Speakeasy Tour: NYC's Hidden Bars & History

Embark on a tipsy journey through New York City’s hidden speakeasies, exploring the rich history of Prohibition and the notorious gangsters and bootleggers of the era.

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Studio 54 - NYC’s most famous nightclub
  • Times Square / Theater District - Walk through the one-of-a-kind Times Square area on your way to the next iconic bar
  • Hell’s Kitchen - One of NYC’s most historic and culture rich neighborhoods.
  • Theater District - Historic Broadway theater district
What's Included
  • Visit to three bars, pubs, and speakeasies
  • Licensed local guide expert in NYC history and culture
  • Storytelling of the Prohibition Era and Gilded Age in New York City
  • Free admission and preferred entry at venues
What's Not Included
  • Drinks and Food are available for purchase at the venues
  • Gratuity
Additional Information

Embark on a spirited adventure through the clandestine bars of New York’s underbelly. This exploration will give you a sense of unearthing secluded refuges amid the hectic tourist scene in Midtown. Lead by one of the city’s most charismatic guides, you’ll be entranced by the rich past steeped into your evening drinks. Join us as we trace back to the…

Location
825 8th Ave
8th Avenue
Meet on 8th Avenue between 49th Street and 50th Street outside the office building entrance of One Worldwide Plaza (825 Eighth Avenue). There is a bike rack in front of the building and a large American flag hanging in front. Carnegie Diner is visible on the opposite side of 8th Avenue.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.7
(186 Ratings)
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Aaron_b
Jun 13, 2025
Awesome hidden gems - Kathryn was awesome! Great places to hit and really unique drinks. This was worth a Friday night trip!
Review provided by Viator
Brittni_m
Jun 6, 2025
So much fun! - Such a great time! Should be taken into consideration, drinks are not included and will run you around $20/drink at each stop. Ryan was a blast!!
Review provided by Viator
Bryon_h
May 18, 2025
Ariel was great and... - Ariel was great and wonderful guide. The tour was alot of fun and worth the effort. The drinks in the last stop were awful but the food was good.
Review provided by Viator
Sophia_t
May 11, 2025
Ariel was a great tour... - Ariel was a great tour guide! Would recommend going with a group or whoever you’re traveling with. 3 bars, 3 drinks - expensive drinks & tax/tip included in the drink price.
Review provided by Viator
Kim_b
May 11, 2025
Such a unique tour!... - Such a unique tour! Walter led us around midtown and shared some history with us along with some great drinks.
Review provided by Viator
Jonathan_s
Apr 29, 2025
Good vibes and good drinks! - Had a great time the group we were with. Ariel, our tour guide, was very knowledgeable and knows some great spots that are hidden. The drinks were strong too, which was a plus. Highly recommend. Although the last locations seem more like a bar and not a speakeasy, but the drinks were still good.
Review provided by Viator
Kathryn_c
Apr 26, 2025
Katherine was an amazing... - Katherine was an amazing tour guide! She provided the perfect blend of fun and history while sharing her perspective as a native New Yorker. She was incredibly flexible and engaging. We loved every location and the personalized recommendations.
Review provided by Viator
Jeff_h
Apr 13, 2025
Kathren was a great tour... - Kathren was a great tour guide. She was not only informative she was also fun to hang with. It was worth every penny.
Review provided by Viator
Clare_m
Apr 13, 2025
Not a huge amount of... - Not a huge amount of walking for a 3hr tour, great variety of venues and great local tour guide Walter. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Viator
Kristianne_e
May 12, 2025
Not as described - Good tour, poor description. Let me start with Ryan. He was absolutely fabulous. He was friendly, full of knowledge, funny, and engaging. His stories about prohibition had us all listening,and the excitement with which they were told made us all want to keep learning. From the start of the tour, explaining what to expect, to closing it out, he was top notch. So, 5 stars for Ryan. Now - for the part that wasn't so great. Based on the description on Viator, which is what we booked through, we thought we would be going to speakeasy bars. The first one we went to was exactly what we were expecting...unobvious door, password to get in, and creative cocktails (at $20 a pop but that's NYC). The second was a regular restaurant...on 49th Street and clearly labeled. This is a place anybody and everyone would walk into without hesitation. Sort of felt like walking into a mainstream restaurant and didn't need a walking tour to discover it (Lillies). Finally, the last one we went into quite literally was a new bar. It did have an art deco theme, but with a bougie feel, not a speakeasy vibe at all, and again. Seemingly a place a that's findable. I think a change in venues would be appropriate, and if nothing else a chance in the description. From the booking website (Viator) it said visit Three of New York's classic, historical bars speakeasies. Overall while the price of the tour was low, one drink plus a tip at each establishment lead to $150+ for 3 drinks each (each drink $20+ x 2 people) plus tip made thisuch pricier than it deserved to be. I would have paid the $36 each for Ryan to tell the stories and walked the streets and skipped the bougie bar and the Victorian tea place...both of which had virtually nothing to do with actual prohibition and speakeasys. Again 5 stars Ryan. 1 star everything else, brining this to a sad 2 stars and a "I should have spent my money elsewhere" kind of night.
Review provided by Viator
From $36
up to 10 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).