Oculto 477

All of the seasonal drinks and new cocktail menu were delicious especially the Sloth, Pride, and Lust. Bartenders were friendly and great service. Great experience, my fiancé and I always enjoy coming here and will be back soon! Highly recommend, it’s one of our favorite speakeasies in San Diego and it’s always fun coming to Old Town!

Oculto was such a unique experience. I would recommend everyone to get "dealers choice " . The bartender will ask you what notes and spirit you prefer. The ambiance is so cozy and inviting. I do see myself coming back again. Greed and Humility(NA) were very good cocktails.

A fun little speakeasy located within Tahona Bar in Old Town. They play up the whole next-to-graveyard thing by having you confess a sin to a “priest” through a grate at the door. The bar is small and slightly cramped, but they do make a lot of pretty awesome drinks here. The bartenders also keep it low key and fun. I really enjoyed the Garden of Death. But one of the best things I had here was the drink I received based on a dice roll. I rolled “rum,” “spicy,” and “tart.” The bartender made me a very interesting, creamy, spicy, and sour rum cocktail, somewhere in the world of an old-fashioned and whiskey sour mash-up. It’s a bit pricey with each drink being $20, but it’s a whole little experience. A cool place for a date or a hangout. Definitely worth trying out at the very least.

Celebrated my 49th birthday in 2023 with friends and beverages at Oculto 477. I'd been interested in visiting the venue for a while and took the opportunity for my birthday to do so. I made a reservation because I always make reservations. If I can't I won't go to a place. When we arrived we were stopped at a confessional style door where we had to confess a sin to enter. If the host didn't approve of your sin you had to come up sign another one. I had to try three apparently I'm not sinful enough. HAHAHAHA We entered and were sat at a half booth with a small cocktail table and a chair. The intimate venue was extremely authentic and made me feel as if I was in Mexico or South America. It was lovely! Our server came over and greeted us. Explained the menu and the seating time. We checked out the menu and were pleasantly surprised to find so many mocktails available and crafted. My mom doesn't drink. We got our first round of cocktails and we were pretty happy. The presentation for all were great and the flavours were good. Funny enough we all preferred Mom's mocktail the best. I know! It was crisp and refreshing and perfectly crafted. Round two was also good but yet again the mocktail was mocking us booze drinkers. LOL Round three, I didn't like my birthday cocktail that the venue bought me but they did change it for my first cocktail which I did enjoy. I will say if I do go back I will definitely stick with the mocktails just to switch it up. They were just perfect with fresh fruit and juice in every one. While we did like the venue a lot and the presentation of all of our drinks, I will say the service was lacking. We had two people waiting on us but watched them off to the side and inattentive to our table and others they were handling. Please note the venue is small and was not full on the random Monday we ventured in. Of all of the speakeasies I've been to this is not high on my list of places. If you go do so for the ambiance and then you won't be disappointed.

What a horrendously boring experience. I came here thirsty, and I left even thirstier for conversation. I have to admit, the cocktail that I did have was good, but I was just so uncomfortable with the vibe in there that I had to leave prematurely.

Oculto is a speakeasy that requires a reservation, an answer to a question about a conversation to get in, and is a timed experience that you have 90mins max. Not a negative, but make sure you know what you are signing up for or you could be disappointed. Now, the drinks here are some of the best cocktails we have had in the San Diego area. Interesting combinations of classic flavors like tiki drinks made with a deconstructed spin. We also had a few alcohol free cocktails that had bits and egg white foam which was amazing. No food in the bar, but everything is in the back of a Mexican restaurant that looked legit. If you get the chance roll the dice!

Ohhhh you simply MUST stop here!!! Reservations are required in advance and I won't spoil anything, but let's just say the entire experience was an EXPERIENCE. We went here to celebrate our anniversary and were extremely well-taken care of. The bartender was so knowledgeable that there is a drink option that you roll 3 dice and they come up with a cocktail based on those results... on... the... spot!!! I also am a sucker for glassware and they spared NO expense on the presentations of these spirits.

Amazing artists making the drinks. Anna, mitch and logan are talented. I don't even bother looking at the menu, I enjoy letting them create something special every time with just a few suggestions. The atmosphere is fun, too.

