First of ALLLLLLL WHAT DA FAWK is the bathroom situation????? You have to literally LEAVE and you can't get back in, but no one tells you that so you stand at the door waiting like a kappa delta girl outside of a fraternity waiting to be let in. The menu was super cool with all the tiki drinks down at the tiki bar part but my drink tasted doodoo and i think it's because butter was an ingredient???? Butter!?!??? I know the vibes were tryna be chill-ish BUT THE MUSIC SOUNDED LIKE CLUB PENGUIN PIZZA PARLOR MUSIC!!!!!! Hand me aux!!!! Overall a cute lookin place and my friend enjoyed her cocktail. The truth #hurts read more

False Idol is a must and worth whatever it takes time wise to get it - the host is great about giving you realistic expectations and timeframes. Once inside this internally curated environment is that of a movie set of Hawaii meets Polynesia and so many special effects from the water elements to the loud thunderstorms when someone orders a dramatic fire drink in a bowl. There is a cool SRO (Standing Room Only) way they serve when you arrive if all seated positions are taken and the servers assigned to these spaces are perfect at their job making sure you are welcomed quickly and then given one on one service even when its really loud and busy they stayed so accommodating. We love the great ambiance that I feel is only matched in the states by Golden Tiki in Las Vegas and The Reef in Palm Springs but the strongest Zombies live here and you can accidentally have 2 or 3 back to back so watch out and stay well paced for your face. read more

Drinks & atmosphere is great When you do order your drinks on the drink list you'll notice the type of cup your drink will be served and word of advice if you don't want to look silly when you think you ordered a bad ass cocktail and in comes in a girly glass! Other then that the vibe it good definitely recommend checking it out! read more

It's a bit tricky to find but it was so much fun. We made new friends there and can't wait to go back.

I wasn't able to get reservations prior to my visit so reservations are highly recommended. With no reservations you sit at the bar and will be asked to leave once someone with a reservation arrives. I stayed for about an hour or two drinks before having to leave. The inside is decorated so nicely as it still has their tiki theme, but with lights and decor splashed into it. I ordered from their holiday menu and the drinks came with Santa hats and "snow" (aka powdered sugar). I had Jingle Juice and Milk Punch which were good. read more

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I arrived early and was told all the tables were booked. At 5:00 I was immediately escorted to the bar where they were only three other people. Plus most of the tables were empty. The Mai Tai was good but contained too much ice. The Jet Pilot was superb. I had explained to the bartender that I wanted a strong rum drink that was not too sweet nor too tart. He handed me the Jet Pilot, and I loved it. I will return to the False Idol. read more

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Literally the BEST drinks, ambience and service. Our favorite tiki bar to visit by a long shot.

Our server was amazing, the drinks were perfect, it was a little louder than other Tiki bars we've been too but that was mostly the people standing at the bar area. This place has amazing mugs to purchase also and the coolest matchbooks I've ever seen. I bought a lot of stuff this trip and the matchbooks are my favorite thing I'm taking home, go figure...will be back next time we're in San Diego. Reservations highly recommended. read more

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This was such a fun and cool little hideaway tiki bar. The drinks were great and Lamar and Elle treated us very well. We had a great time. I'd definitely go back. read more

False Idol - The False Idol - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

The decor was great, the drinks were decent. It's hard to talk or hear because it's so loud. It was a nice experience but I am not too sure I'll be returning. I feel like I saw everything and got what I needed out of this place with the first visit. read more

False Idol - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Highly recommend making reservations since they may not have extra space inside. Put on your night vision goggles because man it is dark! You feel transported to a glam pirate ship of sorts with the water fountain and blown glass in fishnet hanging from the ceiling. The drink menu is quite extensive. I had the Volto do Mar which was very refreshing and not overly sweet. Do expect to pay some good money for these drinks. Theyre not cheap nor would I expect them to be. Also don't underestimate how strong they are just because they taste nice! The table across the bar where we we're seated was VERY dark and I wasn't a huge fan of the thunder and lightning that seems to happen if you order a certain drink. It startled me every time and throws any sort of conversation off until it finishes. I really liked the tiki drinks but had a very sour stomach the 2 times I visited. Bring some antacids if you're sensitive! read more

