5 Places You’d Never Expect To Order A Drink

Where’s the weirdest place you’ve ever had a drink? Wait—no, don’t answer that. Where’s the weirdest place you’ve ever bought a drink? Throughout the U.S., modern-day bars with a speakeasy vibe are tucked away in all kinds of unexpected places. Some of the best speakeasies predate the neighborhoods that have grown up around them, today standing as fascinating reminders of the city that was. Others are quirky newcomers with personalities all their own. Old or new, we applaud the creativity behind these five bars from Miami to Albany. So, about that drink …

A bookstore

Next time you’re in Albany, New York, drive 45 minutes south to the small city of Hudson. There, Spotty Dog Books & Ale satisfies two appetites—the desire for a strong drink and the need for a good story. Once upon a time, this building was Hudson’s firehouse, and it retains a certain 19th-century character. Spotty Dog so completely blurs the lines between bookstore and bar that it has both live music and poetry readings. Plus, there’s a children’s section. How many bars can say that?

Santa Claus’s double-wide

In terms of sheer weirdness, Nashville, Tennessee’s, Santa’s Pub may take the cake. It's a double-wide trailer festively painted with Christmassy scenes—Santa in his sleigh, Santa on a motorcycle—and there’s a wreath hung on the red-painted door. Step inside for a cash-only bar with nightly karaoke or, on Sunday evenings, music by the house band. Follow one rule while you’re there: “be nice.” Santa (That’s him with the beard. You’ll see.) is watching.

The corner market

While not a bar, Raleigh, North Carolina’s Peace Street Market is an essential beer-lover’s stop. It doesn’t look like much from the outside—just a little corner shop at the residential border of downtown Raleigh. Inside, though, you’ll find a specialized beer and wine selection right beside the candy and lotto tickets. Peace Street Market predates downtown Raleigh’s renaissance over the last decade and North Carolina’s beer explosion. Before there were ultrahip cocktail joints and microbreweries on every corner, this was the City of Oaks’ spot for interesting beer.

Behind a moving bookcase

You’ll have to find the moving bookcase to get into Williams & Graham in Denver. Photo Credit: @theladybossy

America is full of bars and speakeasies with intentionally obscure entryways, harkening back to the 1920s. Some have telephones for doorbells, while others require whispered passwords for entry. In Denver, Colorado, Williams & Graham is cleverly concealed behind a moving bookcase in a small bookshop. It’s a small, upscale joint, and there’s often a wait. But if you’re going to splurge on one of the best speakeasy bars, this is it. Unlike other such retro cocktail rooms in the U.S., this Colorado bar scored the coveted Best American Cocktail Bar award in the 2015 Spirited Awards.

A 24-hour gas station

Speaking of the best speakeasies, half the charm of a hidden bar is its hiding spot. The Miami, Florida, tapas joint and wine bar El Carajo just happens to be inside a gas station. As with many filling stations, you’ll find an assortment of food there. But unlike almost all other such spots, the selections here include a magnificent paella, fried sardines and lobster bisque. After you fill up your belly, top off your tank!

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