The Back Room
The Back Room
4
6:00 PM - 4:00 AM
Monday
6:00 PM - 2:00 AM
Tuesday
6:00 PM - 2:00 AM
Wednesday
6:00 PM - 2:00 AM
Thursday
6:00 PM - 3:00 AM
Friday
6:00 PM - 4:00 AM
Saturday
6:00 PM - 4:00 AM
Sunday
6:00 PM - 2:00 AM
About
The Back Room is one of only two speakeasies in New York City that operated during Prohibition and is still in existence today. It is a timeless example of the underbelly of New York past. The original 1920’s speakeasy, known simply as “The Back of Ratner’s,” played host to many theater and movie actors of the “Roaring Twenties,” as well as famous gangsters of the era. These gangsters included Bugsy Siegel, Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky. They were known to use the space for “business meetings.”
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Address
Neighborhood: Downtown Manhattan (Downtown)
How to get there
- Essex St • 1 min walk
- Delancey St • 2 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
215 reviews
Excellent
106
Very good
67
Average
21
Poor
10
Terrible
11
Travel_J33
Vancouver, Canada172 contributions
Oct 2021
I love a good speakeasy. This is not one of them. Promising to be a prohibition era cocktail lounge that serves in tea cups like in the old days, it is nothing more than a cheap tourist trap.
Yes, it is slightly hard to find. And yes, inside could be beautiful. But the throbbing dance music is that of a lame club. The seating is guarded by chubby dudes in black t shirts who won't let you sit unless you promise a 2 drink per person minimum and so the place is a lot of people standing in circles around beautiful, empty furniture. The vibe sucks.
Let's get to the prohibition era cocktails. Overpriced swill served by people (I won't call them bartenders) who don't know how to make even the most basic drink. We tried alcoholic and non alcoholic options to find them almost undrinkable. And the cool teacups? Not interesting at all, but Ikea white cups from a box under the bar.
I'm guessing this was cool once. There are some amazing speakeasy's in NYC if you do your research. This is not one of the.
Yes, it is slightly hard to find. And yes, inside could be beautiful. But the throbbing dance music is that of a lame club. The seating is guarded by chubby dudes in black t shirts who won't let you sit unless you promise a 2 drink per person minimum and so the place is a lot of people standing in circles around beautiful, empty furniture. The vibe sucks.
Let's get to the prohibition era cocktails. Overpriced swill served by people (I won't call them bartenders) who don't know how to make even the most basic drink. We tried alcoholic and non alcoholic options to find them almost undrinkable. And the cool teacups? Not interesting at all, but Ikea white cups from a box under the bar.
I'm guessing this was cool once. There are some amazing speakeasy's in NYC if you do your research. This is not one of the.
Written October 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wilshak
Lille, France109 contributions
Apr 2022 • Friends
Ambiance was good, and the history behind the place is interesting. However, the staff were unpleasant and the cocktails were the worst I have had in a long time. It felt very much like a tourist attraction / trap to me.
Written April 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christy B
Knoxville, TN196 contributions
Feb 2022 • Couples
My husband and I have a travel blog and love sussing out the best Speakeasies around the world. This gem is hard to find, has period decor and the drinks are wonderful. They are also served in teacups. My only complaint is they only take cash. Pro tip - visit early to enjoy your drink and the atmosphere
There are so many photo opportunities!
There are so many photo opportunities!
Written March 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ktitone
Northport, NY196 contributions
Jan 2014 • Friends
I had made a reservation here weeks in advance to celebrate my birthday on a Saturday night,which was apparently for nothing. The doormen acted like children, turning their backs to the crowd, refusing to listen to anyone or let people in as others left.
I was showing them multiple emails on my phone, trying to get to my table- so instead of enjoying the night with friends and family (which may have worked in the industry, by the way) I was arguing with doormen.
Once inside, it wasn't even crowded! My sister in law had to pay off a doorman to get in, even though I had bought a bottle with my reservation.
