New York City Speakeasies were secret bars that flourished during Prohibition in the 1920s, offering a taste of rebellion, glamour, and illicit fun.
Speakeasies were secret, hidden bars or clubs that illegally sold alcoholic beverages during the Prohibition era in the United States. Prohibition was a nationwide constitutional ban on the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages, which lasted from 1920 to 1933. Speakeasies emerged as a response to this ban and provided a place for people to socialize and consume alcohol in a discreet manner.
These establishments were usually hidden in basements, behind secret doors, or in other inconspicuous locations to avoid detection by law enforcement. They often required a password or a special knock for patrons to gain entry. Speakeasies were frequented by a diverse clientele, and they played a significant role in the development of American culture during the 1920s, particularly in terms of music, dance, and fashion. The end of Prohibition in 1933 led to the decline of speakeasies, but they have left a lasting impact on American history and culture.
31 New York City Speakeasies
- PDT (Please Don’t Tell)
Address: 113 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10009
Website: pdtnyc.com
Details: Hidden behind a phone booth in Crif Dogs, PDT serves craft cocktails and small bites. - Attaboy
Address: 134 Eldridge St, New York, NY 10002
Website: N/A (no reservations or website)
Details: Unmarked door leads to a laid-back speakeasy with handcrafted cocktails made to order. - Bathtub Gin
Address: 132 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011
Website: bathtubginnyc.com
Details: Hidden behind a coffee shop, this speakeasy features cocktails, small plates, and a brass bathtub centerpiece. - The Back Room
Address: 102 Norfolk St, New York, NY 10002
Website: backroomnyc.com
Details: Prohibition-era themed speakeasy with a secret entrance, offering cocktails in teacups. - Employees Only
- Address: 510 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014
Website: employeesonlynyc.com
Details: A psychic storefront leads to this award-winning speakeasy, known for its craft cocktails and upscale bar food. - Little Branch
Address: 20 7th Ave S, New York, NY 10011
Website: N/A (no reservations or website)
Details: A hidden subterranean speakeasy with live jazz and classic cocktails. - Angel’s Share
Address: 8 Stuyvesant St, New York, NY 10003
Website: N/A (no reservations or website)
Details: Located inside Village Yokocho, this hidden gem offers refined cocktails and Japanese-inspired small plates. - Raines Law Room
Address: 48 W 17th St, New York, NY 10011
Website: raineslawroom.com
Details: A plush speakeasy with tableside cocktail service, intimate seating, and a backyard garden. - Death & Co
Address: 433 E 6th St, New York, NY 10009
Website: deathandcompany.com
Details: An influential cocktail destination with a dark and moody atmosphere, serving inventive drinks. - Apotheke
- Address: 9 Doyers St, New York, NY 10013
Website: apothekenyc.com
Details: A hidden cocktail bar in Chinatown with a pharmacy theme, offering creative cocktails and live music. - The 18th Room
Address: 134 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011
Website: the18throom.com
Details: A bespoke cocktail bar inspired by the Prohibition era, with custom-crafted drinks based on guest preferences. - Patent Pending
Address: 49 W 27th St, New York, NY 10001
Website: patentpendingnyc.com
Details: A hidden speakeasy inside a coffee shop, featuring cocktails inspired by Thomas Edison’s inventions. - Dear Irving
Address: 55 Irving Pl, New York, NY 10003
Website: dearirving.com
Details: A time-travel-themed cocktail lounge with rooms inspired by different historical eras. - Garfunkel’s
Address: 67 Clinton St, New York, NY 10002
Website: garfunkelsnyc.com
Details: Located behind a hidden door in a burger joint, this intimate lounge serves craft cocktails and small plates. - The Library at The NoMad
Address: 1170 Broadway, New York, NY 10001
Website: thenomadhotel.com/new-york/dining/library
Details: A two-level, book-filled sanctuary with a hidden entrance, offering an array of cocktails and light fare. - The Mulberry Project
Address: 149 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10013
Website: mulberryproject.com
Details: A subterranean speakeasy with graffiti-covered walls, offering custom-made cocktails and a backyard patio. - The Gibson
Address: 108 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Website: thegibsonnyc.com
Details: A cozy, dimly lit bar hidden behind an unmarked door, featuring live music and handcrafted cocktails. - The Speakeasy at The Jane Hotel
Address: 113 Jane St, New York, NY 10014
Website: thejanenyc.com
Details: A glamorous, vintage-inspired lounge in the Jane Hotel, serving craft cocktails and light bites. - The Aviary NYC
Address: 80 Columbus Cir, New York, NY 10023
Website: aviarynyc.com
Details: Located in the Mandarin Oriental, The Aviary offers upscale, experimental cocktails with stunning views of Central Park. - The Up & Up
Address: 116 Macdougal St, New York, NY 10012
Website: upandupnyc.com
Details: An upscale cocktail bar hidden on the second floor of a townhouse, offering inventive drinks and a vintage atmosphere. - Le Boudoir
Address: 135 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Website: boudoirbk.com
Details: A Marie Antoinette-inspired speakeasy in Brooklyn Heights, with opulent decor and craft cocktails. - The Hidden Pearl
Address: 621 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222
Website: hiddenpearlbk.com
Details: A tiny, tropical-themed speakeasy hidden behind a ramen shop, offering Japanese-inspired cocktails. - The 86 Co.
Address: 281 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002
Website: amoryamargo.com
Details: A standing-room-only bar with a focus on amari and bitters, offering a unique menu of creative cocktails. - Sugar East
Address: 1125 1st Ave, New York, NY 10065
Website: sugareast.com
Details: A retro-style speakeasy with a smoking license, offering creative cocktails and small plates. - The Auction House
Address: 300 E 89th St, New York, NY 10128
Website: theauctionhousenyc.com
Details: An elegant and cozy Upper East Side bar with Victorian-inspired decor, offering an array of cocktails and wines. - Mace
Address: 505 E 12th St, New York, NY 10009
Website: macenewyork.com
Details: A unique cocktail bar with a spice-driven menu, featuring drinks inspired by different spices from around the world. - The Last Word
Address: 31-30 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105
Website: tlwastoria.com
Details: A speakeasy hidden behind a hardware store, offering craft cocktails and small bites in a vintage-inspired setting. - The Woodstock
Address: 446 W 14th St, New York, NY 10014
Website: thewoodstocknyc.com
Details: A 1960s-inspired cocktail bar with a colorful, psychedelic vibe and a menu of affordable craft cocktails and pizzas. - The Blind Barber
Address: 339 E 10th St, New York, NY 10009
Website: blindbarber.com/pages/new-york
Details: A functioning barbershop in the front with a hidden speakeasy in the back, offering cocktails, beers, and bar bites.
New York City Speakeasies were a fascinating and exciting part of the city’s history, offering a glimpse into a bygone era of underground culture and rebellion. Despite their illegality, these secret bars managed to thrive and capture the imagination of people from all walks of life. Today, they continue to inspire nostalgia and fascination among those who love the city’s rich cultural heritage