Tucked behind a bottle shop at Westfield UTC, this award-winning speakeasy transports guests to an intimate gathering space decorated with velvet chairs and a white marble fountain under an emerald-colored glass dome. Standouts include the Cosmic Dance made with London dry gin, raspberries, citrus, and vino amaro or the Tiramisu ‘Tini which features cold brew liqueur, a hand-whipped cream float, and a dash of cinnamon is also not to be missed. Cocktails from the bar’s reserve list are also a must as they’re crafted with rare spirits, like the Old Fashioned mixed with 1950s Stitzel Weller Old Fitzgerald Bourbon.

Situated next to Kilowatt Brewing in Kearny Mesa, this tiki-inspired den is covered in fishing floats, bamboo, and tropical plants. An assortment of beer cocktails made with fruit purees and tropical flavors are part of the menu, as well as sours from Kilowatt and even beers from the brewery if you notify the bartender in the neighboring taproom by pressing a special button. Reservations are recommended and can be made online. The brewery’s Oceanside location has its own speakeasy, called Space Pad, that seats 24 guests and features cocktails inspired by designed by Cristian Diaz, who served as the lead bartender at Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar at Disneyland.

Located inside Common Theory, this gorgeously-designed bar is fronted by a modern apothecary filled with Chinese herbs and tonics. Duck dumplings, pork wontons, and a five-spice grilled ribeye for up to four people are just some of the highlights from the food menu while the accomplished cocktails (currently inspired by films like Parasite, Christmas in August, and 13 Assassins) feature Asian ingredients and spirits.

After walking through a refrigerator door, a fog-filled lava rock tunnel leads the way into a spacious tropical bar filled with booths, fire pit tables, and swings. During the holidays, expect the tiki bar to participate in Sippin’ Santa, an event that calls for tiki-themed holiday cocktails served in custom glassware. 

A cozy nook within the bar area of Old Town’s mezcaleria, Tahona, Oculto 477 borrows its libation inspiration from the neighboring El Campo Santo Cemetery next door, which has 477 bodies buried there since 1849, hence the bar’s name. Its cocktail list is reminiscent of Prohibition era drinks with a modern twist, for example, the Manzatini which comes in a mini bathtub and the CBD-focused Gin & Chronic. For those feeling a bit more spontaneous, the Dealer’s Choice calls for a unique libation made with your preferred spirit and style. For an even more surprising cocktail, try the Risk It All: roll three dice and see what ingredients they land on — that’ll decide what’s to be mixed in your cup.

A sister bar to the Kindred, this far-out bar turned space odyssey serves heavy-hitting tropical drinks like the Mindkiller, a citrus-forward version of a Painkiller made with different varieties of rum, pineapple, tangerine, and Tang, the orange powder drink popular during space travel in the 1960s and 1970s, and the Heliotropic, a twist on a Mai Tai with kumquats, curry, and other tropical flavors. To accompany the drinks, Mothership also offers vegan “Earth Food” menu.

Cloak & Petal’s revamped private bar in the back of the venue continues its Tokyo underground aesthetic with bursts of colors and art inspired by the Harajuku district. The space serves a menu of Asian fusion dishes and offers special weekly deals; don’t miss out on Toki-O Tuesdays ($3 hand rolls, $10 Toki Highballs and Toki cocktails) and Waffle and Wine Wednesdays ($7 Chicken and Waffles and half off bottles of wine). 

Beyond a secret door at Craft & Commerce hides this Polynesian-inspired tiki experience. Decked out in fire and ice decor, with an indoor waterfall and a volcano as part of the design, the bar’s menu features rum-based tropical pours, unique drinks with flavors like taro and ube, and cocktails to share.

The Gaslamp’s Moxy hotel features this private bar which can only be entered upon looking up the secret code on a mysterious website. After going beyond a bookcase, you’ll find yourself in the intimate cocktail den named after the country’s founding fathers and the 56 history-makers who signed the Declaration of Independence. As far as the drinks go, the cocktail list is meant to be “timeless and classic,” and features libations with gin, vodka, coconut, blackberries, and more. 

Within the East Village’s upscale gastropub Neighborhood lies this intimate bar hidden behind a keg wall and past a hallway covered in mirrors. Classical art and a wall of golden skulls keep the dimly-lit space dark and mysterious, adding to the bar’s already unique element of not having a menu — cocktails are crafted on the spot based on your preferences. Be sure to make a reservation beforehand on OpenTable for a secured seat at the cocktail den.  

Also housed inside Neighborhood is Youngblood, a “speakeasy tucked within a speakeasy.” A personalized cocktail experience hosted in a bar with only 16 seats, each visit is never like the last as three hand-crafted cocktails are prepared based on the individual guest’s likes and wants. Reservations via OpenTable are recommended. 

Old Harbor Distilling Co.’s handsome 20-seat speakeasy is making waves in the East Village with the brand’s list of liquors ranging from gin to vodka, coffee liqueur and more highlighted on a cocktail list including martinis, tonics, and tiki-inspired libations. The club’s unique creations feature the Parlay, a mic of Ampersand Coffee Liqueur, rye, and Campari and the Avast World with its San Miguel Southwestern Gin