The restaurants you stumble into unexpectedly are often the ones you remember most. We found Masa & Agave without a reservation or a plan, walked downstairs beneath Hotel Ivy and immediately felt like we had discovered our kind of date-night spot.
The room is dark, intimate and full of energy without feeling chaotic. Service was extremely fast, the menu gave us plenty to be excited about, and the drinks matched the atmosphere.
We shared chips and guacamole, the quesabirria quesadilla and elotes. Lana ordered the Passionfruit Margarita with its guajillo salt rim, while Kyle kept it classic with the Margarita Tradicionale.
If Masa & Agave were in San Diego, this would be one of our most-frequented spots.
Nothing about the stop felt overplanned, which is exactly why it worked. We really, really, really wish we could bring this Minneapolis find home to San Diego.
Masa downstairs. More than 300 agave spirits behind the bar.
The speakeasy-style tequilaria sits on the lower level of historic Hotel Ivy. Its menu is built around corn masa, Mexico City-style tacos and cantina classics, while the bar showcases tequila, mezcal, raicilla and sotol.
Our date-night table, one margarita at a time.
These are the current listed prices we confirmed before publishing.
Chips & Guacamole · $15
Creamy guacamole with heirloom corn tortilla chips. Exactly the right opener for the drinks.
Passionfruit Margarita · $14
Tequila, passionfruit, pineapple, lime, hot honey and a guajillo salt blend. Bright, tropical and made for the room.
Margarita Tradicionale · $12
Tequila, Cointreau, lime, agave and salt. A clean classic beside the richer food.
Quesabirria Quesadilla + Elotes
A rich, shareable quesadilla with the sweet-corn elotes alongside it. The elotes are currently listed at $9.
What stood out: The flavor combinations felt thoughtful, the food arrived quickly and the whole table fit the date-night mood.
What we would do next: Return for another margarita, order the quesabirria quesadilla again and keep exploring the menu.
The details worth knowing
Look below Hotel Ivy
The entrance leads down to the hotel’s lower level. The hidden feeling is part of the fun.
Plan parking
Hotel Ivy offers valet parking. Metered street parking and nearby ramps are also available; rates and access can change.
Check the night
Current service runs Tuesday through Saturday evenings. Check the restaurant’s hours and reservation policy before heading downtown.
