Best speakeasy I've been to, hands down. Yes you should ring the doorbell. No don't be caught off guard if someone slowly opens the door a crack and waits for a magic word. It's all just so wonderful inside and worth the wait if you need to. The fact that they will not fill the place to capacity is a beautiful thing, and you'll appreciate it once inside. Â Good people, intimacy, great energy. Just go, you will have a great experience!
Review Source:The doorman rarely lets me in, but when he does, this might be my favorite bar in the city. Intimate, individualized seating areas allow for small group or one-on-one gatherings, and the open kitchen in the back is stylized and lovely. Order cocktails and stand here if you can't get a table. The libations are delicious.
Review Source:Best day: midweek after early dinner. It's best to come early and in a small group. A nondescript entrance on 17th street right next to Petit Abeille - take a few steps down that blue awning and buzz to enter.
It is elegantly furnished with plush velvet couches and curtains for privacy. And a buzzer per section for service. You choose when you are checked in or if you'd prefer to be left alone.
Check out the wallpaper...
Raines Law Room is a beautiful, sexy and perfect place to unwind, catch up and sip on finely made shaken or stirred cocktails.
Prohibition?! I can't imagine being forced to live on only food and water!
Very discrete, I've passed this door countless times within the past five years and always wondered why so many people were coming out of this one persons basement apartment.
Wonder no more! This place is swanky! I was caught of guard after I rang the door bell. She opened the door just a crack and waited. I thought there was a password. So I gave her my "oops, I farted" face (that's the face I give when someone catches me off guard).
That was all worth it when we walked in. We stayed at the bar because I love watching the bartenders skillfully mix the drinks with a spritz here, a squeeze of the orange zest, and an array of bitters. It's unlike the mindlessness of pouring vodka and soda together in a cup.
Whenever I go to a speakeasy, I always ask the bartenders to surprise me with their favorite drinks on the menu. I'm never disappointed. They know the menu inside and out, so why not add a little suspense into the experience as well?
Last words: The drinks range from $10-$20, and I think the experience and tastefulness is worth every cent. Raines Law Room is an impressive date spot or a place to enjoy your drink without the intent of making out with someone or something in the bathroom.
Favorite bar in NYC. Period.
It's intimate, civilized, sexy, mysterious, and incredible at everything that they do. You don't need to dress to the nines to drink here, but trust me, you'll enjoy it more if you feel like you're dressed nicely. Will definitely come back over and over again.
Oh boy. This is it. I'm going to hide in a dark corner and hope they don't find me living here.
I love that you can easily make reservations via email for Sundays, Mondays, or Tuesdays - in other words, days where your chances of getting in to enjoy this lovely little bar rely more on preparation rather than willingness to languish away waiting. And those days are entirely doable, since you're not coming to places like Raines to get smashed and suffer through damaged mornings, right? All other nights, it's a free-for-all. Have fun.
We exercised prudence and made a reservation for a Monday at 8:30pm. A less prudent couple was already at the bottom of the steps to the cellar door* (Did they knock? Ring a bell? Who knows?). The hostess stuck her head out and we overheard her tell them there was standing room only at the bar, and a 30 minute wait for a table. As they walked away, dejected, she asked our name, recognized it without consulting her book, and led us with a warm smile into a darkly lit room with pretty damask wallpaper (yes, silhouettes of naked people, etc. etc.).
Even without the kama sutra all over the walls, this place is damn sexy. The space is all plush couches and armchairs, with the bar in a separate room. To get a server's attention, pull the string at the "doorbell" on the wall behind each table. The doorbell button will light up and one of the pretty waitstaff will come to your table as soon as they see it. (No, there's no further technology here, they just walk by and see the light.)
The San Luis Cup is not too sweet, wonderfully spicy, and strangely the smoky kerosene taste of the mezcal was... pleasant. Er? The thing was topped with cucumber slices and salt and pepper. It's also the first time I've had a drink that could accurately be called colloidal: The ancho chile syrup made tiny red specks all through my drink like glitter. I'm a fan.
The American Trilogy, off their "strong and stirred" menu, is undeniably a drink made for slow sipping. As it was mostly a mix of All-American apple brandy, rye whiskey, and bitters, I found it harder to appreciate.
