We made a reservation at Pioneer and really enjoyed this little spot! It's tucked inside a diner, so it can be a little hard to find at first, but it's just inside the back patio area with a cute wooden saloon-door entrance. The space is small, cozy, and intimate with just a few tables. Our waitress was super friendly and took the time to explain the menu and different options to us. - Guava Y Queso (4.5/5): I loved this! It was really unique with the cream cheese topping, but the combination worked so well. Definitely a fun spot for cocktails and something a little different! read more

Pioneer - Guava y queso - Speakeasies Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Highly recommend!! Menu was limited but I enjoyed how they didn't specify the type of drink for each drink name. It made me try drinks that intrigued me rather than having me be bias. Staff were great and helped me decide between several drinks I was interested in. They made sure my friend and I were safe before we left the place too. read more

Pioneer - Vibe - Speakeasies Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Innovation and reverence for the classics can coexist beautifully. Hidden inside Dick's Church in Costa Mesa, P10NEER is an intimate, space exploration-themed speakeasy with a vintage 1970s aesthetic, small sharable bites, and rotating seasonal menu. P10NEER reimagines traditional classic cocktails through inventive techniques (yay, SCIENCE), curated ingredients, and thoughtful twists to make each drink feel both nostalgic and a new adventure. The creativity and hospitality of the team at @pioneer.cm is out of this world. For an experience that goes beyond great beverages, P10NEER is well worth the journey. Place for quiet conversations with a plus one or a small group. Resy recommended. Walk-ins accepted. Save a seat at the bar for me! PS: New Mission! Special Summer Program premieres July 17 on the Dick's Church Patio VACATION by PIONEER: A 1970s backyard barbecue. Fridays & Saturdays, 4 PM to sundown through the end of August. More info via Instagram @vacation.pioneer read more

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This is the place you've been looking for. It is exactly what you want in a speakeasy; not overly kitschy, still cute and cheeky. Private, absolute killer drinks and vibe, great bartenders and staff, and a great time. read more

Pioneer - Guava drink everyone was getting - Speakeasies Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Gem in a very odd place! Came here on a random Saturday night with some good vibes. The place is very small and basically is full by 8PM. There is another section hidden behind a door or some sort that opens up a bit later into the night. People come here to chat and drink, so the turnover rate is slow. It's located inside a restaurant and conspicuously placed thru a random door in the hallway, so you might be confused when you get there. As for the drinks, I didn't actually drink myself that night but my friends ordered at least 10 drinks (some of them 3 by themselves), and they all said the drinks were pretty good. I mean, the drinks just kept coming. If you like to yap and drink, this would be the place. read more

A speakeasy at night, hidden within a diner during the day. So far, I've been to this speakeasy 3 times (different years). The vibes are still intimate and drinks are still strong which is AWESOME. I noticed they expanded the space a bit toward the back recently to offer a little more seating. I usually recommend a max party of 4 but cool to see they could now accommodate a group of 9 in the back room without issue. They take reservations in advance and walk-ins may go on a wait list. It's great so that each patron/party has a comfortable, undisturbed experience. It's not a crowded, loud, or messy type of bar. Love that they initially provide us with water before we order. Old Fashioned was fragrant and smooth. Orange peel scent was pleasantly present throughout the drink - they used a spray instead of zest - impressive! My partner prefers his whiskey with stronger flavor than the default Makers Mark though he might ask for a different whiskey next time. *RATED 8/10 Fuzzy Navel was sweet and flavorful just as I like it. Major points for the foam being vegan-friendly as is. The foam texture is fun and very peach forward. Would order again. *RATED 10/10 Cheong Soda (price unlisted on the menu) was a nice finishing, non-alcoholic drink to sober us up. The Cheong (Korean fruit preserve) is apparently different sometimes - this time, it was blueberry. First time taking my boyfriend here and he LOVED the experience. We'll be back! read more

