Gaslamp Speakeasy

Such a cool place. Tooo bad.
Anyone know how to make the drink that they did called The Fever ??
Think it was made with jalapeño gin…

Walking passed just yesterday, finding that this wonderful place and the sister restaurant Hennessey closed! How sad!!!

Great evening with music and delicious cocktails and we got lucky and found some seats as well.
I highly recommend it, the best kept secret in town and the performers were great too.
They get busy too, however with a little wait you may get a seat as well.

So after some research on the bars in Gaslamp, we decided this was the place to be. We had a hard time finding it at first because the sign is so dim, but it’s right next to Hennessy’s on 4^th and G Street.
It opens at 8 pm and live music starts at 9pm. My bf ordered an Old Fashioned. The bartender took a big ass block of ice and used an ice pick to shape it into a sphere. If you didn’t know, using an ice sphere in a drink melts slower than smaller pieces. Watching him break the ice and make the drink was like watching art taking place. You could tell he was passionate about his craft. I just ordered a regular Moscow mule and even watching him make that was pretty awesome. And it’s an added bonus when the bartenders are on the handsome side.
The drinks were delicious and strong. The band playing at 9pm was live jazz. They were really talented and we had a good time.
Here’s why they don’t get 5 stars. They share a kitchen with Hennessy’s so if you need to go to the restroom, it’s on the Hennessy’s side. Which means you have to walk outside and walk through another bar. Another thing I didn’t like was when we bought our second round of drinks, he charged us an extra $ 10 for the same drinks. I’m assuming it was for the live entertainment. I was already buzzed so I didn’t care to ask.

This is my first time giving any place five stars. I didn’t hesitate for a second because Gaslamp Speakeasy deserves it!
The gaslamp district is a lively part of town. You can find just about any kind of nightlife in this area! You’ve got the clubs, some sports bars, some regular bars, hidden speakeasies, and then there’s this gem.
Sometimes a speakeasy will get really into it with the secret passwords and hidden doors. Some even require reservations weeks in advance. Don’t get me wrong, that can be pretty cool, but it can also be too much. If you’re looking for a nice spot without the added drama then this place is for you.
The live music playing on the weekends is enough of a selling point for me. The past couple of times I’ve been here, guys have been killing it on the harmonica or the sax. My friends actually bought one of the band’s CDs. Yes, they were that good.
Mmm now the drinks. The whiskey sour is. So. Good. I get it every time I go. If that’s not what you’re into, they have a solid cocktail list. And if there’s nothing you enjoy on there then just tell the bartenders to fix you up something nice! I’ve asked them to surprise me a couple of times and it’s always worth it.
It does get pretty packed in here so there have been times where we’ve had to stand and wait for a table to open up. But it’s worth it!

We LOVE this place! Great sound and atmosphere. The place is small, but I like the ambiance.
We have enjoyed most acts we have seen here. Our favorite is The Red Lotus Revue. Those guys know how to play the blues!

1. Drinks are almost the same price as Seven Grand (a regular Old Fashioned will run around $ 12).
2. The location is much smaller than Seven Grand and it is loud! (there will be a live band playing usually). If you don’t like loud,
tl;dr: drinks are good. go here if you’re in DT and you don’t want to go somewhere too trashy. (stay classy)

I took my friend here for her birthday, expecting it to be a lively night full of jazz. I was a little disappointed when to find less than 10 people there upon arrival and no music (the band was on a break at the time). The band came back and were great and friendly. The drinks were pretty good and very worth it if you check-​in (for the 50% off your first drink deal). I had a classic whiskey sour that I liked.
The drinks are worth it and the music was pretty good. It looks a little different in the pictures than in person and I think that may have been why I was a little disappointed.

Came here on a crowded Friday night, they had live band playing and the place was popping! The place is very small but intimate.
The bartender was very professional and fun. I don’t know much about whiskey, but he carefully handcrafted the ice, and for my whiskey sour, he added a dash of egg whites, it was the best whiskey sour I have ever had! My friends had lots of good thing to say about this place, will be back!

I always liked the idea of a speakeasy, and while the vibe is pretty cool, I just didn’t really enjoy it here.
The live band was way too loud for the small space, so much for trying to be hidden, no conversation could be had.
The drinks are great at about $ 12 each, the service great, if it was not for the music we would have stayed a bit longer, also very low on seating here.