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Luckily, I came on a wednesday and the wait list wasn't too long.... but I'd definitely recommend making reservations ahead of time. The cocktails and the ambiance were 10/10. One of my favorite tiki bars ever read more

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In a word: GREAT. My wife and I had plans last Wednesday for dinner with friends at Civico 1845 in Little Italy at 7PM. We took the trolley down the Little Italy and arrived at our stop a little after 6PM. As we were walking up the street I spotted Craft & Commerce and thought it might be worth seeing if we could get into False Idol -- the last time we tried maybe 6 months ago it was a no-go. At capacity. This time we got in. Sat at the bar and were given menus right away by the friendly bartender. My wife ordered some kind of Santa-ish drink and I went with a painkiller -- pain level 3. Both excellent. As we worked our way through the drinks I checked my watch -- we had time for one more round, and we did -- painkillers for both of us. Finished our drinks, paid the bill, and headed to Civico. Great way to start the festivities. read more

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This place was a vibe. It's a little speakeasy located inside of Craft & Commerce. Both the bar and the restaurant are super popular so be prepared for a wait. There's two hostesses at the front, one for C&C and another for False Idol. They were doing a great job helping everyone get on the list and providing accurate wait times. We got dinner at C&C and put our names on the list for False Idol while we ate. By the time we were done our dinner, our names were being called - perfect timing! The inside is super cool. Lots of glow in the dark, nautical, and tiki style decorations. The ceiling has a bunch of technicolor buoy looking things and the entrance has shelves of red glowing skulls. The drinks were a bit expensive of course, but nothing you wouldn't expect from a novelty place like this. The drinks were sweet but very good! Creative combinations of tropical flavors in a fun presentation. Would I return? Maybe not, but it was definitely fun to give it a try at least once. It's another one of those novelty, touristy type places so expect a crowd and pricier drinks, but at least you'll have a good time sipping on something sweet in a really cool atmosphere. read more

False Idol - Cheers! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Always been wanting to check this place out! A friend had a reservation they didn't want to cancel so I most definitely volunteered! The service from Jordan & the rest of team was on point. The decore was very Tiki - reminds me of Disneyland! There is no food so grab your snacks prior to going because the drinks are spectacular! read more

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Went here last night and it seriously lived up to the hype. Hidden behind Craft & Commerce, the whole experience feels like you stumbled into a secret tiki jungle, in the best way possible. Huge shoutout to Crizel, our host/server, super welcoming, knowledgeable, and made the whole night even better. Give that woman a raise! As for drinks, Saigon Sipper was my top pick. If you're into coffee flavors, this one's smooth, and bold. Malambo was my date's favorite, insane how well they were able to get the mango sticky rice flavor. 10/10 would recommend if you're looking for a unique night out in SD with great drinks, great service, and an unforgettable atmosphere. read more

AMBIENCE: (5/5) - Christmas lights still hanging down from the ceiling to give this place a twinkle for the eyes - Very crowded, small space but we didn't feel like we were sardines. The place was rather cozy SERVICE: (4/5) - Only got standing room since we were walk-ins, had to wait a while since it was a Saturday night. Their waitlist on Yelp doesn't seem to be very accurate since we still had to wait even though we were told our table was up but it wasn't too long of a wait - Greeted by servers right away, was given a menu & introduced to the place even though we were standing only so they were attentive to the people who don't have table too - Drinks came quickly after ordering FOOD/DRINKS: (4/5) - Ube Bae (2/5): Didn't taste of ube much. Nothing too fancy or unique tbh. It wasn't bad but it didn't deliver what it promised. Mostly tasted the coconut & pineapple - Trade Winds (4/5): Fruity & fresh, a bit sweet but a good balance. Just the perfect amount. Would give this a full 5 star if it stood out more to the other fruity citrus cocktails that I've had in the past OVERVIEW: (4/5) - Did it live up to the hype? Not really. But it wasn't like the night was a bust. Would come again but I wouldn't rave about it as a must-do for someone visiting - Good drink spot but be prepared to wait read more

