Vlad V.
Yelp
As the self-appointed king of speakeasies, it's important for me to maintain my crown by checking out new ones regularly. On a Saturday afternoon, I made a reservation for 36 Below in Arcadia. They have a parking lot in the back so parking was a cinch.
Ambiance (4/5): 36 Below has different themes during the year. Two of them are Halloween and Christmas. The other two are wildcards. Before their current Aquatica theme, they had a Harry Potter-themed one. I'm bummed I missed it! All good, I'm always down for a tropical/Hawaiian themed speakeasy, too. 36 Below is located inside a coffee shop (Sip). There's a staircase that takes you down to the speakeasy. Unfortunately, it's very easy to find as there's signage both inside and outside. Which takes away from the appeal of a speakeasy's true nature. The seating is a bit uncomfortable, too. All good because the decor is fun. It's intimate, we're talking 25 seats or so, so make a reservation if you're visiting on a weekend.
Service (3.5/5): For a small bar, the service is a bit slow. I had to wrangle our waitress to put in another drink order and to close out. You're also only seated for an hour and a half before your seats go to the next reservation (if there is one). It wasn't a rushed experience for us but something to take note of. The service was friendly even though it wasn't the most efficient.
Food (N/A): I had food prior so I was on a liquid diet, but they do have light bites. Think things like chips and guac, truffle steak fries, popcorn, etc. Not a full meal but good if you want something to snack on.
Drinks (4.5/5): Five or six of the cocktails were themed and the others were their regular cocktails. When you think of a speakeasy, you think of elevated cocktails. And this was certainly the case here. My first cocktail was a tropical-themed one served in a mermaid glass. My second cocktail, off the regular menu, was a gin-based spritz. Both had an interesting fusion of flavors. The creativity is there. As is the presentation. Well done.
A couple of knocks on 36 Below, but overall, a solid speakeasy. I'll be back for their Halloween theme!