Drinks: 5/5, such creative concoctions made here by the bartender who has extensive experience and really knows how to mix flavors for the most interesting drinks. Ambience: 5/5, solid, from the secret door entry to the close intimate setting of the speak easy itself; it truly feels like a speak easy Customer service: 5/5, great conversation and making sure we were set on drinks.

Occulto 477 actually feels like a secret. From the creative entry process, the whole experience is fun! Once inside, the ambiance is dark, moody, and perfectly eerie--like a cemetery speakeasy that Dracula himself would hang out in. The staff were incredibly kind and personable--super chill. I went for a Dealer's Choice and it did not disappoint. They really nailed my flavor preferences, crafting something balanced, unique, and strong enough to keep the vibe going. The "Gluttony" was another standout--rich, layered, and visually stunning. My only small gripe was the loud group next to us; the space is cozy, so shouting kind of breaks the spell. Still, it's a one-of-a-kind experience I'd definitely come back for (hopefully with quieter neighbors next time).

Located in Old Town San Diego. This is the mysterious speakeasy situated next to (not under) a 1800s cemetery. The entrance is at Tehona Bar. To enter you must confess your sins. That aside, the cocktails were amazing. We were able to down 2 drinks in an hour. There is a two drink minimum and a time limit. Do make a reservation because there were probably about 5 tables and bar seating inside, an occupancy load of 24 total at any one time. The vibe, ambience and service were great for our date night. We squeezed this in before visiting Whaley house.

Right down the street from places such as El Agave hides Occulto. Had dinner out front in Tahona and in we came. I had the Santa Muerte and the Zombie - both great. My partner had some smoked creation that you can see in the photos and thought it was great. We'll be back

Ambiance 5/5 Service 4.5/5 Drinks 5/5 The vibes were exactly what we were looking for and the drinks were strong. Fairly priced. The 2 drink minimum was pretty much the max since we only get 2 drinks in before our 90 minutes was up. It did take a long time to make the drinks, especially since it's so tiny in there but that's our only complaint. Overall, had a great time and would recommend for a spooky, good time.

Out of all the speakeasy I've been to, this would be my least favorite. They have rules you must read and agree to before entering. Took us two months to get a reservation for 6. We got seated at the booth. It's really dark inside and one of the rules says you can't use your camera flash. Instead, there's a battery operated fake candle light. Two drink minimum per person. We each got something different and we passed the drinks clockwise for everyone to sample. Therefore, we each sampled 12 drinks. Out of the 12, we agreed on a few favorites and we all have different palate yet we agreed on the same. Two of them were dealers choice where you customize your own. Envy and Pride were refreshing. Sloth tasted like an espresso martini. Tsumi tasted like the Asian coconut gelatin dessert. Vod sod was the worst out of all. I'm a light weight and usually drinks at these places hit me quick with a buzz and I'm done on my second. When it doesn't, it makes me think the quality is not there. I'm not a fan of their drinks, didn't find their concept unique except for the rules.

Stopped by to have drink, the gentleman was not really nice. It was 9pm and we were asked for reservations. The place was completely empty. My friends and I explained we just wanted to purchase a drink. The server stated he had several reservations at 9pm. No one was outside waiting and again, the place was completely empty. Needless to say we were disappointed.

Before checking this spot out we actually ate at the restaurant this speakeasy is in so we actually knew where it was. I was under the impression that it was located on the other side of Old Town but it's actually on the less busier side of the street which I kind of liked. I actually think we had the last reservation of the night at 10:30pm. We had the max party size of 6 guests. We were asked to wait in the small bar area of the restaurant which has a really cool wall photo op with skulls. There you are handed a leather booklet with the rules of conduct for the speakeasy which I found added a touch of class. The speakeasy itself is super small and intimate. We were seated at the biggest table which was a booth that was electically decorated. Each cocktail was inspired by the 7 deadly sins which made for interesting choices

A MUST Visit for any trendy and spooky cocktails. A staple for tourists and inhabitants alike! Hands down the BEST Speakeasy experience in Old Town - their cocktails may be on the pricier side but the quality variety, and atmosphere makes them absolutely to DIE for.

Ask for Mitch he is a wonderful bartender with a high product knowledge and very friendly personality. I love the vibe of the venue located in lovely Old Town San Diego!

