In a quiet alley of Vasant Vihar, a nondescript ATM has a small text scrawled atop “Enter the passcode” . Enter the daily passcode within seconds, and the door to your right swings open, revealing an exciting world. You feel like a spy. Excitement mounts. Dim lights, cosy tables, low-retro music, and cocktails poured with precision welcome you. Located in Vasant Vihar, PCO Bar - Delhi’s first speakeasy -opened its doors in 2012, at a time when the concept was still new to the city’s nightlife scene.“ A true speakeasy is about discretion and an intimate environment ,” says Neeraj Sharma, head bartender at PCO. “We don’t advertise ourselves and neither do we have signs.
“Every cocktail is a story in itself and every ingredient matters” .Customers arrive unsure of what to expect, drawn as much by the understatement as by flavour to a space of curated novelty. “We experiment with unusual ingredients for a cocktail—12 in total—from ketchup, Chyavanprash, coconut, MSG, raw milk, bubble gum, poppy seed, tobacco, Kinder Egg chocolate, porcini mushroom hydrosol, and agar-washed apple juice with coconut being the ‘forbidden’ ingredient this month. It’s playful, but precise,” Sharma adds.
New hangouts
Speakeasies trace their origin during the prohibition era during the late 20s and early 30s when alcohol was banned. Passwords,hidden entrances and dark interiors designed for intimate conversations formed the core experience. The latest such speakeasies in Delhi follow the same ethos: hidden doors, handcrafted drinks, intimate ambience, and a focus on the journey over visibility.
A newer entrant, Pod, opened last June in Greater Kailash 2 as a part of Savour Works Coffee and Chocolate, a Delhi-based specialty coffee roaster. “We wanted to create an exclusive space where people could relax and enjoy drinks,” founder Baninder Singh explains.
Pod specialises in coffee and chocolate cocktails with subtle Thai influences, all crafted in-house, from syrups to chocolates to coffee. Among their signature drinks is Night Shift , a Boulevardier-inspired cocktail with cold brew and cacao butter and Gyanduja, clarified with hazelnut gelato. These are the crowd favourites. One of the main differences between batch and hand-shaken cocktails is consistency. In batch cocktails, all ingredients are measured and mixed ahead of time, so each drink tastes the same. “The magic is consistency,” adds Pratham Yadav, head bartender at Pod. “We batch-make every cocktail, so the cocktails taste the same, whether it’s 7 pm or midnight.” Thai-based creations like Khaosan Cream, inspired from the Mango Sticky Rice, are the special drinks. Priced at ₹875–₹975, each drink is a sensory experience.
A personal space
Bar Behind the Sandwich Shop hidden behind a sandwich shop in Basant Lok is another hidden gem. Step inside, and a red-and-black interior with vinyl seating, soft music, and Japanese cocktails line the wall. Inspired by Tokyo’s tiny Golden Gai watering holes, the founders Nitin Tewari and Sahil Negi wanted a space that felt personal.Nandini Muthal, 28, visiting Bar Behind the Sandwich Shop for the first time, says, “Delhi’s scene has grown quickly. The speakeasy bars may not be of international standards yet, but they still surprise you. The best one I’ve been to was in Barcelona.”
Cocktails are presented in a notebook,with each drink handwritten and paired with an accompanying polaroids, making each drink feel personal. Corporate regulars frequent this place —“A Negroni here is the best way to cool down after a hectic day at work,” says Tokyo-based executive Hiroshi Tanaka, a regular during his trips to India. Signature drinks like Mango No. 5 and Water Melone paired with bar bites, complete the intimate experience.
Customers echo this sentiment. Rohan Mehta, a PCO regular, says, “Walking in feels like stepping into another world. It’s private, with well-panelled interiors giving a quiet, relaxed vibe, and the drinks are unlike anything you get in a regular bar. I still remember the excitement when it first opened and now the place feels like a blend of nostalgia and novelty.”
Many of these speakeasy bars are concentrated in South Delhi. The lively streets, upscale neighbourhoods and a mix of Gen Z and young professionals create the right balance: discreet yet accessible, urban yet removed from the city’s bustle.
Another addition to this growing landscape is Rumour, the latest speakeasy-style bar is set to open in Vasant Vihar this April. The intimate 45-seater space draws inspiration from a New York-style loft aesthetic. Concealed behind a hidden entrance, Rumour aims to bring together elevated wine culture with a more high-energy social experience.
Capitalising on the trend
Many new bars, however, are cashing in on the trend by labelling themselves speakeasies—even with signage that advertises themselves as such. That goes against the spirit, says Sharma. “PCO’s aim is to keep the spirit of a true speakeasy alive - discreet in presence, intimate in atmosphere and focusing on well-made handcrafted drinks where guests can step into a different world,” he says.
Muthal echoes a similar sentiment, while these bars add a new dimension to Delhi’s nightlife culture, the rise of too many speakeasy bars would risk diluting the intimacy and authenticity that define a true speakeasy.
Ultimately, the magic isn’t just in the drink; it’s in finding it. The thrill of discovery, the hidden door, the carefully crafted cocktail, Delhi’s speakeasies are intimate time capsules, offering a rare escape from the chaos of city streets into a world of indulgence, creativity, and secrecy. In a city that never sleeps, some secrets are still worth keeping.
