Really cool vibe. Great drinks. Got 2 new versions of old fashions. Josh was the man!

Noble Experiment is a fantastic speakeasy located in the Gaslamp district downtown. I highly recommend making reservations if you plan to visit. They typically give you an hour with the mixologist. The night we went it was dealers choice (or bartenders choice). You tell them the types of alcohol or flavors you like and they put something together for you based on your preferences. All of the drinks the four of us were given were delicious. You can see some of the pictures attached. It's a super cool atmosphere and the decor is amazing - dark and woody with paintings on the ceiling. The only slight downfall was the 60 minute limitation but given the number of people who want to come here I suppose it's not unreasonable. We will definitely be going back when we have an opportunity. read more

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One of thee coolest speakeasy entrances ever. When you finally find yourself in the hallway leading up to the entrance of Noble Experiment, there is also another door to another speakeasy Noble Experiment - no menu, the bartenders ask you what you like in your drinks. I love savory, I love dill, smokey/bitter notes. The bartender nailed it right on. Very chill place for date night or cocktails w your bestie. read more

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Good food and drinks + great low-key ambience + awesome service = Positive vibes. I encourage you to explore the other rooms too.

It has been a LOOONG time since I visited Noble Experiment, but it was even more wonderful than I remember. Our bartender Saturday night was Drew and he was AWESOME. I love that the bartenders ask what you like and don't like and come up with what has to be a PERFECT drink On this occasion I had a Lion's Tail and a Trader Vic's Western Sour. Both were perfect and exactly the type of drinks I love. The vibe is quite cool and we were lucky to show up right at the opening and get in without a reservation! We had a great time while we were there. Great drinks and service! read more

Noble Experiment - The door - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

It was ok - I can't say that it was over the top. We were in downtown SD for the weekend and heard great things about this place and wanted a new experience. We didn't have reservations so we ensured to show up right at 6pm to see if we could get in. We were told it was going to be about a 30 - 40 min wait and that they could seat us at the bar up front "Neighborhood bar" in the meantime. We were in so we decided to take the plunge. About 50 mins later, we were called up to go back. It was a neat experience as we walked through a keg door and was met by a greeter. He took us behind this curtain wall that lead into the Noble Experiment. It was a very dark room, which was very small - much smaller than I imagined. There was a bar area that probably held 10 people or so and approx 8 - 9 tables that held 2 - 6 people at each. We were seated and provided water. Our bartender came by roughly 10 mins later. He asked us a few questions about our likes and then went away to make our drinks. He returned about 5 - 7 mins later. My husband's drink was too far off the mark of what he likes but he wouldn't order it again. Mine, on the other hand, was pretty far off of what I would drink. I didn't have a major issue with the drinks not being close to what we said we like, my challenge is that we NEVER saw the bartender again. Not to check on us, not see if we wanted another drink, just never came back. We waited for 20 mins and still no bartender so my husband had to walk out to the greeter to get someone to get our check so that we could pay and leave. I understand that everyone is busy, but either have more people to server your patrons or dont allow as many people to come back at one time. It was a neat experience, but the experience is only as good as you can enjoy it. read more

Noble Experiment - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

I love the concept of this speakeasy! The bartender asks what kind of drinks you like and then he curates a specialty drink based off your answer. It's such a fun and unique experience because every drink will be different. I told the bartender I'm in my "espresso martini era" and I like sweet drinks. He made me an espresso martini that was coconut flavored! I've never had a drink like that before and it was so tasty. I can't wait to come back and see what the next bartender will create for me! read more

Noble Experiment - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Neat, small speakeasy behind Neighborhood. Your entrance and host are in the same area as Youngblood, so definitely check in to the right spot when you tell them your reservation. Drinks are on a set menu although they do have a full bar so you can order as much as you'd like for the length of your reservation (which I believe is an hour). Drinks are strong and delicious and the vibe is incredible and intimate. Not to be missed if you're in the San Diego/Gaslamp area! read more