I think they must be changing reviews. I used to love this speakeasy, I was here last year and they had destroyed the menu and broke my heart. I don't want to drink seven deadly sins I want to drink a garden of death or whatever that was, and the dry ice teapot. They have the most basic drink ware now and the drinks are mid compared to some other wonderful cocktail bars without all the pomp and circumstance. I've developed high expectations for occulto over the years and have brought many friends here. This stinks, I won't ever come back unless they step their game up. They might as well start serving Paloma's and sangria at this point. -sad Karen misses old occulto

The coolest experience!!! Hidden behind a black curtain, you wouldn't even know it was there. Confess a sin to get in and you're greeting with such a cool vibe. Small, intimate, quiet and dimly lit, it's perfect for a date night. Every single cocktail we had was perfect but the most fun was rolling the dice or just chatting with the bartender about what you like and they just whip something up for you! So many drink options to choose from, this is definitely a more than one time visit!

Unique speakeasy hidden behind a heavy black curtain. Reservations are required. Expect a surprise before they let you in. Once inside, Oculto 477 has a perfect and unique vibe. Old, worn, dark, and gothic. October is the perfect month to come and pay a visit. Most importantly, the cocktails were well balanced, unique, and very tasty. Remember that you can order from their full bar off the menu as well. Sometimes speakeasy's can be a one visit experience but Oculto 477 is the kind of place that I would return to and experience again. Gotta try more of those deliciously crafted cocktails.

Celebrated my 49th birthday in 2023 with friends and beverages at Oculto 477. I'd been interested in visiting the venue for a while and took the opportunity for my birthday to do so. I made a reservation because I always make reservations. If I can't I won't go to a place. When we arrived we were stopped at a confessional style door where we had to confess a sin to enter. If the host didn't approve of your sin you had to come up sign another one. I had to try three apparently I'm not sinful enough. HAHAHAHA We entered and were sat at a half booth with a small cocktail table and a chair. The intimate venue was extremely authentic and made me feel as if I was in Mexico or South America. It was lovely! Our server came over and greeted us. Explained the menu and the seating time. We checked out the menu and were pleasantly surprised to find so many mocktails available and crafted. My mom doesn't drink. We got our first round of cocktails and we were pretty happy. The presentation for all were great and the flavours were good. Funny enough we all preferred Mom's mocktail the best. I know! It was crisp and refreshing and perfectly crafted. Round two was also good but yet again the mocktail was mocking us booze drinkers. LOL Round three, I didn't like my birthday cocktail that the venue bought me but they did change it for my first cocktail which I did enjoy. I will say if I do go back I will definitely stick with the mocktails just to switch it up. They were just perfect with fresh fruit and juice in every one. While we did like the venue a lot and the presentation of all of our drinks, I will say the service was lacking. We had two people waiting on us but watched them off to the side and inattentive to our table and others they were handling. Please note the venue is small and was not full on the random Monday we ventured in. Of all of the speakeasies I've been to this is not high on my list of places. If you go do so for the ambiance and then you won't be disappointed.

Okay. Beware the way you have to enter. Read the rules. Once you are in you will find a small and dark area where no flashlights are allowed. Too dark to read? Too bad. Ask the staff for help and this is a good thing. It keeps the atmos really in place. The beverages are knock your socks off great. They are $20+ each but are truly yummy. Overall a nice place to relax and try some drinks you've never had.

Ottho is a tiny little bar hidden away in old town. It only has about 15 seats once you get into the tiny little speakeasy. The drinks are always good and it makes for a very fancy fun intimate night.

Another wonderfully done speakeasy! Service was immaculate and the drinks were delicious! They sure know how to mix an unusual mix but make it tasty! Ambiance is of course 100 - its small, its personal, its just the speakeasy one needs for a winding down moment. Appreciate the host as well - who was knowledgeable in his drinks and the bar. Happy to report, i will definitely put this speakeasy on my must try for my out of town visitors!

It's a very small venue with about 6 tables so you need to make reservations. I enjoyed the drinks and presentation of them. However the service was horrible. The waitress was really rude to us several times. I felt like I was in a restaurant where they are rude to you on purpose

This place is totally great! I've never been to a speakeasy before, and I had no idea what to expect. The entire way they set up your journey into the back room of the speakeasy is very much like a Disney ride, and once you get in there, it really does feel like you're transported back to another time. The drinks were extremely tasty, different and exciting. Mine was lit on fire, which was pretty fun. Prices are pretty good considering how upscale and different the spot is. I definitely recommend it!

