The prohibition-era inspiration of the Speakeasy Lounge ensures this is an interesting place to visit. There's low, red-tinted lighting, tommy guns hanging above the bar, and a bar scene painting that is repeated in sections across the room. The aquarium built into the front, exterior wall seems totally random, but I think it's alluding to the midnight liquor boat runs from Canada to the east coast way back in the 20's. Having a 20s themed night would be an amazing idea for this joint.
Sundays are karaoke nights and some amazing singers show up. Not to mention the girls who set up the karaoke are great to listen to!
Drinks are $5-$7. The bartender, Justin (or is it Dustin?) is pretty nice when it comes to offering their $3 drinks. There's a female bartender that was working last Sunday who did not care at all for making my drink! I asked for a cherry and she just ignored me! Funny since I was the only one at the bar! I would definitely avoid that one. Also, the security guys are totally weird. They're over eager to take your empty glasses away but can't spare a minute for a joke while checking IDs.
Whenever I'm in this place, the crowd is younger and not as ready to throw down as some other places. I would be very surprised to see a fight happen here.
And this may be totally an individual experience, but every time I come into this bar, my contacts dry out. Is it the smoke? The dim, almost sleepy lighting?
This place has a nice decor an ambiance. Â I love the martini shaped chairs. But cmon alright ya got the set up that's a good start but it takes more then that. Â The band they have is pretty wack. The bouncers seemed pretty hammered off all the shots I saw them taking an the bartender seemed to distracted by all the females in the bar to serve me a drink. Â The crowd is pretty snooty an snobbish too. Not a very comfortable crowd to be in. There weren't anyone that seems interesting there. Â The people are kind of a bore. Â I went out the back an left. Â The drinks are way overpriced too.
Review Source:The drinks are fair, the bar is too large, and the band sucks. Like really really sucks. If you like cover band that plays reggae to pop to rock at a below par level then this is great! Honestly I'd rather dump my dollars into the jukebox to hear songs by the actual group than the live "band" that plays here all too frequently. This is my last choice when going out as my friends are cheap and don't like paying cover charges, otherwise I'd never come here.
Review Source:It's annoying seeing these idiots say things like" they should play some hip hop " like Modesto needs another ghetto bar to bring in the trashcan people . This place is being run just fine as it is and if you don't like it then go back to Vietnam or Cambodia or Mexico or where ever your from .. The only time to not go there is on cougar club night . You can practically smell the estrogen and johnsons baby powder in the air as those cougars are crouched down and ready to strike at the young guys that walk by their lair/table
Review Source:Jeremy has always been awesome here. Â In terms of places to go out in Modesto, it is top of the line. Â The service is good, they more often than not have live music, and the crowd tends to be a little more calm than some of the other places downtown.
If you want to grab a drink with a date or with friends, this is the place to go. Â Highly recommended!
I've came here twice & don't have too many complaints. Last time, I went with a female friend & we ended up being bothered but slightly entertained by older guys. This last time, I went with my boyfriend & had no problem. The music was good & the drinks were fine. The red kinda gets to ya, but it's still a nice place. Definitely not a ghetto bar.
Review Source:My bro wanted to take me out for a "night on the town" in Modesto as I visit him about once or twice a year........live cover band was playing current pop hits, the sound system was off and it was nearly impossible to talk. Within 20 minutes, the place got jam packed with people!
I wouldn't call this a dive bar, and definitely not a speakeasy. A bar in downtown Modesto to stumble in, and out.
One of the best bars in Modesto. I'm always able to find parking very close, the bartenders are quick with drinks. My friends and I usually go early compared to others so we usually have no problem finding spots to sit at and enjoy our drinks. It can be shoulder to shoulder once it starts getting into the later hours of the night but even then, the bartenders are still quick with the drinks. Only problem I could come up with is the bathroom. One bathroom for males and one for females, and they are both located in one of the busiest sections of the bar. Other than that this place is badass.
