I don't know where to begin. How do you begin to call yourself a speakeasy when you are this bad at making drinks? Worst Old Fashioned and Negroni I've ever had. They didn't have proper whiskey ice or glassware, but its called Speakeasy. Whiskey ice cube? Too much to ask. 50% Seltzer water in an old fashioned? Since when? This all is of course in addition, super-super slow service. Took us approximately 20 minutes to get all 6 drinks (party of 6) and ironically, the last person to get their drink (me) was the only person who ordered their whiskey neat. I guess they had to call corporate to figure out what "neat" means. Will not go back. Ever. read more

The atmosphere here is exactly what I expected..very Mad Men-esque. I had the 18 Liberty, the couple next to us had each other's throats...I think mine was better. For as swanky a vibe this place has, I expected classier dress and behavior from the clientele. In case you were wondering, jeans are acceptable, so don't worry about a dress code. The prices are shockingly average compared to what I expected--$8-15 for a cocktail. read more

Nice lounge. Great hotel. Bad service. Like much of Pittsburgh hospitality, waitstaff and bartender seemed unhappy, uncaring and insincere. You would think the William Penn hotel would not allow such bad behavior. read more

We've now tried this spot on three separate trips to Pittsburgh and, unfortunately, the results each time have been the same - We were ignored for 5-10 minutes after sitting down at a table, despite the bar and room not being busy. Once we were acknowledged and served, the cocktails were less than mediocre. I won't nit-pick the details, or the pricing, but will instead just say we haven't enjoyed any of the drinks. That, coupled with sterile service, leads us to knowing we will not back. read more

I went to the speakeasy bar in the omni last night. It was amazing! Five stars! The bartender was knowledgeable about everything and we were the last ones to leave the bar. The bartender's name is Dawn and Ben is the manager. The ambiance is so chill that it makes you feel like you went back in time to the early 19 hundreds. The room is a little bit small otherwise the place is perfect. The drinks are made it with fresh ingredients and the aroma from your drink what have you guessing which ingredient is making that smell. read more

Great setting in a fine hotel. Was looking for some classic drinks in a quiet classy old school setting with a good friend. We had other options - but we chose Speakeasy. Unfortunately we were turned away 20 minutes before closing despite being guests of the hotel and dressed in business attire. We were not some dudes in ball caps going in to grab a few bottles of Bud and think we are big time. Nor were we prima donnas seeking to have the entire staff stay past 11 so we could milk our one cocktail. With 20 minutes to go - the staff could have politely informed us that it was last call. Plenty of time for everyone to do it right. We could have joined the 8-9 other customers and all would have left at closing. Instead we were turned away with the bum's rush and we never considered the place again in our remaining evenings in the city. I know it's hard being in the service business near the end of a shift. However - that's part of the job. Try coming up with a solution that allows you to serve the customer without breaking the system rather than ending a potentially positive relationship before it begins. read more

Dawn is........ quite simply........... the best. That's all. Come here. She's such a pro.

If you have not experienced the Dawn and Tiffany team, you will be astonished with the professionalism and team work. You will feel at home immediately. read more