If you plan on coming here with a reservation- just know that you are spending a ton of money for nothing, and will have to deal with immature doormen. On top of all that, the management didn't care at all- there are tons of other great speakeasies in NYC- go somewhere else!
I was showing them multiple emails on my phone, trying to get to my table- so instead of enjoying the night with friends and family (which may have worked in the industry, by the way) I was arguing with doormen.
Once inside, it wasn't even crowded! My sister in law had to pay off a doorman to get in, even though I had bought a bottle with my reservation.
If you plan on coming here with a reservation- just know that you are spending a ton of money for nothing, and will have to deal with immature doormen. On top of all that, the management didn't care at all- there are tons of other great speakeasies in NYC- go somewhere else!
Written January 20, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah B
1 contribution
Jan 2020 • Friends
Normally love this place but this evening a manager, Denise, was uncomfortably rude. We'd been there 2+ hours sitting in a couch plus stool area drinking. Denise came by to claim the stool. Trying to save the seat for my friend, who just recently went to the bathroom, I tried to stop it without knowing who she was because she was dressed normal and drinking beer, grabbed the stool. She threatened me with the cops and demanded right then and there that I be removed from the bar. I have no qualms with the bar or the staff but this was an unnecessary use of power from a horribly rude person.
Written January 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah K
Birmingham, UK14 contributions
Jun 2018 • Friends
Found the back room by accident. Would not have known it was even there! Super venue with great restoration and vibe. Faboulous band, go on a Monday evening to hear the live bands. Drinks are expensive but so is everything in New York! Had a fab evening.
Written June 27, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LAJMC14
51 contributions
Mar 2015 • Friends
This place is fascinating and holds a lot of potential. Unfortunately unfriendly staff and badly mixed drinks (did not taste anything like what they were supposed to be) mean I'll never go back or recommend it to anyone. It's also disappointing to discover that a small place that prides itself on being a speakeasy with password entry is prepared to reserve all of its tables in advance for party groups. For such a small room this really makes any small groups who arrive feel quite unwelcome and doesn't seem in keeping with the concept.
It was certainly an experience, but not one I'll be repeating.
It was certainly an experience, but not one I'll be repeating.
Written March 18, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brian K
New York City, NY96 contributions
Dec 2013 • Friends
Went out here with friends. This is the kind of place I really want to like…you go through a non-descript metal gate, down a set of stairs into an alley and then back up a set of stairs to a well-conceived speakeasy on the Lower East Side. The decor is well-done, and serving cocktails in coffee cups is a nice Prohibition touch. This should be a home run, except...
That said, the staff is horrible. I ordered gin and tonics - how hard is that to get wrong with decent gin - and the drink came out different every time. Wrong garnish, wrong proportions, wrong everything. When we arrived, we found an empty table without any markings or signs, and an hour later, a hostess comes over and tells us we have to move since the table had been reserved. That's fine, but either put a sign on it so we don't sit down in the first place, or tell us in advance so we know it's going to be a temporary spot.
The last piece was closing out. The bar is a madhouse, so I go to the side by the server station to close out. Bartender asks me what I want, and I tell him I want to close out. He waved me off with his hand, pointing that I had to walk around and wade through the bar crowd. No words, just wave. I tell him, again, that all I want to do is close out, and I get the hand wave again. At least 15 minutes of waiting and wading to get through the bar crowd, and I was so disgusted that I could not tip them…something I don't remember ever doing at a bar before. I have tended bar, and I know how grinding it is to work a busy bar, but you have got to be kidding me.
Cool ambience is nice, but a bar is, at the end of the day, a bar. You need to be able to serve a well-made drink and manage your crowd. If you cannot do that, that is a problem.
That said, the staff is horrible. I ordered gin and tonics - how hard is that to get wrong with decent gin - and the drink came out different every time. Wrong garnish, wrong proportions, wrong everything. When we arrived, we found an empty table without any markings or signs, and an hour later, a hostess comes over and tells us we have to move since the table had been reserved. That's fine, but either put a sign on it so we don't sit down in the first place, or tell us in advance so we know it's going to be a temporary spot.
