I've been itching myself to write a review for this place.... not in a good way.
Sorry excuse for a Speakeasy.
We actually heard about this place form a bartender who was absolutely awesome at another bar. We left there in a great mood and headed down to this place.
There was a crowd, which I look for when I am going out. Door man had a wicked sense of humor. Still in a good mood, I headed in. Â It was pretty eclectic - young, old, black, white, hipster, student, and other unrecognizables and catagorizables. Â Low lighting, 1900s furniture, good music... still looking ok. Â Not quite a speakeasy since you have a doorman, and a sign... but no worries. This isn't PDT.
Went to the bar and was greeted by the most unfriendly bald headed man. Â He questioned us very abruptly about "what we wanted." Bar wasn't that packed buddy. Keep your steroids on check. My friend being friendly asked him to create something for us, Â and told him that she likes Irish Whiskey, and I like rye. He said she would have to be more specific, so she told him she usually drinks whiskey and ginger, I said I didn't like anything sweet. He rolled his eyes and started to make the drinks.
HE MADE MY FRIEND A WHISKEY AND GINGER.
I got a badly made extremely sweet Sazerac.
Sometimes service makes the place. This time, it ruined it. Never again.
Great lounge/bar in a small space. Â The owner, Danny, tends bar is a really friendly guy. Â He makes great drinks with another bar tender. Â At least on Saturdays, they have a dressy crowd. Â It's a young crowd, but then it's Gainesville. Â It's my idea of a great bar. Â I am a martini guy and he did a great job with mine-- a full pour and it was well done.
Review Source:Five stars for ambiance, one star for cocktail execution.
As many other reviewers have noted, Speakeasy has an atmosphere that is unlike anyplace else you'll encounter in Gainesville. Â It's small and intimate, has spacious, comfortable seating, and features a DJ playing some nice tunes. Â It's worth a trip for the environment alone if you are looking for a change of pace.
It's a shame, then, that the bartenders at Speakeasy cannot craft a decent cocktail. Â Given the name, I saddled up to the bar in anticipation of quaffing a classic libation of yore. Â "Can you guys make old school cocktails?"
*bartender's eyes dart nervously . . . "Like what?"
"A Sazerac?"
At this point, the bartender left to solicit the assistance of another bartender who presumably was more knowledgeable. Â He arrived and told me that the bar did not have the ingredients to make a Sazerac. Â (Note that the four ingredients necessary to make a Sazerac -- rye whiskey, absinthe, simple syrup, and bitters -- are all sine qua non for any serious bar.) Â Well, I had a hot little date for the evening and didn't want to come off as the insufferable snob that I am, so I aimed low with my next order and settled for a cocktail that is hard to mess up: a Manhattan.
My Manhattan was, in short, an abomination. Â The whiskey:vermouth ratio was too high which left the drink unbalanced. Â The vermouth itself was pure swill -- watery with no substance or complexity, it was likely the dregs of a cheap bottle opened months before. Â The ultimate insult, though, was the cherry garnish. Â The bartender actually served me one of those atrocious neon maraschino cherries! Â Apparently he forgot that I ordered a Manhattan, not a Shirley Temple. Â All things considered, I do not exaggerate when I say this was the single worst attempt at a serious cocktail that I have ever been served in my life.
In closing, I recommend Speakeasy for the environment in spite of the lamentable state of the drinks. Â From the other reviews, it sounds like you may be in luck if you're looking for a muddled strawberry-pomegranate martini -- otherwise, stick to something neat or on the rocks.
I'd write two reviews and give two 5 star reviews to equal 10 stars - because Speaks is that awesome! If you want to get away from drunk college idiots (except Thursdays next door at Spankk), come here. IT's a more affluent crowd and very comfortable. I won't go on and on - because I could. This place is awesome.
Review Source:Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Gainesville anymore.
The second I walked into Speakeasy, I knew I'd love the place. Decor takes you to the Prohibition era but the crazy colorful lighting gives the room a South Beach feel.
Cool music, really nice bartenders and a $30 bottle of champagne. If only this kind of place actually existed in South Beach.
2nd Street Speakeasy is one of the most relaxing places I have been to in Gainesville. The vibe is perfect and the people are great.
The music selection always on point for the kind of atmosphere they are trying to provide and all the employees are super nice.
