From Tucked-Away Tiki Bars to Chinese Medicine-Themed Watering Holes, These Hidden Haunts Are Sure to Wet your Whistle

Hyped-up bars and nightclubs aren’t everyone’s cup of tea—or should we say, glass of whiskey. Some night owls prefer to fly a bit more under the radar. If that describes you, San Diego’s happening nightlife scene is fortunately home to several hidden bars with inventive themes and cocktails. These speakeasies can, unsurprisingly, be found tucked away within popular restaurants through unassuming doors. The term speakeasy was coined based on the idea of “speaking easy” about the illegal underground bars that existed during the Prohibition Era, and though alcohol has been legally flowing again for quite some time, the sentiment remains. Find your way in, but keep it low-key at these perfectly embellished San Diego speakeasies.

 

Kamon 

Pretty pastries aren’t the only thing popping off at Asa Bakery in East Village. Once coffee hour is traded for cocktail hour, sneak off to the right side of the bakery for entrance into Kamon, a 1920s Japanese-style speakeasy. The bar is influenced by the Taisho era, known for when Western influence began to meet Japanese style—hence the iconic glass windows, chandeliers and antique clocks surrounding you. The bar focuses on Japanese-made alcohol, serving beautifully garnished drinks like the Clarified Mezcal Milk Punch and the Midnight Train to Shinjuku. Come try them for yourself—we can’t give away all the secrets. 

How to Get in: Immediately upon entering Asa Bakery, hook a right and enter through the hidden door on the right side.

Location: East Village

 

The Hive

Start with the California-coastal vibe of Beeside Balcony, stay a while and get a little deeper with a stop at The Hive. Once you’ve found the hidden door, step into the ‘20s-style space that draws inspiration from the Prohibition period, from decor to drinks. We suggest you stay on-theme and order the Honey Rush, a simple yet delicious mix of Evan Williams bourbon, lemon and honey. Catch live music on select nights as well, from DJs to live bands! Keep up with their Instagram for the most up-to-date information.

How to Get in: First, you’ll need their secret, ever-changing entrance password. It’s posted semi-monthly on their instagram stories. Once you’ve secured the password, enter through the hidden door in the restaurant. Here’s a hint: it’s one pretty large painting.

Location: La Jolla

4/27

 

The Space Pad 

Earthly beings need libations; even the ones out of this world can relate. Sip your way through another galaxy at The Space Pad, Oceanside’s intergalactic, atomic-themed speakeasy lined with curious glowing botanicals, rock formations and UFO-shaped chandeliers! Choose from a variety of unique tiki-inspired cocktails like fan favorites Saturn or Blast Off, or try the new Cosmic Coil—a mix of rum, juicy peach, tangy orange and creamy coconut that’s served with a pour-it-yourself glitter garnish! Fill up with a locally sourced poke tower or the Space Pad Tacos and fuel that adventurous spirit. 

How to Get in: Step into the beaming Kilowatt Brewing and find the secret door. From there, make your way through a trippy hallway of kaleidoscopic mirrors, AKA the Space Pad Portal, and find your way out of this world.

Location: Oceanside

4/19

 

Prohibition Lounge 

Step away from the scene of downtown San Diego and sneak into something dare we say…unseen. Escape the everyday life of the 21st century and turn back time to Prohibition at this truly tucked-away speakeasy, complete with live music nearly every night of the week with everything from rockabilly American country to bluegrass. If visiting Friday or Saturday, a Prohibition-period dress code is strongly encouraged. Enter the red-lit room ready to experience drinks like the whiskey-forward Bartender’s Handshake, gin-infused Hakuna Matata or rum-centric Cuban Swizzle. Their extensive cocktail list is laid out by liquor, so everyone can easily find their favorites. 

How to Get in: There’s no restaurant to serve as a front for this one; it’s hidden in plain sight. Keep your eyes peeled on Fifth Avenue for a quirky door reading “Law Office – Eddie O‘Hare Esq.” Ring the bell. Viola.