When you sit, you are brought a little bowl of kettlecorn which probably came from a package, it was such a delicious touch. The space remained calm and quiet the whole time - never crowded, never cramped-feeling. We were in a rush and could only stay for an hour, during which a few parties came and left quietly. Some of those tables remained open for some time, so I'd guess that on off days, Raines is worth chancing if you're reservation-less.
When you visit, please don't look too closely in the north-west corner as that is where I'll be setting up camp.
*The most phonetically beautiful phrase in the English language, by the way. <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FCellar_door&s=23894950dc3617f26de684313253fd45f73d8fbdd3ec2e90712afd5f021bf797" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/…</a>
Very nice ambiance in the Raines. We came on a Saturday around 8:30pm and we were immediately let in to the bar area, it took another 15-20min to get a table but hey that is basically 0 wait time. The drinks are quite spectacular and the variety is not disappointing. Remember though, 6 maximum in a party. And it is almost impossible to bring 6 down there at once anyways, prepare to wait like 1.5 to 2 hrs.
Complementary kettle corn too! Good stuff.
Went back five times over a few weeks before I was able to get in on a Tuesday without more than an hour wait. Â The doorguy put me on the list and called within 30 minutes which was nice but only for standing room at the bar with 10-12 other people. Â There are no chairs for even a few people just to make it feel more natural. Â Just everyone standing, awkwardly, arm to arm, in a 6' by 3' space in front of the drinkmakers. Â Anyway...
Pro: Drinks are strong.
Con: They keep the booths for reservations or VIPs, I guess, so even if they are empty for an hour, you still have to have a drink in the bar area and look on at the empty booths.
Of the "speakeasy" spots I've been to so far, I'd rather go to PDT or Old Rabbit Club, say, where you can sit, have a drink and relax and not feel like you're in a pen.
Fabulous ambiance (especially if you want to impress your date!)
The wait staff was knowledgeable and the cocktails (5 of us had 3 rounds at least) were good. Â But they didn't wow us (yes, we are critical tasters), especially the price point is higher than some other places that serve creative and non-gimmicky cocktails. Â The ambiance gets 5 stars and the cocktails get 3.5 stars.
Came here with a friend after dinner on a weekday. We had no reservations and were able to get in. The front looks like a door to someone's house. Everyone was pretty dressed up and it looked like everyone there was on a date. It was kind of cool that you push a button that lights up when you need something from the server. However, I don't really like the layout because our chairs were facing other people, like we were all part of the same group. So I could hear their whole conversation. This is a cool concept to take tourists too, but not as good as other speakeasies I've been too. If this was a regular bar that anyone could get into, I would go more often.
Review Source:(900pm on a Tuesday night)
Knock Knock!
Door opens.... Do you have a reservation...
no...
Door closes.... one min later... door opens... 45 min to one hour wait to get in...
We looked at each other... oh okay... it doesn't look busy... but okay I'll leave my name and phone number....
We will be back in an hour...
Waiting...Waiting...Waiting
A good hour passes...
Waiting for the call...
We decided to go back.... Knock knock...Oh it you again it will be a few minutes.... door closes...
After 5 min...
Finally get in... We were expecting a posh sultry  interior with substantive drinks.... Well prepare to be majorly disappointed. The lighting was dim.  The furniture horribly mismatched.  It was like they picked it off the streets. The wall color everything looked a little cheap and poorly constructed.  Almost felt like they picked up some unwanted furniture on the streets.  I wasn't feeling the prohibition vibe.  It just fell like a poorly designed and grungy speakeasy lounge. Â
Now for the drinks. Â I have to say the three of us ordered two drinks each... Â We each had a taste of each others drinks and none of us were impressed with each others drinks. Â We did appreciate the complexity and depth of some of the more stronger drinks but I would say that I have had a much better experience/drinks elsewhere.
Get to the Chase:
How it Works:
1) Walk down the stairs, ring the doorbell
2) Host opens the door only a crack asking how many people in your party and if they're all here
3) If you're all there it could be an immediate seating; More often than not it'lls be 30 min to 1 hour...You can expect to push later in the waiting time with larger groups.
