About Forbidden Cove

Forbidden Cove is a speakeasy tiki bar in Convoy district, located on a seven lane thoroughfare, amidst office buildings and car lots, inside of Kilowatt Brewing, behind a stack of barrels and a freezer door near the entrance. And Forbidden Cove is a lot of fun.

Tiki bars and speakeasies have been taking off in San Diego recently and we are all for the trend. Forbidden Cove is on the smaller side and like most speakeasies requires reservations. The space is blacklight-lit, with various Polynesian-adjacent tiki decorations on the walls, a couple cozy seating areas, and the ever present sound of erupting volcanoes and tiki drums. The drinks are legit – try the Painkiller, a tiki bar standard, or the Missionary’s Downfall. They serve food at Forbidden Cove, the same Hawaiian-inspired menu as served outside in the brewery – Kahlua pork tacos and sliders, ahi tuna poke bowls, and a delicious cucumber salad.

Best Parts

• Date night
• Something unique
• Good cocktails
• Volcanoes and tiki drums

Behind The Counter

Kilowatt Brewery (and Forbidden Cove) is owned by local San Diegan Steve Kozyk. He opened the brewery ten years ago in Kearny Mesa and started the speakeasy soon after.

Want to know more about the history of Tiki Bars? They are a SoCal thing. Watch this 30 minute documentary: Lost LA, Tiki Bars and their Hollywood Origins.