Entry No. 13 — the Columbus file — filed under: speakeasy
The Sacred Palm
Tucked beneath Mikey's Late Night Slice, this secret tropical tiki lounge requires you to walk past the pizza counter and find the glowing walk-in freezer door to enter. Once inside, the neon-lit, rum-soaked basement transports you from Ohio to a retro Polynesian paradise.
The story
You walk into Mikey's Late Night Slice on High Street expecting grease-stained cardboard and fluorescent overheads, but you're not here for a pepperoni slice. Head past the order counter toward what looks like an ordinary stainless-steel walk-in freezer door. Pull it open and you'll find a stairwell—each step painted with lyrics from Rick Astley's 'Never Gonna Give You Up'—leading straight down into the basement.
Conceived by Late Night Slice founder Mikey Sorboro, The Sacred Palm trades Midwestern street-level bustle for an underground tiki sanctuary bathed in neon pink and purple. Surrounded by bamboo accents and retro velvet paintings, the room ignores Ohio entirely in favor of classic rum-heavy tropical mixology and flaming communal cocktail bowls.
What it's like
Expect a total sensory shift the moment you clear the walk-in door. The basement space is intimate and dimly lit, with plush seating, bamboo walls, and a heavy purple glow. On peak weekend nights, a bouncer stands near the freezer door upstairs to regulate the crowd, so stopping in on a weeknight or early in the evening is your best bet to bypass the line. Downstairs, bartenders shake up classic Mai Tais and rum libations, making it an ideal spot to share a flaming bowl drink before slipping back up to the street.
The move: Grab a slice of pizza upstairs, then slip through the freezer door to share a flaming communal bowl cocktail or a classic Mai Tai surrounded by bamboo and velvet paintings.
- 📍 Short North
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 457 N High St, Columbus, OH 43215
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Char Bar — Follow up an underground tiki cocktail with a cold beer at this legendary dive bar operating in an 1847 former funeral parlor right in the Short North.
- Apt B — Keep the hidden-door theme going by heading north to another speakeasy tucked behind a false wall in Bodega's kitchen.
- Sotto Terra at The Sanctuary — Trade neon tiki decor for gothic underground vibes at a subterranean lounge hidden beneath a historic Victorian Village church.
Good to know
How do I actually get inside The Sacred Palm?
Walk inside Mikey's Late Night Slice at 457 N High St, pass the pizza counter, find the stainless-steel walk-in freezer door, and take the Rick Astley-lined stairs down to the basement.
Do I need reservations to enter?
No, entry is on a walk-in basis, but space downstairs is limited, so expect door control or a line during peak weekend hours.
What kind of drinks are on the menu?
The bar specializes in classic tiki and tropical cocktails, focusing on rum-soaked concoctions like Mai Tais and multi-person flaming bowl drinks.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: latenightslice.com · Only In Your State · Official site · neuralauren.com
last checked: 2026-07-21