Entry No. 7 — the Cleveland file — filed under: hidden entrance
Amazonia
Hidden behind Hola Tacos, this dimly lit, mystical cocktail bar transports guests to a lush, jungle-inspired escape. The venue blends magical realism inspired by Gabriel García Márquez with new-school Latin American cocktails.
The story
You don't enter Amazonia from the sidewalk. You walk straight into Hola Tacos on Hopkins Avenue in Lakewood, head past the counter, and step through into the house tucked behind it. Originally opened in late 2023 by the Vergara family, the venue changed hands in May 2024 when co-owners Magdalena Medica and Juan Sebastian Albornoz Ramirez took over, shifting the focus from a pizza-first spot into a strictly 21-and-over Latin American craft cocktail bar [1.1.4].
Instead of relying on standard tropical tropes, the current owners shaped the interior around the magical realism of Gabriel García Márquez. Shadows, dense hanging canopy greenery, and dark wood set the tone inside the intimate space, where paper menus list new-school cocktails built around Central and South American spirits alongside wood-fired pizzas and small plates.
What it's like
Navigating to the bar means walking through the front doors of Hola Tacos and following the back passage into the adjacent house. Inside, the barroom is tight, dimly lit, and shaded by overhead foliage, creating a shadowy, private hideaway. Because space is limited and the venue is strictly 21-and-over, weekend crowds accumulate quickly; showing up right at the 4 p.m. opening or visiting on a weeknight gives you the best shot at grabbing a seat without a long wait.
The move: Slip through the secret entrance behind the taco shop to share a wood-fired pizza and try a cocktail featuring Latin American flavors under the canopy of cascading greenery.
- 📍 Lakewood
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 1640 Hopkins Ave, Lakewood, OH 44107
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Pins & Needles — Follow up Amazonia's hidden tropical hideaway with another secret entrance 0.4 miles away, stepping into a 1970s rec-room lounge hidden in Mahall's basement.
- Cleveland Curiosities — Spend the afternoon examining taxidermy two-headed calves and real human bones before ducking behind a taco shop for evening drinks 0.6 miles down the road.
- Museum of Divine Statues — Pair an afternoon among rescued church statues in a former Catholic parish with night drinks under Amazonia's canopy less than half a mile away.
- Bad Medicine — Continue a night of secret-entrance bar hopping by heading 1.4 miles to an occult listening bar hidden behind a fake dentist's office.
Good to know
How do you get inside Amazonia?
Walk into Hola Tacos at 1640 Hopkins Avenue and follow the interior passage through to the connected house in the back [1.1.3].
Are minors allowed inside?
No, Amazonia is strictly a 21-and-over venue.
What kind of food and drink can I order?
The bar serves new-school Latin American craft cocktails alongside wood-fired pizzas and small plates.
Can you book a table ahead of time?
Yes, reservations can be booked online through their website, though walk-in guests are accommodated when space permits.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · clevescene.com · destinationcleveland.com
last checked: 2026-07-21