EXCELLENT tiki drinks! Great ambience. It just needs to be...BIGGER. So cramped! But we had a great time and definitely is now going to be our regular San Diego thang! read more

Amazing service from the fantastic "Rollie Pollie" Duo, Junior and Leo! I hope they recognize my reference. (Bugs Life!) Junior was absolutely fantastic and gave us great recommendations and definitely had us wanting to come back again. It can get busy in there, but for a first time experience definitely chill. Will be back soon to visit the duo! read more

I just love a tiki bar hidden away in San Diego. What's not to love? The music was on point. The drinks were tasty & strong. They even throw in the lightning ambiance when a special drink is ordered. No food here but if you are looking for a tiki vibe, you've found it. Food is a couple steps away at commerce read more

Super fun speakeasy tiki bar! Hidden in the back of one of my favorite bar/restaurants craft and commerce, this place is a must to check out. It can get quite busy, recommend getting a reservation or come by earlier and get your name on a list, you can usually get in within an hour in my experience and can always grab a drink in craft and commerce 1while you wait. The menu here is extensive to say the least. Tons of drinks to choose from, mostly rum based cocktails. There's a punch bowl kind of drink you can order that comes lit on fire and they flicker the lights and play thunder sounds, it's an experience. Also the bartenders are killer and will make you some cool off menu stuff if you're so inclined. read more

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We arrived 45 minutes before our reservation and were offered standing room only until our table was ready. Small but not overly crowded, my party was offered drinks by a server making his rounds on the floor. Tasty drinks were delivered promptly as if we were at a table. The decor was cute. Reminded me of the tiki room at Disney. We got our table promptly at our reservation time. There is a 90 minute time limit, but service was super attentive so that was not an issue at all. There were quite a few storms that passed through though (iykyk). Bathroom situation is weird...you have to exit completely and then come back in the front. Take a friend. read more

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Such a fun speakeasy! It was my friend and my first time coming so we didn't know how to find the place at first but it made it more fun trying to find it. Kinda got lost at first but it was just inside the Craft & Commerce restaurant. We came around 5:30 on a Monday and it was surprisingly pretty full but we were still able to get a table. There are so many options on the menu but I like how there's a lot of variety-- from classic-styled cocktails to unique ones with asian flavors. Happy hour has a few options and we got the first on the list with guava (I forgot the name). I couldn't taste the alcohol that much but the flavors were good! It had pineapple, coconut, guava, and lime. The other drink I got was the matcha cocktail which was actually really fruity and refreshing. Love the ambiance of the place too! It's small and intimate definitely impressive with the decorations. The only inconvenience I will say is how you have to go outside of the bar for the restroom and wrap all the way around to the restaurant if you want to get back in. read more

False Idol - Ube and matcha! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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An excellent tiki speakeasy with great tiki drinks, including the classics and a version of each where they've put their own spin on it. Fun location in Little Italy and over the top kitschy tiki decor, especially around the holidays when they are all out decorated for Christmas! Service can get a little slow when they get busy, but the staff is always up front and apologetic about it and clearly doing their best to keep up with the crowd. A great spot to check out whether you're local or visiting. read more

False Idol - Christmas drink - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

What a neat Tiki-Bar tucked in behind Craft and Commerce. It's got great ambiance, with cool lighting, a water feature, sound effects, even the bar tenders fit the part. The bar was pretty crowded but we were able to get a seat at the bar after just a few minutes. We got drinks in our hands within about 15 minutes of showing up. All our drinks were unique, albeit a bit expensive. However I suppose it is about on par for a cocktail in a Downtown Bar. This is a kind of bar that you walk into and just smile. The attention to detail leaves you admiring their creativity and imagination. It's obvious that they take a lot of pride in taking you into another world when you visit False Idol. read more

