Reservations required! This speakeasy is a hidden gem underneath some hot dog shop. A great Alice in Wonderland-themed experience, the vibes are incredible and the decorations are so fun, unique, and classy. To get there, go inside the shop towards the back and then down the stairs. Through the curtains will be a hidden bookcase door which is just so cool. It also isn't overbooked or crowded too which is a huge plus. You get your own space in a finely crafted atmosphere. There's even a self server popcorn machine! Drinks: Hit and miss (Get the more casual, fruity ones) Personally i love spirit forward drinks but virtually all of them were either creatively very odd tasting, or just average at best. Service was polite and friendly. Although I wish we knew they were closing early because at like... 10pm we just suddently got the bill when I think the online time said 1130. Drinks: 6/10 Atmosphere: 11/10 Service: 8/10 Value: 7/10 read more

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My first review of 2024! This place is awesome! It's located under Wursthall at the corner of Baldwin and North B Street. Plan ahead and book a reservation early. Their online system opens up about a month out. I've tried many times to get reservations even a few weeks ahead but they are always booked up. You walk through Wursthall and down the stairs in the back to find a small "lobby" behind velvet curtains. From there you'll need to figure out how to get into the hidden bar. The bar was dimly lit with light music playing in the background. An old buddy and I met up recently to catch up. We chanced it with a walk-in at around 6:30PM. The place was fully booked and packed but for a party of 2 the host said he could squeeze us in for a 30 minute window. It was just enough time for one drink at a side table. On the table was a menu deck with traditional cocktails on the white side and their own spin on the drink on the back of that card in black. There was also a menu sheet with an extensive list of whiskeys, bourbons, and other spirits. I love old fashioneds so was naturally drawn to their version called the "El Lobo" - bourbon, horchata, cane, mole, and bitters. Mole in the drink concerned me a bit but the host assured me it wasn't a glob of traditional mole and that the drink was great. He was absolutely right! I loved the cinnamon flavor from the horchata mixed with the bourbon. They sprinkled a few pieces of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal too. This was one of the best old fashioneds I've ever had! I can't wait to come back with some friends next time to have the El Lobo again along with some of their other drinks! read more

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Re-open! I miss this place already! Amazing cocktails and staff. The northern lights comes to me in my dreams. I wish I knew the recipe. read more

Checked out this speakeasy with one of my friends recently and wow what a great find! It's directly under Wursthall (you just follow the rabbit and you'll find Wunderbar). You do have to make a reservation before coming. I loved the aesthetic and ambiance of this place. Their cocktail menu is so fun AND you can grab complimentary buttered popcorn. I ordered the lost at sea cocktail which had pandan in it - it was pretty good and the pandan was a great addition. My friend got the french 75 which was also good. I'll definitely be back -- this was such a fun bar! read more

Wunderbar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

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What an amazing place. The ambiance, the drinks, the service, all 10/10. Not only were there menu drinks unique and flavorful, the bartender, Jude, was incredibly knowledgeable about spirits and could craft classic drinks off the cuff--and they were great! I will definitely meander down the steps here for another enjoyable evening! read more

tl;dr speakeasy bar with a nice ambience, but drinks were not too memorable Cute ambience, located in the basement of Wursthall. "Follow the white rabbit" to get to the bar. Reservations only. Small space so wouldn't come for parties larger than 4-5. Nice place for dates. No food available, but they do have complimentary popcorn, which is a nice touch. In addition to a spirits/beer/wine list, they have their cocktails on tarot cards with classics on the white side and their interpretation on the dark side ($15). They also have a few mocktails ($8) off-menu and can also make some of the drinks alcohol free. Tried a few drinks including El lobo (old fashioned twist), frog prince (margarita twist), and doc (Manhattan twist). The doc was the most spirit forward. I was intrigued by the ingredient list, but to be honest, the drinks weren't too memorable and not that much of a twist from the original cocktails. Overall, glad I came to experience the ambience, but wouldn't come back for the drinks. read more

