Kiku Room — Restaurant in San Diego

Giving 3 stars for great atmosphere, friendly staff, and tasty cocktails.

Docking 2 for terrible sound quality and overcrowding.

Let me explain: the DJ was doing a wonderful job but the place is built almost entirely out of concrete which is awful for acoustics. There’s no way to call it a HiFi listening experience if you have to shout over the music. Went on a Thursday night and it was pretty packed, like uncomfortably so that you were squeezing between people and standing room only. Because it was overcrowded it was LOUD. I was here for about an hour and when I stepped outside my ears had that muffled cotton feeling. If the acoustics were improved and you just turned the music down to a volume where people don’t feel like they have to shout, the listening experience could be much better. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to come back to lounge and enjoy a cocktail and good music in the snazzy room, I just might have to do it earlier on a weekday when the DJ can really shine. Lots of potential with this neat spot but needs to figure out if it wants to be a nightclub or a listening bar.

TL;DR — it’s a cool listening bar without the...

This is the kind of place San Diego has been desperate for. Effortlessly cool and vibey but not pretentious. Approachable in every aspect; cocktail menu, sound, staff and atmosphere. Equal parts grab a casual martini ($8 on Mondays!!!) on a weeknight after work while chatting up the amazing staff and dance the night away with friends and strangers on a Saturday. Sound is top notch and every dj they’ve booked so far has had the crowd in a chokehold. Kiku room makes you feel simultaneously like you’re at home but also embarking on an exciting new adventure. One...

You’re not going to find another listening bar—or any bar, really—like this in San Diego. Honestly, I’m not sure there’s another place like it anywhere. It’s a music lover’s dream: the drinks are top-tier, the vibe is dark, and sexy. The staff? Warm, genuine, and totally in tune. The music slaps—crisp sound, perfect playlists curated by DJs who also have a passion for music. The bar has the rare ability to make you forget what time it is. It’s a high-end bar that doesn’t act like one—a spot you can actually call home without any of...