The Most Scrumptious Speakeasies in New York

The Cactus Shop

★★★★☆ 4.4 (83) • $$

"While exploring Williamsburg on a leisurely weekend stroll, I happened to come across The Cactus Shop, and what a fantastic discovery it was! From the moment I stepped inside, I was drawn in by the warm and inviting ambiance, a perfect mix of rustic charm and modern flair. It felt like a hidden oasis, offering a cozy and relaxed setting that made me want to settle in and stay a while.I decided to try their brunch menu, and I was beyond impressed. Every dish was crafted with authentic Mexican flavors, beautifully presented, and bursting with freshness. From perfectly seasoned chilaquiles to their flavorful breakfast tacos, each bite was a delightful combination of bold spices and quality ingredients. The portions were generous, and I loved that they incorporated unique twists on classic dishes.Beyond the incredible food, the service was just as outstanding. The staff was friendly, welcoming, and efficient, ensuring everything arrived promptly and that we had everything we needed. It's always a pleasure to dine somewhere where the staff genuinely seems to care about their guests' experience.This spot is a true Williamsburg gem, and I'm already looking forward to my next visit. Whether you're looking for a laid-back brunch spot, a great cocktail, or just a cozy place to enjoy delicious food, The Cactus Shop is an absolute must-try!"

The Woo Woo

★★★★☆ 4.4 (287) • $$

"Truly unique speakeasy bar that hits all the right (80's) notes. First off, this is a true speakeasy: it's hard to find, you have to make reservations, and the cocktail are original! Second, the whole vibe is like 80's NY grime while tripping on acid, even if you are sober. Still intrigued? Good you should be! This is one of the best bars in Manhattan. Drinks: 5/5. creative, strong, and tasty. They look as good as they taste! Food: 4/5. A lot of tasty fried choices but wish they had pizza! Still, the options are goodAnd prices are as expected for a midtown bar.Service: 4/5. Although it can be quite loud and dark (being a speakeasy) the waiters were pretty attentive and seemed to be just care free enough to reflect the 80's under the influence vibe Atmosphere: 5/5. If you don't want loud 80's music and neon spray painted walls, don't visit. But if you're cool with it, you will immerse yourself in the vibe!"

NBetween

★★★★☆ 4.3 (56)

"Very cool bar inside of Chelsea market! The place was very spacious and great spot to hang out with friends or a date night. They have happy hour Tues-Fri from 4-7 pm.Service was fast and our server was super friendly.My favs from the menu:Cocktails - Blank Slate and Cafe CafeFood - DIY Handroll, Mentaiko Mac, and sliders"

Thyme Bar

★★★★☆ 4.2 (331) • $$

"Beautiful Speakeasy! One of my top favorites in NYC! To start, the ambiance is beyond gorgeous, romantic and sexy. It's a hidden gem that I found walking in the area. You'll be led downstairs in a small area that takes you to the bar. The space is nice, not too loud and others enjoying the one of a kind vibe! I've visited twice within the past few weeks and the bartender staff are incredible, good with recommendations and great at what they do! Cocktails are pricey but it's to be expected with the amount of time and creativity put into each crafted cocktail. The music is right, fitting the scene of the gem in the basement and the culture and vibe."

Ye's Apothecary 夜莺

★★★★★ 4.6 (873) • $$

"With a friend visiting from out of town, we needed a place that would wow. Ye's Apothecary met that challenge beautifully. We made a reservation and were seated promptly. The atmosphere is classy, dimly lit, and would be great for a date night.Since it's a tapas place, we ordered five plates to share: scallion pancakes, duck fried rice, pork belly, garlic prawns, and yuzu shrimp. When I tell you everything was delicious and cooked to perfection, I'm not exaggerating.Standouts were the pork belly and yuzu shrimp. They were crispy and packed with flavor. 100% would order these again. Bonus: everything came out hot and fast.We each ordered a drink as well, which were a bit on the pricey side but not over $20.As a mixed-Asian woman, I'm so happy this woman-and Asian-owned business is thriving, especially with the abundance of competition in NYC."

Hard to Explain

★★★★★ 4.6 (34)

"I hate cocktails. They are usually too sweet, tart, or spirit forward. The drinks here are unique and creative without being too strong in any direction. I would come early though because it is small with limited seating!"