4) Maximum 6 people per table, and whole party must be there
5) Once seated, you choose the drinks and on one side of the table close to the mirror there will be a chain which you need to pull, which calls a waiter/waitress over
6) Drink, lounge, be Gatsby-esque, pay and leave
Pros:
1) Got to hand it to them, the "exclusivity" and pain you need to go through is a great marketing ploy
2) Inside decor is extremely luxe, and very posh
3) Waiters are very polite and professional
4) Great for winter/cold months
Cons:
1) No A/C...humid as hell
2) Unnecessarily pretentious...the host could be more polite
3) There are numerous mixology bars in Manhattan that are much better than the drinks you can get here (Pegu and Angels Share for example), and you don't have to put up with all the smug arrogant attitude
4) The call button is only one side of the table, so you'll have to awkwardly ask the people you just met to pull it whenever you want more drinks
5) The crowd is a hodgepodge of elitists (Ivy League graduates, opera-goers, and trust-fund babies)
6) For $13+ per drink I'd expected a bit better drinks
Definitely an experience, but rather go somewhere less stressful in getting inside, and with a more welcoming vibe.
Cool spot. You have to call far in advance to get reservations and the place kind of looks like an apt door so anyone not specifically going there would probably walk right past it. I went here on a Saturday for a friends birthday and the place seemed very underground, 1930s smoke room. The place was divided into private sections for you and your group which is great when you actually want to chat with people you know and not necessarily "hunt." They had a great selection of whiskey and our server was very attentive. Cool spot but I feel like it might go veer into "novelty bars in ny" as more and more people start trying to go there.
Review Source:This is my spot for a casual Monday night. Â Or Tuesday, Wednesday, ... any night, really. Â Whether you're with a friend you just made or an old college buddy, you can't go wrong with Raines.
The place is taken straight out of the Prohibition era in every respect, from the dappily-dressed greeter at the door to the plush furniture and centuries-old-looking bookshelves and jazzy, bluesy soundtracks. Â Walk towards the bar in the back and you get to see the bartenders artfully showcasing their craft. Â Both the process and end product are beautiful.
This place was great. Went here with two friends for our good friend's birthday. Arrived at about 9:30 and was told it would be an hour wait. Went to the bar across the street that a lot of yelpers recommended and only about fifteen minutes later got a phone call that a table opened up. Unfortunately we had just placed our drink orders. Arrived about an hour later to check if there was availability which we lucked out and there was. Drinks were for the most part really good. Strawberry cobbler was the best. Had another garden drink (cant remember the full name) which was not as good. In fact I couldn't finish it unfortunately for the $14 I spent on it. All and all the place is really chill and I would definitely go back but prices are as expected with being pretty high so don't be surprised when the bill comes.
Review Source:talk about a speakeasy.
I mean what more could you ask for, for a speakeasy bar? bartenders dressed in old fashioned clothing, music suited the dim-lit, comfy sofa environment, and the drinks certainly seemed worthy to be called mixologist's work.
they call you by blocked phone number when your space is ready. Their secretive act really pulls through.
standard price for a bar. 13-15 per drink.
definitely would come back to try their other drinks on a special occasion.
Raines law Room is a secret hidden gem in Midtown. Upon arriving I thought my friend was taking me to see a lawyer at his office. I was very  confused until a very good looking gentlemen in his sharp suit Opened the door and told us very quietly and kindly to wait. It did not take that long for us to finally make our way inside. For future reference though you should get a reservation or end up being on a waiting list. Only a certain amount of people can be in at once so this place never gets crowded, which is one of the most amazing things I love about this place.
Deco is very 1920s era style. Very classy and intimate ( excellent for a date). If you like sophisticated places where you can have great intellectual conversations, this is the place to be.
Drinks are amazingly well crafted. My drink of choice for the whole night was the champagne cobbler. It is very light and refreshing. My friend had a Chet baker, which was really good also. This drink has a perfectly clear square block of ice in it which is really cool. Apparently these ice-cubes are imported from Brooklyn, sold for 16 cents a cube. Overall my experience here was phenomenal. Raines is definitely a top on my list.
Skip this place and go to Death and Company if you want good drinks done by real mixologists.
This place is a complete waste of time. The waitress looked like she had no prior training and she had no clue about the drinks we asked about. She also had an attitude problem.
Drinks are horrible to say the least....
