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    Young Blood

    4.5 (361 reviews)
    PriceyBars
    Closed 6:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

    Young Blood Photos

    YOUNG BLOOD ATMOSPHERE

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    Hipster
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    Recommended Reviews - Young Blood

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    Floral+Juicy+Elegant cocktail & Dealer's Choice
    Cindy H.

    If you're a fan of personalized crafted bespoke cocktails, I highly recommend coming to Young Blood! They're typically reservation-based but it doesn't hurt walking in. Young Blood is located behind the Neighborhood, and is one of two speakeasies here. We lucked out and was able to come as a walk-in on a Sunday. While waiting for our turn, we had a drink at their other speakeasy (the Noble Experiment, which I also highly recommend). Ambiance is sophisticated and elevated, with great mood lighting. Generally, the menu consists of 3 drinks - with one being a bespoke cocktail. Since we only stopped by, we opted for getting one drink. We wanted a different variation of the Manhattan and was asked several questions before concocting the drink (i.e. more bitter, floral, what whiskey do you typically like, etc.). The result? Magnificent! They used Nikka from the Barrel, chocolate bitters, along with other ingredients to provide a different depth in the Manhattan. Also had a pleasure to try the Floral+Juicy+Elegant cocktail from their first course menu. It consisted of juniper, lychee, grapefruit, bergamot, and sakura cherry blossom. They used sakura cherry blossom powder on the rim so you can change the drink profile as you take a sip. It's floral, refreshing, and light. Service was wonderful! You can tell that the bartenders really care about their craft. Remember to book a reservation in advance!

    Diamond B.

    Loved this place! My friend recommended this bar to me for my time in San Diego and I'm so happy we went. The menu is broken up into three sections: first course (lighter, fruity, floral), main course (dealers choice based on your preference), and third course (dessert flavored cocktails). Everything we tried was absolutely delicious. I did the Lush + Tropical Fruit + Citric which was one of the best cocktails I've ever had. The coconut wine float gave it a really unique taste that I was a big fan of. Our server also did a great job crafting my second course, and the Butterscotch Budino as my final course was such a good choice. I loved this so much that I finished it within maybe 4 minutes. Tasted like a biscoff cookie in a cup! Our server was very kind and attentive. For the two of us, we spent about $200 after tip. Definitely not somewhere I'd frequent, but was good for a vacation treat. The space is very small, so I'd recommend a reservation. Decor is beautiful inside which made for an elevated and enjoyable date night :)

    Andrew J.

    I had such a great time doing their three-course cocktail menu. Every drink was delicious in its own way, and you can really taste how much thought goes into each one. The second cocktail was my favorite. They asked about my preferences and tailored it just for me, and it ended up being the best drink of the night. The whole experience felt really fun and relaxed, and the staff made it even better. They're super friendly, easy to talk to, and clearly passionate about what they do. One thing to know is that reservations can be hard to get, so I'd definitely try to book early if you want to check it out. It's totally worth the effort. What a unique experience.

    Marc M.

    YoungBlood - 9/10 Aesthetic & Ambiance: 9/10 - From the mirrors to the backhauls and into the dungeon bar, it gave off the same vibe as Noble Experiment but elevated. They offer a omakase-style menu for the drinks, so come thirsty! - Sadly my phone died shortly after arriving so I wasn't able to capture much. Service: 9/10 - Our server was amazing...I wasn't able to remember his names for reasons unknown, but I do remember having a great time and all three courses of drinks were delicious! There is minimal seating and much as everyone will tell you, you need to make ressys in advance!

    Mac B.

    Awesome speakeasy thay offers a curated cocktail experience! Service is high class with amazing knowledge of mixology and flavors to come up with inventive ideas based upon your preferences. The vibes are immaculate and you have to use the restroom while you are there!

    My Dealer's Choice Main-- delicious cognac and apple brandy cocktail
    Leslie B.

    My husband and I recently went to Young Blood. It was our second time there; the last time being almost four years ago. We walked in for our reservation which was at 10PM on a Tuesday night. The bar is quite small. It is one of the two speakeasies inside Neighborhood (bar). What I loved from the previous experience is that is used to be a full three-course "dealer's choice" prix-fixe experience. That meant that you would let the bartender know your favorite liquors and your preferred flavor palate, and they would develop a three-course drink menu for you to enjoy. This time, I was disappointed to learn that the "dealer's choice" was only for the "main course" cocktail rather than the whole menu. The "appetizer" and "dessert" cocktails came from a small menu. To me, that change makes the experience much less original. That said, I will say that we still had a really lovely experience regardless. Even though I would have preferred the full dealer's choice menu, I enjoyed the selections from he menu as well. There were two small drinks which served as sort of palate cleansers between the three courses. The first was slightly spicy and served with a small serving of potato chips and pickles. The second was light and refreshing. I enjoyed all of my drinks, and luckily was able to choose a drink that wasn't too sweet from the dessert menu. I did enjoy my "dealer's choice" drink most of all. I like the wide variety of liquors that they have, as well as the variety of house made syrups and infused liquors. Though I am disappointed that the format of Young Blood has changed, I still like the three-course experience. I still do recommend the experience. Also, I recommend a reservation made well in advance due to the small size of the restaurant.

    menu
    Nick S.

