12 Super-Secret Hotspots in NYC

The Big Apple is full of gems that are literally hidden – think camouflage, subterfuge, secret passageways – and span from classic to offbeat. Perfect for impressing a special date or wowing your out-of-town friends.

Here’s a list of the best hidden hotspots in the city:

Bathtub Gin, 132 Ninth Ave., 646-559-1671

Walk toward the light – the red light that is, inside the back of the tiny Stone Street Coffee Company, indicating this speakeasy’s false-wall entrance. There’s a claw-foot copper bathtub in the middle of the bar, natch. Avoid the pitfalls of 1920s bathtub gin (such as blindness and death from wood alcohol) and instead try the Martinez or Clover Club. The bar menu is modern fusion and there’s a rockin’ DJ on weekends.

The Backroom Bar, 102 Norfolk St., 212-228-5098

One of only two Prohibition-era speakeasies still in operation in NYC, The Backroom hosted numerous actors and the occasional gangster (think Bugsy Siegel, Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky) during the Roaring ‘20s. A hidden entrance, rich vintage décor, cocktails served in teacups, secret room behind the bookcase… If it was any more hidden, even we wouldn’t be able to find it!

Beauty & Essex, 146 Essex St. bet. Rivington & Stanton Sts., 212-614-0146

An actual pawn-shop front gives way to this dramatically lit, two-story, 10,000-square-foot restaurant and club. With delicious small plates and an exorbitant cocktail list, its no wonder stars like Kim Kardashian and Ashley Olsen are frequent guests. This is one restroom you’ll want to visit! Attendants serve free champagne to all the ladies – time for a touch-up! A place this lavish can be hard to get in to but with my help you’ll have no problem.

PDT (Please Don’t Tell), 113 St. Mark’s Pl. bet. First Ave. & Avenue A, 212-614-0386

Walk into Crif Dogs, turn left and enter the phone booth, and buzz once (only once). Snug. Taxidermy. Pair incredibly mixed classic and original cocktails with the unusual menu by David Chang, passed through a secret wall. Try the deep-fried, bacon-wrapped Chang Dog heaped with momofuku kimchi.

Little Branch (no website), 22 Seventh Avenue South at Leroy St., 212-929-4360

Look for the rusty door with no sign then follow the long stairway down. Expert bartenders in prohibition era uniforms whip together a tantalizing array of cocktails. Seductive, dimly lit booths practically scream come hither. A frequent haunt of celebrities, try to play it cool when stars like Scarlett Johansson are seated in the booth right next to you. Jazz Sunday through Thursday. Cash only, so hit up an ATM on your way in.

The Raines Law Room, 48 W. 17^th St. bet. Fifth & Sixth Aves. (no phone)

Named for an 1896 liquor tax designed to curb alcohol consumption (and we know how well those worked), The Raines Law Room is accessed by an unmarked stairwell under a black awning on this residential block. Ring the button to get in then ring the button on your table to call a server. Indulge in a little Hanky Panky (which is the name of one of their amazing Prohibition-style craft cocktails, of course – although there are loveseats with curtains…). No phone for this plush lounge, so for reservations Sunday through Tuesday so contact me, I’ll make it happen.

Death & Co., 433 E. 6^th St. bet. First Ave. & Avenue A, 212-388-0882

When you see the storefront with boards covering the windows, look down and you’ll know you’re in the right place. Getting in can be a competitive sport. Give your phone number to the bouncer and he’ll text you when it’s time to enter. Suede banquettes, black granite tables, crystal chandeliers.

Ask for the, “Sierra Madre” – a delectable cocktail with coconut green tea infused mescal, pear brandy and vanilla syrup.

B-Flat, 277 Church St. nr. White St., 212-219-2940

Go through the tall black door and down the stairs to this intimate subterranean spot, a la Tokyo’s secret bars. Underground and low-key. Romantic and chill, meet-up with the person you met on Tinder and try a, “Moment’s Notice”  – sake, peach liqueur and plum wine garnished w / yamamomo. Monday and Wednesday are jazz nights.

Happy Ending, 302 Broome St., 646-998-3184

Happy Ending awaits you once you enter the Xie He Health Club massage parlor. This two-level dance club and restaurant is packed with NYC’s young and handsome.  Seriously retro with a piano, leather banquettes and funky art. French and Italian comfort food is from Francis Gabarrus, the man behind La Ville Stings in France and the ultra popular French Laundry. Cocktails office a new twist to old classics like Ms. Lavender Honey Collins – lavender honey Cordial, vodka, lemon juice & soda water (a lady-like twist to the vintage Tom Collins).

The Garret, 296 Bleecker St., 212-675-6157

Get on top of Five Guys via the rear staircase to access this loft bar, complete with big skylights, couches, and leather seating cubes – plus a rhinoceros head, and collections of hourglasses and doorknobs. Enjoy exclusive selections of Five Guys burgers like the Italian Neighbors Burger, the Sixth Man Burger and the Garret Burger (of course). The cocktail menu offers fun inventions like the Rosarita Stick Up, White Grass, 2 Lime Crew and Last Word.

Angel’s Share (no website), 8 Stuyvesant St. at 9^th St., 212-777-5415

Angel’s Share is inside Japanese restaurant Village Yokocho, take the unmarked door off the dining room and head upstairs to a classy spot with bartenders in tuxes, and some of the best craft cocktails around. Try the Grasshopper or the plum wine. Excellent bar snacks and a fantastic view out a huge window. Definitely for couples; four peeps max.

Hudson Clearwater, 447 Hudson St at Morton, 212-989-3255

An abandoned insurance office is the front for this invisible West Village date spot. Start on the corner of Hudson and Morton. Should you find yourself staring at a boarded-up 1970s storefront: perfect. From there, head around back and walk exactly 14 paces to an unmarked green door. Slip inside and enter a secret garden. With a sunken dining room, tables made from reclaimed wood, al fresco dining, and a secret downstairs dining room, supermodel Erin Heatherton calls this her favorite patio in NYC. All this and the cuisine is locally sourced farm-to-table. What more could you ask for?

“[My favorite place to grab cocktails is] Hudson Clearwater, they have the best patio in NYC and they’re right around the corner from me. My favorite drink is Mezcal on the rocks.” – Erin Heatherton.

Brooklyn Bonus:

Larry Lawrence, 295 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY, 718-218-7866

Williamsburg has become a top weekend destination, and more and more remarkable restaurants and speakeasies have been popping up throughout the neighborhood. As far as secrets go, a favorite is Larry Lawrence, a smoke-friendly bar with a unique, low-key atmosphere. It’s an easy-to-miss location, with an uninviting entrance at the end of a long, dimly lit hallway and a sign that simply says “Bar.” Inside, however, is an open, intimate space with one-of-a-kind drinks at reasonable prices. The balcony is the perfect place to get a minute of fresh air or have a quick smoke. This is a great place to finish off a night in Brooklyn, or to spend a relaxing midweek evening.

Know of any other hidden hotspots? Please share below!