False Idol

**False Idol** is a tiki bar that’s absolutely worth the chase it takes to get a reservation. Sure, they offer walk-in standing room, but from the moment the doors open to last call, the place is buzzing—so plan ahead if you want the full experience. The bartenders are legends in their own right—crazy talented and clearly seasoned, crafting cocktails that are as visually stunning as they are delicious. The drink menu? Deep and diverse, with zero weak links. You honestly can’t go wrong, no matter what you order. If I lived closer, I’d be first in line for the *Room Tasting Club*. Until then, I’ll just keep dreaming of the next time I can escape into this tropical hideaway.

A fantastic and the most interactive tiki bar experience in socal. Order a volcano bowl and a squall rolls in. Unfortunately no food to speak of but given this is a "speakeasy" it's ok. An extensive collection of high end rum and a large menu of tiki cocktails makes for a fantastic evening. Lamar is a wonderful bartender and makes the night that much more special. Unlike the other major tiki bars in the area, mugs are not served at an additional cost (stowaway, Bali hai, and strong water) but if you sit at the bar and ask nice you might get lucky. They do have a few for purchase at the end of your evening tho.

Each bar in this place is a good time. I spent most of my time in what I call the “taxidermy” bar which is in the back right corner and also the hidden tiki bar. The “taxidermy” bar obviously has quite a bit of taxidermy on the walls and hanging in a glass box from the ceiling, over the bar. It’s small, which I don’t mind, so some friends sit on the bar stools and some of us stand and we’re all close together for easy conversation. The special drinks seemed to all be a bit too sweet for me, so I just stuck with a regular old fashioned. The tiki bar is a fun time. You have to make a reservation in advance as it gets quite busy, even on weekdays, but you can take your chances.. they may have some openings available. If you order one of the three shareable drinks, they create a lightning storm in the bar and light your drink on fire. It’s a fun experience.

This place was truly an experience. Just make reservations and go to the speakeasy. I won’t spoil it for you. The atmosphere is great and food is delicious. The drinks and menu are creative, filled with artistic flair. Tiki bar ambiance.

I visited this lovely establishment following a work conference in San Diego. My party was seated at the table second from the exit door. Unfortunately, the chair I was seated in repeatedly caught on my dress, which ultimately caused irreparable damage to the fabric. While I enjoyed the ambiance and service overall, the lack of attention and care to such details were both unexpected and disappointing. The drinks were great and servers were prepared to make recommendations. The bathroom was beyond inconvenient having to leave the establishment and go outside to re-enter. Be sure to use the bathroom before and wear clothes you are okay getting destroyed.

Super dope tiki bar. I went twice in 2 days and had like 8 different drinks, all were fantastic. The hostess Sabrina is a phenomenal hostess and was super welcoming and accommodating. We (2 people) didn't have reservations either night, but she was able to hook us up with a table Friday night and seats at the bar on Saturday! The bartender that served us Saturday, Patrick, was amazing. He helped us choose the perfect drinks (Ube Bae for my mom, Bombay Sling for me) and also gave us recommendations for food spots in the area. Shout to Patrick & Sabrina and everyone else who works here! Great location, great drinks, great people. 13/10

We had dinner in down town San Diego and we’re looking for a great speakeasy and we found this place online and saw all the great reviews so we walked over and went in. We had to wait about 10 minutes to get in(this is a popular place). Once we ate in we found out why. What a fabulous place! We loved the decor and and the staff was amazing!! Lots of cool unique drinks to choose from. What a super cool vibe this place has! If you are in the area..try this place out. We will definitely be back! I highly recommend this place.

We have no complaints here, this is a great speakeasy! The cocktails, ambiance and service were top-notch. They were very attentive despite it being busy! We would come back here 💯

Drinks & atmosphere is great When you do order your drinks on the drink list you'll notice the type of cup your drink will be served and word of advice if you don't want to look silly when you think you ordered a bad ass cocktail and in comes in a girly glass! Other then that the vibe it good definitely recommend checking it out!

