I plan to come back to San Diego every few months, and since I'm a creature of habit, I'm looking for something that I can do every single time. I'm really glad that I found Oculto because it has been one of the highlights of my San Diego trip. First of all, the concept of the seven deadly sins is really cool. The space is absolutely moody, intimate, and thoughtfully designed. It has an atmosphere that makes you want to slow down and enjoy your drink rather than rush through it. And since I don't really drink, I was definitely going slow. And I was alone, but the good part was I found myself just taking it all in instead of reaching for my phone. I started with an espresso martini-style cocktail that was smooth, balanced, and the perfect way to ease into the evening. For my second drink, I asked for the bartender's choice, and it ended up being one of my favorite cocktails I've had in a long time. It featured lychee, strawberry, and cardamom, and was garnished with a beautiful little rose. It was creative, elegant, and every flavor worked together perfectly. The cocktails were outstanding, but what really made the experience stand out was the service. Devin was an excellent bartender and an amazing conversationalist. He was warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely engaging, making me feel welcome from the moment I sat down. He took the time to craft a drink based on flavors I enjoy, and it was clear he cares about creating a great experience, not just serving drinks. If you're looking for a cocktail bar with incredible drinks, a gorgeous atmosphere, and exceptional hospitality, I can't recommend Oculto enough. I'll absolutely be back the next time I'm in San Diego. read more

Oculto 477 - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

I visited Oculto 477 for the first time recently and fell in love with this delightfully charming bar! Full disclosure, I'm a sucker for a themed speakeasy, and Oculto delivered with its Mexican gothic twist. Entering through a confessional booth, confessing your sins before once again giving over to temptation as you sample seven deadly sins-themed libations; oh yeah, this is the themed spectacle that I adore! For those wanting to visit, Oculto is small and reservations are a must. They also have a two drink minimum and the seatings are timed. Everything we ordered was fantastic and I adored the presentation. My only complaint, and the reason for the four stars, is that despite its small size, service was still on the slower side. I get that the bartenders are making complicated craft cocktails, but when you have a two drink minimum AND a time limit for your guests, maybe speed it up a little bit? We would have loved to order another round but sadly ran out of time on our reservation. But everything else about the bar was fantastic, and I will definitely be back for another night of debauchery in the future! read more

The self-appointed king of speakeasies is back at it with another one. I stopped by Oculto 477 on a Wednesday evening an hour before close. Located in Old Town San Diego, we had dinner at a restaurant within walking distance from Oculto. I parked for free on the street and made a reservation day of. It's a pretty small speakeasy so if you're going on a weekend, you're probably going to have to make a reservation in advance. Ambiance (4.5/5): Oculto has the seven deadly sins theme going which is pretty cool. I've been to a similar speakeasy in St. Pete, Florida. Once you arrive at the mezcal bar that houses Oculto, check in with the host, and he will bring you to a "confessional." There, you must confess one of the seven deadly sins before the door to the speakeasy is opened for you. Naturally, I went with "lust." Once you get inside, it's a charming speakeasy. Service (2.5/5): This is one of the areas that leaves a little to be desired. There was only one bartender working when I was there. Since speakeasies have elevated cocktails, service was quite slow. They definitely needed two bartenders there to speed up the process. They also have a two-drink minimum which I was annoyed about on principle. I often have multiple drinks at a bar, but I never feel like I'm forced to do it. Food (N/A): I'm not sure if they have food, I don't believe they do. Regardless, I was on a liquid diet. Drinks (4/5): Pretty interesting menu of craft cocktails. When I'm at a speakeasy, I look for unique drinks that have an interesting combination of ingredients and flavor profiles. In addition to a nice list, they also have a dealer's choice cocktail where you can tell the bartender what you're into and they will craft a custom cocktail for you based on your taste. Another cool thing about Oculto is that it's located next to the cemetery in Old Town. That adds to the spooky theme. read more