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Visited Wunderbar for the first time and was very intrigued by their menu. They offer classic renditions of popular drinks listed on "white cards" and their unique take on those classic drinks on the reverse side "black cards." I took my mother to her first speakeasy experience as there aren't many experiences close to San Mateo. She enjoyed their Margarita which was strong yet balanced drink. I spoke with the bartender (I'm sorry I missed his name) about my preferences. I was interested in the Sidewinder, however not a huge fan of rum and asked for a gin option. He recommended the off menu drink, Shapeshifter. It was delightful and exactly what I was looking for. After enjoying the Shapeshifter with complimentary popcorn, I was curious about the Sidewinder and ended up ordering it as my second drink. I preferred the Shapeshifter, but it was still a nice drink. I would recommend it to anyone who wouldn't mind rum as the main spirit. We enjoyed the bar experience and would highly recommend this place for groups under 4 as it is a small intimate space. I plan to take more friends and family to Wunderbar as it's a nice local speakeasy. read more

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A hidden (literally) gem in San Mateo! This speakeasy is a must visit if you are able to get a reservation. It is located within Wursthall and has a secret entrance to get in. I believe you need a reservation to enter. I managed to snatch one last minute day of, but if you're able to plan ahead, it should be fairly easy to get a reservation a couple days or a week in advance. Our reservation for 2 was at 9 pm but we arrived about 15 min early since we finished up dinner earlier than expected. They were able to seat us early though, which was nice! The menu that they have is a set of tarot cards where one side is a traditional cocktail and the other side is their creative take on the cocktail. We opted to get the creative cocktails. - Forbidden Garden (4/5): This was a spin-off of a martini. It had gin, cocchi rosa, rose hips, vermouth, and house bitters. This is definitely one of the more stronger cocktails in my opinion but still good. - Shapeshifter (5/5): Absolutely amazing cocktail - my favorite of the two. If you are a fan of fruity and not-so-strong cocktails, this is the one for you. It has passion fruit, yuzu, basil, and lemon, with gin as the base alcohol. It is a spin-off of a French 75, which is a cocktail I have never heard of but sounds delicious based on the ingredients listed in it. They also have free complimentary popcorn to snack on! No other food otherwise but since it is located in downtown San Mateo, there are plenty of food options nearby. This was such an amazing experience, and I love visiting speakeasies. I'm hoping to visit again sometime soon and try some of their other cocktails. read more

Wunderbar - Forbidden Garden and Shapeshifter - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

Such a hidden gem in San Mateo! I absolutely love this place! Tucked under a restaurant in downtown San Mateo, you follow the rabbit down the stairs and leader you to a cute bookcase with a rabbit. Once you wave to it, the door opens (actually had trouble with this so we ended up pushing it open LOL). It's best to make a reservation a couple weeks in advance, otherwise you can't get a table. I was able to get a resy for 2 and we arrived early and waited for our table to be ready by getting seated at the bar. The menu was super cute! It was like a flip book that had typical drinks on one side of the card, and Wunderbar's version of those drinks in the back. Dragon Slayer: 9/10, came in a cute lion cup and was filled to the brim! Not too strong and slightly spicy. Shapeshifter: 10/10, this was DELICIOUS. I love yuzu so this was a drink for me! Misty Stork: 8/10, just really strong lol Log Cabin: 7/10 I believe this is their version of an Old Fashioned, I forgot. Not a fan of those in general and it was soo strong. My friend actually got boba with it too, so that was interesting! Honestly, such a cute date night spot. I loved the decor and how intimate it was. It was a great spot for me and my friend to have good drinks and catch up. They even have free popcorn! Highly recommend and can't wait to come here again! read more

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This place has the best cocktails in San Mateo. Love the speakeasy vibes, but make sure you check your check carefully. The last two times we were here, they charged our card $100 extra and then the other time they charged us two extra drinks. When it happens multiple times, you start to wonder if they do it on purpose . Would still come back tho! read more

