In Prohibition-era New York, speakeasies served a practical function: They were a discreet place to imbibe alcohol. The low-lighting, secret rooms and minimalist décor that came to define them contributed to the goal of a clandestine meeting space.
Today, in a city with bottomless drinking options, going out becomes simply a question of the experience you're after.
The resurgence of the speakeasy over the past decade in New York City provides a sophisticated and stylish alternative to the city's typical noisy, jam-packed bar or club scene.
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What defines a modern-day speakeasy? Usually, you can't tell it's a bar from the outside (there will either be no sign, or another business in front). Warm lighting creates a calming ambience. A simple color scheme—black and white, wooden and exposed brick—renders a spare, uncluttered look. The cocktail menu consists of a mix of classic and signature concoctions. Music is throwback—trad-jazz, Motown—and won't compete with your conversation.
"The good thing about speakeasies," says Rose Reid, an account executive at Ogilvy and Mather and frequent patron of The Raines Room in Manhattan, "is the music's not too loud, the lighting is nice and it's never too crowded."
The bar may require reservations or enforce a strict occupancy limit so once you make it in, you won't be standing on top of each other.
If you find yourself in the mood to hide out in a den of relaxation and fine spirits, here are 10 spots to check out.
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MANHATTAN
Employees Only
510 Hudson St.
This West Village lounge, with its cheery background of clinking glasses and glowing lights, makes you feel like Christmas vacation just let out in old Manhattan, and all the Ivy Leaguers are out carousing. Indulge in the lighthearted throwback with a friend as an escape from the weekend's same-old same-old. 212.242.3021; employeesonlynyc.com
PDT (Please Don't Tell)
113 St. Mark's Place
This hush-hush establishment's a thrill to try to get into. The front room is Crif Dogs, and you have to dial "1" in a plush phone booth to summon the host. You can try your luck, but you're better off calling or texting ahead for a reservation. 212.614.0386 pdtnyc.com
Death Company
433 E. Sixth St.
The dark, windowless exterior may resemble a dungeon, but don't let the name or facade scare you. Once inside, you'll feel at ease amid the gentle lighting and intimate conversation. Bartender Philip Ward assured, "We're here for people who are just trying to find a little pocket of civilization on a Saturday night." 212.388.0882; deathandcompany.com
The Raines Room
48 W. 17th St.
The name of this Flatiron hideaway refers to the 1896 law prohibiting the sale of liquor on Sundays. Its multiple-themed rooms, including a kitchen you can hang out in, make you feel like you're wandering around a live game of Clue. raineslawroom.com
Little Branch
20 Seventh Ave. S., Manhattan
The third establishment by cocktail tycoon Sasha Petraske (proprietor of the Lower East Side's Milk and Honey and Long Island City's Dutch Kills) Little Branch is a mellow and cozy haven of high-quality concoctions. NYC-based jazz saxophonist Jake Saslow says, "Live jazz, and the best Dark 'n Stormy in New York City. It's perfect for a date or just to relax with friends." 212.929.4360
BROOKLYN
The Narrows
1037 Flushing Ave.
Bushwick's answer to the speakeasy trend, this haunt off the Morgan L stop serves as a neighborhood hangout for the hipster who cares about cocktails. Who can resist the promise of a drink named Caufield's Dream, made with rye, lemon, demerara, bitters, spearmint and cava? narrowsbar.com
Brooklyn Social
335 Smith St.
The sign out front of this Carroll Gardens bar says "Non-Members Welcome," though the space used to be home to an exclusive Italian men's social club, the Societa Riposoto, from 1967-2003. Brooklyn Social welcomes in the new while still playing homage to the past via framed photographs of the Society members looking smart in suits, while serving cocktails named the Fellini as well as panini. 718.858.7758; brooklynsocialbar.com
Maison Premiere
298 Bedford Ave.
This vintage New Orleans-style oyster bar has no sign out front. Channel Hemingway with one of the Absinthe cocktails, Death in the Afternoon Julep, as you slurp an oyster you've never tried. 347.335.0446; maisonpremiere.com
Larry Lawrence
295 Grand St.
You have to go through two heavy doors and a hallway to get to this dimly-lit wood-paneled lounge. Once inside, you could easily lose track of time here and not find your way out until daybreak. 718.218.7866; larrylawrencebar.com
Weather Up
589 Vanderbilt Ave.
(Manhattan location at Duane Street)
Prospect Heights resident Blake Bond-Upson has been a patron of this neighborhood favorite since it opened six years ago. She described it as "transportive, yet accessible. It has that quintessential Brooklyn vibe while at the same time taking you to another time and place. Oh, and did I mention the cocktails? They are immaculate." 212.766.3202; weatherupnyc.com
This article was excerpted from USA TODAY's BEST OF NEW YORK, available now on newsstands or at bestofny.usatoday.com. The special edition features articles on 255 places to see and things to do in the New York metropolitan region.
Source: http://www.news.theusalinks.com/2012/12/15/nyc-speakeasies-drinking-spots-to-escape-citys-bustle/
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