In general, I just don't like speakeasy drinks, but I do check them out with friends due to some curiosity and intrigue.
We rang the bell and the guy said it was a 30 min wait. Â I asked, could I just take a peek? Â And he said sure. Â The place wasn't even full, so you could just chill at the bar and sit outside on their patio, so score! Â This place has a very homey vibe to it, and I did like the outdoors. Â Drink prices weren't as bad as other speakeasies, either.
The atmosphere was great: intimate, Â romantic, dark, cool. Overall, the doorkeeper was great, bearded bartender and waitress were charming. Â The service was a little slow, even for a cocktail spot, Â but she was apologetic. Tried the olives, cheese tray and it was actually pretty good but I'm not sure about the use of toothpicks. Â And of course the drinks were perfect -- I guess I'm slowly turning into a cocktail kind of girl.
Review Source:Oh no. I've been a Yelp user for years, but this is my first review. You've probably guessed why. Yep. Worst. Experience. Ever.
I loved the sound of the reviews of this bar, the pictures, everything. I've been to speakeasies in the city before, and I'm a big fan of this "type" of bar. What went so wrong here?
My boyfriend and I showed up around 11:30pm on a Wednesday night and were told there was an hour wait. We glanced at each other, decided that was a bit long, and left. After my boyfriend saw the disappointed look on my face, he ran back and put his number down on the list. He mentioned to the doorman that it was my 21st birthday. The guy looked up and down the list and told my boyfriend, "We have a lot of events tonight." Sure you do, but it's my 21st birthday - at least crack a smile or something!
We went to the nearby Rye Bar and had a beer. After exactly an hour (gotta give them credit for that) we received our call. When we showed the doorman our ID's, he looked at mine and said "It really is your birthday," in a totally unimpressed tone. Yes, it really is! Did you think we lied to you? Sheesh. I smiled and said "Yep, 21st!" Nothing from the doorman. He gave us vague directions to "go to the lights on the ceiling in the back" and as we headed inside he threw out a halfhearted, "Congratulations." He really knows how to make a girl feel special!
Not understanding that we were supposed to head to the bar (really, the lights on the ceiling in the back?! ALL the lights were on the ceiling) we sat down on a vacant sofa, picked some drinks, and gave our orders to a bartender. My boyfriend messed up the name of his drink, combining it with the name of the rum in the drink, and the bartender glared at him and asked if he meant [insert drink name here]. My boyfriend sheepishly agreed and the bartender whisked away without another word. Ah, customer service at its finest.
Soon after the doorman came to remove us from the sofa and asked us to stand in the bar area. We apologized and went to wait our turn for a seat. Oh yes - the wait outside the bar is only the beginning. Then you get to experience the privilege of standing in the bar area with five or six other groups of people who are also waiting. And I mean it when I say "standing," because there is not a single seat in this bar area. Still, I was excited for our drinks, so we stood there good-naturedly and tried not to watch a middle-aged man make out ferociously with his jail-bait date.
After about ten minutes of trying to adjust our backs against some uncomfortable glass cabinets, my boyfriend went up to the bartender who'd taken our orders to let her know that we were now in the bar area, so it would be fine if she could bring us our drinks there. She raised her eyebrows at him and offered up "Mmm," as her response. Really? You couldn't even muster up a real word? Alright, I'm still excited for the drinks.
The drinks never came. We stood, we waited, and finally my boyfriend turned to whisper in my ear, "I've never been in a more judgmental bar." And he was right. The couples around us were shooting us dirty looks, as were all of the bartenders who were subtly eyeing up every patron (except for one of them - bartender with slicked back hair and arm tattoos was making drinks like a maniac. you go bartender), and the fact that there was nowhere to sit merely amplified this effect, as everyone was standing around looking at each other instead of their drinking partner(s).
The inside of the place wasn't even that impressive to me, and the clientele and bartenders certainly weren't. The dim lighting was a shade too dim. The furniture was mismatched and somehow with the wall color everything looked a little cheap. Not like fun, 20's prohibition grungy either. Just cheap. The clientele were stiff and a suit was the uniform of choice for basically every guy in there. The bartenders were busy not paying attention to any of the patrons in the bar area, except for when they took a break for some unnecessary staring, or non-word utterances of disdain.