A tarot-themed speakeasy? Say no more! Even before I stepped foot into Wunderbar, I knew this was going to be my new favorite bar, and this is coming from someone who doesn't care for bars. Once you arrive to the restaurant Wursthall, just let the front desk know you have a reservation, as Wunderbar is reservations only. Once your party is together, follow the white rabbit downstairs, and there's a glowing white rabbit behind the curtains you wave at to let you in. Let them know about your reservation, and they will seat you. I'm a sucker for absinthe, so I asked about it. Glad I did, because it's a Secret menu item. So happy it's here. They gave me a dropper to drip water over the sugar cube, making me feel like I'm back in chemistry lab. In addition to my glass of absinthe, these were the drinks we got when we were there: 1) Siren's Song. This tasted like rubbing alcohol 2) Valiant Quest. It was super sweet 3) Wise Woman. This was refreshing, like a watermelon drink. On my most recent visit, several months later, they had updated their cocktails with new offerings. I got: 1) Forbidden Garden. A variant of the martini, it's a gorgeous crimson color with a bitter taste. 2) Shapeshifter. Our bartender told us this was their most popular drink among the new cocktails. It's very lemony, and I enjoyed the taste of yuzu. 3) Dragon Slayer. Apparently an update of Valiant Quest. It's very rummy and pineapple-y. They can also create non-alcoholic drinks upon request. The complimentary popcorn stand was also very appreciated. We lost track of how many buckets of fresh, hot, buttery popcorn we snacked on to go with our drinks. I also brought in mochi donuts to snack on with my drinks. Excellent customer service! My biggest feedback is that if they're marketing themselves as a tarot-themed bar, they really should have drinks named after legitimate tarot cards. For instance, I'd love to see drinks named after The Magician, The Empress, The Devil, The Hanged Man, The Sun, The Moon, the Stars (you get the idea, the Major Arcana), and even at least a few from the Minor Arcana (would be curious to see what gets picked out of the Cups, Wands, Swords, and Pentacles). read more

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Fantastic speakeasy that really takes down the rabbit-hole into a new world. I absolutely loved the theme, the decor and the comfortable environment. The waiter was really great too in answering our many questions and handling some of our requests for mocktail versions of some of the cocktails. All the cocktails and mocktails our table ordered were done really well. I ordered the Lost at Sea and really enjoyed it - i think using a more exotic and tropical flavour like pandan in a rum-based drink was a great idea. read more

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Your fun begins with actually finding where Wunderbar is physically located. I took a wrong guess(by not looking for the address) and wandered part of downtown San Mateo to find their front door. Spoiler alert: Wunderbar is actually located inside the Wursthall restaurant. The rest is up to you all to figure out. For my first visit here, I had both their Old Fashioned and Manhattan. I love how they have complimentary popcorn to munch on while you soak in the eclectic, and cool ambiance they have created in this Speakeasy. This joint could easily be placed in San Francisco but we get the treat of them being located in my town. read more

We visited a year ago and were turned away for not having a reservation. Fair enough. This time, we made sure to book a table in advance and arrived excited for the evening. When we got there, they seated us at the bar, even though we had a confirmed reservation and there were two empty tables nearby. We mentioned our reservation, showed them the confirmation, but they still refused to move us--claiming those tables were "reserved" for others. Strangely, the table we had asked for remained empty for the next two hours. Clearly, they just didn't want to seat us there. After a while then the bartender asked if we wanted another drink. We said yes and placed our order. He served the drink--and only then told us we had 25 minutes left on our reservation and would need to leave after. Seriously? Why not mention that before serving the drink? Twenty minutes later, he tells us again--"your time's up, you need to leave." We asked why he hadn't informed us beforehand, and his response was: "25 minutes is enough to finish a drink." Excuse me? Who are you to decide how long we need? Meanwhile, another table seated well before us stayed for over two hours without being asked to leave. This place is entitled, pretentious, and the staff are downright disrespectful. The drinks and ambience might be decent, but the service and attitude ruin everything. Do yourself a favor and go somewhere else. read more

Located in the back of a hot dog restaurant, follow the white rabbit down the stairs to look for the entrance of a speakeasy. The atmosphere in here is absolute immaculate with a witchy/ astrological theme to the drink. You have your white tarot cards as classic cocktails & black tarot cards with an innovative twist. It gets booked up pretty fast but this is definitely one of the coolest bars to visit in the peninsula! Highlights: lost at sea: a pandan cocktail served in a lion cup old fashioned: they use really good bourbon for their drink it's actually a steal definitely one of the best that I've had Tip: there's drawings of what type of glass each drink is served in if you want any cute aesthetic cups for photo ops! Service is AMAZING. Loved the bartenders read more

