arrow-down arrow-left arrow-right arrow-up play-button plus tab-indicator dots close menu search facebook google-plus instagram pinterest rss twitter tiktok youtube rss-two heart Check FeaturedBadge linkedin minus apps placeholder linkedin

San Diego’s Best Hidden Bars and Speakeasies

Drink in the ambience of these secret spaces

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
Hidden away in Oceanside, The Space Pad gives galactic vibes and good drinks at what it bills as an “Interplanetary Cocktail Lounge.”

Ladies Love Outlaws

Where: 505 Vista Way, Oceanside, CA 92054
Country-themed cocktails and Wild West kitsch mark this cozy bar, nestled alongside a popular neighborhood barbecue-and-beer joint.

Find a place to stay

Book online or call 1-800-350-6205 to speak with a local expert

Related Articles and Features

Deals just for you

Accommodation

Hotel Indigo Military Appreciation Rate

Hotel Indigo - San Diego Gaslamp Quarter
Valid: Apr 22, 2024 - ongoing

Whether you’re actively serving, or you’ve hung up the uniform, IHG wants to say, “thank you” with the IHG Military Appreciation Rate. We invite you and your family to enjoy a...

Wineries

Attending A Conference? $4 Off Wine Glass/Bottle!

Quigley Fine Wines
Valid: Oct 27, 2024 - ongoing

Attending a conference in San Diego? Come into Quigley Fine Wines and show us your current conference badge for $4.00 off your first glass of wine or bottle! There's a reason Condé Nast...

Accommodation

Convention Center Package with Breakfast for 1

Hotel Indigo - San Diego Gaslamp Quarter
Valid: Apr 22, 2024 - ongoing

Combine a great deal on a 4 night minimum stay with inclusive breakfast for 1 and 20 percent discount at Level 9 Rooftop Bar when you show your San Diego Convention Center lanyard. Enjoy a 20 minute...

Events to check out

Event

San Diego Crew Classic

Mar 28 - Mar 30, 2025

Regarded as the first major regatta of the year, the San Diego Crew Classic brings together thousands of athletes from more than 100 universities, clubs and high school programs across the United...

Event

Port of San Diego's Day at the Docks

Apr 13, 2025

A San Diego sport fishing tradition, The Port Of San Diego’s Day At The Docks is the West Coast’s largest public celebration of sport fishing. Signaling the official start of Southern...

Event

La Jolla Half Marathon & Shores 5K

May 17, 2025

The La Jolla Half Marathon is one of America's most picturesque and beautiful point-to-point races. Starting at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, the course follows a scenic coastal route before reaching the...

Stay in touch

Sign up to receive the latest news, events, and updates about San Diego. Our monthly and weekly newsletters will keep you informed about the latest and greatest happenings in the destination.

Sign Up

Partners

Explore

Plan

Stay

Follow Us

Language:

English | Change Language

Select your country or region

China
Germany
Great Britain
Japan
Mexico
Korea
Switzerland
Brazil
France
Australia
Canada
USA

Or use Google Translate

Afrikaans
Albanian
Arabic
Belarusian
Bulgarian
Croatian
Danish
Deutsch
Español
Estonian
Filipino
Finnish
Francais
Georgian
Greek
Haitian-Creole
Hebrew
Hindi
Hungarian
Icelandic
Indonesian
Irish
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Latvian
Lithuanian
Macedonian
Malay
Maltese
Nederlands
Norwegian
Persian
Polish
Portuguese
Romanian
Russian
Serbian
Slovak
Slovenian
Swahili
Swedish
Telugu
Thai
Turkish
Ukranian
Vietnamese
Yiddish