Patent Pending

★★★★☆ 4.1 (391) • $$$

"Came here on a Thursday night. My friend suggested this spot and after checking out the google reviews, I was looking forward to it. I actually couldn't find it, even though I had google maps out... luckily my friend spotted me. It's a coffee shop that looks closed so no body would know just by looking from outside. Speakeasy spot When you enter a host seats you. Luckily we didn't have to wait long and were seated in a lounge chair in small bar room. Our table was like a small night stand stool, this place is not meant for long stays and I believe there is a 90 minute limit? I get it, the vibes has a very chill atmosphere and ppl r waiting to get seated. Ended up getting the a couple cocktails. They were all good and unique especially the Made from memory ($21). Also got the olives and cheese ($18) which is a charcuterie board with various cheeses that I really enjoyed especially the Brie. I would recommend this spot if you want to get a nice drink to catch up with friends or date night. I do want to mention probably not the best place to grab a bite if you're seated on the lounge chairs, table is small and low so not ideal. * Good service * Drinks are $20 +"

Please Don't Tell

★★★★☆ 3.8 • $$$

"A NYC classic - we bring all of our visitors here, and it doesn't disappoint. The experience entering the space is fun, but the drinks are even better. Creative and tasty in a perfectly intimate setting, this is perfect for friends chatting or for a first date.Sometimes a loud or obnoxiously drunk tourist can ruin the vibe, but they tend to be one and done and leave pretty quickly, whether on their own or because of gentle pressure by staff. The ability to order food from Crif Dogs is great but unless you're a bit buzzed (as I am usually) it's cheaper to just leave and eat outside haha"

J.Bespoke

★★★★★ 4.5 (70)

"From the exterior, it looks like and is a clothing store and it's easy to miss the fact that there's a bar hidden behind there because the J Bespoke sign is above the door and the sign on the door says something else. There's a host at the front entrance who directs you to a secret door in the back behind which are the bar and lounge seats. The interior is narrow but cozy, with dim lighting, art on the wall, and plush seats. The temperature was comfortable. The server came by pretty quickly after we sat down and took our order. This bar is on the InKind restaurant network, so I wanted to give it a shot because it is a speakeasy. I've been encouraging all my friends about and referring to them to the InKind app, which makes the quite pricey NYC drinks a little cheaper. The drinks were around $18 each. The service was attentive and consistent. Drinks were moderately strong and flavorful. They charge a fee for drinks that are not on their menu (not an upgraded liquor, but my margarita was $2 more) plus a service fee for credit cards. Businesses will do anything to sneak in extra charges when most people look st their itemized receipt. Similar establishments in NYC don't do that. I paid with the InKind app, not a credit card, and there was still a charge. I would recommend for the vibe and well-made drinks but pay cash if you want to avoid additional fees!"

Bar Orai

★★★★★ 4.5 (64)

"Japanese whisky, vinyl, and streetwear culture with a dash of speakeasy. Trust the Google Maps locator, and follow the (diminutive) signs to reach Bar Orai. Reservations recommended, but don't show up too early since your table might not be ready yet. There are three dining sections comprised of two main sitting areas separated by the bar. The larger seating area evokes a cozy retro living room, and where vibes are best, in my opinion. I was pleasantly surprised that my chair didn't just look luxurious, but was actually comfy to sit in. There's an air of quiet luxury in Orai, toeing the line between casual and sophisticated. Think tiny beanies and tucked T-shirts with the vintage J's. Supreme merch and Bearbricks line the walls dutifully amid carefully arranged bottles of whisky and hundreds of records. Music, obviously, is tasteful and the perfect volume to get lost in but also to have a conversation. I'll admit I'm not the biggest fan of whisky, so my selections were limited to the Highball and wine section. And also the single beer - who else knew that Suntory makes a beer? For people with real taste, there's a very nicely curated selection of whisky, whiskeys, and bourbon, and cocktails involving the aforementioned. Let's not forget the kitchen either, which shells out some delicious Japanese and Korean tapas to pair with your drink. Portion sizes for the food are pretty small, but think of it as a vibe surcharge. Part of the lovely time we had was attributed to the great service - all the house staff were super polite and thoughtful, keeping our waters topped off and moving things around for our small table to accommodate the drinks and food. Several hours goes by in a flash, and if not for them closing for the evening, we probably could have stayed much longer."

