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    Bar Kamon

    4.6 (275 reviews)
    ModerateCocktail Bars
    Closed 5:30 pm - 11:00 PM

    Bar Kamon Photos

    BAR KAMON ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Casual
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    Recommended Reviews - Bar Kamon

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    Matcha croissant
    Michelle P.

    *fun ambience *great tasty cocktails *fun customer service It was a downtown speakeasy kind of night ... This spot definitely gives date night or girls night vibes, so I highly recommend making reservations! The ambiance was fun, cozy, and such a vibe from the moment we walked in. We came for drinks and appetizers, and this place did not disappoint. The cocktails were unique, fun, and tasty I had the Matcha Croissant which was perfectly balanced and not too sweet, and also tried the Hello Pandan For appetizers we had the zuke tuna tostadas, Korean cucumber salad, and the mochi fries (my favorite). Everything was flavorful and fresh. Customer service was great and made the whole experience even more enjoyable. Definitely will be back!

    Sojiros Sprotini and Tokyo Banana
    Julie B.

    Great pricing, unique drinks with Asian flavor profiles, and such an intimate vibe that transports you away from Market Street for a bit. Service is friendly, and I recommend reservations in advance. Last call for food is around 9p for weekdays & 10pm friday/sat. They were sold out of the matcha croissant, but some favorites were the Tokyo Banana and Hello Pandan, and their chicken karaage was filling for 2 people. Sojiros Sprotini was unique but reminded me of a spicy curry. It overpowered the drink towards the end.

    Cindy L.

    Bar Kamon is a must visit in San Diego. It's a classy Japanese style bar with inventive Japanese inspired cocktails at an affordable price. Our server was super kind and knelt down to take our order which is i believe a custom in Japanese service. I got the Tokyo banana cocktail and I loved how it was not super sweet and did not have an overwhelming artificial banana flavor. The banana cream and sugar cookie on top cancelled out any bitterness of the alcohol. A must visit in San Diego. I'm already planning my next trip back for this bar

    inside
    Vivian L.

    Such a beautiful speakeasy!! Located in Asa bakery, this bar has such a creative selection of drinks and a large variety of whiskey (it is a whiskey bar). Service was great, vibes were great, and the space was intimate. Definitely want to come back and try other drinks. I enjoyed that they classified certain drink so even if I didn't recognize half the ingredients, it made it easy to pick what drinks I did want. Definitely do not skip this place if you love speakeasies like me!

    Zuke tuna tostada (reccommend!) shiitake oyster mushrooms, 2 orders of Hokkaido karaage
    Ash I.

    Set inside a bakery, Bar Kamon is a cute little cocktail bar serving the finisest Japanese cocktails. My old NY roommate was in town and highly recommended to meet at this spot. We loved a solid speakeasy while living in New York, and I judge a cocktail spot based on how they make their old fashions, and this place did not disappoint. We ordered Cocktails - Hibiki Old Fashion - LOVED it - the Stash - liked it - Hojicha Negroni - liked it - Umeboshi Sour - liked it - Ube Jungle Bird - liked it - trash Panda - LOVED it - Mojito - hubby's go to drink lol Food - Hokkaido karaage - average and wasn't as crispy - shiitake oyster mushrooms - good, and actually preferred this to the karaage - zuke tuna tostada - loved it and was a nice light bite! Our server was really friendly and recommended a variety of really good drinks Overall, it's a nice night out with friends for a solid cocktail in a swanky little spot!

    Merry L.

    Behind the hidden door is a really cool Japanese cocktail bar. This is not a dimly lit speak easy. It is open and lit with high ceilings and a classy vibe. Our waiter Amadeus was the best. He knows his drinks and was so helpful and friendly. He is a pro at what he does and elevated the experience! I tried a few different gin drinks and my husband had a whiskey flight. All very enjoyable. The chicken Karage slider were our fave, on those milk buns, omg!! We splurged for the oysters (2 for $19). The presentation was amazing, but they were sadly tasteless. The tuna cannoli was a hit however. Only other downside was a wobbly table which isn't great with a martini. Spilled a bit but Amadeus made it right immediately and had a new one made.

    Rice and pork belly bowl
    Monique L.