Noble Experiment - Ambience - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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A cool speakeasy to check out if you're in the area. The wait without a reservation was around 2 hours. You're limited to 1 hour inside when you enter. Once seated, the bartender came to sit with us to discuss what kind of liquor, taste profile, etc. we preferred for drinks. He made us cocktails that he thought we would enjoy. They turned out just as we described and the quality was definitely there. There's a cool wall covered with skulls and the ceiling with paintings. The vibe was intimate. For me, it was a good one time experience. Would be best to get a reservation ahead of time. read more

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Upon arrival,you are welcomed by a friendly staff member for placement. I went around 8 PM and it was already packed. The lights are dimmed and music is playing in the background, but not obnoxiously loud that you can't hold a conversation with someone beside you. I had one drink ordered and it was well balanced between alcohol, not being too much. Seems like a spot for regulars or people who's already been going there before I went so I I can't rate it as high for that read more

I love this bar! The cocktails are amazing and truly believe that the bartenders love what they are doing. I have never had a bad experience here. Definitely get here early to get a reservation. read more

I love this place. It is the coolest spot in San Diego for drinks. No menu, you just tell them what you like and they create a drink unique for you. Whenever someone cool visits me or if I'm celebrating someone's birthday I want to take them here. Great service, drinks and perfect aesthetic/ambiance. read more

This might just be one of the most sought-after bars in San Diego and that is why I was so excited to go here. I ended up at this place last night to celebrate a friend's birthday but we had a mediocre experience, I would in fact say that it was terrible. Drinks: Our first round was good, I loved the raspberry/vodka drink and the spicy bourbon drinks the most, almost as if the bartender read our minds with those. Our second round couldn't be farther away from what we had asked. For the second round, they didn't bother I guess. In-fact the second time around the bartender served our drinks and said "let me put this tray away and I will come back to explain how I have made your drinks", we waited around 5-7 mins and he never returned. Service: This category is where this place severely lacks. We went in with a reservation on a Wednesday night, they were nice enough to wait for us until we finished some food at the neighborhood. Our first round of drinks arrived fast but once we got done we waited for about 30 mins to get hold of a bartender, while our bartender walked past us 5 times and didn't care to listen to our "excuse me"s. It was almost as if they had forgotten us while we sat at one of the central tables. After our second round was served she got us the check. We inquired about ordering another round but she said your time is up. Yeah just like that "Your time is up". When prompted she explained that people with reservations get a 1.5hr time limit which I get but A)No one told us about that time limit else we would have ordered in advance. B) We wasted half an hour sitting doing nothing which was by no fault of us, they didn't bother to pay attention. So they did a horrible job and just wanted us out of there so that they could get more guests in. Which doesn't make sense to me, because why wouldn't you want to make more money from people who want to order more drinks? Honestly, I found the staff to be rude and condescending. In-all: My 2-star rating is for the phenomenal decor in this place(love the wall with skulls) and our first round of drinks. But unfortunately, that's not enough to get me back in here. San Diego has so many good speakeasy options to offer with actual real people who care about the customers and honestly with better drinks too. I would like to stick to places that respect other people, their time and money. read more

Perfect experience. If you're looking for a cool speakeasy you should absolutely go to this one. read more

Noble Experiment - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Love this place! It's so fun going there because you just never know what you're gonna get, even if you say the exact same thing every time you go. The bartenders really are very knowledgeable and creative. read more

Noble Experiment is a fun little speakeasy tucked away in the back of "The Neighborhood". There is no actual menu as all of the drinks are "dealer's choice". What this means is that the bartender will talk to you about what you like and dislike and then create a custom drink to your specifications. I had them make me their versions of a tiki drink and a espresso martini and both came out great. Drinks run about $18 each but the experience is definly worth the price. The mixologists know what they are doing so just sit back and let them do their magic. Every drink is unique and made on the spot and no two are the same. The speakeasy itself is very small and private and I definitely recommend reservations as it fills up fast. read more

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Finding this place can be hard. The entrance is inside another bar and is located next to the bathroom. We went on a Tuesday night and the wait to get in was probably like 30 minutes, so weekends are probably even more busy. Once we got in it was hot!! The AC would turn off/on randomly so just be prepared for that. The decor was nice overall. The bartender made our drinks based on what we like, and she did a great job with the drinks. Definitely recommend checking this place out! read more