The service was incredibly bad. The cocktails were great. Back to the service, here's what went wrong: - The first bartender was pleasant and engaged with us well. - Then a second bartender took over and was very unfriendly. - Right after we ordered and got our 2nd set of drinks, the bartender gives us a warning that we only have 30 minutes left before the next party arrives to take our spot. I understand that their reservations hold only for 2 hours. However, they should have reminded us that *before* serving us the 2nd drinks. We had to chug down the drinks. - We drove up to this bar for a nice evening to catch up with friends and were badly disappointed by how hurried we felt and the poor customer service The bartenders were quite uptight & unfriendly. I wouldn't recommend the place. read more

Went here with my partner to celebrate and what an awesome experience it was. Gotta find the secret entrance in the back of the hotdog restaurant. Follow the white rabbit! The drinks were extremely tasty. They have classic cocktails as well as riffs of the classics. I like to try new things so I tried the El Lobo and Lone at Sea. Both I would 10/10 recommend. El Lobo has whiskey and horchata. It has a clarified cocktail vibe so if that's your jam, definitely give it a try. The Lone at Sea was a tiki style Rum based cocktail which was the perfect end to my drink line up since we had reservations for bbq after but I wouldn't mind just heading upstairs for some brats and beer. My partner was recommend the shapeshifter by our waiter. It's a Gin based cocktail with passion fruit. Refreshing and citrus forward which definitely captured her heart. Great for this time of year since we are entering the summer. Before coming here, do make a reservation because it was busy and the area is cozy. I appreciate the reservation system though and it's not a bunch of people standing crowding the bar area wanting a drink. Very pleasant experience! read more

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Great vibe, nice place for date/ friends gathering. Must make appointment ahead of time read more

Wunderbar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

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We came here to celebrate a friend's birthday last month and had a good laugh actually trying to find this place. We actually passed it because they're located at the bottom floor of the restaurant, Wursthall. The fun continues when you try to enter and it looks like you are opening a bookcase shelf and we were shocked, when the bookcase swung open to reveal a Speakeasy bar right behind the door. We had reservations and were seated in the back left corner. Oh, important note, this is not a walk in kind of Speakeasy, you will need reservations to continue being a welcomed guest, so go make your reservations online. My favorite drink of the night was the French 75(Gin, lemon, champagne). It was so delicious, I had to resist having a second one that night. I love how they have a popcorn machine, and you can munch on fresh popcorn while you have a drink, and hang out with friends in a cool atmosphere. read more

Wunderbar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

===TL;DR=== - Gauntlet - Dragon slayer - Stalk their reservation availability as they're always booked at night! - What beats free popcorn with unlimited refills?! ===TMI=== This "secret" little spot is located inside the restaurant Wursthall. Make your way to the back and follow the white rabbits down the stairs. Ok, got to the secret bookcase (speakeasy entrance) but waving at the white glowing rabbit upon arrival as instructed did not work for us. Thank goodness someone came out so we can go in. I booked the High Top Reservation for 2 people online and they accommodated us before our reservation time (wanted their Nook reservation but it's always booked). If you know me, you'll know I love a good hole in the wall, especially with 1920s feel. And this place twisted that plot with Tarot theme? Sign me up. Let me tell you, they don't play when they said the dark tarot card drinks were the stronger versions of the white ones. Woowee, sippers for sure. Good amount is space inside: bar, side wall seats good for a party of 2, back lounge area, and the cool tarot inspired nook space. Dark brown leather chairs with ambient lighting.. what's not to love. It's like traveling back in time where we have to sneak out to relax and catch up with friends. Can't wait to be back for more. read more

