Six spectacular speakeasies.

Hidden gems in some of our favourite cities. Getting in is half the fun. Six spectacular speakeasies.

SPEAKEASY. \ ˈ spi ː k i ː zi \ noun. 1. Originally referred to the illicit drinking houses of the Prohibition-era (1920-1933) USA. Now a hard-to-find establishment modelled after those secretive barrooms.

Featherweight, New York City

Brooklyn packs a punch. The only sign you’ve found the door to this inventive speakeasy is a towering mural of an exhausted boxer hugging his bag. Hiding at the heart of a thoroughly hip neighbourhood, this dimly lit space offers incredibly creative cocktails to those in the know. The vibe is laid-back but exclusive, and the bartenders are far friendlier than their zip code would imply. Ask them about speciality liquors.

135 Graham Ave. Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NYC

Foxglove, Hong Kong

An exquisite find behind a bespoke umbrella shop. This spot wins for best backstory: It’s meant to be the work of a globe-trotting British gentleman. Enter by finding the right umbrella at the back of the boutique: Touch it and a door opens to reveal the retro-futuristic speakeasy. House of Travel Remuera’s Cat Parker shares a secret: “Find a small floral painting. Touch it until it glows to open more spaces.” Inside, definitely order like Bond.

2/F, 6 Duddell St. Central, Hong Kong

Jungle Boy, Melbourne

Get tiki in the urban jungle. This low-key space is hidden behind a refrigerator door at the back of late-night sandwich factory Boston Sub on Chapel Street, says House of Travel Lower Hutt’s Hayley Bill. Inspired by The Jungle Book, it gives you the sense of walking into the bricked garden of a grown Mowgli. Reggae and funky pop plays over a crowd that feels like old friends. Lean into the Tarzan of it all and order a flaming concoction in a tiki mug.

96 Chapel St. Windsor, Melbourne

The Baxter Inn, Sydney

Curiously conspicuous on global Best Bars listings. Ironic for a speakeasy, The Baxter Inn boasts a list of international accolades from those who rank bars for a living. With a mammoth whiskey wall, it’s renowned for unusual releases with unpronounceable names. “Some of the city’s best barmen work here, so definitely try a cocktail,” says House of Travel Broadway’s Dermot Ryan. Find it by walking down an unmarked lane off Clarence Street and turning on what looks like a dead end (The doorman is the welcome giveaway).

152-156 Clarence St. Sydney

Stagger Lee, Berlin

The Wild West, but with polish. Not entirely hidden but definitely one of the city’s best kept secrets, the whole place evokes America’s Old West. Think stick candles, saloon doors and elegant leather furnishings. Ring the doorbell and step back in time. The cocktail list pours heavy on American whiskey and flaunts house-made syrups and copious fresh fruit. The staff are especially knowledgeable, so though there is an impressive cocktail list, we recommend going off-piste and asking for something bespoke.

Nollendorfstrasse 27, Schöneberg, Berlin

The Art of Duplicity, Cape Town

Reward for a riddle. This newly opened spot might be the closest you can get to a 1920’s speakeasy without a time machine. But getting in takes some doing. Make a booking on the bar’s website and receive further instructions: You cannot show up without the password. Once inside, toast your patience with unorthodox offers like the Sicilian Neck Tie (olive-oil washed vodka, limoncello and syrups) or the Hillbilly Breakfast Flip (bourbon, smoked maple syrup and free-range quail egg). You read that right.

1 Coffee Lane, Cape Town