Inspired by Prohibition-era America, today’s speakeasies blend history, mystery and modern mixology, from New York to the Algarve
The concept originated in the 1920s in the United States of America and has survived to this day. Speakeasies were born as a response to Prohibition, which was in effect for 13 years in the country, banning the production, transport and sale of alcoholic beverages, as stipulated by the 18th amendment to the American Constitution.
However, the law failed to deter the demand for alcohol. Clandestine bars began to open, with secret locations where people gathered to drink, socialise and enjoy live music. To avoid raids and lawsuits, the owners and patrons of these places were extremely careful and secretive.
Oftentimes, to get in you had to whisper a secret password to keep the place under wraps and not attract the attention of the police. Owing to their illicit operations, these spaces were extremely authentic and exclusive, from the location to the décor. They were mostly found in buildings with discreet façades or hidden entrances, with false doors or secret passageways and, although they were all different, they all had an intimate atmosphere, dim lighting and often served homemade, “bootleg” drinks.
After the end of Prohibition, many of these venues closed down, but some survived, standing out for their aesthetic and atmosphere typical of the era.
The Back Room, New York ©Troy Hahn
One of the first speakeasies recorded in the very year that Prohibition began was The Back Room, in the Manhattan area of New York.
Originally known as “The Back of Ratner’s”, it was hidden behind a restaurant and still stands in the same place, with its hidden entrance and typical décor.
The Back Room, New York ©Troy Hahn
This space that preserves the past served as a stage for many theatre and film actors of the Roaring Twenties and was used for “business meetings” between famous mobsters of the time, such as Bugsy Siegel, Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky.
The Back Room, New York ©Troy Hahn
Also in Manhattan was the 21 Club, which was open from 1930 to 2020 and became a symbol of this trend, but in a more sophisticated way. It was an icon of the city and a meeting place for Hollywood celebrities and other entertainment figures, politicians and members of high society, such as presidents John F. Kennedy and Bill Clinton. The space was known for its characteristic wrought iron gate, art collections and a cellar with around 2,000 cases of wine – including the private collections of presidents Gerald Ford and Richard Nixon, actresses Elizabeth Taylor and Sophia Loren, and even entrepreneur Aristotle Onassis.
The Back Room, New York ©Troy Hahn
Inspired by the atmosphere and style of these surviving bars, the trend caught on “posthumously”, at times adopting aesthetics from different eras and adjusting to evolving tastes. Similar venues opened in the UK, mainly in London and Edinburgh.
In 1965, The Scotch of St James opened in London, and was frequented by rock stars such as Jimi Hendrix. It closed in the 1980s but reopened in 2013. In 1966, The Speakeasy Club opened on Margaret Street, also in the English capital, entirely inspired by the American speakeasies and equally popular with musicians such as Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and David Bowie.
The Spy Bar, London
Nowadays, there are modern speakeasies like the Spy Bar in London, which offer a more elegant and mysterious approach, but retain a sense of tradition and exclusivity.
The entrance is via a secret corridor or hidden lift, with no signs and no mobile phones or photographs allowed.
The Spy Bar, London
Located in the Raffles London hotel at the Old War Office (OWO), the historic headquarters of MI5 and MI6, it has rooms and corridors that were used for confidential meetings and have a special connection with James Bond.
This detail serves as inspiration for one of the more than 15 themed cocktails served, each related to a figure or episode in the OWO’s secret operations, alongside drinks that pay tribute to agents such as Christine Granville, the first female British agent to serve in the field.
Full of history, the space was once used to store secret documents such as fake IDs and agents’ reports during the Second World War.
Badassery, Lisbon
Not one to miss out on trends, Portugal also has bars shrouded in secrecy and businesses that transform overnight, from haberdasheries to barbershops.
Badassery, Lisbon
Although they share similar features, such as discreet entrances and cosy rooms with little light, the atmosphere is different.