    Man I have to say I was pretty disappointed with this place :( What was once a unique 'omakse' style speakeasy now has a set menu and only 1 'omakse' style drink. Not really a unique place anymore and seems vastly overpriced (to me) now. They were objectively well made, but I don't think they're necessarily good. Almost all of my drinks felt like they had 2-3 too many ingredients. I understand it's a speakeasy and if I wanted simple drinks then just go outside to Neighborhood, and maybe I'm just a simpleton, but the drinks I ordered had too much going on and wasn't giving me enough of the flavors I wanted out of the drink. For example my first course I was having a tough time picking a drink because I like sweet drinks and don't like bitter/floral/herby/smokey drinks. Most of the drinks sounded good but then would have one of those characteristics on there. I ended up going with the lush + tropical + citric because that sounded right up my alley, but they there was a coconut red wine float on the top which really ruined the drink for me. I was not a fan of the floater and it was too strong and overpowered the drink and all you tasted was the wine. The next course was the dealers choice and I said I like tropical, tiki bar drinks, stuff like pina coladas and daiquiris. And I saw what they were going for in my drink, it had a lot of those ingredients but I didn't love it. I did like it, but was too much going on again, and I didn't get the real sweet tropical flavors like pineapple/mango. Was mostly getting rum, which maybe isn't that bad? It's strong. But wasn't for me. The last course (dessert course) I did love, because again I love my sweet dessert type drinks. Got the butterscotch and loved it, wish I could have had 2 more drinks just like it. The staff was absolutely excellent, real highlight of my time there. They were fast, kind, and knowledgeable. 10/10 on them. But it wasn't enough to sway me. Goregous interior and lovely decorations definitely feels nice and old school And when it's $85 for 3 drinks (no tip, after tip is closer to $100 for 3 drinks), I better love every drink and I just didn't. I loved one, liked another, and disliked one. So I was pretty disappointed with my time here :( Don't think I'll be back

    Menu
    Morgan W.

    Great cocktails and wonderful service. You will need to make your reservation weeks in advance. The room is very intimate and only fits about 10 people max I'd say. There's a fixed menu of three "courses" for cocktails. I enjoyed every single one I had. This is a fun and swanky date night place. The neighborhoods food is fabulous and a great place to eat prior to going into Youngblood. Best cocktail I had was dealers choice ( I asked for gin and lemon to incorporated). I finished off with a lemon merengue drink for dessert.

    Morgan H.

    This was one of my favorite experiences while visiting San Diego. I know a lot of people in the reviews are complaining about only getting three drinks, however, I do think that the three drinks you get are of really good quality. I'd also like to point out that in addition to the three drinks, you also get a small sampling of a martini, and a side of these light snacks. My favorite was obviously the custom drink, I asked for a vegetable based drink, and I really enjoyed it, felt it was unique, and I had never had a cocktail similar in taste to what I got. The bar itself is small studying, which I got more pictures. And the experience is totally personalized. Even if you think you might not like the place, I would still recommend visiting this bar at least once.

    Felipe G.

    The ambiance is very chic with a bit of a retro vibe. Arrived for reservation about 15 min early and they were able to seat us pretty quick. Once seated, bar tender came to introduce herself and go over the menu. She then returned and took our first order. Drinks were phenomenal. The second drink they ask you some questions and what kind of base spirit you like. I went with rye and they made a fantastic herbal/ floral notes. The desert drink was also excellent. I was surprised that that the coffee cake was spirit forward and direct. Overall great speak easy and highly recommend.

    Entrance
    Brian M.

    This was my third time visiting this speakeasy, and it's still one of my favorite spots for drinks in San Diego. Service was outstanding as usual--friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. They now have a menu to choose from, which is a nice change from my previous visits. You still get to choose three courses but it's easier to order if you don't know what to ask for. My favorite drink of the night was the Lush+Tropical Fruit+Citric. It was such a unique cocktail and the flavors complemented each other perfectly. If you're looking for a great cocktail experience in San Diego, this place continues to deliver. Highly recommend!

    Apertif
    Justine H.

    My friend and I treated ourselves to the young blood experience after many years of it being on our list. Our drink omakase started with an aperitif and then the waiter asked us for details on what flavors and spirits we liked to make us each a special drink. After that we chose a couple more drinks and had some pickles and chips in between. Definitely come fully satiated or else you will feel the alcohol! Of course consortium holdings kept the theme the same and the space is small, reservations required, and low lights. Expensive for sure so I'd only really come for special occasions.

    Jeannie N.

    Made reservations exactly 28 days in advance on OpenTable to make sure I could secure a spot here while we were in town. Location is a vibe, getting inside is a vibe, the whole experience is a vibe. We came in with no expectations and now we'll definitely be back. We had reservations for 6:30pm so that we could have dinner at Neighborhood afterwards. The price you pay for the drinks + the experience at Young Blood is worth it. Staff is super cool and knowledgeable and you can tell a lot of effort was put into these drinks and atmosphere. Every single drink felt like it was made just for me (perfectly delicious and full of flavor). If you like menus, you're gonna GEEK over theirs. 10/10 would come back.