The last piece was closing out. The bar is a madhouse, so I go to the side by the server station to close out. Bartender asks me what I want, and I tell him I want to close out. He waved me off with his hand, pointing that I had to walk around and wade through the bar crowd. No words, just wave. I tell him, again, that all I want to do is close out, and I get the hand wave again. At least 15 minutes of waiting and wading to get through the bar crowd, and I was so disgusted that I could not tip them…something I don't remember ever doing at a bar before. I have tended bar, and I know how grinding it is to work a busy bar, but you have got to be kidding me.
Cool ambience is nice, but a bar is, at the end of the day, a bar. You need to be able to serve a well-made drink and manage your crowd. If you cannot do that, that is a problem.
Written December 8, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jaredmcgron
New Jersey5 contributions
Feb 2018 • Friends
I've been there on Thursday night to check out this speakeasy bar, and got surprise by its interior, this place is truly beautiful. The feeling is that you stepped back in time a 100 years, while gangsters where ruling the city. Too bad that the service was horrible, the bartenders were in the "I don't give a f." mood. Playing on their cellphones instead of giving more attention to the costumers. The staff should be motivated to provide better costumer service. This bar deserves higher standards.
Written January 16, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
steven_wilkinson
Bury St. Edmunds, UK579 contributions
Nov 2018 • Family
This is a relatively difficult place to find - nothing on street level tells you its there. Then you go down some steps, along an alley and us some steps to enter what was once a prohibition bar.
Great decor in the 'seedy 20's' style. On the night we went it was quiet. A cash only bar. Drinks served in tea cups - quaint!
It was quite dark in keeping with the theme - but comfortable and friendly.
I would return - if I wanted to go for the experience of prohibition. I might even return just for a drink and to admire the nudes! (in an artful way of course!)
Great decor in the 'seedy 20's' style. On the night we went it was quiet. A cash only bar. Drinks served in tea cups - quaint!
It was quite dark in keeping with the theme - but comfortable and friendly.
I would return - if I wanted to go for the experience of prohibition. I might even return just for a drink and to admire the nudes! (in an artful way of course!)
Written November 19, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Buenos días,
Este tipo de bares "speakeasy" se puede acceder con niños de 12 y 15 años? La consumición es obligatoria?
Gracias
Written January 28, 2020
vou viajar para NYC com minha família o qye inclui minha filha de 10 anos , posso levar sem problemas, ela entra?
Written March 17, 2019
posso levar minha filha de 10 anos comigo?
Written March 17, 2019
Hi everyone, do you need to book in advance or can you just turn up? Also how do you find out what the password is to get in? How did people get back to times square at night..were taxis easy to get or did they use the subway?? Many thanks!
Written January 14, 2019
Hi you can just turn up there is no password just make sure you find the tiny gate and steps. Taxis are everywhere you won’t have a problem grabbing one. Cheers
Written January 14, 2019
What is the max occupancy and is the space rentable for a night?
Written June 4, 2018
A few hundred people at least were there the night I visited. There was a separate vip room which I think they rent, but it was occupied so not sure how large that additional space was.
Written June 5, 2018
How much does it cost to get in? And how far in advance do you have to make reservations?
Written January 24, 2018
No reservation and no fee to get in, just a password! I’ve often found them on their Facebook page or emailed them. :)
Written January 27, 2018
How is the door policy? If I'm not the prettiest ever(will be just me and my husband), but know how to dress well, will I most likely get in, or do you have to be a ten?
Written December 9, 2017
We walked straight in, they didn’t ask for any ID and we weren’t the best dressed. We were smart casual (think my bf was wearing trainers). My one tip is to try to reserve a seat, all the tables were reserved when we went so were standing for a while. Luckily a man took pity on us and let us sit at his reserved table as there were spare chairs.
Written December 9, 2017
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