What Is a Speakeasy? The Complete Guide to Hidden Bars

You’ve probably heard the word tossed around. Maybe a friend told you about a bar behind a bookshelf, or you walked past an unmarked door and wondered what was on the other side. Speakeasies are everywhere right now, but the concept isn’t always clear. Is it just a fancy cocktail bar? Does it need a password? Can anyone actually get in?

Here’s the straightforward answer, plus everything you need to know before you walk through that hidden door.

What a Speakeasy Actually Is

A speakeasy is a bar built around the idea of secrecy. That’s the core of it. The entrance is hidden, hard to find, or disguised as something else entirely. Once you’re inside, the vibe is intentionally different from your average bar — darker, quieter, more deliberate.

The defining features usually include some combination of:

A concealed entrance — behind a bookcase, through a phone booth, down an alley, inside another business
Limited or no signage — you won’t see a neon “OPEN” sign
Passwords or reservations — some require one or both to get in
Craft cocktails — the drink menu is the main event, not an afterthought
Intimate atmosphere — small capacity, dim lighting, conversation-friendly volume

Not every speakeasy checks every box. Some are wide open secrets that just happen to have a cool hidden entrance. Others are genuinely difficult to find without knowing someone. The range is wide, and that’s part of what makes them interesting.

The Prohibition Origin Story

The word “speakeasy” traces back to the 1920s, though some historians argue it was used as early as the 1880s in reference to unlicensed saloons. The most accepted origin: bartenders would tell rowdy patrons to “speak easy” — keep your voice down — so police and neighbors wouldn’t catch on to the illegal drinking happening inside.

When the 18th Amendment went into effect on January 17, 1920, it became illegal to manufacture, sell, or transport alcohol anywhere in the United States. The Volstead Act provided the enforcement teeth. Overnight, every bar, saloon, and drinking establishment in the country became illegal.

People did not stop drinking.

Instead, an estimated 20,000 to 100,000 speakeasies operated in New York City alone during Prohibition. They popped up in basements, behind laundries, above restaurants, and inside buildings that looked completely ordinary from the outside. You needed to know someone, or know the password, or know which door to knock on.

The culture that grew up around speakeasies is genuinely fascinating. Jazz became the soundtrack. Flappers broke social norms. For the first time, men and women drank together in public (well, semi-public) settings. Organized crime funded many operations — people like Al Capone in Chicago made fortunes supplying booze to underground bars.

Prohibition ended on December 5, 1933, when the 21st Amendment was ratified. The speakeasies closed, legal bars reopened, and the whole thing became history. Until it wasn’t.

The Modern Speakeasy Revival

Fast forward to the early 2000s. Cocktail culture was experiencing a renaissance. Bartenders were rediscovering pre-Prohibition recipes, sourcing quality spirits, and taking the craft seriously. And someone had the idea: what if we brought back the speakeasy format?

Milk & Honey opened in New York in 2000, widely credited as the bar that kicked off the modern speakeasy movement. It had a strict reservations policy, an unlisted phone number, and a set of house rules that included “no name-dropping, no star-f***ing.” It was genuinely hard to get into, and that exclusivity became the template.

PDT (Please Don’t Tell) followed in 2007, hidden behind a phone booth inside a hot dog shop on St. Marks Place. Death & Co opened the same year on the same street, with an unmarked door and a tiny sign you’d miss if you weren’t looking. These three bars essentially defined what a modern speakeasy could be.

Today, the concept has spread to every major city in the US and well beyond. There are speakeasies in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Austin, Nashville, and dozens of other cities. Some are faithful to the Prohibition aesthetic — Art Deco design, jazz music, bartenders in vests. Others take creative liberties, hiding a tiki bar behind a laundromat or stashing a mezcal lounge behind a taqueria.

How Modern Speakeasies Work

If you’ve never been to one, the mechanics can feel mysterious. Here’s how it typically works.

Finding the Entrance

This is the fun part. Every speakeasy has its own approach:

Hidden doors — look for unmarked doors in alleys, behind businesses, or built into walls
Secret within a business — a phone booth in a restaurant, a bookcase in a barbershop, a freezer door in a pizza place
Passwords — some post them on social media weekly, others give them when you make a reservation
Buzzer or doorbell — ring and hope someone lets you in
Just walk in — plenty of “speakeasies” have obvious entrances once you know where to look

The level of secrecy varies enormously. Some places post their location on Google Maps and take reservations through Resy. Others genuinely operate on word-of-mouth only.

Reservations

Many speakeasies are small — 30 to 60 seats is common. That means they fill up fast, especially on weekends. Some require reservations. Others are first-come, first-served but will have a line.

If you can make a reservation, make a reservation. Showing up to a 40-seat bar on a Saturday night without one is a gamble.