    Wow, just wow. Started the night thinking we were gunna go to Punchbowl Social but they were closed for an event. So my friend brought up Kamon Craft Bar. We didn't know it was a speakeasy so imagine our surprise as we were standing outside trying to get in. We eventually figured it out and went inside Asa Bakery. The bartenders were so nice! They were knowledgeable and helpful. I ordered a Tokyo Banana for my drink. The way the bartender explained what my drink order was, bartending is a true science. The drink was really good. On the sweet side and has a little kick that sneaks up in you. The alcohol really comes through at the end. Apparently the ice is flown in from Japan! Ask the bartenders to tell you about it. The bartenders told us we can order anything from Asa Bakery and have it in the speakeasy. I ordered a rice and pork belly bowl. We went around 6:30p and there were no tables available. Make reservations prior to coming. But the bar was clear so we sat there. 100 % Coming back

    Cocktails and Christmas lights
    Wendy G.

    When you step into this immersive speakeasy, you feel far removed from the East Village in all the right ways. The entrance to Bar Kamon, inside Asa Bakery to the right of the front door, is one of the most hidden I've ever seen as the door blends seamlessly into the bakery wall. The 1920s Tokyo vibe here is pleasant. We sat by the zen garden, which was extra relaxing. As SD speakeasies go, I really liked the layout itself - high ceilings, ample space and just enough statement decor pieces to add visual appeal without looking cluttered. Service was extra friendly. The Tokyo banana cocktail was a delectable standout to me, the simple appearance of which belied the sophisticated depth of flavor within. The Hello Pandan, by comparison, was less successful but still hit the spot. The complimentary, house made chips provide the perfect savory bite to help soak up the alcohol.

    Clarified Ube Jingle Cocktail
    Jane A.

    LOVE ME A GOOD COCKTAIL BAR (5 stars) - SIPPIES/BITES: so good - PRICE: expect to pay for quality - SERVICE: average - AMBIANCE: intimate lounge The older you get, the more refined spaces you like! This place has got to be good for us to even come to downtown and hang. It's best to get reservations in advance - they open reservations two weeks in advance of the day you are inquiring. Originally our reservations were set for 2 but another couple was joining and last minute I was able to increase our reservations to 4. The bar is located INSIDE Asa Bakery, walk in and immediately take a right and there is another door to the lounge. The space is very intimate with a very chill mix of people crowd. :: SIPPIES :: TOKYO BANANA ($16) - Toki, Bacardi Ocho, Braulio, Banana, Hojicha, Banana Foam. The perfect drink, I think I can drink this cocktail forever. Will say it was the best of the three. I am a banana lover and this just hits the banana notes well - not too artificial tasting yet just an overall nice balance of banana. Presentation was also eye catching with a leaf designed wafted and one big ice cube which helps moderately sip on the drink instead of chug it. HIGHLY RECOMMEND CLARIFIED UBE JUNGLE BIRD ($16) - Pineapple Rum, Campari, Lime, Cinnamon, Ube Black Strap Foam. Allergens: Egg, Coconut, Dairy. I've been getting into clarified drinks (non-alcoholic and alcoholic) the past two years and will order any I see on the menu. Also, I'm Filipino so I'm going to try the Ube cocktail although I do feel ube is abused in so many levels LOL. This was good too, the ube was not too sweet and the clarified part of the cocktail made it lighter, cleaner, yet milkier... in basic terms "watered down flavor" lol. HIGHLY RECOMMEND TRASH PANDA ($15) - Coconut Infused Shochu, Creme de Banana, Durian, Lemon, Cinnamon. I only ordered this to be different because it said banana (which I love) but also durian (which I'm scared of). I wasn't too crazy over the cocktail as it was very citrusy with an after note of durian and a hint of cinnamon. :: BITES :: About this.. they change up their menu yet their own website can't keep up with current menu items. COMPLIMENTARY CHIPS - I love that they offered this because it is always nice to drink, have conversation, and nibble on something. The chip flavor was salty? Umami, and at the bottom of the batch there was some heat. I couldn't tell what kind of root they used if that be potato or taro or something else. MOCHI FRIES - whoops forgot to take a picture of them. They were about 5 big blocks of fried Mochi topped with Parmesan and served with the Japanese Curry ketchup. The Mochi texture was crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside and hard to cut into smaller pieces using your chopsticks LOL. Dipping it in the ketchup made it even tastier. Either I was hungry or I really liked this dish because I munched on it the entire time we were here. RECOMMEND Yes, I'd love to come back! My kind of vibe. Until the next sip....

