The best speakeasies in Los Angeles

Whether or not you believe Cole’s invented the French dip sandwich, we can all agree that it’s got a leg up on Philippe’s when it comes to drinks. That probably has something to do with a big Cole’s revamp by Pouring with Heart, and it’s got a lot to do with the speakeasy that the hospitality group built in the back: The Varnish isn’t just a cornerstone of L.A.’s secret bars, it ushered in their era (though Cole's also served food and drink during another era, Prohibition). One of the first modern speakeasies in the city, the Varnish trained some of the top bartenders in town and kept crowds streaming to the entrance at the back of the restaurant. The historic building still sports tile flooring and warm wood booths, and in the hidden bar, live jazz and classic cocktails to match the vintage vibes. Of course you can’t go wrong with a bartender’s-choice drink, or getting there early—the place always fills up as the evening wears on.

The chances of you, a mere mortal, walking into this underground Arts District bar without a reservation are slim to none, but the L.A. outpost of this famous New York cocktail den has some of the best (and most expensive!) drinks in the city. To find it, walk past LA Cha Cha Chá and look for the unmarked door with a bouncer outside. Once inside, you'll find an expansive menu with sections like "light and playful" and "boozy and honest." Many drinks cost $24 and over—the sky-high prices you’ll have to pay for time-tested techniques and a vast array of unique, hard-to-find spirits. Not to be outdone by the drinks, Death & Co. also serves a small food menu, for an upscale speakeasy-style cocktail experience that’s big on aesthetics, balance and flavor. On the other hand, a slightly damp, “old building” smell hangs in the air, and anyone who’s closed their tab will definitely feel pressured by staff to leave.

Mark and Jonnie Houston are the undisputed power duo of hidden bars with dark, brooding atmosphere. In fact, the twins nearly corner the market on it: Between Harvard & Stone, La Descarga, Black Rabbit Rose and Pour Vous, they’ve become the champions of themed bars, dress codes, burlesque shows and colorful classic cocktails. But when it comes to the best of their best, you’ll need to check in. The scene: a Victorian-style Old Hollywood hotel, and you’re looking for room 1902—once you find it, speak to the girl on the bed, then descend into No Vacancy’s refined, charming bar that’s lush with dark wood and old-timey signs espousing lines like “ALL YOUR PLEASURES.” The real gem is the back patio, though, which is where you’ll usually find burlesque acts and live music under the string lights on Friday and Saturday nights.

One of the country’s first contemporary speakeasies made its way west—to West Hollywood, in fact. Much like NYC, L.A.’s got its own Employees Only complete with a fake storefront that leads to a drinking den. Enter through the psychic’s business at the front and find yourself in this Deco-inspired, wood-paneled dining room with a gently curving bar. This is where you can find moody cocktails filled with-house-made syrups, hand-squeezed juices, freshly-puréed seasonal fruits and full pours of rare liquors—not to mention a dinner menu that’s inspired by early-20th-century cuisine. In the also-hidden Henry’s Room—think of it as a speakeasy within a speakeasy—you’ll sip New Orleans-inspired drinks with tableside service, because why settle for one surprise bar when you can have two?

Step inside this enchanting whiskey bar—where bartenders are easygoing, drinks are wholly original and unclaimed property is free—and you quickly forget that you’re smack-dab on Hollywood Boulevard. They like it dark here—so dark you can hardly see your date—with solid oldies tunes kept low. That’s because conversation is king inside this windowless, mid-century-inspired space decked out in dark wood and leather, chopped up vintage luggage, crystal decanter light fixtures and a collection of unclaimed thrift store finds. To find Lost Property, look for the unmarked space next to the Pineapple Express—though the lines on weekend will probably tip you off.

And for their next trick, the Houston Brothers make magic in the heart of Hollywood. Sure, we’ve already got the Magic Castle, but if you don’t want to book months out and your taste in dining skews more Thai—Luv2Eat Thai Bistro is behind the delicious Crying Tiger menu here—then you’re going to need a trip to Black Rabbit Rose. The Houstons’ magic-themed bar features tableside sleight of hand and surprises at every turn, as well as an additional magic-leaning variety show in the bar’s own theatre. Think: Victorian splendor (leather booths, red courtains, fancy dress) and Houdini-esque theatrics, even when it comes to the cocktails. Unlike the duo’s other spot on this list, there’s no rotating bed to lead you in; just look for the sign of a rabbit at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Hudson Avenue, walk beneath the nondescript awning and you’re there.

With over-the-top drinks and upside-down decor, this intimate speakeasy along Fairfax Avenue literally upends expectations. Unlike menu-free Blue Collar next door, Cold Shoulder offers a hefty booklet of craft cocktails ($20–50) accessible through a sliding library shelf from its more casual sibling. On weekend nights, ask the Blue Collar host for the password, or simply walk right in on more relaxed weekday evenings. The house menu here runs a tad sweet in our opinion, particularly the “top shelf” creations, but study the menu for a few minutes and you’re likely to find something to your liking. If all else fails, order something classic: Cold Shoulder’s experienced bartenders know how to put essentially any drink together.

Unless your parents are, uh, cool like that, this isn’t the place to take visiting family. As the name suggests, along with the seedy surroundings, this hidden bar boasts adult content: You’re entering through the facade of a throwback video store, and more specifically, through the X-rated section. Head to the pink neon “ADULTS ONLY” sign—you know, the one near the smutty VHS tapes—then make your way through the curtain to find the real goods: a full bar sporting DJ sets, a pool table and a distinctly non-X–rated vibe that feels both chill and elegant early in the night, and clubby and raucous later in the evening.

