NORTH COAST
Redwoods & Rail Adventure to Glen Blair Bar near Fort Bragg
Ride the historic Skunk Train seven miles through towering redwoods to reach Glen Blair Bar, a hidden forest hangout outside Fort Bragg. The bar sits under ancient trees with fire pits, live music and handcrafted cocktails that feel straight out of a fairy tale. There are no roads or signs, just the train and the hush of the woods.
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
Oakland’s Hidden “Gold Palm” Neighborhood Bar
Gold Palm is a tiny upbeat Pakistani-inspired neighborhood bar that brings energy to Oakland with coconut-washed bourbon punches, masala fries and an intriguing happy hour. The menu also shows love to NA sips alongside local beer, wine and cider, plus savory small plates. If you know, you know – ring the golden doorbell to enter Moonglow, the photo-free speakeasy named one of the East Bay's best cocktail bars.
Cosmos, Art & Hidden Moments at The Ameswell Hotel in Mountain View
The Ameswell Hotel in Mountain View hides two standout experiences that feel like insider access. Cocktails & Cosmos limits stargazing sessions to ten guests, pairing a specialty drink with time on a powerful UNISTELLAR telescope. 7 Paintings turns dinner into a multi-sensory show-courses that unfold with art, projection and storytelling.
Velvet-Curtain Mystique at Still O.G. in San Jose
Slip behind the velvet curtain at Still O.G. in San Jose to find Alter Ego Cocktail Club, dark, sleek and deliberately low-key. The room leans into moody elegance with one-off cocktails and elevated bites. Reservations are encouraged, but the tone stays playful and unpretentious.
Live-Music at The Big Easy in Petaluma
The Big Easy in downtown Petaluma is an underground nightclub steps from Kentucky Street's boutiques. Six nights a week, the room fills with rock, jazz, bluegrass, punk, folk-you name it-alongside local wines, craft beers, and cocktails. Order dinner from Speakeasy Bistro next door (yes, lobster mac). The aim is community: diverse crowd, safe space, big sound.
Healdsburg Speakeasy at a Grape Leaf Inn
Inside Healdsburg's Grape Leaf Inn, a charming Queen Anne-style home, an unmarked door leads to a cozy, Prohibition-inspired lounge. Wilson Artisan Wines headline alongside thoughtful brandy tastings in a space that pairs vintage charm with modern polish. It's built for post-tasting wind-downs, date nights and small groups chasing a quieter vibe.
Hidden Bookcase Tastings in Downtown Napa
Hidden behind a bookcase, Bonita Bonita in Napa offers candlelit tastings and vintage speakeasy charm. Co-founded by Bonita Bonita Wine’s Nikki and Brie Garcia, the speakeasy-style parlor hosts intimate wine tastings with a glam, old-school twist. Access comes via reservations or select open hours.
Holiday Noir: Silent Night Speakeasy at W San Francisco
High above San Francisco, the W San Francisco’s Silent Night Speakeasy transforms Nov. 28 – Dec. 30 into a cinematic hideout. Expect candlelight, velvet, Champagne, chef-driven bites, and live performers from crooners to DJs. Groups up to 25 book 90-minute seatings, keeping it exclusive without being stiff.
Library-Themed Speakeasy in Santa Clara
Loggia at the Hyatt Centric Santa Clara blends wood accents, velvet chairs, and modern art into a library-inspired bar. Handcrafted cocktails and shareable plates anchor happy hours, curated events, and game-day hangs.
GOLD COUNTRY
Hidden Bars of Elk Grove: Where Style Meets Surprise
Elk Grove's nightlife hides a few gems for those who know where to look. The Velvet Martini delivers old-school speakeasy charm with its dim glow, plush seating and standout martinis paired with bites from neighboring Sheldon Inn. Nearby, Buckos N Mares brings a Western twist behind a bowling alley and opens into a rustic saloon straight out of the Old West.
Subterranean Whiskey Den in Sutter Creek
The Copper Room in Sutter Creek sits below street level, sharing 1800s walls and all-season coziness. Slide into booths or gather at the long historic bar for signature cocktails, regional wines and craft beer. The whiskey list travels the world, with customizable flights and private tastings by appointment.
CENTRAL VALLEY
Dueling Pianos Underground in Vacaville
Start with scratch-made steaks, seafood and pasta at Mäksē in downtown Vacaville, then head downstairs for the Speakeasy show. The Dueling Pianos Revival is a fully interactive, all-request musical show where guests outbid for their song choice. Genres jump from oldies to hip hop to southern rock without missing a beat.
