When the US Congress passed the 18th amendment banning the production and sale of liquor in 1919, many New Yorkers defied Prohibition by frequenting illegal, secret bars known as speakeasies. Many of these hidden watering holes have been remarkably preserved and still sling cocktails to modern-day city slickers.
Meet your knowledgeable guide in Manhattan’s East Village and begin your walking tour at McSorley's Old Ale House. The oldest Irish tavern in New York, McSorley’s dates back to the mid-19th century and held onto its old-fashioned roots for so long that it did not admit female patrons until forced to do so by court order in 1970. Enjoy a pub snack and mug of ale here among the timeworn walls and century-old memorabilia.
Continue on to three other historic watering holes that are known to have been speakeasies during the 1920s. The exact itinerary varies by day, but your guide leads you to an insider’s selection of these hard-to-find spots, many accessed through secret, unmarked entrances or stairways. Soak up the nostalgic, clandestine atmosphere and enjoy a classic drink at each bar.
