2nd Floor On Clinton

Located above Lower East Side staple Barramundi, this intimate second floor space bills itself as a speakeasy, but (as with most "secret" bars) it doesn't do much to try to keep things under wraps. Right now, the space is open only on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Once you enter through the downstairs bar, you'll find a small room that sits a maximum of 36 people. If you have a big group, you can skip this spot—the maximum party they'll seat is four people. The cocktail list consist of pre Prohibition-era mixers that favor aromatic ingredients like orange blossom water and Lillet Blanc. The drinks have names that tie back to the history of the area. The Tauster is named after a businessman who owned a bank on the site of the bar. Enjoy it, but don't follow in his footsteps—he created a scandal and ended up in jail!

See more: Lower East Side bars