West Village Speakeasies Worth Speaking About
From grungy, cash-only dive bars to frighteningly fancy boîtes, New York City is home to plenty of drinking destinations. For cocktail connoisseurs looking to avoid the rowdy crowds and discreetly imbibe in speakeasy style, head to the West Village, where you’ll find everything from a no-frills basement jazz club to the buzziest clandestine cocktail bar in town. That is if you can actually find these cleverly concealed hideaways. We’re here to help, below.
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Venice Bar
Saint Theo’s is a beyond-chic and scene-y Italian restaurant in the West Village that’s also predictably a magnet for the designer-clad downtown glitterati. But where do these extra-fancy types go after dinner for top-notch cocktails? Answer: The extra-fancy and extra-nearby Venice Bar—it’s conveniently hidden behind velvet curtains inside the restaurant. The discreet and decadent Venetian-inspired 20-seat cocktail bar (opened in 2021) is as picturesque as a Venice postcard. Vintage Venice Biennale posters and Pirelli calendars line the walls, and negroni-and-spritz-sipping posh patrons spill into crimson banquets. If you’re able to get a seat at this hotspot, explore the cicchetti (small Venetian snacks) menu. Go on and bookend your sarde in saor (fried sardines, onions, raisins, and pine nuts) with a creamy sgroppino cocktail: Sorrento lemon sorbet, Grey Goose, and prosecco.
340 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014; T. (212) 969-8221
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Employees Only
If you’ve ever asked around for a West Village speakeasy recommendation, you’ve probably heard of this award-winning cocktail lounge on Hudson Street, which was opened in 2004 by five industry friends. Just look for the red neon “psychic” sign. Inside, the interior is outfitted with an Art Deco flair, and the bartenders are outfitted in white lab coats. Open seven days a week until 4am, come here to sip Manhattans and espresso martinis and munch on bacon-wrapped lamb chops and bone marrow poppers—or just stick to a side of truffle french fries. Oh, and if burlesque shows are your thing, this small, suave haunt is the place to be on Sundays at midnight.
510 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014; T: (212) 242-3021
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Little Branch
Newbies at this hidden gem will have to ask the smokers on the corner of 7th Avenue and Leroy Street if they’ve come to the right place. Little Branch is hidden behind a nondescript door that looks like it could have appeared in a horror film. Instead, you’ll enter a low-ceilinged drinking den with roomy candle-lit booths where the vibes are warm and the craft cocktails are aplenty. Some nights, there’s live jazz music. Every night, the stylish and snug bar has a lovely rule against hollering or any other kind of loud behavior. Opened by the late Sasha Petraske in 2005, Little Branch continues to be the perfect spot for nursing a mojito while on a first date or catching up with a pal.
20 7th Ave S, New York, NY 10014; T: (212) 929-4360
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Julius’
There’s no place like Julius’, New York City’s oldest operating gay bar, which was recently officially designated as a city landmark. Opened in 1864 on the corner of Waverly Place and West 10th Street, the bar was the site of the 1966 “sip-in” protest, when members of a gay rights organization were denied service. The moment was captured by a newspaper photographer, proving that bars in the city discriminated against gay people. Today, Julius’ is a fun-filled and friendly cash-only dive where the well-drinks and beers are cheap, the music’s blaring, and the people-watching is stellar. An eclectic crowd, ranging from longtime patrons to curious first-timers, fills up the homey tavern and gathers around the long wooden bar. Suggestion: Pair your drink(s) of choice with some inexpensive and yummy bar food (burgers, fries, onion rings, and hot dogs) at this historic watering hole.
159 W 10th St, New York, NY 10014; T: (212) 243-1928
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Smalls Jazz Club
Carefully make your way down the narrow stairs of this aptly named West 10th Street basement hideaway (est. 1994) for an authentic and ever-electric jazz club experience. Open every night until three in the morning, expect killer sets and dizzying jam sessions from both established and emerging jazz musicians at this no-frills hole-in-the-wall. The cover charges here are reasonable, but be sure to check out their website for the calendar and to purchase tickets in advance—shows sell out quickly at this locals’ favorite.
183 W 10th St, New York, NY 10014; T. (646) 476-4346
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4 Charles Prime Rib
Looking for a charming steakhouse speakeasy that’s tucked away in the basement of a Charles Street townhouse? Then get yourself to the hard-to-get-into 4 Charles Prime Rib. Opened by the same restaurateur who’s responsible for Chicago’s most famous burger joint, Au Cheval, this moodily lit lair, replete with plush leather booths and crystal chandeliers, offers a menu ideal for meat obsessives. You can order several different cuts of prime rib including the bone-in and béarnaise sauce-drenched kind. There’s also an excellent double wagyu cheeseburger that will cost you $36.95 unless you want to add on a farm egg ($3.95) or some bacon ($8.95). Don’t sleep on the sides—the creamed spinach is crazy delicious. Feeling extra-adventurous? We dare you to order a hot fudge sundae, wash it down with a cocktail, and prepare for an incoming food coma.
4 Charles St #3004, New York, NY 10014; T: (212) 561-5992
WORDS Alex Catarinella
FEATURED IMAGE Courtesy of nycprimerib.com
