new york (and one sf) speakeasies

I've been living in NYC off and on for a couple of years, and I've been to a good number of faux-speakeasies in my day. I also threw in a freebie in SF.

Smith and Mills





Apotheke

The drinks at Apotheke are retardedly expensive ($15), but they have one of my favorite cocktails ever, a cilantro drink, and when I went there last winter they served complimentary glasses of glühwein to my friend and I, which is something my parents have been making and drinking my whole life. So it was quite nice for me.

Death & Co.





Mayahuel

Although technically not a strict speakeasy, Mayahuel is my favorite of the bunch, in spite of the fact that it's primarily a tequila bar. They have a bunch of cocktails made with beer which are quite nice, and the bar snacks are pretty fantastic.

Dutch Kills



Bourbon & Branch (SF)

This is probably the only speakeasy I've ever been to in San Francisco, with the exception of that one pirate bar I went to that was pretty swanky, and I had another cocktail that spoke to my childhood, The Austrian, designed to reflect the flavors of Austrian white wines.