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I never knew such a cool speakeasy existed in downtown San Mateo. It is reservation- only on most nights (if not all nights). So if you plan to go, make a reservation on Tock in advance because they do run out of resys especially on the weekend. Check-in at Wursthall and follow the white rabbit down to the speakeasy. Wave at the lit white rabbit and the door will open automatically. As it is a speakeasy, it is pretty dim in there. I reserved the nook for a party of 4 and it is especially dark in the nook (sort of like a little cave room). There is free, unlimited popcorn which is a plus! Highly recommend making a reservation to check out this speakeasy! read more

Wunderbar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

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My dad found this place, and we went on a Thursday night. The fantastic atmosphere is full of mystic items like a glowing crystal ball and fantasy books. I don't want to ruin the surprise, but there is a secret passageway. Hint: Follow the white rabbit. The drink menu has a cool concept. The front side of the menu has traditional drinks like a margarita and old fashion. While the back side is their take on these drinks with twists of unique flavors and bitters. I have to say the two drinks we tried were under whelming. Though the atmosphere and free popcorn were what made this place fun. Go here after dinner for a drink or bring your dad. Heck, have your dad bring you as I did. You won't be disappointed by the ambiance. read more

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Drinks are inventive, and strong, but the double-sided yet simple menu also have classic cocktails. If have a favorite you may find a variation or substitute. A free popcorn stand by the bar was very nice. This is a non-quiet speakeasy but not too loud with good background music. While dark it's not pitch black and has a home-y feel. and looks like a small library sharing a bar space. Hard to find at first since there's no sign or markers. It's actually located inside the restaurant Wursthall (which is on a street corner). Go towards the back and then downstairs. read more

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This is such a cute place! Fantastic atmosphere and it is full of mystic items. The concept of finding the bar was very interesting, just follow the stairs, walk all the way down and wave at the rabbit that sits in the book shelf. It was such an experience. I would suggest to make reservations ahead. Service is whatever, we didn't get greeted when we got there. We waited for a bit before sat down. It takes forever for us to order the drink. Drinks were OK, both were not my favorite. The menu was really interesting and nicely designed. We ordered Forbidden garden and one more drink. They both look average, nothing fancy and I was expecting more flavors. read more

Wunderbar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

If you're ever in downtown San Mateo, you should check out this speakeasy bar. Wunderbar is located inside Wursthall-a German restaurant/bar (sorry not supposed to tell you the secret!) I love the design of the menu and the bar decorations-it gives you a mysterious feeling yet classy and traditional at the same time which a speakeasy should be all about. The drinks seem simple compared to other speakeasy drinks I've had but they were all well mixed and the bartender was so nice to custom made a drink upon my request. I wanted something light and refreshing so he made me a cucumber gimlet. Yum! It was a perfect way to end the night after dinner for us. Would love to come back whenever I'm in the area next time. read more

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The secret is out! A bar within a bar?! SAY LESS! This cute tarot-card themed Speakeasy is where it's at! The vibes are super chill. Not to mention, the drinks are amazing and the service is great! I like that they take reservations only so it doesn't get crowded and stays intimate. read more

Wunderbar - Sidewinder's Fang - how cute is the snake orange peel?! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

This is such a neat speakeasy underneath a foodhall! There's no way to really tell where it is, just follow your sense of "wunder" and maybe also the little white rabbits down the staircase :) Then through some curtains you happen upon a bookcase that opens when you touch the bunny's tummy. Opening up to a gorgeous library themed cocktain bar! The vibe was mysterious, cozy, aesthic and calming. We enjoyed conversation with our bartender and sipped away on a Lost at Sea and Lobo. The Lobo was their take on a Old Fashion bjt with a spin of horchata. Quite Strong. My Lost at Sea was a delicious take on a sidewinder's fang tiki drink. It had pandan and coconut milk and was soooo tasty! Especially topped with the jelly! read more

Wunderbar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

I liked the vibes inside and the whole idea of a speakeasy. It was well decorated with lots of cool knickknacks but I thought the lighting was a bit too bright for the seats on the side. I also thought the music selection was too upbeat radio-hits and didn't match the chill vibeyness of the place. Drinks were yummy and I appreciate the popcorn and cool menu. read more

