The Back Room, Prohibition-era speakeasy in Lower East Side, Manhattan, US
The Back Room is a cocktail bar in Manhattan's Lower East Side with vintage furniture, low lighting, and an entrance hidden behind an unmarked door on Norfolk Street. Inside, the space divides into small nooks and corners that create intimate settings throughout.
The venue originated in the 1920s as The Back of Ratner's, operating during Prohibition when it served as a meeting point for major crime figures including Bugsy Siegel and Lucky Luciano. This past reflects the hidden economy that thrived when alcohol sales were illegal.
Cocktails arrive in teacups rather than glasses, a direct echo of how patrons once concealed their drinking during Prohibition. This choice keeps alive the ingenuity people used to navigate strict laws.
The entrance is unmarked on Norfolk Street, so finding it requires attention and local knowledge or guidance from locals. Space is tight inside, so arriving early or during quieter nights improves comfort and the ability to secure seating.
A hidden VIP room sits behind a sliding bookcase inside the venue, preserving an actual architectural element from the original 1920s speakeasy. This secret space reveals the physical concealment tricks people used to keep meetings away from view.
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