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A little speakeasy hidden inside Dick Church's Diner. The space is small, but the atmosphere is nice. The interior decorations are on theme and nice. Our server was knowledgeable and walked us through the menu, explaining everything. All cocktails are $16, and they have a seasonal menu that changes every 2-3 months. Espresso Tonic 5/5 - Very good; the only one I really enjoyed. Americano 3/5 - Tasted a bit sharp and medicinal for my liking. Angel Face 2/5 - Very strong; not really my thing. Negroni 1/5 - Extremely strong, almost undrinkable for me. I'd only go back for the espresso tonic, but the atmosphere and service were excellent. read more

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Fun little bar hidden inside Dick Church's diner-- easy to miss, worth finding. It's pretty small inside, so reservations are the move. We booked ahead and they do have a $20 per person no-show fee, which is fair given the size. All the cocktails are $16, which feels like a win these days. I ordered a Negroni, and my friends went with a Swizzle, one of the holiday specials (can't remember the name), and an Angel Face. Everything was beautifully made. My Negroni had a hint of ginger that wasn't totally my thing, but that's personal preference. Overall, it's a cute spot with great vibes, solid pricing, and well-crafted drinks. Definitely a fun place to check out if you're into intimate cocktail bars. read more

Pioneer - Menu - Speakeasies Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Tiny, hidden, and innovative cocktail bar that's a must visit for any drink lover in So Cal! I don't think there's any bar quite like this in Southern California, let alone all of the state. They use unique and unexpected ingredients to recreate and batch classic cocktails, such as a hay and lemon Martini or a carrots, neutralized balsamic, and maple Manhattan. They also change their menu every season, so there's always something new and interesting to try. They take a lot of big swings, so you may not love everything you try, but that's part of the fun. Also their drinks aren't super strong so it's totally doable to try several drinks to discover something you like. Ask for recommendations! They also have togo cocktails which have been delicious every time I've gotten some. Even their house made bar snacks are great, such as their Cancha. It's a very small and intimate space, so make a reservation or get on the Yelp wait-list well ahead of time on your way there. read more

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This is one of the coolest bars. The menu is wild and the team here is really cool. The owner parks at the bar and does an opening shot with his folks at the beginning of service. They put a lot of effort and detail in making their cocktails...they were toying with the formulation of one of the cocktails when I strolled in. The cocktails are been batch-made. Snack list is pretty limited...you have a couple of drinks and bounce to the next place. The flavor combinations and mixology skills here are a little mad scientist and a fair amount of whimsy. My margarita was bleu cheese scented, but totally tasted like a margarita. This falls in the kinda weird, but good and fun. My companion had the carbonated Americano, which was strong for her because of the bubbles but I found really balanced. The carbonation does end after 10 minutes. read more

Pioneer - Margarita - Speakeasies Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Awesome speakeasy located on the side of Dick Church's Diner! Seating is extremely limited, I say approximately 20 people max. The drinks are super unique with very good flavors! Menu is always rotating as well! Some drinks were hit or miss, but the best drink I've had was the pumpkin spiced White Russian made with clarified milk. It was just so smooth and flavorful! Don't come hungry as they only have snacks, and each drink is around $16-20. (expect to spend about $50-$60 a person) Great service! Highly recommend you check it out! read more

Pioneer - Pumpkin Spiced White Russian - Speakeasies Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Create drinks and moody vibe, you'll love this hidden speakeasy in the most unexpected location. The vibe change from the diner to this bar is crazy and makes it so much more enjoyable. read more

Pioneer - Transfusion...sooo good! - Speakeasies Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Had a great experience at this small and cozy speakeasy bar. The service was excellent, very attentive and friendly. The cocktails were truly ly unique and innovative. Had a unique takebon a Negroni, featuring unexpected ingredients that balanced the classic flavors beautifully. Also tried a margarita with an interesting twist. The combination of ingredients was bold (blue cheese, pear, sauternes) but delicious. Thus spot is a hidden gem and reservations are a must. read more

