Nice vibe, albeit it would have been even better maybe on a weeknight when it wasn't so packed. We had a loud group of women next to us and the volume of their conversation kind of destroyed the ambiance. I think cocktail bars like this are better enjoyed with quieter tones and less cackling. The service is very friendly. Not fast, but that's understandable since it was busy on a Saturday night. Old fashioned was very well-made and decently strong. Parking is ridiculous and we had to circle a bit before finding the entrance. I do love the secret newsstand entrance. Hint: look for the most worn-out looking item on the newsstand and grab that item and pull. ;) read more

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Truly crafted cocktails. I had an old fashioned and a Manhattan last night. Both were perfect! They make their simple syrup for the Manhattan with demera sugar, Barney, cherries, and a flamed orange peel. Absolutely perfect just the way I make them at home. Compared to the horrible old-fashioned that I had at the Marriott next-door for the same price there is no comparison. The Manhattan is very good as well ! read more

Northside Speakeasy - I forgot to mention the date ice cube is a giant round ball. - Speakeasies Near Me - Akron, Ohio

Actively visiting for a sales conference this week. John and the other bartender are superb. Our large party drank several beer choices out. The bartender, John was super apologetic and wanted us to know they would be refilled tomorrow. This level of service, the vibe, everything is what you'd expect your night to be. The level of service is excellent. Quality and selection, also excellent. read more

Great place! Super drinks and great service. A real throwback to a different era. Loved hanging out there. Highly recommended.

I am in love with this place. I've been here twice about a year apart and both times are exceptional. It's cozy and quiet. Drinks are solid and bartenders are super experienced. Anything you order will be unique and you can not go wrong. Speakeasy vibe is there for sure. Maybe you'll see them light the bar on fire? Who knows! read more

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Great atmosphere, great service and a nice selection of drinks. Small but very comfortable to sit back and relax with a few friends. Just wish they had small tapas or a little something to eat while you had a few drinks. read more

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Do yourself a favor and go into the Courtyard Marriott and through the phone booth to the fun entrance. Or I mean, you could just go into the street entrance like some speakeasy n00b... This is so cute and it's right next to the Northside Market. The whole area is filled with galleries and restaurants. The decor is true to the prohibition era, heavy on the velvet, black curtains, flooring made of barrels topped with an old timey TV that only plays I Love Lucy. Pricing is comparable to other speakeasies but their drinks are well made and gorgeous. For an extra $2 you can get this little sci-fi citrus bubble on top! Our entire party really enjoyed this place! read more

Northside Speakeasy - Speakeasies Near Me - Akron, Ohio

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Bartenders were very helpful and knowledgeable with finding out what drink fits you. Drinks were great and the setting makes it feel like a legit speakeasy. 2 secret entrances into the bar. read more

Northside Speakeasy - Peach Blossom Martini and Blackened Manhattan - Speakeasies Near Me - Akron, Ohio

My wife and I stopped in here for a drink after hearing great things about it. It was very crowded when we went (8pm-ish on a weekend), but we lucked out and were able to get a table. I was surprised at how fast the service was, despite the heavy traffic. The server was super friendly and the drinks were on par with other cocktail bars I've tried. There are cool vintage decorations throughout, dim lighting, and an overall great atmosphere (aside from overcrowding. But that happens at good places!). Cool place! read more

Northside Speakeasy - Speakeasies Near Me - Akron, Ohio

Nice! Really nice cocktail bar. Seats maybe 12 folks at the bar and a handful of booths that seats 4. One of the most comfy bar seats my bottom has had the pleasure of enjoying. Mixologists. Yes Im rolling my eyes but they are more talented than ur average bartender. Not the friendliest but efficient. Mixing multiple drinks at a time. You ever try to stir something with one hand and shake something in the other? They have it down to a science. Cocktails $10-15 a drink so most folks don't stay long. With limited seating, this spot was packed within 30 minutes of opening. Yep there's a trick to getting in from the street. Nope I aint telling. If you can't figure it out just come in the Courtyard Marriott entrance through the phone booth. Excellent cocktails. Excellent experience. Come get one or 2 if u can afford it. read more

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Good location and easy to find. I prefer a little more of a challenge but it had a cute entry. Not much seating but drinks were ok. Didn't see food options so we only had 1 drink and left. Service was friendly just didn't feel the vibe that we get from most craft cocktail places read more

