10 Unique Speakeasies Around the World

Speakeasies were illicit establishments that sold alcoholic beverages in secrecy. These bars became very popular during the Prohibition era in America (1920-1933), giving people a secret place to drink when alcohol was illegal. Modern-day speakeasies are increasingly popular and meant to be wrapped in secrecy.

While there is no longer any illegal drinking happening at these establishments (that we know of), the feeling of discreetness is pleasing for many patrons. There are now speakeasies hidden all over the world that embody a prohibition vibe for those lucky enough to find their way inside. Here are ten unique speakeasies from around the world.

Related: 10 Unique Restaurants: From Simply Fabulous To Downright Bizarre

10 The Back Room (New York)

Only two speakeasies in New York City still exist today after also operating during Prohibition, and one of those bars is The Back Room. The bar is dimly lit and filled with vintage décor and antique furnishings, and they offer a variety of classic cocktails served in teacups and beers in paper bags. This speakeasy truly takes you back to the Roaring Twenties.

To find the speakeasy, locate a gate on Norfolk Street that reads “Lower East Side Toy Company.” After entering the gate, travel down the historic path that leads to The Back Room. The speakeasy even features a hidden VIP room that can be found behind a hinged bookcase. Make sure to check your coat before you go because the bar is strictly fur-free.^[1]

9 Foxglove (Hong Kong)

Hidden behind a mock exterior of an umbrella shop in Hong Kong sits the hidden speakeasy Foxglove. After entering the swanky umbrella shop, you’ll need to locate a silver umbrella handle to open the door to the speakeasy. The door is found to the left of the tills and leads to the luxurious hidden space.

The glamorous bar is decked out in 1950s-era fashion and features live performances of international and jazz bands on most nights. The speakeasy serves dim sum and signature cocktails, such as the Test Pilot, which is fruity and coffee-based. The cocktails are inspired by Frank Minza, the fictional founder of the bar with the highest knowledge of rare spirits. The bar offers VIP rooms that open with the ring of a bell, the touch of a painting, or the turn of a book, and they are great places for parties.^[2]

8 1923 Prohibition Bar (Las Vegas)

Those looking for a unique bar while visiting Las Vegas should try the 1923 Prohibition Bar. The bar prides itself on being an unforgettable speakeasy experience that serves premium cocktails with live entertainment in an old-fashioned atmosphere. To locate the hidden bar at Mandalay Bay, head down the walkway that connects Mandalay Bay to Luxor and search for a door next to the Minus5 Ice Bar.

When the door is closed, it will be disguised as a bookshelf. The speakeasy offers live music, magic shows, burlesque shows, and other forms of entertainment to be enjoyed with a variety of specialty cocktails, mules, specialty old-fashioneds, bourbon cocktails, and beers. A newly-opened second location is also located at the Grand Canal Shoppes inside the Venetian.^[3]

7 Please Don’t Tell (New York)

One of the more popular speakeasies in New York is Please Don’t Tell, but you will need to make a reservation if you plan on visiting. The bar is very strict about not allowing customers inside without a reservation, especially if there are no cancellations. To make a reservation, you will need to call their phone number at 3 p.m. and continue calling until someone answers. Once you’ve secured your reservation, the next step is finding the speakeasy.

The entrance to Please Don’t Tell is located inside Crif Dogs, a hot dog establishment in the East Village. After entering the eatery, locate the phone booth that doubles as the bar’s entrance. You will then need to follow the instructions on a red rotary phone for the hostess to open the doors to the rustic bar. The speakeasy has an intimate atmosphere due to the limited amount of seating, and they offer a variety of hand-crafted cocktails. Just make sure you’re not late for your reservation because there is a good chance that you won’t be allowed inside.^[4]

6 Moonshiner (Paris)

In the 11th Arrondissement of Paris, visitors will find an Italian trattoria called Da Vito that serves amazing pizzas. If you head to the back of the eatery, though, and push open the metal door to the walk-in fridge, you’ll be transported back in time to the hidden speakeasy Moonshiner.

