Entry No. 26 — the Kansas City file — filed under: speakeasy
P.S. Speakeasy
Concealed in the basement of the historic Art Deco Hotel Phillips, this speakeasy occupies a long-forgotten 1930s mail-sorting room. To enter, guests must locate a hotel employee or find the hidden door tucked behind the lobby's reception desk.
The story
In the 1930s, while Prohibition was technically federal law, Kansas City famously operated under its own relaxed rules. Deep beneath the grand Art Deco lobby of the Hotel Phillips, hotel staff quietly sorted incoming correspondence in a underground utility room. That windowless basement space eventually fell out of daily use, remaining tucked away beneath street level until it was reclaimed as P.S. Speakeasy.
Rather than relying on modern gimmicks, the venue sticks to its architectural roots. You won't find a sign, a velvet rope, or a street-facing entryway at 106 W 12th Street. Access still requires passing through an unmarked door hidden directly behind the lobby reception desk—a deliberate nod to the days when keeping off the public radar required actual architectural subterfuge.
What it's like
Walk into the polished Art Deco lobby of Hotel Phillips and head toward the reception desk. If you don't spot the hidden door right away, lean in and ask the front desk staff for directions downstairs. Slipping through the unmarked door leads you down into a low-lit, intimate basement chamber lined with dark booths. The space is small and seats fill fast, so book a reservation online up to a month in advance if you want to guarantee a spot. Once settled into a booth, order the gin-based 'Jet Fuel' cocktail and enjoy the quiet subterranean hum.
The move: Walk into the glamorous 1930s lobby of Hotel Phillips, whisper to the front desk staff to find the secret entrance, and head downstairs to sip a 'Jet Fuel' gin cocktail in a cozy, low-lit booth.
- 📍 Downtown Kansas City, MO
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 106 W 12th St, Kansas City, MO 64105
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- The Brass Monkey Lounge — Keep the hidden basement theme going by walking half a mile over to another subterranean drink sanctuary built into a reinforced concrete bunker.
- The Media Tech Museum — Pair a cocktail inside a historic 1930s mail-sorting room with a tour of retro telegraphs and communication artifacts four blocks away.
- Stray Cat Film Center — Balance a low-lit hotel basement drink with an oddball movie screening at this volunteer-run microcinema down in the Crossroads.
- The Hereford Bull — Follow up an underground cocktail den experience with a half-mile trip west to take in a giant 19-foot fiberglass bull overlooking I-35.
Good to know
How do I find the secret door?
Head into the Hotel Phillips lobby at 106 W 12th St and look behind the main reception desk for an unmarked door. If you can't spot it, ask a hotel employee to point you in the right direction.
Do I need a reservation to get in?
Reservations are strongly recommended due to limited booth seating and can be booked online up to one month in advance via their website.
What was the basement room originally used for?
The space originally served as the Hotel Phillips's mail-sorting room during the 1930s.
What type of drinks do they serve?
The bar specializes in classic and craft cocktails—like their signature 'Jet Fuel' gin drink—along with a curated whiskey selection.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: ps1931.com · hotelphillips.com
last checked: 2026-07-21