Pioneer - Seasonal menu - Speakeasies Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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P1oneer is located in Dicks Chicken restaurant in Costa Mesa. Reservations are a bit tough to come by as this is an intimate speakeasy. However, they do have a yelp waitlist if you want to try as a walk in. The theme currently is NASA so it's dark, moonlit lamps, scientist feels on the projector. I did hear they have a rotating theme every quarter. Otherwise, food is limited. Do not come here hungry. They do have small bites such as nuts and bread but that's pretty much it. We added on a bowl of nuts ($5) and it was a solid assortment of salted nuts. As for the drink menu it wasn't huge, they have a cocktail list for $16, and then straight 2oz spirit pours for $20. I thought the cocktails were okay. We asked for an espresso and the server said it's only the cocktails on the menu, ok. We had another nearby table ask as well and the server was recommending cocktails similar to an espresso which I wish that was our experience but we did not receive that. Overall, a laid back speakeasy in Costa Mesa to get a night cap after dinner. read more

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Small space-themed speakeasy inside Dicks Chicken diner. We didn't have reservations but we waited for about 5-10 minutes to get seated at the bar. I forgot the name of the drink I ordered but it had ginger in it. It tasted like plum and wasn't too great . They have plenty of other unique drinks to try, along with bar snacks. They change their menu each season so I'll try again next time. read more

Pioneer - Speakeasies Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Nice drinks + a fun space-themed speakeasy! I tried the Daisy -- it was great, and I enjoyed the macadamia and banana flavors. I didn't get to try other drinks, but they have so many and they all look so good! All cocktails are also $16. The waiter let us know that they were changing their menu again, so not sure if Daisy will be on it again, but excited to see what's new. They also have a lot of different snacks, but I didn't get to try. We went on a Saturday night and it seemed pretty busy, so would definitely recommend getting a reservation! It was also easy to find; it's in the back of a restaurant near its restrooms and it also has its own parking lot. Overall, it was a nice, secluded place to hang out with your friends or your significant other. read more

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I have gone back-and-forth about how to rate this because the service could not have been more wonderful. Everyone was so accommodating, knowledgeable, and wonderful! But at the end of the day, this is a speakeasy and you go for great cocktails and a nice ambience and both of those were severely lacking. All of the cocktails are pre-batched and you are unable to get anything customized or get a cocktail off menu. Of the 17 cocktails (classic and specialty), a few had dairy so those were ruled out for me. I tried 4: americano, martini, Manhattan, Negroni. I wouldn't order any of them again. The Americano and martini were actually undrinkable for me. They all were somehow very strong but also tasted thick and syrupy. There was no good balance of flavors and liquor that you typically find with crafted cocktails. Additionally, this speakeasy is very small and VERY loud. I enjoy the chill vibes that I typically find at speakeasies over loud bars and clubs. p1oneer's music and guests were extremely loud and it didn't meet the vibe of the space. read more

Pioneer - Speakeasies Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Tried the speakeasy cocktail lounge inside Dick's Church because we saw it on Resy and honestly, it was a huge disappointment. The atmosphere could have been cool, but every 5 minutes the bright hallway light blasted through the western-style swinging door and completely ruined the dark speakeasy vibe. The drinks were tiny and overpriced. We ordered two Old Fashioneds and the giant ice cubes took up almost the entire glass. Larger than a normal square ice cube- a little taller. But it seriously felt like they split one drink into two. Barely a shot in each glass, and the cocktails themselves were just so-so. Very syrup-y flavor. Definitely not "bespoke" or unique the was the server was upselling us. Service started good but when he got busy it went downhill. And by busy he got (1) 5 top.....He was excited about explaining the menu but then never once came back to check on us. When we finally flagged him down and asked for the check, he just dropped the handheld payment terminal on the table, walked away, grabbed it when we finished paying, and said absolutely nothing... no "thank you," no "have a great night," nothing. And this was after we still tipped 20%. Definitely not worth the money, service, or atmosphere. We won't be back. read more

