Where to Go Out: the 14 Best Speakeasy and Hidden Bar Tours in the USA

1.NYC: Speakeasy Drinks and Prohibition History Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 474 reviews · from $36Our pick

Spend three hours walking through Midtown and visiting three very different historic bars, lounges, and speakeasies. Your English-speaking guide connects immigrant life, Gilded Age women, gangsters, bootleggers, and the fall of Prohibition. Guides such as Ariel, Ryan, Katie, Katherine, and Rori are known for lively storytelling. Drinks cost extra.

“Rori, our tour guide was full of energy and very knowledgeable. I would highly recommend her!”

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2.Nashville’s Speakeasy Secrets: Murder True Crime Cocktail Crawl

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 433 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $49

Spend two hours walking from Printers Alley to downtown bars while guides such as Ryan, Ryne, Max, and Reece share Prohibition stories, murders, and Nashville scandals. You visit three drink spots, but pay separately for every cocktail. Business casual dress, a government ID, and comfortable shoes are required. A VIP upgrade adds a secret location and password.

“We thoroughly enjoyed this tour! The speakeasies were unique and got better and better as the tour progressed. The drinks were fantastic. Our guide, Ryne, is an excellent storyteller. We were paired with a couple especially rowdy groups who showed up to the tour drunk, and he dismissed them pretty quickly and with no drama so that the rest of us who paid to hear the stories could enjoy the tour. He handled that tricky situation extremely well. I also would highly recommend the VIP tour if you are willing to spend the extra money! The final stop was excellent and probably our favorite on the tour.”

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3.Phantoms of Prohibition: Ghosts Cocktails & Bites Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 380 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $179Top rated

Spend about three hours walking 1.5 miles through downtown Louisville with guides such as Jodi, Allison, Greta, Christina, and Laci. You’ll visit speakeasy-style bars, taste cocktails or mocktails, share small bites, hear Prohibition stories, and finish with a drink and dessert above the city at the Galt House.

“Went on the tour guided by Christina. Christina is a gifted storyteller and brought the history of prohibition in Louisville to life. This tour is time well spent!”

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4.Guided Speakeasy Walking Tour of New York City

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 336 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $34Best value

Start at 67 Clinton Street with a guide such as Alex, Lyonel, Lily, or Darius, then walk to up to seven concealed bars in Lower Manhattan. Expect unmarked doors, reserved tables, Prohibition stories, and cocktails purchased separately. The route usually ends near nightlife and subway stations on Chrystie Street.

“This was a great experience and so much fun! Highly recommend this tour. The guide was fabulous and really knew his history.”

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5.The Speakeasy Adventure: A Tipsy Trip Through History

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 220 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $38

Walk Midtown with a local guide such as Ryan, Ariel, Kate, Tim, or Emily, stopping at three bars tied to New York’s drinking past. You’ll hear stories of Prohibition, Restaurant Row, Broadway, and immigration, with express entry and one complimentary drink. Bring photo ID, dress upscale casual, and budget about $20 per drink.

“This was a fun tour that made it easy to see a couple speakeasies without any of the work to research or find them yourself. Ariel was a great guide who shared some knowledge and was very personable. It was also pretty fun checking places out in a group and meeting new people. Lots of interesting/fun drinks at the various bars. They rotate venues depending on availability for the evening, and some are a little less "speak-easy-ish" than you might expect, but it was still a lot of fun regardless.”

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6.Speakeasy Sagas Prohibition Pub Crawl

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 208 reviews · 2 hours · from $35

Meet your English-speaking guide at the back entrance of Charleston’s U.S. Custom House for a two-hour walk through Prohibition-era stories and present-day cocktail bars. Guides such as Jamie, Josh, Dawn, Alex, and Michael lead small groups of up to six. Drinks cost extra, and stops may include the Griffin, Blind Tiger, and Bar Vaute.

“Absolutely loved our guide Jamie! He was very knowledgeable & a great conversationalist. We learned so much about the history of Charleston. We HIGHLY recommend taking his tour!”

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7.Speakeasy Drinks and Prohibition History Tour NYC

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 204 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $38

Spend about three hours walking Midtown with guides such as Ryan, Ariel, Julian, Walter, or Katherine, learning about Prohibition and New York’s Gilded Age while visiting three distinct cocktail bars. Admission and preferred entry are included, but drinks and gratuity cost extra. Expect upscale casual dress, valid photo ID, and a maximum group of 18.

