Get Gatsby at Liverpool's speakeasy bars
Fees at the entrance, secret locations and hidden drink menus. Get the ultimate 1920s Gatsby experience at the best speakeasy bars in Liverpool.
Date published: 18th Aug 2026
Love a bit of mystery? Liverpool is a lively night out. Instead of going crazy on the weekend and belting it out on karaoke, have you thought about checking out the city’s secret speakeasy bars instead? Bars that are hard to find and require codes or fees to get into. Step into a phone booth that leads to stairs or get entertained by magicians. What else are speakeasy bars for? Low-key and intimate with high-quality drinks, here are Liverpool’s best speakeasy bars for a Gastsby style night out.
The Oracle
When: Thursday to Saturday 5pm-12am, Sunday 5pm-11pm
Where: 83 Seel Street, L1 4BB
Creative cocktails, world-class magicians and illusionists in a Victorian-style bar? The Oracle is the place to go if you’re looking for a mysterious hidden gem on the busy Seel Street. Ring the doorbell to enter and pay a £5 fee for a unique experience. While sipping classic or original cocktails like ‘rhubarb and custard’ or ‘granny’s lemon pie’ (vodka, vanilla, lemon, cream, biscuit), magicians will entertain you with skilled tricks that are known to surprise everyone.
Jenny’s
When: Sunday to Monday 7pm-1am, Saturday to Sunday 5pm-2am
Where: Fenwick Street, L2 7NT
Cool, slick and straight to the point, Jenny’s is praised as one of the best speakeasy bars in Liverpool. Mysterious with an intimate dance floor playing disco, the bar is dimly lit with an old-school interior, all adding to its eclectic atmosphere. Jenny’s also has an extensive cocktail menu, serving classics to unique flavours. Alongside beer and wine, order ‘the universe’ (vodka, Midori, pineapple, fresh lime juice, pistachio) or more unique cocktails like ‘fruit salad’, ‘watermelon margarita’ or ‘lemon meringue’.
Berry and Rye
When: Sunday to Thursday 5pm-1am, Friday to Saturday 5pm-2am
Where: 48 Berry Street, L1 4JQ
Often described as one of the best speakeasy bars in Liverpool, Berry and Rye is difficult to find but is worth the search. To enter, you have to be brave enough to knock on the door. When you do, expect table service with a drinks menu hidden in a book. Famous for their whisky, they also serve wine and delicious cocktails while you listen to live jazz. Intimate, cosy and dimly lit, it’s the perfect secret spot to have a relaxed drink away from Liverpool's lively streets.
81 LTD
When: Friday to Saturday 8pm-2am
Where: 79 Seel Street, L1 4BB
Of all the Liverpool speakeasy bars, 81 LTD is easily the most mysterious. It’s a secret one that is only accessible through a hidden, locked door if you know the code. With a classic and elegant atmosphere, all focus is on the cocktails, each one expertly crafted. Sip on classic cocktails or explore their originals like ‘air mail’ (rum, lime, honey, pear, champagne), ‘lucky strike’ (smoked bourbon, sugar, bitters), as well as many more. And because their cocktails are so good, you can also book cocktail masterclasses to learn from expert mixologists!
Little Hardware
When: Thursday to Saturday 5pm-12am, Sunday 3pm-10pm
Where: Cropper Street, L1 4AT
Another secret bar with a hidden entrance that’s easy to miss is Little Hardware. Formerly a hardware store, the quirky bar pays homage to its history with tools like hammers and spanners hanging on brick walls. They also serve perfectly crafted hardware-themed cocktails to create an immersive experience. Unusual and intimate, they serve delicious and versatile cocktails with jazz music soundtracking the evening.
Ex-Directory
When: Thursday to Friday 4pm-12am, Saturday 2pm-12am, Sunday 4pm-11pm
Where: 8 Vernon Street, L2 2AY
In the mood for an underground boozy night? Walk down Hockenhall Alley to step into an old-school red phone booth. Make a phone call for the hidden door to open and lead you downstairs. From there, Ex-Directory shows you why it’s one of the best speakeasy bars in town: 1920s interior, DJs and live bands and telephone-shaped glasses with fun cocktails; it’s the perfect way to kick off the night.
Liverpool is packed with loads to do. If you want to discover more, here are fun things to do in Liverpool, from the best parks to the best karaoke bars.
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Image header credit: @jennys_bar / Instagram