Los Angeles is full of “speakeasies.”
Now, “speakeasy” is a loosely-defined term here. Sometimes it means you have to wait to be chosen to let in, and then you get to experience an attraction-like entrance that makes the waiting well worth it. Sometimes “speakeasy” simply refers to the ambiance generated from low ceilings, vintage decor and dim lighting. Other times, the bar simply doesn’t have your typical neon name sign pointing you to coveted libations.
With the return of its speakeasy, Tam O’Shanter is reminding us what it really means to be one.
Popping up after the passage of the Eighteenth Amendment, speakeasies provided a place of solitude for people looking for a drink during a time when alcohol was illegal. After over a decade of being implemented, it was lifted just a few years into the Great Depression.
Now the Tam O’Shanter experience speaks only to the fun part of speakeasies: the secrecy.
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In an attempt to secure a spot, Angelenos will have to email in to secure a spot on the guest list for the monthly event that will take place every third Friday of the month. Aside from keeping your fingers crossed, all you have to do is email [email protected] with the subject line “Bon Vivant.”
Then the waiting commences.
The exclusive nightlife experience officially returns June 24 and will run 7 p.m. to midnight. After making your way through a secret entrance, guests will be transported back to the Prohibition Era and will get to enjoy live music and expertly-crafted cocktails. A limited menu of small bites will also be available.
As the weekend approaches, anyone who has inquired about a spot should keep an eye on their email the day the speakeasy is set to open. Final confirmation of reservations will be sent out on Friday at noon, which will include instructions and a secret password.
The return of Tam O’Shanter’s speakeasy comes as the Atwater Village establishment is celebrating its 100-year anniversary. It opened in 1922— just a couple of years into the Prohibition Era— and has become a cornerstone of the Eastside community.
Tam O’Shanter is located at 2980 Los Feliz Blvd 90039.
Photography by: Zain Ali/Pexels
