8 NYC speakeasy-style bars with the best photo ops

Tucked inside the historic Radio Wave Building, this bar pays homage to Nikola Tesla, the famed scientist who lived and worked on site in the late 19th century. The intentionally designed decor, menu and barware give a sleek, modern take on an industrial-era watering hole, making it the perfect setting for a steampunk photoshoot.

Perhaps the most “authentic” speakeasy to make this list, Bathtub Gin is a Prohibition-era-styled bar that hosts weekly burlesque shows. For a truly Instagrammable moment, don your sexiest flapper-inspired garb, grab a S’mores Old Fashioned and strike a sultry pose in front of the bar’s famed copper clawfoot bathtub.

When you walk “behind the bookshelf” and into Le Boudoir, you’ll be immediately drawn to the stunning red velvet seats and walls. But don’t stop there. The artwork, mirrors, bar decor and glassware all deserve ample attention, too—from your eyes and your camera.

OK, so technically photos aren’t allowed at Peachy’s, but if you’re willing to risk the consequences of breaking this rule, you won’t be disappointed: their brightly colored cocktails, cheeky neon lights, disco ball collection, and rose vine ceiling are all unique sights amongst the NYC speakeasy circuit.

The Woo Woo is a celebration of 1980s Times Square: a seedy paradise of pornography, graffiti, and booze. While all of their cocktails are stunning, Purple Rain, a gin-based drink served with a large purple ice cube, and Guilty Pleasures, a tiki drink served with a flaming cinnamon stick, are probably the most photogenic drinks on the menu.

Unlike the typical speakeasy setting, this Mexican-inspired “cactus shop by day, cantina by night” is a bright and airy kaleidoscope of color, making it a perfect setting for a fun photoshoot. As an added bonus for the foodies in your crew: the cantina’s dining menu is delicious, too.

This secret bar hidden behind West Village dinner hotspot Saint Theo’s, is simply begging you to do it for the Gram: its spectacularly luxe 1960s Venetian-inspired decor, low and warm lighting, and intimate environs make it the perfect setting for your new favorite selfies.

While Dear Irving’s original location is more traditionally speakeasy in nature—half the bar is designed like a JFK-era lounge, while the other half imagines life inside Marie Antoinette’s parlor—their Hudson location defies everything that comes to mind when you think of a bar that lived under Prohibition: it’s perched high above the ground and offers breathtaking views of the city.