By Rick Rhodes
Tucked behind the unassuming façade of Taco Works, beneath the storied bones of the Richards Building in downtown Fort Myers, there is a secret quietly humming beneath the surface. Escondido Lounge is not marked by fanfare or flash. It is whispered, not shouted — a clandestine passage back in time. A tribute not merely to the Prohibition era, but to everything that made it seductive: mystery, craftsmanship, rebellion, and style.
This isn’t just a bar. It’s a memory that hasn’t happened yet.
From the moment you cross its threshold — if you can find it — you’re not walking into a space. You’re walking into a narrative. One carefully constructed, detail by detail, note by note, sip by sip.
The Hidden Door, and the Ritual of Discovery
Escondido does not advertise its presence. There are no signs pointing the way, no arrows to follow. Instead, the entrance is deliberately concealed inside Taco Works — a clever wink to the speakeasies of the 1920s, where discretion was the entry fee.
“I hear it all the time from the other side of the wall,” says Carlo Mucciga, Escondido’s manager and brand ambassador. “They walk in confused, whispering, laughing, wondering if they’re in the right place. Then the door swings open — and everything changes.”
There’s magic in that moment of disorientation. A modern treasure hunt.
As for me — I’ll keep the exact location of the hidden entrance a secret.
It’s part of the theater. Part of the charm. Like so many others, I found myself circling, retracing steps, glancing at walls and wondering. And when the door finally revealed itself — I smiled. That moment of mystery became the opening scene of a story I didn’t know I was about to live.
Designing Time Travel
Inside, the past has not been recreated — it has been reborn. Under the ambient glow of red vintage sconces, amid lush velvets and curated antiques, the air is thick with atmosphere. Every surface, every shadow, is intentional.
Carlo speaks like a man composing a love letter.
“Customer service and consistency — that’s our religion,” he says. “Every detail, from the lighting to the last drop in your glass, is there to shift you.
You’re not here to drink. You’re here to feel something.”
Escondido doesn’t imitate the past. It channels it.
The Soundtrack of Elegance
Music here is not background noise — it is part of the architecture. At the heart of the room sits a glass-bottom piano, glowing beneath live performances from classically trained musicians whose fingers seem to summon the very soul of the space.
But Escondido, ever fluid, also knows when to bend its own rules. On curated nights, the space evolves. DJs step in, blending vintage soul with modern edge — not disrupting the vibe, but giving it a pulse. A heartbeat that bridges generations.
It’s nostalgia and evolution.
Cocktails With a Soul
At Escondido, the bar is not a place to stand — it is a stage. And behind it, bartenders don’t serve drinks. They serve stories.
The “Edison Elixir,” the “Mack Manhattan,” the “Ty Cobb Sour” — each is a tribute to a local legend, infused not just with flavor, but with Fort Myers’ own history. Every element, from the ice to the garnish to the vintage stemware, is handcrafted.
This isn’t about mixology. It’s about memory.
There are no gimmicks here — only reverence. Every pour is an echo of the past.
The Era That Shaped It All
The inspiration behind Escondido stems from one of America’s most paradoxical chapters — Prohibition. A time when legality and indulgence collided, giving rise to underground kingdoms, untouchable crime families, and the golden age of jazz.
While the law suppressed spirits, the human spirit surged. Speakeasies became sanctuaries. Culture was sharpened in secret. And history was written under the cover of darkness.
Al Capone, Meyer Lansky, Lucky Luciano ruled the shadows. But in the spotlight: Josephine Baker, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington — giving voice to a generation that refused to be silenced.
Escondido doesn’t just nod to this era — it resurrects its duality: the danger and the glamour, the grit and the grace.
The Next Chapter: Cape Coral
With its Fort Myers flagship now woven into the city’s cultural fabric, Escondido prepares to open its second location in Cape Coral — an expansion that’s both bolder and more immersive.
The new space will feature a full-service kitchen, and a rotating pop-up culinary program spotlighting globally renowned chefs. The idea? A dining experience that mirrors the lounge itself — elevated, immersive, and unforgettable.
“What we’re creating goes far beyond cocktails and décor,” Carlo says. “We’re crafting something people feel — something that lingers long after they’ve left. From that first whispered ‘where’s the door?’ to the final sip — it’s all part of a bigger story.”
Escondido Is Not a Place. It’s a Feeling.
This is not a trend. Not a gimmick. Not a brand built on buzzwords.
Escondido Lounge is a movement — one rooted in legacy, elevated by design, and driven by storytelling. In a world obsessed with fast and loud, Escondido whispers. And people listen.
Because once you find it — you don’t just remember it. You relive it.
