The 5 Best Speakeasies in Manhattan
Jonathan Barlow
The Tradition
Manhattan invented the speakeasy during Prohibition, and a century later the format persists — not out of necessity, but because there is something irreplaceable about finding a door that doesn't want to be found.
1. Employees Only
West Village. The neon psychic sign marks the entrance. Behind it, one of the most awarded cocktail bars in the world. The bartenders are technically flawless and genuinely warm. The late-night burger (served after midnight) is legendary.
2. Please Don't Tell (PDT)
Enter through Crif Dogs on St. Marks Place — the phone booth in the back connects to the host stand. The cocktails are precise, the hot dogs pair better than they should, and the room seats about 30 people, which keeps the energy intimate.
3. Attaboy
No menu. No sign. Lower East Side. Tell the bartender what you like — sweet, bitter, strong, light — and they'll build something perfect. This is the successor to Milk & Honey, and it honors that legacy completely.
4. The Back Room
The only surviving speakeasy from actual Prohibition. Down an alley off Norfolk Street, through an unmarked door. Cocktails served in teacups, just like the 1920s. The history is real.
5. Bathtub Gin
Chelsea. Enter through a coffee shop called Stone Street Coffee. Behind the wall, a sprawling space with a copper bathtub as the centerpiece. The gin-focused cocktail menu is deep.
The best speakeasies don't advertise. They earn their reputation one drink at a time.