Kiwi Curated
Speakeasies Hidden Inside Hotels
by Joy PecknoldThe minute we can easily, breezily sidle up to a bar again, we’re going big. Because when you’ve waited so long for a proper night on the town, a basic highball at a pub just won’t do. The celebratory moment will call for a rare vintage spirit or expertly-crafted cocktail in a supremely luxurious setting, and on that these nine speakeasies hidden inside hotels really deliver. Add them to the must-visit list.
Speakeasies Hidden Inside Hotels
Secluded from downtown’s hustle, Lennon’s at the Rosewood Bangkok is a speakeasy tucked behind a vinyl shop with a 6,000-strong record collection to play with. In keeping with the theme, many of the cocktails take inspiration from songs, including the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive,” Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me To The Moon” and, the bar’s namesake, John Lennon’s “Woman.”
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When it’s open, the Saxony Lounge at Faena Hotel Miami Beach is only open three nights a week from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. Drenched in Art Deco influences from floor to ceiling, the downstairs room is an exclusive one so when bar-hopping season kicks off again, a reservation or being tight with the bouncer will definitely be required. For those VVIPs, there’s also El Secreto, an even more intimate private bar connected to the grand theater.
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Hidden away on the mezzanine level of Lotte New York Palace, Rarities is a 25-seat invite-only lounge specializing in very rare liquors, including pre-Prohibition spirits. Inspired by financier Henry Villard, the spot also brings in winemakers and distillers looking to share their most special bottles with a discerning crowd.
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Accessed through a secret entrance, The Cigar Bar at The Maybourne Beverly Hills is strictly private bookings only. When sidling up to the bar in this dark wood-paneled room expect to try some of the world’s most special whiskies, including those from the famed Macallan distillery. There’s also an outdoor terrace to sip on which overlooks Beverly Canon Gardens.
VIEW HOTELSpeakeasies Hidden Inside Hotels
Bars and barbershops are both prime conversational settings, so The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas went ahead and put the two together. A swanky saloon with tufted leather sofas and grand chandeliers, The Barbershop Cuts and Cocktails can be found behind The Barbershop’s janitor’s door where it serves up whiskies, vintage-inspired cocktails and live music.
VIEW HOTELSpeakeasies Hidden Inside Hotels
Opened during peak Prohibition in 1929, the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Arizona Biltmore comes by the speakeasy thing legitimately. Although renovated in 2014, the hotel retains its Mystery Room, which served Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra and other big names through the years, and kept the original spotlight that used to let patrons know when police were on their way to break up the party. That isn’t the only old-fashioned element that remains: a weekly-changing password is required to get into this infamous bar.
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Within Hotel Hassler, perched atop Rome’s Spanish Steps, the Hassler Bar is hidden behind the Salone Eva restaurant and seemingly frozen in time. Dressed in wood, leather, gilded mirrors and classic paintings, it’s got the classic cocktail menu to match, including an extensive martini list. Apparently, Princess Diana exclaimed that they served the best Bellini, but she was also a fan of their signature pomegranate juice and sparkling wine “Veruschkas.”
VIEW HOTELSpeakeasies Hidden Inside Hotels
It’s all in the name: Fetén Clandestine Club at Bless Hotel Madrid is not quite a secret but it sure feels like one, a tantalizing one at that. Behind an inconspicuous service door and down 22 steps, this sexy spot serves up the requisite mood music and strong drinks one comes to expect from a nightclub, but less conventionally, it also has its own bowling alley.
VIEW HOTELSpeakeasies Hidden Inside Hotels
Slope side in Stowe, The Lodge at Spruce Peak has The Linehouse, a guests-only speakeasy where staff are the gatekeepers. Those who receive an invite to the unmarked, rustic bar descend the stairs, take a seat and, since there’s no set menu, have a casual conversation with the bartender to sort out what to sip.
VIEW HOTELSecluded from downtown’s hustle, Lennon’s at the Rosewood Bangkok is a speakeasy tucked behind a vinyl shop with a 6,000-strong record collection to play with. In keeping with the theme, many of the cocktails take inspiration from songs, including the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive,” Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me To The Moon” and, the bar’s namesake, John Lennon’s “Woman.”
VIEW HOTELWhen it’s open, the Saxony Lounge at Faena Hotel Miami Beach is only open three nights a week from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. Drenched in Art Deco influences from floor to ceiling, the downstairs room is an exclusive one so when bar-hopping season kicks off again, a reservation or being tight with the bouncer will definitely be required. For those VVIPs, there’s also El Secreto, an even more intimate private bar connected to the grand theater.
VIEW HOTELHidden away on the mezzanine level of Lotte New York Palace, Rarities is a 25-seat invite-only lounge specializing in very rare liquors, including pre-Prohibition spirits. Inspired by financier Henry Villard, the spot also brings in winemakers and distillers looking to share their most special bottles with a discerning crowd.
VIEW HOTELAccessed through a secret entrance, The Cigar Bar at The Maybourne Beverly Hills is strictly private bookings only. When sidling up to the bar in this dark wood-paneled room expect to try some of the world’s most special whiskies, including those from the famed Macallan distillery. There’s also an outdoor terrace to sip on which overlooks Beverly Canon Gardens.
VIEW HOTELBars and barbershops are both prime conversational settings, so The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas went ahead and put the two together. A swanky saloon with tufted leather sofas and grand chandeliers, The Barbershop Cuts and Cocktails can be found behind The Barbershop’s janitor’s door where it serves up whiskies, vintage-inspired cocktails and live music.
VIEW HOTELOpened during peak Prohibition in 1929, the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Arizona Biltmore comes by the speakeasy thing legitimately. Although renovated in 2014, the hotel retains its Mystery Room, which served Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra and other big names through the years, and kept the original spotlight that used to let patrons know when police were on their way to break up the party. That isn’t the only old-fashioned element that remains: a weekly-changing password is required to get into this infamous bar.
VIEW HOTELWithin Hotel Hassler, perched atop Rome’s Spanish Steps, the Hassler Bar is hidden behind the Salone Eva restaurant and seemingly frozen in time. Dressed in wood, leather, gilded mirrors and classic paintings, it’s got the classic cocktail menu to match, including an extensive martini list. Apparently, Princess Diana exclaimed that they served the best Bellini, but she was also a fan of their signature pomegranate juice and sparkling wine “Veruschkas.”
VIEW HOTELIt’s all in the name: Fetén Clandestine Club at Bless Hotel Madrid is not quite a secret but it sure feels like one, a tantalizing one at that. Behind an inconspicuous service door and down 22 steps, this sexy spot serves up the requisite mood music and strong drinks one comes to expect from a nightclub, but less conventionally, it also has its own bowling alley.
VIEW HOTELSlope side in Stowe, The Lodge at Spruce Peak has The Linehouse, a guests-only speakeasy where staff are the gatekeepers. Those who receive an invite to the unmarked, rustic bar descend the stairs, take a seat and, since there’s no set menu, have a casual conversation with the bartender to sort out what to sip.
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