While this indoor-outdoor bar hidden behind Culver City’s FIN Asian Tapas might not scream “speakeasy,” longtime patrons of the neighborhood pan-Asian restaurant know the Alley is one of the best low-key places to keep the night going after dinner on the Westside. Walk around the side of the building and you’ll find the Backyard, a pandemic-era addition with picnic tables, patio heaters and TVs for game days. Inside, the Alley’s original modern interiors play host to couples in intimate conversation, as well as groups of friends ordering round after round of the bar’s expertly made, fun-named creations. While most Angelenos have long acquainted themselves with mixology by now, a drink at Alley Lounge can make it feel like you’ve sipped a craft cocktail for the very first time.

There’s not one but two Blind Barbers here in Los Angeles, both worth making your way past the barbershops to get to. Joshua Boyd, Adam Kirsch and Jeff Laub brought their Prohibition-era–inspired speakeasies to New York City, where vest-bedecked bartenders whip up classics in classy settings behind a fully functioning barber shop. On the West Coast, they first landed in Culver City with a close replica to NYC’s outpost, but for their next trick, they headed east to Highland Park with a midcentury-inspired cocktail den slinging drinks and gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches until 2am in a setting that’s more ’70s chic. It’s sleek, it’s low-lit and it’s wood-panneled, adding even more style to the already cool neighborhood.

Townhouse is undeniably one of the most packed bars in beachy Venice, and while the crowds and the energy might convince you that this is where the party is, what you’re looking for is downstairs. Housed in the basement, the Del Monte is a modern speakeasy that really was an actual speakeasy roughly 100 years ago—how’s that for authenticity? These days, it’s home to classic-leaning cocktails and most of the live entertainment in the building, eschewing DJ sets for burlesque, jazz and other shows that might just keep the Del Monte going for another 100 years to come.

We told you that the Houston Brothers dominated the L.A. speakeasy scene, and we weren’t kidding. One of their first concepts set the blueprint for the rest of their immersive, whimsical hidden bars: La Descarga, the twins’ second venture, has all the bells and whistles of a Jonnie and Mark production. You enter via a humdrum apartment building, ascend the stairs, wander through an armoire and suddenly—you’re in old Havana? One of their more transportive properties drops you into a club in 1940s Cuba, where bottles of liquor line the amber-glowing walls and you’re more than likely to catch burlesque dancers strutting their stuff on tha balconies. Naturally, given the theme, there’s also a cigar lounge, not to mention a lengthy rum selection. And, given all those bells and whistles, there’s usually a line; make sure to book a reservation ahead of your visit to breeze through. Check out the bar’s Instagram page for updates on the next free salsa and bachata dance classes, each followed by a live musical performance.

As if Bar Clacson weren’t enough—and honestly, how can French and Italian aperitif cocktails not be enough?—the stylish, comfortable and popular Downtown bar gave us an annex that’s all about neon and fun. Follow the lit-up arrow sign that screams “HIGHBALLS” at the back of Bar Clacson, hang a right and find yourself in the Slipper Clutch, where—you guessed it—highballs are the name of the game. The bubbly drinks can be made with your choice of spirit, or you can opt for one of the few faves up on the board. After you’ve ordered, take some time with the vintage arcade games and the pool table. You’ve got all night.

Look for the red door and the red neon sign shaped like a lock with a key, and you’ve reached your destination: Koreatown’s door-themed secret entrance that leads to part club, part patio. We say “door-themed” because there’s not just one door: Enter the first one, then you’ll find yourself at a wall of doorknobs and yes, you’ve got to find the right one. From there, it’s a moody, standing-room bar (unless you want to spring for a table), which is where you’ll find fruity, fresh cocktails with seasonal spins and some that bellow fog thanks to some liquid-nitrogen mixology tricks. Outdoors, the enclosed patio still keeps the secrecy of a speakeasy from the outside world, though the DJ sets, live bands and general crowd noise is obviously enough to alert the rest of K-town to the great time you’re having.

When a bar claims to be inspired by a Parisian brothel, it’s unlikely it’ll live up to the ambience of a den of iniquity. But thanks to designer Adolfo Suaya, Noir manages to nail its mood board. Well-balanced textures and moody Art Deco lighting transport you from a Hollywood side street to a place of decadent elegance. Ryan Sweeney’s bar program dazzles with thoughtful, made-to-order signature drinks, including a saline martini that comes with a chilled sidecar (that’s two drinks in one, for those of you in the modern ’20s). A few popular cocktails, like palomas and old-fashioneds, are available on draft for solo enjoyment or in a four-serving decanter for a group. Noir’s energy lends itself to intimate date nights and catching up with a few friends without needing to yell over the decades-spanning music—the true feat for a Hollywood bar of this caliber.

Nestled behind Vitello’s Restaurant, this speakeasy aims to transport you back to the golden age of Hollywood. Listen to tunes by Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra and other classics as you sip on an old-fashioned. Snag a seat at the bar or a private booth (there’s no standing here), but don’t even think about taking your phone out. Note that reservations are required (for parties up to four people for now) and the dress code here is business casual (read: no shorts).