Review Source:This is a 3.5 rating actually. I really used to dig this place a lot. We always find street parking near the entrance. Drinks are good, although when it gets busy it can be a little hard to flag down a bartender, but I understand they're busy and they are usually attentive. I loves me some live music, but going here after a while, you notice they play the same music over and over.... .It's a good place to get your groove on (especially if you've had a couple drinks ;] Â ) and you may just catch me cuttin up a rug here even if the dance floor is empty. Cheers!
Review Source:Speakeasy WAS my favorite bar in Modesto, always recommended it to friends and always had a blast. Â Cool live band and friendly bartenders, so I'm very very sad to write this review but I have to do it!!
It started in the long line outside (which there always is a line).. The security guard was not friendly, we tried joking with him but seemed like he hated his job and did not want to make small talk. Â He also mentioned capacity was 80 people and he had over 130 people so thats why there was a line. Nice! Â He takes my friends ID makes a rude comment that shes old (28 yrs old is not old when you just let 40+ woman in). Â Hint to any guy don't tell any woman she's old. Â So basically this security guard did not like us from the beginning!
We had fun dancing to the band! Â The guitarist let my friend on stage to dance, of course the grumpy security guard grabbed her arm and made her get off. Â Got it on tape! Â A simple get down would of been fine. Â So basically we had a good time and were happy...until the end of the night. Â 2 of my friends went to the bathroom while 2 of us stayed at the bar waiting for them. Â A couple of minutes went by our friends were taking long in the bathroom. Â I'm GUESSING this is why a random girl (didn't see her the whole night) ATTACKED my friend when she walked out. Â 7 punches to the head (bad girls club status). We are not fighters!! Â My friend and I ran to that area trying to break it up...other people broke it up but were blocking me from my 2 friends, they happened to place the crazy girl next to me which she thought it was necessary to sucker punch me and pull my extension Lol. Â SO my friend (who was at the bar with me when the fight broke out) PUSHES her away to help me. Â Security came screaming to get out. Â We are all small girls can't even hurt a fly if we tried. Â
Now I completely understand the bar is NOT responsible for this crazy girl attacking us BUT they are responsible on how the people they hire as security behave and how they control situation likes this. Â Its a bar im sure it will happen again.
We go outside, my friend who was beat up wants to press charges. Â Security is screaming in our face telling us to shut the f*ck up and to go the f*ck home. Â Then they decide to put my friend in handcuffs for throwing the first punch...uuuhhh hello this is the friend who was sitting with me at the bar when the fight broke out and pushed her away from punching me more.... WTF?? Â Oh yeah this is the same security guard from the beginning. Â Pretty much talked shit to us the whole time. Â My small group of friends were not happy of course we're yelling back at this point. Â Quite in shock and upset that we were coming out as the bad people, when we got attacked. Â The girl who attacked us was sitting laughing at the whole situation. Then when the cops came the security guard talked to him first and said we're starting problems the whole night. Â So the cop was not cool.
While we're waiting for my friend to make a police report the same security guy is yelling at us for standing in the only area that covered us from the rain because supposedly that was the only spot to spray down mats.. We said noo... then he told his fellow employee to spray us with the hose. WOOOW Â
I have never been so mistreated or disrespected in my life. Â How dare a HUGE grown man scream such profanity in any woman's face like that. Â Then to stay outside and antagonize us to get a rise out of us even more. Â I was sober I heard and seen everything. Â Way to let me down Speakeasy.
SO THIS IS WHY I WILL NEVER STEP FOOT IN THIS BAR AGAIN ALONG WITH MANY OF MY FRIENDS. Â I suggest going to the boardroom friendly staff :)
I just recently went here with some friends and had a great time! The drinks were great and the band was too! There was no cover charge which was nice and there were tons of people in there on a Sat night. The only thing is that there wasn't much dance room or places to sit if you came in late. Luckily that wasn't us. Also, there is only one stall per gender so there was a pretty long line to get in to do your business, which tends to happen when your drinking at a bar haha. But as long as you go with good friends you'll have a good time. I'd go again, but I don't know if I can top last sat. haha
Review Source:Speak gets five stars for being the only consistent spot downtown. When the night is slow everywhere else you can always turn to old faithful. It's small so don't blow up the spot with a bad attitude or horrible game because you will be remembered!