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False Idol continues to be my favorite speakeasy in San Diego. I've come here quite often since my first review, and I love bringing new friends to try it out. However, I had just now tried their holiday theme this year and knew I had to write another great review about this experience. Their Christmas theme is one of the more well-done of the Christmas bars in San Diego. It probably is on-par with the Christmas reboot at Polite Provisions (same ownership), although I do think the False Idol Christmas drinks are far better. The lights are very beautiful and really creates a much brighter, festive experience compared to their usual, dark, lowkey tiki vibe. The O.G. Banana Nog is a MUST try from their Christmas menu. I can be picky about banana flavored food, but I will say that this banana nog is perfectly sweet and I honestly wish I bought more to take home. I'd say the flavor is similar to Korean banana milk. I also like their espresso martini on their Christmas menu. They still offer some of their regular menu drinks as well during the Christmas reboot. read more

False Idol - False Idol really goes all out with the Christmas lights and decor! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Great tiki speak easy! Awesome drinks, great ambiance with an interactive atmosphere. Highly recommend this spot. Make reservations

I haven't had time to check out many bars in San Diego so far, but my sister and I made it our mission to try one back in June since we were both in San Diego. I saw this bar pop up on Yelp as a speakeasy, and without looking at any of the pictures or reading about how packed this place gets, my sister and I decided to make the trek over. We got to the little host stand, and were told that on weekdays there's a standby line for walk ups, otherwise reservations are needed. There were probably 3 couples before us, so we decided to wait. The bar or whatever it is that houses this speakeasy is actually pretty cool in itself, so if you get tired of waiting/while you wait to get into the speakeasy, you could get a drink at the other bar. We get up to the front and I scoop up a pack of matches while we wait to be called next. These are the coolest matches I've ever seen! Every match is a little tiki mask, and they're each different. We go inside and there is hardly any room. The crowdedness is reminiscent of Olga's Cantina at Disneyland (and it's basically just as expensive). Lots of cool lights and decorations. I think they set off a lightening storm every time someone orders a specific item, or it's when it's someone's birthday. Anyways, my sister and I ordered at the bar, squished between two couples, and took our drinks back to a small standing table. I ordered the Ube Bae, and my sister asked the bartender to make her his favorite drink. The ube bae is cute, tasty, and safe for those who don't drink a lot of rum. In recent years, I've stuck to mainly vodka. So this drink really made me feel like I was on island time. Cute little paper "bamboo" straws, too. My sister really enjoyed her drink, but it was also super strong. We both only had one drink. The bartender definitely seems cool (the guy who kinda looks like Joaquin Phoenix in disguise), and knows his cocktails. I would totally come back here, but I would definitely get a reservation for next time so I could sit down at one of the tables, stay longer, and enjoy myself more. read more

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I had wanted to check this place out for a while and finally had the chance. I came early evening on a Tuesday and was able to get right in....but it was pretty packed, so I definitely recommend making reservations especially for nights and weekends. The set up was really cool, but it is rather dark inside so you may want to pre-read the menu beforehand. Drinks were good and staff was cool, I'd definitely be back. read more

False Idol - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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This place has got to be the most expensive bar I've encountered in SD. They are also extremely busy and overbooked so service is slow. We didn't try any food because we paid about 18-22$ per drink but the ambiance is neat with the whole tiki vibe but holy heckin if you need glasses, make sure you bring them and a flash light because the lighting is awful. :) :) will never go back, if this is in your must do list while visiting SD- don't be disappointed if you don't go. Wayyyyy better places elsewhere read more

Don't walk, run. Delicious drinks!!! Ambience is everything from the delicious earthy and smoky incense of sage and maybe a bit of clove to the dim lights and esthetic wall art. This is a great spot for a romantic date with good vibes or a fun outing with a group of friends. PLEASE NOTE! The bar is INSIDE the restaurant called craft and commerce. I would recommend making reservations. We didn't but we got extremely lucky. We were in standing room only and one of the hostesses came to us and said we could have a table since the next res wasn't coming for another hour and a half. She was super duper nice and provided excellent service. Would highly recommend ode to okolehao, missionaries downfall, and Mac nut chi chi. read more