Went to Oculto last night and it was a pretty good experience overall, but definitely a few things worth noting. It wasn't busy at all, maybe around eight people in the entire place, which made the service timing a bit surprising. The service was very slow. We were seated at 8:30 and didn't get our first drinks until about 8:55. I do understand that their cocktails are very detailed and take time to prepare, but it really felt like they could benefit from having at least two bartenders, especially if the place were to fill up. I can only imagine how long it would take if it were actually busy. The drinks themselves were good, just not anything I'd go out of my way to rave about. Overall, we still had a good time. I just think adding another bartender when it's packed would make a big difference in the overall experience. read more

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I loved how cozy this place was. My group of 4 sat at the bar. Super fun to watch the bartender craft the drinks. Very friendly staff and gave great recommendations. My favorite was definitely the Sloth. The marshmallow was out of this world. Pride is also good. Tastes like a healthy morning juice with a hint of alcohol. Lust was unique. Love how frothy and smooth it is with the egg whites. Also the hint of cheese! Surprisingly delicious. Gluttony was super smoky and loved the presentation. read more

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I thought the concept of this speakeasy bar was super fun and unique. You start off by squeezing into a catholic church style confessional with your whole party and everyone has to confess a sin that falls within the realm of the seven deadly sins. Then you get seated at an intimate table or the bar, and they do a great job of staying on theme and make sure that attendees do as well (they have an actual rulebook!) I actually don't even partake in alcohol, but their mocktail menu is fantastic and I enjoyed everything I ordered. For my first drink I ordered Humility, which was a "mezcal" pineapple/lemon/ginger drink that was both refreshing and smokey. They did a great job capturing the essence of mezcal! For my second drink I got a DIY creation and the flavor notes I requested were dessert and fruity. This one ended up being my favorite! The best way I can describe it would be a strawberry/pineapple/lemon meringue pie. It had a torched marshmallow top so I got a little bit of it every time I took a sip. This would be a great spot for date night or with an intimate group of friends. It's the kind of place where you take your time and savor the experience, so best planned for a slow night where you don't need to rush off to other plans. read more

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What a fun way to catch up with good friends! From the decor to the ambiance to the drinks, the evening was absolutely perfect. Especially memorable was the unique confessional-style entry process! Once inside, we received wonderful service. It's clearly evident that their bartenders know their stuff, as we received some spot-on recommendations based on our individual tastes. Overall, we had an incredibly fun night! read more

1/23/26: What better way to get your 2026 started than to confessing your sins?! From the start, this speakeasy is an exciting experience! You get a leatherbound book of rules from your host. Heed them well, weary traveler. And get ready for some fun! *No I won't tell you what they are...spoilers!* We merely wanted to enjoy a few cocktails. And now we're in the middle of a choose-your-own-adventure! Walk into the confession booth & choose your deadliest sin as trade to secure entrance to this den of the dead! You're literally next to a cemetery (El Campo Santo). Fear not, as you're welcomed by your elixir expert & ushered to your seat at the bar, booth, or table. My deliciously, devilish dinner companion & I chose a cozy table for 2. And when I say cozy, I mean the couple next to us was practically on a date with us! It lead to some friendly banter & added to the intimate setting. Fare thee well, new friends! Enjoy your exciting 1st date! *that's what we deduced* We are handed a small wooden box with a parchment reminiscent of Captain Jack Sparrow's hidden booty! We dared the Purgatory Classics for our first choices: Tequila.jpg for my cute, curvy companion & Graveyard Shift for my caffeine addicted self. (indulge & add cognac for a little extra shiver in your timbers). The Deadly Sins section will have to wait until next time. I see you, Envy. Dealer's Choice is the reason to even visit. Our Procurer of Potions asked several questions to tailor our drinks to match our adventurous spirits. We paid homage to our ancestors & chose mezcal & tequila inspired drinks. Go for the Luxury option & your taste buds will thank you. Overall, a palate pleasing potpourri of paranormal potions! Say that after a few drinks fast! TL:DR Cleanse your soul with a little firewater. read more