We were in the area looking for a place to get casual drinks and found this place on yelp! We got there around 11pm on a Thursday and there was a small wait but nothing to complain about. It's your perfect tiki bar with the decor and soundscapes to match different drink orders. Service was nice and drinks were very strong. Nothing unique from other tiki bar menu items, but still solid! Docking 1 point because there is very limited seating! We had to stand for 15 minutes in the corner before a party left.

The drinks were just sugar! They are clearly trying to bring Kool Aid back. Avoid the bathroom..I almost barfed. The smell was horrendous .

Great experience! Make sure to make a reservation welll in advance and I think it is worth the wait. Went here for a date night last night and the ambiance and cocktails didn't disappoint! Their happy hr was til 6pm and I got the POG-olada which was pretty good! Also got a mai tai which was pretty tasty and strong. I think the hidden gem though is their other menu drinks, there's many other cocktails to choose from and personally I'd rather pay the extra few bucks more and get those because they were seriously really really good. The service was really great too, our server came by regularly to check on us and was super friendly. Even tho they don't have food, she brought us the menu for the restaurant upstairs (craft and commerce) to look at which was nice. The place smelled like incense and was pretty dim lite but lively. It's definitely a good date night place to check out.

False Idol is a tiki bar in the Little Italy area and is located inside Craft and Commerce. It's a bar I've been wanting to visit for years and I finally had the chance to on a recent trip to San Diego. We went right when they opened at 5pm and there was already a line waiting to get in. We didn't have reservations so it was just standing room only. However, later we were moved to a table when another party didn't make their reservation. My first drink was the steve's rum barrel ($20) which was strong but balanced. My second drink was the zombie ($20) which was also strong (probably even stronger) but didn't taste like it which made it dangerous. We also had the missionary's downfall ($13) which was minty, refreshing, and really easy to drink. All of the cocktails were delicious and I can see why there would be a line out the door even before they open. The decor and vibes were great and the drinks were pretty reasonably priced especially for their potency.

Whoever owns this bar runs it like the navy (complimentary). They have everything here down to a perfect science; which is so funny to me as I'm used to tiki bars being sticky dives and this is anything but. From check in to putting in orders to the perfectly crafted drinks, False Idol is locked tf in. Beautiful, clean atmosphere and fun touches (swizzle sticks and rainstorms!) up the ante. The happy hour alone (5pm-6pm) with $9 drinks is enough to make the trip for. False Idol, you not only have my love -- you have my respect.

We went last night and we had a great time! Lamar is an awesome bartender and personable! We had a Painkiller, Steve's Rum Barrel, Matcha-Lo-ha, and a Tropic Thunder. The Painkiller was a little watered down but we ordered only 1 shot of rum for it. Steve's Rum Barrel was excellent and complex! The Matcha-Lo-Ha was new and amazing to me (herbal and creamy). The Tropic Thunder was a great non-alcoholic drink and was blown away by it. False Idol is an excellent Tiki bar and I will always come back when I am in town.

One of the coolest speakeasy's I've been to, hands down! I must stay, I enjoyed seeing the variety of unique cocktails for a Tiki Bar! The decor truly transforms you into a different vibe upon entering. I'm a customer who loves bartenders who are social and give recommendations. Highly recommend!!

The winter special banana nog cocktail is to die for and fairly priced at $16! I gotta come back before they get rid of it!! Cool spot, cool looking unique cocktails. Note to self: the jungle bird holiday special is also pretty damn good!

This is a cool hidden tiki themed speak easy bar. I've been wanting to come here forever and finally got the chance. The drinks come in cute little Christmas cups for the holidays. Anything that had macadamia nut was delicious. I could drink it for daysssss. We had reservations and were able to make them a couple of days in advance. The waiter always checked on us and she was very friendly. Can't wait to try their other cocktails.

Flight got delayed at 930pm and sent to a hotel shortly after. Found Fasle Idol two blocks away, score! This place really hit the spot after a few stressful hours. Service was rad, drinks hit the spot, and vibe was great. Would recommend this place to anyone.

