Entry No. 43 — the New York City file — filed under: speakeasy-bar
The Back Room
You enter through a gate marked for the "Lower East Side Toy Company," walk down an alley, and climb a flight of stairs to reach the lounge. It is one of only two NYC speakeasies that operated during Prohibition and still survives; drinks come in teacups and beers in paper bags as they did when Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky drank here. A small hidden second room behind a bookcase rounds out the disguise.
The story
You didn't hear it from us, but almost every 'speakeasy' in Manhattan is a modern marketing gimmick—a basement with dim Edison bulbs and ten-dollar ice. The Back Room is the rare exception that actually earns the name. It is one of only two speakeasies in New York City that operated straight through Prohibition and still survives today. Back in the 1920s, mobsters Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky used these back-room booths to hold court, divide territory, and drink out of sight of federal agents.
The camouflage wasn't subtle, but it worked. The joint fronted as the 'Lower East Side Toy Company,' forcing patrons to slip through an alleyway and climb a set of back stairs to gain entry. Once inside, booze was poured into porcelain teacups and beer bottles were hidden in brown paper bags so that any cop peering through a slit in the curtain saw what looked like a harmless tea social. That precise ritual hasn't changed; order a cocktail today and it still arrives in floral china, complete with a saucer.
The room retains its original heavy velvet drapery, brass chandeliers, and vintage wood detailing. If you look closely at the bookshelf along the wall, you'll spot the seam for a second hidden doorway—a secret room within a secret room that held emergency escape routes and higher-stakes private games when the precinct raided the main lounge.
What it's like
To find it, skip the main storefronts on Norfolk Street and look for a wrought-iron gate bearing the faded sign for the Lower East Side Toy Company. Push through, walk down the dark paved alleyway, and head up the exterior stairs. Inside, the lounge opens up into low-lit velvet armchairs and dark wood. The crowd gets thick on weekends when DJs take over, but drop in on a Monday night for live jazz to get the truest feel for the space. Keep in mind there is no food menu here—just drinks in teacups—so eat before you arrive.
The move: Find the toy-company gate, sneak up the back stairs, and sip cocktails from teacups in a room that has been a speakeasy since the 1920s.
📍 Before you go Entrance is via the gated alley, not an obvious door. Walk-ins and reservations; no cover. Cash for some items.
- 📍 Lower East Side
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 102 Norfolk St, New York, NY 10002
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Attaboy — Compare authentic 1920s gangster history with modern speakeasy craft just two blocks away behind an unmarked metal door on Eldridge Street.
- McSorley's Old Ale House — Trade clandestine teacup cocktails for pre-Civil War mug-pours at New York's oldest saloon, a ten-minute walk north.
- Hua Mei Bird Garden — Balance a late night in a booze den with a quiet morning walk three blocks west to see local elders gather with songbirds in Sara D. Roosevelt Park.
Good to know
How do I find the entrance?
Look for 102 Norfolk Street and find the iron gate marked 'Lower East Side Toy Company.' Walk through the gate, down the outdoor alley, and up the stairs at the end.
Is there a cover charge or dress code?
There is no cover charge. The venue enforces a basic dress code on busier weekend nights, so skip athletic wear and worn sneakers.
Do they serve food?
No. The Back Room serves drinks only, so plan on having dinner elsewhere before or after your visit.
Do I need a reservation?
Walk-ins are standard for bar seating and small groups, though couch areas on the upper level can be reserved in advance through their website.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: backroomnyc.com · Atlas Obscura · savingplaces.org · nyctourism.com
last checked: 2026-06-23