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Manhattan nightlife is legendary, but what most tourists don’t realise is that beneath the shimmering skyscrapers and crowded clubs exists an underground world of hidden bars and secret speakeasies. These off-the-beaten-track Manhattan speakeasies offer a respite from the usual tourist track and a chance to see the less frenzied side of the city.
Whether you are a native New Yorker or a weekend tourist, finding out these secrets is like hitting pay dirt. The excitement of being provided with a password or stumbling upon an unmarked door never wears thin.
Manhattan speakeasies are not so much about being exclusive. These are venues where quality over quantity reigns, where expertly crafted cocktails make their way into comfortable surroundings. The bartenders are artists, the atmosphere is carefully curated, and the subtlety is all – and come on, there’s just something so cool about knowing that secret door while the world goes by.
In the East Village, PDT is still one of Manhattan’s better-known “secret bars.” The entrance? Behind an old phone booth at Crif Dogs. Call ahead to book a table by dialing the rotary phone, then duck through the booth into cocktail nirvana.
Why they’re worth visiting: Their notorious bacon-infused bourbon cocktails and hot dogs.
This gem of the East Village is hidden behind an unmarked door with a small “EO” sign. The 1920s atmosphere is duplicated to the letter, from the white-jacketed bartenders who are the professionals they take themselves out to be to the “now old-fashioned” cocktail menu.
Why go: The kitchen is late-night and serves up some of the city’s best bar food.
Many tourists just so happen to stumble upon this little gem by accident while strolling past 45 Grove St. Typically, after picking up their car rental NYC vehicle. Concealed above a Japanese eatery in the East Village, Angel’s Share is sequestered in its rules: four customers tops, no stand-up comedy, and no cell phone usage at all.
Why you’ll love it: Japanese-style cocktails and a level of quietness that allows you to converse with your friends.
Lower East Side speakeasy bar with Prohibition-era vibe that functions pretty much like the same Prohibition-era bars once did. You’ll be sipping cocktails out of teacups and beer from paper bags just like you always have.
Why it’s worth it: The Prohibition-era atmosphere and retro charm.
Death & Co. in the East Village has a grown-up atmosphere, dim lighting, and a reservation policy, but it is not completely secretive. Its cocktail menu is one of the city’s finest.
Also from the same group behind Milk & Honey, Attaboy has no menu. Simply indicate to the bartender your wish and sit back as they create something heavenly for your palate.
Above a Five Guys burger bar, this speakeasy on the roof level offers craft cocktails in a less intimidating environment than some of the other secret bars in Manhattan.
Inside Grand Central Terminal, The Campbell resides in a refurbished 1920s office building. The era decor and high ceilings produce a movie-set ambiance.
More subtle than underground, the St. Regis’s King Cole Bar has a conspiratorial retro aesthetic. It gave birth to the Bloody Mary.
Dress Codes – Casual dress codes prevail at most secret bars Manhattan residents go to. Cocktail casual or business attire is safe. Sneakers and shorts are to be avoided.
Pricing- Top shelf cocktails for top-shelf prices – $15-20 per cocktail on average. The experience and quality are worth the cost.
Atmosphere – Conversation and friendship take center stage here. No thumping beat or dance floor in sight.
Take location into account when mapping out your route. Some of the best secret bars in Manhattan tend to be concentrated in certain neighborhoods, which makes it convenient to go to several in one night.
Begin in the East Village with PDT or Angel’s Share and then move through other neighbourhoods. The Lower East Side also has a few within walking distance of each other.
