Gaslamp Speakeasy (Permanently Closed)
708 Fourth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101
Yeah, it’s a side venture from a Gaslamp theme bar (Hennessey’s), but this place feels like a no-frills speakeasy circa early-20th-century San Diego: the painted black woodwork, the brick, the red walls, the battered bar, the cheeky art, and the blackboard list of drinks. Oh, and hey: for certain drinks, the bartender will custom-carve your ice with a pick — an old custom worth reviving. The only concessions to modernity are higher-quality booze, a wide-open street entrance, and the inclusion of electronic music as part of the joint’s regular rotation.