Speakeasies: They’re making a comeback. In the 1920s when the 18th amendment to the Constitution of the United States prohibited alcohol, people took their bars underground in what was called a speakeasy. These were purposely hard to find and often required a password to get in. By 1933, the 21st amendment was signed, reversing prohibition and essentially ending the need for hidden bars.
Being in the 20s yet again (just 2020s this time), bars have taken off, creating a speakeasy twist: hidden, underground bars growing in popularity. Since you sometimes need to be in the know, we’ve gathered some of the best in the Southwest—with info on the drinks offered, of course.
Batch Tucson
Snake & Barrel
The Batch and Snake & Barrel
Tucson, AZ
This is truly one of the more hidden speakeasies. Right in the heart of downtown Tucson, all you’ll see from the street is Batch, a small liquor bar paired with donuts. Probably the best combo there is. It’s the largest collection of whiskey in the state to peruse and sample. Once you’ve found your perfect donut and whiskey match, make your way downstairs for the real fun.
The speakeasy-style bar, Snake & Barrel hides in plain sight in a 125-year-old building recognized on the National Historic Registry. When it comes to the drinks, it’s about spirits and craft without pretense, as proprietors Ronnie & Christian Spece explain: “We feature a dizzying array of hundreds of spirits, including over 200 different bottles of agave, and thoughtfully crafted cocktails, all among an unpretentious Tucson vibe.”
To learn more, head to batchtucson.com.
The White Rabbit
Gilbert, AZ
Gilbert is a fast-developing city outside of Phoenix with a charming old town that’s been thriving since the early 1900s—and has had a speakeasy since 1920, or so the White Rabbit claims.
“Legend has it, Dr. O’Hare began his practice in Gilbert in 1910. When prohibition became law in 1920, he saw opportunity,” the website says. As a savvy businessman, he decided to expand his operation and opened the first speakeasy bar as part of his apothecary. To gain access, patrons were given a secret password and told how to access the speakeasy through a hidden door.”
To enter the White Rabbit, you must look for the red light glowing near downtown Gilbert’s famous Heritage building and head downstairs. Sign up for their newsletter to obtain the monthly password, and you’ll enter a large vintage-style building with blue velvet sofas, artwork of flapper girls and pinstriped-suit gangsters and glass cabinets filled with exclusive and popular bottles of all kinds of liquor. Newly added is a menu of cocktails with unique twists, like the “Cha Cha Real Smooth,” a strawberry drink with coconut liqueur and tequila. Then there’s the “Welcome Stranger,” a blend of Denizen Vatted 100-proof dark rum, apricot, chile and peach bitters. Last on the list of new drink additions are full bottles of liquor exclusive to White Rabbit like an Old Forester, Buffalo Trace and even an Espresso Old Fashioned that you can purchase and take home.
To learn more, visit twr.bar.
Teddy Roe’s
Albuquerque, NM
Located in the Nob Hill district of Albuquerque, you’ll see what looks like a quaint bakery called M'tucci's Bar Roma. But make a reservation ahead of time, and they’ll open the large shelf stacked with loaves of bread to reveal a staircase. Follow it down, and you’re suddenly in another world—a moody speakeasy with velvet banquettes, candlelit tables and a bar glowing with rows of rare bottles.
The drinks list includes craft IPAs rotating through the taps, and pouring crisp, hoppy pints that balance the deeper tones of the lounge. Cocktails are the star of the show here, though. Bartenders serve up reimagined classics with smoky mezcal, house-made syrups and unexpected flourishes like chili-infused honey or citrus foam. The food menu is equally playful and ever-changing: One week you might find gourmet sliders and charcuterie, the next, elevated small plates with Italian and Southwestern nods that pair beautifully with what’s in your glass.
And then there’s the music. Live jazz and acoustic sets filter through the brick-lined room on select nights, giving the space a heartbeat that shifts between sultry and electric. Between the music, the cocktails and the sense of discovery, Teddy Roe’s turns an ordinary night into something worth whispering about.
To learn more, visit teddyroes.com.
The Laundry Room
Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas, of course, is filled with themed bars of all kinds. But this one stands out because it doesn’t. Hidden behind the larger Commonwealth bar downtown, The Laundry Room is a true speakeasy in both spirit and size, seating only 22 guests in a 350-square-foot hideaway. You won’t find flashing lights or gimmicks here—entry is by reservation only, and once inside, the house rules keep the space hushed and refined: no photos, no phones, no standing at the bar. Instead, the attention is all on the cocktails.
The menu was recently redone, with bold choices spanning seven distinct styles, ranging from vintage and boozy to plush and creamy indulgences. Standouts include the Chili-Cillin, an agave-driven drink with ginger, honey, habanero and cilantro; the Voodoo with rum, cacao, pineapple and vanilla; and the Purple Pillow-Head, a playful blend of apple brandy, violet, peach, passion fruit and egg white.
The experience is rounded out by vintage décor, candlelit intimacy and live piano music, creating an atmosphere that’s as timeless as it is exclusive. Reservations often book out weeks in advance, making The Laundry Room not just another Vegas stop, but a coveted experience for those in the know.
To learn more, visit laundryroomlv.com.
When you Go
Tucson: visittucson.com
Las Vegas: visitlasvegas.com
Gilbert: discovergilbert.com
Albuquerque: visitalbuquerque.org