The combination of the lighting, people, and music makes this an easy 5 stars. Will come frequently!
Absolutely love this place! I have been going there since about 2003 and have had many great nights there. I even met my husband there!
The atmosphere is very chill and the music is always good. It definitely makes you feel as though you are in a true speakeasy with the lighting and small amount of space. The bartenders are always welcoming and cool and that is especially the case if the owner/bartender, Danny is working.
ps. their strawberry martini's are amazing! for that matter all of their martini's are.
I'm not at all surprised this place has so many 5 star reviews. A friend of mine brought me here on a Wednesday night when I had to work the next day so I wasnt crazy about even going. I was immediately impressed as soon as I walked in. An old remix of an Eiffel 65 song was on and there was this laser light effect across the whole bar. This affect stayed like that the duration of the night. I have been to a lot of bars in a lot of places but this laser lighting gave it such a groovy feel. There were a few gays there but it was mostly straight and that was fine by me. The music was EXCELLENT. I get so tired of women screaming in these diva songs at gay clubs. I like Lady Gaga too, but geese, lets try something new. Could have been the DJ that night which was a dorky looking white boy with glasses. Props to him and his music sleection. I found mysekf wanting to dance all night.
The bartender that night was actually the owner I weas told and he had a helper that was cute and very attentive. There were many drink specials but the beer selection was awful. I am assuming its a tactic to get people to drink cocktails. There was a jar of strawberries in liquor on the counter and I asked about them and got 3 for $1. They were like taking a shot. He made martinis with the liquor from the jar too that smelled great. I also had a new drink after telling the bartender/owner I liked Jim Beam; a Kentucky Tea. It was excellent and VERY strong. Needless to say I closed it down and the next day at work was total hell. I had a blast though. By all means give this place a try. I dont hand out 5 star reviews easily.
Yes, I'm definitely a fan. Â My one and only recommendation that would make this place earn a fifth star is the volume control. Â I hear there are some issues with the boom-boom room (currently Spank) next door, so the DJ has to turn it up, but it turns an otherwise very intimate ambience into a shouting match in close proximity. Â
I was impressed by how clean the place appeared, even in the dim lighting. Â Goes to show that turning down the lights alone doesn't make a place appear less dingy (take note, gross Atlantic!) Â The music, although loud, was very good. Â The service at the bar was very attentive and friendly and the final products (mine a martini) were A+. Â This place has quickly made it to my faves list. Â Keep it up, Speakeasy! Â Gainesville needs places like this.
I was introduced to Speakeasy by a friend this Thursday and must say I was impressed. The tone and atmosphere is perfect for the type of small, intimate, bar that Speakeasy has taken it upon itself to be and while quite tiny inside, there is still ample room in general to move around.
The bartenders are very outgoing and friendly despite the frenzy of orders they are getting and my rum and coke was perhaps the best I'd ever had (simple a drink as it should be, the right balance of rum and coke can seem to be tricky to some bartenders!) Â to say nothing of the more ornate house cocktails I tried later. Comfy sofas and a fish tank plus numerous interesting lamps complete the atmosphere.
So this was my first time to Speakeasy and it was a cool little place (be careful when you're looking for it because it is literally a hole in the wall, if you walk too fast, you could walk right by it). Â The interior is very dim and they have couches for you to sit on and a fairly well proportioned bar area. Â The drinks are good, and this small space really does get busy. Â They also had a DJ when I was there (Saturday night) and it was overall a really good place to chill with friends.
Review Source:I'm all for their strawberry martinis here, made from strawberry-distiled vodka that took them who knows how long to make. Â Plus if you order one they give you one of the strawberries for your drinking pleasure. Â I don't remember a time when I had these wonderful drinks and left straight-minded. Â With the exception of a few, the bar staff is very competent and very good in making good, strong drinks (if they don't know how to make it well, they won't make it for you). Â Not only are their martinis wonderful but the scence is ambient and intimate with great lounge music to set the mood.
Review Source:The speakeasy came at a time when the bars closed at 2am and the city shut down.. As the DEA and the FEDs cracked down on the city.. it was only the members only speakeasy with it's special members only card and key combination with doorman did the old days of g-ville.. continue.
Thanks for being real and keeping it real. Â I heart Speakeasy...
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