With its diverse mix of seafood and southern specialties, along with a healthy dose of Latin-inspired flavors thrown in for good measure, Southwest Florida is a foodie’s paradise. Florida stone crab and pink shrimp, fried gator bites and Cuban sandwiches. And who can refuse a slice of key lime pie?
It’s also known for its cocktail culture, with everything from rum runners and mojitos to fuzzy navels and piña coladas. But what you may not know, is that the Sunshine State is also home to some best-kept secrets: speakeasies!
Speakeasy Explained
During Prohibition (1920 to 1933), alcoholic beverages were illegal in the United States. To satisfy the nation’s desire to partake in a cocktail, underground saloons began to spring up everywhere, often concealed behind a fake door, down a dark alleyway or masked as a shop storefront.
Today, the attraction of these hidden gems is making a resurgence as bar owners look for ways to take you back to another place and time.
Many Floridians are also looking to incorporate this trend into their own homes, replacing the outdated look of a home bar with one that holds all the charm of the hidden clubs that thrived during the Roaring Twenties.
From leather club chairs to just-right lighting, we’ll show you how to re-create the look and feel of a speakeasy in your own home. Secret handshake included.
On Location
The space for your speakeasy needs to feel like a unique destination within your home rather than an addition to an open, existing area. Even if it’s small, the key here is privacy – a spare room, an enclosed section of a family room, a pool house or even a storage shed.
Devise an unassuming entrance that requires passing through a side door or perhaps the garage. We especially love the look of a Murphy Door disguised as a bookcase that can transform any doorway into a secret passage.
In the Mood
Play with texture (think leather chairs, velvet drapery) and thoughtfully appointed details like nailhead trim and gilded surfaces to add a sense of refinement and luxury. Or consider wine barrel tables surrounded by a quartet of barstools.
Fill the room with art-deco-inspired touches, whether a motif on an area rug or a floor-to-ceiling quatrefoil leaner mirror that can be used to bounce light around your space.
Swanky Seats
No speakeasy would be complete without furnishings to give it those VIP vibes. A comfortable pair of chairs angled side by side with a petite table in between encourages the flow of conversation as well as libations.
And nothing speaks to the era’s decadence better than the club chair, which gets its name for its association with the gentlemen’s clubs of 1920s France.
Capturing that comfort and refined style, our Viceroy Chair is distinguished by gently rolled arms and piped detail for rich character. Another favorite, our Dorset Barrel Swivel Chair is a classic, go-anywhere tub chair with a tight back and seat. It’s set on a swiveling base that allows you to turn wherever the conversation is headed.
Lights Out
The interior of your speakeasy should be dimly lit to recreate that dark, seductive feel of the Prohibition-era originals. Scale back on overhead lights and turn to a few well-placed floor lamps dripping with crystals or some non-glaring wall sconces. Hang low-light pendants in multiples across your bar to cast a warm glow and use ribbon lights underneath shelves to light up an inspired bottle display.
For some real-life inspiration, we’ve rounded up some of the top speakeasies in Florida:
The Vine Room
In the heart of downtown Naples, the Vine Room is the preferred destination for craft cocktails and small bites. Its beverage menu is one of a kind, offering unique blends of spirits and ingredients. Intimate tables for two as well as booth seating give it that speakeasy sensibility.
Ciro’s
Located inside the historic Bayshore Royal Building in Tampa Bay, Ciros’s pays homage to an old Hollywood bar of the same name. The beverage-centric menu recalls Prohibition-inspired cocktails, all expertly concocted by master mixologists. For admittance, simply call ahead to get the password before you arrive, then experience the thrill of being transported back in time.
The Apothecary 330
Situated in the historic district of Fort Lauderdale, The Apothecary 330 is an upscale speakeasy with crystal chandeliers, tufted red leather booths and a menu filled with bespoke cocktails.
Hidden in plain sight – just look for the double doors inside Pizza Craft – it’s the perfect place for discovering modern and classic cocktails alike, with more than 300 whiskeys, over 20 beers on tap and an extensive wine list.
Rhythm + Vine
This Fort Lauderdale bar and lounge is definitely a spot for the cool kids. Dim lighting, eclectic décor and comfy couches inside give it a speakeasy vibe. But step outside, and it’s like you’ve walked into a backyard party, only better. Imagine a selection of board games, a rotation of food trucks, a DJ, a dance floor and even an Airstream trailer.
Perhaps a visit to one of these famed locations will be just the inspiration you need to recreate a speakeasy at home. If you’re ready to explore, or looking to design advice from one of Leaxperts, visit one of our showrooms.
