Behind unmarked doors and beneath century-old floorboards, a new generation of
cocktail enthusiasts is breathing life into spaces that once hosted actual Prohibition-
era revelry.
These establishments don’t just serve drinks – they preserve history in every
carefully restored brick and secret passage.
The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co. (Philadelphia)
Housed in a former bootlegging front company’s headquarters, this basement bar
maintains the building’s 1920s financial facade. Original bank vault doors lead to
private tasting rooms, while vintage safety deposit boxes now store regulars’ bottles.
The cocktail program pays homage to Philadelphia’s rum-running history with an
extensive collection of rare Caribbean spirits.
Violet Hour (Chicago)
Behind a wall of perpetually changing murals, this 1880s commercial building conceals one of America’s most influential modern speakeasies. The restored tin ceiling survived the Great Chicago Fire, while hidden panels in the Victorian millwork once concealed emergency exits.
Their house rules (no cell phones, no standing at the bar) honor traditional drinking culture.
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Bourbon & Branch (San Francisco)
Operating in a legitimate 1920s speakeasy location, complete with original trap doors
and escape tunnels. The password-protected library room features first editions of
books that once concealed bottles.
Their water program – serving house-made sodas from antique dispensers – references when bars masqueraded as pharmacies.
Williams & Graham (Denver)
This former bookshop’s shelves still swing open to reveal a drinking den, though
nowadays, it’s more about theater than necessity. The building’s 1906 cornerstone
contains preserved newspapers from the temperance movement.
Their cocktail menu includes historical notes about Denver’s bootlegging families.
The Gibson (Washington, D.C.)
They are occupying a former auto repair shop that served as a distribution point for
Capitol Hill’s underground liquor trade. The mechanics’ pit now houses their
extensive aging program, while vintage car parts serve as décor.
Their reservation system still operates through a fake automotive service website.
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Midnight Cowboy (Austin)
This former brothel-turned-massage parlor now hosts intimate cocktail services in
rooms that maintain their original Victorian layouts. The buzzer system – marked
‘Harry Craddock’ after the famous bartender – still functions.
Their table-side mixing service references the building’s history of personal attention.
Raines Law Room (New York City)
Named after an 1896 law requiring bars to serve food, this Chelsea basement
maintains its original hotel facade. Private booths still feature call buttons, though
now they summon bartenders instead of services of a different nature.
The building’s dumbwaiter system now delivers bar snacks from the upstairs kitchen.
Manifesto (Kansas City)
Located beneath a 19th-century saloon once frequented by Tom Pendergast’s
political machine. The original copper ceiling and subway tiles survived multiple
renovation attempts.
Their menu tells stories of Kansas City’s corrupt political past through cocktail descriptions.
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Noble Experiment (San Diego)
Hidden behind a false wall of kegs in a historic hotel’s restaurant, this intimate space
features a ceiling covered in vintage copper fire extinguishers. The building’s original
freight elevator now serves as a private tasting room.
Their ice program uses techniques that reference pre-refrigeration cooling methods.
Green Russell (Denver)
Beneath Larimer Square, this former piehouse covers its speakeasy operations just
as its predecessor did. The original coal chute now serves as the entrance, while vintage pie-making equipment decorates the walls.
Their cocktail program emphasizes Colorado’s mining-era spirits.
Herbs & Rye (Las Vegas)
Off-strip in a 1930s building, this establishment proves Vegas has a history beyond
the casinos. The restored Art Deco bar back survived multiple mob-related
ownership changes.
Their menu organizes cocktails by historical era, from pre- Prohibition through the Rat Pack years.
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La Descarga (Los Angeles)
Through an old closet in a 1920s textile building, this rum-focused bar celebrates
both Prohibition and Cuban drinking culture. The former loading dock now hosts live
music, while restored freight elevators serve as photo booths.
Their cigar program operates from the building’s original humidor room.
The Office (Chicago)
Below the famous Aviary, this invitation-only space occupies a former meat-packing
facility’s secret bar. The vintage safe now stores their rarest spirits, while meat hooks
display glassware.
Their vintage spirits collection includes actual Prohibition-era bottles.
Cafe D’Mongo’s Speakeasy (Detroit)
Operating intermittently since the 1920s, this downtown institution maintains most of
its original fixtures. The former watch repair shop’s tools now serve as bar
implements.
Their house piano survived multiple riots and still hosts weekly jazz sessions.
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Backdoor at Roxy’s (Boston)
Behind a former delicatessen’s false freezer door, this space maintains its original
role as a neighborhood secret. The preserved tin ceiling still bears bullet holes from
a 1928 raid.
Their cocktail program emphasizes New England spirits and Boston’s rum-trading history.
Join in the Preservation of America’s Drinking Culture
These establishments do more than serve drinks – they preserve pieces of American
history that might otherwise be lost to development or neglect. While the passwords and hidden doors might seem theatrical today, they honor spaces where people
once gathered in genuine secrecy.
For the full experience, respect house rules (they maintain the atmosphere, not
pretense), make reservations when possible, and take time to learn the stories
behind your surroundings.
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