This is my second visit to this speakeasy. I love that their menu changes quarterly, they said their summer menu will drop sometime in July. Their cocktails are mixologist spins on classics. They also have a low ABV drink too. During this visit, I had the Ramos Gin Fizz. This was so good, it actually reminded me if a drink I had at Licorería Limantour. It's like a salad in a cup, it's also a technical drink to make. They offer sealed cocktails to go, just ask them about it. They were not the spring cocktail flavors. You should put your name down on the Yelp waitlist. I sat by the door and they asked every patron to put their name on the list. The mood was dark and vibey with lots of couples. Seems like a good place for an night cap or to get the night started, they close at 11pm. There's a parking lot in the back off of Mesa Dr. Can't wait to try their summer menu. read more

Pioneer - Speakeasies Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Went there with my husband for a date night and it was a very cute spot! The staff was very friendly and the ambience was modern! Love the vibe! read more

This is my absolute favorite place in all of orange county so far. having just moved from chicago i have been dying to find a nicer but not super intense and in-your-face "fancy" and expensive spot for drinks. the price points here are absolutely phenomenal for the quality and care that is put into these drinks and i honestly would rave about them to everyone i know but i don't want more people to find out about this place. i will absolutely be back to try everything on the menu. the service is absolutely out of this world and i love how cozy and intimate the setting is. just the best! read more

Pioneer - Speakeasies Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Inter-Stellar! This was the first time visiting this place since moving to Orange County; and it was exactly what I expected. Intimate, refreshing, and remarkable! The cocktail menu provides a wide variety of offerings while highlighting seasonal ingredients provided by local purveyors. The drinks that we ordered held their own individual personality in both presentation and taste profile. Delicious and unique! Service was welcoming from start to finished. It was not stuffy, nor lack luster. Very friendly and knowledgeable! Overall, my partner and I enjoyed our night with P10neer. Would come back to try the rest of the menu! read more

Pioneer - Lion's Tail (Top Left), Cheong Soda (Top Right) - Speakeasies Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I've been wanting to try this place for a while. It's been open a little over a year. It's super tiny, but everyone who works here is very attentive and welcoming. It's dimly lit inside, but has cute decor. Since it's so small, it does get really LOUD. It's definitely a little difficult to find. It's located inside Dick Church's Restaurant. There's a back entrance through the outside patio but you can enter through the front of the restaurant as well. They offer some small snacks (nuts, olives, bread and butter, and some tinned mussels). This is definitely up and coming. They offer seasonal drinks and change up the menu. Currently they're serving up their spring menu. Drink reviews: Pink lady: (4/5) This was refreshing and super easy to drink! Honestly could drink 2-3 of these they're so tasty. Blue lagoon: (4/5) This was also refreshing, you can definitely taste the citrus in it, lychee was a nice but subtle touch. Vieux Carré: (5/5) This was delicious! Similar to an old fashioned but aromatics and apple flavor. I could drink these all night. It's strong. Penicillin: (5/5) Mezcal and scotch drink. Definitely a sipper! It's delicious though. Old fashioned: (5/5) Can't go wrong with the classic. It was strong and smooth. read more

The best service! Delicious drinks. Highly recommend. Adam and Sabrina (can't remember the other bartender ) were so welcoming and friendly.

My boyfriend and I visited this spot on a Friday night for date night! We came across a video of this play and we were close by. I joined the yelp waitlist and our estimated time to be seated said 30 minutes, but it really took an hour. I'd recommend doing it from your phone in advance rather than being added on the list once you get there. Theres lots of parking in the lot. The space itself is small, they can probably only sit 15 people at a time at most. We got a spot at the bar. We ordered 3 drinks, 1 was the milk punch, which was our favorite. It was very smooth and strong and we liked how much it tasted like tea. I forgot the names of the other drinks we got, but we got the pandan cocktail and I was surprised how unsweetened it was but still tasted like pandan! All drinks when we went were $15 each. They are very strong. The staff was friendly and we were able to talk to them for the night. I would recommend this place! read more

Pioneer - Speakeasies Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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The drinks were extremely creative, and the bartenders were extremely nice. The location is pretty easy to find and the vibe of the interior is very calm and relaxed. I got the high ball and it was extremely unique compared to anything I've ever had. I would definitely recommend anybody check this place out. read more

