speakeasy

A speakeasy is a term used to describe an illegal bar or nightclub that operated during Prohibition in the United States, when the sale, manufacture, and transport of alcohol were illegal. The name reportedly derives from patrons who were advised to “speak easy”—to utter little and keep their conversations quiet to avoid drawing attention from law enforcement.

During Prohibition (1920–1933) many urban centers saw a proliferation of speakeasies, often hidden behind unassuming doors in basements or in disguised storefronts. They were supplied by bootleggers and organized crime networks, and security measures included passwords, coded signs, and discreet entrances. Patrons ranged from entertainers to politicians, and raids by federal agents were not uncommon.

With the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, many speakeasies closed or converted into legal bars, though the culture and craft of mixed drinks carried forward into licensed establishments. The era helped establish a foundation for cocktail culture and a mythos around underground social life that persists in popular imagination.

In recent decades, “speakeasy” has become a stylistic label for licit cocktail bars that imitate the clandestine atmosphere of Prohibition-era venues. Modern speakeasies often feature hidden or discreet entrances, vintage décor, and craft cocktails, while complying with current laws. The term also appears worldwide as a branding concept, reflecting a revived interest in intimate settings and validated mixology.