False Idol — Restaurant in San Diego

Surfing the weird wave of tiki bar speakeasies in San Diego, I crash landed here and was surprised by the quality of the drinks. Overwhelmed by the menu, I ordered the first thing that caught my eye in the middle of the page, the Hyperion. It was far better a drink than I deserved for such haphazard ordering. It somehow seemed perfectly balanced as a cocktail: just the right amount of sweet, just the right amount of sour, just the right bite of alcohol. My second drink was a Tonight or Never. It was a reliable, if typical, sort of tiki drink. False Idol is notable for being something like a library of cocktails from bygone tiki lounges. Those menu entries have a nice record of their pedigree along with the ingredients, and they are worth reading. That said, they’re good, but the original creations are better.

What amazed me most was the speed of service. All of the bartenders were operating on such an efficient level that at the height of their business they were turning over customers and making drinks with rapid skill. Standing room is available, though you can ask for a table for a cozier or more social experience.

Don’t fail to look up and take in the crazy lanterns, and if you’re feeling like being the center of attention, order one of the drinks to share. You’ll get a spectacle to go with with your group tipple. Overall a wonderful,...

My husband took me on a date night to the speakeasy, False Idol which is accessible inside of Craft and Commerce. This is a Polynesian tiki themed small bar that features great themed music, decorations and special effects. They have an extensive specialty drink menu. The drinks are really tasty and strong. Our server was Ellie and she was awesome. We were seated at a table for two beside the bar. We had made reservations for False Idol a couple of weeks before as it can be difficult to get a reservation. There is a drink on the menu called The scorpion which is large and meant to be shared. It is served flaming and when this is being brought to the table, special effects are triggered throughout the bar. We didn't order this drink but we enjoyed seeing it served to other tables around us. We ordered 3 drinks each....two would have been enough but they were all soooo good. We ordered: Ode to Okolehao -Port of Spain -Polynesian Forty Niner -Tradewinds -False Idol Old Fashioned -Alkala’s Rum Barrel I highly recommend this tiki experience. Each reservation is good for 90 minutes, I could have just spent much more time in this space just chilling out...but all good things must come to an end. This was a wonderful place for a date with my husband and it's a great place to experience...

What a fun place! We went slightly earlier on a Friday (7pm) and it was a good speed. Not too crowded, not too loud. I ordered a sidewinder and it was fantastic. Really strong. Have a plan for transportation.

This place looks divine, the kinda place where you gasp on entry. Like a Universal Studios or Disney designer built out the interior. Strong Kong Skull Island vibes. You’re really meant to feel like you’re stepping into another world. You kinda don’t want to leave. Its dark though, so I guess watch your step? Classic surfer instrumentals playing on the loudspeaker. Candles, uplighting and… incense? Lots of incense. Also dress is more casual than dressy. Hawaiian shirts and beach day sundresses are on point.

My particular experience was that I was able to walk up and put my name on an 1.5 hr waiting list (it was fine, because I ordered a snack and a drink from Craft and Commerce), so I was very lucky and there was very little effort and planning involved. I know reservations are brutal, so I’m not sure how I’d feel after weeks of waiting, but it’s definitely one of the nicest experiences in San Diego. It’s a must-see if you’re into the tiki trend, and a great time if you’re in the mood for something a little more quirky than the CH’s standard “Insta-trendy”...