Pioneer - Drink and projector - Speakeasies Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I do have to say their estimated seating time was pretty accurate. I'm not sure it always is but it was for us. When my husband and I first arrived and saw how small the place is, we were thinking we won't be able to get seated for some time since we were 2nd one on the waitlist and we didn't want to wait. But, as we're just about to leave, we got the text that our table was ready. I would say if you were to come after 8, the wait can be very very long. We got on the waitlist around 7 and were seated around 7:38. There's only about 24 seats and there's no maximum seated time, so the wait can be very unpredictable. The drink selections were limited, but it has a little bit of every type of alcohol base that you can ask for. The drinks were stiff and one was enough for us. We also got the nuts. It was great, but be careful not to eat too much. My husband has diarrhea after eating the nuts. read more

I love the moody vibe of the place and how inventive their drinks program is. The team here clearly loves what they do.

This spot was hidden in a cute diner (Dick Church's Restaurant). You would not except this hidden speakeasy gem, as you walk through the doors, you enter into a modern sleek bar with hints of their "space theme" which was very subtle and kept the classiness of the bar. In terms of drinks, they just changed their menu to the fall menu which I personally was bummed about because I do not enjoy fall drinks as much as spring and summer, but regardless, I enjoyed the creativity within each drink. I wish they provided the alcohol base within each drink description, but it was nice chatting with the bartender to learn about the ingredients and get their recommendation. Out of the drinks, I enjoyed mine (swizzle) the best because it had a fruity kick! Overall, I enjoyed my experience and would recommend this spot for a date or catch up location with an old friend (perfect for having conversations). Looking forward to trying their other seasonal menus! read more

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We went here for after-dinner drinks around 8pm on Friday and it was fairly busy. You can make a reservation in advance but we opted to walk-in as we weren't sure if we would make it in time from our flight. We entered the waitlist a little before 8pm and drove 10 min here, then when we checked in, we saw the waitlist increased to 90+ min, so we timed it well! Even though I gave them notice we will be here in 10 min, we still ended up waiting 20 min for our table, but they were accommodating and moved us to a nicer table near the wall shortly after it became available. This speakeasy is space exploration themed, so I hoped to see a bit more of the decor, but the cocktails do drive towards exploratory even though they are fundamentally classics. They do have a space exploration movie or documentary played in the bar which is cool. We got: - Whiskey sour: I was intrigued about the caramelized onions and while the flavor is apparent, it wasn't too strong - Milk punch: tasted like plum but they added a whole lot of other ingredients including a balsamic reduction for the tartness. It is served in 155F so they did caution us the cup is hot - Between the sheets: nice floral cocktail, with some hints of pandan, pear, and pomace. This was quite strong - Martinez: a martini-like cocktail, with salsa matcha that they took out the seeds so it's actually not spicy. It is more tequila forward and strong We also got cancha for bar snack which is a good price at $5. It is like corn nuts and it is a little spicy and sweet. I would recommend as the portions are fairly generous. Service can be a bit better as we sometimes were neglected of water refills and took a while to place the order. However, once you place the order, the drinks come out fast even though a large group ordered their round of drinks right before us. Overall, pretty cool speakeasy to check out if you are in the area. Prices are fair and cocktails are quite creative even though they build on top of classics. read more

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Loved this little speakeasy tucked behind a chicken restaurant! Drinks were phenomenal and the bartender was very friendly and took a lot of time explaining all of the drinks. Make sure to make reservations because seating is limited! read more

Pioneer - Speakeasies Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

My partner and I came here after dinner on Valentine's Day, and I absolutely loved this little spot. She had told me about it before and really wanted to take me, so I was excited to finally check it out. It's a very small place, so I'd definitely recommend making a reservation online. That worked perfectly for us we were able to get in right away without any wait. Even though it's cozy, it doesn't feel cramped at all. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the drinks were wonderful. The staff really stood out to me. They were attentive, kind, and professional throughout the night. At one point, a patron started to get a bit too tipsy, and the staff handled it with such care and respect while making sure everyone else didn't feel awkward in the situation. It was clear they genuinely care about their guests' experience. Overall, such a great spot and we will definitely come back. read more