Wunderbar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

Awesome speakeasy under Wursthall! Just follow the white rabbit down the stairs and wave to its belly for the secret bookcase to welcome you into a delightful bar! It's tarot themed and really invests to make it special for all guests. We booked the private nook and it's worth it (no extra cost, just plan ahead). The bar is fairly quaint so it can be loud so we found a lot of solace in our nook, which comfortably seats 4. Drinks are very pretty, they will make mocktails if requested as well. They have traditional versions of the drinks as well their version so give both a try! Drinks were a bit small for the price but within Bay Area prices and the ambiance is great! I also enjoyed the complementary bottomless self serve popcorn! Definitely will plan to bring our friends here! Cute place! read more

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In one word. DOPE Ok that would make a real sh!tty review so here goes. Im so excited we finally have a speakeasy in the heart of Bay Area. I went to Wursthall recently too, with no idea this hidden gem laid underneath! It's got a similar feel to the old SingleBarrel in San Jose, but this is a bit smaller and more hidden - which makes it even cooler. Follow the white rabbits down the stairs, go past the red drapes, touch the rabbit's belly, and voila. The bookcase rotates and you're in! Um, if you made a reservation, that is. I will say that drinks aren't the absolute best, because some are pre-made/batched and all are realllly sweet. But you can ask them to remove as much sugar as possible! Then it's sweet; but not syrupy. The place is small, hence needing a reservation. And they're really popular, even on a weekday! So be prepared to finish within 2 hours or so. This makes the cutest date spot or small group gathering. I'll definitely be back. read more

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Such a cute speakeasy bar in downtown San Mateo! We had so much fun with our date here and enjoyed all the cocktails we tried - which were a lot lol it's a very intimate bar and they only do reservations so be sure to make a reservation well ahead of time! read more

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Quite possibly my favorite bar/wine situation in the Bay Area by far! This was an actual speakeasy, it literally is in the basement of Wursthall and you must go through velvet curtains, and push on the white rabbit to get in. Reservations are required which is awesome so that it doesn't overcrowd the place. My friends and I absolutely loved the ambiance and service here. It has an Alice in Wonderland theme and they even have self serve popcorn here for you to snack on. The drinks were delicious as well! The fruitier cocktails tasted great and their versions of the more common drinks were interesting as well. I've never had a drink with olive oil in it, but it wasn't too bad! I'm definitely coming back next time! read more

Fun speakeasy bar in San Mateo! Just remember to make a reservation ahead of time. Once you arrive at Wursthall and let the host know that you have a reservation at Wunderbar, they will direct you downstairs where they have cute small rabbits on the wall to follow. The hidden entrance is nicely decorated. The bar itself is relatively small and intimate. Our server was super nice throughout the experience. I love that all their specialty cocktails were a twist on a classic cocktail; the menus were decorated like tarot cards which was cute. We tried the Valiant Quest and Wise Woman and both were very tasty. They also have a popcorn machine where you can scoop complimentary popcorn to snack on which was very much appreciated! Prices are pretty average at $14 per cocktail. I had a great time and will be coming back! read more

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LOVE WUNDERBAR!! Wtf..I'm super impressed. Complimentary popcorn, the private space and the whimsical vibes! I ordered two drinks: Lost at Sea and an Ube Espresso Martini. Both DELICIOUS. I also got a bit tipsy after my second drink. Since they are reservation only, I recommend booking in advance. It took a couple months to get a Saturday seating. The service is also incredibly quick and attentive. I'd love to come again soon. read more

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You must make reservations!! You enter Wursthall and walk to the back go down the stars and see the red curtain and enter, see the glowing rabbit and wave your hand in front, the door opens and you enter Wunderbar. It's a very cute speakeasy bar. Dark with little lighting. The drinks were great and the service was excellent. The best drinks were the ube expresso, fire and ice, lost at sea. read more