    Andrew S.

    Amazing speakeasy and it's currently my favorite in San Diego. It is located inside Asa Bakery and requires a reservation. Yes, you can buy baked goods from Asa Bakery and eat them inside the speakeasy which is what we did. Check out my Asa Bakery review for the tasty Japanese goods, but we grabbed a bunch and went inside. We had a reservation for 8 and was able to get the lounge room which was secluded and private, seemed much better than the open area and highly recommended. They even had our own record player and great selection of vinyls to play. It was much quieter in the lounge so we could converse with each other. I really enjoyed most of the drinks, they were not only tasty but looked amazing too. There was 1 drink I did not like, but it was because of personal preference, I don't like licorice and one of the drinks had a strong licorice flavor. In addition, all the food was amazing as well and pairs great with the drinks.

    Sugar Plum Fairy (left) and Tokyo Banana (right)
    Francisco D.

    Bar Kamon, "if you know, you know". This was our first time at this bar. We celebrated nye here. Small and intimate setting with lots of drink and food selection. This was one of the first few bars where we left with curiosity for other drinks on the menu. So what did we order? We started with Tokyo Banana and sugar Plum Fair (seasonal). For round 2 we got Hello Pandan and Trash Panda. We couldn't stop there for the night, so we followed up with Winter Melon (seasonal). Of these 5 drinks, the Winter Melon was my favorite, however its a seasonal drink. Runner up would be Trash Panda. The Tokyo Banana was a good start, but I wish it had more banana taste. I had a creamy and sweet preference for the night. We got Mochi Fries and the Mediterranean Harumaki. Both were good, but we really wanted the Katsu Sando instead. The bakery was out of bread for their sando. Oh well... We only had 90min to enjoy the bar, which was plenty of time to enjoy 2 rounds of drink. The staff are super friendly reminding you of the time. The entrance was well concealed sonreally fun. The decor was easy to enjoy and not overly the top. Overall, get yourself on their reservation list and give this bar a try.

    mochi fries
    Cindy C.

    I've been wanting to try this place for so long because the drinks intrigued me, and I absolutely loved this bar! It was cozy and not too loud where I can have good conversation. All the drinks that I tried were so good. We got the matcha croissant, hello pandan, trash panda and the ube jungle bird. My personal favorite was the trash panda and reminded me of a pina colada. We also tried the mochi fries that came with a curry ketchup sauce. The texture was very interesting and I personally enjoyed it. The server was also very helpful in their knowledge of the drinks and gave recommendations to our preferences. I can't wait to come back :D

    Umeboshi Sour
    Roger P.

    Japanese-themed speakeasy in the sense that it's hidden away but not very hard to find. Bar Kamon is located inside Asa Bakery and you can either ask the workers to open the door for you or press the handicap button. Be sure to make reservations on OpenTable because this place was packed the whole night! Located in East Village, the bar doesn't have its own parking lot. We had to find street parking a couple of blocks away. To check-in, speak with the hostess and if your table isn't ready, you'll be asked to wait in the bakery until someone gets you. It's not too dim inside and the music wasn't too loud. It's a really great spot to have an intimate moment or to catch up with some friends. Not fancy at all so don't worry about dressing up. They also serve food but we were here for the drinks and ordered a couple of rounds. I got to try the Umeboshi Sour, Tokyo Banana, Clarified Ube Jungle Bird, The Stache, and The Sojiros Sprotini. A lot of interesting flavors, where some I'd order again and some I wouldn't recommend. The entire group's favorite was the Ube drink as it was very creamy and smooth. Second was the Umeboshi sour, which was tangy and sweet, very refreshing! The Stache was a bit creamy and fruity, where the creaminess came from the cheese foam. We couldn't really taste much banana flavor in the Tokyo Banana. The Sojiros had a unique curry flavor but it really reminded me of a Chinese herb medicine drink. Overall, I enjoyed most of the drinks and I'd love to come back and order off of their food menu!

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    Page 1 of 7

    Bar Kamon Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Bar Kamon

    Checking to see if walk-ins are welcome or reservations only?

    I've walked in and was able to be seated an hour later on a busy night, but I would recommend reservations

    Is there a drink or food minimum?

    No. You can just walk in.

    Is there auto gratuity?

    No there is not but the service was so good you may be tipping more than expected.

    Are there walk-ins today or reservation only?

