From sneaky entrances to charming artwork, the DFW speakeasy scene is full of worthy spots. (Maverick Creative)
Hidden within bookstores, grocery stores, laundromats, and other DFW locations, speakeasies offer vintage vibes, carefully crafted cocktails, and plenty of merriment.
During Prohibition, speakeasies were places that illegally sold alcoholic beverages. The term likely came from the phrase “speak-softly shops,” as Irish and English bars encouraged patrons to talk quietly to avoid drawing suspicion to the establishments.
Luckily, we can visit and drink at speakeasies today without breaking the law. The word now typically refers to more intimate and cozy venues with fancier cocktails and vintage furniture and decor. Some speakeasies are hidden behind non-obvious entrances and may require a code to enter.
The Dallas-Fort Worth area is rich with speakeasy selections. Before diving in, we’re giving a nod to Ayahuasca Cantina, a bar hidden behind Xaman Cafe in Oak Hill. It’s a worthy speakeasy, but Esquire also named it one of its top bars in America in 2024. So, Ayahuasca is about as secret as Beverly Hills gossip.
Lean in a bit closer. We’ve got to keep these other ones between us, okay? Here are some of our favorite DFW speakeasies.
1. Rare Books Bar
Frisco is known as Sports City USA, but it enjoys a good read, too. At Rare Books Bar, you’ll find a bounty of handcrafted cocktails and an impressive selection of wine inspired by the charm of old-school libraries and literary callouts, such as the Huck Finn and Jigsaw Girl. To enter Rare Books, go to the J. Theodore and head to the classic phone booth. Before picking up the phone, take a peek at the name of the book on the right. That’s the code word, though if that sounds too complicated, the password is also on the website. Share that word with the librarian over the phone, and you’ll be granted access.
The bartenders at Rare Books Bar make a mean cocktail—and put on a show while doing it. (Rare Books Bar)
2. Midnight Rambler
Tucked inside the Joule hotel, Midnight Rambler is a subterranean cocktail lounge where you’re encouraged to groove out. This speakeasy has some of the most creative cocktails in Dallas, as regularly changing offerings range from Disneyland-inspired twinges to more radical flavor infusions like green curry. With eclectic charm and ambiance and funkadelic beats providing the audio backdrop, it’s always a good idea to follow the lightning to Midnight Rambler.
3. Thompson’s
Fort Worth has its own lovely literary vibe going on at Thompson’s. The spot is located in the historic Vybek building downtown. The main level is the bookstore, with a cigar bar on the floor above and the speakeasy on the level below. All have the same menu but provide a unique vibe. Once you’re inside, take advantage of weekly specials like Tequila Tuesdays and Whiskey Wednesdays, or try a mixology class to become a craftier beverage maker (while, you know, still sipping on some beverages). Sign up for the newsletter—which is sent “the day after Tuesday and before Thursday”—to learn how to access the speakeasy and take advantage of special offerings (or check social media for the password).
Cozy up in one of the booths and enjoy a dark academic ambiance. (AngMar Retail Group)
4. Atlas
You won’t need to pull out a paper map to view this South Fort Worth gem, though Atlas is definitely worth the trip. The cocktail bar is inspired by Edgar Allan Poe, with some of the most stunning seating options across Fort Worth. Try to find a seat on the red velvet wraparound couch in the center of the space. As you peer out over the rim of your glass, you’ll see vibrant artwork and animal heads adorning the wall, and food items are served on wax paper designed as a newspaper. It’ll take you back to the days when the printing press was the hot new invention on the streets.
5. The Amber Room
Every single chair in The Amber Room is delightful to sit in, though I’m personally a fan of the coral seats shaped like seashells. And unlike the other entries on this list, you can enter through two different methods. Either step in via a large gold door adorned with many knobs and handles inside Wishbone & Flynt or take an unmarked wooden door on Bryan Avenue. Spoiler alert: The gold door, which also includes a maze of curtains, is way more fun. The Amber Room’s offerings are largely whiskey-centric, though it recently added some signature tequila drinks. It’s a must-visit for a unique craft cocktail experience in the South Main Village.
6. Room One Eleven
You might walk by a certain Coca-Cola machine in McKinney that promises “ICE COLD” drinks. Move a little closer and open up the front of the machine, and you’ll find a coterie of polar bears and all of the people from the “I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke” jingle. Just kidding, opening the Coke door drops you into the Room One Eleven speakeasy, filled with classic cocktails and a few small bites. You can’t get in without a password; Room One Eleven’s Instagram account is usually the source for that. You may also find someone leaving who just might trade the vital information you need for a frosty Coca-Cola.
7. Magnum Speakeasy
There’s a retro phone booth inside the Hotel Vin in Grapevine. Thankfully, using it won’t put you in a terrible life-or-death situation like in the movie “Phone Booth.” Rather, you’ll be transported to a Prohibition Era environment via the Magnum Speakeasy. Cozy meets swanky with eclectic, Texas-themed decorations, and the bartenders are highly adept at pairing elaborate cocktails with your tasting preferences. Certain drinks also come with pieces of chocolate, a treat for anyone. While you’re at Hotel Vin, be sure to visit CaveSociety, an underground wine bar with swanky music and one of the most elaborate wine collections you’ll ever see.
Admire an ample collection of artwork to admire while nursing a cocktail at Magnum Speakeasy. (Maverick Creative)
8. Bodega
If you often find yourself in need of a few home essentials when visiting a speakeasy, there’s no finer stop than Fort Worth’s Bodega. You’ll need to purchase something from the grocery to enter, but passing by a refrigerator to enter a bar is a fun touch. Inside, you can indulge in games like pool and shuffleboard. Or, go straight for the bar for a frozen piña colada, which comes with cute accouterments like a flamingo and umbrella. If you visit for someone’s birthday, you can buy a birthday kit that includes festive wear like a pin announcing it’s your birthday and encouraging other guests to buy you a drink. Perfect for the introverted party animal.
9. Scat Jazz Lounge
You’re not required to scat to enter the Scat Jazz Lounge just off of Fort Worth’s Sundance Square, though no one will stop you if you utter a little “bee-bop-a-doo-wop.” To get inside, head down an alley and then take an elevator, which helps add to the mystique. You might get lucky and find a table available when you arrive, but it’s better to make a reservation beforehand. Then, you can sit back with a tasty cocktail and take in a bevy of Texas jazz artists.
Look for the bright yellow arrow in a downtown Fort Worth Alley to find Scat Jazz Lounge. (Steve Snodgrass/CC BY 2.0)
10. Dirty Laundry
Do you have a pile of clothes that need to be washed? You probably shouldn’t bring them to Dirty Laundry. Despite looking like a laundromat, it’s actually a fully functioning speakeasy. Sure, the entrance is behind a washer, and you’ll likely catch a whiff of detergent or softener, but you’ll only be served a delicious drink, not a neatly folded group of items to put in your closet. Nevertheless, it’s well worth popping in—and doing it more than once, since the menu changes about every three months. Maybe do a load of laundry before the next visit, though.
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
