Photo: Zocha Group – The 20 Best Hidden Speakeasy Bars in Los Angeles
Explore these Hidden Speakeasies in Los Angeles
The prohibition era of the 1920s was known for its prolific speakeasy bars that opened in response to the nationwide ban on alcohol. The iconic style of hidden-away lounges with secret passwords, unmarked signage and disguised entrances didn’t disappear with prohibition’s repeal, and made a lively comeback in Los Angeles over the past decade. Duck into any of these speakeasy-style bars to sip libations in a uniquely mysterious space.
Photo: Zocha Group
Head to The Wayfarer Hotel Downtown to experience this whimsical, underground bar. After checking in in the lobby, you’ll be led down a flight of stairs into a cozy yet spacious lounge filled with eclectic furnishings. The carnival-like living room environment gives the classic speakeasy style a new flair.
Photo: Zocha Group
The Queensberry – Downtown LA
You would never know this underground bar was here based on its unassuming street entrance. Travel down the stairs and down the concrete hallway into this alluring space inspired by vintage luxury. A ceiling filled with disco balls and a light up dancefloor make this destination worth the journey.
Good Housekeeping – Highland Park
This low-key drinkery sits tucked away behind Cafe Birdie in Highland Park. The small, outdoor bar is a local favorite for its cozy outdoor patio and signature brick accents. Enjoy the outdoor space while sipping from their menu of delicious craft cocktails
Melrose Station – West Hollywood
Check in on Melrose Avenue where you’ll be led through a hookah lounge and behind a hidden doorway into Melrose Station. The train-themed speakeasy has a luxurious feel with marble countertops and modern lighting accents, making it a date night hidden gem in West Hollywood.
Rendition Room – Studio City
Inspired by the Golden Age of Hollywood, Rendition Room creates a classic speakeasy lounge experience with a dimly lit, seductive feel. Order one of their handcrafted cocktails and enjoy the jazzy playlist in the intimate setting.
The Varnish – Downtown LA
One of the original bars kicking off the speakeasy resurgence, the Varnish is located at the back of Downtown LA’s lauded Cole’s French Dip restaurant. With an award-winning bar program, and cozy space that was formerly a storage closet, you’re sure to enjoy the exemplary speakeasy experience.
A champion of themed bars, No Vacancy gives a glamorous Hollywood experience before you even enter. Guests arrive at an old Hollywood hotel, looking for room 102. After they speak to the girl on the bed, they descend into a refined, charming bar lush with dark wood and a back patio hosting burlesque shows and live music under string lights every Friday and Saturday night.
Employees Only – West Hollywood
The cocktails served behind this fake storefront are truly on another level. The ingredients are among the freshest and most interesting you can find in LA, with house-made syrups, fresh squeezed juices, freshly puréed juices and tall pours of rare liquors that pair perfectly with a menu inspired by early 20th century cuisine.
Alley Lounge – Culver City
Culver City’s Alley Lounge is an inviting bar tucked away behind Fin restaurant, and can be found beyond what looks to be a kitchen service door at the end of an unassuming alley. Delicious drinks and talented bartenders keep guests entertained along with a menu of late-night eats.
The tasty cocktails and Victorian splendor are just a side attraction to the real star of the show: Magic. Black Rabbit Rose is the prime destination for tableside sleight of hand, magic shows, and surprises around every corner. Just look for the rabbit sign at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Hudson Avenue for a night of mystery and adventure.
Sunset & Vinyl – Hollywood
With no sign or indication that it exists, much of Sunset & Vinyl’s popularity came from good old fashioned word-of-mouth, just like its speakeasy predecessors. Visit Sunset and Vine’s 800 Degrees Pizza location and head up the stairs in the back of the restaurant to find this vintage, vinyl-inspired space perfect for listening to music with a flavorful cocktail.
Travel back in time to 1950s Havana at La Descarga in East Hollywood. With a surprising secret entrance that leads you to an expansive room filled with live salsa music, burlesque dancers and cigar smoking, your senses will be overwhelmed as you dance the night away in this rustic hot spot.
Guests may not expect much from a strip mall bar, but are in for a treat at this spacious lounge in Hollywood. Pass through the faux adult video store entrance to find a dance floor, a big screen playing videos and plenty of room to mix and mingle in the youthful, nightlife atmosphere.
Bar Jackalope – Downtown LA
Seven Grand is one of Downtown’s prized whiskey bars, but for an even further elevated experience, become a member and reserve a spot at the exclusive Bar Jackalope hidden inside. Non-members can try the place out on a first-come first-served basis to ring the mysterious doorbell and taste a series of Japanese whiskeys.
There are dozens of doors at this trendy Koreatown speakeasy, but if you can find the one that lets you inside you’ll be greeted with fresh, fruity cocktails and unconventional mixology tricks. The outdoor patio has all the privacy of a speakeasy, but the live bands and DJ sets might alert the neighborhood to your presence.
This Koreatown dive bar channels a true prohibition style with a rotating password that guests must track down each night. Inside you’ll find a pirate-themed space with karaoke and bar food for a laid back night out.
This local favorite is known for its signature garage sale entrance and long lines stretching down the block. Guests pile in each night to experience the 1970s living room theme with classic hits from the decade playing all night long, along with a backyard patio to take in the LA breeze.
Blind Barber – Highland Park & Culver City
Don’t be fooled by the fully-operational barbershop storefront, Blind Barber keeps the “party in the back” when you head through a door in the shop to find its lively lounge space. Similar to its NYC, Chicago and Miami locations, the sleek, hidden bars in Culver City and Highland Park offer up great cocktails and the brand’s signature grilled cheese sandwiches.
The Red Door – Toluca Lake
There’s a subdued vibe at this speakeasy, with dark red booths and silent movies playing in the background. The drinks and food are both delicious, so it’s worth seeking out their titular red door.
One of Koreatown’s favorite hangouts is the 1980s-themed Break Room 86. Follow your guide down a secret passageway within The Line Hotel to enter the vibrant bar filled with cassette tapes, old televisions, breakdance performers and even private karaoke rooms.
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