After we'd waited through several more excruciating minutes, hoping to at least be served our drinks in the tiny bar area, we left.
Raines Law Room: Thanks for making the night of my 21st a night to remember!
I could not have been happier with my time spent at the Raines Law Room. I came here last night with some friends and followed the directions. You really will miss this place if you do not go out of your way to look for it. We went down the stairs and rang the doorbell. Within a few seconds, a gentleman opened the door and asked how big our party was. I had told him it would be either 3 or 4 people, and he told us that there was approximately a one hour wait. I gave him my phone number and name, and he put us down on the waiting list. He suggested to wait at the nearby "Rye House" and that is what we did.
Only 40 minutes later, I received a call back and was told that we could come back and wait at the standing room bar area, and later, we would be seated at the seating area. We obliged.
When we came back, we rang the doorbell and the gentleman from before had escorted us inside and we arrived at the bar. There, the mixologist was very helpful and made us our drinks based on what we were in the mood for. I personally asked for something fruity, particularly with strawberry, and my drink came out superb. My friends really enjoyed their drinks as well.
Finally, a little while later, we were seated, and the ambiance was just amazing. It is very dark, wood everywhere, and definitely intimate. I could hear myself actually think and talk, which is a great break from the usual bar scene in NYC.
Towards the end of the night, the kind mixologist had given us a shot of something (the name escapes me at the moment) which he called a bartender tradition, and that was pretty tasty as well.
All in all, the Raines Law Room is a great hidden treasure (literally), the staff is very warm and friendly, from the gentleman at the door, to the mixologist, to the waiters and waitresses. I cannot wait to return!
I REALLY wanted to love this place. After I read so many great reviews, I had very high expectations. Unfortunately, those expectations were not met.
The doorman was wonderful and a hustler - if he wasn't helping behind the bar, he was seating people, or answering the front door. He certainly gets 5 stars! The bartenders were not very friendly or helpful. The menu was vast, but nothing that really stuck out. I REALLY wanted to fall in love with this place like everyone else has. But it was subpar. And for a hot pre-summer night, they ac should have been pouring out. We left because of how hot it was in there. I felt bad for the staff having to work in that condition.
The set up they got here is interesting. Â They don't have a lobby so after you ring the doorbell, they ask you to come back later when there is room. Â So it isn't so much them trying to seem exclusive or busy, but they just have limited seating and they don't rush their patrons (the waitress only comes around when you have pulled this metal string attached to this faux doorbell by your table which lights up). Â
In fact, it is the patrons that have complete control over the duration of their stay as opposed to the venue, which I think make this place an incredibly unique and attractive place to have a good conversation.
I also had the best non-alcoholic cocktail I have ever had at this place. Â The waitress asked me a few questions about what I would like and came back with a grapefruit juice/rosewater/honey/seltzer blended drink that was absolutely perfect. Â It smelled intensely of rose and just added to the of-another-era ambiance.
I do realize the irony of having a non-alcoholic cocktail in a prohibition-era style speakeasy, but I'm allergic to alcohol and still enjoy checking out cool places with great company so I was rather impressed that they put such care into a non-alcoholic cocktail and got it right. Â I can only wistfully imagine what they can do with their alcoholic drinks . . .
Intimate and cozy, Raines Law Room is a wonderful respite from the trials and tribulations of one's work day. Lots of velvet couches furnish the room, and the menu is categorized based on concepts such as spiciness, for long nights of drinking, etc. I can't remember what my drink was but it was sippable, just like its category promised. And oh! A complimentary bowl of sweet/salty popcorn for a) hungry stomachs or b) nervous first-daters who don't know what to say.
Review Source:It was around 7:30 on a rainy Sunday when my friend and I ventured into Raines Law Room for a cocktail. We did not have a reservation, but were greeted and welcomed in. The place had just opened at 7pm and was still quiet. There were about 4 couples already seated and chatting quietly. The place is very dark, and pretty much looks like your grandmother's basement...a decent amount of dinge, complete with vintage velvet chairs and couches.
My friend and I made our way back to the bar and ordered up a few cocktails. The bar staff were nice enough, and soon we were sipping delicious raspberry and gin drinks. Rather than stand awkwardly at the tiny bar counter, which is covered in cocktail ingredients, and make conversation with...no one, we took our drinks to one of the couches in the lounge area. None of the couches had reservation signs on them, and the friendly waiter brought over some waters and kettle corn as soon as we settled in.