Cool bar that is fun just getting in. I like bars of this style. Northside Speakeasy is hard to find if you've never been there. Getting in is a game. The drinks make it worth going to. Finding the entrance is part of the fun. It looks like a newsstand. The door gives you clues on where to grab it though. Once inside you get to sit at the small bar. This place is always crowded because there's not much room. Only drinks are served here. The French 75 sounded good, and it was one of the cheapest priced. It's $10, while most drinks here cost more. Me and my female friend each got one. We agreed this was a good drink, full of lemony flavor but not tart. It was fun just getting inside. It sucks that it's so expensive for most of the stuff. This isn't a good place for large groups so bring only a couple of people with you. read more

Northside Speakeasy - Entrance - Speakeasies Near Me - Akron, Ohio

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Bartenders know what they're doing here. Every creation is perfect. They watch yo make sure you're enjoying the specialty beverages. Food is delicious. Atmosphere is friendly, upbeat, and special. Thank you! read more

Amazing cocktails, amazing location, great vibe from the other patrons and the bar staff made amazing drinks and were incredible. I'll Come by for a drink every time I'm in town. read more

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Located in a discreet location in the northside district of Akron. You enter a newsstand and have to figure out how to get inside. Once inside, it is a very small bar with room to seat about 12-14 people. The rest is standing room. They also have a television where you can watch other people try to figure out how to get inside the newsstand. The reason I have visited here multiple times is because of their delicious drinks. I haven't ordered anything that hasn't been tasty. The bartenders take their time and perfectly craft each drink. They go through several steps and several ingredients to make each concoction. The drinks are pretty pricey but I come here to enjoy the drink. read more

Northside Speakeasy - Old fashioned and fireshow - Speakeasies Near Me - Akron, Ohio

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Love this place. Great drinks at a good price and are delicious. Brought all my friend here and they loved it too.

This is one of the best places ever to treat yourself with an amazingly crafted cocktail. These guys make them the way that they were meant to be made. I highly recommend taking a trip back through time and experiencing the prohibition at this Speakeasy!!! read more

Northside Speakeasy - Drinks for the anniversary! - Speakeasies Near Me - Akron, Ohio

My wife and I were spending a few days in Akron and had a few hours to kill before dinner and we found this place on Yelp. The ambiance was great, it's hidden away in the lobby of a hotel with a cool hidden entrance. We loved it so much we ended up coming back 3 nights in a row and trying a bunch of different cocktails. Our bartender was Jon and he was awesome, we ended up chatting about cocktails and I could tell he was so passionate about what he does, a true artist when it came to the drinks he made. Jon was a huge reason we came back the next 3 nights. I asked him to make me something off the menu on the last night and it was so delicious. I had 5 different drinks off the menu and loved every single one. The Not Your Average Banana was one of the best dessert cocktails I've ever had and the paper plane was another favorite. Highly recommend this place if you're in the area and even if you're not staying in Akron, it's certainly worth the drive! Jon, you're the man thanks for making our trip so special. read more

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This place was so cool! Felt like a movie inside! The atmosphere was super fun! On the small side, it was packed when we got there about 7pm so we couldn't stay and have a drink, but the drinks looked great! Wish we could have stayed longer, will try again next year! read more

Northside Speakeasy - The entrance! - Speakeasies Near Me - Akron, Ohio

Fun spot if you are able to figure out how to get inside. You have to be a little clever. The bar tenders are very talented and they mix a variety of specialty drinks. Roasting fruit are a smokey flavor to the mix. Occasionally they turn the lights out and light the bar on fire. It's an awesome sight. If you're at a Luigi's or Jilly's you have to check it out. read more

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This place is really khool, seriously. Has a "bar"entrance that is reminiscent of speakeasy life, from days past, pull a lever type. Then if you go inside the entrance of the actual hotel, it leads you through the inside entrance that is a "bond" type phone booth, "powers" booth for me. But 2 entrances. Also everything is nice put together well, but your drinks are lacking authentic flavor. Like if you go to a really speak, they shake and make with good stuff, not just the main liquor, all that factors in for me. Place was packed early emptied early, drinks are for lily pad drinkers, you don't drink here all night because the liquors and mixers are cheap. You will feel sick. But decor amd presentation is very good, drinks are just okay. I would come back. I won't rate the bathrooms because you have to use the hotel bathroom. Another just inconvenient movement. Good place nice music selection, Good bar! read more

Northside Speakeasy - Grasshopper - Speakeasies Near Me - Akron, Ohio

This place is awesome. So may people fooled by the doors to get in. Great drinks and great vibe. Prices are reasonable. Definitely hit this place up. read more

Very cool spot! I believe it's part of the hotel and you have to find your way in the secret entrance, very fun. Excellent drink and wine list but be prepared to spend around $12 a drink. The service was good except they got very busy so I recommend checking it out at a slower time. read more