False Idol - Upon entering the bar, through the restaurant, the wall is a mirror and we captured this cute photo :) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Reviewing this spot while buzzed (cuz people like these kinds of reviews, amirite?!?!!!). Word vomit incoming. Autocorrecting words, save me! First off, fantabular service. Super friendly and attentive! Also the Coronado luau special drink is a safe go-to for straightforward fruity tropical flavors. Place is one of the better decorated tiki bars that I've been to for sure. Now with the not-so-great. Harrrd pass on the ube bae drink. Gimmicky. The milky ube taste doesn't pair well with the alcohol (not a fan of the rum used in this drink in particular either as it's vodka-like bitter). Also, the drinks here are rather weak compared to those at other tiki bars. Being a lightweight, one drink is usually enough for me but I ordered two this time to be contently buzzed. Overall not a bad place if you want a fun ambiance with drinks without being overly drink-snobby about it! *Located inside Craft & Commerce restaurant. Tell the front staff that you're here for False Idol. Reservations ***highly*** recommended via OpenTable and reservations open up starting 30 days in advance. Weekend date reservations in particular get filled rather quickly. read more

Little speakeasy that a coworker discovered when we were out of town for a conference. It is in the back of another restaurant. Made a reservation. Still waited, but just a little bit. Got in, got a table, no issues really. Drink menu fit the island vibe. Drinks were pricey, and we did feel a bit rushed. Drinks were tasty, but made with A LOT of ice. Inside was very dark... you could barely see Our server was good and attentive, but like I said we felt rushed. All in all it was a fun experience, drinks were yummy... just wish we'd been able to slow down and enjoy it more. read more

False Idol - Ube drink - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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False idol is the speakeasy bar tucked behind Craft & Commerce. The space is actually pretty big and can accommodate quite a lot. We didn't get to make reservations so we just shoot our shot but once a table opened, we were free to occupy it until the reserved guests come. This tiki bar has very interesting cocktails -- they even have a whole page dedicated to "very strong alcohol." I got the matcha one and loved how creamy it was with the use of coconut milk! I also got to taste their ube cocktail that gave justice to our famous Filipino ingredient. Overall, loved our time here. Drink prices are about standard, serving is huge, and the alcohol was strong. read more

False Idol - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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False Idol is a great spot to visit during SD time! If you like rum then this is a must visit spot. My friend and I enjoyed my favorite drink, Dark & Stormy, which is not on the menu but the staff knew it by name. This was great since I am usually teaching others how to make it. :) The only reason I give 4 stars instead of 5 is that it is not a true speakeasy experience since you just check in with a hostess and are taken back into the bar. As I expect to have to work through how to get into the speakeasy and that is a big part of the fun. Still, the whole place is decorated in such a way to feast your eyes as you walk through and even more to notice as you sit with friends! read more

Server would not itemize split or credit cards. Said even split up to 3 only. When a 20% automatic gratuity is added and they are using a handheld POS, i think this a weak policy. read more

This fun speakeasy in little Italy is a great spot to have a few delicious drinks. Our waitress was great, super helpful assisting us on drink decisions. The drinks themselves were wonderful and had great balance. We actually made it for happy hour and were able to try several from the menu. Remember to make your reservations early as walk ins are on a first come basis. read more

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I did not think I would enjoy this bar, more of a fly of the wall type man. The staff and the manager Samatha made my birthday special. I wasn't looking for attention they so happen to check my ID and saw my birth date. I need to thank this place one more time for making this day special mean lots read more

Can't beat the ambiance at this dark and funky tiki lounge. Drinks and service were excellent as well. What a gem! So happy we found it. read more

False Idol - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Absolutely gorgeous bar and splendid drinks and service - definitely a great place to check out