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Forbidden Cove Speakeasy Tiki bar Convoy District - Forbidden Cove, San Diego, CA

Forbidden Cove

4.5
4.5
47 Reviews
$30 and under
Speakeasy

Make a reservation

2 people
7:30 PM
Booked 5 times today
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Charming
  • Good for special occasions
Enter the Forbidden Cove by unlocking a hidden rum barrel door using your wooden idol key where an island Tiki inspired paradise serving handcrafted cocktails awaits you. Once inside, traverse the Infinity Mirror Bridge and be welcomed by the island's inhabitants to explore the mysteries, culinary pleasures and enchanted elixirs of the Forbidden Cove. Find this tropical escape by entering Kilowatt Brewing located in the Kearny Mesa and Convoy District neighborhoods and kindly asking for a Key to The Cove!

Reservations offer a 90-minute experience.

WALK-INS WELCOME - Reservations not available? We always set aside space to accommodate walk-ins, first come, first served. And before or after your experience at Forbidden Cove you're welcome to join us at Kilowatt Brewing for our award winning craft beers, hard seltzers, adult slushies, and a bite to eat!

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Speakeasy, Hawaiian, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service
  • Hours of operation
    Wed, Thu 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–12:00 am Sun 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (858) 715-3998
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Neighborhood
    Kearny Mesa
  • Cross street
    On Clairemont Mesa Blvd. near Convoy St.
  • Parking details
    Private Lot
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 47 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.2Food
  • 4.3Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Forbidden Cove is a charming tiki-themed speakeasy, praised for its "super fun atmosphere" and "excellent service." Visitors love its hidden entrance and "wonderful tiki drinks." While some find it "too loud and crowded," the "amazing" cocktails and "delicious" food make it a memorable spot for date nights or small gatherings.

47 Reviews
  1. Maria

    Los Angeles

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Drinks were real “craft cocktails”, pricey but very good!

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  2. Walter

    Greater Boston

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 16, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We loved this place! The ambiance was great and fun, but the staff's knowledge of rum, especially Jacob's walking us through the rare Demerara tasting was over the top awesome. Natalie was our server, but also is a bartender and so knowledgeable about the cocktails and ingredients. They not only know a lot, but also clearly are passionate about the rums. and food. As some have said, it takes a bit to get a drink or food, but they are crafting complicated drinks by hand.

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  3. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 15, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Strong and tasty drinks with a cool tiki theme and a sound system that played noises you would hear on a pirate ship

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  4. RICK

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 10, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Loved the whole "Speakeasy" entry. Adds just a little more fun to the night. This was the first time for all five of our party and everyone loved the place. Planning our next visit before we left. Read a review online that this person thought "the decorations looked like leftovers from a bachelor party" and "tacky". My god child, IT'S A TIKKI BAR!! A certain amount of kitch is mandatory. We all loved the deco! Gave it 10 stars! Only complaint I might have, is the table, though very cool, (and way better than any "bachelor party" accomodations!) was a little tight for five for dinner, and drinks. Well maybe not so bad for usual little bar drinks, but these were some BIGASS TIKKI DRINKS ! and they command some major real estate all their own! Oh, the 151 SWIZZLE is like a rum hammer, try it, it will not disappoint. Food was great, quick and tasty. Service was tight. . We WILL be back.

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  5. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    7 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on November 3, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Such a cute spot, drinks were great! Didn’t try any food but it looked like great Hawaiian cuisine.

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  6. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 20, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    amazing time, bartenders are great! such a cute hidden spot. Will definitely go again!

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  7. Annie

    San Diego

    5 reviews

    3.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on October 19, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    When we arrived there was nobody to check us in. But once someone appeared she was friendly and helpful to get us checked in. Upon entering the vibe and decor was great. We were seated near the bathroom which wasn’t great. And then after ordering only 3 of our 4 drinks were brought to us. When my partner asked about his drink the waitress said “we’re busy, it’s a restaurant, what do you expect?” So that angered him but I told him to let it go since it seemed she was the only waitress working. The drink eventually come out (noticeably after other tables got their drinks) and the waitress didn’t apologize or say anything when delivering the drink. Aside from this it was a generally uneventful visit. Drinks were good.

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  8. Cherese

    San Diego

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on October 17, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful hidden gem! The food was great amd the server was very polite. Will definitely dine here again.

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  9. Jonathan

    New York City

    10 reviews

    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on October 13, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Love it. Great ambiance and decorations. We had food this time which was great. Get the pulled pork mix plate!

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  10. CAROLINE

    San Diego

    1 review

    vip
    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 13, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always a great experience, delicious drinks & lovely service! The poke tower is our go-to and excited to try other menu items next time.

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FAQs

Forbidden Cove is rated 4.5 stars by 47 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:30 PM
Booked 5 times today
Google Map for Forbidden Cove

7576 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92111

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    On Clairemont Mesa Blvd. near Convoy St.
  • Neighborhood
    Kearny Mesa
  • Hours of operation
    Wed, Thu 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–12:00 am Sun 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Speakeasy, Hawaiian, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Private Lot
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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