Location: Gaslamp

 

Forbidden Cove 

The forbidden fruit tastes the sweetest, especially when it’s in a cocktail. Get your fix of both at Forbidden Cove, the speakeasy hidden within Kilowatt Brewing in Kearny Mesa. Tucked away behind the barrels of the brewery, this intimate tiki-themed bar has everything from glowing neon decor to a classic parrot mascot. Go for a rum drink, of course: try the Three Dots and a Dash made with rum, allspice dram, falernum, orange, honey and lime. Bonus: add a rum float to any drink for just $4! Reservations are recommended for this 90-minute experience.

How to Get in: Once inside Kilowatt, head to the back and check in at the bar. They will hand you your entrance key, then go back towards the front by the barrels and use your key to enter.

Location: Kearny Mesa

 

Room 56 

Buried deep within the modern Moxy hotel is a speakeasy paying homage to the founding fathers. Named for the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence, Room 56 offers a classy, upscale cocktail experience without all the fluff. The atmosphere is simple yet refined, with a list of carefully crafted cocktails like the Public Spectacle—a sparkling sight to see filled with gin, lemon, elderflower, violet, honey and sparkling wine. Grab a bite as well with one of their small-plate options like the scallop crudo or beef carpaccio, and catch live saxophone performances Thursday nights at 8 p.m.

How to Get in: Head to the second floor of the hotel and find the bookcase. Remove the red book from the shelf, take a seat and you’ll be greeted by the resident “librarian” before making your way down the spiral staircase.

Location: Gaslamp Quarter

 

The Grass Skirt 

There’s a reason this one is a long-standing San Diego favorite. Entering Pacific Beach’s Grass Skirt feels like an instant tropical vacation, transporting you into a tiki-filled world of exotic cocktails and island-inspired eats. Go for a classic Tropical Tony’s Mai Tai or a signature favorite like the Lava and Ice, a blend of serrano-infused tequila, overproof Jamaican rum, lime, pineapple, coconut and pomegranate. If you’re in for dinner, order the Pig Mac Bao Buns and the Hot and Spicy Garlic Noods. Pro tip: if you want to set off the bar’s (rainless) tropical rainstorm, order a punch bowl.

How to Get in: Locate the unassuming Good Time Poké shop. Enter there and let the hosts know what you’ve truly come for: a craft cocktail experience. They’ll lead you through the freezer doors, and the rest is history.

Location: Pacific Beach

 

Noble Experiment

It’s all in the name—there’s something risky and noble about the concept of speakeasies, and Noble Experiment is no exception. The Gaslamp Quarter’s gothic-inspired secret is intricately detailed with swanky white booths, a bejeweled chandelier and dim red lighting to set the mood of secrecy. Cozy up next to the wall of brass skulls and fully displayed bar as you decide on which mix of top-shelf liquor, seasonally made syrups and beautifully displayed garnishes you’ll be enjoying for the evening. Bright and refreshing, classic and straight-forward, their mixologists have all you’re in search of.

How to Get in: Enter into The Neighborhood restaurant located on G Street, where you’ll see a wall of beer kegs near the bathrooms. The wall is actually a secret door; just push on the right of the kegs to find yourself immersed in a whole new world. 

Location: Gaslamp Quarter

 

Raised by Wolves

Located in the most unassuming space, Raised by Wolves is hidden in plain sight among the shops at UTC Mall in La Jolla. Everything in this space is carefully crafted: the cocktails, the detailed furnishings and even the storytelling nature of the menu items. Specializing in craft cocktails, you’ll find pretty much any libation under the sun—or should we say, moon—and if you’re unsure, knowledgeable bartenders will eagerly answer any questions. The extensive list of delicious drinks makes it hard to pick, but if you’re looking for anything custom, they offer a wide selection of bitters and vermouths to satisfy any connoisseur.

How to Get in: Find the small room disguised as a liquor-stocked storefront. Speak to the clerk about a walk-in or (better yet) your reservation, and wait to be seated in the velvet chairs in front of the fireplace. The staff will take care of the rest as the ground beneath spins you into a new realm of possibility.

Location: La Jolla

 

Occulto 477

We heard you’re looking for spirits, and this one’s a double whammy. Occulto 477 lies just beyond the graveyard adjacent to El Campo Santo—San Diego’s second oldest cemetery—and very near the famously haunted Whaley House. All aspects of the bar pay homage to their eerie neighbor, from the drink names and decor to the number 477, which specifically marks the number of graves. Take the spooky edge off with their constantly evolving cocktail menu that’s organized by style; any newcomer will easily find their way to a new favorite libation.

