Bathtub Gin: A Hidden 1920s Speakeasy in Chelsea
Hidden behind an unassuming Chelsea coffee shop, Bathtub Gin is one of New York’s most beloved speakeasies — a glamorous, Gatsby-era hideaway that pairs theatrical cocktails with vintage décor and a real sense of discovery from the moment you step through the unmarked door. Opened in 2011, it nails the Prohibition aesthetic without feeling gimmicky: dim lighting, plush seating, gaudy damask wallpaper, pressed-tin ceilings, and its iconic clawfoot copper bathtub at the heart of the room.
The cocktails are the substance behind the style — beautifully crafted, inventive, and consistently well executed, from ten different gin and tonics to the Silver Screen Martini and shareable punch bowls, alongside a full dinner menu and small bites. Most nights bring live entertainment: burlesque, jazz, and DJs that turn the room from sultry-and-intimate early to buzzing-and-lively late. Time Out has ranked it among the city’s best speakeasy-inspired bars.
The Speakeasy
You enter through the back door of the Stone Street Coffee shop on Ninth Avenue — an unmarked door into a dimly lit, 1920s-styled room of dark woods, damask fabrics, fabric chandeliers, exposed brick, and silk couches, all centered on a beautifully restored clawfoot copper tub (a photo op for guests, a performance platform during burlesque shows). It’s a faithful Gatsby-era fantasy that earns the ‘best-kept-secret’ reputation.
The Cocktails & Shows
The bartenders treat cocktails as an art form — ten-plus ingredients, dozens of steps, fresh-pressed and macerated everything — across a menu that includes ten different gin and tonics, the Silver Screen Martini, and group-friendly punch bowls, plus a full dinner menu. The calendar is the other draw: weekly live music, jazz, DJs, and burlesque keep the room buzzing, so it’s worth checking the schedule and booking a table on performance nights for the best view.
The Room
Bathtub Gin sits at 132 Ninth Avenue in Chelsea, between 18th and 19th — but you’ll enter through the back door of the Stone Street Coffee shop out front. Inside it’s a dim, intimate, 1920s room built around the clawfoot copper tub, with a stage for nightly entertainment. It’s open from 5pm to 2am (3am Fridays and Saturdays), with a Sunday brunch from 11:30am. Reservations are highly recommended. The A/C/E and L at 14th St–8th Ave and the 1 at 18th St are a short walk.
Who Bathtub Gin Is For
| Occasion | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| A special night out | A hidden, theatrical speakeasy built for dates, celebrations, and occasions |
| World-class cocktails | Inventive, meticulously built drinks — ten different gin and tonics and more |
| Live entertainment | Weekly burlesque, jazz, and DJs that keep the room buzzing after dark |
| Groups & punch bowls | Shareable cocktails, a clawfoot-tub photo op, and buyouts for big parties |
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Bathtub Gin FAQ
Does Bathtub Gin have a happy hour?
Not a posted one — Bathtub Gin is a destination speakeasy where the cocktails are world-class and priced accordingly, and the draw is the experience: the hidden entrance, the clawfoot-tub room, and nightly live entertainment. Reservations are highly recommended.
Where is Bathtub Gin?
132 Ninth Avenue in Chelsea, between 18th and 19th Streets — you enter through the back door of the Stone Street Coffee shop. The A/C/E and L at 14th St–8th Ave and the 1 at 18th St are a short walk.
Do I need a reservation?
They’re highly recommended — walk-ins are possible but can require patience, especially on performance nights. Arrive earlier in the evening for a quieter, more intimate room, or book a table for the best view of the show.
What’s the clawfoot tub about?
It’s the centerpiece of the room — a beautifully restored copper bathtub that doubles as a photo op for guests and a performance platform during the weekly burlesque shows. As the bar puts it, ‘everything is better in the tub.’
Bathtub Gin is a destination speakeasy and doesn’t post a happy hour; entertainment and hours vary by night. Details last checked June 2026 — check the calendar and reserve before visiting.