Most people don’t associate New Hampshire with secret bars and hidden cocktail lounges. But if you know where to look, you’ll find everything from a genuine Prohibition-era speakeasy beneath a historic hotel to modern hideaways concealed behind soda machines and unassuming storefronts.
Whether you’re a cocktail enthusiast, a history buff, or just looking to shake up your usual night out, these spots offer something a little different than your standard New Hampshire bar. Keep reading to discover eight speakeasies in New Hampshire worth seeking out—and how to find them.
1. 61 Main Street
If you’ve strolled down Main Street in downtown Plymouth and not noticed 61 Main Street, you’re probably not the only one. This speakeasy-style lounge is actually located behind a Greek restaurant on downtown’s main drag, with only a small sign hanging off the facade of the restaurant signaling that you’re close.
Once you do find the entrance and step inside, you’ll find a cozy, dimly lit bar with dark furnishings, including a U-shaped wooden bar in the middle of the space. The cocktail menu features beloved classics as well as seasonal sips, like the Summer Berry Soda and 61 Raspberry Iced Tea.
“Went for drinks with friends. Great atmosphere with a delicious chocolate-on-black, speakeasy feel. Perfect for rendezvous, with the focus on you and your guest,” a visitor wrote on Google Reviews.
Address: 61 Main St., Unit 2, Plymouth
2. 815 Cocktails & Provisions
From the sidewalk, 815 Cocktails & Provisions could easily be mistaken for part of Piccola Italia Ristorante. The entrance to the bar blends seamlessly into the neighboring restaurant, with only a business sign above the door giving away its location.
Step through the door, however, and you’ll find a moody, speakeasy-inspired cocktail bar filled with vintage decor, dark finishes, and comfortable leather seating. The drink menu features classic cocktails alongside fun signature drinks with names like SpongeBob Gangster Pants, Campri Sun, and Hotter Than Your Ex.
The food menu focuses on elevated snacks and shareables, including cheese boards, house-made pickles, and truffled popcorn.
“Very charming secretive spot up some unassuming stairs. The decor and atmosphere are great to unwind either at the bar or in the lounge/table area. Cozy and fun, great vibes,” one guest wrote on Yelp.
Address: 815 Elm St., Manchester
3. O’Keefe’s Speakeasy
While not a traditional speakeasy, O’Keefe’s Speakeasy does aim to recreate the experience and ambiance of one. Located in the Waterville Valley Conference Center, O’Keefe’s embraces the speakeasy concept with dark, vintage-inspired decor and a full bar. French doors open up to a spacious deck with stunning mountain views.
O’Keefe’s is a popular venue for events like cocktail parties and wedding receptions.
Address: 56 Packard’s Rd., Waterville Valley
4. Slow Burn Lounge
While Slow Burn Lounge isn’t a true hidden speakeasy, finding it isn’t as straightforward as a traditional bar. The entrance, located on a side street, is marked only by a small sign above an otherwise unassuming door, and there aren’t any street-facing windows to hint at what’s inside.
Or, as one Yelp reviewer puts it: “Love this place! Located downstairs below Federal Cigar in Portsmouth. Entrance is on the left side of the building on Ladd Street. Great atmosphere, excellent service, fine cigars, craft beers and cocktails.”
Head through the door and down the stairs to discover a modern, speakeasy-inspired space housed in a building dating back to the 1700s. Exposed brick and stone walls, hand-hewn ceiling beams, and a granite bar give the lounge plenty of historic character, and a seating area filled with a plush leather couch and chairs provides the perfect place to plop down and savor a craft cocktail.
Slow Burn also has a large selection of cigars and offers cigar and cocktail pairings.
Address: Corner of Ladd and Market streets, Portsmouth
5. Sole’s Bar
Sole’s Bar may be one of the best-disguised bars in this roundup. At first glance, the building appears to be a long-forgotten shoe shop (hence the name), with footwear displayed in the windows and posters announcing its closure for violating the National Prohibition Act. The brick exterior offers little indication of what’s actually inside, and curtains behind the shelves of shoes in the windows help preserve the mystery.
Look for a payphone, and when someone on the other end asks how many pairs of shoes you want, respond with the number of people in your party and wait to be buzzed in. Once inside, you’ll discover a cozy hideaway that feels like a cross between a Prohibition-era parlor and an eccentric collector’s living room. Warm lighting, wood-paneled walls, vintage portraits, and antique-inspired furnishings like plush couches and ornate mirrors give Sole’s an authentic speakeasy vibe.
Some of the drink names play on the shoe store theme too, such as the Kitten Heel, S’ole Fashioned, and Fuzzy Slippers. The meat-forward dinner menu features dishes like meatloaf, steak, ribs, and a crab cake sandwich.
“The hostess and some waitresses are dressed in 1920s sparkling dresses and vintage hair styles. There is 1920s music being played throughout and red lighting gives it a warm and vintage vibe,” one diner wrote on Yelp.
Address: 8 Winter St., Keene
6. The Candy Bar
Part candy shop, part speakeasy, The Candy Bar turns a night out into a game. Located next to the historic Colonial Theatre, the venue is designed around a Prohibition-era backstory, with guests needing a password to gain access to the hidden bar. The clue? Follow the business on Instagram, where it posts a weekly featured candy and hints like, “Ask for the Crunch Bar and see where it leads.”
Once you’ve cracked the code, you’ll be directed through a concealed entrance hidden behind a vintage Coca-Cola machine. Beyond it, the candy shop gives way to a cozy speakeasy serving craft cocktails with playful names like the Velvet Informant and Industry Prozac.
“Once you get inside the ‘secret’ area, the vibe completely changes. It’s a full speakeasy with (an) incredible atmosphere and amazing cocktails,” a customer wrote on Yelp.
The food menu continues the theme with creatively named dishes like Prohibition Balls (meatballs tossed in house-made Korean BBQ sauce) and The Bootlegger, the bar’s take on chicken and waffles.
Address: 609 Main St. #3, Laconia
7. The Cave
Hidden beneath the historic Omni Mount Washington Resort, The Cave looks and feels like a real speakeasy—because during Prohibition, it actually was one. This basement hideaway served cocktails to hotel guests, with secrecy woven into nearly every aspect of the operation.
A removable brick in one wall gave staff a view of the road so they could watch for approaching law enforcement, and teacups were kept on hand so guests could quickly swap liquor for a more innocent-looking drink if authorities appeared.
Today, The Cave maintains its speakeasy vibe with brick floors, exposed stone walls, and a warm wood bar. You can even sip a Prohibition punch, served in a teacup as a nod to the bar’s colorful past.
Address: 310 Mount Washington Hotel Rd., Bretton Woods
8. The Music Hall Members Club
If you have an upcoming event you’d like to host in a speakeasy-style setting, check out The Music Hall Members Club. Located next to Portsmouth’s Historic Theater, this themed event venue features an L-shaped bar and two seating areas: one with tables and chairs for dining and another with plush, oversized chairs arranged around the fireplace.
The space feels like a luxurious, contemporary take on a 1920s cocktail lounge, with dark walls, patterned wallpaper, gold accents, and exposed brick and wood beams in the bar area.
Address: 28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
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