Best bar we went to in San Diego!
It’s a very small bar! But they had this live band there called the «Up Shots»! They were so awesome. We were actually just walking by and we heard the music and had to check it out! Best idea yet! There was a guitar/​singer, a bass player who played a cello, and a guy o the drums! they had so much personality and gave us a great show that involved stunts, fire, and lot of funny business! One of the girl bartenders came out and even sang a couple songs. It was great. After their set they even went around and talked to everyone. They let us know that they come to Vegas sometimes to play.
The bartenders were awesome too. They chit chatted with us and made us feel comfortable. They had Moscow Mule on their cocktail menu and it was delicious! They made us Cherry Bomb shots but they didn’t have the ingredients but tasted better then any other Cherry Bombs we had.
Sunday’s are usually the best days to go here so come in and have a few drinks! It’ll be worth it!

Came here with a group of friends after eating at Rareform. It was really dark in there, but luckily there was a little bit of light coming from the jazz band. We were lucky enough to get a table/​seats for 5 of us. The place is small, so I can see it getting crowded easily.
We headed straight for the bar. The mixologists here spend quality time on their drinks. My friend and I got a basil mojito, which was very green! But so refreshing. It tasted really good. I can’t remember the other drinks my friends got. We were able to check in on Unilocal and get our first drink ½ off! But even then, 3 drinks cost me $ 29! Which means each drink is probably $ 13 or so, which isn’t listed on the menu. It’s a cool vibe in there, but it’s not a place that you go to talk to your friends. You’re there to listen to live music and have a good cocktail.

Cute little place in the Gaslamp. A friend and I were downtown for a play this evening, and knew that Whitney Shay was playing here, so decided to stop in. It was crowded, and no servers, so getting from the booth seat we had squeezed into– as it was the only available seat in the place– up to the bar to get a drink was a challenge!
The Whitney Shay quartet that was playing was great. She’s a local talent that I enjoy, and was our reason for the visit.
We were a bit hungry, and ordered Nachos. Unknown to us, there are 2 types of Nachos– regular and «Irish». We meant to get the regular, but ended up receiving the Irish Nachos, which are basically sliced potatoes baked and topped like potato skins. They were actually pretty darned tasty! Glad the mistake had been made!
I was pleased to find that upon my check in I got 50% off a drink, and we hadn’t yet ordered– so that was a pleasant surprise.
It was a fun, late night activity for us.

This little hole in the wall bar is great for starting off a night out in Gaslamp. The venue is small so I don’t recommend going if you have a large party.
We were able to get cocktails for half the price through the Unilocal deal.
They had a great live jazz band and the bartenders were very helpful and willing to give you suggestions on popular drinks!

How can I not love this place? Whisky sour is bomb dot com. Totally say yes to this place!
If you want a cozy place with friends, drink, and good music, Gaslamp Speakeasy is a right place to come. I really enjoy the time here with my friends.
P. S. Not very easy to find.

5+ Stars! A must visit speakeasy if you’re in the Gaslamp SD. We used Unilocal checkins which we randomly found and it took our drinks from $ 11.75 to $ 5.75. I was happy to tip $ 4 for my special drink.
Like any great speakeasy, the bartender (wish there were more, my only complaint at all) asked me what type of liquor I liked. I said bourbon. He brought out 3 diff types and told me they were the same price point: spicy, smokey, or regular. I got to sniff all three bottle tops and chose smokey aged bourbon. He asked me what bitters I liked and then he shaved, with a real ice pick, a ball of ice from scratch. I’d probably accidentally stab myself if I tried. Absolutely amazing strong drink, big fan of quality speakeasy’s.
Multiple rock /​cover bands played in the back as well, great music. Might be diff from the usual ‘be quiet or get kicked out’ speakeasy, but definitely fun and new school.
Great drinks!

YES, this place is smaller than your average go-​to bar joint. NO, it is not a dance club with adiós’s, lemon drops, and long islands. If you are simply looking for an awesome drink made by bartenders that actually do care about making good drinks, this is the place to visit.
This is not a suitable place for a group of girls looking to party BUT if you’re the kind that’s looking for something amazing to… well I already mentioned that earlier.
Here’s the thing: My friend and I were waiting for a drink, then I got my drink, then my friend was accidentally skipped. It’s a bar, it can happen but here’s the point. Afterwards, the bartender approached my friend and told her he was sorry and offered her a complimentary drink. She turned it down but I insisted to the bartender, «go ahead and make something awesome.» He gave her an amazing whiskey sour in a unique glass with the design swirls in the foam, and add another third of alcohol to it. CJ, you freakin rock!
That was my second experience at Gaslamp Speakeasy and so far you have not disappointed. Your establishment is a gem filled with good people, sometimes really loud music, but overall, keep delivering!

