The space below Strip House on East 12th Street in Greenwich Village has an actual Prohibition history behind it. During the 1920s and 1930s, the building was part of a network of illegal drinking spots, and a hidden passage connecting it to the building next door reportedly helped the operation avoid police raids more than once. The room is below street level, which adds to the atmosphere even if you don't know any of that going in.

Today the speakeasy runs Tuesday through Saturday starting at six in the evening. You can order off a dedicated menu that includes things like a NY strip and lobster frites alongside a burger and cocktails like the Dixie Evans. The dim lighting and leather seating make it feel like a steakhouse basement that decided to be more interesting than that.

It's connected to the main Strip House restaurant upstairs, but the speakeasy operates on its own terms and is worth seeking out separately.