Upon finally finding The Speakeasy (a tucked away locale; which was fun finding in such an amazing building), we were greeted with a general attitude of disdain and suspicion. We were told that the establishment was filled to capacity. Clearly visible were empty tables, banquettes, and bar stools. Perhaps it was part of the charm of a thowback establishment, or maybe it was the total lack of a competent staff. I cannot be sure. But fortunately, as a server was shooing us away, saying there was simply no room available for us; a super nice couple seated at the bar offered us their seats as they were leaving. These seats were what i would call "club level." Directly in front of the sad, unfriendly bartender and the POS machine . When the Bartender got wind of this new seating arrangement; he was clearly disappointed and annoyed that he would have to serve two more customers. Maybe I have this all wrong. I have worked in the hospitality industry for longer than i wish to share. AAA and FORBES ratings mean a lot. And to proudly display AAA four diamonds in the lobby of the William Penn was clearly was a slap in the face while patronizing The Speakeasy. Here is a basic breakdown: PROS: SPEAKEASY: the name is cool. The Speakeasy just speakseasy. the drinks were okay....(too long to prepare and disproportionate cost to value.) the drink menus are cool as hell. Leather bound and i wanted to take one home. the raised velvet wallpaper had more personality than the staff. HOTEL AND ROOM: amazing architecture beautifully apportioned rooms wildly friendly front desk staff breakfast at the Terrace Room turn down service Philander Chase Knox (May 6, 1853 - October 12, 1921) hosted events here. people watching in the lobby CONS: SPEAKEASY: difficult to locate. incendiary rudeness. ineptitude. sloth. horrible customer service(caught the "waitress" commenting on how horrible it was to wait on her customers to the lifeless bartender as she was gleefully checking her tips on POS machine.) HOTEL AND ROOM: none to speak of unless i wish to nitpick wifi and its cost is stupid. starwood plus membership get that for free for you but why bother connecting to a network that requires you to go thru 6 screens of verification to pay 19 dollars when you can just use pittsburgh city's bandwidth for free? hotel book did not have much information about hotel, i.e. maps, where is gym and pool? where are elevators? only restaurant and room service menus that were not representative of what they actually served. SUMMARY: The Omni William Penn is first rate hotel in the grandest sense. An amazing building in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh. I recommend it to anyone who can afford it. Spend your money only on the room. Go elsewhere for everything else, and there is so much just less than a block away. Foremost, do not patronize The Speakeasy, I wouldn't want drink there during prohibition, much less now. Cheers, M read more

A slightly better than average, but just as overpriced, over-hyped "hotel bar." Went on a busy night and waited about an hour to get in (waited in the even more mediocre bar upstairs), and then at least 15 minutes for service contact and another 20 for the drinks. Our server seemed more like an Eat-N-Park waitress dressed like a prostitute than a steward of fine libations. I think I had the "Blind Tiger" which was fine, but not better than cocktails I make at home and not worth the wait. read more

Very cool little place! Elegant and intimate. All about the atmosphere and this place delivers! When the doors close and you're sitting sipping and listening to the music... makes you feel like you're in the 20s read more

Great little place to hole up for a few cocktails off the beaten path. Dark and secluded. Strong drinks. If I was negotiating terms of a defection, this wouldn't be a bad place to either think about it alone, or sign the papers. read more

While in town, we happened upon this spot completely by accident. Our rooftop bar was closed for rain so we went searching for another place close by. This place was steps from our hotel. On first impression their hotel entrance is stunning with classic decor. For the bar though, you head straight downstairs at the entrance. What a place! Seemed to be straight out of the prohibition era. Everything made me feel like I had stepped back a hundred years, down to the old-style drink menus, hand-stitched with leather covers. And jazz music. The drinks themselves are modeled after popular cocktails of the time. They were delicious and service was exceptional. What a cool place! read more

Came here after a overly busy Butcher and the Rye. Wow.....and what a relief. This was exactly what I wanted. Easy to hear yourself talk and outstanding drinks. I had the Egg Flip as well as the Orange/Lemon Old Tom Cobbler. Both great. The Cobbler tasted so refreshing it would have been a great beach drink. We also got a Charcuterie board which was good, but wasn't a fan of the Pate (and I usually like Pate) I never knew this place existed until my friend showed it to me. I'm so glad I know about it now. I feel like I'm giving up this secret gem. A place for great drinks and conversation. read more

Dawn, the bartender, is the real deal. After two wonderful cocktails (gin and rum), I told her to just surprise me, and I wasn't disappointed. If you understand what "bruising" an herb means, or what an atomizer is, come give this place your money. read more

Rude staff. Horrible service. Closes earlier than posted times. Do yourself a favor and don't bother visiting the speakeasy. The hotel itself is great- too bad it's stuck with this bar inside it. Go to the tap room instead if you're staying in the hotel. read more

Amazing drinks, amazing staff. The bartender made suggestions for fantastic cocktails I never would have ordered for myself. My group had a great time. Wonderful ambiance too! I'll be back. read more

The Speakeasy is a neat place. Not a huge beer selection, but they make excellent drinks. During events the bar can quickly fill with people to where the establishment reaches capacity and will not let others in. This is unfortunate, but the bar is a neat place to check out with a small group or with a significant other. read more

Well... The place was understaffed and didn't let people in-- even with their maximum capacity at 47-- they were way below and could not keep up! Head next door to the Commoner at Hotel Monaco! We will stay here next time! read more

Laid back, good cocktails, and intimate. If you like pretending you have sophisticated opinions and money - this is the place to go.