CENTRAL COAST
Cocktails Beneath Grain Silos in Morgan Hill
Silos in Morgan Hill hides under three towering grain silos with no sign and a low-key entrance beside a gym. The menu credits each drink's creator, underscoring craft and personality. Inside, curved walls cozy up the room while trains slide by a high window; there's even a secret patio reachable only from inside.
Members-Only Backroom + Hidden Arcade in Solvang
Solvang's The Backroom sits behind Valley Brewers' shop via a narrow, keg-lined hall and a classic bookshelf door. It's technically members-only, but occasional "come on in" moments keep the vibe neighborly. A sunny private patio hides out back, while peasants DELI conceals a separate arcade with over 15 vintage video and pinball games from the 1990s.
Hidden Tiki and Ten-Cent Drink Surprises in Monterey County
Monterey's Hula's Island Grill hides Next Door, a moody tiki-inspired speakeasy pouring Mai Tai flights under retro glow. In Carmel-by-the-Sea, Bud's Bar at La Playa Hotel revives old-school charm with spontaneous "Dime Time" happy hours and select drinks for ten cents.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
The Georgian Room at The Georgian Hotel
Experience a night in the Golden Age of Hollywood at the discreet, underground Georgian Room. Tucked discreetly beneath the turquoise Art Deco façade of The Georgian Hotel, The Georgian Room revives the glamour of Old Hollywood in an intimate, candlelit speakeasy once frequented by legends like Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe. After a meticulous 2023 restoration, the space now opens through mermaid-handle doors leading to a luxe, 65-seat den of jazz, leather booths, crystalware and a vintage Steinway-piano-backed bar. To gain entry, slip into the hotel lobby and descend the discreet staircase (just a reservation required; no password!).
ORANGE COUNTY
Hidden Escapes: Irvine's Secret Winter Bars
Irvine hides two speakeasies built for cozy nights and creative cocktails. At Cozy Pine, tucked inside Bacchus Bistro, guests step into a snowed-in cabin with lantern light, faux flurries and even a friendly Sasquatch. At the Irvine Marriott, YNK, short for "You Never Know", keeps things unpredictable with ever-changing cocktail themes, from New York nostalgia to Gossip Girl glam.
Brass-Door Speakeasy Energy in Newport Beach
Inside VEA Newport Beach, reveal opens behind gleaming brass doors into moody lighting and plush seating. Cocktails lean classic (Old Fashioneds, Negronis) with elevated bites like spicy tuna crispy rice and truffle fries. The soundtrack-smooth '90s and early-2000s R&B-sets a grown, cozy tone. It's built for celebrations, nightcaps and whispered check-ins.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY
Raised by Wolves: Luxury Cocktails in La Jolla
Raised by Wolves in La Jolla masquerades as a glittering bottle shop before revealing an opulent lounge behind a hidden entry. The cocktails flex-from the fruity-fresh Cosmic Dancer to a tiramisu 'tini with a hand-whipped cream float-and even a reserve Old Fashioned with rare 1950s bourbon.
San Diego's Hidden Cocktail Worlds
Behind an unassuming keg wall in San Diego's Neighborhood, Noble Experiment unfolds into a mirrored, skull-lined speakeasy where bartenders craft drinks on instinct, not from a menu. Youngblood takes it further with a 90-minute, three-course cocktail journey served in a jewel-box room lined with Parisian flair. Each drink evolves like a story, from bright beginnings to dessert-sweet endings, making it one of the hardest, but most rewarding reservations in town.
INLAND EMPIRE
Alpine Secrets and Ghost Lore at Big Bear Lake
At Sessions Retreat & Hotel, The Flatlander reads like a modern alpine lounge with fireplace glow, artful design and intimate cocktails. Down the road, The Andy Devine Room at Captain's Anchorage keeps the vintage mountain mood with rumored hauntings and classic drinks.
Gold-Rush Saloon Drama Tucked in Old Town Temecula
Thompson & Twain hides behind Crush & Brew on Front Street, pouring cocktails with wink-worthy names in a moody, vault-like space. The design nods to Western grit and literary rebels Hunter S. Thompson and Mark Twain. Go "Dealer's Choice" and the bartenders craft a bespoke drink based on guest-preferred spirits and flavors.