New York City
sure does love a good speakeasy. So we decided to see how many of them we could
work into our schedule during a recent “working remotely” trip to the Big
Apple. We tried one in a former massage parlor under a subway, one in the
basement of the hotel where Nikola Tesla worked and invented things, lots of
them behind secret doors, and some that are on the latest list of World’s Top
Bars! They all had one thing in common …
fantastic cocktails! 🍸
We’ll start with some of the places we visited that are the
real reason we do this. They are indeed #offthetipsypath … small businesses
with stories and character. That
Witch Ales You is a small brewery in Chinatown owned by a husband and wife
with some great beer. Our favorite pour was a coconut porter! And two wine bars … the Immigrant and Jadis. Both of them are locally owned and feel
like you are stepping into a European bistro. We highly recommend them.
Now let’s set the “Wayback Machine” for a second back to
2014, when we tried our first NYC speakeasy … Beauty & Essex.
We were blown away by the concept of walking into a small pawn shop, only to
find a two-story spectacle behind a backroom door, complete with winding
staircase and chandeliers! Yes, this Lower East Side institution is still
around and going strong through the Pandemic.
In September, we checked out one of the most popular NYC
speakeasies … Please Don’t Tell. It’s
behind a phone booth in a hot dog shop in the East Village. The drinks were
fantastic and the vibe was dark and moody - as you might expect.
Now, for the latest marathon.
First, we’ll admit that we did some research online to
gather a list of the greatest speakeasies and narrowed it down to the ones we had
to hit in a 7-day period. Thanks to everyone who helped pave the way 😂
Here are the highlights.
Attaboy – This small
discreet speakeasy is known for their long lines and creative cocktails. Our
first attempt to get “on the list” took us three hours to get a callback, and
by then we had moved on. So we arrived at opening time and were able to get
some standing room at the bar, which offered us the opportunity to interact
with the bartender. That’s the point here – you tell the bartender what you
like and he creates something for you! Worth the wait. Another one on the top
50 World’s Best Bars.
Death & Co.
– As the name implies, the theme of this East Village speakeasy is dark and
brooding but the staff is friendly and drinks were excellent. Consistently on
the list of World’s Best Bars for a decade.
La Noxe –
Relative newcomers to the scene, but definitely one of the most creative spaces
on the list. They are located in a small space basically inside a subway
station. The bartender told us it used to be an illegal massage parlor. Entrance
was a discreet door at street level, and the exit was on the stairway to the
train.
Patent Pending
– Out front, it’s a coffee shop. Behind the barista table … it’s a dark
subterranean bar below the hotel where Nikola Tesla worked and created. So,
it’s no surprise most of the menu has an “electricity” theme. Excellent cocktails and vibe!
Basement – This
one was just fun all around. The entrance is down some stairs and behind a
vintage Coke machine along a very festive street in Chinatown. Inside, there’s
more of a “carnival” atmosphere complete with beer pong tables. Only a hint of
pretention and the drinks were solid!
Bathtub Gin –
Take a step back to the roaring 20s here where the copper bathtub is the
centerpiece of the room. We went for cabaret night and were seated next to the
tub in the “splash zone.” Let’s just say we were warned ... and we got splashed.
Excellent atmosphere, fabulous drinks, and phenomenal food!
Little
Branch – Not entirely a “speakeasy,” but you have to know where to look for
this door on the corner in the West Village that leads to an underground bar
with great drinks and live jazz on most nights. We keep coming back here for
good reason!
Dante – Not a
speakeasy, but it was the World’s Best Bar in 2019, so it had to be on the
list! The negronis are creative and legendary and the other cocktails did not
disappoint!
Dead Rabbit – One
of the World’s Best Bars in 2016 – it’s not a speakeasy – but it should be! It
is an Irish bar institution in the financial district with some of our favorite
cocktails and an extensive food menu. Worth a mention since we visit every time
we’re in the city!
Granted, there are so many that we didn’t have time to
visit, and we had to pick and choose a bit based on our personal taste, so you
may not see some of the “best” on this list. Maybe next time!
Since we’ve been to the city enough to have done most of the
tourist things like the Statue of
Liberty, Times Square, Broadway
shows, etc. it was fun to dig deeper into some of the neighborhoods and do
some “alcohol tourism.” Is that a thing? Maybe it should be! #alcoholtourism
#offthetipsypath
We may have to give our livers a rest, but as always, your
comments and thoughts are appreciated and welcomed! We love NYC!
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