Our Favorite San Diego Speakeasies & Secret Bars
There’s something so mysteriously intriguing about speakeasies that we all seem to find them very tempting and oh-so hard to resist. Popular during the years of Prohibition, these secret, underground bars came to fruition when it was illegal to sell and import alcoholic beverages. Today’s speakeasies in San Diego offer guests a unique way to spend an evening with a variety of intoxicating spirits, intimate dinners, and spectacular décor to create a definite mood of mystery and intrigue.
Guests of the Pacific Terrace Hotel will find a variety of secret spots that are home to some of the best speakeasies in San Diego that are conveniently located near your oceanfront suite on Pacific Beach. Get ready for an experience you won’t soon forget as you decide for yourself which is the best speakeasy in San Diego. Savvy guests know that you need to do your homework to get into these secret bars in San Diego, though. Be sure to find the secret password for some of these intriguing bars and lounges and also keep your eye out for the often disguised entrances to enjoy the fun!
Best Speakeasies in San Diego
Captain’s Quarters (0.6 Miles to Hotel)
The newest speakeasy in Pacific Beach, Captain’s Quarters, offers a moody, nautical-themed bar that is modeled after an old sailing ship, with authentic portholes and panoramic ocean views included! The gin-inspired handcrafted cocktails are sure to please, as will the menu of shareables that includes caviar-topped smoked salmon poppers and grilled prawns. Make a reservation to ensure entry to this secret bar San Diego locals love to visit.
(Video: @captainsquartersd)
The Grass Skirt (0.6 Miles to Hotel)
If you’re clever enough to find the entrance through the refrigerator door, you’ll be greeted by a foggy tunnel made from lava rock that takes you to an ironic tropical-themed bar! Grab a booth or fire pit table and order a boat drink that includes all of your favorite tropical libations or a gigantic, spiked punch bowl to share with friends. Nosh on a delicious Asian-inspired menu that includes treats like bao and poke bowls. Reservations are suggested for an evening at The Grass Skirt since this is one of the best secret spots in San Diego.
(Photo: @thegrassskirtsd
The Honey Pot (4.3 Miles to Hotel)
Tucked behind a hidden door inside the popular Beeside Balcony Restaurant, The Honey Pot is San Diego’s newest speakeasy. This La Jolla secret bar is an elegant throw-back to the roaring 20s with a menu designed from the era. Enjoy tasty appetizers with unique ingredients as you listen to live jazz and sip creative cocktails. But…you will need a password to enter this hidden bar in San Diego, so check out their Instagram page to enter!
(Photo: @kathleenfrasierhenwood)
Raised by Wolves (9.3 Miles to Hotel)
This popular speakeasy in San Diego is hidden behind a bottle shop at an outdoor mall! The award-winning speakeasy in San Diego offers an intimate atmosphere with a dark and brooding décor we are definitely here for. Enjoy an evening of handcrafted cocktails from the bar’s exquisite reserve list of rare spirits while relaxing on a velvet chair under the intoxicating emerald glass dome.
(Photo: @raisedbywolvesspirits)
False Idol (10.0 Miles to Hotel)
A secret door at Craft & Commerce serves as the entrance to one of the most fun, Polynesian tiki experiences you won’t soon forget in San Diego. Relax among the tropical décor that even includes a volcano and indoor waterfall to get the tropical vibe started! Get your tiki-bar on with their rum-based bar options that range from a classic MaiTai to flaming sharable cocktails in festive tiki bowls. And don’t forget to take a piece of your San Diego vacation home with you when you purchase a tiki souvenir glass from False Idol.
Noble Experiment (11.0 Miles to Hotel)
This secret bar in San Diego is one of the best hidden! Located in The Neighborhood restaurant, down a hallway of mirrors that leads to a wall made of kegs, this mysterious speakeasy in San Diego offers a mood for those in a mood. Decorated with a unique collection of gold skulls and classic art, the barely lit bar is in the business of serving exactly what you want. In fact, there is no menu, so choose your drink that will be handcrafted by the theme-oriented staff. You’ll need a reservation for this speakeasy San Diego local enjoy.
Mothership (12.8 Miles to Hotel)
This secret bar in San Diego offers guests an eclectic space odyssey theme and an unexpected, extensive menu of frozen concoctions and other tropical drinks. The combination of exotic flavors extends to their vegan dinner menu, where you can order amazing dishes with a variety of infused flavors. If the Mothership and space are on your radar, you’ll love this unique speakeasy in SoCAL during your stay at the Pacific Terrace Hotel in San Diego.
(Photo: @lilnikkibee)
Are You Ready to Discover the Secret Bars and Mysterious Speakeasies in San Diego?
The Pacific Terrace Hotel is the perfect place to stay for a weekend of exploring the best hidden bars in San Diego. Enjoy luxurious oceanfront accommodations at our Pacific Beach resort, which is located close to the best speakeasies in San Diego. Enjoy exciting resort-like amenities during the day, including our beachfront pool, hot tub, massage and therapy treatments, or a bike ride on the Pacific Beach Boardwalk. Then, when the sun goes down, get ready to visit the best hidden bars in San Diego for a night on the town at the best speakeasy in SoCal. Reserve your oceanfront suite or guestroom now and plan your adventure to discover these secret bars in San Diego.