Back Room 102 Norfolk St. (Delancey & Rivington Sts.)
Lower East Side
212.228.5098
Back Room:
They didn’t miss a trick here. Mimicking the 1920s speakeasy it once was, this hip take on an old idea comes off nicely. A gate marked “Lower East Side Toy Company” leads the way to a path that ends at what appears to be a closed toy store. Au contraire. This bar starts with a sunken bar area, which is overlooked by a risen parlor area, chock-full of Tiffany lamps and old sofas—all of which share the heat of a working fireplace. A bookcase in back slides open to reveal a secret “back room,” which is the owner’s private party space. Pricey bottled beer is served in paper bags and expensive cocktails come in coffee cups, like the ones that were used to thwart police raids in the Roaring ’20s. Charming, but not cheap.
