Top Secret! 2025 Guide to the Best Speakeasies in NYC
We love dishing on New York’s hidden gems, and no secret is juicier than the speakeasies in NYC! It is a curious facet of New York City that, in a town of over 8 million, everyone wants to feel like they’ve discovered something that nobody else knows about. Therefore, the speakeasies in NYC maintain that insiders-only, hush-hush vibe that is coveted by locals and visitors alike. We’re breaking the rules and spilling the tea on some of our favorite speakeasies in NYC - just between us!
Please Don’t Tell / 113 St Marks Place
When I was young and hip, the most coveted date was at Please Don’t Tell in the East Village, so it had to top our list of speakeasies in NYC. Located through a phone booth inside Crif Dogs, the too-cool hot dog spot on St. Mark’s Place, gaining entry through a secret code word used to be the only way to access this spot. Now, you can make a Resy for a spot, but that’s where you relinquish control. True to their name, Please Don’t Tell is idiosyncratically mum about the details. Their menu changes seasonally, but their Instagram offers hints at the caliber of creative cocktails you can expect.
Nothing Really Matters / 210 West 50th St
What’s more iconically NYC than a speakeasy… inside a subway station?! Catch the express to Nothing Really Matters, an oasis of cool in - of all places - midtown Manhattan. What tickles me about Nothing Really Matters is that it offers simultaneously very highbrow and very lowbrow delights - very “uptown vs downtown,” if you will. On the snacks side, the nibbles on offer range from Doritos and Hot Cheetos… to caviar and créme fráiche! Cocktails will run you from the standard $14-$45 for their “solid gold” very upscale offerings. I love the fact that you can party at Nothing Really Matters on a range of different levels - and transfer between tracks, too!
Sincerely, Ophelia / 221 2nd Ave
Aimed at the Millennial & Gen Z crowd, Sincerely, Ophelia offers classic cocktails with new twists: the “New Manhattan” as in “New New York” is made with the more trendy mezcal spirit, and the “Not Your Mother’s Martini” brands itself as the hipper version of the classic drink. I, a Millennial, enjoy the fact that they offer a range of house-made hard seltzers - an upscale and boutique upgrade on every Millennials’ favorite, White Claw! Of all the speakeasies in NYC, this one seems aimed to recapture the kitsch of early 2010’s New York City, one where the nostalgia is a little bit newer. I’m slipping on my skinny jeans and heading down to the East VIllage for this one!
Odo Lounge / 17 W 20th Street
Tucked behind the chef’s counter at Chef/Owner Hiroki Odo’s eponymous eatery, Odo Lounge is the hidden speakeasy that oozes exclusivity. Decidedly more upscale, the beverage and food menu at Odo Lounge will absolutely appeal to the clientele seeking a one-of-a-kind, special experience with all the trappings of refinement. Take, for example, the seasonal tasting menu offered at the bar. Or, the drink on the menu simply named “Bespoke,” which is a “Collaboration by you and the bartender, by using spirits and ingredients in house.” If you’re looking to get in on a really special, personal experience, make a reservation at Odo Lounge.
Keys & Heels / 1488 Second Avenue
What might appear to be a key-cutting and shoe-repair shop on the Upper East Side is in fact one of the snazziest speakeasies in NYC! With a stated dress code that encourages you to “keep it sharp” and a reservation policy that affords no more than a 15-minute grace period for tardy arrivals, Keys & Heels keeps customers on their toes - but what is the fun of a speakeasy if it doesn’t have rules? The exclusivity is part of the fun! Not only do they have a reasonably-priced and lengthy menu of inventive cocktails, their selection of bar food includes many gluten-free options! I’ll dress up for that!
Sorry, the secret’s out! These are our favorite speakeasies in NYC. After a day of exploring the city, make it an evening you’ll never forget with creative cocktails and a cozy atmosphere at one of these spots.
