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Back Room

Speakeasy and Lounge$$$$

Lower East Side, New York

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Back Room

8.2^/10

1,064

ratings

Ranked #7 for cocktails in Lower East Side
"The liquid capacity of a standard tea cup + ice = a great business"(26 Tips)
"Get, "the bees knees!" Delicious cocktail!"(8 Tips)
"Prohibition era style bar with a great vibe."(4 Tips)
"Cozy speakeasy serving drinks in teacups."(3 Tips)

193 Tips and reviews

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good for dates
bees knees
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prohibition era
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fireplaces
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HarryJune 6, 2015
Operating on the premises of an original Prohibition speakeasy, drinks are served on tea cups and mugs as a tribute. Not the best cocktails you'll have, but the decor and setting make up for it.
Upvoted 1 week ago
Colleen SheaApril 16, 2017
Cute speakeasy w/ great cocktails! If it's a weekend get there before 9 if u want a chance at a seat! All drinks served in teacups makes for cute twist! Look for the gated alley with a toy shop sign
Kate BoykoDecember 29, 2016
Interesting, bizarre but unique place worth visiting. Serve drinks in tea cups - spirit of old school secret bars. Nicely decorated, good music, people are dancing - boys and girls, boys and boys, etc
Stefan StathopoulosDecember 31, 2016
A must see at NY. Near to New Museum, you have to take the steps down and through a hallway to go in this amazing bar from the prohibition days. Good for dates!The music should be more "old" style :(
DoubleDeuceFebruary 19, 2019
This is an extremely popular place because of the charm of the below-street-level alleyway entrance. And of course, the tea cup drinks. It is worth a stop for sure but go early to get seating.
Ben MackeyJuly 30, 2013
Been here 10+ times
Go on a Monday night and enjoy the live band and 20s style swing dancing. Talk to the friendly dancers and ask them for a dance if you're keen.
Polina WeitzSeptember 22, 2021
This is the definition of a speakeasy. Hidden entrance and a 30s decor. Live jazz band on Mondays with swing dancing. No food items. Just cocktails and beers in tea cups. Great vibe!
Liam OliverApril 25, 2016
Classic original speakeasy. Perfectly hidden entrance. Great atmosphere with decent cocktails. Teacups, pinky out.
Joshua BoggsSeptember 11, 2016
Cool bar tucked away in the back of the building. The short walk down the stairs and into he actual space makes for a fun experience. The drinks aren't great but this place has a sweet vibe and decor.
letajanelleMarch 17, 2016
If ur looking for laborious drinks w/delicate garnish and exquisite taste, this is not the place. No fancy glasses or enlarged ice cubes just house party concoctions served in tea cups. Top40 music😕
Meg FarmerOctober 6, 2014
Cool little speak easy that's fun to take friends from out of town to. Walk through a courtyard and into the vintage library hwre you'll drink in teacups. Bees knees is delish; strong cocktails.
Natasha SantiagoJuly 4, 2013
Such an underground place and its a cute 20's theme set up. Love how the drinks are served in tea cups and coffee mugs. Try the bees knees drink which was recommended to me and was actually good.
Collette SJune 21, 2015
Been here 5+ times
Cocktails are served in teacups, draft beer in coffee mugs and bottled beer in paper bags. So fun! Gets crowded so expect to stand. One of the original NYC speakeasies.
Max KesslerAugust 21, 2014
I'm seeing a lot of hippidy-dippity bullshit here. Wack music, and bullshit tufted couches - give me a good ratio in a cocktail and something with a beat and I'm in. Dope concept, crap execution.
Kate FurmanAugust 23, 2016
Really cool spot to come after work or post-dinner drinks. Go down the stairs next to La Contenta and through the alley.
MyrsineDecember 23, 2021
Great atmosphere and vibes. Love the drinks and the prohibition style theme. A must see when visiting NYC
Leanne SuraceNovember 16, 2013
Cute concept. Great atmosphere when not overly crowded. Easy going clientele. Not too stiff. Drinks are original, but you get less because of the small tea cup size. Still very fun to be in
Rachel IvyMarch 22, 2015
Between the cozy couches & the fireplace, I could live here. Impresses all my out of towers (are you sure we're supposed go in here? Why are we in a creepy alley?) overpriced drinks are tiny but yummy
Dan LamMarch 1, 2015
Been here 5+ times
Get here early, it's packed around 9pm. Every other Saturday there is an 1930s re-enactment troupe performing early, you're encouraged to dress '30s style and interact with performers.
ArianeSeptember 29
