Escondido Lounge

Downtown Fort Myers has a new hidden gem, literally and figuratively—a speakeasy serv­ing craft cocktails and gourmet bites by the name of Escondido Lounge. In true speakeasy fashion, there is no signage. You must know before you go, and here you will find all you need to know.

When translated from Spanish, Escondido means hidden and hidden it is, on Hendry Street in the historic Richards Building. The entrance is cleverly disguised as a door to the walk-in cooler in the back of Taco Works. If the red light is on, the bar is open.

Chef Bradley Kilgore’s menu is unlike any you will find downtown. For example, Caviar Chips N’ Dip is a fusion of gourmet and comfort food. The caviar brings that luxurious, white linen tablecloth spin to the everyday, much beloved potato chip. The combo is served with a chive dip and is exceptional with a bottle of sparkling wine from the list.

House-made Parmesan Potato Chips are also used for a spin on Huevos Rotos. The crisp chips are topped with roasted garlic aioli, a fried egg, salty prosciutto and scallions—a delicious dish for sharing.

At the end of the day, who can say “no” to a pizza? The Umami Mami, with pepperoni, garlic chili crisp and Umami Hot Honey by artisan frozen pizza company Pizza Freak Co., is one of the best pies you will ever have. Sure, you can order a slice, but after one bite, you will want a whole pie. A Three Cheese Classic is also available.

Chef Kilgore says, “On the savory side of the menu, one of my favorites is the Cheesy Gruyere and Black Truffle Panini.” The base is sourdough bread and truffle aioli. The rest is cheesy good­ness that can lead to fighting over the last bite.

Escondido prides itself on sweet treats that you can both eat and drink. On the eating side, desserts range from a refreshing Margarita-Lime & Tequila Sorbet to a warm and decadent Melted Fireball Brownie Fondant served with rich vanilla bean ice cream and sea salt.

There are delectable dessert cock­tails as well. Try Satin Bliss with 51 Cachaca, Velvet Falernum, Mozart Dark Chocolate, juices, syrups and more.

You might also notice some famil­iar names on the cocktail list such as Ty Cobb, Connie Mack and Thomas Edison. R.Q. Richards, the building’s namesake, is the first cocktail on the menu—a smoked old-fashioned using Bulleit Bourbon. Ty Cobb is a riff on a classic margarita, made with Union Mezcal, passion fruit, lime juice and spicy bitters. Many of the bar bitters are made in house for the unique col­lection of cocktails.

Thomas Edison features Zacapa 23 Rum, house made guava syrup and lime juice. The icing on the cake, so to speak, is cream cheese foam on top. Also find classic cocktails such as Sazerac, Pisco Sour, Daquiri, Dirty Martini and more. Drinks are served in prohibition era, vintage glassware.

Much thought was put into honoring the history of the space that Escondido occupies. The Richards Building was once a pharmacy and soda bar where well-known patrons such as Cobb, Mack, Edison and others were said to frequent. You will find plaques in the bar with their names and others who played a role in the history of Fort Myers.

That includes Richards. Cozza con­sulted with Richards’ granddaughter on the legacy of both the building and her family to determine how best to pay homage to the past while implementing flavors, ingredients, techniques and decor of the present.

Escondido has inventive, from scratch food and well-made craft cocktails, but the atmosphere puts the entire drinking and dining experience over the top.

Although the ceilings are high, it is a cozy space with numerous nooks and crannies. Each has a different personality to suit your mood. Take for instance the Safari Room on the second floor. Relax on a green velvet couch with a mirrored cof­fee table reflecting the rustic/chic accents.

Then there is the popular 70s-themed loft with a low, mirrored ceiling, disco ball and retro lounge décor offering the perfect vantage point to see the action below. It is also ideal for those one-of-a-kind social media photo shots.

Pay attention when you are walking up or down the mirrored staircase from the loft. The artwork on the walls has eyes that appear to follow you, perhaps another nod to those from the past, whose spirits still linger in the lively space.

One of the most striking features is a red baby grand piano on an elevated plat­form high enough for seating underneath and part of the sophisticated range of entertainment and music at Escondido.

Escondido is an ideal late-night stop for dessert on a date night, Happy Hour after work or a fun evening noshing on tapas with friends. But before you can leave for the evening, you will need to scan the wall that looks like a library with shelves full of books to find the door.

Although it just opened, the team is already looking to the future. Escondido plans to add private outdoor space. In addition, the same concept is coming to Cape Coral in early 2025 in the former Ollie’s Pub on Cape Coral Parkway.

The secret is out. Escondido is the new “it” spot in Fort Myers.

Escondido Lounge is at 1617 Hendry St., Unit 102, Fort Myers and is open Tuesday to Thursday from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.; check the website for any seasonal changes. Happy Hour specials are are Tuesday through Friday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. For more information, call 239-822-2833 or visit escondidolounge.com. Space is available for private parties.