America's coolest secret restaurants

A little noir flair, a little villain’s lair air, and even less space combine to create La Noxe, a petite bar and tapas spot literally underground, adjacent to the 1 train in Chelsea. Before you slink in, ring the bell up on the sidewalk level at 162 West 28th Street and hope for a seat. Or abandon hope alone and make a reservation. Sure, it cuts some of the seeker appeal, but at least you’ll actually get in.—Amber Sutherland-Namako

No Relation is a nine-seat, secret sushi restaurant hidden within Shore Leave in Boston’s South End. Nestled within this tropical-themed bar, No Relation serves an omakase menu that features 14 courses. Guests can only access No Relation by buying a ticket. Tickets can be purchased on OpenTable and are $150/person. There are two seatings offered each evening at 6pm and 8:30pm.—JQ Louise

There are plenty of fine dining restaurants in Chicago, yet none are shrouded in secrecy like Duck Sel. Donald Young, the former Michelin-starred chef of Temporis, hosts a series of monthly pop-up dinners, where he treats guests to whimsical courses showcasing local, seasonal ingredients and avant-garde techniques out of an undisclosed location. You can book a spot online but the address isn’t revealed until 24-48 hours before the experience.—Jeffy Mai

A lot of the time, speakeasy-inspired bars and theoretically hidden restaurants aspire to the peak of the “nice place” price range, with spendy tipples and high-priced small bites, but the titular item at this vintage-influenced spot in the Thompson Central Park hotel starts at $9.41 with $8.50 drafts to pair. Enter the lobby, spy the red velvet curtain, and pass through for a slightly obscured dining experience that also seems a little dive-themed.—Amber Sutherland-Namako

It’s all well and good to dine at Muss & Turner’s, but if you breeze past the host stand into the dining room and then walk through the freezer—yes, freezer—door, you’ll find yourself in Eleanor’s. The Prohibition-style speakeasy serves up well-crafted cocktails complemented by tasty small plates, unique sandwich offerings, and a whole lot of warmth, like its namesake.—Gerrish Lopez

Located on Route 66, the Cavern Grotto restaurant is tucked 210 feet below ground inside the Grand Canyon Caverns. Perched on a platform overlooking the largest chamber in the cave system, the four-table, 16-seat restaurant serves lunch, including an entrée, side, and all-you-can-eat dessert for $49.95 per person. The American comfort food is cooked above ground and then taken by elevator 21 stories below ground where it is finally hoisted 25 feet up to the dining area via a pulley system to a server who delivers it to the table. Reservations are required and include a cave tour. There's also the Cavern Suite, the world's deepest hotel room, should you wish to extend your stay.—Lauren Mack

While more hidden than secret (it’s actually one of the best sushi restaurants in Los Angeles), this basement sushi bar in Little Tokyo serves pristine edomae-style sushi to a select group of diners every night of the week. To access the restaurant, navigate a set of winding stairs from the parking garage or ask the security desk for elevator access. For booking, check Sushi Kaneyoshi’s Tock page on the first of the month, and be quick–the reservations go live at 3pm PST and are gone within seconds.—Kelly Yeo

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Tucked between the Autoroute 720 underpass and one of the largest Home Depots in Montreal, this rustic Italian restaurant is known for its sizzling grilled meat skewers, extensive natural wine selection, and making Uber drivers crazy. Look for a southern entrance to this nondescript cement building (the former RCA building where stereos and recordings were made back in the day). If you find yourself in the parking lot, you’ve got the wrong end of the stick.—Laura Osborne

We bet most Michelin-starred restaurants aren't hidden behind an unmarked secret door inside a taco restaurant. You'll need a reservation to gain access to the eight-seat Omakase restaurant and a special code to actually get inside once you do. If we're being honest, it's pretty exhilarating walking past the regularly packed dining room of patrons tucking into tacos to punch in your code, which is most of the fun anyway. Though the $300 (!) tasting menu drawn from different regions in Japan is also pretty grand, and decidedly worth it.—Virginia Gil