How to Get in: Enter through the mezcal bar, Tahona, and let the hostess know of your reservation for Occulto 477. You will be handed an etiquette card; pay specific attention to rule No. 10 because that’s your key to entry.

Location: Old Town

 

False Idol

Get your fix of the tropics with a slightly treacherous twist at False Idol, Little Italy’s tucked-away tiki bar experience. The space is fully immersive; you’re greeted by a water- and fireball-spitting rock wall, setting a precedent for the rest of the bar’s dramatic yet darling decor. Colorfully painted glass buoys line the ceiling while wood carvings dance about your evening of tropical-inspired drinks. And there’s no shortage of beverages here; find 18 classics and 18 inventive drinks with everything from fruity and crisp to a more mellow and dry style.

How to Get in: Enter the Craft & Commerce restaurant and you’ll see a stainless-steel door on the left side of the main bar. Enter to discover a cooler full of fruits and fake skulls—and thankfully, another door leading to your tiki experience.

Location: Little Italy

 

Realm of the 52 Remedies

Come cure what ails you at the Realm of the 52 Remedies. This speakeasy pays homage to an ancient Chinese medical text dating back to 215 BC, which outlined over 250 cures for ailments through elixirs. Enter into The Apothecary, a world focused on traditional methods of healing and longevity, and venture on to find the bar, aka the modern world’s quick fix for whatever’s on your mind. A sort of symbolism is apparent in this Chinese- and Korean-inspired bar, serving delicious drinks focused on the flavors of healing.

How to Get in: Visit Common Theory on Convoy Street and look for a white door. Then, enter into a simply decorated apothecary, where a host is ready to welcome you towards the bar’s second secret passageway.

Location: Kearny Mesa

 

Young Blood

Find the most dazzling of drinking experiences at Young Blood, a hidden bar nestled inside The Neighborhood in East Village. A flat fee of $65 earns you a curated three-course cocktail experience, discussed in full with an experienced server over your welcome glass of bubbly. Tingle your taste buds in this warmly lit space that’s filled with comfortable velvet seats and carefully adorned decor. Your server will check on you between each course to ensure all is to your liking and can modify any selections as necessary. Not finished after dessert? Don’t fret—bonus beverages are encouraged!

How to Get in: First step: reservations only! Once you’ve secured one, enter through The Neighborhood and search for what appears to be a refrigerator case. If you open it to find a tiled hallway, keep going—you’re in the right place.

Location: East Village

 

Convoy Music Bar 

Inspired by Japan’s Tokyo-style listening bars, Convoy Music Bar was built as a space to take in high-quality tunes over a few cocktails. Cozy into the 40-seat, intimate setting lined with green velvet stools under a gold-plated central bar as nightly DJs spin through curated vinyls on a custom sound system straight from Japan. Drinks are served in vintage Japanese glassware. We recommend going for the fan-favorite New Giddy cocktail, a foam-topped blend of gin, melon, honey, cucumber, citrus and nori. Experiences are 90 minutes, and cocktail attire and reservations are both encouraged.

How to Get in: Walk to the alley behind O’Brien’s Pub. Look for the light-up red “On Air” sign and come on in.

Location: Kearny Mesa

 

Bar Three Piece

This escape is strictly for the whiskey lovers. Properly located in North Park’s highly popular, more visible Seven Grand (primarily a whiskey bar itself), Bar Three Piece strictly serves whiskey drinks. With a selection of over 250 bottles featuring high-quality, impressive labels scattered among familiar favorites, patrons can enjoy everything from a strong whiskey neat to a classically mixed old-fashioned with a side of smooth jazz. The dim lighting illuminating the comfortably cushioned booths and wallflower taxidermy makes it easy for this classic-style speakeasy to blast you straight to the past.

How to Get in: Enter Seven Grand Whiskey and search until you find the corridor. Monday through Friday, simply wander your way in, but Saturday and Sunday, a host may greet you, so you’ll want to make a reservation in advance on weekends. 

Location: North Park