By their nature, speakeasies find their identity in secrets. These bars differ from other clubs and restaurants because they, like their prohibition-era predecessors, exist hidden from the naked eye. Read on to discover 21 of the best speakeasies in New York City.

What are the Best Speakeasies in New York City?

Paper Planes
J.Bespoke
The Woo Woo
Gongo
The Hidden Pearl
The Little Shop
Sunshine Laundromat & Pinball
11 Tigers
Ye’s Apothecary
The Ragtrader & Bo Peep Cocktail and Highball Store
Chicken and The Egg
Raines Law Room
Pekarna NYC
Dear Irving
Basement
Fresh Kills Bar
Sugar Monk
The Attic Oyster & Cocktail Bar
Valerie
Chapel Bar
Patent Pending

1. Paper Planes

Paper Planes, located on 154 Orchard Street, is a speakeasy that offers thoughtful cocktails and delicious bites. The bartenders know their craft well, and are very helpful if you need help picking a drink. Enjoy the casual and vibrant atmosphere from 6 pm to 10 pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, and from 6 pm to 12 am Fridays and Saturdays.

2. J.Bespoke

A stylish and upscale speakeasy, J.Bespoke is at 121 E 27th Street. Besides enjoying cocktails in the space, you can also take cocktail classes and host private events. Before visiting this bar, you should know there are several large TV screens throughout the venue if you want to watch sports.

3. The Woo Woo

The Woo Woo embraces a 1980s aesthetic in its speakeasy sex shop space, operating as homage to the history of Times Square. The bar offers unique craft cocktails, food, and desserts. It is at 266 W 47th Street in Manhattan. This bar opens at 5 pm and closes at 2 am Wednesday through Saturday.

4. Gongo

Gongo hides behind a stairway in MINE Craft Sushi. The cozy Japanese-inspired space offers craft cocktails and drinking foods. This bar is at 15 St. Marks Place. It is open from 6 pm to 10:30 pm on Wednesday and Thursday, 6 pm to 1 am Friday and Saturday, and 6 pm to 9:30 pm on Sunday.

5. The Hidden Pearl

Find The Hidden Pearl behind a ramen restaurant when you want to try some delicious Japanese small plates and craft cocktails. Visit this restaurant at 621 Manhattan Avenue in Brooklyn.

It is open from 5 pm to 10 pm Monday through Wednesday and 5 pm to 11 pm Thursday through Saturday. Like many speakeasies, The Hidden Pearl is small. So, you may have somewhat of a wait.

6. The Little Shop

The Little Shop is a sweet little speakeasy that offers breakfast during the day and cocktails at night. The space is cozy, stylish, and just a bit eclectic.

Find the shop at 252 Front Street. It is open from 10 am to 11 pm on Sunday, 8:30 am to 10 pm on Monday, 8:30 am to midnight on Tuesday, 8:30 am to 1 am on Wednesday and Thursday, 8:30 am to 1:30 am on Friday, and 10 am to 1:30 am on Saturday.

7. Sunshine Laundromat & Pinball

Sunshine Laundromat & Pinball is an arcade, laundromat, and art museum speakeasy. This eclectic space is a friendly place to have a few drinks and play some games. It is at 860 Manhattan Avenue. The bar is open from 7 am to 2 am Monday through Thursday, 7 am to 4 am Friday through Saturday, and 8 am through 2 am on Sunday.

8. 11 Tigers

11 Tigers is a speakeasy that offers craft cocktails, Thai sum yadong, and Japanese izakaya. Each dish and cocktail is thoughtfully created. Visit this speakeasy between 5 pm and midnight on Monday through Thursday, 5 pm to 2 am on Friday, 2 pm and 2 am on Saturday, and 2 pm through midnight on Sunday. It is at 225 Avenue B on the 2nd floor.

9. Ye’s Apothecary

Travel to Ye’s Apothecary at 119 Orchard Street to experience these delicious drinks and foods. With tasty tapas and smart cocktails, this cozy and intimate restaurant is perfect for date nights or hanging out with friends. The speakeasy is open from 5 pm to midnight on Sunday and Tuesday through Thursday, 5 pm through 1 am on Friday and Saturday. This spot is closed on Mondays.

10. The Ragtrader & Bo Peep Cocktail and Highball Store

The Ragtrader & Bo Peep Cocktail and Highball Store evoke moments throughout history. The Ragtrader restaurant provides rustic yet refined dishes, while Bo Poop Cocktail and Highball Store provide a speakeasy atmosphere on the lower level. That space includes a cozy piano bar.