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Occulto 477 actually feels like a secret. From the creative entry process, the whole experience is fun! Once inside, the ambiance is dark, moody, and perfectly eerie--like a cemetery speakeasy that Dracula himself would hang out in. The staff were incredibly kind and personable--super chill. I went for a Dealer's Choice and it did not disappoint. They really nailed my flavor preferences, crafting something balanced, unique, and strong enough to keep the vibe going. The "Gluttony" was another standout--rich, layered, and visually stunning. My only small gripe was the loud group next to us; the space is cozy, so shouting kind of breaks the spell. Still, it's a one-of-a-kind experience I'd definitely come back for (hopefully with quieter neighbors next time). read more

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What an amazing experience. We went here the day after our wedding with a few friends that were in town to celebrate with us. The host found out it was our wedding and brought champagne to our table on the house. The bartender was awesome. I cannot remember his name, but he was very laid-back and personable. Most of us chose dealers choice for our drinks and he listened to what we were interested in and created cocktails that we all loved. He also found out it was our wedding weekend and that I was a big fan of Mezcal. He brought a round of shots for the table and his favorite bottle of Mezcal for me to try. I would definitely take friends back here again when they come to town. Probably the best speakeasy experience I've had in San Diego. read more

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Located in Old Town San Diego. This is the mysterious speakeasy situated next to (not under) a 1800s cemetery. The entrance is at Tehona Bar. To enter you must confess your sins. That aside, the cocktails were amazing. We were able to down 2 drinks in an hour. There is a two drink minimum and a time limit. Do make a reservation because there were probably about 5 tables and bar seating inside, an occupancy load of 24 total at any one time. The vibe, ambience and service were great for our date night. We squeezed this in before visiting Whaley house. read more

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Ambiance 5/5 Service 4.5/5 Drinks 5/5 The vibes were exactly what we were looking for and the drinks were strong. Fairly priced. The 2 drink minimum was pretty much the max since we only get 2 drinks in before our 90 minutes was up. It did take a long time to make the drinks, especially since it's so tiny in there but that's our only complaint. Overall, had a great time and would recommend for a spooky, good time. read more

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Out of all the speakeasy I've been to, this would be my least favorite. They have rules you must read and agree to before entering. Took us two months to get a reservation for 6. We got seated at the booth. It's really dark inside and one of the rules says you can't use your camera flash. Instead, there's a battery operated fake candle light. Two drink minimum per person. We each got something different and we passed the drinks clockwise for everyone to sample. Therefore, we each sampled 12 drinks. Out of the 12, we agreed on a few favorites and we all have different palate yet we agreed on the same. Two of them were dealers choice where you customize your own. Envy and Pride were refreshing. Sloth tasted like an espresso martini. Tsumi tasted like the Asian coconut gelatin dessert. Vod sod was the worst out of all. I'm a light weight and usually drinks at these places hit me quick with a buzz and I'm done on my second. When it doesn't, it makes me think the quality is not there. I'm not a fan of their drinks, didn't find their concept unique except for the rules. read more

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Very fun speakeasy experience. You have to "confess" to one of the seven deadly sins, or anything you'd like, in order to enter. It's a very small area, so they have a time limit, but they don't enforce it unless they have another reservation. The bartender was very nice and had good recommendations. The drinks are good, though very expensive of course. Points for style! It is dark and can get pretty smoky since a lot of people order the smoked drinks, which are pretty and a bit of a show. read more

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If you like tequila, well I had the perfect place for you. But that's only if you're willing to confess your sins to get in. Talk about an amazing speakeasy. Nestled in the corners of a cemetery in old town, they captured all the vibes. read more

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Oculto 477 is my favorite speakeasy in San Diego, hands down. Imaginative cocktails, excellent service, elevated ambiance literally butted up against El Campo Santo. What more could you ask for?! Highly recommend allowing your bartender to craft a special drink for you based on your flavor profile and spirit preferences. And reminder to self to remember to take some photos next time. ;) read more

Right down the street from places such as El Agave hides Occulto. Had dinner out front in Tahona and in we came. I had the Santa Muerte and the Zombie - both great. My partner had some smoked creation that you can see in the photos and thought it was great. We'll be back read more