Dress Codes

This varies by city and by bar. NYC speakeasies tend to lean dressier. Austin and Denver are more relaxed. The safe bet is smart casual — no flip-flops, no gym shorts, no tank tops. Some places enforce a stricter cocktail attire policy. Very few will turn you away for jeans and a nice shirt.

We wrote a whole guide on speakeasy dress codes if you want the full breakdown.

The Atmosphere

Most speakeasies share a few atmospheric qualities:

Low lighting — candles, Edison bulbs, indirect lighting
Quiet enough for conversation — no blaring TVs or thumping bass (usually)
Intentional decor — exposed brick, dark wood, leather seating, vintage details
Smaller capacity — intimacy is the point
Attentive service — bartenders who know their craft and can guide you through the menu

What to Expect When You Visit

The Cocktails

This is the main draw. Speakeasy cocktail programs are typically a cut above your neighborhood bar. Expect:

Classic cocktails made properly — Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, Sidecars, Negronis, all built with quality spirits and correct technique
House originals — creative signature drinks, often seasonal, sometimes with unusual ingredients
Attention to detail — hand-carved ice, house-made syrups, proper glassware, garnishes that serve a purpose
Knowledgeable bartenders — most can make you something off-menu if you describe what you like

If you’re not a cocktail person, don’t worry. You can absolutely order a beer or a glass of wine at most speakeasies. The bartenders won’t judge. But if you’re there, you might as well try something new.

Pricing

Cocktails at speakeasies typically run $16 to $22 in most cities. New York and San Francisco push higher, sometimes $24 or more. It’s not cheap, but you’re paying for quality ingredients, skilled preparation, and a unique experience. Think of it less like paying for a drink and more like paying for a two-hour experience in a genuinely cool environment.

Most speakeasies don’t have a cover charge. You pay for what you drink.

Food

Some speakeasies serve small plates or bar snacks. Many don’t serve food at all. If you’re planning dinner, eat before you go. A few speakeasies are attached to restaurants, which is convenient — eat on one side, drink on the other.

Phone Etiquette

This isn’t universal, but many speakeasies ask that you keep phone usage minimal. Some have explicit no-photo policies. The reasoning: a big part of the appeal is being present, having real conversations, and preserving the atmosphere. A table of people staring at their phones kind of kills the vibe.

That said, most places won’t confiscate your phone. Just be aware of the room.

How to Find Speakeasies

The whole point of a speakeasy is that it’s not obvious. So how do you actually find them?

Use a directory. That’s literally why we built this site. Browse speakeasies by city, complete with entry methods, dress codes, and what to expect at each one. We’ve cataloged over 4,700 hidden bars across 60 US cities.

Beyond that:

Ask bartenders — the bartender at any good cocktail bar knows where the speakeasies are in town
Check Instagram — search “[city] speakeasy” or look for bars with very few tagged locations
Look for the signs — an unmarked door next to a restaurant, a business that seems oddly popular for what it claims to be
Read local food and drink blogs — Eater, Infatuation, and local publications regularly cover new openings

We’ve got a more detailed guide on how to find speakeasies if you want to go deeper.

Speakeasy vs. Hidden Bar vs. Cocktail Bar: What’s the Difference?

These terms get used interchangeably, and the lines are blurry. Here’s the general distinction:

Speakeasy — hidden entrance, often Prohibition-themed or at least paying homage to the era, cocktail-focused
Hidden bar — concealed or hard-to-find entrance, but not necessarily Prohibition-themed (could be tiki, could be a wine bar, could be anything)
Cocktail bar — focuses on craft cocktails but doesn’t hide the entrance or play up the secrecy angle

In practice, a bar can be all three at once. And many places labeled “speakeasy” are really just cocktail bars with a cool door. That’s fine. The experience is what matters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a password to get into a speakeasy?

Some require passwords, but most modern speakeasies don’t. Of those that do, the password is usually available through their social media, reservation confirmation, or by asking at an affiliated business.

Are speakeasies expensive?

Cocktails typically range from $16 to $22. There’s rarely a cover charge. It’s pricier than a dive bar, comparable to any upscale cocktail bar.

Can you just walk into a speakeasy?

Many, yes. Some require reservations, especially on weekends. A few are genuinely members-only or invitation-only, but those are the exception.

What should I wear to a speakeasy?

Smart casual is the safe default. Think: dark jeans or trousers, a nice shirt or blouse, clean shoes. Avoid athletic wear, flip-flops, and anything you’d wear to the gym.

Are speakeasies legal?

Yes. Modern speakeasies are fully licensed, legal establishments. The “secrecy” is aesthetic, not legal. They follow the same liquor laws as any other bar.

Do speakeasies serve food?

Some offer small plates or snacks. Many are drinks-only. Check ahead if food matters to you.

How do I find speakeasies near me?

Start with our directory. We’ve mapped over 4,700 speakeasies across 60 US cities with details on entry methods, dress codes, and atmospheres.