The best speakeasies in the world share one quality — they make you work for the drink. We have tracked down the hidden bars, secret entrances, and legendary establishments that define the modern speakeasy experience. From phone booths in New York to tube stations in London, these are the bars worth finding.
New York Speakeasies
01 / Legendary
PDT (Please Don't Tell)
East Village, New York
Price: $$$
Vibe: Dark/Legendary
The bar that started the modern speakeasy movement. Access through a vintage phone booth inside a hot dog stand. PDT's cocktails are meticulously crafted and their back catalog of drinks is legendary among bartenders worldwide.
Recommended drink: House special cocktail selection
02 / Jazz
Little Branch
West Village, New York
Price: $$$
Vibe: Basement/Jazz
A speakeasy set in a historic basement with dim lighting and intimate booths. The bar is known for its pre-Prohibition era cocktails and live jazz performances that set the perfect mood for craft cocktails.
Recommended drink: Sazerac or vintage champagne
03 / Private
Milk & Honey
Lower East Side, New York
Price: $$$$
Vibe: Private/Intimate
Reservation-only cocktail bar with an unmarked door and exclusive atmosphere. Each drink is personally crafted to your preferences, and the bartenders remember regulars and their favorite drinks with impressive precision.
Recommended drink: Custom cocktail creation
London Speakeasies
04 / Theatrical
Cahoots
Soho, London
Price: $$$
Vibe: Theatrical/Vintage
Located in a 1940s tube station theme, Cahoots transports you back to wartime London. The theatrical decor, vintage uniforms, and period-appropriate cocktails create an immersive speakeasy experience unlike any other in the capital.
Recommended drink: Period cocktails like negroni
05 / Jazz Cabaret
Nightjar
Shoreditch, London
Price: $$$$
Vibe: Jazz/Cabaret
An award-winning cocktail bar with live jazz and cabaret performances. The intimate setting, craft cocktails, and world-class performances make this one of London's most coveted reservation.
Recommended drink: Their signature House Punch
06 / Downstairs
Swift
Soho, London
Price: $$$
Vibe: Downstairs/Modern
Hidden away down a narrow staircase, Swift offers a modern take on the speakeasy concept. The cocktails are creative, the bartenders are knowledgeable, and the underground setting adds an element of discovery.
Recommended drink: House special seasonal cocktail
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Tokyo & Beyond
07 / Omakase
Bar High Five
Ginza, Tokyo
Price: $$$$
Vibe: One-room/Omakase
A five-seat bar in Tokyo's upscale Ginza district where the bartender crafts bespoke cocktails like a sushi chef. Each drink is personalized based on your preferences, with rare spirits and innovative techniques on display.
Recommended drink: Let the bartender choose
08 / Seasonal
Gen Yamamoto
Azabu-Juban, Tokyo
Price: $$$$
Vibe: 4-seat/Intimate
One of Tokyo's most exclusive bars with only 4 seats. The bartender creates cocktails using seasonal ingredients and Japanese techniques. Reservations are essential and word-of-mouth is the only way to find it.
Recommended drink: Seasonal house creation
09 / Hidden
Candelaria
Paris, France
Price: $$$
Vibe: Hidden/Fun
A Mexican restaurant by day, speakeasy by night. Access the hidden bar through a secret door and step into a world of craft cocktails and playful decor. The contrast between the restaurant and bar is part of the charm.
Recommended drink: Margarita variations
10 / Minimal
Happiness Forgets
Hoxton, London
Price: $$$
Vibe: Basement/Minimal
A basement bar with a minimal aesthetic and maximum flavor. No sign marks the entrance, and the compact space creates an intimate atmosphere perfect for serious cocktail enthusiasts.
Recommended drink: Classic cocktails done right
The speakeasy aesthetic — secret entrances, theatrical concealment, the thrill of the find — is also the engine behind a broader genre of immersive bar experiences. If the prohibition-era aesthetic appeals to you, you will want to explore bars themed around cinema and pop culture, where the same impulse to transform a room into a complete world has been taken into entirely new directions.
Sponsored Content
Some of the bars featured in this guide are sponsored listings. This does not influence our editorial recommendations, and all featured establishments meet our quality standards.