Oculto 477 - First drink in a fab cup with background in view - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Went here for our girls night in Old Town and it definitely gave old town vibes next to a cemetery. Been wanting to go here for awhile but never had the chance to. It's a speakeasy that's part of a bar/restaurant and you need a passcode to get in which makes it feel fancy and exclusive. We got a couple cocktails and they were very cute! Mine came in a skull cup and even the menus matched the theme which was very thoughtful. The ambiance is small, dark, cozy, and intimate, perfect for a cute night out or romantic date and the workers were all nice. I would recommend to make reservations because it is small and fills up fast! read more

A friend and myself took our husbands here for Father's Day yesterday. Devin was our bartender. The drinks were absolutely amazing and so unique! We will definitely be back several times until we try the whole menu. If you haven't been, this is your sign to GO! read more

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Not impressed. I don't write many Yelp reviews unless my experience, good or bad, is worth noting and this experience for me is worth sharing. I love the concept of this place but that's about it. It was very warm inside and it wasn't just me. My group of six were all hot in there. I love low lighting, especially in a place like this; but it was too dark to see the menu and you are not allowed to use your phone's light. Without my glasses and not being able to use my phone's light I decided to view their menu online. Turns out the ingredients listed in the drink (Wrath) from the online menu differed from the ones on the paper menu and I didn't get what I really wanted. OK. I don't discriminate when it comes to booze so I drank it but it didn't blow up my skirt. I love speakeasys. The craftmanship of the drinks have always been impressive. This drink was mediocre. The speakeasys I've been to have been staffed with the friendliest people. The vibe of the folks at Oculto 477, pretentious. I was really excited for the experience being I was in town from AZ but this turned out to be a letdown. Oh well... read more

Before checking this spot out we actually ate at the restaurant this speakeasy is in so we actually knew where it was. I was under the impression that it was located on the other side of Old Town but it's actually on the less busier side of the street which I kind of liked. I actually think we had the last reservation of the night at 10:30pm. We had the max party size of 6 guests. We were asked to wait in the small bar area of the restaurant which has a really cool wall photo op with skulls. There you are handed a leather booklet with the rules of conduct for the speakeasy which I found added a touch of class. The speakeasy itself is super small and intimate. We were seated at the biggest table which was a booth that was electically decorated. Each cocktail was inspired by the 7 deadly sins which made for interesting choices read more

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Good drinks. Dark, tight and cozy atmosphere, speakeasy behind Tahona restaurant. Must enter with everyone present in your party and they are very strict on their time limit of 90 minutes; at 20 minutes left, we were reminded every 5 minutes (so four times reminded) that we had to wrap up. It's a two drink minimum, but since the drinks took a while to come out, we legit only had time for the two, which was unfortunate. That said, they were both very well crafted drinks. I will say, the time limit was a smige on the rude side, but if they have reservations behind us, I guess you got to abide by the rules. Just be prepared. read more

This was a perfect evening. The atmosphere was perfect to celebrate my birthday. The crafted drinks were very unique and tasty. The bartender was most helpful in making our selections plus very knowledge about the various liquors. read more

First time here and super bummed! Been seeing all the reviews and social media promos and planned a trip down to San Diego for it. Secured reservations and brought my family from out of state. After visiting another bar and having dinner, we decided to complete the night at Oculto 477. The host inside the restaurant was the highlight and the only great service presented to us. Y'all better appreciate him. The theme and decor was fun and definitely meant to be part of the experience and we enjoyed it. The presentation of the drinks was deceivingly phenomenal. The tasting notes were MIA in the drink. Liquor was the only thing you tasted if you tasted anything at all. The first few sips in and I felt burning in my stomach. The quality of alcohol was below Jack Daniels and Jim Bean which for the price and elevated reputation of the establishment was a disappointment. All four of us did not finish our drinks and in the process of sitting there for 30 minutes, no one checked on us. When we finally flagged down 1 of the 2 bartenders, we got a head nod as an acknowledgement and then waited another 6 minutes. When he came over, he didn't ask how the drinks were nor comment on all the full drinks when we asked for the check. Within an hour, I became ill and nauseated with my stomach on fire. I feel awful for suggesting this place and bringing my loved ones for such an experience. Such a shame, but there are other establishments with quality liquor around in San Diego. I don't recommend it other than for the experience. read more

Awesome hidden gem next to the cemetery, wife and I had fun. Love the dark vibe and drinks were amazing!