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Psst. Listen here, see. This is a speakeasy. It's secret. Nobody can know it exists. Now follow the white rabbit. Oh--just three things: You'll need to make reservations on Instagram about two weeks in advance. And we're randomly closed some days. And most important, like all super cool bars this shit shuts down at 11pm stat, no exceptions, lights on, GTFO or we're calling the cops, you scumbags! WTF dudes? I actually like what's going on behind the curtains. Cool vibes. Atmospheric presentation. It's small, quaint, intimate. Bartenders know their shit. Great old-fashioned. Solid bizarro inverted old-fashioned. They serve Booker's, which says to me somebody knows what's up. There's an old-timey popcorn maker. You can hear the person next to you because bullshit is not playing at max volume. Don't get me wrong because I like bullshit at max volume--just not when I'm trying to have conversations. Also, Wursthall is literally upstairs and it's still pretty good despite the fact that Kenji fled to Seattle to paint his nails and be a hipster bitch. I'm not mad, Kenji. Okay, I'm mad. Come back, you traitor. But I can't suffer the pretentiousness, my dudes. Barrel Bistro is walking distance and they got a better smoked old-fashioned, no Willy Wonka golden ticket required. It's San Mateo, not Beverly Hills or New York. I'm clinking glasses with Silicon Valley douchebags. Oh, you work for Google or Apple? Motherfucker, who doesn't up here? Why do I gotta wait two weeks because you designed the charge mechanism on Magic Mouse. Bitch--I'm turning that thing upside-down to charge. How'm I supposed to use it, genius? Steve Jobs would be ashamed of your ass. Fuck you--not toasting anything with you. Go back to San Jose. You close at 11? Guys, you gotta be the change you wish to see in the world, and all that crap. I can hear the voice whispering, if you stay open until 2am like a normal non-suburban-make-reservations-on-instagram-so-called-speakeasy-bullshit-bar, they will come. That voice is super passive-aggressive, sorry. Anyway, all of this to say, conceptually awesome, great drinks, but this place really has to stop with the pretentious elitism coupled with dry mormon town schedules. It's on the verge of being the go-to bar in San Mateo, but they seem to be doing everything in their power to make that impossible. read more

Cute, intimate spot, great for small groups of friends and couples. Drinks are reasonably priced and tasty. Really love the self serve popcorn machine. read more

Wunderbar - Popcorn machine - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

One of the best bars in San Mateo, hands down! With the San Mateo bar scene generally skewing more toward sports bars and pubs, having an intimate, tucked away lounge hidden beneath Wursthall makes Wunderbar an absolute gem. I would definitely recommend making a reservation (at least a few days in advance), as this place is always crowded! We did manage to snag one of the high top tables without a reservation on a Friday, but we had to wait for about 15 minutes and just got very lucky. Wunderbar offers an array of traditional cocktails (old fashioned, Manhattan, martini, etc.) - but the cool part is that you can also order Wunderbar's take on that drink. I would highly recommend trying "their versions" of these drinks, as the twist they put on them nearly always matches (and often exceeds) the excellence of the standard version! I ordered the Frog Prince and El Lobo this past time, and loved both. I'm a major sucker for mezcal, and the Frog Prince was easily one of the best mezcal cocktails I've had. The El Lobo was their version of the old fashioned, and the horchata worked so well in the drink, it made me wonder why all old fashioneds didn't come with it! They also have a popcorn machine in the corner of the bar that you can walk over and help yourself to as often as you want (which, for me, seems to correlate in frequency with how many drinks I end up having...). Service has always been excellent each time I've come here, and the intimate, laid back vibe just can't be matched in San Mateo. If you're looking for a great speakeasy experience in downtown San Mateo, make your reservation and check this spot out! read more

Love this speak easy style bar. Reservations are needed, they do not accept walk ins. They have a cool style menu of classics/their own version of the classics. The music choice is very nice and relaxing. They have free popcorn that is self serve. Try the ube espresso martini that's all I have to say. They did say they change their menu every couple months or so. Staff is very nice and professional. read more

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So fun! Reservations are required. Drinks are yummy, plenty of options, interior is awesome, and staff is friendly. Complimentary popcorn is a nice touch! We went for my birthday and they gave us complimentary champagne flutes. So nice to have an upscale place in downtown San Mateo! We had to make a reservation 2 weeks in advance for 5pm on a Friday for 2 people, but we when we got there, there seemed to be plenty of empty seats! Maybe they restrict the number of people who can come for staff shortage reasons, or to keep the mystery? read more

Wunderbar - Interior from lounge chairs - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California