bites of the event.