The latest example of the everything-old-is-new again trend? Speakeasies, bars with hard-to-find entrances, no signage, and an undeniable air of mystery and exclusivity. Today’s versions of the American Prohibition era staple, of course, are perfectly legal, but they retain the sexy, enterprising spirit of their forebears. Here are five hidden-gem watering holes at Four Seasons properties around the world.
80 Proof
This hidden 750-square-foot bar offers an array of cocktails, zero-proof concoctions, wine, and beer. Maroon tiles, red velvet curtains, leather chairs, and soft lighting lend the space a low-key moodiness.
Find it: Through a door concealed behind a painting.
Must-try: “My favourite house cocktail to build is our Pedro Romero. Not only is the cocktail perhaps our most visually compelling, with multiple different coloured layers, but it also showcases a very unique glassware shaped as a glass powder horn,” says lead mixologist Nick Gatz.
Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole
Luxury in the heart of the American West
Bandista
Inspired by the story of tequileros who smuggled liquor to the United States during Prohibition, this sexy-meets-swanky, 20-seat lounge has an impressive and extensive collection of tequilas, mezcals, and raicillas.
Find it: Via a service elevator, through a kitchen, and, with a secret code, behind a bookcase. (Reservations are required.)
Must-try: The Almost Famous, featuring Los Siete Misterios Coyote mezcal, roasted pineapple- and epazote-infused Dolin Génépy le Chamois, charred citrus, and Scarlet Aperitivo. The secret ingredient is “paparazzi,” says beverage manager Johnathan Jones. Yes, paparazzi. You’ll have to try it to find out just what that means.
Four Seasons Hotel Houston
Premium hospitality in the capital of Southern cool
Charles H.
This buzzy, gleaming, glamorous drinking den is named after bon vivant Charles H. Baker, an American author known for his writings about cocktails. On July 31, a new eight-seat bar concept called the Lab of Fine Drinking: H. Bar will make its debut in the most discreet corner of Charles H.
Find it: Behind an unmarked door in the basement.
Must-try: The Birthday Boy, a citrus-flavoured drink “stirred on ice and poured into a glass decorated with gold leaf, then garnished with a piece of orange chocolate crafted by my marvelous pastry team,” says the head bartender of Charles H., Odd Strandbakken.
Four Seasons Hotel Seoul
Where modern elegance meets tradition
Epilogue
If the name doesn’t give away this bar’s luxe library theme, the card catalog holding the reservations certainly will. The selection of cocktails tells “the story of Florida’s heritage,” says lead mixologist Jaclyn Keogh.
Find it: Once you make a reservation, you’ll be presented with clues to the bar’s clandestine location. A library card–styled electronic key opens the unmarked door.
Must-try: Epilogue keeps its menu confidential, but Keogh shares that one of the bar’s most popular cocktails uses several ingredients from local farms: “It’s a guest favourite because of its element of surprise.”
Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort
Dreams come true here.
Properous Penny
The vibe is old-school charm, complete with Chesterfield sofas and navy wood-paneled walls. “It’s the kind of place that makes you want to sit down, sip slow, and stay awhile,” says beverage manager Diego Torres.
Find it: Via an unassuming, unmarked door off the lobby.
Must-try: Prohibition-era drinks with a twist. The bar takes classics (the bee’s knees, the sidecar, the old-fashioned) and elevates them “with house infusions, fresh herbs, or handcrafted syrups,” says Torres.
Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village