Cool concept and high quality drinks. Came on a Tues right at 6 when they opened since we couldn't get reservations. They always reserve some seats for walk ins but they limit you to an hour which was fine for us. We got seated and the bar was empty but was completely full by the time we left an hour later. I told the bartender I like negronis and he made me a white negroni. My partner said he likes old fashioneds and he made him an African Flower. I personally didn't love my drink, it had an herbal/woody liquor in it that I felt overwhelmed the drink. But I appreciated trying something I had never heard of before. Drinks were $16-17 which is pretty standard for a fancy cocktail. Service was really friendly and they were constantly refiling water and checking in on us. read more

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This place is so much fun and I'm glad I was able to fit it in on my last day in San Diego for a work conference. They open at 6 PM and I was able to get a reservation for that time for two. When seated, we were told we had the reservation for 1.5 hours, however if it didn't get busy we could stay longer. 3.5 hours later... My colleague and I had each tried four different drinks and we were finally handed the bill - our cue to leave. ;) While there is no drink menu, do not fear as your trusty & talented bartender can make you a delicious concoction based upon what you a looking for. Savory? Fruity? Sweet? Strong? Any type of liquor you want? While I can't recall all the drinks I had, I enjoyed three out of four of them. The one which I didn't was partly my fault as I failed to mention that I do not care/need to have a taste for absinthe and one drink has a slight taste of it. Tips: - seems this place is booked out for weeks at a time and while it may not seem like a happy hour-ish place, we were able to get a reservation same day and were able to stay longer than the typical 1.5 hour reservation time slot. For at least an hour we were the only two people in the bar and only around 8:00 did it start getting busier. - be open minded and try something new - Also be sure to share any liquors or tastes you do not care for and/ or are allergic to - Feel like people are watching you? Look up ;) - not sure where all the skulls came from on the wall, but be nice to your bartenders and tip them well read more

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This place has always been on my list for the longest time and i'm so glad to have finally tried this! They always recommend making a reservation months in advance, but luckily you can also do waitlist. On waitlist, it was an estimated time for 1 hour and 45 minutes, so we killed time and went to a different bar in the meantime! After we were called back, you head into the restaurant called Neighborhood, walk through the back and you'll see their "secret door". Then you'll find the other room, and there you find the bar! It is really small, it's actually just a very very well decorated room. I loved the vibe and decor of everything in here, and the baristas were so nice! Our barista came up and asked us for our personal taste in alcohol (i've never experienced this before) and they create a drink based of your answer. I chose something down the line of vodka, citrus, fruity, etc. and they whipped up a really refreshing fruity drink! I really liked mines, it honestly tasted very similar to a drink I get at Jamba Juice called the Caribbean passion, so I really liked it. My bf and his sister also really liked their drink and it was just a nice vibe and experience to finally check this bar out. All in all, the waitlist is not too bad if you're planning to barhop for the night. I would definitely visit here again. read more

Noble Experiment - vodka cocktails and whiskey - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Awesome bar! Such a cool concept and cool ambiance in there. Staff was very friendly, drinks were delicious, perfect for a date night! Highly recommend and we are for sure going back! read more

This was by far one of my favorite spots. The bartender was super knowledgeable and was a great conversationalist! The aesthetic of this place was just what we were looking for. Not only was the place a vibe but the drinks were amazing and perfectly created to our preferences:) read more

Once you visit "The Neighborhood", make a reservation for "Noble" and enjoy that ambiance. It's so great in this perfect speakeasy. It's hidden, intimate and has delicious drinks! "Dealers Choice" has the bartenders (Drew was ours) coming to you, asking for what you like and then manifesting greatness for you. I had a Sherry Alexander and my love had a Vieux Carré. Make a reservation and enjoy :-) read more

Noble Experiment - Vieux Carré and Sherry ;-) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Wonderful San Diego speakeasy. We couldn't get a reservation, but we got in through the wait list. Tucked in the back of a bar called Neighborhood you'll be greeted with a host station where you can put your name down. Once inside it's small and intimate. The decor is death and renaissance-ish. Fun vibe. Cool wall of skulls. Renaissance paintings on the ceiling. The drinks are dealers choice. First the bartenders get a feel for your pallet and what you're in the mood for before heading behind the bar to whip up something unknown for you. The drinks were good! One of our party members didn't' like the first option so our bartender created something brand new. He was kind, unoffended, and really nailed the second option. Classy act. It's a little pricey per person, but the value is there for sure. If you like craft cocktails and speakeasys like I do, please go. read more