We were on sip 5 or 6 of our cocktails, when a host came over and explained that the table was reserved and we would have to move. Ok, not the best situation, but I get it. They needed the table. So, the host proceeded to bring us to one of the booths--basically two velvet couches facing each other with a tiny table in between, where there was a couple canoodling on the couch that would have been directly across from us ...probably an arm's length away. Rather than stare at the couple making out on their date, we pulled the host aside and asked if there was anywhere else we could sit. He brought us to another pair of couches that was unoccupied. My friend and I giggled and griped a bit about about how awkward it would have been to sit across from the date, especially since there were many other tables available.
15 minutes later, we had almost finished our drinks, when the host approached AGAIN to tell us that this table was reserved and that we'd have to move. The he tried to bring us to the date's booth AGAIN. At this point, I was clearly annoyed, we took the last sip of our drinks and requested our check. I made sure to tell the host exactly what I thought of how we were treated. I will never return to this lounge. If they would have let us know that we needed a reservation to get in, we would have shrugged our shoulders and found another spot. But the way we were whisked from table to table was completely unacceptable.
I have no idea why this place is so popular on Yelp. My advice if you are dying to go here would be to get some gin and fresh raspberries, muddle them together and go sit in your grandma's basement....exact same experience. Except you won't have to keep moving from couch to couch at grandma's.
Reins sports a robust prohibition-era history complemented by a complex, well-crafted menu and the ultimate essence of exclusivity that would appeal to you if you:
- Like alcohol
- Like secret places
- Like to keep it classy, San Diego
Find Reins in an unlikely midtown location, enjoy the entrance (door always locked) with a doorbell, and your very quiet greeting by a well-dressed someone of whom you must convince to let you in via a reservation (Sun-Mon-Tues only) or by agreeing to wait on a list. Â Sit in, stand by the bar, or grab a seat in the backyard (a midtown rarity) and sip your cocktails whilst enjoying some civilized, relaxing conversation.
Reins tops my list of city speakeasys for the beverage selection and atmosphere. Â A bit pricey (aren't they all?), but if you nurse your drink correctly, you can easily have two over the span of an hour and walk out without much of a dent in your wallet.
Beverage recommendations: Â (some of the names have escaped me)
Rum: Â Look for - dark rum, served tall
Gin: Pom Collins
Gin: Look for - muddled blood orange
This is the first speakeasy I've been to and I was really impressed. The workers' clothing and The decorations are great at capturing an old time period. I'm no historian so I don't know if it's the most accurate, but it looked good for an average person! The only thing that messed the feeling was when I was leaving I saw a smart phone on the reception table.
The bathroom wallpaper is a bit creepy...enough said.
The drinks are really good! I got the champagne cobbler and It was really good! I'd drink it fast so it doesnt get diluted since there's a lot of crushed ice in it.
Other notes:
- dimly lit
- intimidate
- cool first date kind of place
- great for a GNO
New fav spot in NYC to take someone I'd like to impress. A couple hours at Raines Law Room feels like an escape into a different time and place in the midst of a loud crazy city.
You walk up to a nondescript doorway, down a few steps, find yourself at another door where you need to ring the bell to be attended to. Moments later, you're led into a beautiful speakeasy-inspired lounge with cozy seating, luxurious drapery, romantic lighting, and sultry jazz playing.
There's a good energy from all the conversation around you, the clinking of cocktail glasses, and occasional laughter. It's not your typical bar. There are no TVs here, there are no loud obnoxious patrons, there's this very grown-up, polished, and perhaps sophisticated vibe that surrounds you as you sip your creative cocktails.
Each drink is a special creation with spices and flavors that you try to dissect on your tongue as you nod with validation that in fact you've made a good choice in your drink selection.
I'm already looking forward to my return.
Awesome space.
Fantastic drinks and a lovely outdoor area.
Will definitely return.
Been to a lot of speakeasy type establishments and this one is one of the few I'd say that has a legitimately "sexy" feel to it. The lounge area is nicely sectioned off and curtained. Great for a date or just to hang out with a small group of friends. Really cozy and you can actually stand in the bar/kitchen area watching the bartenders do their thing.
