#speakeasy

#speakeasy

Jeff Bell has never been the loudest voice in the room. "I'm a quiet guy until I have something to contribute," he says, a line that could double as the mission statement for Kees, his new bar tucked beneath Mixteca in New York's West Village. After 16 years, helping to define the tone and precision of pioneering and James Beard Award-winning modern speakeasy PDT in the East Village, Kees is Bell's distilled point of view: understated, technical, and built around the idea that you don't need to be loud to say a lot.

Flying internationally in the winter can be difficult - crowded airports sometimes turn into a no-man's land of grumpy travelers, downcast due to bad weather and flight delays. But I know one thing can make that trip more bearable: a cocktail. Especially when it's in a themed bar. During a recent 16-hour journey from the UK to the US, I decided to visit a speakeasy called Williams & Graham during my layover at the Denver International Airport.

Hidden in a Philadelphia back alley, behind a clandestine door, lies a dark yet spirited cocktail lounge. Called the Ranstead Room, it's one of Philly's best-kept secrets. The speakeasy isn't easy to find, unless you happen to be behind El Rey Mexican restaurant on Ranstead Street. And even then, you'll have to locate a discreet black door with two R's emblazoned into it. But it's worth the quest, and it's one of my favorite lairs in the city.

The hospitality industry thrives on memorable moments, and few venues understand this better than Hotel Jerome in Aspen. On Saturday, December 27, 2025, the iconic property once again proved its status as a premier entertainment destination when Kate Hudson returned for her third annual holiday celebration, this time hosting an intimate after-party at Bad Harriet, the hotel's underground speakeasy. Following her performance at Wheeler Opera House, Hudson transformed Bad Harriet into a karaoke-style soirée.

La Cueva, a new speakeasy and listening room, will open at Ponce City Market featuring creative cocktails and Mexican fare, designed by Atlanta's Maison Maluee.

"I have always loved escape rooms and San Francisco, so I wanted to create a physical space where people could have fun after a night of drinks to keep the night going."

The exact location of the Naisho Room, whose name means "hidden" in Japanese, within the hotel is supposed to remain a mystery up until you arrive.