The Raines Law Room: A Celebrated NYC Cocktail Speakeasy
The Raines Law Room is one of New York’s most treasured cocktail institutions — a speakeasy-style bar that sets the standard for intimate, meticulously crafted drinking. You ring a bell at a discreet entrance and are ushered into a velvet-lined room of softly glowing lamps, tin ceilings, Chesterfield furniture, and vintage detail, where a call button at each table summons your server. It’s romantic, polished, and deeply atmospheric — named, fittingly, after an 1896 law meant to curb New Yorkers’ drinking.
The cocktails are the point: bartenders in the Milk & Honey lineage (and under bar director Meaghan Dorman) build classics like the old fashioned and manhattan alongside inventive house drinks, with a small selection of bar snacks, beer, and wine. This is a slow-drinking bar — come ready to savor rather than rush — and it’s long been one of the city’s top picks for dates, anniversaries, and quiet, elegant evenings. There are two locations; see the note below on which is currently open.
The Speakeasy
Raines nails the Prohibition-era fantasy without gimmickry: a discreet, ring-the-bell entrance leads to a dim, plush lounge of leather couches and small armchairs, turn-of-the-century wall hangings, and a few genuine antiques. The signature touch is the call button at each table — press it and a server appears — a bit of theater that doubles as discreet, attentive service. It’s hushed and conversation-friendly, the rare cocktail room that encourages you to slow down.
The Cocktails
The drinks are meticulous and creative, from time-honored classics to seasonal house cocktails like the American Trilogy and Amber Old Fashioned, with bartenders happy to build a variation on a classic to your taste. There’s a small selection of snacks, beer, and wine, and the team also runs hands-on cocktail classes. Reservations are taken for parties of one to six; larger groups reach out by email. Arrive early — Raines fills up fast, and it’s best savored on a quieter weeknight.
The Room
The currently open Raines Law Room is the Midtown location at the William, 24 East 39th Street, with a garden that’s a draw in warmer months. The original Chelsea room is at 48 West 17th Street (temporarily closed; see the note below). Hours run into the early hours, but a slow, early-evening visit is the move. For the Midtown location, the 4/5/6/7/S at Grand Central–42nd St and the 6 at 33rd St are a short walk.
Who The Raines Law Room Is For
| Occasion | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| Craft-cocktail lovers | Meticulous, inventive drinks from bartenders in the Milk & Honey lineage |
| A romantic date | A hushed, velvet-lined, candle-lit room built for slow conversation |
| A special occasion | Discreet ring-the-bell entry and call-button service for anniversaries and celebrations |
| Savoring, not rushing | A self-described slow-drinking bar — come to take your time |
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The Raines Law Room FAQ
Does The Raines Law Room have a happy hour?
No — Raines is a destination craft-cocktail speakeasy and a self-described slow-drinking bar, without a posted happy hour. The draw is the meticulous cocktails and the hushed, velvet-lined room you enter by ringing a bell.
Where is The Raines Law Room?
The currently open location is at the William in Midtown, 24 East 39th Street, near Grand Central. The original Chelsea room is at 48 West 17th Street but is temporarily closed (see below). Confirm which location is operating before you go.
Why do you ring a bell to get in?
It’s part of the speakeasy concept — a discreet entrance with a bell to be ushered into the lounge. Inside, each table has a call button to summon a server, a signature bit of Raines theater that doubles as attentive, low-key service.
Is it good for a date?
Among the best in the city — it’s romantic, intimate, and deeply atmospheric, with dim lighting, plush seating, and slow, perfectly balanced cocktails. Arrive early, since it fills up fast, especially on weekends.
Important: the original Chelsea location (48 W 17th St) is temporarily closed after a building fire and expected to reopen; the Midtown location at the William (24 E 39th St) is open. Raines has no posted happy hour. Confirm which location is operating before visiting — details last checked June 2026.