One of San Diego’s original craft-cocktail spots, this Little Italy establishment reopened in 2016 after a complete makeover. Today, it features 100-year-old taxidermy pieces (a collaboration with the Natural History Museum), shelves lined with classic novels, and even a tiki-themed hidden bar in the back. The excellent cocktails, however, remain blissfully unchanged. At dueling bars, the staff crafts everything from a refreshing Whiskey Smash to the Chilcano, made with yerba maté–infused pisco, ginger, lime, Angostura bitters, and soda. For something different, make reservations at False Idol—the speakeasy, concealed behind a walk-in cooler, features a waterfall, many wood carvings, and cocktails like a mai tai made with the original Trader Vic’s recipe.