I didn’t see a great deal of places in the Gaslamp district where one could enjoy fancy dranky dranks in a relatively inconspicuous manner (my favorite type of drinkin’), but the Gaslamp Speakeasy stood out after I did some research. And let me say, it’s magnificent for just such a thing!
It’s not very big, but it’s owned by the same group that owns Hennessey’s Tavern next door, so you can have your classy drinks here and head next door afterward for a little more rowdy fun in a more spacious room.
The bartenders here are fantastic. Very friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. CJ and Matt were tending the bar last Friday night and they know their craft well and can banter with the best. I tried the Manhattan and the Sazerac while there and they did them fantastically.
Probably the coolest thing about this place is the live music they have every night starting at 9PM. The night I was there, it was a group of dudes in their late 40s and early 50s who could play the classics (like ZZ Top and the Beatles) and some blues like nobody’s business. It was a little loud and made conversation a little difficult while it was going on, but they did take breaks so you could have a conversation in between the songs.
I should note that the drinks are spendy– in the $ 12/​drink neighborhood. But if you’re looking for an evening where you can enjoy a well made drink and listen to some rockin’ dudes play the blues rather than watch drunken, disorderly bros hit on woo girls (I’m not disparaging it; there IS a time and a place for that), Gaslamp Speakeasy is where you should spend the evening! If you’re looking to take a date out for drinks and/​or dinner, I’d certainly recommend this place. I didn’t try the food, but they did have a decently sized menu. Mostly burgers and sandwich type items, but they do have salmon and ribs on the menu as well.
If I had to complain about one thing, it’s the fact that you HAVE to go to Hennessey’s next door if you need to use the restroom. Not a deal breaker, but if you have one or two too many of their delicious drinks (which isn’t that hard to do), it does force you to make a long and arduous walk to relieve yourself.
Conclusion: definitely go. You won’t be disappointed!

We visited the Gaslamp district on our first night in San Diego. I wanted some nightlife while keeping low key. So this Gaslamp Speakeasy worked out perfectly. True to its name, it took a modicum of effort to find – hidden in plain sight, if you will. But if you call the place a speakeasy, is it?
The bartenders were fantastic. Jieun ordered an Old Biddy (Blantons bourbon, muddled cucumber and mint, fresh lime, cane syrup) while my bourbon old-​fashioned was off-​menu (suggested by the bartender) but not exactly adventurous. In any case, both were delicious. The staff definitely know their way around the bar.
The kicker was the awesome live blues music. We weren’t expecting that. The down side is that it’s a very small place. There weren’t any tables for us to enjoy our drinks. But we found our own little niche in the corner. Literally, it was a bench by some barrels. This actually worked out pretty great, though, so I still have no complaints.
Oh, the bartender accidentally charged my tab to the card they held when I wanted to pay cash instead. But that’s no big deal either. So nope. No complaints!
(A few photos posted here:
)

We were glad we found this place by accident on our last trip two trips to San Diego. This speakeasy does not require a password, nor does it require a dress code, however, you’ll just feel a bit under dress if you are planning to walk in with beach wear. Come on now, why would you want to walk in to a classy looking place with beach attire. This is not a place for you to get drunk, it’s more of a place to enjoy yourself or bring a lady friend or guy friend to relax.
What made us love this place was their old fashion. The Belly Up also known as infused bacon old fashion was the attraction. It made us keep wanting to come back to have another drink. The drink may sound hearty and ugh, but it’s delicious! If you are the type of person who likes to try new things, like we do, you should definitely give it a try. Another drink I would recommend, if you are a Remy drinker would be the Sidecar. It has Remy VSOP, Cointreau, fresh lemon, sugared rim. Trust me, you’ll taste the Remy and everything else equally. Lastly, the Whiskey Sour. It’s made with whiskey, fresh lemon, simple syrup, orange bitters, egg whites. Yes, you heard right. Egg white! The creamy texture and the fluffiness was delicious. Tastes as if you’re drinking a dessert that’s not too sweet, but has booze in it.
Another great thing about this place is that there are bar seats (about 6 seats), booths and small tables for everyone to enjoy the live band (Jazz music). Drinks are ordered at the bar and same goes with the food. Don’t be one of those people who are lazy to get off their bottoms to order food or drinks because if you’re there with a lady friend, I am sure you’ll get straight to the bar and wait just to impress her. Hehe.
Overall, cannot wait to come back to this place again to enjoy their specialty drinks, live band and the atmosphere.
Note: Want bar seats? Get there early!
Learn the Gaslamp Speakeasy’s House Rule
— No Religion
— No Politics
— If you want to approach a lady, you should do so with a drink **
— Booths are for communal seating, please invite guests —
— If you want a fancy cocktail, its going to take a minute, so please be patient