So & So’s Piano Bar

★★★★☆ 3.9 (20)

"We checked out So & So's for the first time during a private event, and it definitely delivered on atmosphere. The place has a cool speakeasy vibe--dim lighting, vintage touches, and just the right amount of mystery. The live piano music added a classy, old-school charm, and the musician was seriously impressive, setting the perfect mood for the night.The drinks were well-crafted, and the bartenders worked fast, keeping everyone's glasses full without much of a wait. Service, in general, was on point--friendly, efficient, and never intrusive. The appetizers were a highlight--thoughtfully prepared, flavorful, and surprisingly filling for small bites.The only downside? It got a little crowded and noisy, but that was likely due to the private party setting. Even with the packed house, the energy was lively rather than overwhelming.Overall, So & So's made a great first impression, and we're already looking forward to coming back for a more laid-back visit to see how the place feels on a regular night."

Little Branch

★★★★☆ 4 • $$$

"Small little speakeasy that looks unassuming from the outside, but transports you to a jazz club once you get downstairs. I really loved the live music/pianist they had when I went -- just made everything so much more vibey. Drinks were good, and if nothing on the menu speaks to you, you can ask for bartender's choice, and they did a really great job."

Gongo

★★★★★ 4.5 (22)

"I absolutely love Gongo. The service is attentive and fantastic, the food is so delicious and unique (don't miss the mackerel sushi, their beautiful sashimi platters, or their special bar snacks), and the drinks (from sake and shochu, to whiskeys and craft cocktails) are all top-notch. Go go go to Gongo before it really blows up in popularity!"

Barbam

★★★★★ 4.7 (36)

"The drinks are definitely on the pricey side, but other than that, this bar was pretty fabulous. Tucked under rib no 7, the space is not too small or big (we easily snagged a last min res on a saturday night). We got bar seating and tried four drinks! -JMT (4.5/5): I loved the mandarin taste! this drink also lit on fire so great presentation -Hulu punch (4.5/5): love the foam and tanginess to the drink from the yogurty taste, which cut down the sweetness. Like a foamy yakult drink -Milk Kiss (4/5): tasted exactly like milkis. Probably the sweetest drink we got, but went down pretty smoothly. Interesting way to drink it (out of the straw!)-Naengmyeon (5/5): probably my favorite drink of the night. Super refreshing and I loved the garnish of the asian pear. Would highly recommend! Service was also really fast... we were in and out within an hour."

The Hidden Pearl

★★★★★ 4.5 (77) • $$

"I never give reviews either, but I had to leave one for this place. Coolest speakeasy I've ever been to. I was on my first solo trip to NYC and my cousin recommended this place. I just wanted to grab one or two drinks and stand then move on to the next one. The manager let me in to get a drink even though it was kinda full and I was alone. They treated me very well as I was trying to navigate my first solo experiences and I really appreciate the service they gave! Cocktails were really good too, tried the suggestions of the bartender and it was great. I don't like mezcal or whiskey typically, but the cocktails that had those were GREAT!"

The Back Room

★★★★☆ 3.5 • $$

"I was very hesitant to return to this place after 9years from my last review and thought Dean would still be there but after a bit of peer pressure from my sister I gave in and I must say it was the best decision I made after dinner (at Dhamaka which you must try!). From the beginning Brandon was very friendly and approachable and was not greedy as Dean from 9yrs ago. He was very attentive and listened to what I wanted. Of course the drink decisions was on point with no regret. I wish he was the bartender from the beginning but unfortunately Brandon is only there Tuesday & Wednesday but I will definitely be returning when he's there! Ambiance remains the same but it's the service that counts! THANK YOU Brandon!"

Saint Tuesday

★★★★☆ 4.2 (62)

"Do yourself a favor and visit this beautiful gem of a place, Saint Tuesday! The overall aesthetic is beyond gorgeous which mixes both a classy jazz feel, with a nice crowd. It's warm, dimly lit and filled with energy! From the music, to the cocktails, you are in for a great evening.It's in my top visits of NYC Speakeasy venues for sure! The service is remarkable, great seating, and a great place to bring anyone for an unforgettable evening.My cocktails very made to perfection, and I had the best seat in the house right in front of the live music!"

Do Not Disturb

★★★★☆ 3.7 (67)

"DND is a very cute speakeasy in the west village, tucked away on a busy street with several other restaurants. You have to walk down a set of unassuming stairs to enter the bar which makes you feel like you are in the belly of a ship. With extremely gorgeous brown lacquered ceilings that felt like the bar of a steam ship. We stepped in for a few drinks and got the Sundress and the Mile high club both of which were phenomenal. The energy inside the bar is also very lively and the bartenders were all dancing while prepping the drinks. We didn't get any food, but I walked to the bathrooms and got to see the rest of the restaurant which was also equally stunning. Overall a great spot to get drinks in the West Village!"