Noble Experiment - Skull wall close up - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Josh Leos is amazing. You could give him the flavors that you would think don't match, and he would make it into his best works. He can turn water into wine, not to mention everyone at noble experiment provides the best service. read more

This place is truly the best, Josh in particular is amazing! They take the time to get to know you and your taste buds to the fullest. I haven't gone to a regular bar since this place read more

Such a fun speakeasy!! We went in without reservations and the wait was about an 1.5 hour on a friday night! So would definitely recommend grabbing a res if you can The menu is dealers choice so you just describe what you usually like or what to drink to the bartender and they nail it! read more

Noble Experiment - Charging Station, Waterlily - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Worth.the.wait. Do you like a drink that is tailor made to you and your flavor preferences? Yes? Do you like drinking in a quiet and elevated atmosphere? Yes? If you agreed with any of the aforementioned statements, Noble Experiment is for you! Drew and Sierra really enhanced our experience by creating absolutely decadent drinks for us and made our time worthwhile. It was fascinating watching them pull unique bottles from the shelf and curating a customized creation for each patron- sitting so close we caught a whiff of all of the aromatics and enjoyed that immensely. Drew was very open to my many questions and my curiosity - it felt like a mini lesson. This was the highlight of our trip! read more

FINALLY! I can check off Noble experiment off my bucket list! This speakeasy has been on my list for the longest and it did not disappoint! We did not have a reservation and did a walk-in. Took us about 45 minutes to be notified our table was ready. No problem as we were a little bit hunger and decided to eat at The Neighborhood since Noble does not serve food not allow food from The Neighborhood to be brought over. Love Noble's concept in that they don't have a drink menu rather the bartender asks you for your likes and surprises you with a drink of their making. Out of the 5 in our group 4 of us really loved our drinks. I let the bartender know I like citrusy and fruity with either rum or tequila. He surprised me with a lime honey tequila concoction. There were other ingredients in the cocktail, but I can't remember now LOL. For a friend's drink I remember the bartender explaining they don't have ginger beer rather they kinda make one on the spot with fresh ingredients. That sounded interesting to me and noted for next time I go to mention I do like ginger. The place is small and cozy. Nicely decorated that somehow reminded me of the Haunted a house ride in Disneyland LOL. Staff was amazing and the place had chill fun vibes. Def going back for another surprise cocktail, but this time mentioning I like ginger. read more

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Every time I come here, I thoroughly enjoy myself the best music every time! My husband and I come here for date nights and we can't wait to come back again!! read more

We had the best time at Noble Expirement. We were the first ones at the bar at 6pm on a wednesday and the bartender encouraged us to take a bunch of pictures before the place filled up because it is never empty like that! I wish I remembered the bartenders name because she was so amazing. They have a full on conversation about what you would like for your next drink and then based on what you talk about, they craft you something delicious. There is no menu. The skull wall was designed by the person who works on Rob Zombies sets and no two skulls are the same. Such a unique experience. read more

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So in all honesty, I had no idea this place existed!!! My friends and I were downtown for another event and stopped by here afterward, we got on the waitlist as walk-ins which was awesome. I had no idea what to expect since I literally had not heard of this place at all before the night we went. It was about a 45 minute wait on a Tuesday night which was not bad. Once our table was ready we were asked to wait in their cool little bottle area and then escorted to Noble Experiment. It's a nice cozy speakeasy tucked away within the Neighborhood. We were seated and Brandon was ready to give us the rundown on how they do things here. My friends and I all gave him our drink preferences and he quickly got to crafting them. I am typically a whiskey ginger ale drinker and I mentioned I like citrus flavors. My drink was absolutely delicious!! It was a little heavy on the ginger for me personally but they make their own version of a ginger beer which was a great complement to the whiskey. Overall it was an awesome experience (and experiment) and I will definitely be bringing friends back soon!! read more

