With a thrilling air of secrecy, a lingering hint of the forbidden, and a big dash of Hollywood-era glamour, the classic Manhattan speakeasy has been a feature of New York life since the days of Prohibition
Prohibition, a total ban on the production, sale, and consumption of alcohol, came into force in the United States in 1920. Lasting until repeal in 1933, the Prohibition era led to the proliferation of speakeasies: clandestine watering holes where people gathered to drink and enjoy music and entertainment. In an early form of mixology, cocktails were often designed to mask the taste of roughly produced homemade spirits. They may no longer be in danger of police raids and the quality of alcohol may be much improved, but there’s still something romantic about bars that fall a bit under the radar. Here are six of Manhattan’s best.
The Alley Cat Amateur Theatre at The Beekman, Financial District
Housed within the late 19th-century Temple Court, at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge and one of Manhattan’s original skyscrapers, The Beekman hotel opened in 2016. The lovingly restored building makes the most of its grand Victorian features and literary connections. Its speakeasy-style theater-themed cellar bar is full of atmosphere and cocktails and snacks come with a Japanese twist.
Raines Law Room, Flatiron
With thick curtains, leather banquettes, and velvet sofas, Raines Law Room is a softly lit and romantic speakeasy spot for an evening assignation. The cocktail list is made up of expertly made twists on classics, and—for those who find it hard to choose—features a list of staff favorites.
Bathtub Gin, Chelsea
A copper bathtub is the centrepiece of this stylish celebration of all things gin, the Prohibition-era home brew of choice. This atmospheric and intimate space is decked out in burnished wood and golden fittings, providing the ideal backdrop for the jazz and burlesque entertainment it regularly offers.
Dear Irving, Gramercy Park
Ascend the steps to Dear Irving’s unmarked door and take a journey back in time. Rooms are themed around different historical eras, with an early 1960s Mad Men vibe suffusing the JFK Room, while the 1920s Prohibition era is evoked by the Gatsby Room with its bead curtains and Art Nouveau flourishes. An innovative bespoke cocktail list features lesser seen ingredients such as Byrrh, coffee salt, and Peychaud’s bitters.
Employees Only, West Village
Tucked behind a neon sign proclaiming “Psychic,” Employees Only was opened in 2004 with the promise of cocktail innovation and a New American menu with an Eastern European accent. The bar’s cocktails remain some of the best regarded in the city, and the railway carriage feel of the Art Deco-inflected room creates an elegant atmosphere.
PDT, East Village
A vintage phone booth inside a hot-dog joint is the deceptively mundane portal to PDT (which stands for Please Don’t Tell), an intimate lounge bar where New Yorkers have been enjoying speakeasy vibes and expertly made cocktails for over a decade.
