During Prohibition, hundreds of secret bars, or speakeasies, popped up throughout California. These under-the-radar establishments bucked temperance laws to pour potent potables in hidden spots like attics, backrooms and basements where anyone with the right connections could enjoy a sip. Today, some of the originals have remained in operation, while other speakeasy-themed bars pay homage to this glamorously illicit era.
A cocktail bar accessible through a false bookshelf, an intimate speakeasy where fire and smoke are ingredients, and an immersive tiki bar hidden in a San Diego restaurant—the Golden State offers these options for cocktail lovers who thrive on finding secretive destinations. Sip in secret at these fabulous establishments listed north to south.
Bourbon & Branch, San Francisco
The address of 501 Jones Street in San Francisco has been operating as a drinking den since 1899 when the phone book listed it as the “H. W. Vette & Co. Grocery Saloon.” The spot survived Prohibition by operating as a “cigar shop” where well-dressed ladies and gents would imbibe. Bourbon & Branch is the current iteration, featuring five separate hidden bars, including a room only accessible by a trick bookshelf. To visit, make an online reservation to access your password. Once inside, consider the Cucumber Gimlet (gin, lime, elderflower, orange bitters and sparkling wine) and forget about your cell phone (the bar has a strict no-phone policy).
The Blind Rabbit, Anaheim
This 1920s-style club, complete with low lighting, eclectic glassware, and a 1905 working piano, is tucked behind a stack of sake barrels in the Anaheim Packing House. The exclusive 550-square-foot bar hits capacity at 35 guests, and reservations are mandatory after 5 p.m. Try the Wait for It to get a free show with your drink—the aged rum cocktail is served flambé. Small plates like crispy pork belly and duck mac and cheese help soak up the sauce. Think you’ll return? Regulars can opt to reserve a personal locker to keep their favorite bottle under lock and key.
False Idol, San Diego
Head through the walk-in fridge in San Diego’s Little Italy to discover this Polynesian hideaway. Part tiki bar, part speakeasy, False Idol is hidden inside trendy gastropub Craft & Commerce. Hundreds of colored glass buoys and preserved pufferfish cover the ceiling, while water trickles and fire spouts from the wall. The cocktails are equally as enthralling. Try the punch bowl–style Alkala the Fierce: a chai-infused bourbon blended with dark rum, vanilla, pimento dram, and orgeat. Every time someone orders it, it causes the bar's “volcano” to erupt and its seats to shake.