    Dessert course

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    Amazing atmosphere and great service. Drinks were great to but came with a high price tag

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    Ask the Community - Young Blood

    Can two people share 1 tasting serving? My partner doesn't think she can finish all 3 cocktails for her self so we're thinking of sharing 3 cocktails total instead of 6?

    That's a great question! We had the same question just 2 weeks ago when we were there and the waitress told us we can do however many we wanted (not more than 3). We chose to do 2 each because it was a Tuesday and we didn't want to drink a bunch.… Read more

    Hello, I am looking to make a reservation for 1 person while I am in town Jan 16th-Jan 20th, when will reservations open up?

    Should be late next week! It's Totally worth the wait

    Do they serve food?

    No they don't. But they offer food at the Neighborhood restaurant that it's located inside of.

    Where do I make reservations online?

    Open Table

    Which day of the week and what time of the day are reservations released?

    I believe it's about 2 weeks out

    Are reservations needed?

    Reservations are required. We offer reservations 7 days a week for groups of 4 or less. Reservations can be made directly through Opentable.

    We are here on vacay and have a res in a few days. Unfortunately I'm on a medication I hadn't anticipated and prob should not drink, but hate to cancel. Can you do mocktails?? I understand the price won't change.

    Yes they do! I have gone while pregnant and enjoyed some mocktails!

    I would like to make a reservation for a party of four at 10 pm on the 19th this Tuesday?

    Hi Ferdinand, Please email us at info@neighorhoodsd.com for large party pricing and availability.… Read more

    I would like to make a reservation for Saturday party of 6 for a 30th birthday?

    Hi Dyanne, We only accept groups of 4 or less in order to execute our 3 course, 90 minute… Read more

    How do I make a reservation?

    Hi Anne, All reservations can be made through our link on our website or through Opentable. We… Read more

    How much does it cost?

    Hi Kiera! Our 3 course, 90 minute cocktail experience starts at $57 per person.

    Does anyone know how to make a reservation for a party of 5? When I try to do it online it says I have to contact the place directly for a party that size but I can't figure out how to contact them

    They suck Josh. We just ran into the same issue and upon speaking with them, our 5th wheel would "snowball the entire night and ruin the flow for everyone". We've had reservations for a month with a note attached. Did not pass the vibe check.

    Are you required to do the full 3 flight cocktail menu? We only have an hour before our dinner reservations and not sure that is enough time.

    Hello! Yes, with your reservation, you are committed to the 3 drinks.

    I understand this is reservation only but what are the chances of being seated after walking in with a group of 6 on a late Saturday night (at or past midnight)?

    Very low chances with a group of 6. This bar is very small.

    Is there any food available? If not do they mind if you bring a snack?

    Youngblood is a cocktail-only experience, and unfortunately we don’t allow outside food. Please feel free to have dinner / snacks at our adjoining property, Neighborhood, before or after.

    Are non-alcohol drinkers charged the full price notes $57 I think ? Thanks in advance

    Hello! Yes, they are - the space is incredibly limited, the $57 is the price for all reservations (guests can always add for spirit or cocktail modifications). Please let us… Read more

    Is this bar for those of us 30 and up or is it mostly 20-somethings?

    This is a posh experience for all ages. I and my friends are aged 40 to 60 and we all love it. 20-somethings are there too every time I have visited.

    Is there a dress code?

    Dress code is casual

    How far in advance do they open reservations for? I'm trying to book something for late July, but the calendar on open table is blank. Thanks for the help!

    Mondays at 4 PM they will open more reservations for the upcoming week! Confirmed this on the phone with the host at Neighborhood

    Where can I make a reservation?

    It appears reservations can be made through Open Table, although I have yet to find an opening regardless of the day of the week or how far into the future I check.

    View All 26 Questions

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    Don't know nothing about the food, as my party just visited for some drinks. We mostly all got…read morebeers, but one of us is fancy and got an espresso martini. Villain's brews their own beer, and they have a lot of good IPAs. I visited with a hop-head who knows SoCal beers, so I took his word that a Villain beer would be great, and it was. I got the Fashionably Late, which is a hazy IPA. Very tasty! Our server was super kind and gave us all lemon drop shots, on the house. Way to win my heart! I never drink shots, but I tell you what: That lemon drop went down a treat. It paired nicely with my IPA, which was citrusy. We sat on the patio, which is large and overlooks the seedy downtown San Diego streets. The weather is almost always perfect in SD, so I suggest sitting outside. But if you sit inside, that's kind of where the magic is happening. Because it wasn't until I walked around and looked at it closely that I realized that Villain's Brewing is horror themed! All around the restaurant and bar is horror movie paraphernalia, like Chucky paintings and a life-sized Freddy Krueger mannequin. I love a good themed establishment, and this one is very fun.

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

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

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    Strawberry cucumber Gin cocktail
    Strawberry cucumber Gin cocktail
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    Young Blood - bars - Updated June 2026

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