Originally born out of necessity during Prohibition (which started with the Anti-Saloon League in Westerville, fun fact), speakeasies today are more about the vibe: low lighting, strong cocktails, secret entrances, and maybe even a little mischief. Columbus has more hidden bars than you might expect, and they’re all serving up unforgettable experiences behind unmarked doors, soda machines, and yes, pizza counters.
Each one of these secret bars in Columbus has its own unique atmosphere. None are quite like the other, which honestly means… yeah, you’re just going to have to try them all.
Here’s your unofficial guide to the best speakeasies in Columbus Ohio.
Did we miss one? Did one of these places close? Send us a note!
🍕 Forty Deuce
📍 3959 Brighton Rose Sq, Columbus, OH 43219
Ever eaten a slice of New York-style pizza and then wandered through a walk-in fridge into a full-blown burlesque show? No? Then you haven’t been to Forty Deuce. This Las Vegas-meets-NYC speakeasy is hidden inside the pizzeria’s kitchen and offers bold cocktails and a sultry vibe you won’t find anywhere else in the city.
🌴 Sacred Palm
📍 457 N High St, Columbus, OH 43215
Another hidden bar inside a pizza joint? Absolutely. This tropical-inspired Columbus speakeasy is tucked under Mikey’s Late Night Slice on High Street. Head downstairs and look for glowing colors behind the beer cooler. That’s your sign you’ve found Sacred Palm.
Just don’t blame us if you leave with a slice of pizza on your shirt and zero memory of how you got there.
🕯️ Sotto Terra at The Sanctuary
📍 610 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH 43215
That historic-looking church on Neil and Goodale? Yeah, there’s a speakeasy in its basement. Sotto Terra is a hidden lounge beneath The Sanctuary, offering events like dance parties, trivia nights, and themed throwbacks — all under stained glass windows and gothic vibes. It’s basically if Dracula loved disco.
🚫 No Soliciting
📍 119 E Chestnut St, Columbus, OH 43215
One of the most exclusive hidden bars in Columbus, No Soliciting is a private speakeasy you’ll need a membership (read: serious cash) to access. But if you’re into ultra-swanky vibes, high-end cocktails, and whisper-level discretion, this might just be your holy grail.
🍦 DRNK at CRMD
📍 915 Evans Farm Drive Suite G, Lewis Center, OH 43035
You’re at an ice cream shop. You go to grab a Coke. The soda machine… has a door handle? That’s not just the brain freeze hitting you… DRNK is the hidden bar tucked behind CRMD in Lewis Center, offering a sweet escape with creative cocktails. Come for the scoop, stay for the pour.
🚂 Switch
📍 212 Kelton Ave, Columbus, OH 43205
Switch is the East Market’s secret, password-protected speakeasy. It’s hidden underneath The Railhouse Bar, and yes, you will need a password to get in. How do you get the password? That’s part of the fun.
🎷 I Like It Like That
📍 945 King Ave, Columbus, OH 43212
From the team at Natalie’s Grandview comes this chill, moody speakeasy-style cocktail bar that’s not too hard to find, but still feels like a secret. It’s not quite hidden behind a bookshelf, but it is the kind of spot you stumble into once and then start bringing all your out-of-town friends to. Bonus points if you say the name out loud like the Cardi B song.
🎤 Don’t Tell Comedy Shows
📍 Location: A total mystery (until you buy a ticket)
Technically not a bar, but it is one of the coolest speakeasy-style experiences in Columbus. Don’t Tell Comedy puts on pop-up comedy shows in surprise venues all across the city. You won’t know where the show is or who’s performing until just before it starts. Think dive bars, rooftops, retail shops — you never know.
👉 Find a show this weekend here.
🎬 The Torpedo Room
📍 1550 N High St, Columbus, OH 43201
Film nerds, this one’s for you. The Torpedo Room is a speakeasy-style cocktail lounge inside Gateway Film Center, but it’s only open to members. The perks? Exclusive screenings, free popcorn, discounted concessions, and elite cinephile vibes. If your idea of a great night involves Kubrick and a cocktail, get in here.
🛋 Apt B.
📍 1044 N High St, Columbus, OH 43201
If you love Bodega (who doesn’t), then prepare to have your mind blown. Apt B is the hidden speakeasy behind the kitchen wall at Bodega—a former apartment turned chic cocktail lounge. The lights are low, the drinks are top-tier, and the fact that it’s been hiding in plain sight makes it even cooler.
💌 P.O. Box Twenty One
📍28 S State St, Westerville, OH 43081
Don’t be thrown off by the buzzing fluorescent lights and USPS energy when you walk into this old Westerville post office — you’re in the right place. Somewhere behind the packaging supplies and retail counter is a secret entrance that leads to P.O. Box Twenty One, the hidden speakeasy in the basement of High Bank Distillery’s newest location.
The space is a nod to Westerville’s wildly ironic history as the former “Dry Capital of the World.” (Seriously, this town hated booze so much they used to blow up saloons. Literally.)