An interesting concept and a cute date spot but it's loud even when it's not that busy. We were sitting right next to each other and had to yell. The drinks were stronger than expected, a good flavor and a fair price. Reservations are easy to get though it wasn't that busy on a weeknight before 7 so could easily have walked in. The servers recognized the name seemingly without looking and realized that some of the party members were already inside which was impressive. Wish they would have food and their menu is smaller than it used to be. Good location - can park in the structure by the tracks across the street for a fair price and almost no walk. And there's lots of food nearby for after.

v much tiki / hawaiian themed bar and it had really cute decor and drinks! the mac nut chi chi was overpowering with coconut and sweetness so i didn't really taste the alc -- we ordered more from the stronger drinks hehe also it's inside another place and you go in back it's connected around! but no modern music playing ahaha just beachy vibes ~

Epic Tiki Room style speakeasy. This is the most extensive drink menu I have ever seen offered. While the standalone drinks are great, the real star of the show is the punch bowl that comes to you literally on fire. The atmosphere and servers are fantastic and the drinks are reasonably priced. Definitely recommend!

False Idol was the #1 spot on my hitlist for San Diego. I am slightly torn. I had a tradewinds and being the tiki nerd I am was a little disappointed. It was a good drink, do not get me wrong. But, a little imbalanced. My theory is the goal of false idol is to stay true to these old Tiki classics. ANd, when they were made tended to be imbalanced and syrupy. I posit False Idol is remaining true and keeping that tradition alive. The interior is great. Small, dimly lit, and indubitably tiki. A super dope spot if you are a tiki lover. The service was superb. I actually spilled some of my drink and they provided me with a new one immediately. Super generous, and was not necessary at all. Loved the service, vibes, and overall experience. And, yes next time I am in San Diego I will be returning to check out some of their other classic tiki libations!

Went to False Idol in Little Italy for a rare date night--it's a hidden speakeasy behind a stone tunnel with stunning tiki-meets-Christmas decor. The menu is rum-focused, perfect for sweet cocktail lovers. I had a coconutty Ube Bae, my husband got the limited Zombie, and even my $9 mocktail was amazing! Drinks are reasonably priced, and the festive vibe makes it perfect for a romantic night out.

I was told by Phoenix tiki bartenders that this was THE tiki spot in SD. So I had to visit, and they were right. It feels like a grotto, cave, and cove all in one. On a Saturday night it was packed, so highly recommend reservations. I was a walk in and was told standing room only until someone leaves the bar which I got lucky and they did. The Macadamia Chi Chi is where it's at! Loved it! So good. The Ube Bae on the other hand could have been better balanced. To get to this tiki speakeasy go to Craft & Commerce, then go through the tiki curtain, you'll see red glowing skulls and finally you're in.

Location is literally inside Craft and Commerce. Go on the website and get a reservation. People were lining up at 5:00 while we were enjoying the C&C Happy Hour since there's no food. Prices are competitive with other tiki bars. Tiny place so expect a tiny table. Overall a good place. The only problem is parking, expect to circle around the block.

Loved this place- ube and macadamia drink were crazy good and the banana nog shot was a great Christmas addition. Such a cool spot and decked out for the holidays- cant complain, would come again 1000 times over

Strolling through LI and our friends exclaim..we gotta hit this joint! Got right in but no table was immediately available, so we ordered drinks and took in the scenery until one opened up. Rather dark and mysterious, and a weather event was party of the experience. Drinks are tropical turned, but beware, they are strong! Ambiance is tiki mysterio, service was friendly and prompt, and prices are what you would expect in tourist district. We might not come on our own, but we might bring traveling friends to this party!

Visited False Idols with some coworkers. Definitely get on reservations or waitlist as the bar is small inside and very popular. We ordered multiple drinks and they did not disappoint. We lucked out with sitting at the bar, as we were arriving a group of 4 were leaving . If not, it will be standing room only. Definitely worth it to check out and get a few drinks with friends or solo.

By far the best timber in San Diego. The drinks are reallly good and the ambiance is very... tiki! I've been a few times and the service is also really good

Cool place, great vibe and bartenders are friendly and helpful! Place is absolutely loaded with cool tiki decor

I got the Saturn drink here and I still think about it to this day. it was one of the best cocktails i have ever had. no wonder it won an award! the cocktail is perfectly crafted in which the flavors are all balanced and delicious. the interior decor is also fun and adds to the experience!

