For years, all it took was a password and the thrill hidden behind a well-disguised door. Today, anyone repeating the speakeasy formula without reinventing it is bound to lag behind. Hidden bars still work — true — but they’ve stopped being mere exercises in style.
Has Secrecy Been Replaced by Exclusivity?
In 2025, beyond well-crafted drinks, what matters is the experience, the story, the connections. The fact that their location is easier to find than to explain is part of the game. Global scene has adapted to an audience that knows the format yet seeks genuine engagement, and here secrecy has given way to selectivity: in most cases, entry is still by invitation, often through false shopfronts or invisible staircases, but what happens inside now outweighs the way you get in.
The Most Famous Hidden Bar
A bar must deliver something unrepeatable, with a distinct identity and service attuned to ever-shifting tastes. The secret of Mexico City’s Handshake — considered the best bar in the world — lies in the same elements that built its success: rigorous training grounded in shared values like loyalty and responsibility; a celebration of individual talent that turns every team member into an active part of the project; and an unwavering ability to evolve. Qualities you can sense — and that people love.
Hidden Bars Around the World
In Lima, Sastrería Martinez hides behind a tailor’s storefront and anchors its identity in a deep understanding of its land and ingredients, shaping sustainable cocktails rooted in local culture. Paradiso Barcelona — concealed behind a pastrami shop — leans on an inventive drink list and a strong commitment to sustainability. In Seoul, Alice Cheongdam spins a fairytale world inspired by Lewis Carroll, leading guests through spectacular, molecular-driven mixology. And atop Rosewood Bangkok, Lennon’s blends hi-fi aesthetics with speakeasy spirit: you enter through a record store and emerge suspended above the city, surrounded by art-deco lines and service designed to make you linger.
The European Hidden Bars
Across Europe, Panda & Sons in Edinburgh combines secret-bar atmosphere with the precision of a true laboratory. Behind its barbershop façade lies a venue where vintage charm meets warm hospitality, and mixology embraces constant experimentation.
Aromas and textures are redefined for each cocktail, often through ever-advancing cold- tech techniques the whole team proudly pioneers. In Italy, the format thrives where it has evolved. Milan’s most storied hidden bar, 1930, has shed absolute anonymity: now openly located beneath Mag La Pusterla, it’s accessible only at set times and under specific conditions, offering a menu shaped by culinary inspirations and a contemporary design. In Rome, The Jerry Thomas Project — and its spin-off, Jerry Thomas Bar Room — stands out for the consistency with which its founders have forged an identity that’s influenced a generation of bartenders.
Recipes, balance, service style: all have become reference points for newcomers, while keeping an aesthetic true to its era, with vintage furniture and soft lighting. The same goes for L’Antiquario, in Naples, which focuses on classic recipes, meticulous detail, and a quiet discretion honed over years by host Alex Frezza.
The Password of Hidden Bars
The takeaway? The magic of secret bars endures, but it has changed. In 2025, the defining trait is staying relevant in an increasingly crowded field. Beyond the password, what counts is a cohesive experience that surprises even the most seasoned guest. The best speakeasies remain selective at the door but multiply collaborations with fellow bartenders, chefs, distilleries, artists. They serve seasonal, multisensory, sustainable menus without losing their aura of mystery. And now that secrecy is less a barrier than a narrative device, what truly works is the substance. The rest? Pure stagecraft.
The article first appeared on Coqtail – for fine drinkers. Order your copy here
Photo by Alberto Blasetti, images courtesy 50 best bars e Lennon’s Bangkok