Such a cool atmosphere! San Diego has many speakeasy experiences but this is truly unique as it's located right next to historic El Campo Santo in Old Town. We went on a Wednesday evening so reservations were easy to secure. After checking in with the hostess, we were given a card with instructions. I won't spoil anything, but just like a real speakeasy, there's a certain way you're allowed entry into the actual bar. There was a 3 drink maximum, although I felt like we could've had at least one more, but understandable due to time constraints and the bar tenders really did cater to us. Even though there were others in that small space, it felt very personal and tailored for our own experience. The drinks were not only beautifully presented, they had quite a kick and tasted great. I thought the prices were reasonable, an average of $20 per drink. Overall, as small as the space was, it didn't feel cramped. I stead it felt intimate and we enjoyed the personal attention.

Love this little speakeasy! It's in the back of a restaurant in Old Town, and to enter you must confess your sins! Great all year but especially around Halloween in my opinion! The drink menu has changed recently so they have lots of fun new cocktails to try in a funky dark space. Add it to the list for a speak-easy in San Diego!

This speakeasy has a creative entrance which was entertaining and a good start to the theme of the bar. It's one of the smaller speakeasies I have been too but it makes for a very intimate experience. The menu has a lot more variety than most speakeasy's which is nice but it is a bit pricier than the average speakeasy. I felt like the drinks were strong and tasty though. The bartender was very friendly and attentive so great service and the front host was also nice too. If you're in old town and want a cute experience, check this out! We went at 6pm on a wednesday and there was street parking only a few minutes walk away and the bar was pretty empty.

Both of my visits to Oculto 477 have been top notch as far as craft cocktails go. It's the perfect cozy environment to catch up with friends or for a date night. It has a spooky old-timey atmosphere with a playlist of 20's jazz-style covers of current pop songs. The space is small, so the largest party they can accommodate is six, which fits the intimate nature of the bar. The cocktails on the menu are extravagant and delightful. I also love the options for roll the dice to pick a custom cocktail, or bartender's choice. It's clear that the bartenders here are true artists that know their spirits. They are fun and in character, and it is clear they are passionate about their craft. Be warned, you'll need to practice a bit of creativity to enter.

Very creative and unique speakeasy located inside Tahona Bar restaurant in Old Town! It's very small inside, about 8 seats at the bar and a few small tables and a booth that can seat 2-4 people. This is NOT good for big groups. When you check in at the entrance of Tahona Bar, the hostess provided us with a card that had information on rules and how to get into the speakeasy. To be let in, you confess one of the 7 deadly sins at the door which looks like a confessional at the church. We both ordered the "Dealer's Choice" for one of our drinks, which is where you tell the bartender your choices for spirit, style, and profile. The bartender really did a great job creating a drink to each of our liking. My husband also ordered the "Risk It All" where he rolls 3 dice that choose the spirit, profile, and style for him. We were both happy with our drinks! Heads up: -2 minimum drinks per person -Reservations are a must -It's pretty dark inside and they refrain you from using phone's flash, but you can use the candle on the table -Only 2 bartenders/servers inside so the wait for drinks and to order can take a little bit -Street parking only in Old Town Overall, great experience and I recommend to anyone who enjoys speakeasies!

Such a cool concept- For $20 you can get the bartender to make you anything you can dream of! Best night ever at Occulto trying their plethora of drinks! Also this place smells amazing??? It's got like a woodsy cologne smell which I was obsessed with. I kid you not I was taking deep breaths just to breathe it in!!! LOL Our bartender was super friendly and loved quizzing us on what we like, bringing us unique creations inspired by our tastes, it was special! Tips: - go on an off day (we went on a sunday) so you can stay longer than the reservation window. - only one booth for parties of 4+, best for date nights! -must get an egg white dessert type drink here, seriously the best!! -favorite on menu drink was the Straw Tai -two drink minimum -make a reservation!!!