Luckily, I came on a wednesday and the wait list wasn't too long.... but I'd definitely recommend making reservations ahead of time. The cocktails and the ambiance were 10/10. One of my favorite tiki bars ever

It was love at first sip with the Coronado Luau Special...but more on that later. We had a reservation at False Idol on a Saturday evening. We're not from San Diego, but we realized upon walking in that reservation probably isn't needed! This is a bar with plenty of standing room, but we were happy to have the reservation to get a table. We had an incredibly large group at the table next to us that almost bled over into our table. Waaaay too many people there. They also had a group of guys that kept coming over to hit on them and do shots with them that kinda pulled us out of the otherwise immersive drinks and surroundings. First round, we had a Saturn and Ube Bae. Saturn was great! Ube Bae also great, but prepare for ultra sweetness! Second round we split a Coronado Luau Special, and from the first sip I knew it was the drink of my dreams. Our server was so kind to give us the recipe before we left. Now we can attempt (key word: attempt) to recreate the orange-y goodness of that drink. We definitely want to come back for more drinks at False Idol, but may take our chances with standing room next time!

Drinks: 5/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Price: 5/5 Overall: 5/5 False Idol stands out as one of the best tiki bars for a reason. My waitress was Jen, who was very nice and helpful. The drinks were solid and well-priced. The speakeasy vibes and busyness made for a nice time during my brief visit. I will definitely be back!

What a neat Tiki-Bar tucked in behind Craft and Commerce. It's got great ambiance, with cool lighting, a water feature, sound effects, even the bar tenders fit the part. The bar was pretty crowded but we were able to get a seat at the bar after just a few minutes. We got drinks in our hands within about 15 minutes of showing up. All our drinks were unique, albeit a bit expensive. However I suppose it is about on par for a cocktail in a Downtown Bar. This is a kind of bar that you walk into and just smile. The attention to detail leaves you admiring their creativity and imagination. It's obvious that they take a lot of pride in taking you into another world when you visit False Idol.

We had an amazing experience at this tiki bar! Ordered the Haleakala punch bowl drink and shared it with 2 other friends. Definitely recommend finding this hidden gem and enjoying a drink!

I'd planned to check out both Craft & Commerce and False Idol; I didn't realize that the speakeasy was within the restaurant! Customer service was impressively friendly and professional from the start, receiving a warm welcome from both the restaurant's hostess as well as False idol's. All 3 bartenders were friendly, efficient, and attentive. The themed, intimate interior has a fun-&-relaxed atmosphere -- a fun escape from the outside world. No food is served in the bar (adding to the efficient service); the creative cocktails are attractive-and-tasty. Very fun find!

Celebrated my birthday and some big wins in life with my buddies at this incredible tiki-themed spot, and it did not disappoint! I'm usually not a rum guy, but the drinks here are next-level strong and perfectly balanced. I ordered the Ube Bae and something called Chi Chi, and both were fantastic! The ube flavor was smooth and unique, and the Chi Chi had a tropical vibe that hit just right. The tiki room theme really gave me Disneyland vibes, but with alcohol, which I loved. The whole place has such a fun and immersive atmosphere, like stepping into a tropical oasis. It was a bit too dark for me to snap any good pics, but honestly, that just added to the vibe. The staff were wonderful--super friendly and attentive--and really made the night even more enjoyable. If you're looking for a fun spot with strong drinks, good company, and an unforgettable vibe, this is the place. Highly recommend!

This was such a fun and cool little hideaway tiki bar. The drinks were great and Lamar and Elle treated us very well. We had a great time. I'd definitely go back.

I've heard mixed reviews from others saying a reservation is required, but we walked in on a busy Friday night around 10pm, and waited at the bar of craft & commerce for about 30 min or so before we got in and got a table for 2. These drinks are STRONG! They were really good and they have a bunch of tropical options. It's pretty dim lit and a nice vibe to hang out for a bit. It can get a bit loud but can have a conversation still.

