Speakeasies in New York City

New York City offers its visitors countless attractions and activities. Many of them are world famous, but there are also unusual and secret places for those looking for something different and exclusive. An example of this are the “speakeasy” or clandestine bars.

Speakeasy bars first appeared during Prohibition in the United States, during the Prohibition era of alcoholic beverages between 1920 and 1933. At that time, these bars were secret establishments that sold alcohol illegally. They were generally very difficult to find as their locations were kept completely secret from the authorities.

During the period in which this law was in force, only the importation of Jerez wine was allowed for medicinal and religious purposes. In this way, the big mafias began to import alcohol clandestinely from nearby countries, thus creating these clandestine bars in which secretly served alcohol. A good example of this was Al Capone and other heads of the American Mafia, who earned millions of dollars due to trafficking and clandestine sales, expanding their criminal activities to almost the entire country, and involving the corruption of many officials and police officers in charge of enforce dry law.

Prohibition led to the period known as the “Roaring Twenties,” a time of big business, entertainment, jazz, movies, and an outright explosion of literature in America. All aspects of Prohibition have spawned great works of literature, the great development of jazz and blues, and many films that rank among the greats of movie history.

As a curious fact, it is known that at the time of the dry law there were more than 10,000 clandestine bars in the Big Apple alone.

Of course, many of those bars no longer exist today. However, there are some of them that can still be visited, and that retain the charm of that time and it is difficult to find them if you do not know exactly where and how to look.

 These bars are hidden behind secret doors inside cafeterias, fast food restaurants, camouflaged inside barbershops, laundromats, etc. At present they continue to maintain this mystique that arouses interest, giving the sensation of discovering a secret in every corner of the city that never sleeps.

 Of course, this is one of the best things to do in New York at night. Below is a list of those recommended to end the day hidden in a clandestine bar.

Please don’t tell

Please Don’t Tell (PDT) is one of the most exclusive speakeasys in New York. Located on St. Marks Place (East Village) it is dark and full of character. To find it, you must locate the sign of a giant sausage with a sign that indicates “Eat me”. There you enter a bar specialized in hot dogs. Just before reaching the checkout where you place the order, there is a telephone booth. That’s the entrance to the speakeasy

 You must pick up the phone and dial 1 to connect with the staff who will authorize your entry. It is recommended to make a reservation on their website at least 7 days in advance; otherwise, it’s hard to get a table. Its cocktails cost around $15 and it is open between 5pm and 2am, except on Fridays and Saturdays when it closes at 3am.

The Back Room

 Located at 102 Norfolk Street (Lower East Side). This clandestine bar is a bit difficult to find. To get there, walk north on Norfolk Street from Delancey Street and look on the right-hand side for a sign that says “Lower East Side Toy Company.” Once you cross that door, you must go down the alley and up the stairs to the bar.

Once you find the bar, you enter another century: red velvet sofas, fireplace, wood and people drinking cocktails from mugs or beer bottles inside paper bags, as was done in those days. All surrounded by a period atmosphere that takes visitors on a journey through time. As an important fact, it has more affordable prices compared to others.

Death & Co.

 Located at 433 E 6th St (Lower East Side) it doesn’t have any secret doors, just a small wooden sign in a dark entrance that can easily go unnoticed. There is a porter there. which allows entry if there is space available. There are no reservations and, in this way, they maintain their exclusivity.

 It is a highly recommended place because its cocktail menu created by Jillian Vose is also one of the best in the city.

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