If you love a good party theme, it’s time to take out those flapper dresses and beaded fringe flapper caps. From authentic Prohibition hideaways to decadent cocktail lounges, these New York speakeasies will take you on a trip back in time.
The Back Room
The Back Roomis one of only two speakeasies in New York City that operated during Prohibition and is still in existence today. Frequent visits from legendary gangsters included Bugsy Siegel, Lucky Luciano, and Meyer Lansky who were known to use the space for “business meetings.” Today, the bar can be accessed via a discreet alley in the Lower East Side and still holds its Prohibition vibe.
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Please Don’t Tell
Please Don’t Tell, located on St. Marks Place, feels just like the underground speakeasy of your dreams. This bar is known for serving the most sophisticated cocktails around paired with comfort foods like hot dogs.
Attaboy
We’ll call this one “cozy”, with only bar seating and three booths. Attaboy is located behind an unmarked door with a bell to announce your arrival. Reservations are not accepted, so arrive early and take some time to chat with the bartender.
Le Boudoir
Le Boudoir is a craft cocktail bar with a decor inspired by Marie Antoinette’s private chambers. With live music every week, this exquisitely styled Brooklyn gem will immediately take you back in time. It is clear that special care has been taken with ever detail from the plush velvet seating to the works of art that they call cocktails.
Bootlegger Jack’s
Nothing says Prohibition quite like a steel-vault door in the basement of a steakhouse. The early-20th-century New York vibes are emphasized with peeling wallpaper and Tiffany lamps. Bootlegger Jack’s is located in Astoria.
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Fig. 19
To access this chic Lower East Side bar you will have to walk through an art gallery and open an unmarked door in the back. Fig. 19 offers a swanky vibe and elegant signature cocktails making it a local favorite.
Apotheke
Adding to the experience, Apotheke, is located down a winding path and behind an unmarked door in Chinatown. Not only does the bar provide an instant trip back in time, but it also boasts some of the best drinks in the area with presentations that are “just as dramatic as the cocktails themselves”.