What a fun place! They really know how to set the mood, and their music choice matches the ambiance perfectly. Hands-down, best menu design of all bars/restaurants/establishments. Drinks are solid. In fact, I discovered my favorite drink type (clarified milk) here. However, I feel like returnability is on the lower side -- after a couple times, it loses the novel element of surprise. Kinda like a one-and-done type of place, vs a speakeasy I constantly crave to frequent. Maybe they'll switch up their menu sometime, but until then, I've tried most of their drinks and can say I'm satisfied. Overall, wonderful experience! And for any speakeasy fanatic like myself, I recommend they try this spot at least once.

This place is next level. Grab a reservation and get ready to confess a sin to get into this cocktail haven. Ambiance was amazing and service was lovely. Cannot go wrong. Stunning drinks!

Best cocktail I have ever had. Zero exaggeration. Such a cool spot. The bartender knows his craft and excels. Each drink has its own unique flare. Cozy spot. Will be back again.

All of the seasonal drinks and new cocktail menu were delicious especially the Sloth, Pride, and Lust. Bartenders were friendly and great service. Great experience, my fiancé and I always enjoy coming here and will be back soon! Highly recommend, it's one of our favorite speakeasies in San Diego and it's always fun coming to Old Town!

What a fun experience and the vibe in the speakeasy is just as that! You feel you are in one and the staff was so friendly but let me tell you about the delicious cocktails..wow they were so yummy!!! This is a for sure spot we will be coming back too

This place is so cool! The vibe was perfectly spooky and classy combined. The bartenders were super knowledgeable and the drinks were great!

Logan served us at the bar and recommended some amazing cocktails for us. The drinks were beautifully presented and exceeded our expectations for each of our pallets. He was able to multitask and chat with us. The space was cozy and felt a true speakeasy. I will definitely be coming back.

Not my cup of tea. You need a reservation and a confession. Once you are here, you need two drinks. I'm not a big fan of the drink collection. I wouldn't come back. They are adamant of the two drink minimum. They didn't really offer much a variety besides mezcal.

The best experience ever! By far one of the best speakeasies in San Diego, my family and I will be talking about this place for years to come. My daughter who attends school at UCSD is bringing her girlfriend this upcoming Sunday night! We all had an amazing time. Mitch our bartender was fabulous and our host was so attentive and knowledgeable. I will be coming back for sure!

Such a fun experience, and really captured a speakeasy vibe. We had a reservation for 10pm, and were not let in any earlier (once we were we saw why, it's very small inside). You get a little rule book before you go in, 2 drink minimum, and some fun rules about what you need to do to get in. The drinks were really tasty, I got the Mezcal drink and loved it. There's a few drinks that get lit on fire which is also fun. Bartenders were nice and friendly as well, willing to do a "DIY" option on drinks if you tell them what you want etc.

The service at the entrance was horrible. Rude, took a long time to respond, and dismissive. Would strongly recommend visiting other speakeasies through the city that appreciate their customers

Great speakeasy! Reservation only. Street parking took about 10min to find. Walk past the graveyard, then check in with the host at the restaurant, and you'll get a small card with instructions on how to give the password at the confessional stand to gain entrance to the actual speakeasy. Very intimate setting with mostly bar seating and a booth with max seating for 6. Ambience is perfect for date night but probably not for a more rowdy night out. Reservation is limited to 90 min with a 2 drink minimum per person, but I did not feel rushed with this, since the service was actually very quick. The drink menu is not huge, but there is a "dealer's choice" option, and if you are even more adventurous, you can roll the dice to come up with a concoction. I very much enjoyed the off-the-menu drink, "Garden of Death," but the dealer's choice drink was probably one of the most memorable drinks in my life. I asked for gin and celery bitters, with herbal and vegetal notes, and our mixologist absolutely delivered. $20 per drink is possibly a bit pricier than most other speakeasies, but well worth it. Drinks are strong and there is no food or snacks, so plan accordingly! You will not regret giving this place a try.

The mixologist behind the bar was amazing at asking what you like and producing some of the best bespoke cocktails I have even had. Everyone spot on and amazing. I did not rate the food because there was not really anything other than olives.

Small speakeasy with really creative drinks! Important things to note: - need to make a reservation to go - two drink minimum required (mocktails available!) - located inside Tahona Bar The experience itself starts off pretty exciting with a request for each guest to state a sin to enter the speakeasy. They have a wide variety of drinks that are all beautifully presented. My favorite part of the experience was they had an option to roll 3 dice and whatever words the dice rolled would be the basis of your cocktail. I'd highly recommend giving this place a try. My only complaint was that your server was also your bartender and I felt like the two staff members available were so busy trying to attend to the entire speakeasy.