    When I went it was reservations only

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    Mothership

    Mothership

    4.3
    (952 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    This was a serendipity find and it gives off enigmatic vibes, they had amazing selection of vegan…read morefood especially their scallion pancakes, loved the vibe and the place Menu is intriguing and has a speak easy kind of entrance, must try for vegan people! The server helped us understand the menu and they accomodate all dietary restrictions

    Celebrated my teenager's birthday at Mothership, and it was definitely an experience! The…read morespace-themed speakeasy vibe is so creative and immersive--it honestly feels like you've stepped onto another planet. The kids had an absolute blast, especially with the fun non-alcoholic drinks that fit the theme perfectly. The menu is pretty limited, so if you're coming for dinner with a group, you'll likely end up ordering almost everything to make it a full meal. We tried the Potatoes, Sandwich (aka Jackfruit Bao Buns), Paella Rice (our family's favorite!), Lemon Pepper Tofu, and the Charred Zaatar Roti. The Paella Rice was the standout dish for us. Service was warm and attentive, and they made the birthday celebration extra special by surprising the birthday boy with a complimentary dollop of soft serve, which was a really thoughtful touch. The only reasons for 4 instead of 5 stars: the limited menu (in addition to this food menu, wish they would include also include some more appetizers from their sister establishments, so guests can sit back and enjoy their creative and in some cases strong cocktails! And the fact that they can't accommodate parties larger than six due to the seating layout. If you have a bigger family or group, that can make celebrating together a little tricky. Overall, such a unique spot that's worth visiting at least once for the atmosphere alone!

    Photos
    Mindkiller
    Mindkiller
    The bar area
    The bar area
    Away Mission

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    Away Mission
    Noble Experiment

    Noble Experiment

    4.5
    (1.9k reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    I'm not an often a cocktail drinker. So when the bartender asked what I'm looking for I was ill…read moreprepared. From his view, it probably sounded like "I'm Ron Burgundy?" (It definitely did). His questions guided my indecision towards a Berkshire Old Fashioned that was fantastic despite my fumbling to get there. With the warm up round over and the old fashioned loosening up my creativity, round two was set to be a knockout. I love coffee (specifically strong espresso drinks), so I asked for a strong, coffee infused, punchy cocktail, but with a different base of alcohol from the old fashioned. What came out was the best cocktail I will probably ever have in my life. The bourbon cocktail with coffee liqueur (and a number of other garnishes I will never remember) hit the bullseye. Flavorful, strong, bold, delicious all at the same time. Unfortunately (?), this was a noble experiment so I'll forever be chasing the white whale of what this drink was. But that's the allure.

    My brother-in-law and I were looking for places to drink....And we just wanted somewhere chill. We…read moreknew that any bar by tacos el gordo would be too wild for us, so we walked a couple blocks and approached Noble Experiment. I would say this was probably our highlight of our trip in San Diego. Garrick, the bartender there, was super accommodating. Not only was he and the other bartender were making damn good drinks, they would legit talk to you. The ambiance of the place is cool too. Felt like I was going inside some continental room like John Wick. Definitely my vibe and definitely coming back. But if you ever get Garrick as your bartender, you're in for a treat!

    Photos
    Strawberry cucumber Gin cocktail
    Strawberry cucumber Gin cocktail
    Bartenders creations.
    Bartenders creations.
    Skull wall

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    Skull wall
    Kindred

    Kindred

    4.4
    (2k reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    Vulture is dead. Long live Kindred!…read more I'm glad my prayers were answered. I guess I prayed to the right deity, because the Vulture Martini is back. I have had a few martinis in my day, and this one may well be the best. The Dirty Martini may be the second best. I'd probably stop there, but my wife loved her Brooklyn during our last visit, and she is not even a big fan of peach. Skewers are still great. I missed out on one of the pickled things. Was it a pear? Not sure. The carrots were good. I missed out on my opportunity to try the French Onion Soup at Vulture, so I was really happy to see it on the Kindred menu. Surely this could win over carnivores. Vive la soupe à l'oignon française! Maybe I will try the Steak Frites next time, which I think is another Vulture holdover. It was great to see Kindred busy on a Monday night. Let's support the vegan places, people. Peace