This is NOT a dirty dive. The artwork is bad ass and the bartenders are cool. I haven't seen Mrs. Rossi in awhile the past few times I've been here, so the place could definitely use a girl behind the bar to balance the nightly sword fight.
I would actually go here a lot (and used to) except for that one of their bouncers has self esteem issues. Â I've been there a few times now when my friends and I have had trouble with a specific bouncer. Â I spoke to the owner about it once, but have decided that I'll stay away until they hire someone new.
Review Source:Small dance floor right at the front door. This is a problem if you wish to groove in place undisturbed by passers-by. Start lamenting; they will always forge a path and divide up you and your homies, and THEN stand between you and the girl you've been trying to saunter up to.
If you're a guy, why do you care if the drinks are cheap or not? The girls aren't particularly unfriendly here. You get that small town, already-gots-a-kid-at-22, recklessness and the whole situation pulls itself off in quite a nice way. The music is usually good if you like to dance, and like breaking up drunk and overjoyed pairs of chicks spinning each other around arhythmically through the night-time. You might even meet the Brazilian girl I met a year ago who was so aggressive that she put her drivers license in my pocket to force me to encounter her when I was leaving (without her). Returning to the bar to return her identification, I found her making out with a local cowpoke, so I thereby gave the license to the Speakeasy Lost & Found lords.
If you're a girl, well, now that you have that babysitter all lined up at home, you're probably feasting your eyes on the owners of the ridiculously raised trucks in the parking lot next door and wondering "oooh, who's that big boss BOI standing completely still, unaffected by the music looking too good for these corn fields?". Other than that, you kind of have your choice of Linkin Park-ish fans, who dress in that sort of unbuttoned overshirt/t-shirt underneath thing. Or maybe just dudes dressed so badly that they don't even have names. NOTE: It seems to be against Central Valleyian culture for males to dance, and you won't find men risking their street cred by even tapping their toes (my buddy said this town voted in favor of prop 8 80%...you've been warned). All in all, nobody will bother you, unless you're from out of town, in which case you'll get plenty of look-overs because you'd be at the wrong high school reunion dance, apparently.
Ok, really this place seems to be of or pertaining to a meat market, but frankly it looked like nobody was buying the night I was there. I was informed that nearly every woman in Modesto is taken, but they still will try to make their current baby daddy/boytoy jealous and use you as their decoy. So it's typical of any club experience, but who will have bragging rights to claim they've partied in the car theft capital of America (until 2010, when Laredo, Texas came to power)? It's a great time for really no money, and so put on your Ed Hardy or Tapout gear and hit up the Speakeasy for some brainless fun.
Two caveats: First, I frequent this bar pretty often, going at least once a week. Â Second, Â I enjoy a quality cocktail.
First of all: yes, this is the place to go for an afternoon drink or during the weeknights. Good service during those times. And, contrary to what it says on the yelp page, there is a happy hour (2-7 M-F; 5-7 Sat)
Second, No, this is not the place for the weekends. Why? Because it turns into a meat market, with poor service, a long ass line to get in, and frankly, the drinks are only ok.
Why did I rate this so highly, then? Because I know the bartender and  get reliably good service.
Be warned: their drinks are stiff, but pretty average otherwise. By this I mean that the prices are okay and that you shouldn't expect anything specialty to be made.
Overall, a decent place with a good atmosphere. But, like everyone else said, don't come here on the weekends unless you want to wait in line, deal with a bunch of meatheads, and poor service. Still, this is one of Modesto's better bars.
This place is perfect during a weekday.
The place has dim red lighting, good seating and often has live music!
The prices are not to outrageous and the drinks are usually pretty dang good.