67 Orange Street at Back Bar

★★★★★ 4.6 (15)

"From the moment you enter Back Bar you are in vibes paradise. The interior is stunning & chic and the energy is the most welcoming & chill. Shoutout to Will, Liam, & Ash and their outstanding service. These three are master bartenders and will serve you up the best cocktail you've ever had from their carefully curated menu of specialty drinks. **Seriously, the best cocktails you will ever have**For anyone looking for a truly epic spot to bring your friends/family/partner--Back Bar is it!!!"

Polly’s

★★★★★ 4.5 (23)

"I love everything about Polly's! I hate a speakeasy that's just a boring bar. This actually FELT like a speakeasy.First, the decor is perfect. There is art everywhere. The lighting is perfect. I love it.The bartenders were amazing. Every drink we had was amazing. The history was interesting too. I have to look more into this Polly Adler chick. She's a badass."

The Stayton Room

★★★★☆ 3.6 (28)

"The Stayton Room connects to the Lexington Hotel. It's a hotel bar, not a destination bar. If the hotel didn't give drink vouchers, we wouldn't have gone in.The cocktails are NYC expensive so the voucher will only cover one. My NYC Sour was well-made so that counts for something. The server was a nice girl who helped another group with a photo.For a Friday night, there was no atmosphere other than hotel guests. The decor had cheesy floral arrangement.Unless you are staying at the Lexington, there are so many other options- don't bother coming here."

Apotheke Nomad

★★★★☆ 3.6 (96)

"If you are doing dry January - avoid this bar because the creative drinks and intimate atmosphere will make you more inclined to cheat on that goal. This is going on my list of top 5 bars in nycAmbience: so this is a speakeasy with a rooftop and bottom floor. The rooftop would be amazing to go to in the summer. There is a cool inside portion, that gives me library bar feels - which I am all about. We decided to stay on the bottom floor because it was foggy that night and they had a really cool jazz band playing downstairs, that heightened the whole experience. This is a really great date spotFood/ drinks: the drink menu is very cool. They break out the drinks into sections - pain killers, energy boosters, aphrodisiacs! I got the scarlet dancer which was not only a pretty drink but also a pretty good tasting drink! Service: Great service - super attentive and never made us feel rushed! It can be kind of confusing on where to go if you are trying to go upstairs but I guess that is what makes it a speakeasyPrice: it was a bit over $50 for two drinks, which is pricy but normal for cocktail bars in the city! Given that it also comes with a show and feels like an experience - I think it is worth it!"

The Hidden Tiger

★★★★☆ 4.1 (21)

"Came here on a Saturday night and was overall disappointed. The menu says "let us know if you hear mainstream pop music". The listed vibes is hip hop. The entire time we were there we heard ONLY mainstream pop music. The DJ played Justin Timberlake and that one song that goes tonight we are young. Very odd considering the various hip hop references in their cocktails. Also, I tried the premo, infamous and the fat Buddha and the fat Buddha was the only good drink. Infamous was.... Really not good. Premo was kinda bland, no real flavor that made you feel anything. Honestly I don't usually bother with reviews but the music was unforgivable. Service was okay? Bartender were nice but I didn't get to see an itemized bill before paying, and I almost double paid for 2 drinks except my friend remembered and reminded them that those 2 were supposed to be on his tab and not both of ours. Wasn't even that busy/crowded"

Angel's Share

★★★★☆ 4.2 (85)

"Been trying to check this place for awhile and I'm so glad I was finally able to come! My friend and I walked in around 8ish on a Tuesday night and we only had to wait about like 20 minutes to get seated. I loved the darker ambiance with comfier booth seats + bar seats. The server seated us and told us where the bathroom was, which was good to know beforehand.Even the menu was really pretty and was good to have as a prop when taking pics of the cocktails. The lighting was just the right amount to take pics of the decoration behind the bar + the drinks using night mode! I loved how extensive the menu was, organized based on their hard liquor base (gin/tequila/vodka/etc). There were so many unique cocktails with the touch of Japanese flavors/fruits which we loved! It doesn't get too loud so you can hear each other well. The table behind us was being really loud and it was bothering us, but before we had to say anything a waitress came to ask them to lower their volume which we appreciated b/c it was affecting our experience and the vibe of the place. Would definitely come back here to try other cocktails!!"