Northside Speakeasy - Speakeasies Near Me - Akron, Ohio

I stopped in here on a weeknight while staying at the attached hotel. Someone I had dinner with told me about it, or else I'd never have known how unique it was. There are two entrances- one from the hotel through a phone booth and one from the street. It's tricky to get in. From each of the entrances, there is something you have to do for the door to open. Unique and fun! Once I went in, the bartender was really nice. So were the regulars sitting at the bar. I don't usually talk to random people while sitting in a bar alone, but it just seemed like that type of atmosphere. They had plenty of craft beers in cans and bottles, but it seemed their speciality was liquor. The place is decorated really nice inside too. My only complaint is how expensive it was. I paid $7 for a craft beer. That's not why I didn't stay more than an hour, I just wanted to see different places while I was in town. But it made me wonder if I'd go back. If I was with a group that wanted to see something unique in the area and we were seeking out liquor, I'd think of this place again. read more

From the entrance to the back exit to the tables.. this place is SO MUCH FUN. The drinks are on the higher end, but you pay for homemade, large, and delicious drinks. You're also Paying for the "old timey" experience.. which is okay with me! The bartenders like to interact and have a good time, which makes the outing enjoyable. I will definitely be back!! read more

This place is amazing?! My girlfriend and I went two weekends ago and knew we had to come back. The following week we brought our friends and they loved it too! It's small, but of course it is... it's a speakeasy! Isn't that the whole point?! It really makes you feel like at a very exclusive bar! The first time we went we loved the two bartenders. The second time, Tevin, blew our expectations out of the water! Everyone there is super friendly and the drinks are 10/10. We can't wait to take my girlfriends parents here! Tevin deserves a raise! Must go if in Akron, and well worth the wait! read more

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This place is too cool! It feels like you're transported into a big city back in the 20's. It's an intimate space. Although it wasn't full the evening we were there, I can only imagine how crowded it has the potential to be. I won't ruin any surprises-- but, it's fun "figuring" out how to get in. My husband and I went for date night. He got a sazarac and said it was fabulous. I tried a French 75 (a personal favorite) and their Amaro Iced Coffee. The Amaro Iced Coffee instantly became my favorite after dinner style drink I have ever had. The bartenders were perfectly attentive, gave us tastes of a couple things we had questions about and seemed to have nice interaction with the guests sitting at the direct bar top. I wouldn't recommend going hungry, they only offer a few small plate type things. We got an olive and crostini platter. But it was delicious. I'm not sure if I missed it in a review or if nobody has mentioned, but they have a patio. I wish I had known that, my husband would have brought a cigar. As mentioned these are craft cocktails, so be prepared for $10-$15 drink. We felt they were absolutely worth it. We look forward to going back! read more

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Such a cool place that has done an amazing job with the speakeasy theme. Walking through the secret newsstand entrance was pretty neat. We both got two drinks, all of which were very tasty. My favorite was the New York flip (bourbon, port, egg white and nutmeg). It had a great eggnog taste. My wife's favorite drink was the giggle water (lemon infused vodka, lemoncello, red wine). The bartenders were great and were always willing to offer their suggestions. Great date night or special occasion stop. read more

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This place is so cute!!! The fact that the door is hidden makes it fun! Probably half of the fun of this place is that you have to try and find the door to get in! The inside is small, just a few tables and a small bar with a few seats, so if you want to get in while there's still room I suggest going earlier. The drinks are more on the pricey side but in my opinion worth it. They have a certain allure to them, the drinks are strong, and they're unique in flavor and in presentation. The service is great, the bartenders make sure you are tended too in a quick manner. I can't wait to come back here the next time I visit Ohio. read more

Northside Speakeasy - The Giggle Water - Speakeasies Near Me - Akron, Ohio

Great experience! The quality of the cocktails were amazing... they are hand crafted and take about 10-15 minutes to make (depending on how busy they are). My only complaint is there are no snacks to order.. the drinks are super strong so it would be nice to be able to order some popcorn or nuts. read more

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These unique little bars are becoming quite popular although their exclusiveness is only a myth, if you are willing to pay the upscale drink prices they may literally open the door for you even if you don't know where the hidden trigger is to unlock the door or possess the coordination to pull off the secret handshake. The new age speakeasy bar by definition is a legally conducted prohibition-themed bar and that's it, there are a few things that makes this one the place to be besides the generous and creative pours, its the talent behind the bar here that make this place special - I know most successful bartenders have personalities but this group no matter the night takes it to another level. The interactions between the staff and the customers is truly unique. Until last call comes and you are presented with the check you may forget this place charges for their booze and that you've just been hanging out with friends. Just off the lobby of the Courtyard by Marriott hotel and connected via the patio and associated with the D.B.A. Restaurant this place is definitely a favorite for business travelers. I can't speak for the weekend crowd but it's great spot to enjoy a cocktail during the week... read more

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The drinks were great. The bartenders were highly unpleasant. Kind of put a damper on things.