Find this bar at 70 W 35th Street. It is open at 11:30 am every day. It closes at midnight on Sunday and Monday, am on Tuesday through Thursday, and 2 am on Friday and Saturday.

11. Chicken and The Egg

Chicken and The Egg’s speakeasy, Sincerely, Ophelia has bespoke cocktails that compliment the chicken and egg-themed recipes at its connected restaurant. The restaurant and its speakeasy exist at 221 2nd avenue. It opens at noon every day. It closes at midnight on Sunday through Wednesday and 2 am on Thursday through Saturday.

12. Raines Law Room

There are two Raines Law Rooms: one is in Chelsea at 48 W 17th Street and one is at The William at 24 E 39th Street. The one in Chelsea is somewhat more like a speakeasy thanks to its secret garden. The spaces are cozy and they serve prohibition-style drinks. This bar operates from 4 pm to 1 am on Sundays, 5 pm to 1 am on Mondays through Wednesdays, 5 pm to 2 am Thursdays and Friday, and 4 pm to 2 am on Saturdays.

13. Pekarna NYC

Pekarna NYC offers a speakeasy in a trendy and modern space. The food is classic gastropub food and innovative cocktails. Visit the bar at 594 Amsterdam Avenue. It operates between 4 pm and midnight on Mondays through Wednesdays, 4 pm and 2 am on Thursday and Friday, 11 am through 2 am on Saturday, and 11 am and midnight on Sunday.

14. Dear Irving

Dear Irving is an upscale speakeasy with a unique time travel theme. Each room offers a unique experience and tasty cocktails. Find this bar at 55 Irving Place. On Sundays the bar operates from 4 pm to 1 am, Monday through Wednesday from 5 pm to 1 am, Thursday and Friday from 5 pm to 2 am, and Saturday from 4 pm to 2 am.

15. Basement

Basement is the epitome of what you want a speakeasy to be. It offers delicious cocktails and fun games, such as darts, dice, and beer pong in a dark and cozy setting. Visit the bar at 45 Mott Street between 5 pm and 2 am on Sunday through Wednesday, and 5 pm through 4 am on Thursday through Saturday.

16. Fresh Kills Bar

Fresh Kills Bar is a speakeasy that is picky about its high-quality ingredients. Those tasty drinks beautifully compliment the cozy yet simple atmosphere. The bar is at 161 Grand Street. You can visit the bar between 5 pm and 1 am any day of the week.

17. Sugar Monk

Sugar Monk is an ode to the speakeasies of yesteryear. The drinks here are unique thanks to the use of freshly foraged ingredients, and they complement the creative energies of this spot beautifully. Find it at 2292 Frederick Douglass Boulevard. It opens at 6 pm and closes at midnight on Sunday and Monday, 1 am on Tuesday through Thursday, and 2 am on Friday and Saturday.

18. The Attic Oyster & Cocktail Bar

The Attic Oyster & Cocktail Bar is a speakeasy at 136-93 37th Avenue in Queens. The intimate space is a fantastic place to enjoy unique craft cocktails. While this is an ideal spot to bring friends or a date, it is also a rentable space for private parties. This speakeasy operates from 4 pm to 1 am every day, except for Saturday when it closes at 2 am.

19. Valerie

If you are looking for a retro vibe, look no further than Valerie at 45 W 45th Street. When you visit, try the elevated American food and the carefully designed cocktails. Beyond these tasty treats, this bar also offers live performances and events.

On Sundays this bar operates from 11 am to midnight, Mondays from 11:30 am to midnight, Tuesdays through Friday from 11:30 am to 2 am, and 11 am to 2 am on Saturday.

20. Chapel Bar

Chapel Bar gets its name from its home in a reimagined 19th-century chapel in the Fotografiska Museum. This decadent bar is open to members only. You can find the bar at 275 Park Avenue South. The speakeasy is closed on Sundays and closes at 2 am every other day. On Mondays, through Fridays, it opens at 6 pm, and on Saturday it opens at 9 pm.

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21. Patent Pending

Check behind Patent Coffee for its attached speakeasy, Patent Pending, if you want to try electric-themed cocktails. The electricity theme comes from the speakeasy in the building at 49 W 27th Street in which Nikola Tesla performed experiments.

The speakeasy opens at 5 pm every day and closes at midnight on Sunday through Wednesday, and 2 am on Thursday through Saturday. While you can walk into the speakeasy as needed, you may also want to consider making a prix fixe reservation.

Best Speakeasies in New York: Wrap Up

Each speakeasy offers something unique to its customers. If you try all of these speakeasies and are thirsty for more, explore secret bars around the world, including some in Washington DC.

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