New to town and found on yelp under restaurant. While they do serve minimal apps., they do not serve food. Otherwise this little gem was a great find. Nice atmosphere with exceptional drink menu. The Moscow Mule was great with fresh ingredients such as ginger, mint & rosemary. Great for an intimate evening or gather of friends. read more

Drinks are above average (fair priced for the quality) and staff is friendly, however after a couple times visits, I can confirm the service is always ridiculously slow (a minimum of 5 min wait time for a drink, sometimes almost 10 min after ordering). Your drink is always dry for several min before being able to order again. If they improved service time I would easily give 5 stars. read more

Loved the ambiance! Very dimly lit, tho. Our waiter was very helpful and took the time to describe many of the drinks. The prohibition era menu was very unique. I tried the absinthe, can't compare it to anything because I've never had it before, but it had a licorice flavor. My friend had a port wine and it was sweet and smooth. read more

A great chill spot to go after work, or after dinner. Dawn is the best bartender in the city!

We stayed at the Omni William Penn Hotel we had great service throughout the hotel but we went to go into the Speakeasy and were turned away saying that they were at fill capacity...once we got to our room I called the front desk and got transferred to the bar...the bartender said there were many tables open and when I told him we were turned away at the door he put the doorman on the phone her still said that they had a 15 min wait when the bartender himself said there were tables empty.....don't waste your money at this place spend your money elsewhere on Pittsburgh during your visit there are many other friendlier places out there in the city read more

The best martini I've had in western Pennsylvania. I also enjoyed the charcuterie. This place has all the right elements....food, drink and service. Unfortunately, the atmosphere fails on all accounts. I felt like I was in the basement bar of a Courtyard Marriott, not a speakeasy in the William Penn. - Gabby read more

Awwwww man, our owners have such a great time whenever they come here. There is something special about the tipsy feeling resulting from drinks made with painstaking care and fine ingredients. Our waiter is always exceptionally courteous and cordial. Our owners previously had a really special Mother's Day that ended at the Speakeasy, instantly making a lasting memory for grandma and our owners. It is always so much fun to share a hidden gem of a destination like this to a loved one. Our owners will come way more often when they start making millions of dollars off of internet videos of our hilarious antics. Until then, our owners can only justify getting $10+ drinks a few times a year. Meow. read more

What a great experience! This bar is delightfully restored to its 1920s glory and brings you back in time. The decor is beautiful and it is fun to just look around the room. The drink menu is very long and filled with cool drinks from the time period. I am not that familiar with the drinks on the menu and wished I had looked it over before I went. Take your time reading over the menu! The drinks were very tasty and delicious plantain chips and dip were served as well. The drinks are expensive though so be aware of that while ordering. Also, it can be tricky to find the bar in the Hotel, there are a few signs directing you. read more

Small quiet bar in the basement of the William Penn. I understand the idea of a speakeasy is to be secret but it's kinda boring. The place smelled when I was there too. Good drinks. read more

I have been to speakeasy bars all over the country...Patterson House, The Violet Hour, Please Don't Tell, etc. This, my friends, is NOT a speakeasy. This is a hotel bar. I should have known based on the fact that "speakeasy" was emblazoned on the door of the bar. My husband and I decided to have a nightcap after a fabulous night of dinner and drinks at Meat and Potatoes (highly recommend). We found this "speakeasy" on the bottom floor of our hotel and were elated! We entered and were excited to try the offerings. After careful consideration, we went with the Pims Cup and a Whiskey concoction which I forget the name. My husband's drink was $17, so needless to say, he was excited to try it. The Pim's Cup was a very reasonable $8.50. We received our drinks after about 15 minutes. My Pim's cup was served in a wine glass. It was a dark red and topped with a plethora of fruit (apples, blackberry, ect). I double checked when our server set it down to make sure I didn't receive someone's sangria. Our server informed me that it was, in fact, a Pim's Cup. It was awful. Tasted like soda water. My husband (a devout Bourbon drinker from Louisville) said his drink tasted like licorice with no hint of whiskey what so ever. We contemplated what to do. We are not used to sending back drinks, but this was ridiculous. We couldn't choke them down. We spoke with the server and let him know that we were unhappy with our drinks. He was visibly dismayed. My husband asked for an Old Fashioned and I passed for fear of getting another subpar drink. We heard the bartender speaking ill of the couple that sent back drinks and telling other patrons she takes pride in her drinks. We were mortified. We waited 20 minutes and still, my husband had not been served his Old Fashioned. It was embarrassing and infuriating at the same time. We decided to leave since we felt very unwelcome. This is quite possibly the worst bar experience we have ever had. I warn all patrons accustomed to a certain level of craftsmanship and service when it comes to beverages to stay away. There are much better places in this city to enjoy an artfully crafted cocktail. read more

