A new immersive experience is coming to San Francisco’s Mission District: Lore Speakeasy and Escape Room is opening at the former site of El Tin Tan at 16th and Mission streets, which closed in 2016. It will host a soft opening this Thursday, June 26.
Its opening has been a bit of a mystery. The entrance of the black brick building at 3065 16th St., which is next to Pancho Villa Taqueria, displayed a sign reading “Puzzle Shop est. 2025” for about a year, a feint intended to obscure the identity of the new tenants.
Vy Tran, an entrepreneur who previously created a bulletproof clothing brand in 2018, is the visionary behind the concept, which blends three experiences into one: An escape room, a speakeasy, and a secret lounge. Its theme will be revealed on opening night.
Guests will step into a world brought to life by local actors, comedians and creatives, all performing in character. The experience, which can now be booked online, lasts 100 minutes — about 40 minutes longer than the average escape room, according to Tran — and is limited to six people per group.
Tickets are $89 per person and include three cocktails integrated into the gameplay, a generous amount to imbibe in an hour and 40 minutes.
“I have always loved escape rooms and San Francisco, so I wanted to create a physical space where people could have fun after a night of drinks to keep the night going,” Tran told Mission Local.
Several elements set Lore apart from typical escape rooms and speakeasies, Tran said. She has personally selected the actors, bartenders and servers. And the crafted cocktails are incorporated directly into the escape-room experience.
That spirit of fusion continues at the bar. One standout drink? A tres leches cocktail with a blended salted egg. Another: “Korean cold noodles” of brandy, pear, cucumber, and sesame, with a Gochujang cordial served in a dropper on the side “for those who like it spicyyy.”
Tran has documented the journey of bringing Lore to life on Instagram, including creating memes about the challenges she faced and planning the space’s layout, menu and escape-room design.
Guests at the soft opening will enjoy a complimentary appetizer, deviled eggs, and an aperitif.
Remnants of El Tin Tan remain — mainly the physical bar, which has been partially restored — offering glimpses into the building’s storied past. While the original floors have been covered and the crumbling backyard renovated, a piece of the old bar, dormant for a decade now, lives on.
Wow, El Tin Tan was the diviest of dive bars, and now it’s become a joint charging as much as $25 for a cocktail. Sign of the times… eye roll.