In Lisbon, hiding behind a white curtain inside a haberdashery, Badassery welcomes customers with eight signature cocktails and Angolan Cuca beer.
Badassery, Lisbon
You can also find one bar inside another. The Monkey Mash, in the capital’s Praça da Alegria, hides the Red Frog, which occupies the 94th position on the list of the World’s Best Bars.
Badassery, Lisbon
It is the only Portuguese bar to have been nominated, largely thanks to the creativity of its drinks and its sophisticated atmosphere.
Meanwhile, in Porto, next to the Bolhão Market, the Bigorna Social Club operates as a barbershop by day and a social space by night.
Open for less than a year, it has already attracted many visitors, especially lovers of cocktails and billiards. With its industrial décor and vintage feel, it offers seven cocktails made by bartending specialist Lia Igreja that combine classic and modern flairs, Nat Cool natural wines by Niepoort, craft beers and, on Fridays and Saturdays, a DJ.
In the south of Portugal, you will find COM Raw Food Club, in Faro, with a concept that encourages interaction between strangers.
Rather than focusing on cocktails, this speakeasy shines the spotlight on the gastronomic experience, with an eight-course menu that changes every month.
COM Raw Food Club, Faro
It is also a restaurant within a restaurant. To access COM, you first have to cross the Epicur restaurant and then enter through the door of a fake fridge. And that is not this place’s only peculiarity. Starting at 8.30pm sharp, the dinner is prepared and guided by chef Jorge Santos and begins with a projection on the wall: Sarah is the Artificial Intelligence hostess who guides diners through the meal, explaining each dish and recommending wine pairings. A fusion of Asian, European and South American cuisines, it presents a diverse and complete experience in which all the dishes are raw and, therefore, focused on the purity, quality and fresh, intense flavour of the ingredients.
In Lagos, Forbidden Door has been exploring this concept since the end of March 2024.
Forbidden Door, Lagos
The space adds modern flair to the classic speakeasy concept associated with the Roaring Twenties and welcomes visitors in an elegant yet relaxed space, with a maximum capacity of 36 seats.
Forbidden Door, Lagos
“More than a bar, it’s a concept, an experience, almost a secret ritual,” explain owners Welder Maciel and Catarina Loureiro.
The dim lighting and dark tones of red, black and gold, together with ambient music ranging from Jazz, Blues and Soul to Lo-fi, as well as vintage décor, give the bar a mystical and intimate feel, where you can enjoy a bold cocktail on the comfortable sofas and armchairs.
Forbidden Door, Lagos
Highlights include the Portuguese Old Fashion, made using a ‘fat washing’ technique with chorizo; the Cotton Pepper, with rum, passion fruit and spicy cotton candy; and the Spring Flavour, based on the classic Gin Basil Smash, served with an electric flower.
Forbidden Door, Lagos
There are also sweet and savoury dishes and snacks to enjoy, including grilled ox croquettes and flourless chocolate cake, and there is no shortage of vegan options, whether drinks or food.
The experience begins with the challenge of finding the discreet entrance; you must then ring the doorbell on arrival. And the challenge continues inside the bar.
“We encourage visitors to explore the space and find little hidden surprises, the famous ‘Easter eggs’,” Welder and Catarina explain.
Forbidden Door, Lagos
The goal is “to provide an immersive and memorable experience, transporting customers to an era imbued in mystery and sophistication”, they add.
The idea first came from a common interest between Welder Maciel, from Goiás, Brazil, and Catarina Loureiro, from Santa Maria da Feira, in northern Portugal.
Both intended to stay in Lagos for only a short time, but in 2018 they fell in love with the town and decided to stay.
Together with partners Rúben Martins, Júlia Franco and Alexandre Baptista, they fulfilled their dream of opening a space that they felt was lacking in the region, inspired by speakeasies that they had visited on various trips.
“More than just serving drinks, we want to create unique moments, where each visit is a journey through time,” say the owners.
Forbidden Door, Lagos
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