Once inside, you’ll find prohibition-era wallpaper, exposed brick, and leather booths while jazz music from the 1920s plays throughout the bar. The menu is whiskey heavy with more than 80 different options to choose from, but they also serve up several other hand-crafted cocktails. One of the most popular drinks is the Smokey Island, which consists of Havana Cuba rum, vodka, and gin.^[5]

5 1930 (Milan)

One of Milan’s best-kept secrets is 1930, the speakeasy that can only be accessed through an invitation. The mysterious bar doesn’t have a published address, and you’ll have to be nice to the right people if you want an opportunity to gain access to the bar. Head over to the Mag Café and sweet-talk Flavio and Marco, the restaurant’s owners. They decide who gets a member’s card to the coveted bar.

The lucky ones who receive the card will get a message with the address to a storefront that sells a little bit of everything. An attendant at the store will assist you to the secret door that leads to a bar set in another time. A warm glowing light hovers throughout the bar, filled with Prohibition-style décor, warm tones, and exposed brick walls. The sharply dressed staff serve seasonal cocktails to sip on with the other 30-ish people lucky enough to spend their night in 1930.^[6]

4 Handshake Speakeasy (Mexico City)

Tucked away in the Colonia Juarez neighborhood of Mexico City is North America’s Best Bar in 2024, Handshake Speakeasy. Hidden behind an unassuming facade, Handshake Speakeasy is a two-story bar with several amazing cocktail options that helped them earn the honors. The bar upstairs is inspired by the Prohibition Era and seats around 32 people, while the basement bar is more energetic and truer to the area.

The Prohibition-era bar is simplistic, but the drinks are formed using molecular mixology. The cocktails may look simple on the outside, but they are more advanced than what meets the eye. They suggest trying the pina colada or fig martini, which both offer a refreshing twist on the classic cocktails.^[7]

3 Janai Coffee (Tokyo)

There are several hidden bars in Tokyo, but one of the trendier ones is located inside a coffee shop, or at least what appears to be a coffee shop. Getting inside is a little trickier—it’s more than just finding a secret passageway. A reservation is required to find your way inside, but securing the reservation is the hard part. There is a secret booking site on the Janai Coffee website, and you’ll have to crack the code to find it. Rumor says that if you study the Janai Coffee logo and trace it clockwise, you may be able to acquire that reservation.

Once making a reservation with the bar, head to the coffee shop and pull up the secret website on your phone. Show the barista to be guided to a secret door. You must be able to prove that you figured out the riddle on the website, or you may be denied access. If you’re lucky enough to enter, you’ll find various cocktails that all contain coffee. There are also secret cocktails that can be obtained by solving other riddles in the bar.^[8]

2 The Cumberland (Manly, Australia)

Looking for an elegant bar with classic cocktails and a vintage atmosphere? Head to Manly in Australia and locate The Cumberland for a speakeasy hiding in plain sight. First, you’ll want to locate the fully functional Cove Deli. Head through their 1920s-style fridge door and down a spiral staircase into the underground speakeasy. Visitors will find a botanical-themed cocktail menu and more than 250 different whiskies.

The bar’s vintage vibe comes from the rustic look of old stools, exposed brick and stone, and wooden beams. Antipasto boards that contain cured meats and cheeses can be ordered from Cove Deli and delivered to the underground bar by a dumbwaiter. Snacks such as duck terrine and empanadas can also be purchased from the bar. The Cumberland makes for the perfect spot to grab a drink after catching the sunset at the beach.^[9]

1 Frank’s (Buenos Aires)

Frank’s is a super popular speakeasy in the vibrant Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires. On the outside, you will only see black doors guarded by a bouncer. The bouncer will need a password for admittance, which can be found through clues posted on the bar’s Instagram page. The black doors open to a vintage hallway that leads to a phone booth. The password must be dialed again at the phone booth to access the secret door.

Once inside, visitors will find vintage décor and a cozy atmosphere, just like many Prohibition-era speakeasies. The bar features flocked wallpaper, chandeliers, and a wooden bar top while the staff dresses in period clothing. The bar does offer a limited food menu, but they serve up several personalized and classic cocktails. One must-try cocktail is Frank’s Fashioned, a blend of Scotch, saline, bitters, and maraschino.^[10]