Created byAleksandra Hogendorf
Speakeasies and Secret Bars
We can't help being drawn to the prohibited, the clandestine, and the mysterious, which might explain the proliferation of secret bars and speakeasies in New York City that have been sprouting behind unmarked doors, faux storefronts, and subterranean basements for years. The drinking experience heightens as mystique grows, and anything involving surreptitious locales, secret passwords, or cryptic directions is bound to intrigue. From whiskey out of teacups to phone booth entrances, here is a collection of NYC's secret drinking dens and underground cocktail parlors.
Aleksandra Hogendorf's rating:xxxxx
Up a narrow, rickety staircase on Avenue A, lies a pastel-hued, whimsical den devoted to rum. There are comfortable arm chairs, twinkle lights, chandeliers; there is a turquoise room edged in white details, and a pink room that is sweet and dimly lit. There is a sense of magic in the air, mixed with mystery, and a ... more
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Aleksandra Hogendorf's rating:xxxxx
The Back Room is the epitome of a speakeasy, with it’s faux toy store façade and an entrance that includes a creaking gate and dimly lit alley. Once you navigate the complexities, the reward is decadent and debaucherous, and the most wonderful sort of clandestine. Stepping inside feels like stepping into Gatsby’s drawing room- a cozy brick-faced fi ... more
Aleksandra Hogendorf's rating:xxxxx
Most secret bars require a bit of stealthy maneuvering, perhaps even a password, to get into. Finding Doyers Street alone, where Apotheke is located, is a bit of a maze-like experience. This bended alley in the very heart of Chinatown was once known as the “Bloody Angle” and site of many shootings and gang battles ... more
Aleksandra Hogendorf's rating:xxxxx
Crif Dogs, the St. Mark’s Place hotdog haven, is a destination in itself- bacon-wrapped hotdogs served with a creative heaping of toppings and late night hours make this a must stop during East Village drinking sessions. But there is another reason to linger a little longer that has nothing to do with deep fried f ... more
Aleksandra Hogendorf's rating:xxxxx
The sign looms bright and splendid above this pawn shop on Essex Street, where a collection of vintage guitars adorns the walls and all sorts of jewels and memorabilia gather dust behind glass cases and locked cabinets. But through a door manned by a suited up bouncer waits a swanky and glamorous lounge that’s all ... more
Aleksandra Hogendorf's rating:xxxxx
Inside Stone Street Coffee Company in Chelsea is an unmarked door hiding an after-hours surprise. There are no cappuccinos in sight in this 1920s-style speakeasy lounge, just elaborate cocktails and creative takes on gin. The namesake bathtub stands in the center and provides for cheeky amusement and selfie backdr ... more
Aleksandra Hogendorf's rating:xxxxx
It’s easy to miss this one walking down Seventh Avenue in the West Village, as Little Branch lies behind an unmarked metal door. The only tip off is the bouncer before it, and perhaps a patron or two waiting to imbibe. This dim subterranean bar is all hushed, mellow ambience, cozy booths, pressed tin décor, and li ... more
Aleksandra Hogendorf's rating:xxxxx
A bright red neon sign advertising a psychic means that you have arrived at this West Village clandestine drinking den. And there really is a tarot card reader whose services you can chance in the foyer, but there are other things to absorb first, namely cocktails that will leave you weak in the knees. The space is dominated by an impressive bar ma ... more
Aleksandra Hogendorf's rating:xxxxx
This Gatsby-esque drinking parlor holds all the marks of a speakeasy: elusive, exclusive, with a cocktail game to match. A ring of the buzzer and most often a bit of a wait will grant you access to this Prohibition-era lounge named after a NY law curbing alcohol consumption in the 1900s. The space is everything yo ... more
Aleksandra Hogendorf's rating:xxxxx
This one’s an adventure to get to, which is just part of the fun. Head to Japanese restaurant Village Yokocho in the East Village, where you will find an unmarked door tucked at the back. This will grant you entrance to another world, one that impresses with a giant angel painting above the bar, huge windows overl ... more
Aleksandra Hogendorf's rating:xxxxx
This underground cocktail bar resides in the basement of Schapiro’s restaurant in the LES. Cozy, dimly lit, with lots of exposed brick and a massive menu chock full of playful cocktails, cheeky jokes, games, and tutorials, Nitecap is like your easy-going, fun friend on this speakeasy landscape of the upscale and o ...more
Aleksandra Hogendorf's rating:xxxxx
On the corner of Bleecker Street and Barrow in the West Village is a much beloved fast food institution- Five Guys. But the second floor of this red brick-faced establishment hides a surprise. The Garret is a bar accessed via staircase tucked into the back of the burger joint, a loft-like space that was once home ...more
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