The Exhibition Room at Roxanne's
1115 E. Wardlow Road, Long Beach. 7 p.m.-1 a.m. Fridays. 562-826-2940, theexhibitionroom.com
There are a few steps to take to get into this speakeasy inside Roxanne’s restaurant. First, you must dial 562-826-2940. Then wait for a text back with instructions on how to make a reservation and, most importantly, remember to write down your password, because you’ll need it later. Once you get to the restaurant, find the phone booth — and yes, it was once an actual working phone booth at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum back in the 1940s. Pick up the phone and when someone answers, tell them your password, and the phone booth will then open to the Exhibition Room, a cozy dark space drenched in Prohibition-era décor where you’ll see historic pictures of Long Beach on the walls, and bartenders making signature drinks. Try the Monkey Business, a rum, coconut and pineapple tropical combo. But the place is also serious about straight-up spirits, offering hard-to-find whiskeys like 30-year-old Japanese brand Fuji. “Only seven of them were released in the United States,” said owner Robert Molina.
Besides a gym, there really isn’t much going on on this stretch of street in Hollywood except for what looks like a garage sale happening in a tiny, old messy garage. There’s stuff everywhere in the garage like an old radio, an empty vending machine and a discarded VCR. At the end there’s a dirty old refrigerator with a Miller Lite neon sign above. Open the fridge, and instead of cans of Miller you’ll see stairs leading up to a 1970sstyle lounge and bar furnished with what looks like actual furniture from the era, stains and all. There’s a fireplace, walls lined with carpet and wood paneling, a bar and a patio where an old camper trailer has been converted into a second outdoor bar. Beers are cheap here, about $5 for cans and $7 for draft. Take it up a notch with $12 cocktails inspired by the 1970s like the Fat Elvis, made with a peanut-infused rye whiskey, or the Village People, made with chai gin.
Employees Only
7953Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. 6p.m.2a.m. Tuesdays-sundays. 323-536-9045, employeesonlyla.com
This art deco-style contemporary restaurant has no windows and is not that easy to find, but not too hidden either, since there is a bright, vertical sign with the name of the restaurant and “Food + Cocktails” in small red letters underneath just above the front door. Still, some may think this could be an employee lounge or some private club, but no, it’s a higher-end restaurant with a sophisticated menu: Think things like hand-cut steak tartare, roasted duck breast and a variety of pastas, plus a robust cocktail menu, too. But the real secret here is in a corner of the restaurant under an exit sign. There you’ll find nothing but a corner wall, but those in the know know that when the wall is pushed in just the right way, it opens to a small speak-easy where live music happens and mixologists serve some of the best drinks in town. “It’s a great room. The bar is a little larger than normal, and we call it a bartender’s table so it’s really an opportunity for our bartenders to create something exciting and different,” said Tom Sopit, managing partner of Employees Only. Try the seasonal cocktails or just tell the bartenders the flavors you like and they’ll likely come up with something on the spot. And to get in, it’s best to make reservations for the back room rather than to go pushing around the walls of the restaurant. And here’s a pro bonus tip: Anyone who stays until last call gets a free bowl of spicy chicken soup — yes, a free bowl of soup. “There are people who just show up at the end of the night for the soup,” Sopit said.
The Blind Barber
10797 Washington Blvd., Culver City; 5715 N. Figueroa St., Highland Park. 6p.m.-close Tuesdayssundays. blindbarber.com
Need a haircut and a good time? This place will take care of you. The entrance to the dimly lit speak-easy is behind an actual working barbershop that even has that swirly, candy-stripe sign outside. So just walk past the barbers and open the back door, where there are usually coats hanging, and you’re in a midcentury-style bar decked out in old wood paneling and yellow wallpaper with leather booths along the back wall. You can get cocktails like the bourbon-based Smoke + Dagger or the Hot Heather, a mix of tequila, pineapple, lime and ginger. And if you’re hungry, there are grilled cheese sandwiches and other bits. The Culver City location is the original.
The Blind Rabbit
440 S. Anaheim Blvd., No. 104, Anaheim. Noon-4 p.m. Saturdays-sundays, 5-11 p.m. weekdays. 347-555-1234, theblindrabbit.com
This dark and cozy speak-easy is tucked inside the Anaheim Packing District behind a secret door. Guests will need to make reservations for 90-minute seating times. The ever-evolving drink menu includes classic and seasonal cocktails like the Black Walnut Manhattan, traditional Sidecar and daiquiri, and a variety of options made with absinthe including the Green Beast and Absinthe Minded. The food menu includes french fries and Tater Tots, corn esquites, fish and chips, burgers, steak frites and more. Guests have 90 minutes to dine and drink, and house rules prohibit talking on the phone, PDAS or standing at the bar.
TTA (Tap That Ash) Speakeasy
330 W. Birch St., Brea. Various hours daily. 714332-0006, macallanspubbrea.com/tap-that-ash
This private, members-only club inside Macallans Public House in Brea can be found behind a secret door in a photo booth. There are four levels of membership with varying levels of access to the lounge, and day passes are available for $20 depending on availability. But the lounge isn’t just about the drinks — cigars can also be enjoyed inside, and perks like complimentary cocktails on a Monday night or social events like a movie night are also part of the membership. Macallans offers one of the largest selections of scotch and whiskey in Orange County, so it is kind of about the drinks, too.
Under CDM
2325E. Coast Highway, Corona del Mar. 5-10p.m. Sundays-thursdays, 5-11 p.m. Fridays-saturdays. 949-287-6600, riverjettyrg.com/cdm/private-dining
Hidden beneath the CDM Restaurant, this small speak-easy has a vintage photo booth and can host up to 16 people for a sit-down dinner or up to 25 for a cocktail party. The restaurant’s full menu is offered, including CDM Spicy Pizza, lobster ravioli, and braised short ribs, and a bartender is available for craft cocktails. An 80-inch TV is equipped with surround sound and a stereo to play personal slideshows or music during private events. Reservations are encouraged and can be made by calling the restaurant.
400 Club
18421 Gothard St., Suite 400, Huntington Beach. 5-9 p.m. Fridays-saturdays. 714-584-7501, 400clubhb.com
In a Huntington Beach warehouse sits the 400 Club,