Now during the weekends, I would not recommend it because it's small and gets cramped really quick. The outside alley is nice for a smoke and a breath of fresh air. This is why I knock one star off my rating! Maybe they should try and limit the number of people that can get it. Keep the customers happy and coming back for more!
If you get there early enough, you may be able to score a nice comfy booth!
I would much rather hit this place than the Aquas Lounge!!!
Speak easy is a great place to hang out and dance. They have live music. Great band on Wed. Sunday is great if you like to sing. This is a very safe place to be. Security is the best in town! The weekends are packed, but if your looking to have a great time and meet nice people, this is the place to be. Â This is about as good as it gets in Modesto for sure!
Review Source:Went out to this place because I had to get out of my mom's crib and get some brewskis in me when I was last out there for the xmas holiday.
This place is pretty happening when I compare it to most places out in Modesto. Live music, pretty lively crowd, stiff drinks.
Only thing that sucks is that there are typical Modesto lifted truck douchebags abounding here which, having grown up out there, am supremely tired of and could always use less of in my life.
So yeah, gonna go middle of the road on this one. Three stars.
This is probably the most hoppin bar in Modesto. Or possibly all of Central Valley for that matter.
Small as fuck. Takes forever to get a drink...but the drinks are pretty good. High School reunion GALORE!
And why does it take so long to get through that line outside? Who do you think you are? Do you realize you opened a bar in MODESTO? Recognize your role, peasants.
Speakeasy is one of my favorite spots in downtown Modesto. I dont come out to Modesto too often, but whenever I do I make it a point to stop in for a drink. They have a great atmosphere, very lively. Certain nights they have live bands. It does tend to get to get crowded at times, but its just more people to mingle with. Even when it is packed the bartenders are prompt so you aren't stuck waiting 20 minutes for one drink. The prices are very reasonable too. A must visit next time you are in downtown Modesto!
Review Source:The Speakeasy is rad.. Â It;s always a party.. Bartenders make good stiff drinks.. They have good security to keep the douche bags out.. Â Nice eye candy behind the bar.. Â
Now to address the haters... Â
wow. Â you reviewed your self-absorbed asses for the most part.. Â Review the bar.. Â not your ego.. And complaining on how crowded it is.. Â come on..... Â This is a bar.. Â expect it to be busy if it's good. Â If you want a dive this isn't place.
Well there are pluses and minuses...let me elaborate.
I like:
The ambiance
The live music
The Kereoke
The Martini glass shaped tables
I don't like:
How crowded it can get on a weekend
When a female bartender pours my Guinness 1/4 of the way full for my car bomb and then expects me to not ask her to fill it to the middle since I'm paying $8 for it and everyone knows the pint is supposed to be half full for car bombs! Hello! You have to make somewhat of a splash with your shot! (What is it with Modesto bartenders not knowing how to make Irish car bombs? See my Tresseti's review)
Other than that, I like Speakeasy enough to make it on my list of places to go if I'm bar hopping down town.
I have never enjoyed my time at Speak Easy...ever. Â I only like the fact that we have a variety of bars in Modesto's downtown, but for me Speak Easy is not a place I like. Â The people are boring and the music is ok. Â I must admit though the design of the bar is great. Â It has that 1920's look, but the music kills that look. Â Go there if you just want some alcohol and can stand the noise.
Review Source:Uhhhh yawwwwwnnnnn on the Speakeasy Lounge. Well.. Â if you DO like be trampled by people and smelling armpits in your face all night. Not being able to move an inch, and almost never reaching the bar.. then this place is for you. It's more of a "see and be seen place" *puke*
It's be subdued on the weekdays.... couple sports guys hanging out checkin out the tail behind the bar.
Bartenders are nice... let's us pick songs off the iTunes (no jukebox) .. cover band guy is funny.. but much more of an annoyance after a couple of drinks..
Anyhow.. I pass on Speakeasy.. but you may like it
I really like the Speakeasy, probably one of my top 3 choices for going out in Modesto.
