Encinitas just got its first-ever speakeasy—or rather, its first hidden cocktail den. It’s so secretive, our Happy Half Hour crew couldn’t even find the front door.
In this week’s episode, hosts Troy Johnson and Jackie Bryant broadcast live from inside Anigma, the stunning new bar tucked behind the legendary Roxy on First Street, joined by Bebemos tequila CEO Preston Caffrey to sip on some of San Diego’s best agave and name their favorite hidden gems across the city.
Built by the same team behind the Roxy—hospitality vet Paula Vrakas and former 91X radio guy Mark Dobbins—Anigma’s five-plus years in the making and every inch shows it: velvet curtains hand-sewn by Paula’s mom, an 1860s bullet-riddled tin ceiling rescued from a Cheyenne, Wyoming saloon, and a light fixture salvaged from the beloved, now-closed Captain Keno’s that greets guests as they walk in.
Reservations drop on OpenTable on Wednesdays at noon, two weeks out, for the 50-person space open Wednesday through Saturday—and yes, you’ll need to decode a riddle just to find the entrance.
The crew also rounds up their favorite under-the-radar spots across San Diego, from Alchemy Choose Thy Poison‘s menu in Barrio Logan to the 92-year-old diner at Tobey’s 19th Hole overlooking Balboa Golf Course, proving once again that this city’s best discoveries are the ones you have to earn.
This recap was written with the help of AI. For the full story with all the laughs, detours, and cheese math, listen to Happy Half Hour wherever you get your podcasts.