The coolest experience!!! Hidden behind a black curtain, you wouldn't even know it was there. Confess a sin to get in and you're greeting with such a cool vibe. Small, intimate, quiet and dimly lit, it's perfect for a date night. Every single cocktail we had was perfect but the most fun was rolling the dice or just chatting with the bartender about what you like and they just whip something up for you! So many drink options to choose from, this is definitely a more than one time visit! read more

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Unique speakeasy hidden behind a heavy black curtain. Reservations are required. Expect a surprise before they let you in. Once inside, Oculto 477 has a perfect and unique vibe. Old, worn, dark, and gothic. October is the perfect month to come and pay a visit. Most importantly, the cocktails were well balanced, unique, and very tasty. Remember that you can order from their full bar off the menu as well. Sometimes speakeasy's can be a one visit experience but Oculto 477 is the kind of place that I would return to and experience again. Gotta try more of those deliciously crafted cocktails. read more

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Celebrated my 49th birthday in 2023 with friends and beverages at Oculto 477. I'd been interested in visiting the venue for a while and took the opportunity for my birthday to do so. I made a reservation because I always make reservations. If I can't I won't go to a place. When we arrived we were stopped at a confessional style door where we had to confess a sin to enter. If the host didn't approve of your sin you had to come up sign another one. I had to try three apparently I'm not sinful enough. HAHAHAHA We entered and were sat at a half booth with a small cocktail table and a chair. The intimate venue was extremely authentic and made me feel as if I was in Mexico or South America. It was lovely! Our server came over and greeted us. Explained the menu and the seating time. We checked out the menu and were pleasantly surprised to find so many mocktails available and crafted. My mom doesn't drink. We got our first round of cocktails and we were pretty happy. The presentation for all were great and the flavours were good. Funny enough we all preferred Mom's mocktail the best. I know! It was crisp and refreshing and perfectly crafted. Round two was also good but yet again the mocktail was mocking us booze drinkers. LOL Round three, I didn't like my birthday cocktail that the venue bought me but they did change it for my first cocktail which I did enjoy. I will say if I do go back I will definitely stick with the mocktails just to switch it up. They were just perfect with fresh fruit and juice in every one. While we did like the venue a lot and the presentation of all of our drinks, I will say the service was lacking. We had two people waiting on us but watched them off to the side and inattentive to our table and others they were handling. Please note the venue is small and was not full on the random Monday we ventured in. Of all of the speakeasies I've been to this is not high on my list of places. If you go do so for the ambiance and then you won't be disappointed. read more

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Okay. Beware the way you have to enter. Read the rules. Once you are in you will find a small and dark area where no flashlights are allowed. Too dark to read? Too bad. Ask the staff for help and this is a good thing. It keeps the atmos really in place. The beverages are knock your socks off great. They are $20+ each but are truly yummy. Overall a nice place to relax and try some drinks you've never had. read more

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Drinks: 5/5, such creative concoctions made here by the bartender who has extensive experience and really knows how to mix flavors for the most interesting drinks. Ambience: 5/5, solid, from the secret door entry to the close intimate setting of the speak easy itself; it truly feels like a speak easy Customer service: 5/5, great conversation and making sure we were set on drinks. read more

Stopped by to have drink, the gentleman was not really nice. It was 9pm and we were asked for reservations. The place was completely empty. My friends and I explained we just wanted to purchase a drink. The server stated he had several reservations at 9pm. No one was outside waiting and again, the place was completely empty. Needless to say we were disappointed. read more

It's a very small venue with about 6 tables so you need to make reservations. I enjoyed the drinks and presentation of them. However the service was horrible. The waitress was really rude to us several times. I felt like I was in a restaurant where they are rude to you on purpose read more