Inconspicuously tucked behind a chic modern art gallery in Greenwich Village, step behind an oversize painting to enter Frevo's upscale 16-seat chef's counter. Here, you'll be treated to a tasting menu by chef Franco Sampogna while watching the team whip up multiple, artfully plated courses of seasonal fare accentuating upscale ingredients such as peekytoe crab, wagyu and white asparagus. Opt into excellent wine pairings by sommelier Quentin Vauleon. Two seatings each night, at 6pm and 9pm, open on the first day of the month and book up quickly, so plan ahead for an elegant date night.—Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner

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In a city filled with wondrous and tantalizing burgers, the one that’s arguably the most sought-after is only offered through an Instagram account. Dubbed Chicago Secret Burger, this concept from an anonymous home cook sells its elusive specialty at sporadic pop-up events around town. If you want to sink your teeth into the smash-patty creation, you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled for announcements on social media—tickets sell out right away once they’re dropped.—Jeffy Mai

Located behind a bookshelf within the restaurant, the Cavalier, this London-inspired salon is a throwback to '70s rock-and-roll glamour. The name and concept are inspired by Marianne Faithfull, a British singer who famously dated Mick Jagger. Think royal purple walls, animal print, leather accents, and candlelit mood lighting. The cocktail list is the star, with a food menu of small dishes: brussel sprout chips, oysters on the half shell, lamb schnitzel lollipops, pork sausage rolls and more. Be on the lookout for a caviar menu rolling out soon.—Clara Hogan

Since 1993, some of New York's best Indian food is served in a basement cafeteria below a bustling Hindu Temple in Flushing, Queens. The completely vegetarian and vegan menu is extensive—we're talking over a dozen varieties of dosa, plus uttapam, rice dishes and weekend specials such as alu bonda, fried potato fritters and Idiyappam, rice noodles with spices. Sweets and snacks are offered too, all to be enjoyed on folding chairs at long communal tables. Most menu items clock in under $10 here, making for a great value feast for groups or plenty of takeout to easily tote home.—Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner

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Tucked away on the rooftop of Fiorella, an Italian restaurant in the Inner Sunset, this 14-seat lounge is one of the most exciting places to drink and eat in SF. The intimate space features a roaring fireplace behind a gorgeous marble bar, where a single bartender crafts drinks that change with the season. The food menu features a selection of plates like house-made onion focaccia (with the option to add on burrata and prosciutto) and spring pea arancini, as well as heartier options like asparagus risotto.—Clara Hogan

You'd never know that a full-blown Japanese restaurant sits behind Reunion Kitchen, the sprawling strip mall spot serving contemporary global cuisine. Check-in happens at Reunion's host stand and then you're on your own to find the Blind Tiger: make a quick left when you reach the bathrooms, walk past the small room, past the curtain and you're inside. Unlike most hidden omakase spots with only a tasting counter, Blind Tiger offers a few tables for groups and serves an á-la-carte Japanese menu in addition to a prix-fixe experience.—Virginia Gil

No one would ever suspect that one of the city’s most glamorous rooftop restaurants was six floors up standing in the perfectly ordinary lobby of the Hampton Inn by Hilton. Smack in the heart of Chinatown, this secret rooftop terrasse serves up classic French fare with a Vietnamese twist and some of the most insane views of Old Montreal.—Laura Osborne

Club 33 is hiding in plain sight at Disneyland. Members wave a key card at the entrance at 33 Royal Street across from La Mascarade d'Orleans in New Orleans Square to gain entry to the members-only space that includes an atrium called the Court of Angels, the Salon Nouveau that serves cocktails, and Le Grande Salon that offers multi-course lunches and dinners. There is a gift shop that sells exclusive Club 33 merchandise like its famous challenge coins, which you're supposed to keep with you at all times. If someone asks to see your challenge coin and you can't produce it, you owe them a drink. If you have it, they owe you a drink.

There are additional Club 33 locations at Shanghai Disneyland (it's on Mickey Avenue) and at Tokyo Disneyland (it's hidden in the World Bazaar) and at all four parks in Orlando, Florida. Each club requires its own membership, which has been reported to cost $25,000 or more plus an annual fee and can take years to obtain.—Lauren Mack