It is very laid-back and casual. Â Eclectic, chill, and hip crowd. Drinks aren't overly prices like some (*cough* Aqua-shi *couugh*) places are, plus they have some snacks available. The space is on the smaller side, but that is part of Speakeasy's charm!
Another reviewer deemed it negative for the cover band/guy, but I love him! I always have fun listening/jammin' to the beats he brings. Every time I have been he'll play well-known songs, usually from the "chill" category IE Dave Matthews, John Mayer, etc.
They also have a back door, which is good if you ever need to escape from a date, guy, etc (I actually know someone who has done this, go M.C.!).
So, I'm stuck in Modesto for the weekend with nothing to do. Â Thankfully, the Days Inn has free highspeed wifi and I had the sense to pack my laptop because I was able to turn to lovely lovely Yelp to help alleviate the boredom. Â Last night we went to the Speakeasy Lounge based on the below reviews. Â
It was definitely not what I expected.
We arrived a little before 10p in order to score a seat since it was Friday. Â A sign posted on the door read (among other restrictions) "No gang colors" and "No bling." Â Now, boys and girls, I have been to bars all across this great land of ours and have seen a number of signs banning certain types of patrons (my all time fave being one Washington, DC bar that said "We do not accept US Congressional Intern IDs as proof that you are 21. Â Your parents have more than enough money to bail you out of jail, however, they won't bail us out too.") but never one that banned sparkly items. Â But, since I am the intrepid heroine in this review, I snuck in wearing my partially sequinned top. Â
After sidling into the lounge, I checked out the atmosphere. The walls are painted a deep red and adorned with paintings of '30s looking gansters doing shady deeds. Â Sadly, only one small area had the red velvet wallpaper. Â The few tables are overlarge steel martini glasses, each with their own olive and the little seating they had was pretty darn comfy. Â Most of the small space was empty... I would presume for dancing. Â
There was no live music. Â Also a bummer. Â Instead, there was, as one member of my party so quaintly referred to it as, roller rink music piped throughout the venue. Â Dear reader, don't get me wrong, it was pretty fun nonetheless with Prince, No Doubt and other cheesy classics. Â
As for the drinks, there isn't anything truely exciting to report. Â Good selection of liquor moderately priced. Â With regard to drink strength, I've had stronger.
The oddest and most unexpected part of the evening surfaced when the patrons started arriving. Â The crowd was filled with cowboys in ten gallon hats with belt buckles to match, young Abercrombie & Fitch shoppers with their polo shirt collars turned up and others sported Rocawear. Â Oh right, the clientele was approximately 75 percent male which totally worked in my favor and oddly mirrored my party's makeup.
So, this was our evening. Â All and all, I gave it four stars 'cause, even though it wasn't as expected, it was still fun.
This bar is the only reason to set foot in the Mo for a weekend drink. I went in a few months back for the first time. Cool crowd, great drinks and good music. I felt like an ass I was definitely over dressed (what can I say I'm a girl and 5 days a week I work with all men), my bestie and I came from a 'girly dinner' and  could've toned it down and still been totally comfortable. Definitely not your normal Fat Cat or Bar and Grill crowd, which is refreshing.
Review Source:A really nice lounge with live music and friendly people. The Bartenders are especially cool here, generelly holding conversations with the everyone at the bar. The leather seats and tables are nice, but are hard to get on the weekends. It can also get very crowded because it is sort of small, but it's stil fun when packed. There is a guy who plays on friday nights that you must see. He does acoustic versions of classic 90's and recent rock hits. He almost always knows your request's and kindly accepts tips. The guy even offers a little comical relief after a few drinks (To get on his good side buy him a shot of crown royal and a coke chasers. He'll now play any song you please.) This bar is also within walking distance of 3 other very popular downtown bar's so if you dont like it (which your crazy if you don't) your close to other options. Oh and no dress code here, just don't come looking like a bum.
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