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I think they must be changing reviews. I used to love this speakeasy, I was here last year and they had destroyed the menu and broke my heart. I don't want to drink seven deadly sins I want to drink a garden of death or whatever that was, and the dry ice teapot. They have the most basic drink ware now and the drinks are mid compared to some other wonderful cocktail bars without all the pomp and circumstance. I've developed high expectations for occulto over the years and have brought many friends here. This stinks, I won't ever come back unless they step their game up. They might as well start serving Paloma's and sangria at this point. -sad Karen misses old occulto read more

Ottho is a tiny little bar hidden away in old town. It only has about 15 seats once you get into the tiny little speakeasy. The drinks are always good and it makes for a very fancy fun intimate night. read more

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Such a cool concept- For $20 you can get the bartender to make you anything you can dream of! Best night ever at Occulto trying their plethora of drinks! Also this place smells amazing??? It's got like a woodsy cologne smell which I was obsessed with. I kid you not I was taking deep breaths just to breathe it in!!! LOL Our bartender was super friendly and loved quizzing us on what we like, bringing us unique creations inspired by our tastes, it was special! Tips: - go on an off day (we went on a sunday) so you can stay longer than the reservation window. - only one booth for parties of 4+, best for date nights! -must get an egg white dessert type drink here, seriously the best!! -favorite on menu drink was the Straw Tai -two drink minimum -make a reservation!!! read more

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Such a cool atmosphere! San Diego has many speakeasy experiences but this is truly unique as it's located right next to historic El Campo Santo in Old Town. We went on a Wednesday evening so reservations were easy to secure. After checking in with the hostess, we were given a card with instructions. I won't spoil anything, but just like a real speakeasy, there's a certain way you're allowed entry into the actual bar. There was a 3 drink maximum, although I felt like we could've had at least one more, but understandable due to time constraints and the bar tenders really did cater to us. Even though there were others in that small space, it felt very personal and tailored for our own experience. The drinks were not only beautifully presented, they had quite a kick and tasted great. I thought the prices were reasonable, an average of $20 per drink. Overall, as small as the space was, it didn't feel cramped. I stead it felt intimate and we enjoyed the personal attention. read more

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Logan not only makes great drinks but really great conversation. Had a lot of fun with our friends during our short SD visit. Definitely going to be a regular stop for us whenever we are in town. read more

Oculto 477 - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Both of my visits to Oculto 477 have been top notch as far as craft cocktails go. It's the perfect cozy environment to catch up with friends or for a date night. It has a spooky old-timey atmosphere with a playlist of 20's jazz-style covers of current pop songs. The space is small, so the largest party they can accommodate is six, which fits the intimate nature of the bar. The cocktails on the menu are extravagant and delightful. I also love the options for roll the dice to pick a custom cocktail, or bartender's choice. It's clear that the bartenders here are true artists that know their spirits. They are fun and in character, and it is clear they are passionate about their craft. Be warned, you'll need to practice a bit of creativity to enter. read more

Very creative and unique speakeasy located inside Tahona Bar restaurant in Old Town! It's very small inside, about 8 seats at the bar and a few small tables and a booth that can seat 2-4 people. This is NOT good for big groups. When you check in at the entrance of Tahona Bar, the hostess provided us with a card that had information on rules and how to get into the speakeasy. To be let in, you confess one of the 7 deadly sins at the door which looks like a confessional at the church. We both ordered the "Dealer's Choice" for one of our drinks, which is where you tell the bartender your choices for spirit, style, and profile. The bartender really did a great job creating a drink to each of our liking. My husband also ordered the "Risk It All" where he rolls 3 dice that choose the spirit, profile, and style for him. We were both happy with our drinks! Heads up: -2 minimum drinks per person -Reservations are a must -It's pretty dark inside and they refrain you from using phone's flash, but you can use the candle on the table -Only 2 bartenders/servers inside so the wait for drinks and to order can take a little bit -Street parking only in Old Town Overall, great experience and I recommend to anyone who enjoys speakeasies! read more

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3.5. Drinks were great! They were creative, balanced, and crafted with care. The server was not very helpful though. No welcome, no explanations on the drinks, just a what do you want to get kind of vibe. The 1.5 hour limit was also a little short with how slow the drinks came considering the 2 drink minimum. Ambience though was super fun! read more