Coolest bar in Akron! If you can't figure out how to get in, ask at the Courtyard. Drinks, atmosphere and bartenders are great! read more

Northside Speakeasy - Speakeasies Near Me - Akron, Ohio

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The drinks are tasty the service is great. The space is intimate are cool. So what's the problem? Its Saturday night and for a Speakeasy, you expect it to be a bit more upscale than your Winking Lizard bar. There was a loud group playing 'heads up' - a mobile app game. They took up the bar and made it hard to hear others in the bar. Another group of older women were cackling over drinks while another group of kids were all crowded in one corner. My husband and I are not snooty but when you pay an average of $14 / drink, you want something worth the trip. Bartender noted this is the scene on the weekend but its definitely quieter during the week. Mental note, as we walked out and a drunken wedding party started its way in. Kinda sad its not more strict or exclusive to the behavior it expects from their patrons. read more

Northside Speakeasy - Speakeasies Near Me - Akron, Ohio

I wish I could give this place 6 stars. I've been to several speakeasy themed bars, and this one is by far the coolest. It has two entrances. The "secret" entrance from outside is a door that says "apothecary" on it and visitors need to figure out how to access the door from a small entryway. The funniest thing is that people inside can watch you struggle from an old timey TV. The other entrance looks like a London phone booth, and it's located in the coffee bar inside the Marriot hotel. Once you get inside, the ambiance is amazing. There is seating around a bar complete with a flat screen TV, as well as some larger tables for groups and lounge seating near the TV that displays the entrance camera. There are also these cute private little booths for couples with a radio that allows you to control the music levels and light dimness. The drinks are fantastic - my favorite was the Northside Manhattan, but the entire menu looked delicious. I can't wait to go back with some friends! read more

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A great speakeasy for the Akron area! Quiet, dimly lit, with a cozy and intimate ambiance. There's two ways to enter the space, both of which are cute and creative. There's 10-12 seats at the bar (I didn't count specifically) and maybe room for 12 other people? Just guessing. But the space is small and cozy. The bar seats were so comfortable too! Their cocktail menu wasn't overwhelming but had plenty to choose from, and was a good variety so there's something for everyone. The "End to the End" is what my husband opted for, and had 2, and that was plenty LoL. It was made with Bookers and was strong but tasted good. I got the cocktail with makers and liquor 43, and apples- and I can't remember what it was called :( but it was really good! Definitely a great place to stop on a date or with a friend. Prices are reasonable. Have fun! read more

I was on a road trip through Akron and spent the night at the beautiful Courtyard Marriott Akron. I found the Northside Speakeasy right next to the hotel. The concept behind the place is really unique in that they have replicated the actual speak easy feel from the 20s. I actually had trouble getting in the front door because it was "disguised" as a newsstand. The drink menu was amazing with cocktail & beer choices. I had a well-made old fashioned and my wife chose a beer. Overall, it was a fun experience & the drinks did not disappoint. read more

Craft Cocktails are my JAM. If you are an enthusiast of well made drinks, it's my experience that you can chat with the "mixologist" and talk through what it is you like. The experience I got here was "we've got a menu". Uhhhh ok.. fine I start to look at the very plain Jane menu and try and pick a drink from the very sad list. The guy behind the bar says, do you like Cognac? I can make you a Cognac Sazerac. I'm like ok sure sounds good. I get my drink and it tastes nice, so I'm cool. When I close out my tab and they charged me $60 for the drink. $60!!!!! Dude WHAT?!? I went to talk to the guy behind the bar to ask him why he wouldn't tell me it was going to be that much and the dude literally ghosted me and walked away. how do you make a drink that costs $60 without at least telling the person first? Then you disrespect a customer asking you a question? Wow. Without any of these issues the place is a 3 star average Joe in the cocktail game, but based on my experience I would just as soon shovel cat litter and soda into a rock glass and drink that then ever spend another second in this joint. read more

This place is such a hidden gem! Best old fashions around! Can never say no to stopping by this place for a drink! Service is always good and I love the intimate setting! Perfect for a small group of friends or a date! I would probably avoid this place if you are in a group larger than 4-6 due to the limited seating. read more

Tevin was a great bartender! Super knowledgeable and helpful! Loved the atmosphere! Highly recommend