Hidden gems in NYC

New York has plenty of restaurants and bars that feel like you’ve discovered a secret. From unmarked entrances to restaurants tucked behind storefronts, these are the kinds of places that make a night out feel like an adventure.

• Beauty & Essex: Enter through what looks like a Lower East Side pawn shop and discover a stylish restaurant hidden behind it.

• Please Don’t Tell (PDT): A classic East Village speakeasy hidden behind a phone booth inside Crif Dogs.

• The Back Room: A Lower East Side bar tucked away behind an alley entrance, with a genuine Prohibition-era history.

• Apotheke Chinatown: Hidden along Doyers Street, this moody cocktail bar has an apothecary-inspired atmosphere.

• Shh omakase: A small, intimate sushi spot with a secretive, speakeasy-style feel.

• George Bang Bang: A hidden cocktail bar connected to a Korean restaurant in NoMad.

• Freemans: Tucked down Freeman Alley on the Lower East Side, making the walk to dinner part of the experience.

• Banzarbar: A small cocktail bar hidden above Freemans with a distinctive ship-like interior.

These are perfect for a date night, girls' night out, or a weekend in NYC when you want to find somewhere that feels a little different from the usual tourist spots.