1st time at this place and it did not disappoint. This tiki bar was a great hidden gem. Definitely a hidden gem that you need to make reservations for. After finally locating this tiki bar in another well packed bar we were lucky enough to walk in without a reservation because it was late at night, otherwise a reservation is highly recommended. This to me was a true tiki bar in true fashion. The size of it, the ambience, the decor the drinks, everything was perfect to a tea even the locals. The bartenders are super friendly and knowledgeable and willing to educate you in regards to what's around the area. The staff was great. The drinks were perfect and I will definitely be going back to this place again whenever I'm in San Diego.

This place is great! We stumbled upon this place as there wasn't many places open late on a Thursday night. It was a great choice quite frankly. We were also able to find street parking easily on the Thursday night around 9:30. This place is inside a restaurant but once you walk into the restaurant, you'll be greeted by staff. The restaurant has some taxidermy animals and you definitely can't miss them. I don't remember the name of the restaurant though. However, once you enter into False Idol, the ambience is completely different, with its tiki theme. Because we came in without a reservation, we were provided instructions to stand but we could take bar seating if it ever becomes available. There was no bar seats that opened up, which is fine. We were able to snag a table though as a party was leaving. Our server was super nice about it though and let us sit at the table until the reservation for the table arrived. I ordered the ube bae which was amazing. I was deciding between the matcha and ube but settled for the ube as I wanted something sweeter. It was not a bad choice at all! In fact I'm craving it as I'm typing this review out! Our server/bartender was also really nice. I never got her name but she was super attentive and friendly despite how busy it was! They do also have flashing lighting and rumbling noises for whenever people order a fish bowl so I would definitely keep that in mind if someone is sensitive to flashing lights. Overall, definitely a spot you shouldn't miss. Though I would avoid coming here on weekends knowing how busy it gets even on a weekday!

Can't beat the ambiance at this dark and funky tiki lounge. Drinks and service were excellent as well. What a gem! So happy we found it.

We have heard such great things about this place and were super excited to try. Happy hour is M-F 5-6pm and we got there early enough to have snatch a happy hour drink. Service was great. Ambiance is so cool, tiki everything and island vibes. - Mac nut chi chi (5/5): The most delicious, nutty, creamy cocktail. So good would definitely recommend. - Jewel of Jalisco (4/5): I love guava so had to try this happy hour drink. Very guava but also quite strong and refreshing

This is a hidden Tiki Speakeasy located inside Craft & Commerce restaurant . You go to the left side as soon as you walk in . You will see a hostess standing there and maybe a line . It is very hard to get in you need to make reservations since they're always booked. We went in as a walk-in luckily we got in the only issue is that all the tables are reserved so you have to wait at the bar until someone gets up. It is a tiny space and hard to order a drink . It can get pretty packed by the bar and standing waiting for a chair is not fun . The drinks were very tasty and Tiki inspired with drinks like Painkiller and Saturn . Over all glad we got in . I would have to give this place a fair chance and make reservations to really have the experience .

False idol is so fun! It's a little speak easy and is Disney themed. They only serve drinks but upstairs you can get food. The decor and theme is so fun! The drink options are more gin and rum but can sub anything out. If you have a group, definable get the bigger fish bowl option.

This bar was fun, their drinks are really strong and one or two will be enough. Definitely recommend reservations, but if you don't have any, you can probably do standing only for a while, although it does get kind of cramped. Decor is very interesting and fun, but it isn't as lively with effects as other tiki bars that I've been to the ceiling is very unique. Definitely go back to try more of their drinks.

I think 4 for decor, very cute, and festive. Perfect for all those tiki bar lovers. I am not big on super sweet drinks, so 3 stars for the cocktails, but that is just a preference, if you like sparklers, and drinks in giant fish bowls, you will love it. The services was cool, you just have to wait until you are allowed the back seating, its a fun experience, but i think best for a date, or small group. No dance, or mingle, lounge, drink, relax and chat, that is what this place it meant for. Dragon Egg approved.

Super fun bar! The interior decor is very cool. Love the thunderstorm. Came here on a week night for an after dinner drink, it was around 8pm and the place was already packed! On a random weeknight. Luckily there was no line, so I only had to stand outside by the hostess stand for 5 min before being led inside. Because the place was packed, there was standing room only, which was fine. I ordered one of their signature drinks from the bar. The people here are all dressed well and attractive. I met some different group here and it was interesting talking with them. The drinks came out fast and were all very tasty. The whole thunderstorm thing was entertaining and theatrical. Everyone clapped each time it came on. Overall, very fun place!