This speakeasy style bar is in Old Town, right next to the cemetery. My friends and I made a reservation for 4 on a Sunday night. We wanted to add one more person to the reservation, but unfortunately this place couldn't accommodate our friend. I can see why--this establishment is in the back of the restaurant and the seats are extremely small. They can accommodate groups of up to 4 at the regular table and maybe 5 people at the large table. The seats are actually uncomfortable but perhaps it's to ensure people don't stay too long. There is a two drink minimum at this bar. The drinks are fun and creative, though. My friends and I enjoyed the Manzatini, Fire in the Cemetery, Hold the StrawTai, Garden of Death, and two "Risk it all drinks." I enjoyed all of the drinks on their menu but the risk it all drinks were heavy on the alcohol and were not as enjoyable. Overall, a nice place to try once but I won't be back!

Loved this place. Great concept. Ordered some cocktails and had a great time with friends. I feel like everyone should try this place at least once. You will not be disappointed.

Bring back the old Oculto! Had the most magical experience here over a year ago, and as many note in more recent reviews? Everything has changed. What used to be a fully immersive experience with dimly lit vibes, great music, knowledgeable and kind bartenders, and incredible presentation is now completely transactional. Lighting is too high, service is pushing you out the door with constant reminders of how much time you have left (happy birthday to me), and the drink menu is uninspired and poorly executed. I was really disappointed to spend a lot of money on a rare night out without the kids to be treated like I'm just a body filling up their next guest's chair. And the room wasn't even full of customers!

A very cozy and intimate vibe, we did dealer's choice drinks which were all very good. The bartender was great. They do have a 2 drink minimum and it was super hot/stuffy inside-we were sweating...

San Diego has no shortage of speakeasies but I think this one is my favorite! This intimate hidden gem is located in the back of Tahona restaurant in Old Town. Be sure to make a reservation because the chances of just walking in are slim to none. You'll start in a confessional where you'll be asked to confess a sin to enter. Then you'll be welcomed into the space for either bar or table seating. It overlooks the cemetery that is home to 477 bodies (hence the name). I loved the counter seating to get to talk to the bartenders and see our drinks being created. The drinks were absolutely delicious! They were worth the money and handcrafted to perfection! I appreciated that the taste matched how good they looked!

This place is one of a kind! It can be difficult to get reservations so plan ahead! The speakeasy was so much fun. You have to confess a sin while in this confessional like space before they'll open the door and let you in. There's a 2 drink minimum, not suited for large parties, & a two hour limit. The drinks are unique, and they mixologists are phenomenal. These were some of the best cocktails I've had. Definitely a must try!

The drinks are always good and the atmosphere is fun and relaxing. The menu has changed but there is still something for everyone. Our server was helpful and engaging.

Oculto is a phenomenal Speakeasy with amazing uniquely crafted drinks and great bartenders. Our bartender Josh truly gave us an amazing and unique experience with his vast knowledge of spirits. Oculto is a small and intimate unique speakeasy that cares about the smallest of details therefore enhancing the user experience. All their drinks are uniquely and expertly crafted. They also provide you with some unique cocktail experiences like the Risk it option that has you rolling the dice that will decide your drink experience. Overall this Oculto provides the user an amazing and must try cocktail experience that will definitely impress you and leave you speechless. The only downside to this place is the understandable 90 minute time Limit and the two drinks minimum.

The pictures I took do not do this place justice. Make sure you make a reservation in advance if you are trying to go on the weekend. We have tried to go without one before and never got in - but now I see why. It is small and confined but that is part of the vibe. It's dark and smells just like mezcal as soon as you walk in. Mitchell was an award winning bar tender and took extraordinary care in everything he did. He nailed the cocktail I was craving since Oaxaca and was able to recreate it just based on my description. So much to choose from and all the drinks are presented with grace. Thank you.

Been here twice. The first time it was fairly new. The second time, there was a lot more that changed. There was a 2 hour limit and everyone has to get 2 drinks minimum. It felt very forced. Even if you are the DD, but they do have a non alcoholic menu, only thing about that is that it also cost as much as an alcoholic drink. I really like going the first time, but the second time made me not want to come again. They checked is in late and it felt really rushed