    I want to start by saying I appreciate KINDRED as a place for people to get dietary restrictions…read moremet and not feel bad about it. I've gone over the past decade with friends/family alike and 60% of the time it's been solid. As I've looked around before posing, it seems the restaurant is in a steady spiral downward over the years. I've had great service here and it sucks to say this evening was such a poor experience. I hope everyone working can be on the same page moving forward to avoid this happening again to others. I decided to come by for birthday dinner and figured 8pm was a decent time to still get great food and service. We made a reservation in advance and got to a table in 5 minutes. That's wonderful, always love that for anyone. The non-alcoholic drinks are always a favorite as someone who's been sober for years. However, it all got much more complicated after that. After not hearing or getting any updates from the server for 50 mins on our appetizer, we asked if everything was ok and if they had potentially forgot about our order. It's happened before no worries. The server said no and it just takes a while. That's fine and fair, it's to be expected on a skeleton crew for a Wednesday night shift. It was odd to see at least 4 tables and groups who had been seated after us get their food before us. When we got our Doom Bloom, around 8:55pm, over 50% of it was burnt to a crisp, the smaller mushrooms had been completely blackened to a point where you could just taste charred. Something tells me this is not the best way to serve food to others but what do I know as someone who's been coming here for years. When we got our Mind Melt and BBQ Jackfruit, which was another 50 minutes later now around 9:40pm, these entrees had met the same fate. The BBQ Jackfruit sourdough was so dry and burnt it tasted like a saltine cracker left in a campfire as a joke. The fries were overcooked, super dry, and stale all at the same time. It's like it was left in the heat lamp for 30 minutes or far too long to be enjoyed for what would be great food. My partners food thankfully wasn't to the same degree as mine but still not great. We were checking with ourselves quietly to make sure the other wasn't loosing it or if we were missing out on something. People will be people and that will never change. I hope some else won't have to spend over $100 with tip included to get the same service we got. I cannot imagine how bad things are behind the scenes for this to be a standard the staff are okay with and that they perpetuate based off other recent reviews in this matter. It was embarrassing and a waste of money. I do not recommend coming here given how this situation has transpired. My stomach still hurts while typing this review on my sofa at home.

    Photos
    Bar area. Ig @mel_foodie_ventures.
    Bar area. Ig @mel_foodie_ventures.
    Torched carrots
    Torched carrots
    Camino Muerto (Mezcal Drink)

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    Camino Muerto (Mezcal Drink)
    False Idol

    False Idol

    4.4
    (1.4k reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    Went here with advance knowledge of the place during our PHX to SD whirlwind vacation to see Bob…read moreDylan at the Rady Shell. Had to put in our names, as there is only so much space on an early Saturday evening. Took all of 10 minutes before entry was granted. Led inside to a standing room-only table. Lady friend got the Saturn, myself the 151 Swizzle. I probably did the wrong thing and didn't allow the ice packed on top of the swizzle to melt thoroughly enough into the drink to dilute the 151 overproof black Demerara's rum. Nae worries, brah. It was delicious. Affordable tiki-theme cocktails, decor(!) and atmosphere is why this place will remain popular and a must visit when in Sandy Eggo. Top notch!

    What a fun nightlife spot! If you're looking for a fun place to grab cocktails, this is definitely…read morea spot worth checking out! **Located inside Craft & Commerce Walking into False Idol honestly feels like you've been transported somewhere else. It's hidden behind Craft & Commerce, and once you step inside, the immersive tiki atmosphere really sets the mood. The decor, lighting, and sound effects all come together to make the experience feel fun and memorable. Just know, if you are hoping to sit down, good luck! A lot of reservations are made in advance. However, at the bar, if you see a reservation sign and they're not there yet, staff will let you sit down once it's time to get up for the reserved party. DRINKS: 9/10 The cocktails were creative, well crafted, and definitely strong enough to make you feel like you were getting your money's worth. I also loved how much attention they put into the presentation. Every drink looked like a piece of art and added to the whole tiki experience. SERVICE: 9/10 The staff were friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. They took the time to answer questions and made great recommendations without making us feel rushed. AMBIANCE: 10/10 This is easily the highlight of the experience. The entire space is beautifully designed, and every little detail makes it feel like you've escaped into a hidden tropical bar. It's cozy, intimate, and unlike any other place I've been to in San Diego. Reservations are definitely worth making since the space is on the smaller side and fills up quickly. The only reason I'm giving 4 instead of 5 stars is that, while the experience and ambiance were amazing, the drinks are definitely on the pricier side. I understand you're paying for the craftsmanship and atmosphere, but it's probably not somewhere I'd visit regularly because of that. It's common for tiki bars to be pricey so it was to be expected. Overall, I'm really glad I finally got to experience False Idol. If you're in San Diego and enjoy creative cocktails in a one-of-a-kind atmosphere, I'd definitely recommend checking it out at least once!

