Providence’s 8 Best Secret Bars and Speakeasies
Providence's eight best secret bars and speakeasies for indoor, outdoor and takeout cocktails, beer and wine.
The Avery’s patio. Photo from Instagram by @theaverypvd.
This article was created in collaboration with Rhode Island Commerce.
By Rachel Dvareckas
One of the cool things about Providence is the small number of off-the-radar bars and speakeasies that take a little sleuthing to stumble on. Locals know where to go, but you definitely have to have some inside intel to know where to search for these hidden gem bars in Providence. Most of them have outdoor patios and some offer indoor imbibing, but you can always order takeout cocktails, beer and wine and snacks to enjoy at home, too. Be sure to bring a blanket, bundle up or order a hot spiked drink (or do all three) to stay warm in the colder weather.
This semi-secret bar has been embracing its patio this year to welcome guests in a socially distanced manner. Enjoy a safe night out with friends and cocktails before it gets too cold outside.
How to order: The bar is open for outdoor seating Monday–Friday 4 p.m.–midnight. and Saturday–Sunday 5 p.m.–midnight. You must wear your mask and social distance.
The details: 18 Luongo Memorial Sq., Providence, 401-262-9009, averyprovidence.com
2. Justine’s
Located behind a velvet curtain in a fake lingerie store, Justine’s is the perfect secret bar experience. Cocktails are inexpensive and the decor transports you to the past where speakeasies were commonplace.
How to order: The bar is open Monday 4 p.m.–1 a.m.; Tuesday–Thursday 7 p.m.–1 a.m.; Friday–Saturday 7 p.m.–2 a.m.
The details: 11 Olneyville Sq., Providence, 401-454-4440, justines.com
If you are looking for good food for takeout or outdoor dining, this restaurant is for you. The menu items are beautifully plated and bursting with flavor. The Southern-style restaurant comes from the same owners of Broadway Bistro and small plates are the way to go. We love the fancy toasts and the fried chicken is super spicy and kept simple on a piece of white bread, accompanied by potato salad and sweet pickles. Remember your mask and make sure to check the weather beforehand.
How to order: Open Friday–Monday for takeout or outdoor seating from 6–10 p.m. To order, message the restaurant on Facebook or Instagram.
The details: 425 W. Fountain St., Providence, 401-351-0006, theslowrhode.com
4. Far West
This patio bar is perfect for enjoying a night outside with close friends and family. Delicious snacks and fun drinks like the BAGNT (Big Ass Gin and Tonic) make up the menu, putting this place on the top of our list of bars to visit. Next Wednesday, Oct. 28, Far West will be giving out twenty witch hats to the first twenty witches on the patio to wear on your visit “while you drink pink wine and pumpkin spice lattes.” Take a pic of you and your witches on the patio with the hashtag #basicwitcheswednesday and be entered to win a Far West prize pack they’ll draw on Halloween. Bonus tip: Knead Doughnuts’ Night Cruller Window is back up and running next door to Far West Friday night with pre-orders only.
How to order: Bar is open for reservations only Wednesday–Sunday 4–10 p.m., weather permitting. You can also order takeout cocktails, beer wine and snacks.
The details: 55 Cromwell St., Providence, 617-855-7429, farwestpvd.com
The covered patio at Industrious Spirits Company. Photo from Instagram by @iscospirits.
5. The Industrious Spirit Company
This spirit company is the first distillery in Providence since Prohibition in the 1920s. It boasts tasty cocktails mixed with made-in-house gin and vodka and locally sourced and foraged ingredients. You can enjoy the food and drinks from the comfort of your own home or select from the house menu on the heated and covered patio. Order food from various food popups, or Caribbean cuisine from Garden of Eve restaurant, which can be delivered from down the street. Make sure to bring your mask and social distance!
How to order: Open for takeout or patio seating Thursday 4–9 p.m.; Friday 2–9 p.m.; Saturday 2–10 p.m.
The details: 1 Sims Ave. #103, Providence, 401-626-4696, iscospirits.com
The Royal Bobcat. Photo from Instagram by @hanjukitchen.
Travel to 1920s New Orleans without leaving the state at the Royal Bobcat. This bar serves up Hanju Kitchen‘s Korean-Cajun food and seasonal cocktails that are sure to provide a fun night in with takeout or a night out sitting on the patio. Patio seating is limited and is on a first-come, first-served basis.
How to order: Open Monday–Saturday 5 p.m.–midnight. Masks are required.
The details: 422 Atwells Ave., Providence, 401-537-7777, royalbobcat.com
Photo from the Walnut Room on Instagram. Follow @thewalnutroompvd.
This brand new speakeasy with both indoor and outdoor seating is a great place to enjoy a night out in Providence. Soak up the ornate wood detailing and plush seating indoors or grab a sidewalk table (just bundle up, it’s getting cold out there). The menu offers a wide variety of cocktails like the Fish House Punch (dark rum, cognac, peach brandy, lime and lemon juice) and Thirsty Sailor (rum, curacao, yellow chartreuse), plus a small beer menu with something for everybody. Stay up to date on Instagram at @thewalnutroompvd.
How to order: Open for indoor and outdoor seating Sunday–Thursday 4 p.m.–midnight, Friday–Saturday 4 p.m.–1 a.m.
The details: 245 South Main St., Providence, 401-227-9500, thewalnutroom.com
Courtland Club is a bar with no sign and a keypad on the door, down a nondescript side street on the West Side of Providence. Just turn the knob and find out if you’re in the right place. The gathering spot is welcoming to “all genders, races, ethnicities, religions and personal identities.” Guests can become members and gain privileges like access to lockers to keep special bottles and monthly perks and special invitations. Courtland Club is hosting an Orange Wine Halloween on Oct. 31. Orange wine is also known as skin-contact or macerated white wine, and you can learn about it here. The patio is open until 10 p.m.; indoors serves until midnight. Pre-order some orange wine when you make your 10/31 reservation, as they’re in fairly limited supply. In addition to bottles and pours by the glass, they’ll be offering two special flights that will allow you to try more wines. The regular cocktail, beer and wine list will also be available, and you can wear Halloween costumes that night.
How to order: Make a patio reservation or a table reservation. You can also order takeout cocktails.
The details: 51 Courtland St., Providence, 401-227-9300, courtlandclub.com
-Jamie Coelho also contributed to this article.
Courtland Club. Photo from Instagram at @courtlandclub.
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