Authentic speakeasy that serves drinks in teacups. Bartender told us it’s one of only two speakeasies in NYC that has been continuously running since Prohibition.
Matthew HuieAugust 25, 2018
Great spot hidden down an alleyway in the Lower East Side. Drinks come in teacups!
Vanessa RuedaJune 3, 2016
one of my favorite places in town. Really genuine and elegant and misterious. But casual! how they do It? go and discover it!
Valerie SFebruary 13, 2017
Speakeasy straight from the prohibition-era! Fun period decor, and drinks served in tea cups. Can get a bit crowded, but a fun time.
Zeba SiddiqiMarch 13, 2016
Speakeasy in lower east side! Try the bees knees cocktails. Drinking alcohol in teacups was the real game!
Francis UdlerSeptember 15, 2014
True speakeasy as. Its hard to find and entrance looks like gutter. The inside is beautiful and antique. Very cool vibe. Drinks are small but strong and tasty.
AnissaMay 22, 2015
Head down the stairs and get transported to a Prohibition era speakeasy where cocktails are served in cups! Get the Dirty Rascal if you like spicy drinks!
Julie SosciaJuly 17, 2018
Prohibition-style spot with a speakeasy vibe. Good spot to have a solid cocktail.
Anna FrenkelSeptember 23, 2012
The Bees Knees tastes like a screwdriver (college!) with honey, if that's your thing.
@JaumePrimeroNovember 26, 2011
Booze in teacups, the attention to detail at this gem in the east village is unrivaled. A great way to enjoy an evening in style.
Courtney KleinApril 4, 2016
All the drinks I've tried are delicious. The decor is lovely, and I truly appreciate that we stumbled on this by accident.
Bob GearingSeptember 8, 2014
Great cocktails and a low key vibe. Was there on a random Monday and they had a live jazz band and serious dancing. Legit
Scott PfluglerApril 15, 2017
Fun place to find without the help of an online source. Once you enter you are transported to the days of prohibition.
Stacy KimballJune 25, 2015
Nice spot to bring friends from out of town. Snake thru an alley and grab a drank in a cup✌🏼
Jaycob BurnsMay 15, 2015
The drinks are just ok, but the decor is pretty cool. It's a really nice place to go early in the evening before the crowd rolls in, and just fin to get into
Mikey BonifacioJune 28, 2013
Been here 10+ times
Awesome 50's speakeasy. They serve drinks out of coffe cups,espresso cup & paper bags for beers.
Princess Abigail BacaniJanuary 23, 2013
Back Room fronts as a closed toy shop. Creep down an alley to find the entrance. Drinks are served in teacups. The front door has a peek-and-speak hole, and a sliding bookcase reveals a second bar.
Vivian RamirezSeptember 26, 2016
Oldest speakeasy in town. Great for some 1920s vibes and cocktails if you do fee so inclined.
Julie SosciaJanuary 27, 2019
Prohibition-style spot with a speakeasy vibe. Good spot to enjoy live bands and solid cocktails.
Sandra van LintFebruary 26, 2017
Love the back room!!! Great vibe and Monday jazznight is cool. The waiters are a bit arrogant/expecting lot of tip
Roy ChinJanuary 22, 2017
I'd classify this as a "slightly harder to find" bar rather than a speakeasy. Drinks were all unnecessarily sweet (even the common cocktail bar drinks)
Taylor ColeFebruary 12, 2014
Drop in on a Monday night for something extra special. :) Make sure you check the FB page for the password. It is a speakeasy after all.
💎TSeptember 16, 2014
Really cute speakeasy after you trek down the stairs and through a suspicious alley. Drinks are around $12 and are served in a teacup so they're pretty expensive for the amount you're getting.
Inderpreet SinghSeptember 16, 2014
Gets really packed. The cocktails are served speakeasy style and prepared dive bar style. However hey have a fire place and live music.
Shannon McCookApril 28, 2012
Take an unsuspecting group of friends. Enjoy the look on their faces as they think everyone is sipping tea. Then take them to the well-stocked bar. (4 of 4 petals via Fondu) Read more
RDWSeptember 16, 2011
This place really cares about environment, cups/mugs for all drinks, bags for all bottles, really pushing the speakeasy persona, good crowd, reasonable prices, great ambience, nice couches
Irena PierovaMay 29, 2017
real speakeasy from THAT times! thats really MUST in NYC
Emily EganMarch 12, 2018
Great for dates! I would get here around 10:30ish so you can still get a seat on one of their plush couches.
Andrew FurmanAugust 21, 2016
Amazing speakeasy that's actually hidden (take the stairs down into the alleyway)
John AFebruary 1, 2015
Decent cocktails served in coffee cups. Not a mixologist dream like other speakeasy, but does the job. Recommend: PTZ, and Jack Daniels Honey Ginger.
Jarret WeinrichAugust 11, 2012
Best place to go on a Sunday night. Drinks are decent, decor and couches are awesome. Also... fireplace... Oh yeah, and the music is killer.

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