    Photos
    Tiki themed decor
    Tiki themed decor
    Rum barrel
    Rum barrel
    Back bar rum selection

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    Back bar rum selection
    Books & Records

    Books & Records

    4.3
    (408 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    Happy Hour is all day on Wednesdays, which is a huge plus…read more The menu has a great selection, and this place always has a solid ambiance. Everything came out quickly, including the drinks. I genuinely wasn't dressed up and still received some of the best service I've ever had at a restaurant. Dalton was an absolute all-star, even though he's a Dodgers fan. A+ service. Even when he had a good number of tables, he still checked in regularly to make sure we were happy and had everything we needed.

    I really wanted to like Books & Records, but the service left a lot to be desired…read more After checking in, we waited a bit for our table, which was understandable. Once seated, though, we sat for about 20 minutes without anyone acknowledging us. I eventually had to flag someone down just to get water. We then waited even longer for our server to take our order. Because service was so slow, I ordered all of our drinks and food at once since I wasn't sure when we'd see our server again. What stood out even more was watching a couple seated next to us receive immediate attention. They were greeted, served water right away, and the woman was offered a purse hook. Meanwhile, we were sitting there with our purses shoved beside us and weren't offered the same courtesy. It may seem like a small detail, but combined with the lack of attention, it made us feel overlooked. The drinks came out quickly, and the chicken satay and mac and cheese were decent. Nothing was bad, but nothing really stood out food-wise either. The highlight of the evening was definitely the live music. The performers were fantastic and created a great atmosphere that honestly was the only enjoyable part of the evening.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Bao buns
    Bao buns
    Blueberry Beret ($14)

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    Blueberry Beret ($14)
    Botanica Art & Cocktails

    Botanica Art & Cocktails

    4.4
    (319 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

    I recently visited on a Sunday night with friends and really enjoyed our time there…read more The atmosphere was very relaxing, the drinks were unique, and the staff was excellent in helping us choose something we would enjoy. They also checked with several times to make sure we had everything we needed, which was great because we were so distracted talking lol so it helped us re-order drinks and appetizers. The spicy tuna crispy rice was soo good, it had a really unique flavor. My drink, the "heads will roll" was BOMB. While the pricing may be slightly higher than other venues, the service and experience were well worth it. Just a warning about a potential GPS issue...Both my Lyft driver and my friends' Uber driver dropped us off two blocks away, on a side street at the wrong location so be alert and don't get out early like we did! Overall, it was an somewhat upscale, unique, and chill experience, and I look forward to returning.

    Immediately fell in love with this quaint and chicly decorated speakeasy lounge. The staff was…read moreincredibly personable and helpful. The vibe was relaxed and unassuming. When I made the reservation, it was noted that there is a 1.5 hour limit on the table. Thankfully, Botanica isn't incredibly stringent about this rule as it gave us more time to eat, drink and be merry. My friend and I split the bill and I paid $87.49 with tip included. Here's what we had: Blistered shishito peppers - mild spice but flavorful New York strip yakitori - ordered two of these because they were that good! The steak was tender and the sauce rendered an umami flavor Botanika roll - tasted fine, but it ate one note. You can taste the citrusy parts but not much else. Mochi dessert - you can only get dessert if you order the pre fixe chef menu, but since our waitress didn't know this, she put the order in and gave it to us! We were incredibly grateful because it was the perfect end to a good meal For cocktails we ordered Spirited Away, Dragon of the West, Kyoko Sakura & Heads will Roll. All of the cocktails were beautifully presented and quite tasty.

    Photos
    Japanese Gin for the win!
    Japanese Gin for the win!
    Polenta and Wild Mushrooms
    Polenta and Wild Mushrooms
    The Dream

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    The Dream
    Good Enough Cocktail Club

    Good Enough Cocktail Club

    4.5
    (33 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    Private events
    Large group friendly

    Located in Little Italy, I think this place might have taken over the food hall that was here?…read more Good music, outdoor seating too. Bartenders were friendly. We ordered several rounds of cocktails but unfortunately, a lot of them lacked flavor & could have used more alcohol.

