The best speakeasies and hidden bars in San Diego
Secret entrances lead to hidden worlds of mood lighting, tiki drinks and classic cocktails at these top San Diego speakeasies and hidden bars. From vacation-worthy watering holes near the beach to more sleek, urban neighborhood gems, getting to these secret spots is half the fun.
Realm of the 52 Remedies
Where: 4805 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 92111
Neighborhood: Convoy District
Based on the healing methods from the ancient Chinese medical text Wushi’er Bingfang, or Recipes for Fifty-Two Ailments, this Convoy District gem transports you into an apothecary of craft remedies and calmness designed to heal your mind, body and soul. Look for the entrance inside the Common Theory Public House to the left.
Prohibition
Where: 548 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Neighborhood: Gaslamp
We’ve got just the lawyer for your nightlife needs. He’s a fella by the name of Eddie O’Hare. Find the door to this law office on downtown’s Fifth Avenue and be transported back a century with dusky lighting, craft cocktails and a cellphone- and flip-flop-free bar.
Noble Experiment
Where: 777 G St, San Diego, CA 92101
Neighborhood: East Village
If you’re heading to the restroom of East Village eatery Neighborhood and notice someone disappear behind a stack of kegs, don’t worry, you’re not seeing things. Booking a reservation is the only way to get inside this small and immaculately appointed bar, adorned with a wall of skulls.
False Idol
Where: 675 W Beech St, San Diego, CA 92101
Neighborhood: Little Italy
Pass through a walk-in cooler inside Little Italy’s Craft & Commerce to find this immersive tiki bar, a collaboration between CH Projects and tiki expert Martin Cate (of San Francisco’s Smuggler’s Cove fame). This diminutive tiki bar has made a name for its strong cocktails and cavelike ambience, where no detail has been overlooked.
Occulto 477
Where: 2414 San Diego Ave, San Diego, CA 92110
Neighborhood: Old Town
Tucked away behind a curtain in the back of popular mezcal-and-tacos joint Tahona, Occulto offers cocktails that nod to its location in historic Old Town San Diego on the site of a graveyard. The extensive mezcal selection informs much of the cocktail menu, and the whiskey offerings are impressive as well. Due to its shot-glass-size footprint, advance reservations are highly recommended.
Raised by Wolves
Where: 4301 La Jolla Village Dr Ste #2030, San Diego, CA 92122
Neighborhood: UTC/La Jolla
You’ll have to forget everything you think you know about shopping malls to believe that this upscale retail store/hidden bar exists in Westfield UTC. Believe it, though: A rotating fireplace platform is the entryway to the bar, where you can order some of San Diego’s top cocktails. This venture is run by the group behind False Idol and Noble Experiment, and is known for its over-the-top experiences and menu – a $699 Old Fashioned, for example.
Vin de Syrah
Where: 901 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Neighborhood: Gaslamp
Good luck trying to find your way into this Alice in Wonderland-themed wine bar that lies behind a hidden door below street level. Hint: Look for the door handle inside the green plant wall. Inside the subterranean spot, expect small bites, wine and cocktails and a lively Gaslamp crowd on evenings and weekends.
Grass Skirt
Where: 910 Grand Ave, San Diego, CA 92109
Neighborhood: Pacific Beach
Start with the poké, end with tiki everything. This paradise-themed Pacific Beach hidden bar combines a love of SoCal comfort with Polynesian-inspired décor, exotic drinks, tasty plates and pupus. During the holidays, come back for a Christmas tiki pop-up with even more festive cocktails and bright lights for a holly jolly good time.
Room 56
Where: 831 Sixth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Neighborhood: Gaslamp
You’re going to want to read up on this speakeasy at the bookshelf when you enter the Moxy Hotel in the Gaslamp Quarter. In honor of America’s founding fathers and the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence, this timeless den only gets better with age – just like the spirits.
Young Blood
Where: 777 G St, San Diego, CA 92101
Neighborhood: Downtown
There is no menu at this all-inclusive bar by CH Projects in Downtown San Diego, because the cocktails are curated just for you! After entering through a fridge, you will be greeted with a glass of champagne and three personally crafted cocktails for the fixed price of $65. Bask in the pretty & pink ambiance for 90 minutes of creative libations and good company.
Bonus: Hidden Finds in Oceanside
A rising star on the culinary and cocktail scene, Oceanside offers a couple of hidden bars and speakeasies worth the trip up north:
The Space Pad
Where: 406 Mission Ave, Oceanside, CA 92054
Neighborhood: Oceanside
Hidden away in Oceanside, The Space Pad gives galactic vibes and good drinks at what it bills as an “Interplanetary Cocktail Lounge.”