See this wee tea cup here? That’s no kids’ drink, folks. It is, in fact, a very potent cocktail from one of New York’s coolest “secret” bars. Located on the Lower East Side, The Back Room is actually a former ‘20s speakeasy with a sexy vibe and sumptuous furnishings.

Playing on the history of the location, the bar has a secret entrance (just look for the toy shop sign with a bouncer out the front) and serves drinks Prohibition-style: cue cocktails in teacups and beer wrapped in brown paper bags.

The novelty of it all, not to mention a great line-up of tunes (on our visit it ranged from The Cure to The Killers) made for a whole lot of fun and a great way to start a night out in New York.

The speakeasy trend has also caught on in London, with the recent opening of Barts on Sloan Avenue. It ticks all the right boxes with a hidden entrance, classic cocktails and tunes from the ’20s. Whether you’re deemed suitable for entry, however, remains to be seen.

The Back Room
102 Norfolk Street (near Delancey Street)
New York
Tel. 212 228 5098

Barts
Chelsea Cloisters, Sloane Avenue
London SW3 3DW
Tel. 020 7581 3355