    I was checking the status of what's been happening on the east end of the Piazza della Famiglia in…read moreLittle Italy after the food hall closed several months ago. Good Enough Cocktail Club has opened in the large suite across the plaza from the vacant hall where a couple of restaurants from the previous ownership failed to thrive. The new management has experience operating multiple ventures in the SD area including a popular bar in Carlsbad. I had already eaten dinner, and it was getting late so this was a quick stop for a small bite only. The place was fairly quiet with the outside patio empty, a few patrons entrenched at the bar, and a group seated at one of the small tables to the right when you walked in. As part of the ambiance, there were some vintage speakers and a record player set up to spin some vinyl on busier nights. Two of the menu pages were dedicated to cocktails which were $14 each with over a dozen varieties. Beer, wine, and sake made up two other pages while the rest was dedicated to food. Those offerings consisted of bar bites and tapas. I picked the Chicken Empanadas for my order. Two pastries were stuffed with spicy chicken that sat on top of a bed of arugula. A cup of chimichurri was provided for dipping. The empanadas were each cut in half on the plate. I found them to be fairly ordinary in terms of taste and quality. Since I didn't purchase a drink, I can't comment on that aspect of the business. What did annoy me was that a customer wandered outside on the patio to wait for her order and began puffing a cigarette. The smoke odor was very noticeable from where I sat. The ventilation either needs to improve, or they should inform smokers to light up farther away from the entrance. The rating for my experience at Good Enough Cocktail Club was good enough for three stars.

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    OST Cocktail
 Tequila, Black Sesame Syrup, Yuzu, Melon Calpico, Hibiscus Float
    OST Cocktail Tequila, Black Sesame Syrup, Yuzu, Melon Calpico, Hibiscus Float
    Comfy bench seating
    Comfy bench seating
    Atmosphere

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    Atmosphere
    Charade

    Charade

    4.5
    (79 reviews)
    1.0 mi

    As the self-appointed king of speakeasies, I'm back at it with another one. After having dinner in…read morethe area, we stopped by Charade for some drinks on a Monday night. I parked on the street close to the dinner spot I went to and then walked over to Charade. Ambiance (5/5): Charade is a speakeasy so here's your clue. It's located inside Balboa. Look for the room with the arcade games and you're on the right track. Once you enter the speakeasy, you'll immediately be impressed with the old school charm. It seats roughly 20-30 people and there's a bar on one end and a stage on the other end. Old school red curtains add to the vibe. And here's the best part. On Mondays, it's jazz night. Local musicians will play which makes for a great time. Service (3/5): There was one bartender working when we were there. Overall, she provided pretty good service. There was one comment she made which rubbed me the wrong way but no biggie. Food (N/A): I had dinner prior so were on a liquid diet. I did notice that they have a few snacks available like popcorn. Drinks (4.5/5): When you think of speakeasies, you think of elevated cocktails. I look for creativity and an interesting blend of flavors and ingredients. The menu here, while not huge, has some interesting options. Outside of the menu itself, the prices are reasonable (especially for California). And they make you stiff drinks which is always appreciated. Taking into account the cocktails and the ambiance, Charade is an awesome laid-back speakeasy. Make sure to stop by on a Monday for jazz night. That takes things up a notch.

    Came here around 11:30 PM on a Friday right before closing. No reservation needed. It's a little…read moretricky to find at first, but once you know it's tucked inside The Balboa Bar and Grill, it all clicks. I've been to The Balboa plenty of times and had no idea this was even here. The space is intimate, but well-designed. Think low lighting, a small bar, and sofa seating lining the walls with an open area in the center that naturally shifts between a dance floor and a social space. It strikes a nice balance of being lively without feeling overcrowded. They had DJs playing. It wasn't too loud so you were still able to socialize and hear one another. Drinks were solid. I ordered an Old Fashioned, and it was done right. Service stood out too. Everyone we interacted with was genuinely friendly and welcoming. Overall, it's a great late-night spot that feels a little more tucked-away and intentional than your typical bar scene. Definitely worth checking out!

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    Burlesque fridays
    Burlesque fridays
    The jazzy sound of Sip & Curl
    The jazzy sound of Sip & Curl
    Back room at the Charade

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    Back room at the Charade

    Bar Kamon - cocktailbars - Updated July 2026

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