Fabulous tiki bar which is a known tourist spot. Parties and bachelorette parties come here. Reservations are hard to come by. Located in the side room of another establishment interior is well decorated to look like a pacific island along with mandatory dim-lights and occasional thunder sounds. Menu is elaborate. From Mai Tai to Singapore Sling to Rum Old-fashioned to some alcohol heavy drinks (if you are a serious alcoholic) like Navy Grog or the Jet Pilot...and you can get cocktails to share.... I like False Idol but due to small space and hard to come by reservations, I can only give it 4 stars...

A fun, cute bar in the back of a restaurant. Definitely gives underground tiki pirate ship vibes. It's pretty crowded and loud in there, especially if it's a birthday and they crack the thunder (woohoo!), so not exactly the best place if you want to have a deep conversation with someone. Our favorite drink was the ube cocktail--super Ube potent and delicious!

After many visits to Downtown, we finally got into the speakeasy and I loved it. Everyone was assigned a table and the servers came to you. We were lucky enough to get the seasonal menu where I tried the OG Banana Nog and it was easily one of the best cocktails I've ever had. All my friends tried it and we raved about it all night. It had the perfect amount of banana and creamy with the egg nogg taste. I wish I could go back and buy many more. The ube drink and other seasonal cocktails were great too. Ube drink was super strong though. The ambiance was pretty and the drinks weren't too overpriced. Servers were helpful and it was nice to have a more organized bar as opposed to the restaurant/bar outside that gets really chaotic and we never find a seat at. Great experience and would love to go back!

False Idol is a great spot to visit during SD time! If you like rum then this is a must visit spot. My friend and I enjoyed my favorite drink, Dark & Stormy, which is not on the menu but the staff knew it by name. This was great since I am usually teaching others how to make it. :) The only reason I give 4 stars instead of 5 is that it is not a true speakeasy experience since you just check in with a hostess and are taken back into the bar. As I expect to have to work through how to get into the speakeasy and that is a big part of the fun. Still, the whole place is decorated in such a way to feast your eyes as you walk through and even more to notice as you sit with friends!

Funky little place situated beside a restaurant, the glowing skulls in the doorway were a great start. We love the ambience, and the theme. The drinks were not outstanding, but it certainly didn't stop us from finishing them. For example, the Painkiller there was not the same caliber as we found in the islands. Worth a visit, you can decide if it becomes a regular place for you.

Heads up: This tiki bar is inside a restaurant and the name isn't displayed on the outside. We were only two people so it was easy to get in even though we did not have a reservation. Highly recommend to make a reservation. If you don't have a reservation, you could sit at the bar if there's space OR they'll have you stand. If you don't have another option but to stand, a waiter does come by to take your order and make sure you're ok. I ordered the Christmas Island and it was such a great drink. It has gin, spiced cranberry, guava, lime, and seltzer. Because it was Christmas, they also had a really cute decoration with a Santa hat, fake snow, and an herb. Very much to the theme and delicious.

Finally made our way to False Idol during the Holiday Season and they are decked out with lights and festive drinks! We arrived at 7pm on a Saturday and were really lucky to be able to go straight-in without any reservation. We initially thought we would have to wait a for a while so that was a nice surprise. Inside is filled with Christmas lights and holiday decorations which creates a really cool and intimate setting. The space itself is not too large and so they do a good job of limiting the number of people inside at a time where you have a enough space for your group to drink and chat. I loved the system/service inside because you actually don't have to go up to the bar to order, but rather they have employees doing their rounds between those at a table and those people standing (us) so they were very prompt at getting our orders and delivering our drinks. The O.G. Banana Nog was a unique spin on the Egg Nog classic and it was really delicious! Imagine a banana flavored egg nog and boom that's this drink. The banana flavor went really well with the creaminess of the egg nog. We also got the Fairytale of York which I really loved too! This is much more in the spirit of mint flavors. The drink is very minty with hints of citric fruit which was a very nice combination.