Loved.
This was the prelude to the finale of my most recent trip to NYC. I thought it was going to be the last stop, but turns out there was just one more place that needed to be explored before heading back to DC.
My late boyfriend had thankfully made a reservation before going up on the trip, so we had no trouble getting a seat. Not that I think we really needed one at the time we went. We had a reservation for the first seating at 5:00pm, and only 4 other people were even in there for the entirety of our visit. I'd heard that this place is almost impossible to get into without a reservation, but that might not be true for the earlier weekday hours. Just a note!
I really enjoyed the little bowl of kettle corn that one of the waitresses brought to our table. It was nice to have something to nibble while I sipped my cocktail. I hate to admit this, but I don't remember the name of it. It was something that was a tad bit spicy and sweet. A little bit more Autumn flavors than the warm day called for, but it was delicious none-the-less. My ex.'s cocktail was good, but was incredibly, i.n.c.r.e.d.i.b.l.y, strong. It was a play on an old fashion, one of his and my favorite drinks, and it lacked nothing in the alcohol department. If you want to get smashed, that one will do it quickly without a doubt.
This is a great lounge to bring a date or friends. Its low key atmosphere provides a place for long conversations without a lot of bother. The drinks are tasty, and the service is just attentive enough. Make sure to make a reservation if you want to go during peak hours. You might be able to get in without one if you go early or on a weekday.
I have been looking for a place like this all my life. I was nearing a point where I would have redone my basement like this. Thankfully I found this place. Only thing I hope it stays a secret because I would hate to wait in a line outside. I entered just after 5 fearing a wait and when I got out there were a number of people waiting to get in.
I'm not going to say much since the women who reviewed this place before me have said it all.
Great speakeasy. Â
Process: Get there, leave your number, come back when called. Â
Our waiting time on a Tuesday night at 9pm was about 45 minutes (enough time to grab a quick bite). Â Once we got inside, head to the bar in the back while you wait to be seated. Â The mixologists have some very interesting drinks, which my friends had, but I went for a single malt. Â I think Ardbeg was all they had but still very nice.
Seats are comfortable and the atmosphere is very classy. Â You'll enjoy this place.
There are many mixologists in town, but I would wager that the best in town work at Raines - here's why:
To start, they have a simple email reservation system, and they take reservations far in advance. Â The response time for two emails from me were both under 2 hours, which was a nice touch.
VIBE - This is not my favorite because of some of their allowances. Â I don't like getting dressed up to go to a nice spot and then see a guy in a sweaty t-shirt and hooded sweatshirt walk in. Â That's a little off-putting, hence my 4. Â I personally think it's embarrassing to go to a place where you are dressed lower than the level of the service staff.
DECOR - The seating is arranged like a parlor - great for decor, not so great for practicality. Â There are mini tables and you will most likely share intimate space with another group, which is awkward. Â The furniture is plush and elegant, and the lighting is dimmed to the right degree. Â
DRINKS - THESE are why Raines is my current favorite speakeasy. Â If you're whiskey-loving spice aficionada like I am, you would love the Kentucky Buck Fifty with it's spicy dusting of red pepper on the rim. Â I also enjoyed the Dulcea (coffee and cream, but without actual cream) and the Champagne Cobbler. Â All were winners in my book.
Overall: This place is easy to find, easy to reserve a spot for, and you will most certainly drink some of the best concoctions on the west side.
If you ever read the trades or cocktail industry blogs or newsletters, chances are you'll see plenty 'a mention of PDT, Milke & Honey, Death & Co., et al. You know what parlor rarely gets the love? This here Raines Law Room. Do you think they care? I highly doubt it... and neither do I. Let's keep this place a relative secret, eh?
Raines is about as charming as a laundry basket full of Ryan Goslings. It's dark, intimate, and you'll feel as though you're kicking back with your best friend in their quaint victorian abode. It's a casual hang that'll feel like you're literally in your friends cool New York apartment. Especially if you're in the standing room only space in the back. It's as if you're in an English countryside kitchen with a strapping youngster slinging you some of the best drinks in Manhattan.
It's reservation only, so be sure to avoid walking up if you'd like a seat in the main room.
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,915 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
