Skip the Line NYC Speakeasy Walking Tour Ticket

Overview

Discover New York City's most secretive speakeasies on this guided, 3-hour, small-group walking tour in Lower Manhattan and Greenwich Village. Take a friendly stroll to discover NYC's most secretive speakeasies, hidden behind unmarked doors, coffee shops, restaurant kitchens, and more. Skip the lines with reserved tables, sip craft cocktails, and turn back the clock to the roaring 20s while the tour guide details the history of Prohibition and the causes and effects that led to pass and enforce the 18th amendment.

City: New York City

Sun 12 Jan

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $35.00

Make a reservation

Sun 12 Jan

Starting at $35.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

List of all the visited speakeasies (only after the tour)

Local, professional guide

Special treatment at the speakeasies

Guaranteed to skip the long lines

Highly accurate and documented history facts

Small-group walking tour

Additional Info

Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Public transportation options are available nearby
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Minimum age is 21 years and bring ID
May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
No gym-wear and no fur. Sneakers and jeans are fine.
Face masks required for travellers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travellers
Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Regularly sanitised high-traffic areas
Gear/equipment sanitised between use
Guides required to regularly wash hands
Regular temperature checks for staff
Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons

What To Expect

Lower Manhattan

The meeting point for the group is always at a park where there is seating, shade, and water. While the group awaits for all the attendees to arrive, the tour guide will provide some general colonial history of New York City and deliver interesting facts related to the era — like why we say 'bucks' instead of dollars, why 'Houston' is pronounced differently in NYC, and much more. Once the whole group is ready, the tour guide will provide a small introduction about the speakeasy tour and explain how long it is, how many speakeasies will be visited (it's usually six or seven), and at which speakeasy the group will be allowed to grab a drink. The tour guide will also explain where the tour ends, which is always an area with nightlife, bars, clubs, and restaurants — all located in close proximity to subway entrances. On every tour, the first drink is enjoyed at the first speakeasy. In most cases, the group will either skip the line, get a reserved table, or both — but skipping the line is guaranteed. While enjoying a high-quality, internationally recognized, award-winning cocktail, the tour guide will explain about the causes and effects that led to passing the 18th amendment (Prohibition). The guide will not only explain how and why it was passed, but the history of alcohol consumption in the US in general, the history of alcohol taxation, and most importantly, how the US tried to enforce Prohibition. For each drink, spend up to an hour, but in most cases, the group only takes around 40 minutes. Tour guides are obliged to assure that no one feels too rushed to finish their drinks because they are high-quality crafted cocktails that ought to be savored and enjoyed. Some speakeasies will have even Burlesque shows, but all are completely hidden from the exterior. Go through unmarked doors, back alley ways, phone booths, a bank's vault door, behind a psychic shop, through doors indicating 'No Entrance,' 'Emergency exit only' or even through a Five Guys burger joint. Most of the speakeasies are so well hidden that most of our clientele are actually locals struggling to find them, even with the physical address on their phones. At the last stop, the guide will give the option to either stay at the last speakeasy for a third drink or to explore the stimulated and vivid neighborhood where the tour ends, where there is many nightlife establishments, restaurants, clubs, bars, stand up comedy, life music and much more.

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Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (218)

eajs

Dec 2017

7 of us booked this tour. Another group of 7 did as well. 14 people is TOO MANY for a speakeasy tour. In fact, their website says the maximum number on a tour will be 12. We ended up standing outside 3 different bars and were told a few of us could go peak inside. Really? What a waste of time.

HollyBonolly

Dec 2017

To be honest the TA reviews I saw before booking weren't glowing but i risked it and it paid off because we had a great time! My boyfriend and I took part in the Tuesday West Village Tour - we were taken to 5 places and went inside and bought a cocktail in 4 of threm (the 5th was very small and didn't accept groups. Was still fun to see it from outside though since it was an authentic speakeasy from the prohibition period). We met some lovely people on the walking tour (all American in fact - we were the only British!) and our guide was great - young (30s), friendly, into history and told us some great stories and facts about prohibition. The bars themselves were quirky or cosy but all hidden - one was at the back/above a Five Guys; you had to walk right past the burgers being flipped! We booked through TA (Viator) and the booking policy was explained upfront. The only small downside was that the tour we booked onto (east village) didn't have enough bookings to run. We found out when I phoned to check the day before, as instructed by Viator (which itself is a little annoying when planning a packed holiday - ie not knowing until the day before if the activity was confirmed - but again we did know this policy from the outset & we would have been refunded). However they offered us a spot on the west village tour and I'm glad we accepted - it was a lot of fun. Obviously the cocktails are expensive but the tour itself is good value at around 20 GBP. And I saw the outside of Monica's apartment from Friends! It was a throw away comment from our guide and no one else cared but for me as huge fan of the show it was an absolute highlight!! Would recommend and will do another tour in a different part of the city if I visit NYC again! Enjoy!

Linda B

Nov 2017

It was interesting, the drinks were pricy but tasty. this is a great experience.