Can you keep a secret? These hidden speakeasies certainly can, tucked away or hidden in plain sight.
Over the last few years a new type of venue has sprung up, inspired by New York’s PDT and The Angel’s Share.
They all have two things in common - a great drinks list and a secret twist, pretending to be something else or just plain difficult to find.
With secret phone numbers, passwords and hidden doors, these are the places that take a bit more work to find.
Abditory
Off the beaten track on one of Liverpool's most loved streets, Queen Avenue, this 'old school-style' bar is hidden out of sight.
Abditory launched earlier this month with the aim to become "a well loved contribution to the city's growing collection of amazing spaces".
The bar seats around 50 people, has a hidden terrace outside, and serves a range of wines, cocktails, beers and food such as toasties and sharing boards.
Abditory is open from 10am to 10pm on Mondays and from 10am to midnight Tuesday to Sunday.
The Winter Snug
New for this festive season, The Winter Snug is hidden away within another city centre bar, Free State Kitchen.
The Winter Snug is a cosy indoor winter wonderland based inside a traditional Mongolian yurt.
Transforming the restaurant’s beer garden for the festive season, the Snug offers a unique - and fully insulated - experience, where guests can gaze up at the stars through the skylight.
The Winter Snug, which fits around 30 people, is decked out with long tables with fur covered benches, cosy blankets to wrap up in, and stunning fairy lights.
The bar is only available during the winter season, and is open from 5pm on Thursday and Fridays, and from 2pm at weekends.
Ex-Directory
This tucked away secret bar is based around a red telephone box.
If you are lucky enough to have the phone number for Ex-Directory you can make a booking whenever you wish.
Well, Wednesday to Sunday when it’s open.
The phone box leads to an underground bar, but only if you have a booking - without it the telephone box will refuse you entry.
It is table service only and it’s wise to book in advance. When it’s full, it’s full.
The clues are here.
Berry and Rye
Like whiskey, blues, jazz and gin? You may have found your new favourite place.
Tucked away on Berry Street, there is no sign above the door and no indication that it even exists.
It’s one of those word of mouth places, where a mate will take you but you’ll never remember quite which door you went through.
Think thick velvet curtains, big wooden tables lit by twinkling candles and cocktails that’ll leave you reeling and also wanting more.
Again, it’s table service, and the menu comes in an old leather bound book.
It’s open 5pm-late seven nights a week they have a strict no bookings policy. Just turn up, if you can remember where it is.
El Bandito
Most people are familiar with Santa Chupitos.
The small cocktail bar on Slater Street but not everyone knows about the even smaller basement bar just next door down a flight of stairs.
El Bandito is a tiny bar hidden in plain sight.
If you’re after something particularly strong and unique then try out their Homemade Desperados.
Although we can’t promise you’ll remember the night if you do.
81Ltd
Up above Salt Dog Slims is this hidden gem, only accessed with a secret code.
Yes, you have to have a code to get in through the electronic door but it’s worth the trouble, with a huge selection of cocktails.
Go early enough and you can grab one of the huge booths, where you can sip your cocktails in comfort.
Some Place
Head down Seel Street for this little gem of an Absinthe bar.
There’s no keypad, phone box or secret door. There’s no door at all.
This one is hidden in plain sight with just a green light at the top of a staircase above the street.
Inside it’s pretty green - green walls, green lights and green bottles.
Open Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 8pm till late and Friday and Saturday 7pm till late.
The cocktails are great and the service is always with a smile. If you want to know more email Someplace.lpl@gmail.com
Goodness Gracious Roof Garden
So this bar isn’t secret but very few people know about it and it’s definitely a hidden gem.
The outdoor bar is up on the eighth floor of of West Africa House and with the height comes beautiful views of Liverpool.
It’s particularly great in the summer when you can sit back in the sun and toast to the Liver Birds.
Jenny’s Bar
Not exactly a secret bar, but you have to know where to look to find it.
Formerly Jenny’s seafood restaurant, this is the sister bar to Berry & Rye. A speakeasy on one side, through a velvet curtain it’s a private party with a disco twist on Fenwick Street.
There’s also a Whisky shop just inside the doorway, with spirits, liqueurs and bitters, everything you’ll need to make your cocktail. Their motto of ‘Shop, Drink, Learn’ could not be more apt.
Brass Monkey
This cocktail bar and kitchen is hidden in plain sight on School Lane in Liverpool city centre.
Blink and you’ll miss it.
Brass Monkey is definitely a ‘must go to’ bar, even if it’s just to sip away on a cocktail while swinging on the swing seats on offer.
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