Imbibing in hiding
Photo credit: Newsday Photo / Bruce Gilbert | PDT is a club at 113 St. Marks Place. The entrance is through a phone booth in the back of the Crif Dogs establishment.
When The Volstead Act was passed in 1919, Americans everywhere looked for clandestine places to imbibe. Now, nearly 75 years after Prohibition ended, one of the original New York speakeasies, Chumley's, was recently shut down after sustaining structural damages. But other secret watering holes remain.
Here's a sampling of Manhattan's hidden nightspots where you can safely sip a cocktail without fear of police raids.
PDT: 113 St. Marks Place, 212-614-0386
Open: Monday-Thursday, 6 p.m.-2 a.m.; Friday-Saturday, 6 p.m.-4 a.m.
Walk east on St. Marks Place and look for the "Eat Me" sign in front of the famed hot-dog joint Crif Dogs. The vintage phone booth inside seems to lead nowhere, but pick up the phone and press the button, and the hostess will open the secret door to PDT, provided you have a reservation.
Back story: Short for "Please Don't Tell," this hidden lounge, which opened earlier in the year, is cozy and inviting. A raccoon, owl and other stuffed and mounted animals share wall space with old family portraits. Climb into a booth and sample one of the specialty drinks.
Drinks: The "19th Century" cocktail is a mix of bourbon, Lillet Rouge, white creme de cacao and lemon, served in dainty stemware. Piping hot tater tots and hot dogs wrapped in bacon cut the bite of the cocktails.
Recommendation: Tell friends to meet you for a quick bite and hustle them through the phone booth to a world they probably didn't know existed.
ANGEL'S SHARE: 8 Stuyvesant St., 2nd floor, 212-777-5415
Hours: Monday-Sunday, 6 p.m.-2:30 a.m.
Go through the unmarked door, up a flight of stairs into a bustling Japanese eatery. The entrance is past a few tables on the left.
Back story: The cacophony of voices and other noise from the restaurant is muffled by soft jazz. Dim lights create a serene environment. Bartenders outfitted in crisp white shirts, vests and ties serve Japanese-inspired drinks.
Drinks: Plum wine, Elderflower liquor, Earl Grey infused vodka and other exotic spirits. For the less adventurous, the 10-page menu includes Scotch, whiskey, wine and sake.
Recommendation: Get there early and grab a window seat for a warming cocktail on a cold night. Be forewarned - no parties larger than four and no standing at the bar.
THE BACK ROOM: 102 Norfolk St., 212-228-5098
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 7:30 p.m.-4 a.m.
Look for the "Lower East Side Toys" sign, with cryptic directions to use the side entrance. Walk two doors north, through a gate and down some steps to a narrow alley lit by glowing green lights. There you'll see an unmarked door.
Back story: Compared to the intimate spaces of the other establishments, this bilevel space is downright cavernous. Cocktails are served in heavy ceramic coffee cups, draft beers in glass jars and bottled beers come in brown paper bags, as was customary during Prohibition.
Drinks: Cocktail names play into the theme. "The Murder Inc." is a mix of liquors with pear and lemon juices named after the organized crime group of the '30s.
Recommendation: Head to The Back Room with a group of friends for pop tunes, people-watching and kitschy, Prohibition-inspired fun.
MILK & HONEY: 134 Eldridge St., Unlisted phone number
Hours: Monday-Sunday, 9 p.m.- whenever
The most fun (or frustrating) part of getting into Milk & Honey, the famed Manhattan transplant of London's members-only establishment, is getting ahold of the unlisted number. After scoring the right digits, a call led to a text message, which led to a confirmation text, and a reservation was set. Ring the bell at the unmarked door, and you'll be ushered through layers of heavy velvet curtains.
Back story: Drinks are the main appeal here, customized to the patrons' desires and poured over shaped blocks of ice. There are no menus, but the server will list the fresh-squeezed juices of the day, which might include Concord grape, ginger and pineapple. The house rules posted in the bathroom advise against bringing anyone to this hidden spot that you wouldn't trust alone in your home.
Drinks: The Gordon's Cup is a refreshing mix of vodka, cucumber and lime. The tangy Dark and Stormy is made with dark rum and ginger beer.
Recommendation: The perfect place for an uninterrupted, private date. Can't get the number? Head to owner Sasha Petraske's sister nightspot, Little Branch (20 Seventh Ave.S.), where the bartender might give you the connection.
