New Yorkers love speakeasies.
We're not going to go so far as to say that New Yorkers love alcohol in any form, but we tend to frequent speakeasies more so than any other typical bar.
Maybe it's because speakeasies bring to life the debauchery and rebellion of another era, one ripe with corruption, copious amounts of alcohol, and a penchant for lawbreaking.
Or maybe it's just because some of us are huge Great Gatsby fans... or not. Maybe it's just the alcohol. We don't judge.
Whatever the reason, these spots emanate the personality of another time, transporting us back to the Roaring 20s, which, in spite of prohibition, remained a booming underground alcohol business.
Here are a few more incredible speakeasies that you have to check out in NYC:
1. Little Branch (20 7th Avenue South)
Because it's a speakeasy, you'll probably have a tough time finding The Little Branch if you don't already know where it is. It's essentially just a door on the corner of 7th and Leroy, but it's worth the search if you haven't already found it.
First things first, stop at an ATM because this spot (in true speakeasy style) is cash only. This little spot is in a basement with dim lighting and a semi-cozy, intimate atmosphere.
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But the real treats are the drinks.
If you love unique, chic cocktails, you need to get over to The Little Branch. Just beware, it's a tight space, so you may not want to go with a group.
2. Please Don't Tell (113 Saint Marks Place)
partyatjahmoontower Went to PDT last night...This is the phone booth inside Criff Dogs (The best hot dogs in NYC) you go in, dial a certain number, and the other side opens up...Letting you into bar the raddest SpeakEasy ever, "Please Don't Tell"...The drinks here are off the chain, my favorite was the Benton's Bacon infused Bourbon Old Fashioned👌🏼🔥 If you are ever in the city you need to check it out!!!🙌🏼🏙🗽🙊 #PleaseDontTell #NYC #PDT #Boro #710Society #DabSociety #DabbersDaily #DabbinAndStabbin #SecretPhoneBooth #CriffDogs #BarHoppinWithTheBabes #BoroBook #EastVillage #NYCDabbers #ItWasASecret #Munchies
Also known as PDT, Please Don't Tell is a spot you absolutely need to have a reservation for or else you probably won't get a seat. Think this spot's address looks like the same as Crif Dogs? That's because PDT is located behind the red phone booth inside Crif Dogs.
All you have to do is pick up the receiver, dial 1, and the hostess will open the back of the phone booth and lead you into a beautiful bar bedecked in wood and some pretty gnarly stuffed animals... not the fluffy kind, but the taxidermy kind.
Unlike at The Back Room where you're unlikely to get in if you wear fur, you'll have no problem getting in (with reservations) at PDT.
3. The Raines Law Room (48 West 17th Street)
This unmarked spot is a must for anyone looking to drink the night away in a Gatsby-esque roaring 20s speakeasy. With a dark interior, The Raines Law Room is comfortable and authentic.
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In order to get in, you have to walk down an unmarked stairway before ringing a doorbell. You may have to wait (even with a reservation) to be escorted to the speakeasy bar. Although many speakeasies can be overtly gimmicky, Raines Law Room is nothing but authentic.
,4. Nitecap (120 Rivington Street)
nitecapnyc Cans for Cocktails is TONIGHT! Bring in a can of food for @cityharvestnyc and enjoy $10 Aperitif cocktails all night! Please join us in drinking for a great cause! #nitecapnyc
Looking for a nite cap? Why not hit up... the Nitecap? As you're walking down Rivington, keep your eyes out for a staircase next to Schapiro's. It should have a red sign, which may or may not give away the location, but, well, marketing. You've reached your destination.
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Head downstairs to the basement where you'll find a fairly small spot serving up incredible cocktails. The drink menu changes seasonally, so you'll never get bored. Plus, the drinks are so unique that it'll soon become one of your favorite hidden spots.
5. Bathtub Gin (132 9th Avenue)
bathtubginnyc The calm before the storm. Come be the first to hop in the Tub and unwind after a long week 🍷🍸🛀 #gin #bathtub #unwind #bathtubgin
Have you been to Stone Street Coffee Shop? Well, you were (unknowingly) right outside a spectacular speakeasy that you need to revisit ASAP. You'll just walk through the coffee shop to the back where there's a speakeasy bar.
What's the big deal about the bathtub? There's an actual tub in the center of the bar. Like every other speakeasy, this relatively dimly lit spot is serving up incredible cocktails with some pretty amazing music. However, this one is pretty well known, so you may have trouble getting in with the crowds.
6. Bill's Place (148 West 133rd Street)
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If you're heading out to Harlem and want to experience an authentic speakeasy with some incredible live jazz, you need to discover Bill's Place. As an actual speakeasy during the Prohibition, Bill's is still in its original site.
Though it is historically a speakeasy, this spot is a BYOB as it never had a license to sell beer/wine/or liquor.
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If you're at all interested in what a true, 1920s speakeasy would look like, hit up your favorite bodega, grab yourself a bottle of wine, and head to Bill's to sip it while listening to some of the best blues and jazz NYC has to offer.
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[Feature Image Courtesy Instagram]