Secretive Watering Holes from Around the Globe
Thanks to the American Prohibition, New York City is one city that has multiple “secret” or hidden watering holes. Often disguised by obscure doorways or located behind seemingly non-alcoholic establishments – case in point, The Back Room located behind a toy store on the Lower East Side. This once need for discretion and secrecy has now blossomed into a new trend in hush-hush out-of-the-way drinking spots around the world.
Here’s a rundown of the world’s top 5 hidden or secret bars.
PDT (New York City) – PDT, short for “Please Don’t Tell” is accessed via a phone booth inside a hot dog shop – Crif Dogs. You won’t turn into Superman after entering the phone booth, but you’ll make great friends enjoying the bar’s cocktails. Like most of the Big Apple, reservations are a must even though this place is on the down low. Located at 113 St. Mark’s Place.
Marlusse et Lapin (Paris) – This Parisian venue has a tiny bar at the front, but the action is all in the back where the owners have created a granny like setting for wild absinthe drinking binges. Get ready to try some interesting shots of liquor and make friends in this clandestine establishment. The place can get busy and boisterous, but that’s half the fun. Located at 14 rue Germain Pilon.
The Columbia Room (Washington, DC) – This bar has a secret and part of the secret is the difficulty in finding it. To find it you have to first enter the bar called Passenger. Once inside, there is a secret doorway that will lead you to this cozy intimate lounge. The Columbia Room is staffed by top bartenders and features a drinking menu with a fixed price for three drinks (carefully selected for you by the mixologist) and an appetizer. You can “stumble” into this bar at 1021 7th Street, NW.
Franklin Mortgage & Investments Co, (Philadelphia) – Back in the 1920s, this “investment” company was the front for one of the country’s largest alcohol rings. It became a refuge for bar artisans whose career choice was scandalized by the Prohibition era. Now this speakeasy is a refuge for those looking for a finely mixed cocktail. This aptly dubbed “drinking establishment” has already been discovered by leading national magazines, so expect a fun rowdy crowd at 112 S. 18th Street.
Cellar Door (London) – Located in London’s West End, this now glamorous cocktail lounge is located down a flight of stairs that once was the location of a public toilet. Down the loo you go to find the bar’s vintage cocktail menu and even snuff available at the bar. Self-described as 30s Berlin meets New York basement dive, this bar also has live entertainment every night and has some rather quirky toilets in all of London. Head down to Zero Aldwych to find this one-of-a-kind.
— Kevin Feather
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