We LOVED this place so much, we came back 2x in a week (in our justification, they DID just change their menu!). VIBE: Hidden speakeasy in a diner, with a space theme, and very very relaxed vibe. SERVICE: The main waiter (Alex) our first time was so amazing - he explained the drinks so well and the rest of the staff was also so attentive! He wasn't there our second time, but the 2 others were really sweet as well. DRINKS: incredible. The menu goes from less boozy (top) to more spirit-forward (bottom), and there's a few classics that stay on the menu but otherwise the menu changes quarterly! We got to try their fall and winter menus - Milk Punch - a mix of eclectic things leftover and they make into a drink. The fall one tasted like alcoholic tea/cider to me, but my partner loved it. - B&B - delicious; our favorite of the first night - White Negroni - good, but not crazy out there - Rob Roy - root beer (sasparilla) flavored; I personally did not like this but wanted to try it. Very spirit forward - Whiskey Sour (winter menu) - smooth, on the lighter side and the caramelized onion isn't too strong at all - Godfather (winter menu) - somehow the brown butter and coffee blended well together! This and Whiskey Sour was our favorite for the second nights. If you're looking for something uppety, not really your place. But we love it - very cozy, intimate. They have music in the background; not sure it blends well with the vibe. No real food - 4 items on the menu for bar/snack food. About $6-7 each. Put yourselves on the waitlist if it's a Fri/Sat before coming! read more

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Amazing little find. Awesome cocktails and even more awesome staff. Who'd of thought we'd have a great little speakeasy behind a diner. Great vibe too. Definitely coming back. Cool old school space exploring theme too read more

Pioneer - Speakeasies Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Classy little speakeasy that is spaced themed! And it is an actual speakeasy where you must go through Dick Church's to enter. As cocktail people who love twists on the classics, we were very happy to hear from servers that were passionate and excited to tell us about their seasonal drinks and what goes into them. With a party of 5, we almost tried the whole menu but the stand outs for me were the negroni and vieux carre. Very approachable for those that are new to the cocktails, as they are quite boozy, and very enjoyable for those already in the know. They do cool riffs overall - typically herby, vegetal, savory or fizzy elements on sweeter style drinks and fruity / surprising adds for the stiffer - they're all about balance! Had bread and tinned mussels to munch on before our dinner reservation. Pop in when you have a chance.. and then go again when their menu updates in 3-4 months! read more

Such a cool speakeasy bar, the drinks here are super strong and the staff super friendly. Not your average cocktail menu, they do their own riff on popular drinks but they are still tasty and unique in their own way, would definitely come back and highly recommend read more

Great speakeasy. Bartenders were very attentive and went over every drink description to the T. My favorite was the Gin&Tonic that one of them recommend. It had a spin in it. If I remember correctly some dashi, soy sauce and it was blended in a almost similar to Korean rice wine bottle. Overall one of the most unique cocktail experience. I would highly recommended checking it out. Hopefully I'll also have the chance to try the Gin&Tonic again. I order 2 of those. read more

Pioneer - Speakeasies Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Such care in making their unique drinks. Staff is friendly and helpful! Love this place! read more

Pioneer - Speakeasies Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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We had a guys night on that one dark lonely evening when we came in. Initially, we were kinda confused because we thought we came to wrong area with all the empty parking spaces. The tall nice woman working there took care of us good. She was patient and gave all of us good recommendations on the drinks. Although the bar was a little tight, the music and vibes were popping off great. It was very intimate for sure. It made it seemed as if it was just only us against the entire world. As for the drinks, we ordered the New York sour, Army/Navy, Paloma, Milk Punch, Old Fashioned, & Appletini. Each drinks costed $16. My favorite was the Milk Punch and the Appletini. The Milk Punch tasted like a creamy lemon sweet tea, but the drink was hot. The Appletini was sweet like a green apple. It was bomb. I had to order two more for myself, lol. It was no hazy or buzzed night, alright. I would gatekeep this, but this spot is too good to be kept hidden. If you know, you know! read more

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Such inventive cocktails! Love the atmosphere and the staff always provide great service. For cocktail lovers, it's a must try!