Apotheke

★★★★☆ 3.8 • $$$

"Hidden China Town bar with unique asian inspired drinks. Ambiance is gorgeous and love the dim lighting. Note that there's limited seating but inside is spacious with room to stand.I had the Victoria Quay: sooo yummy and fun cilantro note.My friend had the Aniki which was the most gorgeous drink I've seen in a while.Drinks are priced at $21 each, great place to grab drinks with friends or a date. Hit up some amazing (& cheap) food nearby before or after!!"

Bathtub Gin

★★★★☆ 3.7 • $$

"I've had this spot on my list forever. However, when you're the gin lover of your crew you get vetoed often. But not this night. A friend and I met here on Thursday after-work and just about fell in deep like with this place. We got there pretty early so we had our pick with seating and sat in the middle on one of the cute round couches. We decided to forego the bathtub b/c we didn't want to struggle getting out of it. LolWe tried one of the G&Ts, but I couldn't tell you which. I can tell you it was refreshing and satisfying. I also had the sangria. That was good as well, just a lil on the sweet side. We shared an order of the chicken sliders since we were inhaling drinks. LolService was excellent and I'm sure our waiter practiced patience when trying to figure of which G&Ts we wanted to try. Lol. Super cute spot to meet up with friends or date night. I'll definitely be back."

Undercote

★★★★☆ 4 (99)

"We were looking for a spot to grab some drinks and small bites after doing a dessert tasting menu at Lysee. My cousin suggested we come here as she's been meaning to try the cocktails at Undercote. And she really enjoyed her meal at Cote.We walked over on a rainy evening (Saturday around 7 pm) and made our way through Cote and down the stairs. It was dark and had great mood lighting. We put our name down with the hostess and decided to go to the bathroom before we went back upstairs. By the time I came out of the bathroom (super nice bathroom btw with great thick towels), my cousin told me they texted her to let her know they were ready for us! The hostess showed us to our table with low seating. It was definitely the place to be. I loved the jungle decor. They brought is water and menus. We decided on the 8 oz American wagyu, the Korean bacon, and the sweet & tangy chicken nuggets. My husband also got the Monte Carlo, while my cousin and I both opted for the Space Heavy cocktail. Our drinks came out first and were beautiful. Their ice is impressive. The drink was exactly as described in the menu, crisp and refreshing. I appreciate a cocktail menu that does descriptions of their drink so you can have a better idea of what you'll like! The food came pretty quickly and we were amazed. Even though it's labeled Small Bites, they were fairly large portions, which who doesn't love? And the food was AMAZING.The waiter brought out another table to ensure we had enough space for everything. The steak was by far the best bite of our whole weekend trip. It was cooked so perfectly, and you could taste how great of quality it was. It came with some delicious dipping sauce, but I didn't bother using it - it was so good on its own. My husband, cousin, and I were ridiculously happy. The porkbelly was also delicious. We enjoyed the sweet & tangy chicken nuggets. It did have a kick to it! It also came with a kim chi scallion salad type thing. I was so full, but I took a few small bites and they were so good. I think one of the biggest things was how well they treated us. We had been rained on, we were in leggins/sweats. My husband and I had on tennis shoes, and my cousin might have had on a Costco sweater. Even from the beginning, they were very kind and treated us like everyone else there! Who was much more dressed up then us. Even though we were feeling under dressed, they were the nicest. My fork fell off the table at one point, and I didn't notice. The waiter swooped in quickly and got me a new fork. My husband and I are determined to try Cote next time with my cousin when we're in NYC!"

& Son Steakeasy

★★★★☆ 4 (120)

"Dined in the upstairs portion of the restaurant for a work dinner with some colleagues. The ambience throughout the restaurant is fantastic. Timeless, classy decor and lighting you'd expect from a bar and steakhouse. Upstairs area had plenty of room and an additional bar for some of the craft cocktails they take a lot of pride in. I had 2 dirty martinis and was a big fan, though it took a lot for me to not go with the old fashioned as it seemed like a place that would really know their stuff. NY strip steak frites was cooked perfectly and was incredibly flavorful along with our sides for the table and an excellent blueberry cheesecake dessert. Service was attentive but not overbearing and they got every order correct to a tee for a party of 5. Will definitely be returning for date nights and special occasions. Cheers!"