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Great experience, terrific staff - would love to come back! Came here on a Thursday night and was pleased there wasn't too long of a wait. With such amazing reviews, we made sure to come right when it opened! We sat at a table and honestly I was blown away by just the decor right from the start - a little spooky, but I enjoyed the aesthetic nonetheless. A bartender came by to ask us what kind of drinks we liked and we specified some of the types of alcohol as well as flavors that we prefer. I enjoy tequila-y, citrusy drinks personally. Once he got an idea of what we liked, he went to make our drinks immediately - it was quick and super enjoying to watch, even from a spot not at the bar! Honestly, he got our tastes very well. I loved my drink - it was honestly just what I like to have and it was strong enough as well. Due to the personalization factors, I can't exactly remember what was in it, but it was great enough to make me want to come back whenever I'm in SD again. If you're looking for a fun night out with personalized drinks and a good time, Noble Experiment is the place to go! read more

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You should absolutely get reservations for this spot as soon as you can! Noble Experiment is a cool and fun speakeasy located in the back of a restaurant. You walk toward a kitchen and are led to a hidden door. The inside is dark and narrow, and probably fits only about 30 people total. When I went (on a Sunday night), they didn't have menus. Instead, it was dealer's choice and the waiter, Tony (who was super cool), asked my friends and I each what kind of flavors we like. Based on our answers, they brought us back our drinks and it was fun getting a surprise. I was given a daiquiri with pomegranate flavor. I was SO IMPRESSED because my drink was definitely something I'd order. All I said was that I like rum or vodka, sweet tastes, and dislike ginger and they were spot on when it came to a cocktail I'd love. I definitely would love to come back. I can't say enough good things about Noble Experiment and highly encourage all who are curious to give it a try read more

Noble Experiment - Wall of skulls! Super cool - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Ambiance - Low lighting, small cozy space Service - The bartenders are attentive, good service. Drinks - They ask you what you like and they make a drink based on your likings. The drink I got was good. I'm not sure if you need reservations but I was in San Diego for vacation and stumbled upon the Neighborhood and noticed people walking towards the back. When I asked about it the bartender said there was a speakeasy and when I went to look there was a hostess for the Noble Experiment when I asked if I could just peek in one of the managers invited me in. I enjoyed this place, would return. read more

Noble Experiment - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Indeed a noble and amazing experience. There's no fixed menu and that's what makes it unique which no other place can offer

I really like the experience here. The bartenders are amazing and so knowledgeable. It's great to be able to sit at the bar and watch them create a cocktail to your specifications. I'm taking a star off because they offer only very limited reservations because they want to be more accessible to all. Also, it's also pretty hard to walk in and get an accurate wait time. I was quoted an hour or less but it was really about an hour and 45 mins or more. (It does not seem like they actually enforce time limits in the bar like they say) read more

Noble Experiment - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came in on a night out in town and this was by far my favorite last stop. Whimsical atmosphere with amazing bartenders! They ask what do you like and make it happen no menus needed. Decor was cool and made the experience memorable. Host was the best too! A for sure place to explore just make sure you make your reservations ahead asap! read more

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This place and Youngblood are both inside the neighborhood, a gastropub. They both have the same concept which is dealers choice of drinks. The difference between the two is Youngblood is set 3 drinks and the cocktails seem more handcrafted making it unique Everytime. For Noble, you tell them a preference but they make a drink that's already invented if that makes sense . Personally I like both places but I think I do like Youngblood more. It feels more personalized and I felt like the service was better. I do think if you have the time to try both places. read more

Noble Experiment - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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My family and I completely stumbled across this place and we just adored it. We are huge speakeasy fans, and had so much fun discovering the entrance and being led into the back. We didn't realize until the server came over (who was super sweet btw) that it's dealer's choice, so the surprise was such a treat. The bartender took their time asking us questions about what we liked and didn't, and I ended up with a lovely chocolate and citrusy gin cocktail. I only wish I had asked for the recipe. Such a perfect, moody little spot, I can't wait to go back! read more

Noble Experiment - The candlelit ambiance was so fun! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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