Dawn, the face of this operation, and behind the scenes too, is a fantastic bartender. When I arrived to meet my boyfriend and his friend, Dawn was explaining to them about the gin rickey cocktail and the gimlet. I started asking her more about the gimlet and said in hadn't had cheery in a gimlet ever. I then proceeded to look at the menu and then informed Dawn I had made my choice. She looked at me and said "let me guess". After a few seconds of her feeling into my selection and personality she said "apricot gimlet". By golly she was right! Dawn has that magical bartender intuition that only someone who understands people and well thought out crafted cocktails could have. After being there for a 15 minutrs or so, she brought us complimentary warm spiced almonds. The apricot gimlet was very nice, not too atrong or sweet, it was balanced and refreshing. also makes a nice old fashioned. We will be going back because to Dawn. read more

Dawn (the bartender) was great - as was the atmosphere. The bourbon old fashioned was excellent.

Drink menu was unique, full of old fashioned recipes with a modern twist. Awesome John Collins - made with Jameson. Great laid back atmosphere. Excellent! read more

Pittsburgh's first attempt at a quality speakeasy was a solid attempt. The decor was certainly on par, however some of their cocktails fall short. If you are going to brand yourself as a true "speakeasy", value the quality of your ingredients and your craft. This may be that I live in New York and am accustom to speakeasy's of the like of EO and Death&Co. nonetheless, solid attempt on their part and they will be a trail blazer for the Pittsburgh cocktail scene but they have a long way to go. read more

George should be commended for exhibiting outstanding service to our party of 9 on a busy Friday night! Good vibe and great cocktail selection! read more

My wife and I were celebrating our anniversary in Pittsburgh and we're staying at the Omni. We wandered down to the Speakeasy around 10pm and had to wait in a short line to get in, since the bar can only hold so many people at a time. We waited about 10 minutes and were let in. I ordered a Speakeasy Scotch and my wife had a Tom Collins. As we waited for our drinks, I took in the ambience. It's pretty cool in the Speakeasy and was a nice semi-intimate place for drinks to close out the evening. Got our drinks after a short wait, which was forgivable since it was a busy Saturday night. My Speakeasy Scotch was great and heavy on the scotch (thank you) and my wife's Tom Collins had pineapple in it -- different than the advertised Maraschino Cherries in the menu. We left after one round of drinks which turned out to be just fine. I know all hotel bars are expensive, but we paid more for our two drinks here than we did at Primanti Bros for our entire meal the next day. There are certainly cheaper bars to drink at in the city, but the Speakeasy isn't a bad choice if you're at the Omni and don't feel like venturing out into the city. read more

Cool atmosphere (Brilliant true history) - could be a little darker and include some live music at least one night a week.

Service was poor. Long wait for a drink even though it wasn't busy. Worst old fashioned I've had! Much better options

Very cool little place in the basement of the Omni. Definitely an old school vibe type spot. Dawn the bartender was awesome. Try the Moscow Mule or just tell her what you like and she'll whip you up something. Worth a visit. read more

Absolutely amazing place. It felt like we were in the 1920's. The drinks, lighting, and decor were perfect. It's a small place, small enough to make you feel like you're in an actual speakeasy, but not cramped. The decor is ornate, but doesn't feel stuffy. The manager and our waiter were very kind and welcoming. We felt that they genuinely wanted us to have a great time. The best part is that this was actually a speakeasy in the 1920s! I recommend highly! read more