Entry No. 18 — the Memphis file — filed under: speakeasy
Barons Bar + Barbershop (speakeasy)
A fully working barbershop by day — fades, straight-razor shaves, the works — until a customer swings open a two-way mirror on the wall and steps through into a members-only cocktail den done up in deep reds and greens with shimmering brass bar-chain curtains, built to feel like a Chicago-gangster hideout minutes from home.
The story
From the outside along South Mendenhall Road, you're looking at a sleek, high-end barbershop handling straight-razor shaves and tight fades. But watch the illuminated sign as late afternoon sets in: at 4 p.m., the lettering drops the back half of the name, leaving only "BAR." That’s your sign that the room's focus has quietly shifted.
Behind what appears to be a standard two-way mirror on the wall lies a hidden door. Step through, and the hum of clippers gives way to a 40-seat cocktail den wrapped in deep reds, rich greens, and shimmering brass bar-chain curtains. Designed with the close-quarters intensity of a 1920s Chicago gangster hideout, it trades daylight for low lamp glow and meticulously built drinks.
What it's like
Arrive in the late afternoon for a shave, then let the staff walk you through the mirror-door as soon as the bar unlocks. Space is tight—capped at around 40 seats—so the atmosphere stays quiet and focused rather than crowded. Because access hinges on their members-only setup, secure your spot or check entry rules online before heading to East Memphis.
The move: Book a joint haircut/shave slot, then let the barber walk you through the mirror-door into the 40-seat speakeasy for a round of cocktails afterward.
- 📍 East Memphis
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 704 S Mendenhall Rd, Memphis, TN 38117
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Better Bodies Yoga — The Salt Caves — Reset your lungs in a synthetic salt-mine microclimate less than half a mile away before getting cleaned up for drinks.
- Crystal Shrine Grotto — Pair one hidden room with another by visiting Dionicio Rodriguez's hand-carved concrete cave inside Memorial Park Cemetery just down the road.
- AutoZone Sharpe Planetarium — Laser Rock — Follow up a dark cocktail behind the barber mirror with a Friday night laser-and-rock show under the Sharpe Planetarium dome.
Good to know
Do I need a membership to enter the bar?
The venue operates its speakeasy on a members-only basis (referred to as the Inner Circle). Check their official site to confirm access rules before visiting.
What time does the secret door open?
The transition from barbershop to speakeasy happens at 4 p.m.
How big is the hidden lounge?
It's an intimate room designed to seat roughly 40 guests.
Can you get a drink while getting a haircut?
The cleanest experience is booking a cut or shave just before 4 p.m., then transitioning directly behind the mirror for drinks once the bar opens.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · memphisflyer.com
last checked: 2026-07-20