NYC Speakeasies
HOLA, long time no blogging!
Recently, I have been struggling in life as always, but overall I think I am in a good place.
And I am missing New York City so damn much. So let me tell you about those fabulous speakeasies hidden bars in New York City.
So what are speakeasies? Stories have it that, during the Prohibition Period, when alcohol was outlawed, the bootleggers - or people who transported alcohol - came up with the idea to open hidden secret bars that sold alcohol illegally, thus the origin of speakeasies.
Well, the secret bars nowadays were not actually established back then. They just borrow the idea to make it feel like a thrill - or a privilege - to drink there.
Most of the speakeasies in NYC are famous for cocktails, so these bars are perfect places for a date where you can bring your girl.
Normally, it is super hard to get in one of these speakeasies, because the wait is horrendous. However, I have found out from my experience a way to try 2 most popular speakeasies in NYC.
The most famous speakeasy in New York City is PDT - Please Don't Tell. This secret bar has been featured in a lot travel TV shows, and is probably the hardest one to get in due to its popularity.
The trick is, you want to put your name and number down 2-3 hours in advance, then head to another bar/restaurant while waiting for them to call you.
The thing I like most about this bar is the entrance. Its entrance is camouflaged as a phone booth. You are supposed to walk inside the phonebooth, dial "1", and wait for the waiter to come out and greet you.
The phone booth secret entrance
However due to the bar's popularity, it is not a big secret anymore. You likely will have to stand in line for a chance to walk into the phone booth lol.
The phone booth is also hidden inside an also famous hot dog restaurant called "Crif Dogs"
Well, just walk inside the hot dog restaurant, stand in line if you have to, go into the phone booth, then dial "1", then ask the waiter to put your name and phone number down, then wait for another 2-3 hours before they call you back.
While waiting, why don't you head to another very popular speakeasy just 5-minute walk from there? You can go to the next part for details about this other secret bar.
Now suppose PDT has called you back after 2 hours. You head back to the hot dog restaurant, skip the line and go straight to the phone booth. Tell the waiter that you already received the phone call. They will let you in.
Once inside, you will realize that it is a tiny bar, which explains the long wait. On my first visit, I got the Green Teaki, which had green tea in it, and a bacon wrapped hot dog. The drink and the hot dog were great!
At the end, when the waiter gives you the bill, there will be a very nice little business card with it. Great touch!
While waiting for Please Don't Tell, which could take up to 3 hours, you can head to my personal favorite speakeasy, Angel's Share, where the wait time is only about 20-30 minutes.
Head to the address on Yelp, you will see a restaurant called "Village Yokoncho." Follow the stairs to go up onto the second floor, you will see a very nice Japanese sushi bar - where I have never had a chance to dine in. Look right to your left, you will see a big door, which is the door to another dimension - the speakeasy dimension.
There should be a line of people waiting, and right after you have queued up, a waiter/waitress will come and check the number of people in your party.
Angel's Share is a bar run by Japanese, so all the waiters/waitresses and bartenders are Japanese. Once seated, you will be given a menu.
My favorite cocktails are Cheek-To-Cheek and Flirtibird.
The Cheek-to-Cheek cocktail was fruity, berry-ish, and was topped with mascarpone cheese - the cheese that was used in Tiramisu cake. I just loved the cheese toppings!
My other favorite was the Flirtibird. It consisted of shochu, yuzu juice, and and plum salt rim. If you just try to smell the cocktails, you will be amazed by the leafy aroma of the drink. The mellow salty after taste was a great touch. It was a great cocktail!
Their cocktails were all very smooth. Two drinks can get you tipsy already, and I just loved that.
Recently, I have been struggling in life as always, but overall I think I am in a good place.
And I am missing New York City so damn much. So let me tell you about those fabulous speakeasies hidden bars in New York City.
The cocktails at a hidden bar
Well, the secret bars nowadays were not actually established back then. They just borrow the idea to make it feel like a thrill - or a privilege - to drink there.
Most of the speakeasies in NYC are famous for cocktails, so these bars are perfect places for a date where you can bring your girl.
Normally, it is super hard to get in one of these speakeasies, because the wait is horrendous. However, I have found out from my experience a way to try 2 most popular speakeasies in NYC.
1) Please Don't Tell
https://www.yelp.com/biz/please-dont-tell-new-york-2The most famous speakeasy in New York City is PDT - Please Don't Tell. This secret bar has been featured in a lot travel TV shows, and is probably the hardest one to get in due to its popularity.
The trick is, you want to put your name and number down 2-3 hours in advance, then head to another bar/restaurant while waiting for them to call you.
The thing I like most about this bar is the entrance. Its entrance is camouflaged as a phone booth. You are supposed to walk inside the phonebooth, dial "1", and wait for the waiter to come out and greet you.
However due to the bar's popularity, it is not a big secret anymore. You likely will have to stand in line for a chance to walk into the phone booth lol.
The phone booth is also hidden inside an also famous hot dog restaurant called "Crif Dogs"
The phone booth is hidden inside a hotdog restaurant
While waiting, why don't you head to another very popular speakeasy just 5-minute walk from there? You can go to the next part for details about this other secret bar.
Now suppose PDT has called you back after 2 hours. You head back to the hot dog restaurant, skip the line and go straight to the phone booth. Tell the waiter that you already received the phone call. They will let you in.
Inside Please Don't Tell
Scary animal
The Green Teaki cocktail
Other cocktails
PDT business card
2) Angel's Share
https://www.yelp.com/biz/angels-share-new-yorkWhile waiting for Please Don't Tell, which could take up to 3 hours, you can head to my personal favorite speakeasy, Angel's Share, where the wait time is only about 20-30 minutes.
Head to the address on Yelp, you will see a restaurant called "Village Yokoncho." Follow the stairs to go up onto the second floor, you will see a very nice Japanese sushi bar - where I have never had a chance to dine in. Look right to your left, you will see a big door, which is the door to another dimension - the speakeasy dimension.
Village Yokocho is the entrance to the secret bar Angel's Share
Walk up the stairs to see a sushi bar
The door on your left is the secret entrance to the bar
Just walk into that dimension, and you will be entranced by a vintage architecture, with a large painting hanging just above the bar.
Inside Angel's Share
Nice painting
Angel's Share is a bar run by Japanese, so all the waiters/waitresses and bartenders are Japanese. Once seated, you will be given a menu.
My favorite cocktails are Cheek-To-Cheek and Flirtibird.
The Cheek-to-Cheek cocktail was fruity, berry-ish, and was topped with mascarpone cheese - the cheese that was used in Tiramisu cake. I just loved the cheese toppings!
The Cheek-to-Cheek cocktail with mascarpone cheese topping
My other favorite was the Flirtibird. It consisted of shochu, yuzu juice, and and plum salt rim. If you just try to smell the cocktails, you will be amazed by the leafy aroma of the drink. The mellow salty after taste was a great touch. It was a great cocktail!
The Flirtibird cocktail (on the left)
View from our table
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