“The tour was so much fun. We had just gotten into the city and weren’t sure what to do because the weather was iffy. We had looked at this option earlier in the week and just didn’t know what night to go for it. We are so glad we did! Ryan was phenomenal and his knowledge and presentation of the stories and history made the night. The spots were hit were each very unique and different from the others which made each stop that much more fun. Not only did he know a lot about the locations and histories of the areas, he knew the staff at each location which…”

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8.Speakeasy Sagas – Charleston Prohibition Pub Crawl

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 136 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $35

Walk Charleston’s old streets with a guide such as Jamie, Josh, or Justin, tracing bootleggers, raids, and rumored speakeasies from the Custom House to Blind Tiger Pub. You’ll visit historic sites, hear colorful Prohibition stories, and stop at selected bars. The $35 fee covers the guide, not drinks, and the tour is for ages 21 and up.

“Great time. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and great to hang out with for our evening. Great to find some amazing spots and a little bit of history.”

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9.NYC: Night Out Prohibition History Bar and Speakeasy Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 128 reviews · 3 hours · from $36

Walk from 8th Avenue to Times Square with a local guide such as Ariel, Ryan, or Sarah, stopping at three Midtown bars, pubs, lounges, and speakeasies. You’ll hear stories about Prohibition, immigration, politics, and Midtown’s changing streetscape while enjoying priority entry. Drinks and food cost extra, and upscale-casual dress is required.

“My husband and I had the best Saturday night on this tour led by Steven. He was very knowledgeable and personable. Each place we went to was rich in history with delicious drinks and food!! It’s so much fun exploring the city with others!!”

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10.Savannah: Cocktail Class at American Prohibition Museum

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 110 reviews · 2 hours · from $87

At Congress Street Up, the 1920s-style speakeasy inside Savannah’s American Prohibition Museum, you’ll learn cocktail basics from an expert bartender, sample three classics, and make two full drinks with your choice of liquor. Guides such as Leah, Eric, Val, and Rebecca add stories, technique, and plenty of personality. Bring valid ID and eat beforehand.

“Isabella was the perfect hostess with a deep understanding of the history and the drinks! She was funny and witty and made sure to personalize the experience. We all got a small recipe book at the end of the evening and I feel more educated about how to make cocktails. I would highly recommend this class.”

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11.Nashville’s Speakeasy Secrets: True Crime Tasting Pub Crawl

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 107 reviews · 2 hours - 150 minutes · from $54

Walk through Nashville’s Prohibition past with guides such as Ryan, Reece, Ryne, and Savannah. Visit three speakeasies, including private rooms when available, and hear murder and gangster tales linked to Printer’s Alley. The $54 tour lasts up to 150 minutes, but drinks are purchased separately unless you add the VIP package.

“Great guide. Was fun, very knowledgeable, and our group was small so we could discuss the history of the speakeasy. Great locations too. Would recommend this tour to others.”

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12.Vito’s Vault Chicago finest dinner theatre speakeasy

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 14 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $88

At Vito’s Vault, you enter a 1929 speakeasy at 5901 W Lawrence Ave, give the password, enjoy dinner and homemade hooch, then watch a 90-minute musical revue. Vito and his gang stay in character as servers and performers, mixing songs, dancing, comedy, and audience participation into a three-hour evening.

“Wonderful experience! Friendly, welcoming, and a lot of fun. Food was good and show was fantastic. Service was very good and wait staff were very personable.”

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13.Hollywood Speakeasy Bar Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $100

Spend about three hours walking through Hollywood with a guide such as Paul, Sam, or Matt, stopping at the Frolic Room, Mama Shelter, Musso & Frank, No Vacancy, and the Hollywood Roosevelt. Dinner comes as three or four tapas-style dishes. Drinks cost extra, and the route can change.

“This is a great tour to discover places you would never find alone. Our guide Paul was fantastic. He took us to really cool speakeasy bars and had incredible knowledge of the area and its history. Great rooftop bar with views and food. Highly recommend this tour Thankyou Noel & Tracee”

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14.LA Hidden Bars and Speakeasy Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $159

Meet Victoria or Avissh at 8 pm near Hollywood for a three-hour tour of three Los Angeles speakeasies. Expect secret entrances, art deco style, a circus-themed DJ bar, and a Havana-inspired Latin stop where you may stay on. Cocktails are optional, but nightclub attire and valid ID are required.

“Victoria made this night a blast! She was attentive, told us something special about every place we visited, and made sure everyone on the tour had fun. I highly recommend this tour for a fun night on the town.”

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